Feed the Hunger Anthology

Feed the Hunger

Anthology Twelve Selected Devotionals for Spiritual Growth

J. L. Williams Patt Williams Joseph Williams & Friends

Feed the Hunger Anthology Twelve Selected Devotionals for Spiritual Growth

Feed the Hunger J. L. Williams

Anthology Patt Williams Joseph L. Williams & Others

Twelve Selected Devotionals for Spiritual Growth

J. L. Williams Patt Williams Joseph Williams & Friends

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.® Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by per- mission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Terminus Copyright © 2015 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

The Coming of Christos Copyright © 2016 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

The Jewish Jesus Copyright © 2016 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

Biblical Principles for Living Copyright © 2017 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

Global Walk Copyright © 2017 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

Are You Right about Heaven? Copyright © 2018 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

Palm Sunday to Pentecost Copyright © 2018 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

A Word for All Occasions Copyright © 2018 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

Are You Right about God? Copyright © 2019 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

Are You Right about Prayer? Copyright © 2020 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

While We Wait Copyright © 2020 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

Pressing On Copyright © 2021 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents A Word for All Occasions................................................................. 5 J. L. Williams While We Wait................................................................................ 73 Patt Williams Global Walk...................................................................................139 Feed the Hunger Partners Palm Sunday to Pentecost.............................................................205 Joseph L. Williams Are You Right about Heaven?.......................................................269 Joseph L. Williams Are You Right about God?............................................................335 Joseph L. Williams with Matthew Byrd Are You Right about Prayer?........................................................401 Joseph L. Williams Biblical Principles for Living........................................................467 J. L. Williams The Jewish Jesus...........................................................................533 Joseph L. Williams Terminus........................................................................................599 Joseph L. Williams Pressing On...................................................................................667 Patt Williams The Coming of Christos................................................................733 Joseph L. Williams

A Word for All Occasions J. L. Williams

Table of Contents New Year’s Day: God’s New Year....................................................9 January 1 Epiphany: Your Epiphany...............................................................11 January 6 Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Sin Problem, Not a Skin Problem....13 Third Monday in January Valentine’s Day: In Love or Infatuated?.........................................15 February 14 Presidents’ Day: The Government and the Church.........................17 Third Monday in February Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry...............................................19 Sunday before Easter Easter: Easter Is Never Over...........................................................21 Easter Sunday (between March 22 and April 25, inclusive) Tax Day: Biblical Principles for Finances......................................23 April 15 Earth Day: Earth Day......................................................................25 April 22 Arbor Day: The Trees of God.........................................................27 Last Friday in April (states may vary) National Day of Prayer: A National Call to Prayer.........................29 First Thursday in May Mother’s Day: A Mother’s Day Meditation....................................31 Second Sunday in May Memorial/Armed Forces/Veterans/Patriot Day: Onward Christian Soldiers...........................................................34 Last Monday in May (Memorial Day)

Father’s Day: The High Calling of Fatherhood..............................36 Third Sunday in June Independence Day: The Civil War Continues.................................38 July 4 Labor Day: Hands That Bring Reward...........................................40 First Monday in September Grandparents’ Day: Lessons from a Grandparent...........................42 First Sunday after Labor Day Halloween: Unmasking Halloween................................................45 October 31 Election Day: Submit to Governing Authorities.............................47 First Tuesday after First Monday in November International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church: Unite with the Persecuted............................................................49 First Sunday in November Thanksgiving Day: Thanks-living and Thanks-giving...................51 Fourth Thursday in November Christmas Day: The Divine Invasion..............................................53 December 25 Milestone Birthday: A Special Birthday.........................................55 Wedding Day: The Call of Marriage...............................................57 Becoming a Believer: Dear New Christian.....................................59 Baptism: Getting Baptized..............................................................61 Wedding Anniversary: The Miraculous Marriage..........................63 Retirement: Don’t Retire from Relationships.................................66 Death of a Loved One: Confronting Death.....................................68 Changing of Seasons: The Seasons of Life.....................................70

God’s New Year

New Year’s Day—January 1 This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Jeremiah 6:16 As we stand at the doorstep of a new year, we need to realize that other peoples of the world use different calendars than we do. It has been my privilege to experience a number of different New Year’s celebrations in other countries of the world like India, Israel, Nepal, and Ethiopia.

But the problem is the same the world over. Regardless of the time of year that various countries and cultures celebrate their New Year, the same old people enter the new year. As a result, nothing changes but the dates on the calendar. That’s why New Year’s resolutions are such folly. All over the world people make them with good intentions, but a calendar or chronological change without a character change results in no lasting change at all!

The only hope for a new year is when we celebrate God’s New Year. It is recorded in Exodus 12:1–13. God’s New Year begins with a new life made possible through the blood: This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household . . . all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs . . . it is the Lord’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of 10

both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 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.

You and I not only stand at a chronological crossroads today, we also stand at a cultural crossroads. It’s the very same crossroads the children of Israel faced in Egypt. Would they remain slaves to Pharaoh, or would they become free through the blood of the Passover lamb? For them it was literally a life-and-death issue—just as it is for us today! The spiritual and moral decisions we make at this juncture can largely determine the moral and spiritual destinies of generations to come, just as they did for the Israelites. The decision they made that defining night in Egypt sealed the fate of their children and their children’s children—even to this very day!

As we stand at the start of a new year, will we turn back to the “ancient paths,” to the “good way” that leads to “rest for [our] souls”? Or, will we take a dangerous detour from God’s ancient paths that have provided safe travel for generations from the patriarchs to the present? Will we go further and further into Egypt and allow Egypt to go deeper and deeper into us? Will we continue to chase every new fad of Egypt? Or will we make a clean break for the Promised Land?

How will you live in the new year? Are you seeking for the world’s happiness or for God’s holiness? Remember that happiness is always a by-product of holiness. Without holiness, there cannot be any lasting happiness. It is also important to remember that God’s New Year does not just last 12 months, two centuries, or two millennia. It lasts for eternity!

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Your Epiphany Epiphany—January 6

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Matthew 2:10–11 Patt and I wish each of you a happy and holy new year in this first week of the year. We pray that you have entered this new year in the confidence of the lordship of Jesus Christ. He is still firmly seated on the throne of the universe—in spite of how circumstances around us often look. As Gabriel told Joseph and Mary about Jesus, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David . . . his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32–33). His sovereign dominion over the world is a 24-7 reality whether or not we believe it, recognize it, or submit to it.

The first century was just as hungry for authentic kingship and leadership as the twenty-first century is. Both their world and ours are starving for lack of real political leaders who are true public servants rather than self-serving tyrants, despots, and paranoid power-mongers! That’s why the Magi from the East came looking for this King of the Jews whose star had lit up the eastern sky over their homeland, which was probably Persia. As a result of this hopeful heavenly sign, they set out on a journey seeking an epiphany, which only comes when you find and worship Him, just as they did.

Ever since the first century, many parts of the Christian world celebrate Epiphany almost as much as they celebrate Christmas.

This is especially true in the Greek Orthodox world of the Middle East. It always falls on January 6th and is considered a second blessing of the Christmas season. It commemorates the visit of the Magi and their discovery, worship, and gift-giving to the Christ Child (Matthew 2:1–12).

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The word epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning a manifestation—to make known, to show, or to reveal. In the Christian world, an epiphany is understood to be of supernatural origin because it was God’s star that specifically guided the Magi to the house where Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus were. It was through their worship of Him that they had their epiphany, their personal revelation of who He was.

Psychologists also speak of epiphanies that people have in life that are not necessarily seen as supernatural, but natural in origin.

It is when a person has a sudden revelation, realization, moment of enlightenment, or an “ah-ha!” moment. This epiphany is often pictured as a light bulb that suddenly turns on in their brain in a flash of instant illumination. These natural epiphanies often result in great scientific breakthroughs, paradigm changes, and entrepreneurial enterprises that revolutionize some area of society, usually for the blessing and benefit of others.

So on this Epiphany, January 6th, Patt and I pray that you will have a fresh revelation through the Word and an illumination through the Spirit of Christ in your life and sphere of influence this year. And just like God never intended for Christmas to be a one-day-a-year event, He wants Epiphany to be an ongoing reality in and through your life to others around you and around the world!

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A Sin Problem, Not a Skin Problem Martin Luther King Jr. Day—Third Monday in January

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 It was in the year 1968 that President Johnson signed into law the historic Civil Rights Act, also known as the Fair Housing Act. That watershed law prohibited any form of discrimination with housing because of “race, color, religion, or national origin.” It was also in 1968, on April 4th, that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. His death in many ways led to a fragmentation and dissolution of the Civil Rights Movement. Since his death, there has not been another single leader with his unifying ability.

Patt and I also look back to 1968 as the official founding of our ministry, The New Directions. As an interdenominational, interracial, contemporary ministry group, we were using music to take to the streets as a positive demonstration of racial reconciliation in Christ. For the next 20 years, we made loving invasions into every bastion of segregation, prejudice, and racism in the South and North.

We called our events an “Action Experience in Christian Love.”

Since those defining years of desegregation, a new generation of Americans has grown up with little or no personal experience of the Civil Rights Era. For many of them, it is abstract ancient history.

But the new generation is painfully learning what earlier generations learned: while you can and should pass legislation against discrimination, you cannot legislate a change of heart.

All of us are prejudiced to one degree or another. By virtue of the original sin that we all inherited through our common human father, Adam, we have prejudice against other humans because of our innate sin and selfishness. We also all have residual racism by culture, conditioning, and choice. None of us is totally color-blind.

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We all have overt or covert prejudice against others racially, sexually, and socially. And we often use economics to reinforce those prejudices and keep people in their place.

So our message today is the same as it was back in 1968: racism is not a skin problem, but a sin problem! Until God’s laws of love are written on our hearts, no lasting change can take place in our homes or in our streets. Only spiritual transformation can lead to authentic social transformation.

It was that kind of radical spiritual transformation that happened to Saul on the Damascus Road when he met the risen Christ. Before that encounter, Saul was a caustic and bigoted person motivated by spiritual, racial, and cultural pride and arrogance (Philippians 3:3– 6). But God temporarily blinded him in order to make him see. It was only when Saul had a correct view of Christ that he could have a correct view of other people. Paul’s conversion reminds us that it is impossible to have a right view of man when we have a wrong view of Christ!

You do not gradually drift out of racism into reconciliation. It only happens with positive, proactive intentionality—beginning with a radical change of heart. When our heart changes, we can resolve to change. Then and only then will we have the desire and will to be a part of the “ministry of reconciliation” that God called us to as His disciples. Both inside and outside God’s embassy called the Church, we are to be “Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:18–20).

Saints, it is time for us to step into these gaps of alienation with the kind of words and deeds of reconciliation that will result in renewed racial and social change for God’s glory and the good of others. Politics cannot bridge these gaps, but the cross can! Love is still the only lasting antidote to hate.

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In Love or Infatuated?

Valentine’s Day—February 14

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 “How can I know if I am really in love?” This is one of the most frequently asked questions by young people in particular. In emotional matters, it is almost impossible to be objective. That’s why we need both objective standards by which to judge our feelings and objective friends to help us evaluate our relationships. Let me outline some touchstones with which to evaluate your relationship.

1. The first and most important test is whether both of you are maturing Christians, not just babes in Christ or carnal. Seek someone to love who loves God first.

2. The essence of sin is self-centeredness. One of the greatest signs of love is that you are more concerned with the happiness and well-being of the other person than with your own. Love is another-oriented.

3. There is the test of maturity: age and emotions. Some aspects of maturity only come with years, so a little aging always helps things. Also, look for someone who has a temperament compatible with yours and has their moods and emotions under control.

4. Is this person basically a responsible or irresponsible person? To marry an irresponsible person is to sign up for a lifetime of heartache and frustration.

5. Let me suggest several attributes to look for: someone who knows both their Master and mission in life, understands authority and is living under it, has learned to accept themselves, is living at peace with family and friends, and has demonstrated financial responsibility.

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6. Do you enjoy the same things? The more you have in common, the better off you are if you are contemplating marriage. The closer your interests parallel, the closer your lives will parallel.

7. Are you really physically attracted to this person? Do they genuinely turn you on in the proper and fullest sense of the word? Do they hold spiritual, emotional, and physical attraction for you?

8. Lastly, there is the test of time and circumstances. People don’t “fall in love,” they grow in love. Those of us who have been married for years continue to marvel at how we are still learning more about our mates. Also, you need to see any potential mate under every conceivable circumstance and how they relate to others.

Love, sex, and marriage were God’s ideas. That means God is for love and sex, but only within the framework of marriage, which He created for it so that it would be secure and totally fulfilling for all involved. A successful marriage is the result of careful planning and a lot of hard work. Both marriage and singleness are gifts of God. Whether we are married or single, our goal is to learn the sufficiency of Christ.

You must trust God with complete control of your love life.

Proverbs 3:6 has always been one of my favorite verses: “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Psalm 84:11 says, “No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” If you trust Him, nothing will be withheld from you that is truly necessary for your fulfillment in life. Another of my favorite verses is Psalm 37:4: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” If you desire a marriage that will be totally fulfilling, then trust Him. The more you truly delight yourself in Him, the more your will becomes one with His will and your desires one with His desires!

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The Government and the Church Presidents’ Day—Third Monday in February

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.

The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1 When you think of the word government, what is your reaction— positive or negative? Do you see government as friend or enemy?

The defender of freedom or the tyrant of slavery? The instrument of God or the tool of the devil? Your response is crucial because it reveals whether you see government through the light of Scripture or as unrelated to God’s activity in the world.

Man was originally created to live under the direct government of God in a relationship of loving, trusting submission. This is known as a theocracy, or a “rule by God,” and is the only perfect form of government. It was through such willing submission to God that man would be fully free and enabled to achieve his highest potential.

Because man chose not to live directly under Him, God ordained secular governments to rule over mankind (Romans 13:1–3). The Bible teaches that God created government for several important purposes in a rebellious, sinful world: to do good and maintain order and to uphold justice and punish wrongdoing.

Generally speaking, there have been three reactions by governments toward the Church through the ages. There has been hostility and persecution. The State has embraced and sometimes married the Church. But the most tragic time for the Church is when she is largely ignored. She is no longer seen as a force to be reckoned with, but as a powerless entity to be ignored.

As the Church has faced many forms of government with their various attitudes, responses, and persecutions, there have been many opinions, theologies, and philosophies set forth about how 18

the Church should react. They have varied widely from complete non-involvement to active participation to revolutionary zeal. What does the Bible say? Generally speaking, God ordained the Church to rule in the spiritual realm and He ordained government to rule in the secular realm. As a result, the Christian lives in two kingdoms at the same time.

Jesus taught that good and evil would prosper side by side until He comes to establish His earthly Kingdom (Matthew 13:30). Until then, we need to be politically involved as Christians, while not expecting our political activity to bring in the lasting reign of peace and righteousness that only Christ will bring.

There certainly are dangers from political involvement for Christians, but I believe that there are greater dangers from political passivity. The key here for the Church is balance. We must avoid the opposite extremes of either a political religion or a private religion.

Ours is to be a prophetic religion! Our highest calling is preaching the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16; 2 Timothy 4:2).

The greatest thing we can do as Christians to positively influence our government is to be true to this high calling. We must be more concerned with what we owe the government than what the government owes us. We are to do those things that the Bible clearly commands us to do: show respect and submission, pay our taxes, preach and live prophetically, and pray for all in authority.

There are, however, clear limits to our obedience. Ours can never be a blind, absolute, unquestioning submission. We must do what is morally right even if it is legally wrong. When the Church is existing in either a secular or totalitarian State, it must never legitimize tyranny and injustice.

There are at least six commitments that I believe God is calling His Church to recommit Herself to: reconciliation, community, servanthood, family, stewardship, and integrity. When we as Christians incarnate these principles before a watching world, I believe that the impact will shake governments and nations.

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The Triumphal Entry

Palm Sunday—Sunday before Easter Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9 It was Passover time: the highest and most holy week of the Jewish year. Jerusalem was crowded with a huge influx of Jewish pilgrims.

There was great joy, excitement, anticipation, celebration, and religious expectation. Jesus could not have picked a more dramatic moment to enter Jerusalem.

It was the great desire of every Jew to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover at least once in their lifetime. The Passover reminded them of the lamb that was slain and the blood that was put on the doorpost that caused the angel of judgment and death to “pass over” the Hebrew people when the Lord slew the firstborn of the Egyptians.

It is significant to see the very specific claim Jesus was making in riding a donkey into the city! It was not just some capricious act of the moment, an interesting little demonstration, or a religious act on a whim. No, it was a specific, calculated act to demonstrate unmistakably who He was—the promised Messiah! This was a direct fulfillment of the verse above from Zechariah 9:9.

Isn’t it amazing how the Lord Jesus always chose simple things?

He chose a borrowed stable to be born in, a borrowed boat to ride in and teach from, a borrowed tomb to be buried in, and, in this case, a borrowed donkey to ride on!

When a king came riding into a city on a donkey, it was a symbol that he was coming in peace, not in war. The horse was the mount of war. So when Jesus rode a donkey in on Palm Sunday, He was in effect saying, “I am coming to you, Jerusalem, City of Peace, not in 20

war, but in peace. I am coming to you as your true King of Peace. I am coming in love and not in hate. I am coming to you in humility, lowliness, and meekness.” However, when He comes again, He will not be riding on a donkey, but on a white horse as John saw in Revelation 19:11.

The crowd received the donkey-riding Jesus like a king! They met Him and spread their cloaks in front of Him. They greeted Jesus with the words of Psalm 118:26: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” They shouted “Hosanna!” which means “save now!”

Luke also records that “as [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes’” (Luke 19:41–42). Then Jesus gave a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in AD 70. This was going to happen, said Jesus, “because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you” (verse 44).

There is nothing sadder or more heartbreaking than to see people reject the Lord and rush headlong toward certain destruction. I see it every day as people refuse to receive Him as their Savior. And in the face of that, Jesus weeps!

Have you responded to His claims? Have you received Him as God’s Messiah? Do you need His courage for some situation you are facing at home, at school, or at work? Do you need more of His compassion in your life? Do the things that break God’s heart break yours? Do you have the confidence of Christ in your life, knowing that you are guided by Scripture? Christ’s triumphal entry on Palm Sunday can be your own triumphal entry into a new life and a new way of living. “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

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Easter Is Never Over

Easter—Easter Sunday (between March 22 and April 25, inclusive) I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 1:18 Whether it is a literal, physical resurrection from the dead, or a spiritual resurrection from being “dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1), the Christian faith is about one supreme thing: resurrection!

Easter is the historic and spiritual watershed event that separates Christianity from all other religions. Ours is a living faith because we follow a risen and reigning Christ. All other religions are dead religions. Either the myriad gods and goddesses of other religions are totally mythological with no historic basis in fact—only fanciful fiction—or the founders of these religions have died and rotted in the grave eons ago.

Followers of non-Christian religions never expected their founders to rise from the dead. And all those religious leaders lived up to those dead expectations: 2000 BC: 1500 BC: 531 BC: 500 BC: 483 BC: 479 BC: AD 30: AD 632: AD 1539: AD 1892:

Abraham (Judaism) Many gods/goddesses (Hinduism) Lao-Tzu (Taoism) Japanese Spiritism (Shintoism) Gautama Buddha (Buddhism) Confucius (Confucianism) JESUS CHRIST (Christianity) Muhammad (Islam) Guru Nanak (Sikhism) Baha’u’llah (Baha’ism) 22

DEAD MYTH DEAD MYTH DEAD DEAD ALIVE! DEAD DEAD DEAD

I could expand this list a great deal by including the many other religions that have arisen across the centuries. And since Satan is the originator of all religions but the Judeo-Christian faith, new ones are birthed by his demons every year. But like their religious predecessors, they too, in time, will die and rot in their graves!

In fulfillment of biblical prophecy, God promised that He would not abandon His Son to the grave or “let [his] holy one see decay” (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27–28). If God did not raise Jesus bodily from the grave, He is a liar and His Word is the greatest written deception of history (1 Corinthians 15). However, to any rational-thinking person who is willing to take a hard look at the evidence, the resurrection is the greatest fact of history!

Easter is never over. Every day, all over the world, Jesus continues to manifest His resurrection presence, power, prosperity, and peace. The reality of the resurrection takes place every time a sinner puts their faith in Jesus Christ, which is only possible because He is alive!

Do you believe? Jesus’ words to Peter after appearing to him are the same for you: “Follow me!” (John 21:19). Just as certainly as God raised Jesus from the dead, He too can raise you to new life in Him. His resurrection love is relentless. He will pursue you to the very gates of hell to woo and win you to the Father’s love. And through the Holy Spirit, He will lovingly lead you where you always wanted to go, but just didn’t know how to get there! He will fulfill the deepest longings of your heart through His unconditional love.

He will fill you with unspeakable joy through His unqualified forgiveness. He will release you to the purposes for which He created you through His unlimited power.

Easter is never over! It never has been and never will be.

Throughout time and eternity we will commemorate and celebrate the moment-by-moment realities of the risen Christ! And it doesn’t get any better than that—live or die! To Him be the glory in and through our lives!

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Biblical Principles for Finances Tax Day—April 15

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21 Your money, more than any other single factor, reveals the true treasure of your heart. Giving is a tangible physical indicator of your true spiritual condition, and your checkbook reveals your true priorities. How you spend your time and your money will impact your eternity more than anything else.

God’s Word talks about money and materialism more than almost any other subject: 2,300 references! There are more Bible verses on money and finances than on sex and immorality. While there are 500 references to prayer, there are 700 to money. Jesus spoke more about money than about heaven and hell combined, and 16 out of His 38 parables deal with money. So if the Bible talks about money and materialism that much, God must have known that we were going to have a pretty big problem with it.

It is easy to see that material things are all people think and worry about. The fact that Jesus addressed this with His disciples shows that they too must have struggled in this area. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. . . . But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:25–33).

Yet, because we really do not trust God for our needs and feel that we know more about money and finances than He does, we especially take charge in this area of our lives. Rather than living by faith and waiting on the Lord to meet our needs in His time and in His way, we do it the world’s way. If we want it, we go out and get it. It matters not if we need it, can afford it, or pay for it.

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It is the battle between covetousness and contentment. One or the other will rule your life. Remember that contentment is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have. Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12). Contentment is not something you are born with. It is a learned behavior. It is only by an act of your will that you choose to be content.

Have the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choked out the vitality of your spiritual life? Have you been deceived by the world into believing that just a little more will finally make you happy? Do you find yourself so preoccupied with worldly worries that you have little time or energy to be concerned about the needs of a lost and dying world?

Some of the most familiar—yet most rejected—investment advice from Christ is this: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19–21).

One day the world and all of its desires will pass away. And we will pass away with it if our heart is tied to materialism. So, I will leave you with Peter’s pertinent question and answer: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11–12).

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Earth Day

Earth Day—April 22 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.

Psalm 24:1 Is God “green”? A lot of people seem to think so! April 22nd, Earth Day, is their environmental Sabbath. This movement was started by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin on April 22, 1970. It marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Since that early fledgling beginning, which started as a “teach-in,” Earth Day has grown into a worldwide movement that is observed in virtually every country on our planet. For millions of passionate environmentalists around the world, Earth Day is not just another day. It is a day to recommit themselves to being better stewards of the environment.

While environmental stewardship is a timely and worthy involvement, for many people in America and around the world, Earth Day has virtually become a religion. They have moved from a valid concern for the environment to a worship of the environment with “Mother Earth” being the supreme deity. This is what Paul predicted when he said that man has turned from the worship of the Creator to the worship of the creation (Romans 1:25). As a result, many people have emerged and become activists on behalf of the environment all across the globe.

Without a doubt, green will be the dominant color and issue of the twenty-first century. In the past we often divided the workforce between white-collar workers and blue-collar workers. Now we have to add the green-collar workers! They are becoming a growing army of environmental activists who are policing everyone’s carbon footprint.

Whatever is not green-friendly has to go or be severely taxed. And as we all know, money is also spoken of as a green god. The green of money has often been in direct conflict with the green environment, resulting in a growing warfare between economy and ecology.

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We need to remind ourselves that we as Christians should lead the way in a balanced stewardship of our environment. After all, it is our Creator God who brought our planet and cosmos into existence and splashed it with every color imaginable—especially green! So while God is not green, He certainly does have a creative green thumb! It is evident all around us, especially during spring when green is bursting out all over.

We also need to remind ourselves that God’s first home for man was not in an urban environment with all of its skyscrapers, concrete, steel, and pollution. No, it was a lush green garden called the Garden of Eden. The root word in the Hebrew means “delight, pleasure.” So the Garden of Eden was literally a spiritual and environmental house of pleasure for Adam and Eve. Sadly, it was soon polluted by the deadliest toxins of all—sin and self! Pleasure was exchanged for pain and delight turned into decay.

Soon, death invaded every area of man’s existence: his relationship with God, his relationship with his spouse, and his relationship with his environment. Man was expelled from his garden paradise and we have all lived “east of Eden” ever since.

And also since that time, man has continued to pursue the fruit of that same tree. He continues to believe and worship knowledge as the source of life. To quote again the Apostle Paul, “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles” (Romans 1:22–23).

Once again, please don’t misunderstand me. I am vitally concerned about the environment! But we Christians need to be leading the way and setting the example of a biblically balanced approach to the stewardship of our environment.

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The Trees of God

Arbor Day—Last Friday in April (states may vary) The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground— trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:9 When we start to talk about trees, usually some particular tree comes to our mind’s eye. It may be a special one from our childhood: some tree we loved to climb in, a tree we hung a swing from, a special one we built a treehouse in, one in whose bark we carved our initials and those of a sweetheart’s, or one that we fell out of and broke an arm like I did!

The study of trees is one of the most exciting and insightful Bible studies you will ever undertake. Unfortunately, though, it is one of the many subjects that we seldom take the time to seriously delve into—or, dare I say, climb into!

However, once the veil has been lifted from our eyes concerning trees in God’s Word, we are overwhelmed with their prominence and significance throughout the whole of the Bible. There are some 350 references to trees in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Literally from the first page to the last page of the Bible—Genesis 1 to Revelation 22—trees are used to communicate great spiritual truths to us. They are some of God’s most beautiful and graphic living parables of biblical principles!

In Genesis, we read of God’s original garden called Eden. It was filled with “trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.”

In the midst of that garden there were two special trees: the “tree of life” and the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9). The primal temptation was associated with that second tree. In 28

spite of God’s prohibition not to eat of it, the woman succumbed to Satan’s temptation. Through a tree in the Garden of Eden, there was paradise lost.

From that time until now, spiritual death and a loss of paradise have continued to be the results of eating from the wrong tree.

What the first Adam lost through eating of this tree, the last Adam, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for on another tree—the cross! God would indeed provide for man the one way back to the “tree of life.”

Through a tree in the Garden of Calvary, there was paradise gained!

However, not only did God provide for redemption, He also provided for restoration. The resurrected Jesus announced in Revelation 2:7, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” And when we come to the concluding chapter of this final book of the Bible, we find redeemed man once again enjoying the “tree of life.” In his beatific vision of heaven, John not only saw “the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb,” he also saw “the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:1–2).

There are other trees used to symbolize many very important truths in Scripture. It is not an overstatement to say that trees are literally a parable of the Gospel story! Therefore, it is my sincere prayer that God’s spiritual sap will flow afresh through your mind and spirit as you study the trees in God’s Word!

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A National Call to Prayer

National Day of Prayer—First Thursday in May Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.

Psalm 33:12 We should always give thanks for the Judeo-Christian foundation on which our nation was clearly and firmly established. Sadly, those foundational principles are being assaulted from without and eroded from within. The negative momentum against anything and everything overtly Christian has gained unimagined strength from the classroom to the courtroom. Our spiritual and political foundations are being dynamited and bulldozed up by an educational and political ideology based on secularism, materialism, relativism, universalism, and so on.

Centuries ago when King David was facing similar political assaults against Israel, he cried out, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). Millions of Americans are asking that same question today. As Americans, the Declaration of Independence assures us that we have certain rights that are self-evident: “All men are created equal, . . . they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Our forefathers clearly understood that there must be a clear and humble recognition that all our rights come from a benevolent God. And when they were speaking about our Creator, they were not referring to Allah, Buddha, Krishna, or any other pagan deity. They were clearly referring to the Jehovah God of the Bible as revealed and incarnated through Jesus Christ. However, from the White House to the courthouse, anything and everything Christian is often being vilified, penalized, and marginalized.

So, when the foundations are being destroyed, what can the 30

righteous do? Certainly we should continue to vote, speak out, protest, and use every legal and peaceful means possible to make our voices heard. But, above and beyond everything else, we must pray.

Unless there is authentic national repentance and revival, America’s continued decline is inevitable. We have been blessed like no other nation in history, but we are increasingly under the judgment of God because of our blatant and flagrant rebellion and rejection of His Word.

As a widow who lived to be 98, my aunt Alice Crouse spent most of her days in prayer. She had over 200 people on her prayer list that she would go through daily—one name at a time. I am so thankful that our family was included in this list! She is a great reminder that regardless of age or circumstances in life, you can be like Aunt Alice or the Anna of old who, at the age of 84, “never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” As a result, she had the incredible joy of seeing the Christ Child and of praying for the “redemption of Jerusalem” just as we now pray for the redemption of America (Luke 2:37–38).

Across America, scores of Christian leaders call for Christians to annually hit their knees for our country on the National Day of Prayer. We are the only ones who have the potential power to turn America around before she plunges over the precipice she is headed for at breakneck speed! Together, we can turn the tide away from all the “-isms” I mentioned above that are eating away those self-evident rights given by our Creator.

I want to believe that America’s greatest days are still ahead, not in the past! But only sovereign grace can deliver us from our current spiritual and national disgrace and put us back on the path of righteousness that God will honor. And He can use our prayers as the catalyst!

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A Mother’s Day Meditation Mother’s Day—Second Sunday in May

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

1 Peter 3:1–2 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

Proverbs 31:27–28 The word “Mother” evokes a clear picture in our minds of a specific woman who fills, or has filled, that role for us. She is a woman who solidly anchors the home in partnership with her husband, and identifies this as a primary place for her fulfillment and ministry. It is very unfortunate that today’s women are being cajoled and intimidated into thinking that being a wife and mother is somehow less worthwhile than a job outside the home. Millions of mothers have traded the highest, holiest, and hardest calling on earth for one with far less spiritual, familial, fulfilling, or societal impact.

I am not saying that all wives and mothers should stay at home during their entire lifetime. A study of Proverbs 31 supports an extensive list of opportunities for the “wife of noble character” (verse 10). A mother buys products, creates merchandise with her hands, arranges for food for the family and staff, buys and manages property, opens her arms to the poor and needy, sees to the physical needs of her family (including clothes and bedding!), etc. (verses 13–27).

Wow! She is a multitasking woman of excellence inside and outside the home—all with the blessing of God, her husband, and her children.

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Bringing honor and glory to God in her marriage and through motherhood are the foundation for all she does.

A woman’s position as mother is indeed a high and holy calling. Her children will have no trouble understanding Ephesians 5:24 because they can see it played out in the behavior of their mom: “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Does this mean she will do it perfectly? Of course not—no more than Dad will perfectly love Mom and sacrifice for her (verses 25–30). It’s not that this position will be accomplished with no missteps or even outright sin. It’s that the children will see their parents model forgiveness, repentance, and restoration, uniting to obey the command to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (verse 21).

I think we should look at the topic of submission a little further since it is a sticking point in our society today, even among Christians. It is blown off as archaic and irrelevant in a world that believes it has come of age with feminine fulfillment. It’s important to understand that just because the word submission has been abused through carnality and immaturity does not justify hitting the delete key and eliminating the word from the Bible. Nor do we have the freedom to adjust our theology of marriage by replacing the principle with a position that freely interchanges the roles of masculinity and femininity.

It was God who determined what the roles should be. These assignments were not voted on by Adam and Eve after they had experimented with various combinations of job descriptions. No, God said the man was to be the leader, the woman the follower. The man was to protect and take care of her and the family. She would be his helper and bear the children. Submission by both of them to Christ, and then to each other, and finally the woman to the man—this was God’s idea. In particular, the woman’s submission to her husband does not mean she is inferior or a slave with no rights. After expressing her insight on a particular issue, she agrees with God to let her husband decide when there is a tie vote. She looks to the Lord for her joy and fulfillment whether or not her husband makes perfect decisions.

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Our homes and churches—and the world—need to see more women of God rather than women of the world. Our daughters need to see mothers who are intentionally submitting to the leadership of Christ. Let me encourage you ladies to become women of God as a lasting Mother’s Day gift to your husband and children. Then your family will join together and proclaim this to be true: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:29–31

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Onward Christian Soldiers

Memorial Day—Last Monday in May (also for Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, and Patriot Day) Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

2 Timothy 2:3–4 Ever since the events of 9/11, we have been fighting the “war on terrorism.” This has been a new kind of war for us as Americans. It is a sinister war without borders. The enemy has successfully infiltrated us from within. He doesn’t wear a uniform, so we can’t recognize him. There are no safe zones where we can securely hide. Thousands of American lives have been lost.

In addition to this war on terrorism, we have rogue regimes to deal with. Not only do we have to contend with weapons of mass destruction, we also have to face the more insidious weapons of chemical and biological warfare.

The Bible is soberingly clear that human history will always be filled with war, right to the very end of civilization as we know it.

Daniel prophesied that “war will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed” (9:26). And Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6–7).

Ultimately, history will end with a series of escalating wars that will be consummated by the final great world war of history, initiated by the Lord Jesus from heaven, as recorded in Revelation.

How are we to respond to war as Christians? Are we to be pacifists or activists, peaceniks or warmongers, expansionists or isolationists? Regardless of how we answer these questions, all of us Christians must awaken to the reality that we are all at war.

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As we remember the millions of American soldiers who have died, served, or are currently deployed all over the world, we Christians must also realize that we have been similarly deployed by our Commander-in-Chief, the Lord Jesus! Tragically, the majority of American Christians act as though there is no war going on. We act as if the Christian life is welfare, not warfare! Many of our troops are AWOL—absent without leave. We have retreated from the battlefront. We come to church, sit around the barracks, and polish our boots and brass.

Why? We are a post-war generation like the generations following Joshua’s death. Both in society and in the Church, we have a generation who need to be “taught warfare” because they have little or no “previous battle experience.” As a result, we too have compromised with the people among whom we live, and have “served their gods” (Judges 3:1–6).

It is time for us to prepare for war. We have a far greater enemy than any dictator or terrorist: Satan. He is the archenemy of our souls. And the only way we will turn the tide and win the battle is for us to regain the mentality of a soldier. We need to have a warfare mentality in how we view at least five areas: the world, our fellow man, our Savior, our Church, and our mission. We need to have warfare thinking, praying, giving, and going.

We are living in the greatest and most challenging days of human history. It is time for those in the slumbering ecclesiastical giant called the Church to heed the call: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14). It is time to “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12).

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The High Calling of Fatherhood Father’s Day—Third Sunday in June

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 Father’s Day is when we honor our fathers, the men who provided for us, loved us, and protected us. I was very fortunate to have a father who loved the Lord and lived his whole adult life in dedicated service to Him as a local pastor. He did remarkably well in that role even though he struggled with some masculine deficiencies. His natural father died when he was a young boy, and his stepfather was an abusive alcoholic.

Dad and I shared a lot of common interests like a love for animals, exploring the great outdoors, travel, camping, and hunting.

We were both collectors and fixers who never threw anything away that we thought we could save, repair, and use later!

Thankfully, my dad had a Christian worldview even before the term was popular. Because of a yearlong trip around the world with my mother after their marriage, he kept foreign missions a top priority in our family values. He and mother reared us as Great Commission Christians rather than as parochial ones.

My father died suddenly while I was a senior in college. It was the night of my very first date with Patt. I was deeply saddened to no longer have him as a role model, mentor, and friend—just before I was to graduate from college and enter seminary to prepare to go into full-time Christian work. While I know God is sovereign and good, I will always have a wishful longing that Dad could have lived long enough to be a part of my life and ministry, to meet Patt, our children, and our grandchildren. That will have to wait until heaven.

I want to encourage you dads to intentionally devote yourselves 37

to living as godly fathers. I am not suggesting that you will attain perfection, but I want to urge you to at least struggle in that direction. I have done a brief study of six fatherly attributes for you to think about and pray over, things that I hope will empower you to be a great dad to your children: Maturity: A father should manifest spiritual and sexual maturity (wisdom) through his masculinity. Twice, the Apostle John summarizes fatherhood with these words: “I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning” (1 John 2:13, 14).

Marriage: The father’s role is to prepare his children for marriage by demonstrating what a healthy marriage looks like. The long-range goal of marriage is the biblical reason given for a son’s leaving home (Genesis 2:24).

Messenger: Fathers are to be in lifelong communication with their Heavenly Father, spouse, and children as the God-ordained authority in the home (Proverbs 4).

Modeling: Fathers are to set a positive example of spiritual headship and servant-leadership in the home for children to follow, imitate, and emulate. The Apostle Paul was a good spiritual father who urged young Christians to follow his example (1 Corinthians 4:14–16).

Mercy: The authority of authentic fathers is never hard, harsh, autocratic, or dictatorial. His fatherly leadership is that of a servant to his wife and children (Psalm 103:13).

Ministry: God calls every father to be a full-time minister— not just the preachers, pastors, evangelists, and missionaries.

Just as Jesus was always doing His Father’s work, so should we (John 5:17).

These, then, are some of the major characteristics of a father as revealed in the Bible. The restoration of authentic fatherhood is the greatest need in our world today. There can be no more high, holy, or humbling calling!

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The Civil War Continues Independence Day—July 4

Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Matthew 12:25 Patriotic Fourth of July greetings in the dual love of God and country! As we celebrate, let us remember that the Bible is very clear: Christians are to be the best citizens possible of the country in which God has sovereignly placed them. We have the dual roles of submitting to and praying for those in spiritual and political authority over us (Romans 13:1–7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13–14). But as many of our brethren in non-democratic countries know, it is not always easy to submit to pagan and prejudiced governmental authorities who are unjust, incompetent, corrupt, and self-serving.

The Founding Fathers of America had a different political vision for their young country. It would be a republic that was based on the revolutionary principle of “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” The government would be voted in by free elections where every citizen had the privilege of the ballot box.

America could be a place where the lowliest citizen could rise to the highest positions of political power.

Wisely, the Founding Fathers clearly understood that this new political dream could only succeed if it were based upon morality, equality, freedom, individual rights, private ownership of property, and the fair and equal rule of law. Both the spiritual laws and legislated laws must be based on the principles of the Judeo-Christian faith. America’s greatness would be determined by her goodness and godliness. If she ceased to be good, she would cease to be great.

The first big test for this fledgling new democracy was the Revolutionary War for independence from Great Britain. After much bloodshed that tested the resolve of the colonists, freedom and in39

dependence were declared on July 4, 1776. A new page in human history was written with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

The next great test of ideas, beliefs, and wills would be the Civil War, when brother turned against brother. The catalytic issue was that of slavery. Would there indeed be “liberty and justice for all,” or just for the whites? The Union would ultimately prevail, but it would take generations for the nation to fully heal.

Racial, cultural, and political wounds still exist to this very day.

America is divided as strongly as ever. Marriage, abortion, sexuality, health care, and taxation are some of the primary battlefronts in this ongoing war.

Sadly, believers have also become more conformed to the world than transformed by the Word (Romans 12:1–2). Far too many American churches and Christians have either given up the fight in the cultural wars or surrendered to the enemy. Many are AWOL altogether from the battle.

It is only through authentic revival that America will rise to moral and political greatness again. Without it, America will continue her precipitous moral decline. And like all great nations in history, her internal decay will predict and predicate her external decline.

As Jesus said, “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.” A nation that thumbs her nose at morality and turns her back on God cannot long survive. But by contrast, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

On this July Fourth, my exhortation is what Paul wrote to young Timothy: “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). He also urged Timothy to personally flee from the “love of money” that had caused many Christians in his day to “wander from the faith and pierce themselves with many griefs.” The only antidote was the higher pursuit of “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:10–11).

May God give us an authentic revival that can again lead to political virtue rather than vice. Only then can America—or any nation—rise to true moral greatness in the world!

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Hands That Bring Reward Labor Day—First Monday in September

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 What skills are in your hands? Do you have the hands of a father, mother, farmer, carpenter, mason, plumber, doctor, teacher, artist, etc.? We were created to work because God is a working God. “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work” (Genesis 2:2).

In Acts 28:1–10, we see Paul’s servant leadership through the storm and the serpent—both attacks of Satan. On the island of Malta, Paul helped build the fire to warm the shipwrecked crew, and a serpent came out and bit his hand. As an evangelist and entrepreneur, Paul’s hands were vital for his work and worship. Remember that Satan always attacks you at your point of strength to weaken or destroy your work and worship.

Because of the serpent’s bite, Paul’s hands were hurt hands, which all of us have. Before God could use Paul’s hands to heal the father of the chief official on the island, He had to first heal the hurt hand. Paul’s hands then became hands of blessing.

We too must shake off the serpents of Satan. We must have the cleansing blood of Christ heal the poison of the serpent in our lives.

Only when our hurt hands have become healed hands and holy hands can they be healing hands.

So on this Labor Day, let’s briefly look at three primary roles of hands in Scripture: Working Hands: After Jesus healed a paralyzed man on the Sabbath, He told the Jewish leaders, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17).

If God is mightily at work, we must be also! “As long as it is 41

day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Follow Paul’s example: “We worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you” (2 Thessalonians 3:8).

Warring Hands: The Christian life is one of spiritual warfare, not spiritual welfare. We are not called to a spiritual vacation, but to a military vocation—soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3)! We are not called to a church picnic, but to a lifelong spiritual battle. “Put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11), and “fight the battle well” (1 Timothy 1:18), so that you can be like the Apostle Paul at the end of his life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Worshiping Hands: We were created to worship God: “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands” (Psalm 63:4). However, our heart and our hands need to be in the right place before we worship.

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3–4). Once again, we look to Paul: “I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing” (1 Timothy 2:8).

Remember again that only sanctified hands can become servant’s hands for God’s glory and for the good of others. So pray to the Lord and dedicate your hands to Him so that He can use them as working, warring, and worshiping hands.

Remember that Jesus has eternal nail scars in His hands as proof of His love for you. His hands were pierced with nails so that your hands could be cleansed, anointed, and free. He wants your hands to be His hands, used exclusively for His honor and glory!

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Lessons from a Grandparent

Grandparents’ Day—First Sunday after Labor Day Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:4–5 The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.

Psalm 102:28 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

2 Timothy 1:5 You may have heard the saying, “If I had known how wonderful grandchildren were going to be, I would have had them first!” For most of us, that’s true. Patt and I have found this grand relationship much less stressful than parenting, although it carries its own kind of spiritual burden. We try to see ourselves as the supporting cast for the primary actors, the parents, and have always prayed that our help would be of value, like cheerleaders cheering their team on the playing field.

On that note, here are some of the principles that apply to those of us in the grandparenting role as we consider the Scriptures above.

Sovereignty: God is fully in control of all areas of life. This assurance gives us a measure of livable peace, especially when we see our children making child-rearing decisions that we would have made differently.

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Truth: God’s truth will prevail and triumph, whether or not we live to see it, and whether or not we correctly model the victorious Christian life at this phase in our lives.

Honor: Children are to honor their father and mother. As strongly as we are able, we are to reinforce and promote the fifth commandment. We want the only commandment with a promise to be true for our grandchildren.

Relationships: Our God is the only relational God in the world, so relationships are of supreme importance to Him. The greatest route to happiness and holiness is to love God and others—beginning with family members.

Reconciliation: There is not a family alive that has not, or will not, face some degree of conflict or alienation. If there are struggles at the parental or sibling levels, grandparents can thoughtfully “offer” to be a bridge toward forgiveness and reconciliation between the warring parties. If the conflict is because of us, we need to repent and ask forgiveness.

Transparency: The Lord honors truthfulness in our relationships. However, a wise grandparent prays much before offering his perspective on the truth, covering all comments with love and humility. We should withhold opinions until God gives the go-ahead.

Thinking: Even grandparents have an infinite capacity for rationalization and self-justification. We must intentionally take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.

Once our thinking is under Christ’s control, our speech will be pleasant, seasoned as it were with salt—and some sugar!

Prayer: Grandchildren are greatly encouraged knowing that their grandfather and grandmother regularly pray for them, whether they are with them or away from them. It’s a gift that bears much fruit and can be a sort of spiritual safety net in young minds when they hear those prayers at bedtime, mealtime, and during sickness or stress.

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Faithfulness: God is faithful and will neither leave us nor forsake us. His unconditional love never fails. His mercies are still new every morning.

We can trust the Lord to provide us grandparents with wisdom, patience, and joy. What wondrous love is this!

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Unmasking Halloween Halloween—October 31

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Ephesians 5:8 It is that day of the year when our children go through their annual metamorphosis from little cherubs to ghosts, goblins, witches, and vampires. They will excitedly attend school Halloween carnivals and prowl through a haunted house amidst shrieks and screams of fearful delight. Later, they will go trick-or-treating in their neighborhood, to be greeted by scowling jack-o’-lanterns, scary skeletons, and flying witches. Their wish is to be met by generous hosts who will fill their bags with candy, gum, and other goodies that will make their next visit to the dentist a real nightmare!

Due to the historical roots of Halloween, I cannot see it as innocent fun for children. I think it is a subtle step in anesthetizing them spiritually to the disguises and deceit of the devil. After all, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

That means that he makes evil look good, perversion look pure, and a lie look like the truth!

Halloween dates back to a practice of the ancient Celtic civilization. Their New Year began on November 1st, and the night before was to reverence Samhain, the Lord of the Dead. It was also when the souls of the dead returned to their former homes. If a proper “treat” were not awaiting to appease them, then they would respond with an appropriate “trick.” In order to fool and evade the spirits, some would dress up and masquerade as evil spirits, witches, ghosts, and ghouls. The perverted climax of this dark night was animal and human sacrifice to placate Samhain. The remains were then burned in “bone fires,” from which we get the popular “bonfire.”

Much of our modern Halloween paraphernalia comes from pagan 46

practices such as witchcraft. The most important celebration for witchcraft practitioners was known as the “Black Sabbath,” which occurred on October 31st. It was that feast that gave us witches on broomsticks, black cats, skulls, and pumpkins.

Early in the life of the church, there was a movement to honor the lives of certain church leaders and martyrs of the faith. Over time, they came to be called “saints.” Eventually, there were more saints than there were individual days to honor them. The solution seemed to be to consolidate the remembrance of all of them into one special day called “All Saints’ Day” on November 1st. This was an apparent attempt to coincide with the ancient festival of Samhain.

A day that started out as simply a remembrance of the saints progressed to a reverence for the saints and finally ended in a worship of the saints. The night before evolved into “All Hallows’ Eve” and eventually to “Halloween.”

So, what is a concerned Christian parent to do in the face of this history and such strong cultural pressures from friends to observe Halloween today? This requires an annual call for godly creativity to come up with positive alternatives for children. Here are some suggestions.

First, do some Bible study with your children on what God says about dabbling in any occult practices. Next, try a fall festival with games, costumes, refreshments, and a good movie. If your children still like to dress up, substitute costumes that honor the demonic realm for ones with no negative connotations. Decorate your home with colorful, seasonal fall decorations. If you carve a pumpkin, give it a smile or a happy face. Tape a positive Gospel tract to the candy you give out.

As Christians, let’s be done with ghosts, witches, vampires, and monsters! Let’s leave that to the prince of darkness. And as Christians, we must focus on Jesus Christ, “the light of the world” (John 8:12).

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Submit to Governing Authorities

Election Day—First Tuesday after First Monday in November Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.

The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority.

1 Peter 2:13 In light of any election I think it is timely for us to reread the above biblical admonitions by the Apostles Paul and Peter. Obviously, they are just as relevant in the twenty-first century as they were in the first century.

When Paul wrote his exhortation to Christians to be “subject to the governing authorities,” Nero was on the throne in Rome. He was the fifth Roman emperor and reigned over the Empire from AD 54 to 68. The captured Paul appealed to Caesar—who was Nero at the time—as a Roman citizen (Acts 25:1–12).

Many Bible scholars also believe that Peter wrote his admonition around the time that Nero began his persecution of the church in AD 64. While the first years of Nero’s reign were promising, the latter parts were a disaster. He became increasingly erratic, paranoid, and psychotic. As a result, the Roman Senate ultimately decreed his death and replacement as the last in the line of Julius Caesar.

And while historians still debate the true facts about the burning of Rome, Nero definitely made the Christians his political scapegoats for this inferno to deflect the attention and suspicion away from him.

In all probability, both Paul and Peter suffered martyrdom under the reign of Nero. How ironic, then, that they penned these words of political submission and respect when this madman of Rome was on the throne, the one who fiddled while Rome burned, and the very one who would have them executed!

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While I am not in any way drawing a parallel between Nero and any American president, I am reminding us as Christians what our responsibility is before God and man. These passages in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 that were inspired and written through Paul and Peter could not be clearer. These truths from God stand eternally fixed in the heavens, whether or not the person on the political throne over us is of our party or the other, is conservative or liberal, or is for us or against us. It is still true that “the authorities that exist have been established by God.” But God reigns! He is still on the throne and “sovereign over all kingdoms on earth” (Daniel 4:17).

We do not live in a perfect theocracy today, but in a faulty democracy. Only Jesus Christ was the perfect incarnation and consistent demonstration of the principles He taught. All other leaders are flawed by sin, tarnished by the flesh, and manipulated by the devil.

Make sure you vote. Don’t throw your vote away when untold thousands have died on the battlefield to give you this freedom and responsibility. There are millions the world over who would give anything to be able to live in a democratic country where they could have a meaningful vote for the government officials who rule over them.

Before you go into the voting booth, go into your prayer closet.

Don’t let your focus be on the person, but on the principles, policies, and political platform that best represent the heartbeat of God as revealed in His Word. Also, give thanks this Election Day for our country and the freedoms and peace we enjoy. And let us be faithful to pray for the president and his family. Pray for their safety, for godly wisdom, and for joy. God Bless America!

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Unite with the Persecuted

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church— First Sunday in November Remember my chains.

Colossians 4:18 With these three compelling words above, Paul closed his letter to the Colossian church, a church he had never personally visited. It had been planted by his partner and co-worker, Epaphras (1:7). Paul was now writing to them from Rome where he was under house arrest (Acts 28:30). During this same time he wrote what are commonly called his Prison Epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians. Through them the Holy Spirit gives His deepest revelations on the nature of Christ and His Church.

In these letters, Paul also appropriately addressed the matters of persecution and suffering in the Christian life from his own personal experience. To the church at Ephesus Paul wrote: “I am an ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:20). He reminded the Philippian Christians: “I am in chains for Christ” (Philippians 1:13).

But Paul knew his imprisonment was by God’s design. “What has happened to me,” he wrote, “has actually served to advance the Gospel” (Philippians 1:12).

A few years later and shortly after Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, he was executed by the Romans. Tradition tells us that he was beheaded. But like righteous Abel and all others who have lived and died by faith, Paul “still speaks, even though he is dead” (Hebrews 11:4).

As a child I used to spend hours reading the Christian classic Foxe’s Book of Martyrs and looking at the often gruesome pictures of past saints who were “faithful, even to the point of death” (Revelation 2:10). It had a profound impact upon my young life. As I looked at the pictures, I often asked myself if I had the kind of courage to die for my faith.

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All around the world today, Christians are still being abused, beaten, arrested, imprisoned, and executed. Just like Paul wrote to exhort Christians whom he had never met to remember his chains, persecuted saints in other countries are asking us to do the same for them. That’s why we have the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. It is set aside for Christians in the West to remember and identify with the persecutions and sufferings of our brethren around the world. After all, there were more Christians martyred for their faith in the twentieth century than in all the previous nineteen centuries combined!

Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians of our spiritual unity in Christ: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). Likewise, the writer of Hebrews exhorted his Jewish Christian readers to “remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3).

We cannot fully understand God’s sovereignty in allowing some of His children to suffer poverty and persecution, while others experience peace and prosperity. However, we do clearly know that “from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).

If your local church is not already involved in this special prayer focus for our persecuted brethren, take the initiative and be an advocate for our brethren in the suffering church around the world. Say of them what Paul said of the suffering saints at Thessalonica: “Among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring” (2 Thessalonians 1:4).

So, please unite your love and prayers with all of our brethren around the world who are experiencing the “participation in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10).

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Thanks-Living and Thanks-Giving Thanksgiving Day—Fourth Thursday in November

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

2 Corinthians 9:6 It’s Thanksgiving, one of our favorite American holidays. For millions of us it will be a family-oriented day filled with lots of delicious food like turkey, ham, dressing, homemade rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams, cranberry sauce, green beans, and pumpkin pie.

Certainly every citizen should be giving thanks for the peace and prosperity that we continue to experience and enjoy as a nation.

America is still the land of opportunity like no other country on earth.

I also firmly believe that it is the Judeo-Christian foundation that our nation was established upon that makes America great. And a spirit of thanksgiving is one of the most important foundational virtues of our American society. It is true that the attitude of gratitude is one of the distinguishing marks of every true American citizen— and certainly of every authentic Christian.

However, in our increasingly consumer-oriented society, I fear that many of the simple virtues that helped make America great are being eroded away. Millions of us are feverishly rushing to and fro in the pursuit of things. We increasingly consume more and more for ourselves in the elusive search for that permanent satisfaction that we never can find through money and materialism.

We often live with the fantasy and illusion that rationalizes, “If I made more, I would give more.” In reality, the more we earn, the more our standard of living goes up—often further leveraged by debt.

The single greatest enemy of our standard of giving is our standard of living! That’s why the two greatest enemies of the cause of Christ locally and globally are affluence and apathy. This means that we are indulgent in our own greeds while we are indifferent to others’ needs.

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Early Christians who were living in the peace and prosperity of Corinth struggled with the same misplaced priorities. In the verse above, the Apostle Paul had to exhort them to a life of greater thanks-living and thanks-giving. This is the Law of Sowing and Reaping, and it is equally true in the spiritual realm as in the physical realm. You always reap in direct proportion to your sowing. It is absolutely impossible to do otherwise. Paul exhorted these Christians to sow generously so that they could reap generously, because in their thanksgiving they had only been sowing sparingly. He wanted them to be able to one day reap generously in the spiritual harvest that God’s Spirit made possible.

Paul shared this same principle with another group of Christians in Galatia, but his emphasis was on the type of seed that was being sown. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7–8).

As you reflect this Thanksgiving, what does your sowing record look like? Did you mostly sow in the flesh or in the Spirit? Was it sparing or was it generous? I lovingly encourage you to heed another exhortation from Paul: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9–10).

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The Divine Invasion Christmas Day—December 25

When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Galatians 4:4–5 As the popular song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

From Thanksgiving until December 24th, preparations intensify and expectations increase—especially among children and all those who are still young at heart. The Jewish people also had expectations and prayed for the advent of God’s promised Messiah for over a thousand years. That’s a long time to wait for Christmas! But finally, “when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman.”

From man’s perspective, the time for this divine invasion did not seem right. God’s calendar seemed to be out of sync with the realities of the world at that time. To most Jews, it seemed like the worst possible time for God to send His Messiah, especially as a helpless little baby. Nor did they want a Messiah who would “save his people from their sins,” as Gabriel had announced to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus (Matthew 1:21). It was not liberation from sin or holiness of life they were seeking. The only Messiah they wanted was a military Messiah who would ride in with divine fury and force Rome out of Palestine.

God’s sovereign manipulation and redemptive intervention into history always catches man off guard. That’s because God almost always does the unexpected, the unthinkable, and the unimaginable.

Christmas is the greatest proof! No one could ever have thought it up in advance. The Christmas event is not how we would have had God intervene in history. From our perspective, that’s not how a true Messiah would come into the world.

But Christmas annually reminds us that God is always right 54

on time—at least from His perspective. According to His celestial watch, it was in the exact fullness of time for Him to send forth His Son to redeem the world. All of history had been building toward this redemptive rendezvous since before time began (Revelation 13:8). And this divine invasion would forever split time. It would divide human history in two, between BC and AD. Christmas would give all of life a new direction!

From the very first moment of creation, Christmas was an absolute certainty. Man’s primal sin and fall from a state of spiritual innocence made Christmas a redemptive necessity. From God’s perspective, human history had been moving in a straight line: from the Garden of Eden to the manger of Bethlehem, from Adam and Eve to Joseph and Mary, and from the transcendent Creator to “Immanuel . . . God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

It is impossible to separate the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes from the Son of Man who was crucified, wrapped in a burial shroud, and laid in a tomb. And just as Jesus the Baby did not remain in the manger of Bethlehem, Jesus the Christ did not remain in the tomb outside Jerusalem. Redemption was secured by the resurrection. The resurrection was the next to last chapter in the Christmas narrative that will finally be consummated with the events of the Second Advent of Christ. Then His redemption will be followed by the restoration of Creation when God will make all things new (Revelation 21:5).

The great message of Christmas is that the sovereign eternal God not only created time, He entered into it in order to redeem it by the birth, life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

And He is redemptively working from within time for our blessing and benefit. That’s what Christmas is really all about!

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A Special Birthday You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

Joshua 13:1 Each year of life is an incredible gift of grace. But one year was especially sobering for me, partly because I turned the big 6-0. That was a significant chronological milestone for me since my own father died at 59, which was at the time of my senior year in college.

As a result of his relatively early death, as preachers we never had the opportunity of ministering together as adults. He obviously never lived to see this ministry. Also, he never lived to meet Patt, which was a great disappointment to both of us. Ironically, Dad died in Canton, NC, on the night of Patt’s and my first date in Kentucky, where we were in our last year of college. So Dad obviously never knew my children or grandchildren.

But by God’s grace I have lived to see each of my children grow up, accept Christ, be baptized, complete high school and college, travel and minister overseas with me, have their hearts for the poor and needy grow, and become Great Commission Christians with a passion for missions. I have also had the joy of marrying each of them to their spouses and seeing them start their own families.

To celebrate this milestone birthday, Patt and I, along with a small group of ministry friends, went to Tanzania in East Africa for what we called our “Caleb Climb.” We attempted to climb the famous Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world at 19,335 feet. Many people thought I had lost my mind to attempt this mountain climb at 60. But Caleb in the Old Testament was my inspiration. He was 80 years old when he asked God, “Now give me this hill country” (Joshua 14:12). If he could ask God for a mountain at 80, I could boldly ask God for Mount Kilimanjaro at 60!

Another good biblical example is Joshua. “When Joshua had 56

grown old, the Lord said to him, ‘You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over’” (Joshua 13:1).

This verse reminds us that whether or not we are old, it does not mean that we can retire, relax, or recreate. Even though Joshua had lived a long, faithful, and fruitful life, the Lord still reminded him of the unconquered and unoccupied territories of the Promised Land that still had to be taken over. Likewise, we need to cease wandering around in the wilderness and constantly falling back toward Egypt, and instead take the higher ground in His Promised Land for us.

Why do you think the Lord has kept you alive for the time that you have lived? He has not given you life and kept you alive just so you could do your own thing, live for yourself, and build your own little kingdom. He has kept you and me alive so that we could live

by His promises and fulfill His purposes for our lives.

Each year is a gift of grace that the Lord has allowed us to see.

So regardless of what birthday you are celebrating, let’s take new territory for His glory and for the good of others. It is only when we are committed to a lifestyle of constantly taking higher ground that we will glorify God by fulfilling His highest purposes for our lives!

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The Calling of Marriage The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. . . .” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Genesis 2:23–24 Marriage is a calling before it is a choosing: it is God’s call for man and woman. It is His call to go from parents to a mate, individualism to identity, and isolation into intimacy. There are 10 calls of marriage as you ponder your upcoming marriage ceremony: commitment, church, commission (reach the world), crucifixion (dying to self), character, communication, compassion, contentment, creativity, and communion (oneness).

As you prayerfully prepare to exchange your marital vows, I remind you that nothing is easier than speaking words and making verbal commitments. However, you are not committing yourself to a human contract, but to a holy covenant. It will only be through a daily reliance on His indwelling Holy Spirit that you will be able to live out these vows. So, I pray that God “may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you [be] rooted and established in love” (Ephesians 3:16–17). Then you will be able to live out the vows you are about take.

You will vow to each other: “I take you as my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish; till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge you my faith.”

And as you prepare to put wedding rings on each other’s fingers, remember that the wedding ring is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. It signifies to all present the uniting of man and woman in holy marriage, through the Church of Jesus 58

Christ our Lord. You will vow to each other: “As a token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love, with this ring I thee wed in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!”

Husband-to-be, are you prepared to take your fiancé to be your wedded wife; to live together in the holy estate of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, and keep her? As the Bible says, Will you live with her according to knowledge and understanding, so that your prayers not be hindered? Will you always strive to love her as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her? Will you love her at all times and under all conditions? Will you cleave to her emotionally, mentally, and physically as your only lover? Will you always seek to live with her in such a way that she will be nurtured as a godly woman? And will you constantly strive by the power of His Holy Spirit to do all this until Christ requires your presence with Him? Wife-to-be, are you prepared to take your fiancé to be your wedded husband; to live together in the holy estate of marriage? Will you also love him, comfort him, honor him, and keep him? As the Bible says, Will you respect him and acknowledge him as your spiritual head, and therefore be submissive to him as unto the Lord, just as the Church is submissive to Christ? Will you love him at all times and under all conditions? Will you always cleave to him emotionally, mentally, and physically as your only lover? Will you seek to love and support him as God’s man and minister? And will you constantly strive by the power of His Holy Spirit to do all this until Christ requires your presence with Him? Through your upcoming marriage commitment, give yourselves to each other unreservedly. Everything you have and everything you are belongs to each other. From this coming moment on, the two become one!

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Dear New Christian For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8–9 Congratulations on your decision to give your life to Jesus Christ!

You are now a part of the family of God. This decision is the single most important one of your life. It will radically impact your living for time and eternity. That’s because only Jesus can give you new life, abundant life, and eternal life—and all three levels of life became yours when you put your faith in Him. Prior to salvation, we all lived in what the Bible calls spiritual death. This is the same spiritual state that every human is born into and lives in until they accept Jesus Christ as Savior (Ephesians 2:1–3). We were physically alive, but spiritually dead. Each of us was under the control of our sinful nature and dominated by evil desires, thoughts, and actions.

When we were helpless and hopeless, God sovereignly saved us through His great love, mercy, and grace! At that moment of spiritual transformation, we moved from death to life (John 5:24).

Paul wrote letters to encourage new Christians who had questions. Some were struggling with guilt over how they had lived and what they had done before they accepted Jesus. They feared that God would never forgive them for the evil things they had done. So, Paul reminded them, “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Everything changed because of Jesus. Believers were now “sanctified” and “justified” through their faith in Him. These words are biblical descriptions of what has happened to you spiritually.

They mean that you have been spiritually changed and transformed.

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You have become a Christian by being “saved” (Ephesians 2:8) or “born again” (John 3:3).

Remember that you instantaneously received both new life and eternal life when you accepted Christ Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Both of these are present and future realities. Eternal life is not something that you have to die to experience. You start experiencing it the moment you receive new life in Christ and it extends throughout eternity. Nothing or no one can ever take this spiritual life away from you! That’s because your spiritual life has its source and security in God (John 10:28–30).

While God has been the Initiator of your salvation, you must be the initiator of your sanctification. Salvation is about birth. Sanctification is about growth. Salvation makes you a child of God. Sanctification makes you a mature man or woman of God. Salvation takes place in a moment. Sanctification takes place over a lifetime. You must do some studying and growing to enjoy and manifest the abundant life God wants you to experience and enjoy now on earth on your way to heaven.

We Christians experience and enjoy many of the blessings and benefits of the “kingdom of God” or the “kingdom of heaven” here on earth in the meantime. Living out the priorities and principles of God is an exciting and fulfilling kingdom adventure from start to finish! So, my new Christian friend, go for it! Live out the adventure He designed for you from before He created the world (Ephesians 2:10). You will never regret it! It will not always be easy or simple, but it is the only way you will experience authentic purpose, lasting happiness, and total fulfillment in life.

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Getting Baptized Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 When a newborn infant comes into this world, it is covered with blood and the amniotic fluid from the mother’s womb. As a result, the baby needs to be immediately washed, bathed, and cleansed.

God said He metaphorically did the same thing for Israel when she was a helpless newborn infant (Ezekiel 16:4–7). In the same way, you and I were washed by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ.

This is symbolized by our water baptism.

Oftentimes Satan tries to make the unregenerate person feel that they must first clean up their lives before they can come to Christ.

They wrongly believe that they must first wash themselves clean from their bad thoughts, behavior, and habits and then come to Christ. But that is impossible! We can’t wash ourselves spiritually and make ourselves morally clean any more than an infant can wash itself. That is a cleansing work that only Christ can do through His Holy Spirit.

So, we must first of all be born of the Spirit through faith in Christ, and then we can be washed by the Spirit. Being born of the Spirit is the work of regeneration and being washed by the Spirit is the ongoing work of sanctification. Regeneration results in our spiritual justification before God (1 Corinthians 6:11). The process of sanctification results in our moral maturation before man (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

It is this baptism of the Holy Spirit that produces the new birth that then places us into the Body of Christ. As Paul said, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body . . . and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13). This 62

Spirit baptism places us into the “one body,” which is the Church.

It is then symbolized by water baptism. After his conversion on the Damascus Road, Saul (Paul) heard these words from God: “Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). Much later Paul himself wrote, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5–6).

When we demonstrate our faith and obedience in water baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38), we are affirming a two-fold identification. First, we testify to our identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:1–11; Galatians 3:27). Secondly, we are identifying with some local expression of His one body, the Church. Even though Paul was personally converted by Christ on the Damascus Road, he still needed to be involved in a local body of believers, so Barnabas “brought him to Antioch” and he became involved with the church there (Acts 11:22–26).

Tragically, rather than emphasizing the true meaning of water baptism, we Christians through the ages have largely been divided over baptism. There is indeed only one baptism, and if the act of baptism is not symbolizing one’s faith in Christ Jesus as Lord—regardless of the mode—it is little more than empty tradition, meaningless liturgy, or pagan superstition.

So, as the writer to the Hebrews said, “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).

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The Miraculous Marriage You have saved the best till now.

John 2:10 Our 50th wedding anniversary was a marital event that both Patt and I were amazed and awed to have lived to experience. This was especially the case for me since my father died when he was 59 (and my mother at 70). They did not have too many anniversaries after their silver anniversary. Patt’s parents did live long enough to celebrate their golden anniversary, and did so with us in India where we built and dedicated a church in their honor.

Patt and I are overwhelmed with God’s goodness in giving us this many years of life, love, learning, and leadership. And He continues to bless us with good spiritual, marital, and physical health and joy in the journey. We have found the words of Nehemiah true in our marriage and ministry: “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Our testimony is indeed summed up by the above words of Scripture. As we continue to seek to live humbly and obediently before Him and each other, we are finding the principle true from the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee: “You have saved the best till now.” Through active faith and obedience, the servants had to first “fill the jars with water” (John 2:7). And that does not mean that we fill our marriage with the worldly water of materialism, ungodly counsel, or pop psychology. We must constantly fill it with the water of the Word. Only then will the Lord Jesus do the miraculous in our marriage and turn the water into wine. Patt and I have learned through these five decades of marriage that if there is no water, there is no wine!

As we have lived out our golden years with all of their growing aches and pains, we remind ourselves and urge you to keep coming to His table with us. Drink deeply of His new wine of the Spirit, 64

enjoying everything Jesus died, rose again, and sent His Holy Spirit into our lives for. Then, our lives and marriage will continue to be a miraculous marital sign to others of His saving, sanctifying, and sustaining love, so that He will reveal His glory to the degree that others will also put their faith in Him (John 2:11). On that note, here are renewal vows to help strengthen your marriage: Husband: I love you, (Name), and am honored to have you as my wife. I call on God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and everyone present here to witness the promises that I now make to you. I promise to: • Leave my father and mother, cherish you as my wife, and be totally united with you.

• Love you and lead you, and give my life for you as Jesus loved the Church and gave His life for her.

• Take responsibility for you, protect you from all harm, and care for you as much as I care for my own body.

• Be faithful to you and never leave you as long as we both live.

Wife: I love you, (Name), and am honored to have you as my husband. I call on God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and everyone present here to witness the promises that I now make to you. I promise to: • Leave my father and mother’s house, treasure you as my husband, and be totally united with you in spirit, soul, and body.

• Love you and submit to you in all things as the Church submits to Jesus as her head.

• Give myself to you, respect you, and believe in you.

• Be faithful to you and never leave you as long as we both live.

Together: I have taken you as my marriage partner, and I renew my covenant to you: 65

To have and to hold To love and to cherish For better, for worse For richer, for poorer In sickness and in health Until we are separated by death.

And to this I give my promise: Where you stay, I will stay Your people will be my people And your God will be my God.

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Don’t Retire from Relationships A new command I give you: Love one another.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34 One of the privileges and securities of age is the benefit of experience and perspective. You have lived long enough to see and experience God’s great faithfulness through many seasons of life. Therefore, long-term friendships and relationships are one of the greatest blessings of life. Of course, our foundational friendship is with God through Jesus Christ. While we do not deserve to even be His slaves, He has called us “friends” and “brothers and sisters” (John 15:15; Hebrews 2:11). So whether in marriage, ministry, or missions, the more mature the relationship, the greater the love, trust, fruitfulness, and joy!

One of the basic principles of life is this: the root determines the fruit. God said that a remnant of His people would “take root below and bear fruit above” (2 Kings 19:30; Isaiah 37:31). So, the deeper the root, the richer the fruit. We shouldn’t be surprised, then, that the Bible exhorts us to be “rooted and established in love” (Ephesians 3:17). And if we are rooted in love, then the dominant fruit of our lives will be agape love because “God is love” and “the fruit of the Spirit is love” (1 John 4:8; Galatians 5:22).

The Christian life is about loving people with the love of Christ.

As a result, we are to build loving, covenant relationships and not just functional relationships. Because God is a relational God, He calls and commissions us to make relationships our priority. That’s because relationships are the only things that outlast everything else.

Even though we are at retirement age, Patt and I are experiencing and enjoying the truth of that principle in both marriage and ministry. While this seventh decade is not the easiest season of our lives in some ways, it is definitely the most fruitful and fulfilling.

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Every day we thank God for our relational richness with each other, with our children, grandchildren, friends, and ministry partners!

None of our relationships is perfect. In a fallen, sinful, and selfish world, there are no perfect relationships. But they are still our highest calling, our top priority, and our greatest joy in life!

Through the Spirit and Word, we have sought to be deeply rooted in the love of the Lord Jesus. We have also sought to be deeply rooted through love in our relationships. Short-term, casual, and superficial relationships are never fulfilling or fruitful. So we have sought to go for depth before breadth in our relationships. God has graciously honored this beyond our wildest dreams! As a result of investing our lives in these wonderful people God has sovereignly connected us with, we are seeing both depth and breadth of impact for the Kingdom of God “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

It is because of these wonderful Kingdom-building relationships that retirement is not in my vocabulary and not on my radar screen!

The words relationship and retirement are mutually exclusive concepts. We do not retire from relationships in marriage or ministry— at least, we were never supposed to. God doesn’t retire from His relationship with us. Neither can we retire from our relationships with others. I could not imagine retiring from my marriage with Patt or my relationships with my children, grandchildren, friends, or ministry partners.

At this stage in life, even if we may retire from a “nine-to-five” job, we need to refire and redeploy! And through the good, bad, and ugly, we are to hang in there and keep trying to deepen and enrich relationships as long as God gives us life.

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Confronting Death Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many.

Hebrews 9:27–28 One of man’s oldest and most desperate questions is that asked by Job: “If someone dies, will they live again?” (Job 14:14). It is interesting to see in this age-old question our own reticence to speak of death. We also fear thinking about death or talking about it, either in general or about our own death in particular. Perhaps our reasoning is, if we think or talk about it, we will invite it prematurely upon ourselves. So, it’s best to not go there.

Man fears death for many reasons. It is the great unknown, the “far country” from which no traveler has yet returned (discounting, of course, the resurrection of Christ). We fear that it will permanently destroy cherished human relationships. Man was created by God for relationships, and the quality of those relationships determines the quality of one’s life. Therefore, man fears that death will forever bring an end to those precious relationships.

We also fear death because we believe that it might forever bring an end to meaningful activity. Man was created for activity, productivity, and to achieve meaningful goals in life. As Solomon observed, “I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work” (Ecclesiastes 3:22). So we fear that death will bring an end to meaningful labor and we’ll be reduced to a state of non-existence or inactivity.

The greatest certainty of life is death. Death is the ultimate statistic of life. Unless we live until the rapture, none of us get out of this life alive. That’s why the Bible, history, contemporary events, and personal experiences regularly remind us of the absolute certainty of our mortality.

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One of the most important things that parents should do is prepare their children how to handle death. When a grandparent dies, for example, we unconsciously sense that our parents serve as buffers between death and us. However, when a parent dies, there is no way to escape the reality that our generation is next in line. So every day, people are preparing for death either carefully or casually, either hopefully or haphazardly.

The Spirit said to John in his Revelation, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13). Note that crucial phrase “in the Lord.” That reminds us that every human being either dies in the Lord or outside the Lord. Physical death seals our spiritual state for all eternity. Or as the writer of Hebrews summarized, “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). No reincarnation. No second chances. No reruns. It is death and then judgment.

For every believer, death is not the end of the story, but the eternal beginning. Death is only an exodus from all the bondages of this life, a sleep from which to be awakened, and a departure to our eternal home! Because of the resurrection of Christ, death results in gain, not loss (Luke 19:17), joy rather than sorrow (Matthew 25:21), pleasure instead of pain (Psalm 16:11), heaven and not hell, and eternal blessings rather than eternal banishment (Matthew 8:12; 13:50; Luke 13:28).

In view of all this, there is an important question for you to answer. Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life? It is not a future experience, but a present reality! (John 5:24). Only confessing your sin to God and accepting Him into your life can guarantee that you will have eternal life. Decide now!

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The Seasons of Life There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 As the Creator of time, God has sovereignly divided time into seasons, and it is the heavenly bodies that largely determine these seasons (Genesis 1:14). The seasons of life are also always changing; they never remain static. One season soon gives way to the next.

In seeking to understand the Old Testament, we must remember that it was written primarily to a people who were agriculturalists and pastoralists. Therefore, much of the language is filled with practical down-to-earth pictures, parables, and examples that farmers and herders could easily understand and relate to.

It is also crucial to understand that God divided the year for the Jewish people around their natural agricultural seasons. All seven of the festivals of Judaism are agricultural and each had a spiritual dimension. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the three festivals in spring through His First Coming, the summer festival through the sending of the Holy Spirit and giving birth to the Church, and will perfectly fulfill the remaining three in the fall at His Second Advent.

It is easy to know from the calendar which natural season we are in. But only God’s Spirit, speaking through His Word, can show us which spiritual season of life we are in. Let’s look at the natural and spiritual seasons of life and seek their application to our lives.

During some of the slower times of winter, like a farmer we need to pause, take stock, ask ourselves some hard questions, and do some reprioritizing of our lives. Will the next season be any different than the last ones? Will I basically be in the same old rut next season that I am in this season? After you have prayed and pondered, it is time to make some decisive preparations for the coming seasons (Proverbs 16:3).

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Spring is a time of new life, new birth, new beginning, and new direction—both in the agricultural and spiritual realms. When it comes time for planting, we must be very careful in our seed selection. And we must sow generously in all of the areas we want to reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6). After we have done our part in sowing seeds, it is God who will make them grow (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Many people in the West tend to think of the summer season as a time of vacation. However, summer is generally not a time of vacation for farmers. It is one of their busiest and most productive times.

They know that if they are slack in the summer, they will starve in the fall (Proverbs 10:5). God meant it to be a major time of oversight and anticipation!

When a farmer has faithfully done his job during these other seasons, then fall will become a truly rewarding time. It will be the time when he really begins to reap the harvest of all his hard work.

Fall is a time of great pleasure rather than pain when we have lived

by God’s principles.

If we apply these spiritual farming principles to our lives, then we will be able to go through each of the seasons of life guided and guarded by God’s wisdom. God really does want us to enjoy life. He is not some celestial Scrooge who wants our lives to be miserable, unhappy, and unfulfilled. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

One of the verses that should be a prayer for each of us is Psalm 90:12: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Where we have failed in one of our seasons of life, we must repent and ask God to begin the work of restoration (Joel 2:25). Then we move forward into the next season of life with His grace and peace.

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While We Wait Patt Williams

Table of Contents Preface.............................................................................................77 A Difficult Season...........................................................................79 The Privilege...................................................................................81 Eyes to See......................................................................................83 Broken.............................................................................................85 Two Legacies..................................................................................87 The Tape—Part One........................................................................89 Barefoot in the Park(-ing Lot).........................................................91 Watching and Ready.......................................................................93 Relationships...................................................................................95 The Three . . . and Then the One.....................................................97 Trash Removal................................................................................99 Our Comfort..................................................................................101 The Tape—Part Two.....................................................................103 The Vision.....................................................................................105 The Time Is Now..........................................................................107 Little Exits.....................................................................................109 Thoughts on Grandparenting........................................................111 Perseverance.................................................................................113 While I Wait..................................................................................114 Two Bones to Pick........................................................................116

Caesar............................................................................................118 Extravagance.................................................................................120 One Weak Sheep...........................................................................122 Stolen. Returned. Restored...........................................................124 The Battle......................................................................................126 One Defining Moment..................................................................128 Coasting........................................................................................130 Lost...............................................................................................131 Another Look at Grief...................................................................133 The Dirt and the Glory..................................................................135 The Unending Name.....................................................................137

Preface . . . while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:13 All of us as Christians look forward to Jesus’ Second Coming when we will be in His glorious presence, a place of peace and joy. But as we wait for that day, God still has much to teach us and much for us to do.

There are many who need to hear about the salvation found only in Jesus Christ. Some will hear about that salvation because we also fed and clothed them, looked after the sick, befriended the strangers, and visited those in prison (Matthew 25:31–40).

You will see the Holy Spirit mentioned a lot in the following pages. I have always known Him as a co-equal part of the Trinity, but since my husband’s death, my knowledge of Him has become more intimate. I am deeply thankful that He has been my ever-present and patient Teacher as I’ve waited for the Lord’s return. This short book relates some of ways He has guided me throughout my lifetime until now.

Most of the topics are meant to stand alone, allowing the book to be read as a 31-day devotional. I pray you will see the thread of a very faithful and active God in all of them.

No manuscript gets to book form in a vacuum. I’m grateful to family and friends who prayed for me, cheered me on, and helped with ideas. But I would like to thank three people in particular. My son Joseph never stopped urging, begging, nagging me to work on another book. Dr. Matthew Byrd was an invaluable proofreader and provided so much literary advice. Vincent Graves used his talents for layout and cover design, and took care of all the remaining details to bring it to its completed form.

So, dear friends, until the glorious day of Christ’s appearing, 78

let’s continue to dedicate ourselves to being His hands and feet in a hurting and dying world, sharing the Good News of eternal life found only in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Serving the Lord with you, while we wait, Patt For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Habakkuk 2:3

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A Difficult Season Many parts of this devotional were put together during March and April of 2020—a very difficult season because of COVID-19. At the time of writing, all students are studying from home, much smaller weddings are being arranged, no one can be with loved ones in hospitals or nursing homes, burials are private and memorial services postponed, employees have been let go, and the stock market has stayed on a roller-coaster ride because investors are spooked.

Most things will be clearer in retrospect, but right now we don’t know what’s going to happen, what the cure will be, or when it will end. If we could figure out a solution on our own, might we feel that we don’t need God quite so much?

One thing is for certain: God never wants us to live in a constant state of fear. The Lord will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3).

Part of God’s big plan for us is certainly to use this time with fewer distractions to reestablish relationships that have been sorely neglected because of our busy lives—starting with our relationship with Him. Social distancing has given us limitless alone-time to pray, worship, sing praises, and read Scripture.

We also have time to focus on relationships with family and friends, using a wide range of social media options. There is plenty of time for long conversations, prayer, and cheering on those who put themselves in harm’s way so we can be safe.

From your perspective, those of you who are reading this months or years later, did we go back to our busyness and old habits of neglecting time with the Lord and others? Did we apply the lessons we learned during our isolation? Or were we like someone “who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:23–24)?

God promises that we will be blessed if we don’t forget the things 80

we have learned, but do them (James 1:22). Personally, I’m praying that when this difficult season is over, you and I will have stood the test, kept the faith, and persevered under trial because we set our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things (James 1:12; Colossians 3:1–2). May we remember that nothing will ever happen that can keep us from living the victorious Christian life. Faith in God alone makes that possible.

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The Privilege Traveling through this fourth year without my husband, I’m aware of how much I have needed the Holy Spirit and how much I have learned about Him. But then, I’ve never needed Him like this before.

In my earlier grief, I came to understand how much He wanted me to turn to Him for all things, great and small, and how near He was to me. While the Lord provided family and friends to whom I could go for advice, I now had all the time I needed to apply Psalm 37:7: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

What a privilege to know that He was and is available at any time in my 24-hour day. That during our quiet times together, He’ll never excuse Himself to take a call on His cell phone. That He neither slumbers nor sleeps, and that nothing I say to Him catches Him off guard, even if I ask for things that are self-serving or misguided.

I certainly don’t deserve any of His attention or kindness and yet He continually offers them to me.

In the midst of various temptations, the “sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1), or painful trials that surprise us, we are to be confident that the Holy Spirit is there to intercede, strengthen, guide, and comfort. The victorious Christian life is possible! Even with disappointments, losses, illnesses, and struggles, the Holy Spirit is available to hear and help with our petitions. When we offer our praises and gratitude, God accepts them with great joy.

It’s a privilege to know that even when we don’t know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit does. In fact, He knows you and me so intimately that He groans for us in prayers that go beyond words (Romans 8:26). Such perfect love is beyond our human ability to 82

comprehend, but here, at our very finite level, we should be grateful—deeply grateful.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. . . .

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence? . . .

For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:1, 7, 13–14

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Eyes to See Because I’m a card-carrying member of a particular age group, I’ve had cataract surgeries. In recovery after my second one, my daughter April said I was quite chatty with all the doctors and nurses, but she promised me I didn’t say anything too weird. Wish I could remember that part because I apparently told the medical team my menu for Sunday lunch and invited all of them to come. They didn’t.

However, there were a few surprises for me as I looked in the bathroom mirror that next morning with two good eyes. First, my second cataract had been thick enough that I thought my skin had a natural tan to it. It doesn’t. It’s pasty. Second, I thought I was aging rather nicely with only a few wrinkles. Well, I’m not, and there are quite a few of them.

There were two more surprises. I found out that the bathroom sink was a brilliant white—not yellow. I had assumed the cleanser wasn’t working and I needed to try another brand. I also saw that my hair was white. I thought my hair was a dull grey and needed a special shampoo or rinse.

What I learned is how easy it is to become self-absorbed when one or more body parts are not working correctly. When I’m sick or in pain, it takes an intentional effort for me to perceive things positively and not whine or complain. But if I’m feeling well, I tend to forget the limitations of ill-health and the discouragement that can accompany it.

This experience has helped me step back and see people differently. Instead of hoping others will pay attention to my health problems or want to hear all the details of my latest illness, I’m working to see them first, to see their pain, their sickness.

So many people need someone who has a patient, understanding heart and a listening ear. Those of us who love the Lord should already know it’s not about us. With our focus on Jesus, we are to 84

go forward, willing to act out our faith in helping meet some of the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of others.

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:2 nasb

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Broken Quite unexpectedly, from one of the trees that tower over my front yard, a big limb fell onto my lovely dogwood tree. It shredded parts of other trees as it crashed its way down, including one-third of my little tree. Seeing how the large branch had finally come to rest on its remaining two-thirds, I knew the dogwood’s survival looked impossible. But, I called my tree guy, Randall, and asked for help.

“Your dogwood has suffered a terrible shock. I’ll do my best to remove the large limb and then brace up what remains of the dogwood. Hard to say it’ll recover . . . it’s kind of iffy. Give it one gallon of water a day for a while. You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Quite unexpectedly, something really big falls onto our lives, something that breaks apart what has been a lovely part of us. Our hearts are broken. We have been shredded. Will we even survive?

Will we ask for help?

The correct answers are crucial. They are of personal importance to me since the death of my husband and ongoing relational struggles with a couple of family members and friends. For me, the correct answers are found in Scripture and I must call out to the Lord for help, leaning heavily on the many verses that strengthen and encourage me. For example: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

—Psalm 34:18 The breaking and the crushing can be redemptive if taken to our great and compassionate God, our God of all comfort. Your particular suffering may be different than mine but our loving heavenly Father wants us to seek Him, to call out to Him. There is a certain humility required in calling for help, but it’s important to remember 86

that a humble heart is what God requires. And best of all, He will answer!

So much of the physical world gives me insight into spiritual things. Looking out the window just now, I see that the supporting braces are still holding the tree firmly in place. The scarring along the broken part remains, but spring brought flowers and the summer leaves are a lush green. That means Psalm 147:3 is true: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

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Two Legacies One of my husband’s often-repeated sayings was, “In God’s economy, nothing is ever wasted.” No matter what’s in your past, God can always wrap His arms around it and use it to minister grace to others. My background is a mixture of the good and the not so good, but I know how God used it to accomplish His purposes for me.

My dad’s mother, Grandma Alice, was a well-read schoolteacher, a hard worker, a storyteller, and a widow, raising five children by herself. She didn’t waste anything, and I can still see her eating an entire apple—seeds, stem, core, and all. The Great Depression changed the way a lot of folks did things. She told stories and memorized vast amounts of Scripture. She loved the Lord and His Word, and was an inspiration to me. But she lived in Florida and we were in Michigan, so we only saw her once a year, if that.

A lot about my mom’s mother, Grammy, is in my book Footprints, so I won’t repeat much of that here. She, too, was a storyteller and was most animated when she was center stage. She also raised five children, but lost five others at birth. She loved to imitate the practices of the gypsies (palm reading, crystal ball, séances, etc.) and taught me fortune-telling. She lived two hours from us, so we saw her often.

Unfortunately, her influence took me into the darkest days of my life.

Neither of my parents were Christians at the time, so my dabbling in the occult did not concern them very much. But once they became Christians, they were greatly concerned. It was through their example that I eventually grasped what it meant to be a child of God. My repentance and my acceptance of God’s truth were liberating beyond words. I could put my faith in Christ and depend on Him to be my protector against evil.

What I never could have imagined was that God would use Grandma Alice’s influence as a teacher and her love of Scripture and storytelling to help me teach women in the Third World. God also 88

used the victory He gave me over my dark days with Grammy to minister to the same women. My testimony of freedom from Satan’s influence encouraged them to believe that Jesus could free them too.

Please realize that no matter what has happened to you in your past, there is victory in Jesus. Then, use that victory to help others.

Since Jesus prayed for us in the garden of Gethsemane, we can be assured that His prayers will be answered.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

John 17:15

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The Tape Part One One December, J.L. and I traveled to northern Kenya, to the Samburu tribe, to hold a women’s conference. We had distributed solar digital Bibles earlier that year and we were anxious to get feedback from the illiterate women. We hoped they had used the digital players well.

The two-day conference was divided into eight teaching sessions with our long-time partner Francesca Yurenimo serving as the main translator. She had arranged the teaching so that most sessions had at least 15–20 minutes devoted to reports on the digital players.

Because of the evangelistic efforts in the area, the women had all seen a small, hand-crank machine that played a tape with Bible stories in their language. So, even though the digital Bibles had no tape in them, they still called their new players “The Tape.”

Once they started telling how the Word of God had impacted their lives, they found it hard to stop. Woman after woman stood to share a Bible story or verse that had impacted them. We were amazed at the depth of understanding they had. Apparently, the Holy Spirit had given them wonderful insights because their conclusions were like those of, well, educated people. It was thrilling!

One woman said that someone offered her a great sum of money to buy her tape. She told them, “No, this is so precious to me that no amount of money can take it from me.”

There were joyful stories from many women who had invited others to listen who had not been part of the conference. One woman said, “It’s like sharing food from our hearts.” Another, one of the younger women, shared the tape with her mother, and her mother then stood to say she asked Jesus into her heart after listening to it.

We even heard that one of the derelicts of the village had been listening to the tape. He sent word to Francesca: “The words on the 90

tape have touched my heart. I don’t want to drink anymore and I need to talk to someone about what has happened to me.”

In a country like ours, in homes like ours, where multiple Bibles may fill our shelves, we take hearing and reading God’s Word for granted. We forget that sharing God’s Word is a precious privilege, one that brings eternal life to those who accept its truths.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 nkjv

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Barefoot in the Park(-ing Lot) On our way to church out of town one warm spring Sunday, J.L. and I stopped in Mebane, NC, for a short visit with family. My feet had been hurting for a few days, so I took off my shoes at the door. We enjoyed our visit and I especially enjoyed the relief of being out of my Sunday shoes for a while.

Once we pulled into the church parking lot, I opened the door and stepped out. I was startled to feel the texture of the asphalt under my feet so I looked down. I was barefoot.

“J.L.!” I yelled. “Where are my shoes?!”

As he came around to my side of the car, he said with a slight laugh of disbelief, “What do you mean, where are your shoes?”

“No, I mean it!” With arms spread wide and utter panic in my voice, “WHERE ARE MY SHOES?!”

When we realized that there were no shoes in the car, and when he stopped laughing long enough to speak, he said, “Aw, don’t worry about it, they won’t care. Let’s just go inside.”

“Ohhh, you are SO wrong about that!” I replied. “I can’t go into an African American church or any church for that matter (except in Asia) without shoes! The women are always so beautifully dressed—from head to toe. Tell them whatever you want—I’m leaving to find a shoe store!”

May I say with a heart full of gratitude that God, in His infinite mercy, directed me to a shoe store nearby. I purchased a pair and was on my way again in 15 minutes—wow!

The worship service was well underway as I entered the sanctuary. I tried to look as nonchalant as possible as I made my way to the empty seat next to J.L., who, of course, was on the front row!

And then came my biggest challenge of the day: to set aside my self-centered concerns about what other people were thinking and focus on the holiness of worship.

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It was a wonderful service, and my spirit was restored! Afterward, Pastor Rodney came up to me with a laughing smile. Oh no, I thought, that means J.L. told him about my problem. However, in the Pastor’s very kind way, he just took my hand and said, “Sister Patt, next time, don’t worry about not having shoes. Just come as you are. After all, you’re standing on holy ground!”

Of course I was. If only I’d remembered that.

These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

Isaiah 66:2

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Watching and Ready Rocky. Solomon. Shelby. Maggie. Those are the names of the four dogs that live with my children’s families. If you have pets, you know how they become real members of the family and are loved, fed, and cared for. Dogs are especially interesting to me because they love so unconditionally.

When I was a child, our family got a mixed black-and-white cocker spaniel named Sammy. That dog’s favorite thing to do every day was just be with us. Whether we were inside the house or outside playing, he wanted to be actively engaged.

Sammy watched us, alert to what we were going to do next and whether he could come along. He knew that when the door opened in the afternoon we were home from school and it was all-out playtime. The noise of the keys being lifted from the hook meant he might be included in a car ride. It seemed like his entire life’s job was just to be in the company of his favorite people. My observation of the four current dogs is that they have the same devotion to those whom they love and who love them in return.

There is a spiritual parallel here, of course. What is my favorite thing to do every day? If you were to spy on me, you would see me reading my Bible, worshiping, and praying, yes, but you’d also see me doing sudoku, watching television, taking a nap, or going for a walk. Granted, none of those lesser activities are sinful, but if you were to compare the amount of time I spend doing them versus my quiet time, you might wonder.

My favorite thing to do every day should be spending time in God’s presence. I want to love the Lord—deeply—and to be intentional, watchful, and sensitive to the leading of His Holy Spirit. My goal is to be fully committed to obeying His commands. Whatever He asks me to do. Wherever He wants me to go. Whatever He tells me to say.

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Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.

Luke 12:35–37

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Relationships As we were landing in Delhi, India, the pilot said it was 102 degrees outside! My mind kept replaying verses the Lord had given me as I timidly agreed to go on this trip. “From the Lord comes deliverance” (Psalm 3:8). “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid” (Psalm 56:3–4).

And yet, as the trip evolved, a truth hit me full in the face. I am a creature of comfort. I have narrow food preferences, and I want certain temperatures, humidity levels, and clean sheets. Actually, my list is much longer than that but I don’t want the whole world to see it.

Once in the guesthouse, we moved our mattresses to the floor, hoping to find a cooler spot, while the air conditioners labored to bring the temperature down below 100. Sometime between midnight and one in the morning the electricity went off. I bolted straight up—wide awake—and thought, “We’re going to die!”

What were those verses that I had so boldly claimed before I left, the ones I so proudly quoted to others who were concerned for my safety? Remembering them continued to be very important for the many trips on which we went. They helped me keep my priorities in their proper place. Many times I faltered as I faced bedbugs, roaches, tarantulas, camel stew, boiled goat, bucket showers, dirt-floor beds, and toilets behind the bushes.

If comfort had remained my chief concern in ministry, I would have missed the most important and most rewarding part of God’s plan for me—the people! It was worth all the minor inconveniences this spoiled and self-centered American went through to witness the joy and peace of the Christians in the slums, to worship with those in the leper colony, to see firsthand the exciting work in Asia and the outreaches to the needy in the Caribbean, to watch in awe the boldness of the persecuted in Africa, and to experience the 96

gracious hospitality extended to us in every country in which J.L. and I ministered.

Relationships. That one is a very high priority, so we worked at friend-building, listening more than talking, and meeting others at their point of need, on their timetable, not at our most convenient time. After all, in the body of Christ, “each member belongs to all the others,” so we must not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but rather “with sober judgment” (Romans 12:5, 3).

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The Three . . . and Then the One Easter Monday, April 5, 1999 These are exceedingly difficult days for me. The three people with whom I share this house have illnesses that are outside my control to make better. I take pleasure in fixing things and feel fulfilled when making someone’s life easier and more comfortable so they can get well more quickly. But with these three I am powerless.

My mother. Dying of cancer. Her homegoing may be this week or the next. All my nurse-wannabe endeavors cannot stay the inevitable. It appears that God will heal her by requiring her presence with Him—her ultimate healing. She grows more skeletal, more uncomfortable, and my emotions don’t know how to grasp this soon-coming loss. From conception to my first breath to today, she’s been my mom. How does life go on without her?

My only sister. Two years younger than I. A definite diagnosis is lacking because some of her symptoms are atypical, but it looks like she has ALS. Trying to get answers has left her emotionally exhausted, and she also has a gaping hole left by a broken relationship. She reads and paints and cries and prays. Her stress combined with our mom’s condition leaves us almost depleted.

My husband. Having malaria—again. We’re waiting to find out if it’s cerebral. He refuses to take it easy, so I watch him from the kitchen window, sweating profusely as he works outside in 50-degree weather in a t-shirt and cut-off jeans. He won’t rest or take the malaria medicine and kindly thanks me for not talking to him about it whenever I start telling him what to do.

All of this forces me past myself and my three . . . to one. The One. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who wants me to quit worrying, fretting, and nagging. He lovingly keeps reminding me, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

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Three very sick people and I can’t fix any of them. But I can love them, pray with them, feed them, encourage them, and then continually and confidently leave them in the hands of our loving heavenly Father for His perfect will to be done. I’m confident that God, who began a good work in each of us, will “carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

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Trash Removal It seemed like it was “oh dark thirty” when I was awakened by familiar sounds outside—very loud sounds. The dumpster was being emptied about 30 feet on the other side of the brick wall that separates my house from the back of the store. The truck banged the big metal box repeatedly against its open top and set the dumpster down with a resounding thud. The predictable beeping began as the truck backed up and the diesel engine revved to move the behemoth out of the alley. All sound gradually faded to silence.

Blinking my eyes a few times as I tried to focus on the stilldark ceiling, I knew God had a lesson for me if I could get past my current irritation. I am finally accepting these inconveniences more quickly in my old age but I wish I had learned this sooner. It would have eliminated a lot of whining and hypersensitivity to things like this.

As you know from the title, my lesson that sleepy morning was about getting rid of garbage. My garbage. So, in that moment, I thought, “What is in my trash can?” It didn’t take long. For starters, I’m guilty of keeping a record of wrongs. There is an ever-present temptation to put those records in my mental filing cabinet rather than allow God to get rid of them. You see, I want to keep the list just in case I need ammunition to prove my point in a future argument.

My second pile of trash that needs regular removal is judging others, but not the damn-to-hell kind of judging. It’s a subtle thing I do, sizing up a person and coming to my own conclusions before I know all the facts. I know this is just as sinful as condemnation.

For example, within two minutes of meeting a certain woman, I put her in the category of “be polite, just don’t make her a close friend.” But I kept running into her at unplanned events and learned about her background, saw how great she interacted with others, and heard her prayers.

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When I confessed my sin, God’s trash removal far exceeded my early morning annoyance. Confession of sins means God graciously and permanently removes them “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12).

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

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Our Comfort Each of our children had a special blanket when they were small.

These blankets went everywhere with them and had to be in their possession for naps, bedtimes, and out-of-the-house excursions.

They were highly valued, and if they were ever misplaced, it caused a lot of stress and even tears.

One of my greatest challenges was to figure out how to secretly wash them before anyone noticed they were missing. If my little ones found out, even the smallest among them was known to stand by the dryer until the cycle was finished. I can still see them sighing with relief, putting their little faces down into their warm—and clean—blankets.

There are many times when we, too, need to be comforted. As Christians, we are blessed with a most unique gift from God called the Comforter, One who is far superior to a child’s warm blanket.

There is no one to whom we can compare Him, but one of His jobs, if you will, is to comfort us in all our troubles. What an amazingly compassionate God we serve! Of course, our Comforter does not remove all our troubles, but gives us the promise that He will comfort us in the midst of them.

I’ve known about this unique role of the Holy Spirit for years, but my husband’s sudden death caused me to get to know Him at a much deeper level. He has truly been a constant companion during my journey of grief, providing a great number of ways for me to wrap my arms around and put my spirit down into the warm embrace of Scripture, songs, and friends.

One of the most interesting things I learned was that the Comforter did not want me to stay isolated in my comfort zone. He expected me to comfort others in any of their troubles with the comfort I myself had received from God. At first, my pain was too great to think about anyone else. But as the Holy Spirit tenderly and lovingly 102

continued to heal me, I saw that it was possible to pass along His comfort to others.

Human logic cannot explain why the comfort continuously given me has not been diminished by sharing it with others. Although the context surrounding Luke 6:38 is dealing with judgment and forgiveness, I think it also applies to sharing the Comfort of the Holy Spirit: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

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The Tape Part Two There are two parts to “The Tape” (part one is on page X) because the Samburu women told so many exciting testimonies that I had to include a few more.

One woman admitted that she did not share her tape with others, but only turned it on for herself. One day, some of the Samburu warriors (also illiterate) visited her hut to do their traditional singing and dancing, including their famous jumping. They knew she had one of the players so they asked her to “open the tape.”

It started with the story about Abraham and Isaac, and God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son on the altar. After listening spellbound to the whole story, they made up a song about it for their dancing and added their understanding of the story: “God has a purpose for everything.”

From another lady we heard a humorous incident: “I was walking along, listening to the tape, and I put it up to my cow’s ear to listen to. She ran off!”

There were even more stories, ones that went straight to the heart. “Last March, you gave us a valuable gift—the tape. We understood that if we kept it very nicely, it would help us forever. I am a widow and live by myself. I was very lonely until I got the tape.

Listening to it in the morning before I left and in the evening when I came back, I felt like I had someone in the hut with me. It fed me and I did not feel alone.”

“We have learned that even when we have difficulties, God will never leave us or forsake us. When we found out how far the Word of God had come down to us, and that we could actually hear those words, we were blessed and are still blessed. Even in the midst of the fighting that is going on now between the tribes, we feel safe here and protected. Thank you for God’s Word.”

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My heart is full because I have seen firsthand the truth of this Scripture: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10–11

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The Vision Early one Wednesday morning, just as I was awakening, I found myself thinking about a dear friend, who is now with the Lord, and how difficult his life had been. A few of our mutual friends had grown impatient with him as his illness progressed, blaming him for getting the deadly disease. They went after him with multiple questions: Was it a lack of faith that kept him from being healed? Did he have unconfessed sin? Was he praying enough? On it went.

One particular friend was relentless in her criticism, frequently calling him to unload her anger. I was present for some of those exchanges, and I got so upset I felt I could have physically wrestled with her. She was being very unfair and her conversations were totally uncalled for.

Those thoughts were a difficult way to start the new day and they left me greatly upset. Suddenly, my thoughts shifted to what I can only describe as a vision. I was walking in heaven. Wow! It was amazing! I could see and hear people but no one could see or hear me.

The woman who had made my friend’s life so miserable was walking toward me. I was shocked! Her face was radiant; she looked so pure and happy. It only took a moment to realize that I neither wanted her to be happy nor to be in heaven. In my opinion she deserved hell. So I yelled, “How come she gets to be here?!”

As suddenly as it had appeared, the vision disappeared and I was back in real time. Oh my, I realized, not only had I not forgiven this woman—I didn’t want to! I felt ashamed because she had died years ago and I was apparently still angry—with a dead person! I had allowed the root of bitterness to send its poisonous tendrils down deep inside my heart, deeper than I ever imagined.

Obeying the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I confessed my sin to the Lord and asked for His forgiveness. It was an incredible relief 106

to be free of such a long-standing sin. Afterward, I prayed again and forgave her. And that’s when I discovered that “to forgive is to set the prisoner free, only to discover that the prisoner was me.”

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows upto cause trouble and defile many.

Hebrews 12:15

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The Time Is Now I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2 A letter from a friend of mine referred to J.L. as my late husband. I understood what she meant, but I still laughed. Anyone who knew J.L. was very much aware that he was never late. In fact, two of his favorite expressions were “If you’re on time, you’re late” and “If you’re waiting on me, you’re backing up!” Our children and I spent several Sunday mornings in a nearly empty sanctuary because we were there so early.

He thought wasting time was a sin, and his involvement in almost all his activities and partnerships was decided on their eternal value.

He wanted to be productive for the kingdom during every waking moment, hoping the Lord wouldn’t return and find him “just sitting.”

Our family thought it was ironic that he died during the cooldown phase of his cardiac rehab program. We hope J.L. has reconciled himself to the fact that it was okay to be resting that one time.

In comparison, I feel so mortal, having much less drive to fill every moment with something eternally profitable. Personality differences played into how he and I saw things, of course, but I can still hear him loudly saying to anyone within hearing distance, “Redeem the time!” He wanted everyone to make the most of every opportunity.

Before David became king, men from each of the twelve tribes joined him in Hebron. First Chronicles 12:32 says the men from the tribe of Issachar “understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” Will that be said of us—that we were men and women of God who understood the times and knew what Christians should do?

If so, how should we live now? We need to be intentionally devoted to Christ, absorbing ourselves in His Word and sharing God’s great plan of salvation with others.

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For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Titus 2:12–14

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Little Exits These days, too many people take offense at differences of opinion on topics like religion, politics, sports, and the environment. In a perfect world, everyone should be able to express their thoughts on any subject openly. Instead, we pull away from those who differ on issues we are passionate about. Our feelings get hurt and our discussions turn into heated debates. It can even result in an emotional chasm between good friends.

My pattern is to pull back emotionally when I sense a different viewpoint headed my way. That’s probably normal for most of us.

But I’m not talking about dealing with abusive people, just those who, in the course of a regular conversation, may not see things my way. A close friend of mine calls those folks “the little sandpaper people.” You know, the ones who rub you the wrong way.

Taking an emotional exit, I make a small withdrawal of love or interest or concern. If I feel vulnerable in an intense discussion, I have also been known to reject the Holy Spirit’s urgings to work on reconnecting.

Focusing on my needs, my wants, my happiness, and my win is a no-win. What does Scripture say?

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

—Proverbs 19:11 Yes, we can have opinions, and strong opinions, too—ones from which we would never budge because God’s Word on the subject is clear. But remember Hebrews 12:14, which encourages us to “make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

The old saying “we can agree to disagree agreeably” applies 110

here. If a person continues to disagree with my opinion, I can choose to overlook it, change the subject, or listen and pray. Right now, I’m praying I’ll take no more off-ramps, no more little exits. I want a brave and open heart to proclaim God’s truth all the time and to show the love of Christ in every discussion. And what if I’m the offender? Scripture shows me exactly how to pray: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23–24

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Thoughts on Grandparenting Several years ago, my husband and I worked on this article together and I wanted to include it in this devotional. We humorously agreed that if we had known how wonderful grandchildren would be, we would have had them first!

We found that this grand-relationship of grand-parenting was much less stressful than parenting, although it has carried its own kind of spiritual burden. We’ve tried to see ourselves as the supporting cast for the primary actors, the parents. We knew we wouldn’t be perfect, but we prayed that our help would be of value, like cheerleaders cheering their team from the sidelines.

Here are a few principles for those of us in the grandparenting role.

Sovereignty: God is fully in control of all areas of life. This assurance gives us a measure of livable peace, a confidence that He will be as faithful to them as He has been to us.

Truth: God’s truth will triumph, whether or not we live to see it, whether or not we correctly model the victorious Christian life.

Honor: Children are to honor their father and mother. As strongly as we are able, we will reinforce and promote the fifth commandment. We want the only commandment with a promise to be true for our grandchildren.

Relationships: Our God is the only relational God, so relationships are of supreme importance to Him. The greatest route to happiness and holiness is to love God and love others—beginning with our family members.

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Reconciliation: There is not a family alive that has not, or will not, face some degree of conflict or alienation. If there are struggles at the parental or sibling level, grandparents can thoughtfully offer to be a bridge toward forgiveness and reconciliation between the warring parties. If the conflict is because of us, we need to repent and ask forgiveness.

Transparency: The Lord honors truthfulness in our relationships. However, wise grandparents pray much before offering their perspective, hopefully covering all comments with love and humility.

Prayer: Grandchildren are greatly encouraged knowing that their grandfather and grandmother regularly pray for them.

It’s a gift that bears much fruit and can be a sort of spiritual safety net in young minds when they hear the older generation praying for them at bedtime, meal time, and during sickness or stress.

May the Lord provide us grandparents with wisdom, patience, and joy.

The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.

Psalm 102:28

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Perseverance Each summer, our family tries to get away from home for a week and enjoy time together. Most of those vacations have been on Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. No matter the location, we’ve enjoyed lots of laughter, adventure, and food!

With eight adults and seven grandchildren we have also had our share of challenges. There have been multiple struggles with illnesses, infections, car troubles, stitches, cuts that could be superglued, and once, in a mountain rental house, bedbugs! But the two scariest of all were grandson Luke’s life-flight to UNC Hospital with meningitis in 2013 and son Jonathan’s emergency appendectomy in 2019.

Both recovered well, praise God! How then shall we view such things? Avoid vacations? Believe that God is punishing us? What if we tithe more, pray more, fast for 40 days and nights, read the Bible more—will that guarantee we never have any more problems?

Surely we all know that trusting God is not an insurance policy against hurt, harm, or danger, though we may pray for a hedge of protection around us and those we love. God has promised, yes, promised, that in this world we will have tribulation. It will always be with us—along with disappointments and detours and trials and discouragements that threaten to derail our faith.

And yet, Scripture encourages each of us to be joyful in the midst of these things. Let’s rejoice that our loving Father will provide the strength for such challenges.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

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While I Wait Many times a year I sit in a room or stand in a line waiting my turn.

I shift my gaze from my watch to the clock on the wall to the magazines on the table to those in line with me, and I grow impatient.

What if all those times of waiting were not meant to try my patience, but to develop my character? Even more importantly, what if those unscripted and inconvenient occurrences were more about what God wanted to do through me instead of what I wanted to get done and checked off my list?

A while ago, as I was waiting on an oil change for our car, I had the strangest sensation that someone was staring at me, just over there, to my right. My eyes shifted slightly from my magazine to the floor, then moved slowly over to the shoes. They identified the “starer” as a man. I went back to reading.

But the sensation wouldn’t go away. “Lord, what am I supposed to do?” Very reluctantly, I lifted my eyes and looked at him. And when I did, he jumped up from his chair, walked quickly over to me, and put his right hand in his back pocket. All that made my hair stand straight up on the back of my neck!

In one fluid motion, he pulled out his wallet, sat down next to me, and burst out with, “This is a picture of my wife. She just died of a brain tumor and I don’t know how I can go on. I don’t want to live.”

If you think I was startled, the others in the room waiting for their cars were bug-eyed! With a deep breath and a mental prayer for the Holy Spirit to take over, I began with, “I am so sorry for your loss. Was she sick a long time?”

After listening to his very sad story, I told him how much God loved him and that his life was still worth living. I ended with prayer just as his car was ready, and with that, he was gone.

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While writing this, part of the old song “People Need the Lord,”

by Greg Nelson and Phill McHugh, came to mind: Every day they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes; Empty people filled with care, Headed who knows where . . .

What could be too great a cost For sharing life with one who’s lost? . . .

People need the Lord, People need the Lord; At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.

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Two Bones to Pick Just after my first bite of a delicious piece of fried chicken, someone at the table said, “This is wicked!” We laughed and agreed. It’s common today to use words to say the exact opposite of what we mean, like a cake called “Death by Chocolate.” (By the way, it sounds delicious.)

But, should we conform to popular culture when describing God? Is it right to assign human immaturities and weaknesses to God? Lately, I’ve heard two worship songs use words that incorrectly explain God’s character. I think praise music should lead us upward as we worship our infinite Lord, not leave us wondering if God is somehow flawed.

So, here are two bones to pick that cause me concern: 1. The reckless love of God 2. The furious love of God The word reckless means careless, irresponsible, with no regard for the consequences. How can this be true of God’s love? He is faithful in all He undertakes and very much aware of what it cost to show His love for mankind. Recklessness cannot apply to God. He is perfect.

The word furious means full of fury (violent anger, wild rage), frantic. Why would I be drawn to a God who expresses His love with violence? That kind of love sounds like abuse and is characteristic of many of the gods of other world religions—but not our God! There is no Scripture that even remotely implies God carries out His love for us in a fit of rage.

I have no idea why Christians describe God’s perfect love this way. Maybe it’s their attempt to say or sing something they think will be fresh and more relevant. Really? No one should explain the love of God with adjectives that are contrary to who He is. He is flawless.

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This has been a good reminder to keep my own conversations, writings, and thoughts true to God’s character. So I’ve decided to mentally substitute the untrue words for true words, like relentless for reckless and faithful for furious. Since there are so many wonderfully descriptive words that can be used for God and His love, let’s use them!

As for God, his way is perfect: the Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:30

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Caesar Most of us have gone through times when someone offended us. I, too, have struggled to keep God at the center of my moral compass.

The following story is one I share with some shame, but it turned out to be one of my greatest spiritual lessons.

Caesar was a registered, 100-plus-pound Saint Bernard. J.L. was gone often with the singing group and knew that Caesar would keep us safe in his absences. I watched with alarm the first day that dog came into our small living room and stepped onto our sofa. Getting settled, he put his head on the armrest at one end, and his tail hung over the armrest at the other.

He slobbered profusely—not good when small children walked under his head. I answered the doorbell one day to a wide-eyed, dazed man who said, “Your dog just ran into my car and dented it, but I’m not going to press charges.” There were a couple of face-toface conversations with the dogcatcher. “Ma’am, your dog is loose so I have to take him to the pound. But we don’t have a truck big enough so you’ll have to bring him in yourself.”

Six years is a long time for resentment to build up in me, but it really did. When J.L. finally gave “the beast” away, the root of bitterness had become so deeply embedded in my spirit that just a passing reference made me mad, even if it was just to a Caesar salad!

God led me through three steps to forgiveness. So, in prayer, I began: “Caesar, I forgive you . . . for being a dog!” (I know, but bear with me.) “J.L., I forgive you for adding another time-consuming thing for me to do with four young children.”

But the most humbling step was the last one—one I had been blind to. I was angry with God because He hadn’t rescued me for six years. But, in His infinite mercy, God accepted my confession as I asked for His forgiveness.

Please don’t let bitterness take root in your heart like I did. For119

give quickly. Keep what Christ did on the cross for you forefront in your mind.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

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Extravagance Today’s thoughts were written during the country’s shutdown because of the coronavirus. While at home, I worked on a study of the three instances where Jesus was anointed with perfume. The last one in particular piqued my interest.

Found in both Matthew 26:6–13 and Mark 14:1–9, the event occurred during Passion Week, either on the Tuesday or Wednesday evening before the Last Supper on Thursday. Jesus was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper. I imagine the dinner was a thank-you meal, in gratitude for Jesus healing him. (We know Simon was healed because no one would have been in such proximity to anyone with active leprosy. They would have been even more diligent about social distancing than we are with COVID-19!)

As we imagine the thankfulness and celebration taking place, it may have startled Simon and his guests when a woman entered, carrying an alabaster jar. Moving past Jesus’ feet, she poured the contents of the jar on Jesus’ head as the wonderful fragrance filled the house.

Those watching would have known it was a “very expensive perfume.” That’s why the disciples rebuked her sharply and indignantly asked, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor” (Mark 14:4–5).

Jesus responded, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her?

She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Mark 14:6–9).

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Love, humility, extravagance. This woman, the lesser, bestowing a blessing on Jesus, the Greater. Jesus was very pleased with her sacrificial ministry to Him. As astounding as that was, God’s love for us is even more so.

Love, humility, extravagance, and sacrifice were on full display in Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.

That’s when the Greater bestowed eternal blessings on the lesser, on us. How can we not bow before Him in worship and reaffirm our gratitude by serving the Lord with full hearts, minds, and actions?

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1

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One Weak Sheep There are moments when I remind myself of certain truths. One of those truths is this: God is especially attracted to weakness. That doesn’t seem right in my human way of thinking, because I want Him to see something in my efforts that earns me the right to be His child. But He didn’t create me to be self-sufficient. The Lord created me, us, to be like sheep—dependent on our Shepherd. Let’s face it, calling us sheep is no compliment! They may be the most dependent, dumbest animals around.

It’s certainly true that God has given us special gifts and talents to use in ministry for Him. We can accomplish all things through Christ who gives us strength. But there are times when our minds may shift from the power of God in us . . . to the power of us in us.

Therefore, we should be on guard even when we experience spiritual fruitfulness, lest our egos take pride in the harvest.

But, when God places me in a situation where I must serve Him through one of my weaknesses, ah, that’s when I must fully and intentionally trust Him. It’s an unnerving place to be at times, but oh so joyful because He gets all the credit for the results.

Sometimes, when I’m sitting down front getting ready for my turn to speak, I look for the closest exit. I think, if I run fast enough out that door, by the time they catch me and bring me back, my time will be up and I won’t have to speak. It’s not that I am afraid to stand up in front of people. It’s that I’m always comparing my speaking ability to that of others. I’m afraid of failure. In fact, I am so insecure I get nauseated. It’s a paralyzing place to be and that’s why I want to run.

The Holy Spirit is faithful to remind me that where God calls, He enables. So, I bring that weakness, that insecurity, to Him in faith.

When I do, asking the Holy Spirit to take over, He blesses. What God is looking for is a dependent, obedient sheep. He’ll do the rest.

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Be encouraged by the response Paul received from the Lord while struggling with his “thorn in the flesh”: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:8–9

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Stolen. Returned. Restored.

Before my parents became Christians, our home life was different.

In the pre-Jesus home, Sundays were spent sleeping in, playing outside, going on a family hike, and watching the Wonderful World of Disney on our black-and-white TV. If my parents had been to a bar on Saturday night, the next morning Mom would laughingly show me a cocktail glass she had slipped into her pocketbook. I watched as she washed it, dried it, and put it on the top shelf of her china closet in the dining room.

That shelf was just about eye level for me, and I looked at the row of them, wondering why they were important to her and why it was funny. My small mind didn’t linger there for long . . . I just wondered.

Move forward a couple of years and I was in the same dining room. Along with small boxes for mailing, my mother had several familiar items on the table. Among them were her sweater, her bathing suit, and a teacup and saucer. When I asked what was going on, she gently told me again about her recent decision to ask Jesus into her heart. She was learning from Scripture that anything that had been intentionally taken (stolen) had to be returned. She included her written testimony in every package. If the item could be hand-delivered, she gave her testimony verbally.

The whole thing was perplexing to me, but I wasn’t a Christian yet and had no way of knowing how to process it. Years later, as a Christian with children of my own, I realized the impact her new life in Christ had on me. She boldly and unashamedly shared her faith and faithfully obeyed when God showed her through Scripture what needed to be removed and restored. She followed the specific guidelines He had designed for her, and for all her subsequent generations.

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Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:4–6

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The Battle The children were at school and J.L. had gone to his office. So, I tackled the laundry, vacuumed the rugs, and organized plans for supper. I was praising God for the strength and joy to serve my family.

But, sometime in the middle of that happy day, there was a shift in my thinking, one that only grew as the day went on. Instead of focusing on service to God and my family, my thoughts began to focus on me and the praise I deserved.

I imagined that once our children entered the house from school, they would line up in birth order to applaud me for the clean house and wonderful-smelling supper. And to top that, I imagined J.L. would applaud too, except he would add Scripture: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all” (Proverbs 31:29).

However, the children were arguing when they burst through the back door that afternoon. “He pushed me!” “She’s not being nice.”

“I don’t like school anymore!” Wait, what just happened here?!

Where was the birth-order applause?

J.L. arrived eventually and my hopes soared—but he said he had a headache and was going to lie down before supper. My silent anger continued to rise.

At supper, the children were still argumentative. J.L. still had a headache. I was still angry. No one noticed my bad mood except J.L., who finally asked, “Is everything all right?” “No, I’m fine!”

Dishes, homework, baths, bedtime. I told J.L. that I was going to stay up and read.

Going down the hallway, my inward battle continued as I complained bitterly to God that no one appreciated me. Sometime after midnight, I stopped to take a breath. In that moment, God had His first chance to speak: “If no one ever appreciates you or your efforts again, will you do it for Me?” “No!” I said. “I got married and had children so they could meet 127

some of my needs.” When I stopped whining, He just repeated what He had said the first time. At sunrise, I remembered that my original focus had been to praise the Lord for the opportunity to serve my family.

So, part of my prayer of surrender went something like this: “Lord, yes, if no one ever appreciates me again, I will do it for You. But, You will have to help me because I keep getting in the way.”

As I watched the sun come up, my battle was over. I experienced the peace that indeed transcends all understanding. With it was the assurance, as I humbled myself before the Lord, that His peace would guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

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One Defining Moment J.L. and I were surrounded by dozens of Samburu warriors. Raising one of their spears high in the air and plunging it deeply into the ground, J.L. shouted, “I may be an old man on the outside, but I’m a warrior on the inside.” This defining moment occurred in Kurungu, Kenya, where almost all information is transmitted orally.

With our good friend and interpreter Stakwell Yurenimo, J.L. preached about David and his battle against mighty Goliath. This resonated with the young men because they were in constant battles with neighboring tribes over cattle, grazing areas, and water rights.

J.L. concluded with passionate insight into fighting the giant that no one can see—Satan.

The tribal chief had prepared a new hut (ngagi) for us to sleep in that night. We slept off and on, listening to the warriors sing—all night long! At breakfast, J.L. asked Stakwell what the songs had been about. We were surprised to learn that they were the words of J.L.’s message, repeating all the points, especially that there is victory in Christ to defeat the devil. Except for one or two warriors, we never saw those young men again.

Years went by. Stakwell and J.L. were visiting the guards working for the Lake Turkana Wind Project, which was several hours north of Kurungu. These men lived in remote huts in a desert-like region and were hired to keep the area secure as the huge wind turbines were being built. It can get quite lonely in such a desolate area, so Stakwell was checking on them to see if they were okay and if they needed anything. He was in the middle of introducing J.L. to them when one man said, “I know who you are. I remember the message you spoke when I was a warrior.”

After Stakwell translated the comment, J.L. said it was so long ago that the man probably didn’t remember much. So Stakwell asked the guard what the message was about. He responded by quoting every point and every example.

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It’s quite thrilling to know that when God’s message goes forth, it never returns empty, but always accomplishes the purpose for which God sends it (Isaiah 55:11). Let’s never think that our witness to others is futile or of little consequence. When we willingly proclaim the Word of God, the Holy Spirit plants the seed. He is more than faithful to stir into remembrance what is needful to bring about fruitfulness in each receiver’s heart.

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Coasting When I was a child, all the children in my neighborhood enjoyed races and games on our bikes. There was always an open competition to see how far we could ride no-handed and then, at a designated point, jump off as our bikes crashed to the ground under us. One of the fathers built a bike ramp and we did daredevil stunts on it, until our mothers saw what we were doing!

One of the fun things was to go to the big hill in our otherwise very flat neighborhood and push our bikes up to the top. After enjoying the view from the summit, we coasted back down to the bottom.

Coasting required the least work, of course, and was enjoyable—if only it weren’t for the effort and sweat to return to the top.

There is a parallel to the Christian life. Is it possible that we spend too much time figuring out how to get to the easy part? Getting a task done fast instead of well? Finding a job that pays great and requires as little effort as possible? Assuming that five minutes of Bible reading and prayer are sufficient for the day? Settling for church attendance without actually being involved in the life of the body? Do we think that once we’ve arrived at the top of the spiritual hill we can coast until the Lord takes us home? Christ is our example, who faithfully obeyed everything the Father required of Him. The Christian life, both the spiritual and earthly parts, is a mixture of enjoyment and pain, work and leisure, blessing and struggle.

There is pleasure in a job well done and something close to shame in a job done with mediocrity. Coasting is laziness, and “lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4).

In Jesus’ parable about the talents in Matthew 25, the master said “you wicked, lazy servant!” to the man who hid his talent in the ground and didn’t work hard to make it grow (verse 26). Let us commit ourselves to finishing well: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23–24).

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Lost Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.

Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

Luke 15:8 One winter evening I opened my wallet to get my debit card and couldn’t find it. I stepped away from the cashier as my heart started pounding in my chest. I emptied my wallet and then my entire pocketbook, but it was nowhere to be found. I went home very irritated—and panicked.

Maybe it had fallen under the car seat. I searched under both front seats to no avail. I hunted through pants pockets, jacket pockets, between sofa cushions, under chairs, then searched the car, clothes, and furniture three more times—I even called the store. But, it was gone.

Yes, of course, I prayed about it as it was occurring: “Lord, You know exactly where my lost card is. Please help me find it!”

The Lord has helped me learn many great lessons during my Christian life. One of those lessons is that my confidence in God’s love does not depend on whether He fixes my problems. Or whether He finds and restores all my lost things. God is good because He is always with me in my struggles, surrounding me with His Holy Spirit. Always, always, His Spirit sustains, comforts, gives wisdom, brings peace, and directs the next steps I should take. I just need to obey what He tells me to do. If I choose to not obey, then I need to accept His discipline without complaint.

The lost card? When I put my cold hands into my winter vest one chilly morning, there it was. I could relate to the woman in the parable when she called everyone to celebrate with her!

But one of the main takeaways from the parables in Luke 15 is the excitement of God and His heavenly host over the repentance 132

and return of lost people, not over lost things that are of no eternal value. I feel a smallness in me when I don’t pursue lost souls as unrelentingly.

One of Fanny Crosby’s hymns challenges my thoughts today: Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave.

Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save!

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Another Look at Grief Grief is a journey . . . not an event. With an event, there is a beginning and an ending. We bring closure to it and move on to the next thing. But there are some grief events that are harder to get over.

We know from Scripture that God never promised the world would be free of grief, pain, frustrations, or even illnesses like cancer and COVID-19. But, He does promise that He will be with us and that He will be enough.

Grief comes in so many forms. It can be intense, like losing a loved one, or arise from lesser, not-so-life-altering losses. One thing is for sure: we need the Lord to survive the challenges grief imposes.

Since J.L.’s death, I have a new group of women friends who have been widowed anywhere from 38 years to 6 months. The older ones have provided a treasure trove of advice on surviving. I think their suggestions can apply to many kinds of losses, not just those involving a spouse.

First, lean heavily on the Lord. When your foundation is firmly planted in God’s wonderful grace and mercy, life and hope and peace are possible. You can live the victorious Christian life, not just somehow, but triumphantly.

Second, don’t expect to “get over” some losses quickly. Be kind to yourself and don’t hurry through them. This is not a race—it’s a process.

Third, don’t expect everyone to understand your way of grieving. Be kind to them as they attempt to comfort you in their way.

Use words to explain what you’re feeling by telling them in person or writing them a letter. Try to be grateful that they care.

Fourth, anticipate that happy events can still be happy, but maybe not completely—and that’s okay. It’s going to be your new normal.

Fifth, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can assign “jobs” to 134

people who would be willing to help you with parts of your life where you need assistance. For example, find those who can advise you on finances, car repairs, and health, and provide spiritual comfort, prayer, etc. Look at those very kind folks as your own personal committee!

Finally, put your trust in the Holy Spirit, who will give you “the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3).

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The Dirt and the Glory Quite a few years ago, J.L., four other men, and I began a seven-day road trip from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Lhasa, Tibet. At the border of Nepal and China, we rented an old Land Rover. The doors only shut after several banging attempts, and the holes in the floorboards afforded a view of the road beneath.

We started out fairly well, until we left the pavement and hit the dirt roads. That’s when the dust came billowing up through the holes, coating all of us in light brown layers of “road.” We stopped for food at roadside tents and took bathroom breaks behind big bushes. The higher we traveled, the colder it became. Nights were spent in unheated rooms, with a shared hole in the ground for a toilet and limited facilities to wash up.

Late one afternoon as we drove along the Tibetan plateau, one of the travelers got sick. We couldn’t stop for him due to our tight schedule, so he just stuck his head out the right rear window. Praying that he would be okay soon and giving him a very small sense of privacy, I turned to the left.

And that’s when I saw it! Without a doubt, it was the most gorgeous sunset I’ve ever witnessed before or since. It was spectacular with its hues of pink, yellow, blue, orange, and a touch of red.

Although I had every reason to stop breathing because of what was happening to my right, it was the loveliness to my left that took my breath away. As far as my eyes could see, the beauty was unbelievable—such a display of glory!

There, in our ancient Land Rover, in the midst of the dirt and discomfort and vomit, was an example of the miracle of God’s infinite love. Scripture gives us a visual of Jesus’ humility when He left all that was ecstatically gorgeous and perfect to come live among us—the little dust people: “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7).

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The memory of that evening draws me God-ward even now.

It provided a glimpse of what awaits us in heaven—where earthly things will be gone forever and eternity will stretch out before us, more glorious and stunning than we’ve yet dared to dream. . . . and the land was radiant with his glory.

Ezekiel 43:2

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The Unending Name Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Exodus 3:13–14 In America, we have first and last names, and often middle names, but I’ve never known anyone whose name was a personal pronoun and a verb. Not that God’s name could ever be reduced to human understanding, of course.

It has been suggested that I am is an unfinished name, meant for us to fill in the rest of the sentence. I agree, but I also see the Name as unending. After all, whatever our needs or however deep our fears, I am has eternal promises for us!

Here are just seven ways I have seen God as my great I am: •

I am is my good shepherd (John 10:11). He will always watch over me.

•

I am is my bread of life (John 6:48). I receive nourishment when I “feed” daily on Him and His words.

I am is my light in the world (John 9:5). No darkness or uncertainty comes from Him, only “Son light.”

I am is my way, truth, and life (John 14:6). I can put my absolute trust in Him to guide me.

I am is with me (Isaiah 43:5). Because God is always present, I don’t have to be afraid.

I am is my Lord who heals me (Exodus 15:26). I can bring all my illnesses and struggles to Him.

• • • •

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•

I am is my resurrection and life (John 11:25). Since I am in Christ, death and the grave are defeated.

May the Lord’s unending promises remind us of an unending list of His unending love.

“I am the Alpha and Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. . . . Do not be afraid.

I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!”

Revelation 1:8, 17–18

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Global Walk

Perspectives from around the world Feed the Hunger Partners

Table of Contents Introduction...................................................................................143 Joseph Williams, CEO Feed the Hunger What Makes Us Free?...................................................................145 Charles Oloo, Kenya Honor Where Honor Is Due..........................................................147 J.L. Williams, USA Jesus: The Light Who Gives Hope...............................................149 Komivi Ayiboe, Togo True Branches...............................................................................151 Alex Goshu, Ethiopia Having the Zeal of Paul................................................................153 Ezra Sargunam, India How to Increase Our Faith............................................................155 Maxeau Antoine, Haiti You Are a Holy Palace..................................................................157 S.S. Rai, India Are You Ready to Lose Your Life?...............................................159 Wade McHargue, USA Ask. Seek. Knock..........................................................................161 Lonnie Riley, USA Out of Bondage into God’s Freedom............................................163 Nigel Lewis, Jamaica A Unified, Sharing, and Serving Church......................................165 Ranjan Fernando, Sri Lanka Who Not to Be at Church..............................................................167 Alex Goshu, Ethiopia The Fruit of Discipleship..............................................................169 Jennifer Foster, Brazil

Blessed Are the Hungry Feeders...................................................171 Charles Oloo, Kenya The Wilderness Journey................................................................173 Shmuel Suran, Israel In a Time of Waiting.....................................................................175 Lonnie Riley, USA What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do.........................177 Conrad Reid, Jamaica Decision Determines Destination.................................................179 Dil Tamang, Nepal Are You Ready for Battle?—Part One..........................................181 Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara, Mali Are You Ready for Battle?—Part Two..........................................183 Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara, Mali Earnest Prayer...............................................................................185 Philip Adhikary, Bangladesh A Battle of Wills............................................................................187 Maxeau Antoine, Haiti Cooperating with God...................................................................189 Komivi Ayiboe, Togo Seeing God Equals a Transformed Life........................................191 Philip Adhikary, Bangladesh You’re Supposed to Sow...............................................................193 Pastor Moses, Vietnam To the Next Generation of Believers............................................195 Ezra Sargunam, India Has the Full Number Come In?....................................................197 Shmuel Suran, Israel Authentic Happiness.....................................................................199 J.L. Williams, USA Appreciate the Time You Have Left.............................................201 Wade McHargue, USA Light of the World.........................................................................203 Jennifer Foster, Brazil

Introduction

Joseph Williams, CEO Feed the Hunger Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27 One of the primary joys we get in full-time mission work is through the cross-cultural partnerships we have with faithful men and women serving the Lord both here in America and around the world.

They really are some of the most incredible people you will ever meet. It is an honor just to know them, let alone serve alongside them in an equipping capacity.

These kinds of partnerships have been the bedrock of this ministry for nearly 50 years. My father founded the ministry in 1968, building it over the decades around long-standing and Christ-centered partnerships. This book is dedicated to the memory of Dr. J.L. Williams and his legacy, which has deeply impacted not only this ministry, but also untold thousands of individuals, churches, businesses, and ministries the world over.

In the spirit of partnership, I asked several of our current partners to write a devotional or two to share with you, our American friends, prayer partners, and supporters. Until now, you have only heard from and been blessed by them through us, as we share what their ministries are doing for God’s glory. This devotional compilation gave them a different platform to reach you. I told them to share whatever the Lord led them to write about and gave them no parameters. I was eager to sit back and watch the Lord bring together amazing messages through them, and He didn’t disappoint.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of what you’re about to read. The cumulative centuries of walking faithfully with the Lord and the years and decades of theological training, frontline mission experience, and persecution to varying degrees represented in these incredible servant-leaders is a humbling thing to comprehend. What 144

you are about to read is not storytelling from the field, but rather the sharing of timeless wisdom by 17 current partners from 14 countries. Their ministry and job titles are withheld to keep the focus on their message.

We are all members of one body, as the verse above states. We often think of this in the context of the American Church in general and our specific church body in particular. Instead, especially as you read this devotional, I encourage you to see this verse in light of the worldwide church. We are part of something big.

We will one day worship the Lord together with “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9). Until that day comes, these partnerships give us a glimpse of the power of unity, of serving together in the Body of Christ. And, hopefully, this month-long devotional will help you as you seek to know the Lord and serve Him in your sphere of influence. May God be glorified through this devotional and through our lives. Amen!

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What Makes Us Free?

Charles Oloo, Kenya

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36 God has blessed us with many things. We should celebrate His goodness to us because we are alive. We should also celebrate by enjoying the bounty we share in this good land, with oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams, plus beautiful vegetation of all varieties.

As believers, we are also free from bondage. The people of God can give freely, talk, travel, and even spread the Gospel of Christ in total freedom. The Scriptures declare us free: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

If you study a map of the world, you can see how far the Bible has gone in bringing freedom. Jesus started it with His disciples and apostles. We have also witnessed through the study of history the amazing timetable of God in creating the great nations of the world like America and those in Europe.

The Scriptures have also resulted in persecution around the world, which has indeed promoted the spread of the Gospel from Judea to the whole world, and in the end has brought freedom. Today, we see freedom in America because Americans decided to follow the teachings of the Bible. This nation is founded on biblical principles. Political freedom gives you freedom as citizens, while spiritual freedom makes you great free saints.

Jesus made us free (John 8:36). So ask yourself: If the Son shall make you free, can you make others free from sin? We know freedom flows from the written Word and the Living Word, which gives us inspiration. The Lord Christ sets people free. Can you do that through your deeds? Can you do that through religious ceremonies or legalism? No. Nicodemus was set free from religious bondage (John 3). Zacchaeus 146

was set free from his lust for money (Luke 19). You can also recall the lady by the well who was set free from immorality (John 4). Can the Spirit make us free? Yes! “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). Remember, where there is the Spirit of the Lord, there is liberty. The fruit of the spirit demonstrates our freedom (Galatians 5:22–23).

How free are you? Assess your deeds before God and mankind—what can you offer to God and mankind to be a good servant of God? Take advantage of your freedom.

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Honor Where Honor Is Due J.L. Williams, USA

Those who honor Me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

1 Samuel 2:30 When I was a Boy Scout, the first thing I had to memorize was the Boy Scout Oath. We began every meeting by standing with the Boy Scout salute and reciting this oath as a reminder of the code of honor of scouting. It begins with a presupposition of honor to God and country: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

The Bible teaches that, first and foremost, every person is to honor God as the Ultimate Authority in the universe. As our Creator and Sustainer, He alone is worthy of total honor and glory. There is no middle ground here. It is either honor or disdain when it comes to our attitude about God and His authority.

It does not take a lot of discernment to see what the growing national attitude is in America. God is becoming more and more passé, old-fashioned, outdated, and irrelevant. Any serious belief in God and His restrictive rules and regulations is becoming irrelevant to modern life, especially when it comes to issues like sexuality and marriage! References to God have been reduced to vile invectives and negative descriptive verbs of profanity. He is given anything but honor!

The most dangerous form of dishonor taking place in America today is the dishonoring of Christ. If you in any way dishonor Mohammed in word or deed you face the public scorn of Islamophobia.

Say anything negative about gays and you are accused of homophobia. Raise any concern about immigration and you are disdained as 148

un-American and suffering from xenophobia. Make any observation about any other ethnic group and you are branded a racist. Say or do anything that appears to denigrate women and you are branded a misogynist.

But suggest anything about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and you are dismissed as a right-wing extremist and fundamentalist bigot! You are free to use Christ’s name as a swear word or vilify Him in any and every way, and no one will raise an eyebrow! In fact, you will probably be applauded.

To dishonor Christ in any way is to dishonor God (John 5:18, 23) and put ourselves under His certain judgment if we do not repent.

Ultimately, we will banish ourselves to hell if we do not humbly honor Jesus as the total incarnation of truth, the only route to God, and the only means of eternal salvation (John 14:6).

While our highest honor is reserved for God, He also commands us to love and honor each other. Vertical honor always results in horizontal honor. One is a prelude to the other. Paul exhorts us: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). Likewise, the writer of Hebrews asked others to “pray for us . . . to live honorably in every way” (Hebrews 13:18).

To “live honorably” is not just the oath of a Boy Scout. It is the commitment and lifestyle of every authentic, mature follower of Jesus Christ!

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Jesus: The Light Who Gives Hope Komivi Ayiboe, Togo

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8:12 One night a sailor was lost on the high seas after his boat was caught in a violent storm. It was very cold and black. He desperately swam for hours and was out of breath, when all of a sudden he saw a light on the horizon. The sight of this light gave him strength and hope, because he knew he would be saved if he could swim in the direction of the light. It had to be the mainland, where he could find relief and be saved.

This parable is like each of us when doubt and despair settle in our hearts during difficult events in life. These difficult moments are dark moments, and it seems like we are walking alone.

God in His great kindness had compassion and sent His only Son, Jesus, into the world for its redemption at the moment when mankind was in the throes of death because of sin (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12). All who accept and direct their lives toward Jesus will receive His light. Doubt will flee, because light and salvation is in the Lord. As the sailor had to swim to the light to save his life, similarly, anyone who turns to Jesus will find not just life, but eternal life.

To turn your life toward Jesus and to be enlightened by Him is to give yourself totally to Him without reserve, to entrust Him with every domain of your life. It is accepting Him as Lord, Savior, and Master of your life.

His Word is the light on our paths (Psalm 119:105). He walks with us on our paths and is with us in the events of life. He will never leave us alone. So let us have that assurance and stand firm in the dark moments of life, because it is not drugs nor alcohol nor sex nor money that gives us hope.

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When we yield to fear and doubt, it settles in us. We choose to be defeated instead of turning to Jesus. Do not panic when worries invade our lives; Jesus dispels our doubt and despair.

A very sick old man always had a cheerful face, and when asked why he was merry instead of sad, given his state of illness, he replied that he had given his life and his disease to Jesus. He lived and shared his situation with everyone. The world offers us plenty of stuff, but none of it can offer us hope and life. The old man knew this.

Let’s have our lives and our eyes centered on Jesus Christ, Light of the World. Let’s not walk in the dark and doubt. Jesus is close to us and is ready to lead our lives and give us hope. Are you ready to entrust your life to Him?

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True Branches Alex Goshu, Ethiopia

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.

John 15:5 For believers, a living union with Christ is absolutely necessary.

Without it there is nothing. True salvation is evidenced by a life of fruitfulness. If we know and believe the teaching of Christ, God our Father is glorified, but we must take it further. God is also glorified in the fruit-bearing of Christians. As John says, no branch can even live by itself, let alone produce leaves and fruit. Cut off from the trunk, a branch is dead. Likewise, the vine’s branches rely on being connected to the trunk from which they receive their energy to bear fruit.

Christians depend on being connected to Jesus for their spiritual life and their ability to serve Him effectively. The fruit we produce is that of the Holy Spirit. As Galatians 5:22–23 says, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our source of life and spiritual fruit is not in ourselves; it is Christ Jesus in us. We can live rightly and serve Him effectively only if we are properly connected to Him in a faith-and-love relationship.

When Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing,” it is an illustration of the vine and branches; it is not a thoughtless generality or careless simile. It is an absolute, stark reality. No believer can achieve anything of spiritual value independent of Christ Jesus.

Jesus also reminds us that there are some who are in Him who bear no fruit. But these are not, as some would suppose, true branches that just happen to be fruitless. The reality is that all true branches bear fruit. Just as we know a healthy, living tree by the good fruit it produces, so do we recognize fruitless branches as having no connection to the true vine. This is why Jesus tells us, “By their fruit 152

you will recognize them” (Matthew 16:20). Those who do not produce good fruit are not true branches, but are cut away and burned.

The fruitless branches are identified as not belonging to the vine and are removed for the sake of truth and for the benefit of the other branches.

As each branch depends on the trunk, we need to depend on Jesus for everything, starting with our very life. In Acts it says, “For in him we live and move and have our being” (17:28). This includes our reconciliation with God through Him. No one can serve God effectively until he is connected with Jesus Christ by faith. Jesus is our only connection with the God who gave life and who produces in us a fruitful life of righteousness and service.

May you be a true branch that produces abundant fruit for God’s glory.

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Having the Zeal of Paul Ezra Sargunam, India

I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me— the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:24 The volumes Paul churned out during his lifetime are worthy of universal praise and preservation. In his middle age, he declared that he counted as loss everything he erstwhile considered as gain for the sake of Christ. He went on to say that he deemed everything trash to gain Christ and to proclaim His Gospel.

Paul never considered himself accomplished or said that he had attained the goal. Instead, he said that he was moving ahead in his journey of faith to take possession of that for which Jesus Christ took possession of him. He refrained from making tall claims that he had attained this or completed this task, but modestly said that he was doing only one thing: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” moving toward the goal of winning the prize for which God had called him heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12–14).

We all need the zeal exhibited by the Apostle Paul. His zeal stemmed from the love he had for Christ and His Gospel, which drove him to preach the Good News and plant churches, oblivious to his surroundings and in whatever state or stage he was in life. A man who vowed to destroy Christians and the church, after the Damascus visitation, rued that he would be doomed if he ceased to preach the Gospel! Each of us needs that kind of nerve.

Paul didn’t consider his life dearer than his ministry. He said that his life was worth nothing to him, and his only objective was to reach the finish line, completing the task of preaching the Gospel assigned to him by Jesus Christ. He taught by example, standing by 154

those who were weak and helping them by working hard without forgetting the words of Jesus Christ: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Paul further declared that he had never “coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing” (Acts 20:33), which is something that those involved in the Lord’s ministry today would do well to remember.

The early missionaries and church leaders were extremely passionate about winning people for Christ. The sixteenth-century Scottish theologian and missionary John Knox remarked, “Give me Scotland or I die!” American missionary John Hyde declared, “Give me souls, oh God, or I die!” And the Canadian missionary A.B. Simpson said, “The Christian is not obedient unless he is doing all in his power to send the Gospel to the heathen world.”

“Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in Thy service, and to promote Thy kingdom,” said the eighteenth-century American missionary David Brainerd.

Woefully, people with a true burden for perishing souls like Paul and these missionaries are few and far between today. God wants us to get down to business. He calls us to action. We need to work toward this goal with a passion.

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How to Increase Our Faith Maxeau Antoine, Haiti

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 10:17 What do we usually do when our faith is weak? Even though we may agree as believers that faith brings life, do we care enough to exercise it?

I have good news for you! You can have more faith than you can imagine. The problem is not your lack of faith—it is the fact that you don’t put into action what God has given to you. Paul says that we need to understand who we are in Christ, “in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3). When we choose expressly to fix our eyes on our loving and almighty God, to trust Him, He puts in our heart a measure of faith.

Faith is a gift of God. The more we practice it, the more it is growing up inside of us. By learning to count on God in the middle of the trials and the difficulties of life, our faith increases.

Sometimes, our moments of greatest tribulation are those in which our faith increases the most. We were facing a great tragedy on January 12, 2010, with the terrible earthquake. Hundreds of thousands of people died or disappeared, but He used it to make us stronger, and our faith grew.

We can also develop our faith by meditating on the Word of God. When the truth found in the Bible keeps our mind busy, our faith will increase rapidly. The Bible confirms this truth in Romans 10:17: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

When you look at the lives of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, you will be motivated. You will find yourself willing and wanting God to do the same in your life, just as He powerfully operated in 156

many of their lives. For example, in normal reality, do you think that it is possible to have a child when the parents are around 100 years old? This happened in Abraham and Sarah’s life (Genesis 18, 21).

Compared to their situation, our lives and challenges are nothing that God can’t manage.

The more we feed our spirit by the Word of God, the bigger our faith will be. By reading His Word, we cast out the doubt. Would you like to open your heart to God and by faith receive His power today? Ask God to give you a trusting heart, so that you will be able to grow in your life of faith.

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You Are a Holy Palace S.S. Rai, India

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 God created the first man (Adam, Genesis 2:7) and woman (Eve, Genesis 2:21–22), the ancestors of all humans. He created them with His own hands as His temple.

Scripture says that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that you are to honor the Lord with your body. How do you do that?

By taking care of it, respecting it, and treating it as a valuable gift.

That means you use your body to bring Him glory.

As a physician and pastor, I do not hesitate to acknowledge the fact that in the world, people are perishing from incurable problems.

The reason is explained in Romans 1:18–20. Allow me to share these verses and other Scripture passages to make my point clear: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

We live in a fallen world, so some are sick. We also need to stand against temptation (Romans 6:12–14): 158

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

When you take care of your body, the temple, you are saying to God, “Lord, thank You for this gift of life. I am choosing to take care of myself, so that I can serve You with my whole heart, mind, and strength.” Keep your temple as a holy palace for the Lord (1 Peter 1:16). How do we achieve this? “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10–11).

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Get proper rest and nourishment through fellowship, teaching, prayer, and communion (Acts 2:42). Honor the Lord with your heart, with your soul, and with your mind by taking care of your body. Enjoy the blessings that God has given you and thank Him for everything.

May God fulfill His covenant with you in a wonderful way, just as He did for the Hebrew people in Leviticus 26:9–12. Have a wonderful life in Christ!

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Are You Ready to Lose Your Life?

Wade McHargue, USA

Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

Luke 17:33 One of the greatest revivals in recent church history came through a man named William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army. In spite of the distractions and obstacles of wealth, politics, work, indifference, coldness in the church, etc., God moved in power and shook a nation through the Salvation Army.

William Booth’s strategy was to put God’s power and grace on display by going to the worst part of the city, the darkest section, so that His light could shine for many to see. He would say, “Go straight for souls, and go for the worst.”

This is what Booth did with his fellow “soldiers of the Cross,” and through the transformation of those rough areas of East London, he gained the attention of the masses and those in leadership. Thus, he was even able to see laws passed that affected all of England (and spilled over into America).

Are you ready to lose your life for the Gospel? Not just read about the intensity of the book of Acts, but live it? Are you ready to stop living just a plain, comfortable life and step out on the water?

Are you ready to give an account of your life to God? If not, then what will make you ready? Living out the American Dream? Will that satisfy you? Have you no concern for others to be saved?

There is no way we can continue to sit on our couches and watch hours of television, watching the world go to hell around us, and expect to have the smile of God on our life and think we are ready for the Day of Accounting. We are deceiving ourselves. This is what Jesus tried to warn us about many times (Luke 12:15–21, 35–48).

Are you ready to get radical and get a group to take the Gospel 160

to the darkest part of your city? I dare you. If you stay in fear, then you are still trying to save your life and Jesus said that you will end up losing it. If you belong to Jesus, you have already died, so there really is nothing to lose.

If you take the challenge, I assure you, you will see the glory of God. You will come away with a bleeding heart full of the compassion of God. You will come back with a heavenly perspective; you will have a powerful testimony. Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), not to create religious institutions and isolated saints. The command is to “go,” not “wait and hope they will come.”

The ball is in your court. It is time to step out of the boat; it is time to take the risk; it is time for action. Your life and my life are just too short to live any other way.

Friend, unlike William Booth and England in his day, God is bringing the nations to America. What a unique opportunity not only to see our cities impacted, but also the nations. On with it—for the sake of Jesus and for the glory of God!

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Ask. Seek. Knock.

Lonnie Riley, USA

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7 Does God know what He wants to do in your town? Does God know what He wants to do in your life? In your family? The obvious answer is, “Yes.” Then, what is the problem? It is that we do not know what God knows. If we only knew what God knows, it would be a done deal. If He knows, and we want to do what He wants done, then how do we find out what He wants?

The answer is found in Matthew 7. In this passage, we find the means through which believers can become aware of what God knows and wants to do in their specific circumstances.

Jesus tells us to ask, to seek, and to knock. This is not saying the same thing in three ways, as many people think. Rather, it is a three-stage process of finding out what God knows and what He wants to do in our lives. If you are always asking what to do next, it is because you don’t know what God knows. Once you know what God knows, the answer to that question will be settled.

Ask. What should we ask? How should we ask? How can we know if what we want is the will of God? These are questions believers often ask. When Belinda and I are faced with a need and want to know what God knows about it, as we pray we ask ourselves three questions: Is this prayer unselfish in nature? Does this prayer honor God? Is this prayer biblically correct?

Seek. To seek is to look intently for something specific. It is to be alert to the possibility of finding it. It is to watch with purpose. When you seek/wait on God, you watch Him connect 162

the dots of what He has already told you that He will do. Just as the woman expected to find the lost coin and the shepherd expected to find the lost sheep (Luke 15), so we must live each day expecting God to do specific things in and through our lives that only He can do.

Knock. Knocking implies action. After you see God connect all the dots, then you know exactly what to do next—it’s time to act. The faith principle is this: don’t do anything until you see God do something; then, when He does something, you will know exactly what you are to do. That is knocking.

Ask. Seek. Knock. This is the process of prayer. This is how we learn what God knows, that what He knows is already a done deal, and that we must walk into that done deal. Once you are into the flow, the process keeps repeating itself. You receive an impression, which becomes a burden. You test the burden to see if it is of God. You wait and watch in anticipation of what God is going to reveal.

In the beginning, the challenge is to wait. Later, the challenge becomes just keeping up. That’s how faith becomes a lifestyle.

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Out of Bondage into God’s Freedom Nigel Lewis, Jamaica

I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

Ezra 8:21 Life is a journey that is paved with all kinds of obstacles. Each year, we have no idea what is in store for us, so I exhort you to take a leaf out of Ezra’s book (Ezra 8:15–36) as he embarked upon the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem with the second wave of Jewish exiles.

It’s a journey that was treacherous, with tragedy on every side.

The enemy was seeking opportunity to avenge himself, but like every good leader, Ezra sought the Lord for direction and protection, and not just for himself, but for every member of his group.

Ezra knew that the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem would be one that would pose many challenges: •

• •

The journey would be long and dangerous, as they were traveling on foot with precious cargo: silver, gold, copper, and priceless items that belonged to the house of God. This could attract thieves and enemies.

They were traveling with their young ones and elders; hence the journey would be slow.

Ezra, having already spoken confidently that “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him” (8:22), found it very hard to ask the king for military protection against enemies along the way.

So, Ezra did the one and only thing that he knew best, which was to call for a fast and to pray. Ezra knew that afflicting their souls before God was the one sure way of getting God’s attention.

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Each new year that we face brings new challenges, both spiritual and physical. We may have had a rough year last year, and so we may be scared stiff to even think of what might happen this year.

Like Ezra, I implore you to call a fast. Call your family, your church or ministry, your friends. Afflict your souls before God. As we present ourselves before His throne, He is able to keep us from falling.

As you journey through this year, the hand of God will be upon you. He will show you the right way (verse 21). He will deliver you from the hand of the enemy and from all your fears (verse 31). No doubt about that!

God did it for Ezra and the Israelites, and He will do it for you.

Ezra was able to make it to Jerusalem safely to do the work he was mandated to do. By the grace of God, may you move confidently into the future as well!

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A Unified, Sharing, and Serving Church Ranjan Fernando, Sri Lanka

My prayer is not for [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

John 17:20–21 Let me share with you three ways that we as individuals and the Body of Christ as a whole should stand out in today’s world: A Unified Church (Ephesians 4:1–16). Christians are divided into many groups today. Certain differences could have been passed on to us through tradition. In my country, which has many religions and pluralistic traditions, it is important for all believers in Christ to affirm our unity. Paul admonishes us to keep the unity received by faith in the Triune God—the Father of all and over all, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who dwells within the body called the Church. As part of the Body of Christ, it is of the utmost importance for each of us to do our part, according to His calling, so that we edify the church as a whole and be unified.

Build Your church, Lord. Make us strong. Join our hearts through Your Son. Make us one as Your body in the Kingdom of Your Son. A Sharing Church (Acts 4:32–37). We may wonder whether having everything in common is possible at present. In this passage, the believers were quite a large company. There was oneness—no possessiveness of individuals—so holding everything in common was not a problem. There was no needy person, and distribution was according to each person’s need. This oneness and sharing was on all, not just a 166

few select ones or special ones. They also testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. How many of our testimonies have great power? Those who hear our testimonies look for authentication by our lives and lifestyles.

How may our lifestyles match our faith claims?

Lord, help us in our materialistic, consumeristic, amassing cultures to learn the principles of sharing.

A Serving Church (Mark 10:32–45). Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be first shall be slave [or servant] of all” (verse 44). This is the key for servant leadership. Greatness is not in seeking after a position or power, but something realized through one’s sacrificial and selfless service. Jesus demonstrated His humility by becoming a servant and dying for our sins on the cross. We have no better example. Even after hearing from Jesus about His death, resurrection, and gift of eternal life, the disciples were passionate about their own needs. Instead of sharing His thoughts, James and John sought for privileged positions after this life. Jesus made it clear that without suffering it is impossible to have any part in His glory. The honor of sitting with Him on His throne is given to those who take up their cross and overcome the enemy. James and John were later willing to take the path of suffering. Am I willing to emulate Jesus’ servanthood?

Father God, help me to follow the steps of Jesus, even if it means suffering and death, so that Your Name will be glorified through my life of serving others.

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Who Not to Be at Church Alex Goshu, Ethiopia

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.

Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 3 John 11 In the book of 3 John, Diotrephes is a church leader who was exercising dictatorial power in God’s house. In other words, this man was one who built his own kingdom in God’s Kingdom. He must have had need to lead the church of God, not in love, but by power and considerable influence, since he was able to exclude people from the church fellowship.

He is mentioned in verses 9 and 10 as a self-seeking troublemaker in a local church. From John’s description, we can assume that Diotrephes was a leader, or at least an influential member, in the local church where Gaius was a member. Diotrephes was clearly abusing his position of authority. For some reason, he was jealous of the apostles and refused to allow them in his church. Instead of following the command for a pastor to be hospitable and not quarrelsome as stated in 1 Timothy 3:2–3, Diotrephes was inhospitable and pugnacious. Instead of seeking to be the servant of all, he loved to be in charge.

In just two verses, we find six troubling characteristics written about him: • • • • • •

He loved to be first He refused to welcome the apostles into the church He maliciously spread gossip about men of God He withheld hospitality from other believers He required others to follow his poor example He excommunicated anyone who crossed him 168

We Christians need to be in the continual practice of doing good, not merely doing occasional good deeds. As Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” So, believers, love for fellow Christians and for other people is crucial.

We need to lead in loving God’s people, but not by power. Care for others and love of Christians also need not be by emotion, but by love in action.

Do we imitate Diotrephes by refusing to aid the spread of God’s word? Church pastors are responsible for rebuking these kinds of leaders. We men and women of God should have no place for power-hungry, jealous, slanderous men who reject the apostles’ teaching. Rather, true ministers of the Gospel must be hospitable, self-controlled, upright, disciplined, and love what is good.

We must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught. So, may we identify those in the church who have the spirit of Diotrephes and be wary of any semblance of that spirit in ourselves.

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The Fruit of Discipleship Jennifer Foster, Brazil

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

John 17:3 Three mornings a week, I hold a Bible study for the youth in our Amazon jungle church. I recall two instances that clearly demonstrate why we are called to make disciples—especially of children.

The clothing of the children in the Amazon is very ragged and worn down, since it has literally been passed down through as many as 10 siblings. Once they complete a full Bible study course, the youth get to pick a shirt or pair of shorts from the clothing prize box.

A little after dark one day, I heard a faint knock at my door. It was José, a 12-year-old who had acquired a pair of shorts from the box. With his shorts presented in his outstretched hands, he shyly said, “Missionary, I was wondering if I could trade my shorts?” And then, with the most humble expression I’ve ever seen on anyone’s face, he said, “I’d like to trade my shorts for a Bible. May I please trade these so I can have a Bible of my own?”

Tears filled my eyes. This young man was willing to trade his most prized possession for a Bible! I promised José he could keep his shorts, and that the next time I was in the city I’d get him his own Bible.

In Hebrews 4:12 we read that God’s Word is “alive and active.”

God also promises us that His Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:10–11), as the case of José abundantly proves. What an excellent reminder to us of the power of the Living Word, the Bible.

On another afternoon, a little girl came to my jungle home and asked me a simple question: “Will you come eat lunch with us?” After arriving and finding a seat on the floor, ready to begin the meal, I realized all eyes were on me. I was the guest of honor!

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After the meal, her mother pulled me aside and said, “Missionary, I want to tell you why you were our guest of honor today. My little girl has been coming to your discipleship course. Each day after class she brings home that little Bible you gave her, sits down all of her brothers and sisters, and teaches them everything you taught her. They have all received Jesus into their hearts. Our home now has Light!”

A little Light can make a big difference. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. We can be that light because He is the True Light, and we have been made in His image (Genesis 1:26–27). Your Light can make a difference.

Today, why don’t you share the Word of God with someone, even if it’s just a verse or two? You never know, the Word you share may be even more valuable to them than their most prized possession.

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Blessed Are the Hungry Feeders Charles Oloo, Kenya

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?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

John 6:5–6 Many people may seem desperate, but they have faith in Jesus. The Lord stretches our faith in many different ways. The disciples are a good example of this during the feeding of the five thousand. They were asking Jesus where to buy food for the people at such a late hour, and how they were going to feed them all. This shows how our commitment and our faith can sometimes go up and down.

Philip in particular couldn’t figure out how they were going to feed everyone. However, when the Lord saw the problem, He already knew how to solve it. The Lord always sees our problems before we do. Nothing takes God by surprise. Instead of Philip focusing on the problem, he should have focused on the power of Jesus Christ and had faith. With God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

Andrew found a boy with some food. Unlike Philip, he was finding a solution. The boy shared his five loaves of bread and two fish—the only food he had for lunch. Yet this was all that was needed to feed five thousand people who were hungry.

I believe the little boy had abundant faith in God. He has often used small things to bless many. The boy is a symbol of faith, different from those who worship big names and titles, but who don’t give to the hungry. What can we learn? What can we do to bless others?

When we give Jesus what we have, He multiplies it a thousand and one times over.

We must be willing to obey before we are ready to be blessed. When the disciples make the men sit down, they are humble 172

and waiting. Obedience takes place as they get ready to be fed by a child’s lunch. This shows the power of God in Jesus Christ at work.

Jesus humbled Himself and gave thanks for the food, and the disciples distributed the food in an orderly manner. Nothing can go wrong when we are with Jesus. He always brings order to our lives.

What was the effect of the miracle? There were 12 baskets left over. Perhaps a portion was given back to the little boy. The people knew that Jesus was the Promised One. There are hungry souls all around us who need the Bread of Life.

Jesus wants to use us and what we have to feed them. Sometimes we should ask ourselves, Why do we throw food in the trash can or discard our clothes, yet there is one person out there in need? Where is our faith? Jesus is asking.

Let’s strengthen our faith, not through seeing miracles or as a result of being given some gifts. When we are faced with problems, all people—the rich, the poor, all of us—should turn to the Lord in faith.

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The Wilderness Journey Shmuel Suran, Israel

But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors.

Deuteronomy 6:23 Moses spoke these words to all Israel in the fortieth year of the wilderness journey. I’ve often pondered God’s dealings with Israel during her wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, as the wilderness journey is a vital part of every believer’s life and experience. It took Israel forty years to accomplish an eleven-day journey (Deuteronomy 1:2)! They were an unbelieving and disobedient generation, found wanting in God’s sight.

The wilderness journey is the school of the Holy Spirit in which they were taught by God Himself. Israel was His covenanted people, a generation that had been humbled and disciplined by Him. And although they had spent some of that time aimlessly wandering and seemingly out of the purposes of God, they had been forged by their circumstances into a spiritual nation, a spiritual army made ready by God’s grace for the conquering of the Promised Land. God had led His people through the wilderness for a particular purpose: “to humble and test [them] in order to know what was in [their] heart, whether or not [they] would keep his commands” (Deuteronomy 8:2).

Moses discerned the ways and purposes of God in dealing with and guiding His people. Yet for the most part, the majority could only see the difficulties of their circumstances. On every occasion that they were tested, their reaction was determined by their own self-interests. Not once in their spiritual journey did they recognize that their circumstances were God-ordained to teach them to look to Him and to trust Him and His loving ways as their God and Father.

At the beginning of my own spiritual wilderness journey forty years ago, I really didn’t know or understand that God was educating 174

and training us for His eternal purposes. We must all go through our own wilderness journeys, learning the ways of God. We must learn how to take up our cross daily, submissively, and patiently.

One of the most important lessons that I learned was how to follow the path that the Lord chose for me, even when it contradicted my own will and desires. God has the right to choose for us anything that He pleases to do. And by submitting to His ways, you will learn things that you would otherwise have never known. And if you are willing to obey God and follow the path of His choice, you will be able to hear and recognize His voice more clearly in the future. And when you hear it, by God’s grace you will obey it, even if it seems like He is calling you to paths that seem impossible in the natural.

Something happens to you in the spiritual wilderness journey: it leaves a mark on you for the rest of your life. Perhaps no one notices the difference outwardly. Nevertheless, a deep inner change takes place in your life. And as you remember those years, you can only thank the Lord for leading you on the wilderness journey.

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In a Time of Waiting Lonnie Riley, USA

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 40:31 What does God accomplish through our waiting? The most important thing is that, if we will let Him, He will make our hearts right with Him. If our hearts are out of tune, we won’t do what He wants us to do no matter how many times or how loudly He speaks. So, in a time of waiting, God will lead us to surrender completely to His will and teach us how to release our dreams to Him. In a time of waiting, God teaches us to distinguish wants from needs. I am 100 percent convinced that if our hearts are right with Him, when we ask something of Him, He will give it every single time. But I am just as convinced that God will not give us what we think we want, but what we need to have a strong relationship with Him. In a time of waiting, He can help us learn that it’s not about us, but it’s all about Him. In a time of waiting, God matures our faith as we become more dependent on Him. God helps us understand what faith in Him really is. Faith is relational, not merely intellectual. God does not want us to have faith that something will happen—He wants us to have faith in Him who causes things to happen.

In a time of waiting, God grows our confidence in Him as we learn to rest in the assurance that what He has promised He will bring to pass in His time and His way. In that process comes renewed strength. The prophet put it this way: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31 kjv).

In a time of waiting, God teaches us to pay attention to His 176

activity and become more aware of how He continually works in the world. I often wonder if, in my former life, would I have even noticed how God worked, or would I have been too busy making things happen to see the hand of God? Would I have slowed down long enough to recognize God at work, or would I have moved on to another item on my agenda?

In a time of waiting, God teaches us to act on what He places before us, no matter how insignificant those things seem. Waiting is not inactivity; it often is opening our eyes to see what is at hand that needs to be done and then doing it.

We’ve learned that when God seems silent, He is still active in our lives and in His world. We’ve learned that when we respond to the seemingly little things He sets before us, our faith increases and our walk with Him deepens. And that deeper walk is the greatest reward of faith.

We’ve learned that when we respond in faith, He turns the seemingly little things into big things that bring glory to Him and Him alone. In a nutshell, we learned that faith is not a leap into the dark, but a step into the light.

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What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do Conrad Reid, Jamaica

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

2 Chronicles 20:12 If your car is giving problems, you call for a mechanic. If the plumbing at home is giving problems, you call for a plumber. If your grades are falling apart, you go to a tutor. But what do you do and where do you go when your life is falling apart? When things are out of your control and you don’t know what to do, what’s next?

Today, my prayer is that God will re-enter your situation of life and that you will find Him to be real. Oftentimes for that to happen, however, God must put us through crisis situations. Such is the situation we find in 2 Chronicles 20 with King Jehoshaphat.

In the previous chapter, there’s the story of a great national revival, a spiritual awakening. Then it says, “After this, [Israel’s enemies] came to wage war against Jehoshaphat” (20:1). We all know this principle: with every high, there is also a low; with every mountaintop, there is a valley; after every victory, there is always a letdown; and with every blessing, there comes a testing.

You may not be in a battle right now, but you’re going to be in one tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. God allows, creates, and uses crises so He can demonstrate that He alone is God. Let me say that again: God allows, creates, and causes overwhelming circumstances in our life so that we can discover Him. In a crisis, you don’t need nice-sounding words. You don’t need high-sounding theological statements. In a crisis, you need to see the living God. I find so often that in crisis situations many Christians either abandon or forget what they were taught, and then they wonder why God is not real in their crisis moments.

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So, what do you do when you don’t know what to do? Notice these steps in Jehoshaphat’s prayer: 1. Turn to God first. Remind yourself who God is. He is bigger than the problem you are facing.

2. Talk to God about your situation. There is no problem that is too big and there is no problem that is too small to pray about. Ask God for help now.

3. Trust God to help you. When you’re overwhelmed, all you tend to see is the problem. You don’t look to God. You can’t be discouraged and focus on God at the same time. The battle is not yours—it’s the Lord’s!

4. Thank God in advance. You are giving thanks for the fact that you have passed the ball. You are thanking God in advance for the victory. If you thank God after the fact, that’s gratitude. If you thank God before it happens, that’s faith.

When you allow God to solve your problems, it becomes a testimony to unbelievers; the world takes notice when the Christian lives by faith. So, are you facing a crisis and don’t know what to do? Are you facing a difficult circumstance this week? What do you do next?

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Decision Determines Destination Dil Tamang, Nepal

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:4–5 How do you inquire of the Lord when there is no physical forerunner?

First, let’s look at two biblical examples of a physical forerunner.

The birth narrative of Jesus found in Matthew gives an account of the Magi coming from the East after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. They came saying, “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” (Matthew 2:2).

The star did not continue appearing in the sky for them. If it did so, they would have been led directly to Bethlehem where the child was, not to Jerusalem. The same star did reappear, though, and they became exceedingly happy. They were wise, but needed a star to lead and guide them to reach the right place.

We, the present-day worshipers, do not have any physical star to lead and guide us to the proper destination.

The Israelites did not know the itinerary to the Promised Land, and leading a big crowd like that was not an easy job anyway. When they had just started the journey from Egypt, they were in desperate need of mighty powers to save them from the hands of Pharaoh and his army. Therefore, the Lord sent an angel ahead of them, and He Himself went as the pillar of cloud in the day and as the pillar of fire in the night to protect and guide them (Exodus 14:19–20).

But we, the people of God at the present day, are not given any angels or the pillar of cloud or the pillar of fire to protect and guide us in our journey.

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As you read about yesterday, King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a mighty man with an army of well over one million (2 Chronicles 17:13–18), but he trusted in God and inquired of the Lord first before going to war (2 Chronicles 20:1–4). When three nations joined together to attack Judah, the king organized a national day of prayer and fasting and asked his people to inquire of the Lord first and to trust Him. Consequently, the Lord fought for them. As the enemy heard the army of Judah approaching them singing, they were thrown into confusion. The three armies began bickering with each other, then killing each other. By the time Jehoshaphat’s army reached the battlefield, there was no sign of a single survivor. The Lord Himself fought for them and confused their enemies, who killed each other.

When there is no physical forerunner like the star for the Magi or an angel, clouds, and fire for the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land, God’s people are tempted to decide what they feel is good and comfortable for them. Since our decision determines our destination, we need discernment from the Lord as demonstrated by King Jehoshaphat. Let us join Moses, a great leader, in asking the Lord, “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you” (Exodus 33:13).

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Are You Ready for Battle?

Part One Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara, Mali

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:10–11 Life on earth is marked by perpetual and ongoing battles. We cannot triumph without fighting. Alas, many Christians do not realize that they are on a battlefield and not on a playground. In every situation of life, we need preparation to win. We need a plan of battle—planning, organization, discipline, determination, etc.

As Christians, we face three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world refers to the system around us that is opposed to God. The flesh is the old nature that we inherited from Adam, a nature that is opposed to God and can do nothing spiritual to please God. The devil is Satan, the master of the spiritual forces that back all evil in this world. By His death and resurrection, Christ overcame the world, the flesh, and the devil. We are involved in a lifelong war, so what is your battle plan to deal with these three enemies?

In Ephesians 6:10–15, Paul gives us five instructions for effective spiritual warfare. We will look at the first two today and at the other three tomorrow: 1. Prepare Properly (6:10). Paul is not saying that the battle is for those who live in difficult places like the third world.

He says brethren (kjv)—it’s you and me. Every Christian is called to fight; every Christian is a soldier of Jesus Christ.

We live in a dangerous world and we have many spiritual enemies. But Paul reminds us that it’s only by the strength 182

of the Lord that we can have victory. By ourselves, we do not have the possibility of overcoming Satan; we must count on the very powerful forces of the Lord, to call upon Him in prayer and obey His word. Then we will have the victory in our conflicts with the powers of darkness.

2. Take the Right Weapons (6:11a). You cannot stand up long in human armor. It’s like David trying to fight Goliath in Saul’s armor. Our effectiveness in pursuing spiritual warfare depends in part on the equipment we are using. The tense of the verb indicates that this armor must be put on once and for all and be carried in a permanent way. Believers must never remove it, because they would be vulnerable to the attacks of the devil, who is disguised as an angel of light, because his specialty is to mislead and divide. He darkens the intelligence of men with twisted information that is always presented well. Let us not forget that there is someone who does not want you to succeed. We’ll study him more tomorrow.

Believers are to resist Satan by putting on the whole armor of God. Never try to defeat the devil using human equipment. The devil is smart, but not omniscient; swift, but not omnipresent; strong, but not omnipotent. Since the enemy is invisible, the Christian soldier needs supernatural equipment to fight and win the battles. God has provided the armor—it is up to us to wear it.

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Are You Ready for Battle?

Part Two Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara, Mali

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 Yesterday, we started looking at the Apostle Paul’s guidance for engaging in effective spiritual warfare. Today, we will look at three additional instructions: 3. Know Your Enemy (6:11b). You need to be able to stand “against the devil’s schemes.” The word rendered “schemes” (“wiles” kjv) is from the word method. It means art, skill, and cunning. It occurs in the New Testament only here and in Ephesians 4:14. It is appropriately here rendered “schemes,” meaning cunning devices, arts, and attempts to delude and destroy us. The wiles of the devil are the various arts and stratagems he uses to make us feel bad or fall. Remember who he is.

4. Know the Battlefield (6:12). This enemy is not material, but spiritual. Our mind is the battlefield. The enemy tries to distort ideas and values that, like a rain of missiles, bombard us without stopping. We see today the proliferation of philosophies, paganism, and Eastern religions, as well as false gospels. It’s the New Morality, where it is prohibited to prohibit. For this reason we must continuously fight in order not to fall and make shipwreck the values of our faith. This world in which we live is an immense spiritual battlefield. Everywhere Christians live reigns a climate of war. Believers are constantly spied on and will be attacked if they lower their guard or are negligent in 184

their walk with the Lord. We have a host of enemies and we must be alert. Who is going to win the battle in our mind?

5. Have a Clear Objective (6:13). All believers are to be mobilized for combat; there are no exceptions, and nobody must withdraw himself. The Scriptures describe us as pilgrims.

We are in transit on earth, but with a mission to achieve. We must be witnesses of the grace of God by making known the person and the work of Jesus Christ around the world. With this intention, we must adopt a humble and submissive attitude as described by Paul, yet we must also adopt the mental state of an athlete who gives the best of himself. We need to take up the “full armor of God,” because evil days are coming. In the evil day, in the day of danger and attack, we must stand and hold firm against the attacks and assaults.

The greatest joys come from the greatest victories; the greatest victories come from the greatest battles; the greatest battles are won when they are fought in the power of the Lord, wearing the armor of the Lord, with the goal to resist the devil and his demons, standing firm. When the day of evil comes, we must take our stand.

Stand like Joshua sending troops around Jericho. Stand like Gideon marching toward the Midianites. Stand like David facing the giant.

Take your stand!

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Earnest Prayer

Philip Adhikary, Bangladesh So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Acts 12:5 No human power or influence could save Peter. There was no earthly help available—help could only be obtained by way of heaven.

Therefore, those in the church committed themselves to earnest and persistent prayer. And God sent an angel, who “struck Peter on the side and woke him up” (verse 7). The angel led him past “the first and second guards and [they] came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it” (verse 10). Peter was freed from the prison.

Perhaps there might be some iron gate in your life, blocking your way. You can’t find any way to get out. Like a caged bird, you often beat against the bars, but instead of helping your situation, you only become more tired and exhausted, and that causes you more heartache.

However, there is something for you to learn, and that is the secret of believing prayer. Then, when you come to the iron gate, it will open as it did for Peter: “by itself.”

It might seem that many of your loved ones have been bound

by Satan and imprisoned by him for years, and they are waiting for their gates to be opened. Perhaps they will be set free in Christ when you pray earnestly and fervently to God in faith.

In your prayers, above everything else, beware of limiting God—not only through unbelief, but also by thinking you know exactly what He will do. You must learn to expect the unexpected, beyond all that you ask and think.

So, each time you intercede through prayer, first be quiet and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, how He delights 186

in Christ, His Son, and about your place in Him. Then, expect great things. We need to remember that our prayers are God’s opportunities.

Emergencies call for intense prayer. When the person himself becomes the prayer, nothing can resist its touch. For example, the prophet Elijah bowed to the ground on Mount Carmel with his face between his knees, and he became the prayer. His entire being was in touch with God and was aligned with Him against the power of evil. Elijah’s evil enemies could not withstand this kind of prayer in human form—something that is greatly needed today. God is looking for great people like Elijah who will dare to prove the greatness of their God. “But the church was earnestly praying.” You earnestly pray, and then see what God will do.

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A Battle of Wills Maxeau Antoine, Haiti

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 Life always brings surprises—at least in the opinion of people.

What do you think is the reason? Is it by accident that peoples’ lives change tremendously?

We have Someone whose will is always the best. His plans for our lives are in His hands, even though most of the time what happens in our lives surprises others and sometimes us. He is the one who knows the best for us. In Jeremiah 29, the prophet tells us that even though we don’t know what our lives will look like in the future, God knows our future just as He did for the Israelites.

Anyone who trusts and believes in Him doesn’t need to be worried about tomorrow, because it is not our responsibility. In Matthew 6:25 Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” I have found that through God our needs in life are guaranteed to be met.

Beloved, when we look at some believers’ lives—and you look at your own life—it is clear to see how God cares. When you are in a period of waiting, you need to wait for God’s timing and it will come. By seeing it happen, you will grow further in faith.

I knew a man who was always angry about people making progress in life. He discovered that the more he acted angry toward them, these same people kept progressing all the more. He concluded that Christians progress according to God’s timing and nobody can stop it.

Sometimes, though, we can’t wait for God to act. We try our ways and think that we can help God make it happen. We are mistaken.

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It is not our will, but His will be done “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

One day, I had in mind to buy a car. I prayed for that. I knew that God would give it to me. When I found one, I bought it because I thought it was the will of God. I soon discovered that I was wrong in my decision. Anytime I started to drive it, the car would stop running after 10 minutes. I eventually had to sell it and lost some money in the process.

If you stay in God’s will, wait on Him, and count on His promises, your life will surprise others as well as you.

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Cooperating with God Komivi Ayiboe, Togo

When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.”

Matthew 9:28–29 It is true that God created us without us, but He does not save us without us. And there are certain things God does not intend to accomplish alone. He uses our cooperation in some of His projects to impact the lives of our brothers and sisters.

Jesus, before curing two blind men, asked for their faith to believe (Matthew 9). If they did not add faith to their request for healing, they would not have been cured.

God has no feet to visit a sick person in the hospital or a prisoner in his prison cell. It is our feet that God often chooses to use to visit our sick brothers and sisters and those in prison, bringing them the Word of God and the Gospel.

In Mark 6, Jesus alone could not go to all the villages, so He sent out His disciples two by two. Jesus used His friends, His anointed ones, to work miracles. It is through our feet and our mouths that the proclamation of the Good News will come (Romans 10:14–15).

In John 6, Jesus was able to feed more than five thousand people with the bread and fish offered by a boy. He could have commanded the loaves and fish to descend directly from heaven, but He instead chose to teach us that, through faith in Him, we are able to take care of our neighbors and meet their needs. It is good for us to cooperate with Him. God used Moses to deliver His people out of Egypt. He acted through a widow to feed the prophet Elijah. He Himself used a virgin named Mary to give His only Son, Jesus, to the world.

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God continues to use people to achieve great things for His glory and transform lives around us. Whatever be the smallness of what we give to God, He uses it to do great things. It is up to God how He decides to use us to make His wonders known. We are merely His manual workers whom He uses and continues to use—if we are available and cooperative.

Today, God still wants to use people to accomplish His will throughout the world. Happy are we if God wants us to cooperate with Him! He wants not only us, but also our spiritual and material goods, on the condition that we are available and obedient to Him. God wants to use you to reach the unreached (Mark 6:7). He wants to use your mouth to announce the Gospel to the lost. Whatever be your time, money, or anything else, God can use it to transform someone’s life. Give Jesus your everything so that He can use it to help those around you.

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Seeing God Equals a Transformed Life Philip Adhikary, Bangladesh

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

Proverbs 29:18 When a person sees God, their life will always be transformed. We know of great people in the Bible who had seen God, and their lives were transformed. For example, Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire (Exodus 3:1–2), and there he was called to redeem his people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.

Jacob, though he had deceived his brother Esau, wrestled with God at Peniel, and his name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28– 30). When Gideon saw a vision of God, he was transformed from a coward into a courageous soldier (Judges 6:11–24). And Thomas, after seeing Christ, was changed from a doubting follower into a loyal, devoted disciple (John 20:24–29).

Saul, a persecutor of Christians, met Jesus on the road to Damascus and “suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him” (Acts 9:3). His name was changed from Saul to Paul, and he became the great Apostle of Jesus.

We can also find wonderful testimonies in the history of missions. Many people since biblical times have had visions of God. William Carey, an eighteenth-century English missionary considered to be the father of modern missions, saw God and left his shoemaker’s bench to go to India.

In the nineteenth century, David Livingstone saw God and left everything behind in Britain to become a missionary and explorer, following the Lord’s leading through the thickest jungles in Africa.

There are thousands more who have had visions of God and today are serving Him in the uttermost parts of the earth, seeking the timely evangelization of the lost.

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How can we be a part of this mission to evangelize people who are lost? We need to wait upon God, which is vital in order to see Him and receive a vision from Him. The amount of time spent before Him is also critical, for our hearts are like a photographer’s film—the longer the exposure, the deeper the impression. For God’s vision to be impressed on our hearts, we must sit in stillness at His feet for quite a long time. We must remember that the troubled surface of a lake will not reflect an image.

Therefore, our lives must be quiet and peaceful if we expect to see God. And the vision we will see from Him will have the power to affect our lives more than a lovely sunset brings peace to our troubled hearts. Seeing God always equals a transformed life.

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You’re Supposed to Sow Moses, Vietnam

He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful.

In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.

Isaiah 30:23 It is an honor and a privilege to share with you about this special verse in Isaiah. It is so special to me because I still remember it from a long time ago. I had a week of fasting and praying, and Father God gave me this precious verse.

I would like to suggest to you that the Lord also taught me the meaning of this verse. Let me share the various parts of it with you: He will also send you rain—Father God will bless us by sending us rain. Spiritually, rain means the Holy Spirit.

For the seed you sow—There are many kinds of seeds, including the seed of the Word of God, the seed of giving money, and the seed of prayer. There is a time to sow and a time to reap, physically and spiritually (Ecclesiastes 3:2).

Physically, for example, in Genesis 26:12: “Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.” For a spiritual example, look to Hosea 10:12: “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.”

In the ground—Spiritually speaking, this means or represents the heart of man.

And the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful—When we sow the seed God has for us to plant, the Lord will bless us by sending Holy Spirit rains in our life.

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In that day—Our visions from the Lord and the dreams of the harvest will come true.

Your cattle will graze in broad meadows—This is our legacy from the Lord, the effect of doing what this verse says. There will be a harvest.

I still remember when I witnessed to a classmate many years ago. At that time my friend was a teacher. When I told him about the Lord Jesus, he did not believe. After that he was in jail for fleeing abroad. In jail, he prayed that if the Lord would help him flee, he would believe, and the Lord answered. He became a Christian when he arrived in Canada.

Ten years later on a Sunday morning at the local church, I saw a mother with two children. Her husband was my friend from Canada. She was very thankful to me because I had witnessed the Lord Jesus to her husband, and after that she and their children believed because of his witness. My friend and his family are now servants of God. Hallelujah!

You reap what you sow. When you sow the Gospel, you will reap the lost people. A harvest will take place.

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To the Next Generation of Believers Ezra Sargunam, India

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Mark 16:15–16 As I have passed the torch in my ministry, I recall how our forefathers in the Old Testament like Moses, Joshua, Jacob, and Samuel shared worthy counsel with their successors through farewell words in their twilight years.

During a respite in the fight against the tribes that had occupied Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites (Joshua 23), the aging Joshua gathered the elders and leaders together. He exhorted them to occupy the land God had helped them possess, fighting for them day and night and destroying their enemies, including the Canaanites who had besieged them. Joshua directed them to obey God’s commandments and remain firm, without swaying to the left or the right. He appealed to them to continue holding on to God firmly, as they had been doing all those years.

Samuel, too, counseled the people of Israel at the end of his life.

He said that he had been abiding with them since the days of his youth and was now old. He reminded them that he gave them a king (Saul), conceding to their demand. Samuel spoke simple advice to Israel: “If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good!” (1 Samuel 12:14).

What are my words of counsel for you? Evangelism and church planting must continue to be our heartbeat. The days of the “traditional church” have gone. God has given us the right to free the churches and see that they don’t get entangled in complicated ecclesiastical structures. Church planting is the birthright of every Christian. There are no restrictions.

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Today, it can be difficult to find believers burdened to see salvation come to the lost. We are evangelists first and evangelists last.

Our obsession should be to reach responsive people groups and disciple them in our lifetime. The people who are responsive today may not be responsive tomorrow. We should make an all-out effort to reach the lost for Jesus Christ.

Our concern for the underprivileged and for those who are oppressed and suppressed should never diminish either. Merely liberating people from their political and social oppression is not evangelism. Neither is it the salvation that Christ offers. It is holistic: “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4).

Jesus said in Mark 16 to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel. Any church that does not take this commandment seriously—to preach the Gospel to those who haven’t heard it yet, baptize them, and save them from eternal condemnation—cannot call itself a Christ-following church.

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Has the Full Number Come In? Shmuel Suran, Israel

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved.

Romans 11:25–26 For the Apostolic Church of the first century, one of the great mysteries revealed by the Holy Spirit was the incorporation of the Gentiles as fellow citizens of the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:11–15). That God had saved Gentiles was revolutionary to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem and Judea.

The Gentiles were not asked to be circumcised or to keep the Torah of Moses, nor were they asked to convert to Judaism (become Jews). But “by faith alone” in Israel’s Jewish Messiah Yeshua, they became fellow citizens with the Jewish believers.

Each age has its hidden mystery reserved by God for His people.

The inclusion of Gentiles into God’s salvation plan of history was reserved by God until the first century of this era. As we approach the close of the age before the glorious return, or Second Coming, of Yeshua the Messiah, the mystery of Romans 11 is unfolding before our eyes! God’s salvation plan for both Jew and Gentile is coming to its completion.

The hardening of Israel is slowly transitioning to an end, and the full number of Gentiles is to come in, until finally, “All Israel will be saved. As it is written: the deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins” (Romans 11:26–27).

The Apostle Paul said, “Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). The word “until” implies a time limit. The truth is that at 198

some predetermined time there will be an end to Israel’s blindness and hardening.

God is dealing with Israel as a nation in a way He has not done since the rejection of our Messiah. Hundreds of thousands of Jews have come to recognize Yeshua since the 1970s. The Holy Spirit sovereignly was poured out and revealed Yeshua to many from my generation and each following generation. God had mercy upon me—blessed be the Lord! These were the beginnings of a spiritual awakening among ordinary people and a greater consciousness that we are living in the time preceding the Messianic Era. Each year, more Israelis are coming to know Yeshua as their Messiah too.

As the Jewish people find Yeshua as our Messiah, and as believing Christians find their relationship to Messianic Jews and congregations, the Messianic blessing of Romans 11 will come to that part of the Body of Messiah. There will be a final redemption or national salvation of Israel and the Jewish people. God will melt the hardening, remove the blindness, and the remnant of the Jewish people will come to a saving knowledge of the Messiah, Yeshua!

May God use you as watchmen on the walls who never give Him rest “until the full number of the Gentiles has come in” and He establishes Jerusalem as a praise in all the earth. Until then, reach the lost!

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Authentic Happiness J.L. Williams, USA

Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

Come and share your master’s happiness.

Matthew 25:23 Happiness is one of the most persistent aspirations of the human spirit. It is consistently one of the highest priorities that people give for their lives. To “be happy” is a goal of virtually every normal human being.

Obviously, millions of Americans have not been successful in the “pursuit of happiness.” Happiness has eluded them. The very fact that there are so many millions of Americans who are addicted to alcohol and drugs proves that they have not found lasting happiness. Depression and suicide rates sadly show the deadly level of unhappiness with which millions of people live and die.

Authentic happiness only comes from God. As our good and gracious Abba Father, God wants His people to be happy. He is not some celestial Scrooge who wants His children to be miserable! He loves to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13).

That is His nature.

Heaven is a place of eternal happiness beyond description or comprehension. Paul quoted this from Isaiah 64:4: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10). So if heaven is a place of eternal happiness beyond our wildest imagination, God gives us small foretastes of it here on earth.

But it only comes His way.

The bottom line is this: happiness only comes by living for and serving others, especially those who are most needy. Jesus lovingly 200

lured His disciples with the ultimate reward of eternal heavenly happiness. This eternal bliss was reserved for those who selflessly ministered to the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and the prisoner.

To them Jesus said the Father would one day say: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Therefore, happiness is a choice. It is a choice to serve God by serving others. Happiness is a by-product. Serving is the root; happiness is the fruit. We only find happiness when we quit looking for it. When we seek God and His glory through serving others and meeting needs, happiness abounds in our lives!

I am eternally grateful that my parents taught me this principle when I was young. They said, “Son, if you want to be happy in life, give yourself to a cause greater than yourself. Serve other people.

Live to meet needs. Look around; the happiest people you will ever meet in life are the ones who are serving others. And the most miserable people are the ones who want everyone to serve them!”

I have sought to live my life by that very simple, but profound Christian philosophy. And I certainly have not done it perfectly or consistently. But whenever I have done so, serving others has made me one of the happiest people on earth! Truly, I am a happy man!

Life doesn’t get any better than that!

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Appreciate the Time You Have Left Wade McHargue, USA

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 Here in Psalm 90 we find the only psalm attributed to Moses, the man of God. It is glaringly apparent what Moses emphasizes in this psalm: the brevity of life. This is demonstrated through his description of our earthly lives as a watch in the night, like grass, and like a sigh.

In light of this truth, the application is made in verse 12. It’s a prayer he prayed—and a prayer we should pray—that God would teach us to number our days. For what reason? In light of remembering the brevity of our lives, we will be less likely to squander our time and more apt to redeem the time and use it wisely. Paul said it this way in Ephesians 5: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (verses 15–17).

In light of this I would exhort you in two ways. First, make Psalm 90:12 a personal prayer. I testify to you that I made this my prayer years ago, and I have been gripped (not in fear, but in a sobriety of spirit) about the brevity of my life. It has brought a wisdom to my heart, but also a prayer for Father to use me and make my time count for His glory.

I’ve been asked many times by different people, “How is it you’ve seen so much accomplished (for God’s glory) in such a relatively short time?” When I hear this, I know it is Father answering my prayer, this prayer of Psalm 90:12. Few in the Bible can compare with the intimacy in which Moses walked with the Almighty. So, make this your prayer for some days and pray it in faith knowing it is His will. He will truly answer.

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The second application of this prayer of Moses is what Paul wrote in Ephesians, to “not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (5:17). This points us to where we know the will of God is, which of course is the Word. Our lives make sense in light of eternity, in the revelation of the brevity of our lives, when we actively seek His will by meditating and memorizing the Word of God. This was the exhortation given to Joshua (Joshua 1:8–9) and to David (Psalm 1), and it is what Jesus declared would reveal who are truly His disciples (John 8:31). If we want to live wisely, we must make sure we are spending more time reading the Word than reading the news of this world.

As C.S. Lewis stated, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” We must remain wise and ready to give an account to Him as we make His Word our daily bread, our daily meditation.

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Light of the World Jennifer Foster, Brazil

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14–16 “You are the light of the world.” As I read these words from the book of Matthew, my heart began to sink. Feeling as though my light was as dim as a light could be, surrounded by darkness, I began to wonder how I could be the light of the world. How could I, a young, single, white female fulfill this light mandate when I knew the darkness, faults, weaknesses, and struggles within me?

Thoughts of how big the world really is began to overwhelm me. While walking on this earth, Jesus said that He was “the light of the world” (John 8:12). John also tells us that “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). And as beautiful as these Scriptures are, the more I read, the more hopeless I began to feel.

Desperate to understand how to be light like Him, I cried out to the Lord, “You are Light. In You there is no darkness. Jesus, You are the Light of the World. You brought salvation to all. But I’m not You! How can You tell me that I am the light of the world?”

Then, a still, small voice spoke inside of me: “Genesis 1.” I turned to see where this was going. As I did, my eyes fell on the answer to my question: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).

There, in black and white, was my answer! I can be the light of the world because I have been made in the image of God! The very DNA of God, Light Himself, has been weaved into every fiber of 204

my being. I can be the light of the world because His light is in me!

Amidst all the darkness, struggles, weaknesses, and failures, we have been made to be light. We are His light, and even a little light can make a big difference. A single candle burning on a dark night can be seen from 30 miles away.

Maybe you feel your light has been dimmed due to family struggles, financial difficulties, or unfulfilled dreams. Take that little light to the Light of the World and let Him reignite a bonfire within you.

You have a light burning inside of you, and darkness can never overcome your light. You are the light of the world! Go shine your light.

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Palm Sunday to Pentecost

A look at the weeks that changed the world Joseph L. Williams

Table of Contents Day 1—Setting the Stage..............................................................209 Day 2—Isaac: A Foreshadowing..................................................211 Day 3—The Blood and the Passover............................................213 Day 4—Special Days in Spring....................................................215 Day 5—Prophecies of Old............................................................217 Day 6—Prophecies of New..........................................................219 Day 7—Psalm Sunday..................................................................221 Day 8—The Primary Opposition..................................................223 Day 9—The Lamb before the Final Lamb....................................225 Day 10—Praying in the Grove.....................................................227 Day 11—Two Epic Failures..........................................................229 Day 12—Mocking Words and Mock Trials..................................231 Day 13—Time to Die....................................................................233 Day 14—Defeating Death.............................................................235 Day 15—The Woman and the Gardener.......................................237 Day 16—Don’t Believe the Lie....................................................239 Day 17—The Road Trip Reappearance........................................241 Day 18—Fading Faith...................................................................243 Day 19—The Restoration Fire......................................................245 Day 20—This Isn’t a Choice........................................................247

Day 21—Going Up.......................................................................249 Day 22—Tongues of Fire..............................................................251 Day 23—Peter Shows How It’s Done..........................................253 Day 24—Unprecedented Unity.....................................................255 Day 25—Unschooled and Ordinary..............................................257 Day 26—Fighting against God = Losing......................................259 Day 27—The First Martyr............................................................261 Day 28—The Next Two Thousand Years.....................................263 Day 29—Keep an Eye on This Spot.............................................265 Day 30—Bringing It All Together................................................267

Setting the Stage The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45 There are many verses I could have chosen to start off this monthlong devotional. I selected this verse in Mark 10 because it reminds me of two important things: how Jesus lived (and how we should too), and why He came. Jesus came as a servant-leader and He died the Savior. He defeated death so that we could too.

This study is meant to be started the Monday 13 days before Easter Sunday. The reason for this is that we often spend so much time just looking at and celebrating the resurrection that we only give a mere glance to the before and after. Still, there is not enough time to fully cover every event and aspect. So, as always, I encourage you to study for yourself.

In this study, we will journey through the 50-something-day window of Palm Sunday to Pentecost and beyond. We will start, however, by doing a brief review of some themes in the Old Testament regarding the prophecies and precursors of the coming Messiah who would live, die, and then live again.

After we look back at the “BC” days, we will then fast-forward to the final week of Jesus’ earthly life leading up to the most pivotal moment in human history. We’ll focus on key moments shared in the Gospels. Then we’ll look at those fateful days, the turning point that changed the course of human history. We won’t stop with the resurrection, though. There are some crucial events that followed it—namely, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the spread of the Gospel to the Gentile world.

As is usual for my writing and teaching style, there will be emphasis on the individuals mentioned and applications for us today.

We can identify with their shortcomings and the lessons they learned.

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What we call Easter (a word with possible roots in German or Old English) is also referred to as Pascha, which is translated from the Hebrew word for Passover. It has been my observation that it is a much more important day than Christmas to the Body of Christ outside the Western world. There is much less materialism there, and so the focus is rightfully on the primary moment that changed the world: the resurrection. We have the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus to distract the Christian and non-Christian alike and to de-emphasize the Messiah. So I encourage us all this “Easter” season to commit afresh to putting our emphasis where it should be: on living for Christ and serving others, especially the needy.

Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many. As Matthew records early on in his book, the reason Christ came into the world was to “save his people from their sins” (1:21). That’s you and me. We have been adopted into His family.

If the Lord has already removed the scales from your eyes and opened your heart to Him, please share this devotional with someone who is still lost and searching. It is available for free on our website as well, along with every other devotional we have produced.

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Isaac: A Foreshadowing God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.

Genesis 22:8 Movies, books, and other stories often contain the element of foreshadowing, providing hints and details of what is to come later in the narrative. This is true of the story of Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, in Genesis 22:1–19.

What God asked of Abraham might seem bizarre and even inhumane on the surface if you don’t understand that God was testing the faith of Abraham. And Abraham responded well through obedience.

He took his one and only son to be sacrificed instead of a lamb, as was normally required by God. God asked the father and son to go to a mountainous place called Moriah, so off they went. What they didn’t take with them was the lamb to be sacrificed. Isaac only carried the wood for the fire on his back. Abraham gave his confused son the assurance, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Abraham acted in obedience all the way to the point of raising the knife above his now tied-up son before the Lord intervened with an alternative.

Isaac was spared as God provided a ram for the sacrifice, and Abraham named this place “The Lord will provide.”

The similarities between Isaac and Jesus are simply amazing and probably go deeper than you might be aware. There are at least 30 parallels, but we’ll just look at some main ones. For example, both males were the result of supernatural births—Isaac to an old woman and Jesus to a virgin. Both were described as the “only son” (Genesis 22:2; John 3:16).

The place of the sacrifice was Moriah. This would later be the location where King David purchased land to make a permanent place for the Lord. It is where Solomon built the First Temple and 212

where the Second Temple was built as well. For many years, lambs would be sacrificed in this place for the sins of the people. On a future day, among these same hills of Moriah, God’s Precious Lamb would be crucified.

Just as Isaac carried the wood up to the place of sacrifice, so too would Jesus lug His wooden cross on the way up to the hill of Golgotha. Abraham and Isaac’s journey to Moriah took three days.

Likewise, Jesus’ journey of sacrifice would be complete on the third day with His resurrection.

Both sons amazingly submitted to the will of their fathers. And God provided a substitute for Isaac’s sacrifice—a ram whose head was caught in a thicket. Two thousand years later, He would provide once and for all through His Incarnate Son, whose head would also be adorned with thorns.

Let’s apply this story to our lives today. What is God asking you to lay on the altar this Easter season? What is it that you hold dearer than Him? What habitual sin, relationship, or possession is keeping you from total devotion to the Lord? Will you, like Abraham, be willing to give to God what you hold most precious? Or will you be like the rich young ruler who was unable to give up what he loved to follow Jesus (Matthew 19:16–30)? The choice is yours.

The Lord promised Abraham blessings for generations to come in response to obedience. He promises you an eternity of glory and unbridled joy if you do the same.

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The Blood and the Passover He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Hebrews 9:26 The Hebrew people were enslaved in Egypt. Pharaoh refused to let them go, so God struck the land of Egypt and its inhabitants with several plagues. He also spoke to and directed the Hebrew people through Moses and Aaron.

As this situation reached its climax, God warned the people to prepare for His judgment to be poured out on Egypt. This judgment took the form of God striking down the Egyptian firstborn—both human and animal. The only way for the Hebrews to be spared the same fate was to sacrifice a year-old spotless lamb or goat and put its blood on their doorposts. It was called the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:21).

For generations after and even to this day, the Hebrew/Jewish people have celebrated Passover. It takes place on the fourteenth day of the first month on the Jewish religious calendar and is immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which we will look at tomorrow (Leviticus 23:4–8).

Blood was not only required to spare the Hebrew people from God’s judgment on Egypt, but it was also required on an ongoing basis to atone for, or cover, the sins of the people (Leviticus chapters 4–7). Specifically, it involved the blood of an “innocent” animal.

The mere thought of this is foreign to us today—perhaps even brutal in the modern world—because our lives don’t revolve around herding and livestock.

This blood sacrifice would still be required if something hadn’t happened two thousand years ago. The blood of the innocent Son of God had to be shed once and for all. The author of Hebrews echoed the message of Leviticus 17:11 and affirmed that “without 214

the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (9:22). And so it would be shed.

When John the Baptist first saw Jesus, he immediately prophesied what was to come: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). It was a foreordained death, for Jesus was “the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

Animal sacrifice ended with the destruction of the Second Temple, but the Jewish people have continued to commemorate Passover and look for a Messiah who has actually already come. Most modern-day Jews do not recognize that the ultimate Passover Lamb came once and for all to atone for their sins.

As we stand a few days from studying this fateful night in the life and ministry of Jesus, we should think of the Jewish people today who have not recognized the Lamb of God. Join me in praying for the Lord to awaken their hearts and bring the End Times revival to His people.

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Special Days in Spring The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.’”

Leviticus 23:1–2 New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, and so on . . . our culture has many “holidays.” On the Lord’s calendar, there are several holy days. God ordained certain days on the Jewish religious calendar to commemorate important events in the history of His people. We looked at the first one, Passover, yesterday.

These holy days or feasts take place in the spring, and another set occurs in the fall. The spring feasts foreshadowed the First Coming of Christ and the fall feasts foreshadow the Second Coming. I cover this topic in more depth elsewhere (The Jewish Jesus, pages 585–86; and Terminus, pages 633–36) but some details must be mentioned here again. Today, we will only look at the spring feasts laid out in Leviticus 23, since they relate to when Jesus first came.

Passover kicked off a period of three feasts in eight days in the Jewish month of Nisan. This would be during our March or April.

The day of Passover is when the lambs were slain for the special meal. This was also the same holy day on which Jesus, the Lamb of God, was slain and became the final blood sacrifice.

Immediately following Passover is the weeklong Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was to remind the Hebrews/Jews of their escape from Egypt. They were to remember this by removing all leaven from their houses. This symbolic action represented removing sin from the home. Jesus was in the grave during this feast, fulfilled it as He was without sin, and guides us to remove the leaven from our lives. He is also our Bread of Life (John 6:25–59).

On the day after the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened 216

Bread, Jews offered the firstfruits from their barley crops on the Feast of Firstfruits, symbolically indicating that all the harvest was God’s. The Apostle Paul referred to Jesus as “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20–23). Paul spoke the truth, as Jesus became the firstfruits on the actual day of this feast when He was raised from the dead.

So, we have three feasts that were observed for thousands of years by Jews and continue today. Jesus fulfilled their purposes through His death, burial, and resurrection. But there was one more spring feast ordained, and that was the Feast of Weeks. It took place 50 days after Passover and was a joyous occasion when the people made an offering from the wheat harvest. What was the “modern” fulfillment? It was Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out and a great harvest of souls took place.

As we study the Old and New Testaments, we should find great comfort and assurance that God has interwoven a great plan for humanity over thousands of years. It was written before time began and it will go on for eternity. He has ordained the number of our days and adopted us into His family. Aren’t you glad?

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Prophecies of Old He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 The Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible—what we refer to as the Old Testament—was written over the span of approximately a thousand years, with the “newest” book written around the 400s BC. Most scholars seem to agree that included in these books are at least 300 prophecies surrounding Jesus.

Today, we will only be looking at the prophecies surrounding His death, burial, and resurrection. And on future days, we will obviously be studying the actual fulfillment of these details and events in the last days of Jesus’ earthly life. So many of the 300+ prophecies are worth mentioning, but we only have time to skim the surface.

Let’s start with the occasion known as Palm Sunday. Zechariah 9:9 describes this triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The people celebrated His arrival like a king, yet He was riding on a donkey.

Psalm 41:9 prophesies Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. It would be a trusted friend and not an enemy who would do the deed. Further, Zechariah foretold that the Messiah would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (11:12–13).

Isaiah 50:6 goes into detail about Jesus being beaten, mocked, and spit upon.

Psalm 22:14–18 not only mentions the pain of the crucifixion, but also how Jesus’ outer garment would be gambled for by others.

Isaiah 53 is known as the “Suffering Servant” passage, so I encourage you to read this chapter today. Among the many prophetic details, it speaks of Jesus being imprisoned, put on trial, being silent in front of His accusers, dying among sinners, put to death for the sins of the people, and buried in a rich man’s grave.

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We also turn to Psalms to read the good news of what would happen after the Messiah’s death and burial. In chapter 16 verse 10 it mentions that God’s “faithful one” will not stay in the grave. And in 110:1 it foretells that Jesus will sit at the right hand of God until He comes to defeat His enemies.

Now, let’s step back and look at these prophecies as a whole.

If you have doubts that the Old Testament is a historically accurate collection of books, you must consider the statistical odds that Jesus would fulfill so many prophecies. Just fulfilling a mere fraction of the 300+ prophecies would create a number with so many zeroes that our minds couldn’t wrap around it!

If Jesus was truly the Messiah, He would have to fulfill every one of the prophecies, which we Christians believe He undoubtedly did. As a result, take comfort, have faith, and be bold in your witness to others, knowing that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, is indeed the prophesied Savior of the world!

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Prophecies of New They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.

On the third day he will be raised to life!

Matthew 20:18–19 As much as prophets in the Old Testament foretold of the Messiah who was to come and who would suffer, die, and be raised to life, the disciples had a hard time grasping this truth. This was because the prophets also spoke of their coming Messiah as a conquering king. I imagine that a king was a much more pleasant thought for the Jewish people to hang their hope on, especially since they had and have been persecuted through the centuries.

On several different occasions in different locations, though, Jesus spelled out His fate for the disciples. While the Gospel of John mentions other occasions when Jesus predicted His death, we will look at accounts from Matthew, Mark, and Luke today. A very specific sequence of events was prophesied: the Jews’ own religious leaders would turn Jesus over to the Roman government to be killed, but three days later He would be raised from the dead.

In the Matthew and Mark accounts, it is recorded that Peter got pretty adamant that this would never happen, and Jesus rebuked him. A much larger plan with the highest of stakes was in the works.

It had to take place. Jesus had to die for our sins. But Peter was caught up in the emotion of a seemingly horrible fate for the Rabbi he had come to love and follow, and he ignored the Scriptures that foretold what was to be.

Mark records a brief account of the second prediction of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It adds a significant detail. On this particular occasion, the disciples were very sad to hear what was to take place.

Even if they didn’t really understand, the thought of their precious Teacher being killed was once again a horrible burden.

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In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke is an instance when Jesus predicted His death for a third time. Jesus was headed to Jerusalem and He pulled the Twelve aside to reveal what was about to happen. In these accounts, the extra detail shared is that Jesus would not only be arrested and killed, but also tortured in between the two events.

As clear as the prophecy seems, Luke’s account states that the disciples didn’t grasp what Jesus was talking about. Put yourself in their shoes, though. I’m sure every day contained the unbelievable for them. I don’t blame them; I imagine it would be hard to grasp such amazing and horrible prophecies.

Let’s close by focusing on the message Jesus shared to His disciples the first time He predicted His death: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The call is simple, but costly. In order to follow Jesus, we must deny all our natural intentions to live for self.

We must metaphorically pick up our cross and die to ourselves. Not our will be done, but the Father’s will—just as Jesus did. I encourage you to revisit this calling afresh today.

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Psalm Sunday Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!

Matthew 21:9 (quoting Psalm 118:25–26) The four Gospels all contain virtually the same account of Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem. As Jesus and His band of pilgrims approached the city for Passover, He dispatched two of His disciples to fetch a donkey for Him, which they did. Of the three accounts, Matthew and John make special mention that this was in direct fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, which we looked at a couple days ago.

On the tenth of Nisan, the day the lambs were picked for the Passover sacrifice (Exodus 12:3), the Lamb of God would now enter the city. A large crowd of people who had also come for the Passover festival greeted Jesus by spreading their cloaks and cut branches on the ground in front of His path. The people in this makeshift procession shouted “Hosanna!”

Today, we treat the word hosanna as an expression of praise and worship, but in Hebrew it means “save us.” The people were acknowledging that the Son of David, the long-awaited Messiah, had finally come to save them. As Psalm 118:25 states, “Lord, save us!”

And the very next verse in Psalms is actually the very next line the crowd quoted: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

So, it seems equally appropriate to call this day “Psalm Sunday” since that is the book from which the crowd excitedly quoted and proclaimed as Jesus entered the city.

We equate Palm Sunday with waving palm branches. The palm is deeply associated with the Jewish people in general, the Feast of Tabernacles in particular, and is symbolic of victory. I’ve been in Jerusalem on this special day and been a part of a similar procession 222

with believers from many nations who were waving palm branches to honor the arriving Savior. It was a special moment to be sure.

I’d like to close by focusing on the ending of Luke’s account.

As Jesus drew close to Jerusalem, the mood seemingly changed to much more somber—at least for Him. He wept for the city and for His people; so many were blind and had rejected Him. “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:42). Most had missed the Savior.

There are people in your life and in my life who are lost. We should feel the same way that Jesus does about them. We should be moved deeply because they risk a Christ-less eternity. If only they could see what has been hidden from them till now. Jesus came to save them!

Ask God right now to bring to mind the name(s) of someone you know who needs the Lord. Commit to praying for them throughout this Easter season, that the scales would be removed from their eyes.

Perhaps God will use your prayers and your relationship with them to lead them to Himself.

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The Primary Opposition “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,” but you have made it “a den of robbers.”

Mark 11:17 (quoting Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11) According to Mark, on the day after Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem via donkey, Jesus entered the courts of the Jewish temple. He found that it had been turned into a place of business, with money changers and those selling doves. Money changers were there because pilgrims were coming from all over for the Passover and needed the local currency. Doves were one of the primary animals used for sacrifice, especially for the poor, because they were the cheapest.

Neither of these activities were bad in themselves. However, it seemed apparent that their presence at this point in time was primarily for financial gain and, thus, an abomination to the Lord.

As Jesus drove them out, it further upset the people who had been most against Him during His three and a half years of public ministry: the religious leaders. In Jewish culture, this included the chief priests and teachers of the law known as the Sanhedrin. Not only was Jesus messing with the profitable side of their “ministry” at the temple, but He was also inspiring the people, claiming to be the long-awaited Messiah, and gaining followers.

Many of these religious leaders were called Pharisees, who believed they were the true authority on the Scriptures and traditions.

Theirs was a legalistic belief system that excluded people who didn’t measure up. For example, after recruiting Matthew as a disciple, Jesus told these leaders, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). As you can imagine, they didn’t receive it well—or His ministry for that matter. They plotted to kill Jesus for most of His public ministry.

In my years of full-time ministry, I have had the privilege of getting to know a lot of great men and women of God who are also 224

in service to Him, both here in America and around the world. They have faced challenges you and I can’t fathom in this blessed and prosperous nation: famine, disease, persecution, you name it. Their faith in God and their focus on eternity have been a huge testimony to me.

Here is what has disturbed me greatly. When I’ve asked them what their greatest obstacle or challenge is, they don’t mention the tough stuff I just mentioned. Usually, they tell me their greatest resistance comes from other “Christians.” Maybe it’s because of envy, or perhaps they belong to another denomination. It is sad but true that the same problem Jesus faced still goes on strong today.

When I recall this story of Jesus in the temple, it reminds me of two problems in the church today, and how you and I should avoid them. First, as I just shared, we should not be jealous of other Christians doing good work for the Lord. We are on the same team even if we don’t go to the same church or belong to the same network of churches. Second, we need to watch our motives when we’re doing the Lord’s work. It should never be done for personal financial gain, only for God’s glory.

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The Lamb before the Final Lamb For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26 Today, we will focus on what took place at the Last Supper rather than on the elements of the meal itself (for more on the meal’s contents, see The Jewish Jesus, pages 587–88). Just as there was an appointed donkey ready to carry Jesus to Jerusalem, so too was there a preordained location for the Passover meal with the disciples—the upper room of a house in Jerusalem. The meal and commemoration of Passover was extensive, and so the disciples wanted to make preparations for this special post-sundown gathering (the Jewish day is from sunset to sunset). They were about to partake of a slain lamb before the shedding of “the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect,” was to take place (1 Peter 1:19).

John’s Gospel provides a notable moment at the beginning of this evening gathering. Jesus did the unthinkable and washed the dirty feet of His disciples as they reclined for the meal (likely at a low, three-sided table called a triclinium). He was demonstrating the humility and servitude they needed to exemplify going forward.

Then, Jesus and the disciples partook of the Passover meal, recalled what took place in Egypt so long ago, and sang hymns from the book of Psalms, chapters 113–118, known as “the Hallel.” This means “praise” (you might know the word Hallelujah: “praise Yah,” or “praise the Lord”).

The moment also came for Judas to be outed as Jesus’ betrayer.

The manner in which this happened is usually missed by the modern reader because it involves a custom of the day. Jesus stated that whoever dipped his bread in the bitter herbs from the bowl was His betrayer. It was (and still is, to a degree) a Middle Eastern custom that sharing a meal creates a bond that prevents the two parties from 226

being enemies in the future. This made what Judas did all the more treacherous.

As they were finishing the meal, the focus shifted to what we now call communion. Jesus offered them bread to symbolize His body that was to be broken, and wine to symbolize the blood He was about to shed.

Our modern-day commemoration of communion seems a far cry from the depth and breadth of Passover in general and that fateful evening in particular. So let me exhort you afresh before you take communion again. Take this act incredibly seriously. Examine your heart, confess your sins, and thank God for the ultimate sacrifice of sending His Son to take your sins away.

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Praying in the Grove “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you.

Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Mark 14:36 Did you know that on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives still stands an olive grove? Gethsemane (which means “oil press,” a great place for making olive oil) is still there overlooking the Temple Mount. On a recent visit, our guide shared that it’s quite likely that the root systems of some of the trees are from the time of Jesus.

While the trees have no doubt been burned and cut down in the past during times of war and distress, we were told it is basically impossible to kill an olive tree without thoroughly digging up its roots. It is unlikely this took place due to the number of trees and the extensive effort it would have taken.

The point is, visiting this place does indeed give a glimpse into where Jesus was when He agonized in prayer before His arrest and death. But an important principle to remember is that what took place is far more significant than where it took place.

After the Passover meal, Jesus took His disciples to Gethsemane and had three go farther into the grove with Him to pray, specifically Peter, James, and John. (He didn’t do this to fulfill Matthew 18:20, which says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” Isn’t God there when less than two or three are gathered?! That passage is about dealing with sin in the church.) I believe Jesus didn’t go alone because He didn’t want to be alone; the burden was so great. As a human, He needed His closest friends.

Unfortunately, these friends were too sleepy to stay awake. You might think they were still tired from their journeys or sleepy from the Passover meal. Actually, Luke records that they were “exhausted from sorrow” (22:45). Three times Jesus went a little farther away to pray, and each time He checked on them, they were asleep. After His 228

third check-in, it had come time for His betrayer to show up with the arresting party, which we’ll look at tomorrow.

John 17 blesses us by sharing some of the content of Jesus’ prayers. It covered three basic areas: (1) that God would be glorified through Jesus; (2) for God to sanctify, unify, and protect the disciples as they went out into the world; and (3) for all believers going forward. Did that last point sink in? Jesus prayed for YOU that night! I truly believe the omniscient God of the universe had your name on His heart in the olive grove.

Let me close this sorrowful occasion with some positive, practical steps to take in regard to prayer: • • • • •

Involve others with your prayer burdens Pray in a place where you can focus Present your requests (for yourself and others) to the Lord Be both fervent and diligent Pledge total submission to God’s will

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Two Epic Failures This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”

Matthew 26:31 (quoting Zechariah 13:7) How would you like your worst mistake to be known to countless millions of people for centuries to come? I imagine King David can tell you what that feels like. Unfortunately, Judas won’t be able to tell you, but Peter will. Today, we are going to look at the epic failures of these two disciples after the Last Supper.

Judas’ failure was not only instigated, but premeditated. Matthew and Luke record that Judas went to the chief priests and elders. They gave him 30 pieces of silver in exchange for turning Jesus over to them. To put this amount in perspective, this was the price for a slave in the Old Testament. That is apparently what Jesus was worth to Judas. And then Judas looked for an opportunity to get Jesus arrested.

Most people think Judas only “turned bad” around the Last Supper. However, it was Judas who was upset when Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha (John 11:1), poured expensive perfume on Jesus just a week earlier (12:1–8). John records very clearly that Judas already had the heart of a thief. He was in charge of the disciples’ “money bag” and had a habit of stealing money from it. This was a morally compromised man.

Peter, on the other hand, passionately loved and served Jesus.

However, he seemed to be impulsive. Like Judas, Peter had been rebuked by Jesus before. Just after Peter proclaimed that Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), Peter quickly stuck his foot in his mouth. When Jesus then predicted His own death, Peter swore this would never take place, and Jesus rebuked him harshly for it (verse 23).

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Then, at the Last Supper, Peter didn’t understand the act of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Jesus tried to explain things, but Peter still seemed to be stuck in the physical world and missed the spiritual point. So when it came time to stand up for Jesus on the fateful night of His arrest, is it any real surprise that Peter responded emotionally and denied knowing Jesus, even to the point of making oaths and calling down curses?

You know what happened to both of these men. They had epic failures. Judas had Jesus arrested. He finally realized—but far too late—that he had made a huge mistake. The deal with the religious leaders was done. He abandoned the money and hanged himself (Matthew 27:1–10).

Peter acted rashly and cut off the ear of a man in the arresting party. Every other disciple then abandoned Jesus that night, but Peter followed at a distance and began to really mess up. After his third public denial of Jesus, Peter realized his huge failure and “wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:69–75). Instead of ending his own life, he returned to his old life. We’ll look at Peter’s restoration later in this study, for what took place should give us all hope.

For now, we close by looking at our own pasts. Specifically, think of a moment when you had your own epic failure. Perhaps you did something out of anger. Maybe you should have shared the Gospel with someone but didn’t. Chances are good you have a broken relationship in your past that hasn’t been reestablished. It’s time to lay this burden at the feet of the Savior and ask for forgiveness and restoration.

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Mocking Words and Mock Trials Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge.

Matthew 27:13–14 If you started this devotional on the recommended day (see Day 1), you would expect to be reading about the crucifixion today (often referred to as “Good Friday”). However, since there has been so much ground for us to cover, we will look at it tomorrow.

In the hours after His arrest, Jesus was bounced around to several places while “on trial.” First, John records that He was brought before Annas, a former high priest and father-in-law of the current one, Caiaphas. Jesus spent several hours in captivity there being interrogated. This was also the location of Peter’s denials.

At daybreak, the religious leaders convened. They asked if Jesus was the Son of God, to which He responded in the affirmative.

That’s all they needed to hear, and they decided to take Jesus before the Roman authorities with false additional charges of insurrection and tax evasion. They mocked, spit on, and beat Him before leaving.

It was time to take Jesus before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. However, since Jesus was from Galilee, this matter was specifically under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas, so Pilate wanted Jesus to be Herod’s problem. (Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great and the one who had John the Baptist beheaded.)

Herod was actually interested in meeting Jesus because he had heard much about Him. But when Jesus refused to talk or perform a miracle, and with the religious leaders accusing Him, Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate.

Matthew 27 records that Pilate had a custom of releasing a prisoner at this time of year, according to the people’s choice. He gave them the option of Jesus or a notorious murderer named Barabbas.

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Under the influence of the chief priests, they chose the latter. When Pilate asked what to do with Jesus, they demanded crucifixion. Ignoring the pleas of his own wife, Pilate placed the responsibility of this decision on the religious leaders and the crowd. He allowed Jesus to be flogged and sent off to be crucified.

So, because of Pilate (out of a desire to satisfy the crowd), the religious leaders (out of jealousy, among other motives), and the people (out of rage), Jesus was now on course for death. Just as the priests had been responsible for sacrificing the lambs for centuries, now they would also be responsible for slaying the one true Lamb.

However, despite the appearance of being a result of their actions, this was all foreordained by God. The Son of God had to die for the sins of the world.

As I think about practical application from this dark chapter in Jesus’ life, I am reminded of God’s call for us to be of good character. The Old Testament law and Proverbs speak often against sins such as being a false witness, jealousy, anger, and pride. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were guilty of all these and more. Instead of being honest, humble, and content servants of God, their sinful behavior won the day.

Lest we be the first to cast stones, we must agree that there are days when we let sin rule over us. The key is repentance and not giving in to a sinful lifestyle. Let us instead dwell on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

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Time to Die When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54 It was the 14th day (sunset to the following sunset) in the Jewish month of Nisan, also known as “the day of Preparation of the Passover” (John 19:14). This was the day when the lambs were sacrificed. This was also the day when the ultimate Lamb would be slain.

It had been foreordained.

Jesus’ early morning “trial” and condemnation was complete.

He had already been beaten, flogged, spit upon, and mocked. The King of the Jews was stripped of His clothes and forced to wear a gruesome crown of thorns. Can you picture this in your mind, what our Savior went through before His death?

Condemned to die by religious and political leaders alike, Jesus was then forced to carry the horizontal beam of His cross up to a place called Golgotha, “the place of the skull.” It was located in the hills of Moriah (remember Isaac?). The path was so difficult and Jesus’ physical condition so pitiful from the torment and abuse that a man named Simon from Cyrene (likely a Passover pilgrim) was forced to carry the beam for Jesus.

Jesus was painfully nailed to the cross around 9 a.m. (Mark 15:25), the time the morning lambs were sacrificed, and was shamefully put on public display between two thieves. The mocking continued from the crowd, soldiers, and religious leaders. How could this be their long-awaited Savior? He couldn’t even save Himself!

Their eyes had been blinded to what the Scriptures foretold.

From noon until 3 p.m., darkness covered the land as Jesus hung dying. Only a few of the women in His life and John were near Him to the end. And when He died at 3 p.m. (the time the afternoon 234

lambs were sacrificed), He “gave up his spirit” and a great earthquake occurred, shaking the ground and the rocks and the graves (Matthew 27:50–51). It was so unmistakable that the Roman centurion in charge exclaimed the truth of the matter: “Surely he was the Son of God!” The Israelites of old had been saved from literal slavery by the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorposts of their homes.

Now, Jesus’ blood adorned the beams of a cross, and all the peoples of the world would have an opportunity to be saved from slavery to sin and death forever (Romans 6). “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). “You were redeemed . . . with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18–19).

As I write today’s devotional, it just so happens to be the oneyear anniversary of my father’s death. A year ago today, my dad died the morning after my father-in-law’s funeral. It was an incredibly tough time, especially for our kids, who lost both granddads within one week. But we “do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We believe in the risen Savior who defeated death!

We have all lost someone we loved. Take heart if they believed in Jesus. And be motivated to share with those who don’t yet believe—while there’s still time.

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Defeating Death Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here; he has risen!

Luke 24:5–6 Jesus had been in the grave for two days. Two secret followers, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a wealthy man, and Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee, had prepared the body for burial according to the Jewish customs of the day (John 19:38–42). They purchased 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes and took great care to wrap the body using these aromatic elements among strips of linen. (This burial process wasn’t the first time Jesus had been the recipient of spices.

I cover this in the Christmas devotional, The Coming of Christos.)

The women closest to Jesus came to the tomb before sunrise on the Feast of Firstfruits with plans to further anoint the decaying body. Since He died within a few hours of the start of the Sabbath, it would have delayed some of the elements of the proper burial process, such as thoroughly anointing the body with spices.

Allow me now to retell the events of the resurrection through blending details from the four Gospels. It’s important to remember that the authors had different audiences and so their points of emphasis varied, thus different details are magnified.

The ladies went to the tomb, hoping that someone would roll away the stone entrance for them so they could further prepare the body. Little did they know that angels were dispatched to roll away the stone and give the ladies an unforgettable message, the one you see above. Jesus was alive! And they would see Him again once they got back to Galilee. They were “afraid yet filled with joy” (Matthew 28:8). This combination of emotions reminds me in a small way of how my kids feel when they’re riding a roller coaster. It’s exhilarating, but scary!

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then dispatched to inform the disciples—especially Peter—that what was prophesied had come true. They apparently didn’t get far at all before Jesus appeared to them. They finally saw the risen Savior, and so they worshiped Him. Not only had they seen the empty tomb, they had seen Jesus. And yet, their story was still not believed. The testimony of women was not highly esteemed in that day. We’ll look more at Mary Magdalene’s encounter tomorrow, for she deserves special recognition.

The women’s story probably sounded crazy. Even though resurrection had been prophesied, even though Jesus Himself notified His followers what would happen, they just couldn’t seem to grasp what had come to pass. Peter and John even went to see for themselves, but couldn’t figure out why the burial clothes were sitting unused.

So here we are today on what we call Easter Sunday, a day of great joy. Just as the firstfruits of the harvest were raised up to God, now Jesus was “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20–23). By faith we believe that our Savior rose from the grave and defeated death and sin’s grip on our eternal destiny.

Many people we know have not embraced this truth. Whether from a hardened heart, a confused mind, or a myriad of other reasons, they have not accepted this special gift of grace called salvation. Pray for their souls today. May God open their eyes and hearts to the lifesaving message of the Gospel. And may He use you too as an instrument to wake them up!

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The Woman and the Gardener Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

John 20:18 Did you know that Israeli archaeologists recently discovered the ruins of Magdala? This was the hometown of the infamous Mary Magdalene. Among the discoveries, a first-century synagogue has been found on the site, which means it was quite likely that Jesus taught there as He traveled around Galilee (Matthew 4:23).

Well, what do we know about this Mary from Magdala? Dr. Luke gives some important details about her in his Gospel (8:1–3). She had been possessed by seven demons, but was delivered from them

by Jesus. (This subject may seem foreign to us in the Western world, but demon possession is far more common than you might think.)

Mary Magdalene was also among a group of women who helped support Jesus and the disciples. Perhaps you weren’t even aware of this fact, this pivotal role that women played. Others helping in this way were women named Joanna and Susanna.

It would be safe to assume that Mary wasn’t afraid to be associated with Jesus throughout His time of ministry and His death. After all, she was one of the women who stayed close during and after the crucifixion (Matthew 27:55–56, 61).

On that glorious morning of Jesus’ resurrection, Mary Magdalene is singled out in Mark’s (16:9–11) and John’s (20:11–18) Gospels as having a special moment with the newly risen Savior just outside the tomb. Perhaps she was confused or grieved at seeing the empty tomb and the angelic messengers, or maybe Jesus intentionally blinded her recognition of Him for a minute or two.

Sometime after Peter and John returned to the others, Mary turned away from the tomb and saw a man she thought to be the gardener. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you 238

are looking for?” It sounded almost humorous when she assumed that this mysterious gardener had taken the body so she couldn’t get it and preserve it properly.

Instead of calling her “woman” again, Jesus then called her by her actual name; her eyes were opened, and she cried out “Rabboni!” which means Teacher. What a special moment for her, but it wouldn’t last, so He gave Mary a special task: “Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” She did go back and tell the others, but in their deep sorrow they didn’t believe that Jesus was alive—yet.

That is the story of the resurrection. The tomb is empty. Sin has been defeated once and for all. And Jesus is calling you by name. He wants you to see Him for who He is—the risen Savior. If you have already been saved by grace through faith, you know someone who isn’t. Pray for their salvation. Ask God to use you to reach them.

Evangelism needs to be at the heart of every Easter celebration!

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Don’t Believe the Lie 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.

Matthew 28:2 Before looking at the topic for the day, let’s review the time from Creation to Jesus. The Triune God had created man, who quickly fell into sin and therefore needed a way to be made right with Him. Our Creator chose the Hebrew people through whom to bestow laws to bring order. He atoned for sin through the sacrifice of innocent blood. Centuries later, God the Father sent His Son in human form to fulfill the law, bring the lifesaving message of the Gospel, die for the sins of the world, and be raised from the dead, so that the blood sacrifice could be made once and for all.

As we continue to celebrate the risen Savior today, we will dwell on further details found in Matthew 28:11–15. It is the only place that records what happened to the guards before and after the women came to the tomb.

Jesus was alive and had already vacated the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Guards had been assigned to watch over the closed entrance and were frozen in terror as an angel of the Lord came and, with earth-shaking power, rolled back the stone covering the entrance.

It is unclear what the guards did when the women came; perhaps they stayed incapacitated with fear. But after the women left, the men headed into the city to report what they had seen to the chief priests. This was a moment that could have changed the Jewish people for centuries to come. If only the religious leaders had believed instead of looked out for their own interests. They bribed the guards to lie. Jesus was once again betrayed for money.

The chief priests concocted a false story that, instead of a resurrection, there was a quiet invasion of body snatchers! The disciples 240

were the guilty party, your honor. They had come in the night while the guards had fallen asleep on the job. They stole the body to make it look like Jesus had risen from the dead. This was the lie reported to the Roman governor and subsequently circulated among the Jews, who unfortunately believed it.

The reality then and now is simple: Jesus can only be one of three types of people. He was either liar, lunatic, or Lord. He cannot be a blend of the three choices. He couldn’t merely be a good man, rabbi, or prophet. He either lied about everything, was out of His mind, or He really was and is who He says He was and is.

Let me remind you again of the hundreds of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. The odds of Him fulfilling them all are simply astronomical. It’s a number our minds cannot fathom. He is indeed Lord!

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The Road Trip Reappearance Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?

Luke 24:32 On the very same day that Jesus rose from the dead, two from the larger group of followers were walking the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35). One of the two was named Cleopas. (Keep in mind that there were many other followers of Jesus besides the 12 Disciples.) Presumably, this was a public road they were walking along, and so it was common that others would be traveling by foot as well. There would also likely be many pilgrims leaving Jerusalem after the Passover.

Jesus came up alongside them and supernaturally prevented them from recognizing Him, just as He did with Mary Magdalene.

He was going to work on them a good bit first. Christ asked the two men what they were talking about. They were so distraught that they stopped in their tracks and recounted the details of Jesus’ life, death, and apparent resurrection. They called Jesus a prophet, as He was (Matthew 21:11). And yet, they didn’t proclaim Him as the long-awaited Messiah, even though they had been told that Jesus was alive.

Jesus responded with a rebuke; they had not taken the Word of God to heart. Moses and the Prophets of Old had explained all that the Messiah had to go through, and Jesus Himself even warned them of what was coming. Now, here it was the third day, about which He had prophesied, and seemingly nothing had happened. The moment their faith should have been at its strongest, they were weak.

As their journey to Emmaus was coming to an end, the two men offered Jesus not just a meal, but lodging for the night, as was customary. Then, as Jesus broke the bread at dinner (a task normally delegated to the head of the household, not their visitor) their eyes 242

were supernaturally opened. Jesus was indeed alive! Jesus then disappeared in that moment, but their faith was invigorated. Cleopas and the other follower immediately headed back to Jerusalem to tell the others.

We could focus on this story as a metaphor for our lives, how Jesus comes alongside us and leads us along the path of truth through His Word. We could focus on how He brings joy to our hearts when we’re downcast. This is all very true and applicable. However, there is an aspect to this story that serves as a reminder of the importance of believing and knowing God’s Word.

So many Western Christians go through life with very little personal knowledge of the Bible. Many are spoon-fed on Sunday mornings and given quick anecdotal lessons from a daily devotional. Very little time is spent in personal and substantive Bible study.

How can we live in joy and victory in the present when we don’t know and believe what the Bible says about our future? How can we defend our faith to skeptics if we don’t know His Word? How can we share His love with the lost and hurting if we can’t quote the verses that would minister to them at that moment?

Know His Word. Embrace His Word. Share His Word.

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Fading Faith Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

John 20:29 Let’s rewind to a previous incident, when Lazarus had just died.

Jesus had delayed visiting him in Bethany and even told the disciples twice that Lazarus wasn’t gone for good (John 11:4, 11). Once again, they didn’t seem to grasp what came out of their Teacher’s mouth. Instead they worried about going to Bethany. The last time Jesus was there, the people attempted to stone Him to death (11:8).

Now you’re probably wondering, what does this have to do with today’s topic, which happens to be our dearly beloved “Doubting Thomas”? Perhaps you’re not aware that one of two other occasions in the Gospels where Thomas clearly spoke was here, concerning their impending travel to Bethany (the other is in John 14:5–7).

After Jesus made it clear that they would still go to Lazarus’ home, Thomas said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (11:16). Thomas assumed the people would try to stone them again.

What a statement this is about Thomas. His personal courage and devotion to Jesus shone through in this one sentence.

What a contrast, then, to revisit Thomas after Jesus was resurrected. John records this key moment in Thomas’ life (20:24–29).

For some reason, Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus first appeared to them. “Peace be with you,” He said twice to the disciples. The word for peace here is shalom, which means not just peace as we know it, but the pronouncement of a blessing on them for well-being and prosperity.

Thomas wasn’t there, so he had doubt, not peace. He wanted visual proof. “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” (verse 25).There’s the contrast: from brave disciple to doubting dude.

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Jesus showed up right then—not knocking on the front door, but appearing inside their locked room. He once again pronounced the blessing, “Peace be with you.” Thomas got his wish, getting visual and tactile confirmation. His teacher was alive!

Let’s focus on what Jesus said in today’s verse to those present at that moment: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Guess what? He’s talking about you and me! We have not been given the privilege of seeing the risen Savior face to face. “For we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

When I think of Thomas—and us in times of weak faith—two separate verses come to mind. Sometimes we are like the dad in Mark 9 who asked Jesus to heal his demon-possessed son. Part of him knew Jesus could heal his son, and yet he struggled. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (verse 24).

Sometimes we are like the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:5.

A warning is given because their passion had faded. “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” We need to confess our fading faith and press forward with the same vigor we had when Christ first saved us. So keep the faith, saints!

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The Restoration Fire Simon son of John, do you love me? . . . Feed my sheep.

John 21:17 It was on a seashore where Jesus first called (Simon) Peter to join Him in ministry (Matthew 4:18–20). Peter and his brother, Andrew, were fishermen and were casting nets when Jesus passed them by.

It was time for a change in what Peter fished for: “I will send you out to fish for people.” Jesus came to Peter’s shore once again a few years later—after much had taken place and Peter had reverted to his old life.

Another interesting recurrence took place in the life of Peter. It was around a fire where Peter first denied the Lord on the night that Jesus was betrayed (John 18:18). Two additional denials followed in the high priest’s courtyard. It was also around a fire where Jesus restored Peter.

Let’s look in John chapter 21 when the fishing and the fire come together at a pivotal moment. Peter was back in a boat fishing with five of the other disciples sometime after Jesus’ resurrection. Defeated and ashamed, he had gone back to his old lifestyle.

After a futile night of catching nothing, Jesus appeared on shore and told them to cast their net off the right side. You know what happened: they had an incredible catch. There was only one Person who had the power to make this happen. Peter realized it was Jesus and got so excited that he jumped out of the boat and swam to shore, while the others hauled in the fish and came ashore as well.

“When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread” (21:9). The Lord chose this setting to remind Peter of his sin and to help him move on. Peter needed to honor Jesus’ initial call for him to be a fisher of men. Right by that fire (which no doubt reminded Peter of that fateful night of three failures), Jesus then restored Peter three times.

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Sometimes when we stumble, the temptation is to move away from God instead of closer, on our spiritual knees in repentance.

Maybe we made a mistake in a moment of weakness. Maybe there is an unconfessed sin that has broken our fellowship with Him. Let me remind you of the truth: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). Let me also remind you of the prayer: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Maybe you have repented, but the scar remains or Satan reminds you of your past. You are like David: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:3). Remember that you are forgiven! As the saying goes, when Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. 1 John 1:9 is a shining beacon: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

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This Isn’t a Choice Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:19–20 It was said that Helen of Troy was so beautiful that her face launched a thousand ships, as her angry husband fought to get her back from the man who had stolen her heart. Some of Jesus’ final words on earth are known as the Great Commission, and it is the command that launched untold millions of missionaries. These words have been the marching orders for believers ever since Jesus spoke them.

There are four action verbs for us to focus on in this special directive in Matthew: •

Go. How can all the ethnic groups of the world know about Jesus if someone doesn’t go tell them?

•

Make (disciples). So many Christians live like their work is over after the prayer for salvation. Without spiritual depth (discipleship), it is far too easy to fall away from the faith.

•

Baptize. Just as Jesus was immersed in the water to demonstrate the Father’s work, so too should we take this symbolic act to show how we have died to ourselves and have emerged alive in Christ.

•

Teach. The directive is to continuously help new believers learn how to grow spiritually and obey God.

We can carry out all of this with confidence because God is with us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This was the promised 248

gift that Jesus mentioned in His final words in Acts 1:5. He also gave the disciples, and subsequently us, some geographic guidelines as to where to spread His lifesaving message. Specifically, He told them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth (1:8). We believe He is also telling us to be His witnesses in our city, state, nation, and world.

So, as the Gospels transition to the book of Acts, the Gospel transitions full swing into reaching all people groups. Then, and only then, He will return and establish His kingdom forever (Matthew 24:14). Does this mean that a portion of every ethnic group must know at the same time or just at some time through the ages?

We can only contemplate His thoughts and ways.

The point is, only God knows when this evangelistic task will be brought to fruition. We can only guess. And so we press on with whatever He puts in front of us to do. God has given an order: we have to be involved in spreading His Word.

What has He told you to do that you haven’t done yet? Has He told you to go somewhere? Who do you have a relationship with that isn’t saved? Prayerfully take action today.

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Going Up After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Acts 1:9 Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14) and wrote with an attention to detail. Details are important when life and death can hang in the balance, so it’s crucial to know the facts. Luke’s goal with his first letter was to write “about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven” (Acts 1:1–2). This final event is popularly referred to as Jesus’ ascension.

Did you know to whom Luke wrote the book of Acts (as well as his Gospel account)? It was a man named Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1). Naturally, we are also beneficiaries of the information and wisdom shared therein. I just wanted to share that little fact with you because Luke ties the two books together for Theophilus (and us) in the first 11 verses of Acts. He gives us a few more nuggets of information as it pertains to our study of the incredible window of time from Passover to Pentecost.

Just prior to leaving, Jesus spent a period of 40 days after the resurrection appearing to and fellowshipping with the believers (Acts 1:3). We have looked at specific moments from this time period over the last week, so contemplate again how crucial it was for Jesus to establish the fact that He had indeed risen from the dead.

Now, Jesus was with them one final time near Bethany. He told them once more that the Holy Spirit would be bestowed after His heaven-going. In His final words, the disciples were given their marching orders to take His message of salvation to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit would give them the power to do so.

Instead, what the disciples said demonstrated that they were more interested in Jesus being the literal conqueror of Israel’s foes than the spiritual defeater of death. They were confusing His First 250

Coming with the Second. That day will come, but only the Father knows when.

And just like that, Jesus was gone. Luke concludes the story of the ascension in Acts 1:1–11 by mentioning “two men dressed in white” who stood before them and reminded them that Jesus would indeed return one day. We will look at the Second Coming as this devotional journey is finishing up.

I want to close today by encouraging you to start one great habit if you aren’t already doing so. Luke’s attention to detail is a great reminder to write down what God has done in your life. A spiritual journal may be the most important record you ever keep. Try to document your requests and answered prayers at least once a week.

Then, in times of trouble or blessing, you can look back and be reminded of all that He has done.

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Tongues of Fire All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:4 Forty days had passed since Jesus’ resurrection. A few more days had passed since Jesus ascended to heaven. And now it was the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost in Greek. It was celebrated 50 days after Passover and was a time to commemorate the Law of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Now on that same day many centuries later, the Spirit of God was given.

Jewish pilgrims from all over were once again in Jerusalem. The list that Dr. Luke shares in this passage in Acts 2 is impressive: “Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs.”

In the interim between Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost, the disciples were back in Jerusalem and had gathered in a home on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City. The number of believers was 120, but it wasn’t going to stay that small—ever again. They decided to replace Judas among the Twelve and selected a man named Matthias who had been with them from the beginning.

When Pentecost arrived, the believers were together again, and then it happened. The prophesied Advocate (John 14:26), or Helper, had arrived. He would be the One to help guide them and us each day until our death or the Lord’s return, whichever comes first.

How the Spirit came is described as like a “violent wind” entering their presence and then “tongues of fire” separating and landing on each person. Can you imagine the powerful manifestation in that moment?

This group of believers was filled with the Holy Spirit and began 252

to speak in literal tongues of other languages. This must have taken place near a public setting (such as the temple courts), for others had heard the sound of the wind and now these people speaking in other languages. Galileans such as the disciples had an accent, and so their ability to speak clearly in other languages was hard to believe. The only conclusion the crowd could reach was that this was a drunken gathering, not the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

The Christian world today cannot seem to agree whether “speak[ing] in other tongues” is the ability through the Holy Spirit to speak other languages or to also speak a heavenly language. Regardless, it is clearly mentioned as a spiritual gift and discussed in 1 Corinthians chapters 12–14. For today, we are focusing on the bestowed gift of the Holy Spirit Himself—a most precious gift indeed due to the physical absence of our Messiah.

Like the “tongues of fire” that descended on each believer present, so too is the Holy Spirit given to each of us. He is there to guide and direct our every decision if we will let Him. This makes it imperative to repent of sin, study God’s Word, and fellowship with other believers. This will clear up our spiritual vision and unclog our spiritual ears. So I encourage you today to commit yourself anew to live by the Spirit and let Him direct your life for God’s glory!

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Peter Shows How It’s Done Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 It’s only nine o’clock in the morning. Surely these people speaking in various tongues weren’t drunk on a holy day, of all days. And yet, the crowd did deserve and need an explanation. Who better to do it than Peter, our dearly beloved disciple who seemingly put his foot in his mouth often. Jesus restored him, and now, going forward, he would use his mouth boldly and passionately.

Read what Peter said to the crowd in Acts 2:14–41 and use it as a model for sharing about Jesus with those God puts in your path.

There are some practical, but important, steps to take each time an opportunity arises: Be bold. This wasn’t a group gathered at church. These were Jews in town to commemorate the Feast of Weeks. Peter himself said that some present played a part in crucifying Jesus. So you can imagine this wasn’t necessarily the friendliest of settings. We, too, need to have courage and speak up even if others don’t seem receptive. Sometimes the greatest fruit comes in the midst of the greatest resistance.

Properly quote Scripture. You can’t go wrong knowing which Scripture to share at the right time—in its proper context, of course. Peter quoted from Joel 2:28–32, which foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit, and Psalm 16:8–11 to prove the resurrection. When God directs you to share the Gospel with a particular person or group, ask Him through the Holy Spirit to lead you to share the appropriate Bible verses.

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Know your target audience. Peter knew who was in the crowd, so he focused on Jesus’ heritage; specifically, being a descendant of David. Jews knew that the Messiah would come from this king’s lineage, so Peter sought to prove the long-awaited Heir had arrived. The Jews should “be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Extend the invitation. The response to knowing the truth was to repent and be baptized, as Peter clearly conveyed. The Holy Spirit will then go forward with the believer and future generations. It is a promise for all people.

Warn of the consequences. Peter warned, pleaded, and begged them: “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” This needs to be done carefully. Far too many Christians try to scare people into salvation. What truly makes hell an unspeakable horror is eternal separation from God. It’s important to emphasize the fact that only God can move a heart. We can only move our mouths. On Pentecost, God chose to “cut to the heart” of many present so that they would respond positively—3,000 souls in fact! He can use you to reach one or millions if you just make yourself available.

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Unprecedented Unity All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Acts 4:32 The early chapters of Acts present a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit-driven Church. Specifically, read 2:42–47 and 4:32–37. The unity sounds almost too good to be true. There was strong devotion to biblical teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, and selling possessions for the sake of the needy. As a result, the number of those who were saved grew, and grew daily. Wow, what an inspirational picture!

Evangelism and discipleship did not just take place in the local community, but word of and belief in the resurrected Messiah spread farther and farther. The geographically diverse Jewish believers who were present at Pentecost now spread the Gospel in their respective locations. And fellowship spread with it.

Interestingly, these two passages emphasize selling property and donating the profit. An example is given in Acts 4 of a Levite from Cyprus named Barnabas (the future ministering companion of Paul) who sold land and brought the proceeds to the apostles.

All wasn’t completely rosy, though, as an opposing example is immediately given in Acts 5:1–11 of a married couple who lied about their property sale. They kept some of the money to themselves, but claimed they didn’t. This exposed a troubling heart issue that was met with harsh consequences. God struck them dead for lying to Him. This was a stark reminder that the newly arrived Holy Spirit knew their (and knows our) every thought.

Now back to the more positive topic. Doesn’t the sound of the early church’s unity create a longing in you to experience the same?

Does such a situation even exist in America today? With our dividing 256

lines (denominations), selfishness, greed, and laziness abounding in all directions, it would take a major earth-shaking revival to create such a scenario. But it is possible.

It has been my experience that authentic fellowship exists more often in poorer countries. The poorer a group of believers are, the more generous they seem to be. One could argue Jesus made this case in sharing about the widow who gave sacrificially versus others who only gave a meager portion out of their abundance. This should be enough to make most believers feel rightfully guilty. It is for me!

It takes a daily reminder to self that every possession we hold so dear still stays here when we die. The only things we can take with us are what we did for the Lord and relationships with other believers. We need to let go more and share what we have.

What would it look like if you devoted yourself to the teachings in God’s Word? What if you or your family picked a possession to sell and gave all the proceeds to the needy? What if you invited someone who could use the fellowship over for a meal? How different would our communities, nation, and world be if we were doing what we should have been doing all along? You can start now with a simple act of kindness toward another believer.

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Unschooled and Ordinary When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished.

Acts 4:13 Over the next two days and as we begin to wind down this study, we’re going to look at Peter and John’s early run-ins with the Sanhedrin on two occasions (Acts 4 and 5). Both of these episodes contain key truths for us as believers as we carry on the task of fulfilling the Great Commission. So it’s worth studying them separately.

The number of believers had grown to around five thousand due to the word spreading about Jesus’ resurrection and the testimonies of the disciples. This, of course, made the religious leaders “greatly disturbed” (4:2). Peter had also just healed a well-known crippled beggar.

So the temple guard arrested them to be brought before the Sanhedrin the next day. Through the power of the Holy Spirit (this is important), Peter gave an impassioned and courageous speech before them. He proclaimed that the Messiah they had rejected had the power to conquer death and also bring healing to the lame and sick.

The leaders were in a conundrum. Living proof that a miracle had taken place stood before them; the crippled man was “walking and jumping, and praising God” (3:8). And this took place at the hands of “unschooled, ordinary men” who could heal and speak with clear conviction.

All they could do without looking bad was warn Peter and John not to share about Jesus, and wait for another opportunity to bring an end to this interference into their religious status quo. We’ll look at this occasion in Acts 5 tomorrow.

For today, we can find great comfort and encouragement in the fact that God uses unschooled, ordinary men and women to do great things for Him. Unfortunately, our society and religious institutions 258

are often like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. They seem to value official education over a passionate conviction coupled with a bold witness.

Certainly there are many benefits to formal biblical training, such as what takes place in a seminary, for example. The Apostle Paul is a great example of having a firm foot in both worlds, since he was a member of the religious establishment, a Pharisee, in fact (Acts 23:6). But, as we’ve seen today, the disciples were unschooled, ordinary men, and yet God used them to lay the foundations for the spread of the Gospel to the world. Their strength was not in their ability, but their availability.

The same is true for us. God desires to use every believer for His glory. And yet, to a certain degree, we all hold back a large or small piece of ourselves for our own pursuits. Today, I encourage you to look at your own life and lay it down afresh. You will not get to heaven one day and wish you’d done more for yourself and less for Him!

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Fighting against God = Losing If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. Acts 5:38–39 As we’ve seen, not everyone was on board with the rapidly spreading message of the Gospel. Specifically, the religious establishment took issue with what the apostles were saying. At the core, they were jealous. They were losing their hold as the spiritual gatekeepers of the masses.

In the second recorded instance of religious resistance (Acts 5:17–42), the Sanhedrin had the apostles arrested and put in jail.

God had a jailbreak planned that didn’t even leave evidence of their departure. When the religious leaders sent for the prisoners, their guarded but empty and locked cells were all that remained. The apostles were back in the temple courts teaching the people.

So, once again, the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin and scolded not to share about Jesus. I love how Peter replied, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” They then proceeded to proclaim who Jesus is, much to the anger of this religious assembly.

An interesting turn of events took place, though. One of the highly respected religious leaders there was named Gamaliel. You may have never heard of him, but perhaps you know one of his star pupils, the one we call the Apostle Paul (Acts 22:3). The apostles were temporarily escorted out, and Gamaliel gave an insight that is our encouragement for today.

Gamaliel gave examples of previous false prophets like Theudas and Judas who had led the people astray, but were killed, and so their followers were scattered. The same would be true if Jesus fit this mold. However, if He didn’t, the Sanhedrin would “only find [them]selves fighting against God.” 260

Gamaliel’s wise advice worked, and the believers were released with a verbal warning accompanied by a good flogging. Their backs were shredded just like Jesus’ was before being crucified. Amazingly, they left “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” The persecution didn’t stop them, it only emboldened them.

It has been my experience in traveling to countries where followers of Christ are persecuted that resistance and physical harm do not stop them. It usually grows their faith and their love for the lost—even for their persecutors. Persecution is only for a season.

The Kingdom of God is forever. We will look at this more tomorrow as we consider the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Let’s go back to Gamaliel’s reasoning and take heart that he was actually right. Here we stand two thousand years later. Jesus was killed (but He rose again), and His believers were persecuted and scattered, but it was for the purpose of sharing the message of salvation to the world. The movement/rebellion was not quelled.

The enemies of the Gospel only have defeat in their future. This message will not be stopped until it has come to fruition, and then Jesus will return to rule forever. Take heart, fellow believer, that we follow the One True God!

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The First Martyr While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Acts 7:59–60 As the early church grew post-Pentecost, there became a need for trusted men to oversee the distribution of food to widows. Seven men were chosen, and Stephen was singled out among them as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” and “a man full of God’s grace and power” (Acts 6:5, 8). God even did great signs and wonders through Stephen. It was this man who would become the first martyr for the cause of Christ.

Just like Jesus, Stephen would be the victim of false witnesses.

These liars claimed that Stephen had blasphemed against God and Moses. You can imagine the outrage this would create among religious Jews and their extremely religious leaders, the Sanhedrin.

When given the chance to speak, Stephen did what Peter did and went back in Hebrew/Jewish history. It really is one of the most impressive speeches in the Bible, showing both Stephen’s biblical and historical knowledge, and his anointing by the Holy Spirit. Even the Sanhedrin were amazed that “his face was like the face of an angel.”

Stephen started all the way back with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, summarized the highlights of Joseph’s and Moses’ times in Egypt, and culminated in the establishment of the First Temple under Kings David and Solomon.

In particular, Stephen highlighted the people’s resistance to the plans of God. And here they were again, resisting the Most High by ignoring the fact that Jesus was the “Righteous One” (7:52). Some of his final words to the religious leaders were rather harsh. He called them stiff-necked, traitors, and murderers, and so they rushed him out of the city and stoned him (see Leviticus 24:16 for their basis).

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Stephen became the first martyr that day, and no doubt died a painful death, but he gained a pain-free eternity. Saul, the future Apostle Paul, was there approving of what was taking place. He then went on a hell-bent mission to persecute Christians everywhere. We all know how his story turns out, though. God turned Saul completely around.

What Stephen did before he died has been a blueprint for millions of Christian martyrs since. First, he did not reciprocate the violence. This is hard for us, because in our emotions, we want justice.

Thankfully, we serve a righteous Judge. Every single person will have to individually answer for their actions one day. Second, Stephen prayed for his persecutors. He wasn’t angry. He had pity and wanted God’s mercy on this crazed mob. He knew his rescue would come in this life or the next.

It is important that we look at Stephen (whose martyrdom took place after the Palm Sunday-to-Pentecost window) because his death was a key event as the Gospel spread in the months that followed.

Wherever the Gospel spreads, there will be persecution sooner or later. Whether or not we ever see real persecution in America, we need to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

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The Next Two Thousand Years On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. . . . Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Acts 8:1, 4 Stephen was martyred. This apparently set off a tidal wave of persecution with a man named Saul leading the way. But this pursuit would have the opposite effect than what was desired. Instead of ending this upstart movement of Jesus-followers, it only emboldened them.

Gamaliel’s warning turned out to be true. Unlike false movements of the past that had fallen apart after the leader died, the message of Christ would only gain steam. The Gospel would go forth.

The bold witness of the Body of Christ would take the message of salvation available for all people, both Jew and Gentile, both near and far. There was wonderful fellowship among the believers, but the persecution had also started and led to their scattering.

Saul/Paul could be credited as both the main persecutor of Christians before his conversion and the preeminent evangelist of the Gospel after being saved. Pre-conversion, he worked to “destroy the church” and “dragged off both men and women and put them in prison” (Acts 8:3). After conversion, Luke described Paul’s witness at the end of Acts as one that “proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance” (28:31).

The effective witness of Paul and other men like Peter, John, Philip, Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy took the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. Women of God were also mentioned in Acts, such as Dorcas, Lydia, and Priscilla.

For two thousand years since, the truth of God’s Word has been 264

spread to the ends of the earth. It has been a long road, and it has taken much time to get the Bible into the hands of the common man.

Barriers such as illiteracy, bad theology, geography, lack of translation, opposition from other religions, war, famine, disease, and so on have held back the advance. But faith coupled with modern technology has accelerated the spread of the Gospel like never before.

Persecution continues in many regions, but so does evangelism and discipleship. I can personally attest to this truth in the countries where I have traveled that are resistant to the Gospel. Persecution breeds strong faith and boldness. Even when persecution wins for a season, those who flee just plant the seeds of Christ in the areas where they settle next.

Today, the majority of the people groups in existence have a Christian witness. We can only speculate if the remaining ethnic groups have to all hear at the same point in time. And so, we press on until Jesus returns. We need to be found faithfully carrying out God’s will for our lives until our heaven-going or His Second Coming.

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Keep an Eye on This Spot This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.

Acts 1:11 Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Hebrews 9:28 For the last 3,000 years—since the First Temple Period in Jerusalem—Jews have been buried on the Mount of Olives. Today, an estimated 150,000 graves are there, overlooking the Old City and the Temple Mount. Why? The Bible states that the Messiah will come to this location in might and power and establish His kingdom forever. Zechariah 14:4 specifically speaks of the Messiah’s arrival on the Mount of Olives.

This is why so many have been buried here. They believe He will then head to the Temple Mount, so all their feet are facing the Temple Mount. This is so they will rise up and walk in the right direction with Him! In this study, we can’t just look at Jesus’ First Coming without also looking at His Second Coming. Jesus ascended to heaven on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12). Just after this departure took place, two angels instructed the disciples that the Lord would one day return to that spot.

Herein lies the problem with the Jewish people. They were and are expecting a conquering Messiah. Prophets such as Zechariah, Amos, Jeremiah, and Joel foretold of such a leader. As a result, the Jews were expecting Jesus to immediately conquer the governmental powers of their day (Luke 19:11). When this didn’t happen, it made it hard for them to believe in Him. After all, how could this 266

poor, humble son of a carpenter from a nowhere town like little Nazareth be the long-awaited, victorious Messiah?

The clues were there in the Old Testament, but so many eyes have been unable to recognize the various Messianic descriptions as referencing two different events. They ignored the Suffering Servant and focused on the Conquering King. The reality is, Jesus didn’t come the first time to conquer a physical enemy; He conquered death. He came to bring salvation. He will come a second time to establish the Kingdom of God forever.

We know from God’s Word that Jesus will not come back, though, until something very important happens. The world could be “going to hell in a hand basket,” as the saying goes, but a specific task must be completed first: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Jesus will not come back until this mission is completed. This is what every church and mission organization has been striving for.

However, when the task is done, then and only then will the Second Coming of Christ take place. It will be stunning and unmistakable: “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27). The dead will be raised first from the Mount of Olives and the world over, and then those who are alive will ascend to meet Him as well. Then, we will finally “be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Hallelujah!

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Bringing It All Together 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.

John 21:25 While this is ultimately a devotional about Easter, we wanted to be thorough in this study. It is important with any topical reading in Scripture to investigate and meditate on as much of the surrounding and supporting books, chapters, and verses as possible. This is a sound biblical practice that we should incorporate whenever we study God’s Word.

So, we spent a week looking in the Old Testament for precursors and prophecies about the First Coming, what Jesus would have to endure, and what He would accomplish. Then, we fast-forwarded to an approximately 50- to 55-day window involving the final weeks of Jesus’ earthly life. This started with what we call “Palm Sunday” and the “Passion Week,” which included the Jewish festival of Passover. The Last Supper was actually the special Passover meal.

Jesus was then arrested, tortured, sentenced to death, crucified, buried, and resurrected over that weekend. He then appeared to His disciples and others over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3). This period ended with Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This word, Pentecost, means 50, as it was this length of time between Passover and the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Palm Sunday was a few days before Passover, thus the “50-something” days total.)

Jesus did fulfill feasts on their actual days of commemoration.

But there is ongoing debate in some circles about what days of the week certain events happened, such as on what day of the Passion Week was Jesus actually crucified. I don’t believe it is necessary that we get legalistic on needing to know exactly which event happened 268

on what exact day in history. People far smarter than us can’t agree either. What is far more important to me—as is true of the ministry of Jesus—is what happened and why.

Jesus’ life was incredible. John closed his Gospel with the words above, appropriately summarizing the greatness of our God and the vastness of Jesus’ ministry. We can look forward with anticipation to learning the full story that Scripture did not have room to tell.

The Messiah came, was born of a virgin, preached the good news of the Gospel, was sacrificed as an atonement for our sins once and for all, and was raised from the dead, so that death would not be our end either. It was all prophesied over many centuries before He came. The odds of Him fulfilling even a fraction of them were astronomical. So take heart that the message is true. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world! He was and is the final Lamb!

I implore you again to use this Easter season to reach out to those around you who are lost. God has given you favor with some who do not know Him. He wants to use your relationships to draw men and women to Himself. Follow the guidance of His Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit, and commit yourself afresh to knowing Him and making Him known. Amen!

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Are You Right about Heaven?

Joseph L. Williams

Table of Contents Preface...........................................................................................273 And So We Begin..........................................................................275 Delayed Gratification....................................................................277 Different Paths to the Same Heaven?...........................................279 The First Heaven...........................................................................281 Heaven #2.....................................................................................283 And behind Door #3......................................................................285 One Ticket to Paradise, Please......................................................287 The Who’s Who of Heaven...........................................................289 Approach the Throne....................................................................291 Passport, Please.............................................................................293 The Infamous “Stairway to Heaven”............................................295 The Heavenly Express..................................................................297 Raised from the Dead Roll Call....................................................299 The Dead Rich Man and a Different Lazarus...............................301 Stephen’s Glimpse........................................................................303 The Moment after You Die, What’s Next?...................................305 Are You Sure There’s No More Bad Stuff?..................................307 Is My Harp Tuned and Ready?.....................................................309 Do I Know You?...........................................................................311

Will You Marry Me?.....................................................................313 When Am I Accountable?.............................................................315 Are There Animals Up There?......................................................317 The Other Place.............................................................................319 The Ruler of the Kingdom of the Air............................................321 Dead Bodies..................................................................................323 Heaven and Earth 2.0....................................................................325 Heaven on Earth............................................................................327 The Requirement...........................................................................329 Heaven Is for Losers.....................................................................331 Reward Motivation.......................................................................333

Preface There are common misconceptions of heaven. Along with them are other questions, deeper questions that arise during challenging seasons in the roller coaster of life. In the past few years, my family and I have experienced several “untimely” deaths of those we knew and loved.

Our season started when my wife’s father passed away. On the morning after his funeral, my dad had a massive heart attack and died. We lost our dads and our kids lost both grandfathers one week apart, with the funerals only four days apart. Since then, two co-workers lost their wives to the dreaded enemies of diabetes and cancer. Church friends died too, leaving single parents to raise children alone. We also lost our first family dog. It just felt like our hearts were breaking over and over again.

Perhaps you have had similar hard times. As a result, it can be tempting to lose hope. At times, we can’t bear the thought of living without those we have loved, and we hope—often blindly—that they have gone on to a better place. We have doubts. Did they really go to heaven? Are we right about what we believe about heaven?

An anchor for our family through this season has been God and His Word, the Bible. No matter what our emotions and feelings have been, we have turned to the steadfast words of God to guide us. This includes what He says about what happens after we die, and about where we go.

The purpose of this study is to explore as many answers as possible to our questions and help clear up our preconceived notions about heaven. I will quote or reference Bible verses frequently. This is done to clearly identify and differentiate God’s words from my own. Don’t let seeing these verses intimidate you; you can look them up later if you so choose.

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Maybe you don’t believe in what the Bible says, but you are still desperate for clarity. May you find it through this study on heaven.

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And So We Begin He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelation 21:4 Much has been written on the subject of heaven, some good and some not so good. Movies, books, news stories, and so on continually claim to have special knowledge about this special place. Neardeath accounts in the hospital, temporary death experiences after some accident, and vivid dreams or visions with incredible details are just some of the examples shared in the public eye.

Which stories are real, and which are fake? How can we discern the truth from these personal accounts? Are you right in your personal beliefs about heaven? Well, in this 30-day journey, we will focus on what the Bible says about heaven. If you’re not a Christian, don’t let that scare you off. What’s the harm in knowing what the Bible says about the matter?

We won’t go beyond what the Bible says, because it warns against doing so (1 Corinthians 4:6). Each day, we will take a closer look at a particular story, passage, or verse that gives us a glimpse into this wonderful place. It is fine to speculate, but we must identify our speculations and separate them from what we know for sure.

Two things I can virtually guarantee: I cannot fully cover what the Bible says about heaven in this amount of time and space, and I will not do an adequate job of providing you with a full picture of heaven. After all, how can a perfect and indescribably beautiful place be adequately put into words? How can our finite minds truly grasp the dwelling place of God? Given this disclaimer, when you have completed this study you should have a better understanding of heaven. You should also be able to view today’s claims about heaven through the lens of 276

the Bible; you won’t need my opinion on the matter. You’ll know whether you’re right or wrong about heaven.

To non-Christians: if you have yet to believe that Jesus died for you, I hope you will read with an open mind. My prayer is that He would use this study as the catalyst to open your heart to this reality. Eternity awaits all of us, but heaven does not—even if you’re a “good” person, or, further still, even if you believe in God. The Bible clearly states that even demons believe in God, but they’re certainly not headed to heaven (James 2:19). Believing is simply not enough.

To Christians: my ultimate goal is to spur a greater thirst in you, for you to fear death less, and for you to look forward to an even more wonderful future. After all, the Bible says that, as believers, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). My desire is that your love for our Savior grows, and that this study will motivate you to live now with eternity in mind.

So, let’s take a journey over the next month and discover more about a very real place that needs to be the future home of everyone—especially you.

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Delayed Gratification For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 The subject of heaven always seems to be popular. However, there is so much conjecture and misinformation out there that it can be tempting to conclude that it’s too hard to know the truth. The Bible does give us some illumination on heaven, but it still feels a bit cloudy (pardon the pun!).

The verse above confirms this reality: we only know in part right now. We can look forward to the day when the cloud is fully lifted and the blindfold is removed from our eyes. What a day that will be!

In addition to our cloudy vision and the conflicting stories we hear, I think there are two stumbling blocks we encounter when trying to understand heaven. We deal with personal inadequacy— especially in relation to God. “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4).

We are such small specks among the landscape of the universe.

“The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more” (Psalm 103:15–16).

Perhaps another hurdle is doubt about heaven due to personal loss. The overwhelming grief over the death of a loved one, especially an “untimely” or “unfair” death, can allow our emotions to overtake our faith, planting doubts that God is still a loving God and has a beautiful eternity planned.

Whether or not you call yourself “Christian,” you may be dealing with some of these feelings. From public claims about heaven to what the Bible doesn’t say to feelings of inadequacy to personal loss, it can be challenging to believe in and trust God. And so, 278

heaven just seems like a far-off and unattainable place, maybe even a fantasy.

We have a choice. We can trust in the God who created us and loved us so much that He gave us an escape from death and eternal separation from Him. He has things prepared for those who love Him, both now and in heaven (1 Corinthians 2:9). We can’t possibly fathom this right now, and that’s okay because of this trust we have in Him. But it’s a choice we need to make and stick with through thick and thin. We were warned that this life would be hard (John 16:33). The delayed gratification of heaven will one day be delayed no longer.

Before we really get moving on this heavenly journey through the eyes of the Bible, I think it is important to first examine your own views of heaven. So, take a few minutes and maybe jot down some notes or make a list of the words, characteristics, questions, and concerns you have about heaven. Then, I encourage you to revisit these notes at the end to see what has changed or has become clearer.

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Different Paths to the Same Heaven?

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6 Most of the world’s cultures and religions have some concept of heaven and hell. Unfortunately, this is why many people lump all religions together and assume that all paths eventually lead to the same god and same place. As a follower of Jesus, I immediately know one difference between Christianity and every other religion: Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with Jesus.

Before we look at what the Bible teaches about heaven, we need to take a cursory glance at some of the other beliefs out there. Those of us who are believers need to be educated and tactful when dealing with those of a different mindset. We need to treat people with respect and love instead of metaphorically beating them over the head with our Bibles. We do serve a holy and righteous God who demands awe and reverence, but scaring people into salvation isn’t a strategy I suggest using.

I am going to have to paint with really broad strokes as we look at a generalized view of heaven in various belief systems. To fully explain each religion’s view of heaven (or hell, for that matter) would require much more space, so indulge me with the brevity of this list: • • •

Islam: If you’ve done more good than bad in life, you get to go to heaven.

Hinduism: Heaven is a place where their gods live. It is not the final destination, but a stop in the reincarnation cycle to improve one’s condition.

Buddhism: The final destination is not a place, but a state of mind called nirvana, which is basically a state of nothingness. The key to achieving this enlightenment is to desire nothing.

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• •

• •

Judaism: Heaven is the dwelling place of God and other heavenly beings; teachings are more focused on how to live now.

Mormonism: There are three heavens after death: celestial, terrestrial, and telestial; which one you go to depends on certain requirements you must achieve.

Jehovah’s Witnesses: Only 144,000 are chosen for heaven; the rest live on in a future paradise on earth.

Seventh-day Adventist: No one goes to heaven immediately after death, but enters an unconscious state until Jesus returns.

Agnosticism: No one can know for sure if there’s a God, or if heaven even exists.

Atheism: There is no God, so there is no heaven.

It can be overwhelming to consider all these religions and beliefs as well as a myriad of others not listed. They don’t seem to have the same concept of heaven, wouldn’t you agree? You can also look at their millions upon millions of adherents and wonder, How is it that Christianity could possibly have it right and everyone else have it wrong? We’ll look at this question later in our journey.

As the verse at the top recognizes, we are all lost, but a single redemptive act took place that changed everything. The path to heaven—narrow as it is—became available to all and changed the course of human history.

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The First Heaven God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

Genesis 1:8 Let’s begin looking at the biblical description of heaven. The word heaven invokes positive emotions in the hearts and minds of Christians and many non-Christians. The Hebrew word for heaven is shamayim, which is plural. We often read about it in its plural form in verses like Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and Psalm 57:10, “For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”

Did you know that there are three different realms or dimensions that are referred to as “heaven” in the Bible? This might sound a bit crazy, but it’s true. Some scholars combine the first two heavens, and that has merit because they are both a far cry from the third.

Others think the second heaven is a figurative description of the realm of Satan (Ephesians 6:12). We will follow a more literal route in tomorrow’s study on the second heaven, and on another day we will revisit the topic of the evil presence we can’t see.

Knowing which heaven is the subject of a particular Bible passage would really affect your understanding, don’t you think?

Reading the context is crucial.

We’ll spend the next three days looking at each heaven separately. This means that today we will look at the first heaven described in the Bible. Look no further than the first chapter of Genesis to see when it was created. God created the first heaven on the second day (Genesis 1:8). (We are not wading into the debate over the duration of creation week; it is more important for us to focus on the fact that God created each heaven.)

The first heaven is the earth’s atmosphere, the air around us where birds and airplanes fly. “Let birds fly above the earth across 282

the vault of the sky” (Genesis 1:20). As you can see, “air” and “sky” are often used to describe the first heaven. This is also the heaven that is the source of our weather. “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands” (Deuteronomy 28:12).

As you can imagine, without modern-day technological advances, there was much more mystery and awe to the first heaven in ages past. Today, the average person has full access to the first heaven.

We can fly in a plane or fall gracefully with a parachute. So, we tend to overlook the sky as rather ordinary, but God’s creation is beautiful, and that includes the first heaven. It is truly amazing that God created such a space in which we can breathe and enjoy life.

Did you know that one day the first heaven will be no more?

Revelation 21:1 describes this glorious future age: “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea” (John was quoting Isaiah 65:17). We are living under a temporary heaven. There is a much greater one to come!

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Heaven #2 I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place.

Psalm 8:3 Let me be clear right off the bat that the term “second heaven” is not mentioned in the Bible. However, since the “third heaven” is identified by a dynamic early Christian named Paul (you’ll be hearing from him a lot in this study) in 2 Corinthians 12:2–4, it is logical to think that there must be a first and a second heaven. We will look at this passage from Paul tomorrow, but today is about defining the second heaven.

Perhaps you’ve already guessed the identity of this next “space” (get it?). All you have to do is go beyond our atmosphere and you’re in what we call outer space, containing the galaxies, stars, planets, and every other heavenly body.

God created the second heaven on the fourth day of creation week in Genesis 1:14–19. “God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars” (verse 16). Indeed, the night sky truly is a vibrant testimony of God’s handiwork. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).

How many galaxies are present in this cosmos that God created?

It seems that the number is far larger than previously thought. Our Milky Way galaxy contains around 200 billion stars and is up to 200,000 light-years across. How big is that? Put it this way: it would take a couple of trillion years to drive this distance by car. Further, thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers believe there are probably 100 to 200 billion galaxies (possibly up to two trillion!).

Oh my goodness—can you even imagine this?!

I don’t know about you but my mind can’t get around that kind of vastness. Further, I can’t fathom why an infinite and omniscient 284

God would bother creating the human race on a little planet in the midst of a massive galaxy inside an incomprehensibly large universe. King David of ancient Israel stated it better: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3–4). I look forward to knowing the answer to this and a lot of other “whys” when we get to heaven!

In the beginning of Paul’s letter to the church in a city called Ephesus, he paints a reassuring picture of God’s longstanding love for us in the midst of such a vast universe. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4). Think of it: even before creation, God had you in mind.

This should cause your heart to overflow with humility and a deep sense of gratitude and reverence toward God. He spoke the universe into being like a snap of the fingers. And yet in all of His creation’s grandeur and splendor, He still chose to create you and me. I don’t know why, but I will be eternally grateful.

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And behind Door #3 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.

John 14:3 We have been looking at heaven from the standpoint that it can be divided into three realms. As mentioned, you can certainly lump the air around us in with outer space because they both pale in comparison to the splendor of the third, or highest, heaven. The third heaven is the one we are looking forward to as the destination after death.

The third heaven is where God dwells (2 Chronicles 6:33; Matthew 6:9). However, it is important to note that God is not contained there. He is omniscient and omnipresent. He is exalted above the heavens (Hebrews 7:26). “He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe” (Ephesians 4:10). King David’s son Solomon lamented the fact that the temple he was going to build for God wouldn’t do God justice. “But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him?” (2 Chronicles 2:6).

Now, fast-forward to the New Testament of the Bible as we look at the third heaven. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on what Christians call Palm Sunday, the procession of people shouted praises to God and proclaimed, “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Mark 11:10). And Acts 1:11 records when Jesus ascended to the highest heaven and where He will remain until His Second Coming.

Interestingly, the third heaven is also mentioned by Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2–4. Here is the passage in its entirety: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this 286

man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

Some scholars speculate that Paul is writing about himself here in the third person. Whoever actually experienced a glimpse of heaven, the point of sharing this passage is that it mentions the third heaven, and it also indicates what this man heard and saw. It was so awesome that it was “paradise” and “inexpressible.”

Let me close today by choosing my words carefully. I believe that if we truly knew how wonderful heaven is, we would not want to be here anymore. We must remember, however, that God has a specific calling on each of our lives. We need to be about the Lord’s business here until our heaven-going (2 Peter 1:10–11). So, use this as motivation to live less for yourself and more for Him! Heaven will be here soon enough.

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One Ticket to Paradise, Please Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.

Luke 23:43 The word paradise evokes certain positive feelings, don’t you think?

When I think of paradise, I think of a sandy white beach with crystal clear waters in the Caribbean. Maybe your version of the word is a different but equally moving place where your spirit is revived.

The great news is that heaven is described as paradise as well.

This means, of course, that it is not just a paradise, but The Paradise.

And like your favorite vacation spot, you should long to go there with every passing moment—and even more so.

In the Old Testament, there is a Hebrew word similar in meaning to paradise. It is used dozens of times in the context of gardens, forests, orchards, and the like. This might cause one particular paradise in the Bible to come to mind: the Garden of Eden, the beautiful location that served as the original home of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:15).

Lot, the nephew of the Hebrew patriarch Abraham, also used this Hebrew word to describe the land he wanted to possess. When he saw it, he thought “that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). The same word was used by King Solomon to describe one of his great projects: “I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them” (Ecclesiastes 2:5).

The actual word paradise is of Persian origin, and is used three times in the New Testament. In the Bible verse at the top, Jesus Himself says these words to a thief nailed to a cross next to Him. The great truth about this particular usage is that Jesus is basically saying that believers will immediately go there upon death.

Paul uses “paradise” in his account of the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:4). And John, one of Jesus’ disciples, mentions “paradise” as the location of the Tree of Life (Revelation 2:7).

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Some versions of the Bible label the first part of the last chapter of Revelation as “Eden Restored” (22:1–3). It is about a future age on earth. John saw “the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Sounds like paradise, doesn’t it? Earth is restored to its glorious roots.

My only purpose for today is to give you another descriptive term for heaven. It is truly paradise. One day it will be reestablished on earth, perhaps identical to the original Garden of Eden. And just like Adam and Eve before their fall, we too will walk in perfect harmony and fellowship with God.

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The Who’s Who of Heaven [Jesus Christ] has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand— with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

1 Peter 3:22 We have already looked briefly at the third heaven. Today, we’re going to be much more comprehensive because it’s important to know who else is currently in heaven, as they will also be there when we get there.

First and foremost, we should reiterate that God the Father is in heaven, ruling from His throne (2 Chronicles 6:39; Isaiah 66:1). Jesus, His Son, is also there, ruling at the right side of God (Acts 2:33; 7:55; 1 Peter 3:22). There are many places in the Bible that state this truth apart from the ones just listed.

Perhaps most well known in addition to the Father and Son are the angels in heaven (Matthew 24:36; Luke 2:15). They are sometimes referred to as the “heavenly host” (Psalm 148:2; Luke 2:13).

We will look soon at the story in Genesis 28:10–22 of the angels ascending to and descending from heaven.

Included among the angels are two that we know by name: Michael, who is identified as an archangel, and Gabriel. Both appear in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament and also in the New Testament. Lucifer, or Satan, is also an angel, but he will be studied on another day. Other angels are mentioned, but their names are not given. Also, “the angel of the Lord” (not “an angel”) makes many appearances in the Bible up until the birth of Christ. For this reason, many believe that the angel of the Lord is actually Jesus.

Now here’s where it gets even more interesting. There are also heavenly beings called cherubim and seraphim that populate heaven. Seraphim are only directly mentioned in Isaiah 6. The Hebrew word seraphim means “to burn,” and these supernatural beings have six wings. Their calling is to praise God: “Holy, holy, holy is the 290

Lord Almighty; the whole earth is filled with his glory” (verse 3).

Cherubim are mentioned quite a bit more. They have guarded the Garden of Eden and Tree of Life ever since God banished Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:24). The entire tenth chapter of Ezekiel has an incredible depiction of the cherubim. They have four wings and the faces of a lion, ox, man, and eagle (verse 14).

There is still another heavenly group called the “four living creatures” who are mentioned in Ezekiel 1 and several times in the book of Revelation. They appear similar to the cherubim and seraphim and could possibly be the same. They also primarily exist to worship God. Last but not least, those Christians who have preceded us in physical death are now in heaven (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8). As we finish for today, let us pause to consider this vast and holy group of perfect beings with God who are awaiting our arrival. Jesus has prepared a place just for you in heaven if you believe in Him (John 14:3).

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Approach the Throne Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

Psalm 45:6 God is certainly not contained in heaven, as we’ve learned, but there is a specific place in heaven that is worth looking at, and that is His throne. This throne represents God’s position of ultimate power. Just as a king sits on his throne and is expected to rule justly and with authority, so God is the sovereign example. I would not be surprised if you haven’t read the description of God’s throne before, but it is something to learn about and imagine.

The main description of the throne is given by John in the book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible. Here is John, exiled because of his faith to the Greek island of Patmos in the first century AD (or CE). He is not only given a vision of heaven and both horrible and wonderful things to come, but he has to try to describe it in human terms. It’s an impossible and unenviable task to be sure. As a result of the first-century imagery he used, there are many different opinions as to how the End of the Age will unfold.

Regardless, consider the vivid details John uses to describe God’s throne. “The one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne” (Revelation 4:3). “From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder” (verse 5). “Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal” (verse 6).

Sounds like beauty and power personified, doesn’t it?

In the Old Testament, the prophet Ezekiel was also given a vision of God sitting on His throne. From the waist up, “he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him” (Ezekiel 1:26–28). He further describes God’s radiance like a rainbow.

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There are all manner of beings and creatures in heaven and around the throne, as we looked at yesterday (2 Chronicles 18:18).

In John’s description there are two dozen “elders” on other thrones and also the four living creatures that have some interesting characteristics. We don’t have to try to understand the true nature of these beings, but what we do know is that they all worship God. Later, John is shown that when God creates a new heaven and earth, His throne (be it literal or metaphorical) will be on earth (Revelation 21:3; 22:3). But until this comes to pass, Hebrews 4:16 gives us encouraging words for today: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Even though God is all knowing, all powerful, and exists everywhere, because of our salvation (which will be explained near the end of this study), we can approach Him any time we want to ask Him to help us. That is encouraging indeed.

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Passport, Please Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20 I think you would agree that the vast majority of Americans are patriotic, regardless of political affiliation. Where we might differ is how to best go about helping our country grow and prosper. However this might happen, it requires that we be law-abiding citizens.

These rules and regulations provide the structure needed to be a civilized society. We’re on the same page so far, right?

While what follows is not necessarily something we see differently, it is perhaps something you haven’t thought about much.

Look at the above verse. If you are a follower of Christ, your ultimate citizenship is in heaven, not America. Countries can come and go—and have over the centuries—but heaven is for eternity. (This was obviously written with American citizens in mind, but carries the same message no matter your home country.)

This leads to a question: Do you see yourself more as an American citizen or a citizen of heaven? Be honest with yourself. Is it more natural for you to dwell on your place and role in our country, or to focus beyond “the present age” to “the age to come” (Mark 10:30)? The reality is, as a follower of Christ, your literal passport may say “United States of America,” but your spiritual passport says “Heaven.”

Hebrews 11:16 tells us we need to be “longing for a better country—a heavenly one.” America is arguably the wealthiest nation that has ever existed. Yet, despite all the temptations and temporary treasures it affords, it is nothing—NOTHING—remotely comparable to the richness and glory of heaven.

Let’s not stop at just declaring our citizenship in heaven. Another devoted follower of Jesus named Peter gives us further identities in 294

one of his books. We are also “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (1 Peter 2:9). If that doesn’t make you feel special, I don’t know what will! We have been selected, and are royalty, ministers, holy, and special in God’s eyes.

Peter doesn’t stop there. He gives us more rudimentary names, urging us also to identify as “foreigners and exiles” (2:11). We are like refugees away from our permanent home.

If our primary calling is to be and live like citizens of heaven and all these other descriptive labels, then how do we demonstrate it?

Peter goes on to encourage us to “abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans [nonbelievers] that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God” (2:11–12).

So, if you are a Christian, constantly remind yourself that your true passport has the emblem of heaven on the front cover. You are just passing through in this journey called life, trying to love God and do His will.

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The Infamous “Stairway to Heaven” 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.

Genesis 28:12 Over the next few days, we’ll look at some of the most famous glimpses of heaven in the Bible. I daresay that today’s image is one of the best known, but is also one of the most misunderstood. More on that in a moment.

Just like his grandfather Abraham, Jacob received a word from God while sleeping about His promise to bless the world through Jacob’s family line. As Jacob slept, he dreamed of a stairway or ladder connecting heaven and earth, which angels were using to ascend and descend. At the top was the Lord, who affirmed the family promise to greatly expand their numbers and legacy among the people groups of the world.

Let’s contrast this so-called “Jacob’s ladder” with another occurrence earlier in the book of Genesis. In the eleventh chapter, we read about a structure called the Tower of Babel. The proud people of this place had declared, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves” (verse 4). They wanted to build their way into heaven and become gods themselves. God wouldn’t have it, so He scattered the people after changing up their language.

In ancient Mesopotamia, this type of structure was called a ziggurat. It was fairly similar to a pyramid, but with fewer and more pronounced levels. It also had a sloping staircase that ascended to the top where a shrine would sit and where the people would worship a deity. The people of Babel (which means “gate of god” in the Akkadian language) wanted to bridge heaven and earth. However, Christians know full well that only one person could and would one 296

day bridge that seemingly impossible gap—Jesus. So let’s fast-forward to the New Testament.

When Jesus was recruiting people to be His disciples, He said to a man named Nathanael, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man [a title for Jesus]” (John 1:51). Does this visual sound familiar?! Jesus was saying that He came to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. The people of Babel couldn’t bridge it and neither can we. Jesus became our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), and we can only come to God the Father through Him (John 14:6).

While the imagery of angels going back and forth to heaven on a supernatural escalator sounds appealing, that is not the point of this Bible story at all. This is not a glimpse into heaven or how angels navigate, but it is instead both a contrast to the Tower of Babel and a foreshadowing of Jesus’ First Coming. Jesus, a direct descendant of Jacob, came to bless the nations with the message of salvation! We can’t earn it or build our way there through good works, but it is a free gift if we’ll just accept it.

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The Heavenly Express As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

2 Kings 2:11 Tomorrow we will look at specific instances in the Bible of people being raised from the dead. This happened numerous times in both the Old and New Testaments. Today, however, we will look at two men in the Old Testament who escaped death and went straight to heaven. One description is much more amazing than the other, but both merit an overview.

First was Enoch, who “walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). This chapter in Genesis gives the genealogy of the first man, Adam, to Noah, the one who built the ark before the great flood. It tells how old each was when he had his eldest son, and how long he lived. Then in every other instance except Enoch’s, each person in the genealogy is said to have died. Hebrews 11:5 further confirms that Enoch “did not experience death.”

The second man who escaped death was Elijah. He was walking with his soon-to-be prophetic successor, Elisha, when what is amazingly described in the verse at the top takes place. Fire!

Whirlwind! Heaven! But before we look more closely at this verse in 2 Kings, let me mention another reason why both men are included in today’s study.

Looking at the accounts of Elijah and Enoch together is important because some Christians believe that they are the “two witnesses” mentioned in Revelation 11 who come to warn the earth’s inhabitants. They believe that these are two literal people who must have escaped death, and that is why they are able to return to earth.

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he nevertheless appeared with Elijah and Jesus in front of the disciples Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1–13), so the logic for this theory is flawed.

Now, back to Elijah’s blazing ride to heaven. Like me, I’m sure you can envision a chariot of fire being pulled by fiery horses, and why the departure for heaven would seem like a tornado. Interestingly, Elisha would witness heavenly horses and chariots again. When Israel was at war with another country, they were outnumbered and surrounded, so Elisha asked God to show his servant the heavenly army at their side (2 Kings 6:17).

This is just a small taste of the supernatural powers at God’s disposal from heaven. And these similar scenes call to mind the Apostle Paul’s declaration in Romans 8: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (verse 8:31). We should not dread when things look helpless and we should not fear when physical death comes. God is for us and in us. Our souls are eternal!

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Raised from the Dead Roll Call Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

John 11:43–44 Today, we are going to look briefly at stories in the Bible about those who died and were raised from the dead. Specifically, we’re going to see what they all have in common. Even more specifically, we’re going to see what they don’t mention.

We are not questioning whether these people died and then were actually raised from the dead. The Bible says that it was so in each case, and Christians believe the Word of God, so the matter is not up for discussion here. Instead, we are looking at these stories as they relate to heaven because these stories are similar to claims people make today.

First, let’s look at the list of people who were dead, but were then raised to life: 1. The son of a widow, raised by the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17:17–24) 2. The son of a wealthy woman, raised by the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:8–37) 3. The dead man who came back to life when his bones touched the bones of Elisha (2 Kings 13:20–21) 4. The son of a widow, raised by Jesus (Luke 7:11–17) 5. The daughter of a religious leader, raised by Jesus (Luke 8:40–42, 49–56) 6. Lazarus, the brother of Mary (the woman who poured perfume on Jesus), raised by Jesus (John 11:1–44) 300

7. Believers raised to life when Jesus died (Matthew 27:50–52) 8. Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1–10) 9. A woman named Dorcas, raised by Peter (Acts 9:36–42) 10. A man named Eutychus, raised by Paul (Acts 20:7–12) In all these stories, there is no mention of any of these people brought back from the dead talking about going to heaven in the interim. I’m sure their family members and friends asked them about their experience, but we are not blessed with knowing the content of these conversations. Does this disprove the stories of people today who make such claims about visiting heaven after death or a neardeath experience? In my opinion, no. However, the fact that all these Bible stories lack this detail deserves attention.

Can you just imagine what it would be like to see someone raised from the dead? Do you believe this could happen today? In Matthew 10:8, Jesus directs His disciples to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” The Holy Spirit gave them miraculous power, and that same Spirit is within us. When you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you to help guide your daily living (John 14:26; Romans 8:5). He can do great things in and through you if you’ll let Him!

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The Dead Rich Man and a Different Lazarus Between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.

Luke 16:26 There is a story in Luke 16:19–31 that is chock-full of interesting information, and we will try to give it a cursory overview. This won’t be easy because there is much that Jesus shares. This is the story of a rich man who lived a life of luxury and a beggar named Lazarus who was covered in sores.

Both men die, but end up in different places. Lazarus is carried by angels to Abraham’s side, while the rich man is sent into torment in Hades. The rich man can see Abraham and Lazarus far off, and hopes against all hope for just a drop of water to be given in the midst of his agony. But, alas, it is not possible. Abraham himself conveys the message that the “great chasm” between them can’t be bridged. Their paths have been finalized and cemented in place.

The story doesn’t end there. The rich man then begs Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn his five brothers of their fate should they not alter their paths. Abraham answers by explaining that the brothers have the Word of God to guide them (the Old Testament at the time).

Is this just a parable about money (the main content of chapter 16) meant to encourage the reader how to live their life before it’s too late? Or does this also give us a glimpse into the separation between heaven and hell? Can those in heaven and hell see each other from a distance? Surely, it would be torture to see heaven in all its glory and the Savior in all His glory from a distance, but for it to be unattainable for eternity. Further, to know you took the wrong 302

path in life and have family and friends on the same path whom you need to warn, but be unable to do so, would also be unimaginable torment.

If today’s story is just a parable told by Jesus, it differs from His other parables because it is the only one where He gives a specific name of a person. Regardless, perhaps the main lesson we can pull from this story is that we should share the message of Jesus Christ while there is still time. Our lives can end in an instant. We are not guaranteed tomorrow.

In Luke 12:13–21, Jesus shares a parable about another rich man, whom He called a fool. It was this man’s goal to “take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” (verse 19). The Lord’s response to him? “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (verse 20).

Hebrews 3:13 directs us to “encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Live a life of purpose. Serve God by serving others who are less fortunate. Demonstrate boldness, but with love and kindness. Share the message of Jesus with those you know who don’t believe. Tell them the truth today. Or maybe you’re one who needs to accept this truth about salvation. Please keep reading.

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Stephen’s Glimpse Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Acts 7:55 Today, we often hear of people’s claims about visiting heaven during a near-death experience or during a temporary death (before being “brought back to life” by medical personnel, for example). There is a fairly similar story in the Bible. The main difference is that it is a brief description of heaven by someone who is going to die that very day, but will not come back to life.

An early believer named Stephen is known as the first Christian martyr. He met his death by stoning, while Paul (before becoming a Christian) stood nearby, holding everyone’s coats (Acts 7:54–60).

Stephen had just finished an impassioned speech to the Jewish leaders who immediately turned on him after his claim that Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah.

As the leaders grew furious, Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit (God living within us), and then the moment of note takes place. He told them that he saw Jesus standing beside God the Father in heaven. The Old Testament Scriptures foretold that the Messiah would sit at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1). Sharing this prophetic news with an already indignant crowd sent them over the edge with anger. They then dragged him out of town and stoned him.

This description of Jesus being in a position of authority “at the right hand of God” is used in other places throughout the New Testament, as we’ve read. Hebrews 10:12 states that after Jesus “had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” Romans 8:34 similarly states that “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” And Ephesians 1:20–21 says, “He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand 304

in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion.”

This is the God we serve, the mysterious Trinity: God the Father who rules in heaven, God the Son who is currently beside Him in heaven, and God the Holy Spirit who is here to guide us every second of every day. One day, the “gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Jesus will return to establish His kingdom forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

It was a wonderful gift that Stephen received, to be given a glimpse of heaven to sustain him through a brutal death. He got to see his Savior in all His glory in heaven. We, too, can give a glimpse of heaven to those we know who are suffering and even dying. We can show them the Bible passages that give details of heaven’s perfection, and we can point them to the Savior who desires their hearts be rescued from a hopeless eternity.

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The Moment after You Die, What’s Next?

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.

John 5:24 Over this next set of days, we’re going to look at some of the main questions people have about heaven, starting with the moment of our death. It seems natural for us to fear death. Maybe we don’t fear how it will happen as much as the finality of it. My dad once wrote that man primarily fears death for these reasons: • • • •

It is an unwelcome stop to our lives.

It is the great unknown.

We fear that it will permanently end cherished relationships.

We fear that it will bring an end to meaningful activity.

In both the Old and New Testaments, death is often referred to as sleep. For this reason, some believe that both our bodies and souls will “sleep” until Jesus comes back a second time and we are resurrected. However, the term sleep is a metaphor for physical death, not death of the soul. There is compelling evidence that the soul of a Christian is immediately in heaven after death. Let’s look at a few examples to give you some assurance.

We read previously of the Old Testament prophets Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus on a mountain in front of three of Jesus’ disciples (Matthew 17:1–3). How could they appear if their souls were asleep?

Remember Jesus’ story about the rich man and Lazarus, who both die. The content of the story is mainly about money, but does it also provide a glimpse into the afterlife? It is clear that the two men are not asleep, but completely aware that they are in very different places.

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Later on when Jesus was dying on a Roman cross, He told God the Father, “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). He didn’t tell God, “Wake me up when it’s over.” Peter also refers to Christ’s death this way: “He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

Paul gives two convincing messages about death. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain . . . I desire to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:21–23). “As long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6). Why would Paul be excited about being physically dead and his soul unconscious for the next two thousand years without interaction with the Lord?

Death is “gain” because we are consciously with Christ after death.

In Revelation, John describes a future scene of martyrs before God in heaven calling out to Him to avenge their deaths (6:9–10).

How can they do this if their souls are unconscious or asleep?

Death is not the beginning of a really long nap for Christians, but rather the transition of our souls into God’s presence as we await the resurrection of our bodies. Now, let me leave you with some advice from my father—three questions to ask ourselves as we ponder death: • • •

Am I in right relationship with God? Am I in right relationship with others?

Am I investing myself in things that will last for eternity?

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Are You Sure There’s No More Bad Stuff?

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelation 21:4 This one verse deserves its own day of study, for it paints a picture of heaven that we should truly anticipate. To make a long story short, one day everything that is fallen and broken and painful about this world will disappear forever. From the miniscule to the massive, the worst things that have happened to you in life will be gone and forgotten (Isaiah 65:17).

Here are the four “no mores” of this verse in Revelation: No more death. There is so much death in this world, and so many seem to leave this fallen world in an unfair and inhumane manner. God will do away with death once and for all.

“He will swallow up death forever” (Isaiah 25:8).

No more mourning. To spend time with a family in mourning after the loss of a loved one is truly heartbreaking, especially if the death is deemed “untimely.” Since death will be defeated, however, there will be no reason to ever mourn again in heaven. “The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8).

No more crying. In addition to death, there are many other reasons for sadness in this dark and fallen world. It is easy to be reduced to tears. Our heavenly future only contains joy and no tears. “Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

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No more pain. The older we get, the more likely it is that our emotional and physical pains accumulate. It can become more than we can bear. But Christ made our pain His pain on the cross. Therefore, it has no future. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Death, mourning, crying, and pain—these are the “bad stuff” that prevent some from ever believing in Christ, while also causing believers to lose faith. It can be brutal and seemingly impossible to endure sometimes. And yet, we should not lose hope. “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” (John 16:33).

As believers, our souls are immortal. Our fallen bodies and sinful tendencies will eventually be replaced with their perfected versions. Now that is something to anticipate! If you are struggling in the meantime, any advice I can give pales in comparison to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:16–18: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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Is My Harp Tuned and Ready?

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 Most of you know the popular image of what we will supposedly be doing in heaven. We will be equipped with a fresh pair of wings and a white toga, be assigned a fluffy cloud, and be sent blissfully adrift to play a golden harp for all eternity. I don’t know about you, but that sounds about as exciting as a toothache. Thankfully, it is not based in reality.

However, it might be useful to deconstruct this image before looking at what we will be doing in heaven. The image of wings, a robe, clouds, and a harp comes from details found throughout the Bible. Some angelic beings like the cherubim and seraphim do have wings. They do move among the heavens, which of course includes the clouds, and they do praise God (Psalm 148:2). As far as humans in heaven, in Revelation 7:13 they are seen wearing white robes, and in 15:2–3 there is a multitude praising God with harps.

So, the assumption is that we will become like the angels after we die. Jesus even stated in Luke 20:36 that we will one day be like the angels. However, this is said in the context of not being married anymore because there isn’t marriage in heaven (we’ll look at this another day).

The reality is that while we are in our earthly bodies, we are lower than the angels (Psalm 8:4–5). Yet, God created man in His image (Genesis 1:26), and one day we will be elevated like Jesus and rule over the angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). While we don’t know exactly what this will look like, we don’t need to know this side of eternity.

Here is the disappointing news: there is a lot we don’t know about what we will be doing in heaven. Everyone would love to 310

know specifics, but whatever our reality will be, it’s just too good to be true. How do we know this? Read again the verse above, 1 Corinthians 2:9. We can’t conceive of the awesome plans that God has for us.

Now, let’s end by looking at what we do know we will be doing in heaven: •

We will worship God. “Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them” will be worshiping the Lord for eternity (Revelation 5:13).

•

We will serve God. While the type of service(s) we will be doing is unanswered (Revelation 7:15; 22:3), the fact that we will be serving God means we will not be sitting idle on a cloud in our toga playing a harp.

•

We will be with other believers. Revelation 7:9 foreshadows a day when people from every ethnic group will be together in heaven. This is the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14.

The point is that whatever we do will be better and more fulfilling than anything done on earth. And that is something to look forward to with anticipation.

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Do I Know You? Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves . . . Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Matthew 17:1, 3 Today’s topic is sure to be one that has concerned many believers.

We shouldn’t be concerned, however, because the Bible addresses the question of whether we (believers) will know each other in heaven. Let’s start by revisiting a story in Matthew 17:1–13.

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John (James’ brother) up on a mountain. At that point, He is transformed before their eyes. “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light” (verse 2). The amazing thing that happens next is that Moses and Elijah appear as well, and they talk to Jesus. Somehow (perhaps intuitively or through the Holy Spirit), Peter recognizes them, even though they had lived many centuries before him.

As mentioned previously, we know that Moses died and Elijah had escaped death, but both had obviously gone to heaven. But here was Peter, and presumably James and John, who recognized two men who had been and still are in heaven. They still held the identity they had when they were alive on earth.

More evidence would be helpful for us, though, so let’s look at some additional biblical accounts of recognizing one another in heaven. Thankfully, there are multiple examples. We may not fully understand some of the details in these stories, but they are worth noting.

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King Saul recognized the dead prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 28).

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King David knew he would one day be with his dead infant son (2 Samuel 12:23), which means he would recognize him.

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•

A story also covered in this study, the dead rich man recognized Abraham and Lazarus after they had died (Luke 16:19–31).

•

“Many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11); in other words, Jesus implies that we will recognize these men in heaven.

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On the cross, Jesus told the repentant thief beside Him that they would be together in paradise, which means they would know each other (Luke 23:42–43).

•

After Jesus’ resurrection, He retained His physical identity, made numerous appearances, and everyone recognized Him (Matthew 28:8–10; Luke 24; Acts 1:1–3).

While we await our eternal bodies, we still continue in a recognizable form. Eventually, we will receive a new body (1 Corinthians 15:35–58). I encourage you to read this passage in its entirety. Let me just quote two verses: “If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body (verse 44). . . . And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man” (verse 49). Therefore, just as Jesus had a resurrected body, so shall we one day.

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Will You Marry Me? [Marriage] is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:32 Some of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day try to trap Him with a story (Matthew 22:23–33). They didn’t even believe in the resurrection, so their negative motives are obvious. Their story is somewhat outlandish, about a married man who dies without having kids. As laid out by the prophet Moses in Deuteronomy 25:5–6, the dead man’s brother must marry the widow and have kids for him. So the dead man in this fictitious tale had seven brothers who all ended up marrying the same widow and dying, but none could produce children. Sounds crazy, right? Read on.

The whole point of this tale was to ask Jesus the following question: “Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” (Matthew 22:28). His answer is our important detail of the day: “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (verse 30).

Why will there not be marriage in heaven, you might ask? In the New Testament, marriage is a reflection of the relationship between Jesus and His people, “the church” (Christians). In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul spells this out: “I promised you [the church] to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.”

In Ephesians 5:21–33, the husband and wife are to display qualities in marriage that demonstrate the same traits as Christ and His people.

“Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything” (verse 24). This verse rubs a lot of people the wrong way today. Without entering that debate and getting distracted from our purpose, just be reminded that verse 21 starts by stating, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” It’s a two-way street.

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Further instructions for the husband follow. Just as Christ gave His life for His people on the cross, so too should husbands “love [their] wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (verse 25). The husband should sacrifice his well-being for the well-being of his wife. The bottom line is that marriage “is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church” (verse 32).

One day, Jesus will return for His bride and there will be a great feast, often referred to as the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” The bride (believers) will be presented to Christ (Revelation 19:6–9).

We can look forward to the day when we will be united with our true Spouse, so to speak; therefore, there won’t be a need for marriage between a man and a woman in heaven. Until then, let’s be like a caring husband and a devoted wife, demonstrating sacrificial love.

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When Am I Accountable?

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:14 Today deals with a sensitive question: Do children and infants go to heaven? In Christian circles, this revolves around a subject called the “age of accountability.” In other words, what age must a child be when God holds them accountable for understanding what it means to be saved? The Christian world is divided on this topic to be sure.

The appropriate action for us to take is to examine what the Bible says, while acknowledging that it doesn’t seem to answer this question outright.

First, we must accept it when the Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are all “sinful at birth,” even from the moment of conception (Psalm 51:5). This is because we are a fallen race, fallen ever since Adam and Eve blew it at the beginning. However, just because pre-born babies are sinful, it doesn’t mean they understand it. Yet the next verse in the psalm contains a mystery: “You desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.”

Having said this, there are some Bible passages worth investigating. The Lord told Moses that his successor, Joshua, would lead the Hebrew people to what was called the Promised Land. God told Moses, “Your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land” (Deuteronomy 1:39).

We previously learned that King David had a child with a woman who was not his wife, and the baby boy died. After he mourned, he stated, “Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).

The prophet Isaiah was given a prophecy about a boy to be born to King Ahaz of Judah. Twice, the passage refers to an undefined 316

point when “the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right” (Isaiah 7:15–16). What this age is for knowing right from wrong, we don’t really know. God does (and that’s the point for today).

Multiple times, Jesus esteems the simple faith, humility, and unassuming nature that children have, and declares that we must exemplify these traits as the verse at the top indicates. On a similar occasion, Jesus told the disciples, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

As we conclude, let’s have a renewed sense of urgency to teach our children how to live the right way (Proverbs 22:6). We are to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). If we do so, then hopefully we will hear the words of 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

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Are There Animals Up There?

“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 65:25 The question of whether animals will be in heaven is one that many Americans want answered with a resounding “Yes!” For millennia, man has obviously enjoyed many aspects of life on earth, including animals—specifically, as pets. So the hope is that God will recreate this enjoyment in heaven.

God created all manner of creatures during the creation week.

He created everything on earth for man to enjoy and rule over, including animals (Genesis 1:28–30). God rescued them on Noah’s ark during the great flood (Genesis 6:19–20). He cares for them (Jonah 4:11; Matthew 6:26) and feeds them (Psalm 104:14, 21, 27).

Let’s look at some instances of animals in relation to heaven. We have already looked at the story of Elijah’s heaven-going in 2 Kings 2. Remember the fiery chariots? Well, what were pulling the chariots? They were “horses of fire.” We don’t know for sure whether they are supernatural horses or the perfect versions of what we have on earth. Further, Jesus and His heavenly army will also be riding horses at the End of the Age (Revelation 19:11, 14).

In prophetic passages in Isaiah chapters 11 and 65, we read that after the new heavens and earth are established, something wonderful will happen. Animals that used to be enemies will dwell alongside each other: wolf and lamb, leopard and goat, calf and lion, cow and bear, and even an infant and a cobra (11:6–8 and 65:25). Whether this is literal or a dramatic metaphor to make a point, we can agree that this future peaceful reality is one to anxiously await.

In Revelation 21, God will create the new heavens and new earth (which we will look at soon). One could logically assume that the 318

earth will return to being the pristine ecosystem it was when the Garden of Eden flourished. And if God had animals living in that paradise, it would seem logical to assume He would do so again. He will be recreating the trees and the grass, so why not the animals, birds, and reptiles too?

Paul tells us in Romans 8:19–21 that all creation was subjected to the consequences of man’s failure, but that one day it would be “liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God” (verse 21). All creation includes animals.

Let me close today by reminding you that what God has in store for us in heaven is amazing and indescribable, including to whatever extent it involves animals. “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9, quoting Isaiah 64:4). We must trust in Him and know that it is better than we can imagine.

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The Other Place I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 1:18 We must not study heaven without acknowledging the reality of hell and taking a look at it. There are people reading this study about heaven who aren’t headed there despite what they may think. If this applies to you, whether you are an atheist or believe in something else, I hope you will keep reading with an open mind. Consider this: you have everything to lose if you’re wrong and nothing to gain if you’re right.

You won’t be surprised to learn that just as we don’t have a full picture of heaven, we also don’t have a full picture of hell. However, just because the picture is incomplete and what is left might be hard to understand, it doesn’t mean we should avoid studying it. It is also tempting to avoid such a negative topic as hell because there is nothing pleasant about it whatsoever.

To further complicate matters, some of the English translations of the Bible have translated the Hebrew word for hell, Sheol, inconsistently and incorrectly. It is used in the Old Testament to indicate the place for all departed souls, variously translated as “grave,” “pit,” “realm of the dead,” and “hell.”

In the New Testament, the words Hades (of Greek influence) and Gehenna (from Hebrew) are used. The former indicates the shadowy realm of the dead. The latter was a waste dump in Jerusalem that was constantly burning. This was quite the easy place for Jesus to literally point to as a vivid comparison to hell.

Now let’s step back and look at the big picture. The truth is, hell means two things in the Bible. It is both a place and a condition. Let me explain. Hell is a torturous place to be. It is where the souls of non-Christians go after their physical bodies die (Psalm 9:17). And 320

the imagery of it being a fiery place is unfortunately true (Isaiah 66:24; Matthew 18:8–9; Jude 7). Somehow it is also a place of darkness (Matthew 8:12; Jude 13).

Whether or not you want to treat these images of fire and darkness as metaphorical, what you need to realize is that hell is such a horrible place because it is also a condition: separation from the presence of God. Outside of His presence, there is irreversible hopelessness, weeping, gnashing of teeth, and torment.

One day, Hades will give up its dead after Jesus returns and all physical bodies are resurrected and reunited with their souls. Then there is a final judgment for everyone (Daniel 12:1–2; Revelation 20:11–15). If your name is not written in the Book of Life, then this is really bad news. And it’s permanent bad news (John 3:36).

Jesus defeated death. He is the Living One who loves you and wants you to live for eternity with Him. If you choose not to believe in Him, you won’t have the excuse of ignorance when you stand before God one day. Please choose today.

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The Ruler of the Kingdom of the Air How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

Isaiah 14:12 We can’t look at hell without looking at another negative reality.

There is something—or rather someone—we also have to study. He goes by many names: the ancient serpent, great dragon, morning star, Lucifer, father of lies, evil one, lawless one, the devil, and, most notably, Satan.

Satan and his fallen angels also operate in the heavens, just as angels do, though primarily outside the third heaven. At some point in the unknown past, Satan was cast from the highest heaven by God (Isaiah 14:12; Luke 10:18). Prior to that, he was “anointed as a guardian cherub” (Ezekiel 28:14).

We know from Revelation 12 that sometime in the distant past, war broke out in heaven. Satan and his angels rebelled and fought against the archangel Michael and his angels and lost. One-third of the angels fell with him and were cast out (verse 4).

Is Satan allowed in the highest heaven even though he was cast out? Interestingly, from the story of a man named Job, we see that Satan was allowed to come before God’s throne in the highest heaven (Job 1:6). In short, Satan was given the opportunity to make Job’s life a living hell to prove that Job’s faith in God would fail. Satan didn’t succeed (verse 22).

One of the most famous verses in the Bible about the power of Satan is Ephesians 6:12. It paints a rather sobering picture of the unseen spiritual battle taking place around us. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

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All is not rosy in the heavens—not by a long shot. Satan and his fallen angels, otherwise known as demons, are everywhere in this realm. Stories of demonic spirits and their evil influence can be found throughout the New Testament and flourish today, especially in areas where the message about Jesus is just being shared or where there is great resistance to it.

Earlier in the book of Ephesians, Paul shares more about this troubling spirit-world around us. He calls Satan “the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (2:2).

So what do we do about this troubling reality? We are to put on the symbolic “full armor of God,” which includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet ready for battle, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit (the Bible), and shield of faith. The latter is used to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:13–17). The fight is on, ladies and gentlemen. We must be on our guard and envelop our lives with God’s Word and with prayer.

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Dead Bodies We eagerly await a Savior from [heaven], the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3:20–21 As we all get older, the problems our bodies have with operating normally seem to only grow. Some problems know no age, like cancer or a bad back, but eventually time catches up with us all and our bodies give out to the point of death. This does not happen randomly. God knew us before we were born and how many days we’d live before our physical death (Psalm 139:16). This is truly amazing to ponder.

What happens to believers after we die? We’ve learned that even though our physical body is dead, our soul is with Jesus. Remember what He said to the thief on the cross beside Him? “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Paul tells us that “to be away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

No more suffering or pain; instead, we will be in the presence of His glory forever in utter perfection and harmony.

This is still hard for us to grasp, to wrap our finite minds around the infinite, to understand that which we can’t see or have adequately described to us. It’s also hard for us to comprehend what it will feel like to be temporarily separated from our bodies. The Bible is full of verses, however, that tell us of the day when we will receive our resurrected bodies. It’s a future event called the Second Coming of Christ (Jesus) when our physical bodies will be raised.

Biblical evidence seems to suggest it will be our same bodies, but their perfected versions. After all, Jesus was completely recognizable after His resurrection. It was His body because He still bore the scars of His torture and crucifixion.

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Consider these verses about the resurrection of believers: •

“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable . . . For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:42, 52; read this whole passage).

•

“He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

•

“We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

Simply put, our dead bodies (no matter the condition) will be raised and rejoined with our souls. But in the meantime “we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2). I believe wholeheartedly that if we had a better understanding of heaven and of being in the presence of our Savior for eternity, we would be much less attached to this world and much busier serving Him.

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Heaven and Earth 2.0 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

Revelation 21:1 Ever since the big mistake by Adam and Eve, this has been a fallen world. Sin has reigned and the earth has deteriorated. As a result, “the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:22). Likewise, we believers “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies” (verse 23).

There is a time of great distress coming, such that the world has never seen. Things are going to be so bad that the Lord is going to recreate the heavens and the earth afterwards. Can you imagine such a scenario?

This moment when Jesus returns as Conqueror is mentioned in multiple places in the Bible as the “Day of the Lord” (Joel 2:1–2; Amos 5:18–27; Zephaniah 1; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; 2 Peter 3; etc.). It is a bad day for earth—and also for the first and second heavens, as it relates to our study. “All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll” (Isaiah 34:4).

You might be wondering when this will happen. Well, the reality is that man has been trying to figure that out ever since Jesus left the first time. The Bible tells us the answer is impossible to know.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13). “The day of the Lord will come like a thief” (2 Peter 3:10).

With all the misery and pain in this world, why hasn’t the Lord returned before now? Enough already! The reality is, He wants everyone to have as much time as possible to turn to Him. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

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When the fullness of time had come for the laws spelled out in the Old Testament to be fulfilled through Jesus, He made His first appearance (Galatians 4:4–5). Likewise, there is a future day when Jesus will return. When this will happen, we don’t know. However, Matthew 24:14 tells us what has to be accomplished first: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” There has to be a witness for Christ among every people group on earth before He comes back.

When God the Father finally dispatches His Son to return, He will come with brute force. “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare [or burned up]” (2 Peter 3:10). In its place will be “a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (verse 13). It will be a day to remember.

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Heaven on Earth [An angel] carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. Revelation 21:10 John was the only one of Jesus’ twelve disciples to live into old age.

Most or all of the rest are believed to have died as martyrs. While John was exiled on Patmos for his faith, God gave him visions of the future and of Jesus coming a second time to establish His kingdom forever. This would be a time of great shaking, something the world had never seen. These visions became known as the Revelation to John, or the book of Revelation.

As you can imagine, John uses a lot of imagery to describe what he is seeing, so it is hard for us to really know what he saw in some cases. Some of it can be downright confusing, and scholars smarter than you and I can’t agree on some of the meaning.

Let’s look at what John saw in Revelation 21:9–27 after he was shown a new heaven and a new earth. It is called the New Jerusalem, and the description is quite breathtaking.

This city, in John’s day and the present, is primarily tied to the Jewish people. Thus, the description relates to them in particular.

For example, this “Holy City” has twelve gates, three on each side, and on each gate is the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The city walls also have twelve foundations, which have the names of the twelve disciples on it. Get the point? However, it will literally be a heaven on earth for all believers. We are told to look forward to it (Hebrews 13:14).

Now let’s read the amazing description. Perhaps most extraordinary to us is the fact that this city is a perfect cube; it is three-dimensional! It measures an incredible 1,400 miles long, wide, and high, with 200-foot walls. This city “shone with the glory of God, and its 328

brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” (verse 11).

The wall foundations are a “who’s who” of precious and semi-precious stones: jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, ruby, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, turquoise, jacinth, and amethyst (the true identification of all these stones is not certain). The gates are made of a single pearl and the streets of gold are “as pure as transparent glass” (verse 21).

In ages past, the Jewish people worshiped God in a mobile tabernacle, and later in a temple in Jerusalem. The last temple was destroyed about forty years after Jesus went up, or ascended, to heaven. In this New Jerusalem, there won’t be a temple or a need for one.

Why not? Both God the Father and Jesus will dwell in this city. Can you imagine? It will be a place of perfection for all eternity. Just as God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, paradise will be recreated and intimate fellowship with Him will be restored.

This is truly heaven on earth.

Sounds like a place everyone should want to live, yes? However, “only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” will be there (verse 27). The only way to get your name in this book is to believe in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

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The Requirement 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 Throughout this month-long journey, we have begun answering some questions and even doubts we may have about heaven. For believers, one of my main purposes in writing this is to get you excited about heaven and to encourage you to tell others who don’t yet believe.

For those of you who are not Christians, I want to inform you of what the Bible says about heaven and to convince you of its existence. There is a final piece of information you need about heaven, and that is how to get there. It’s really a rather simple, yet profound, step that is necessary for entry. I’ve touched on it here and there throughout our journey.

Despite what you may hear from friends, family, other religions, or the media, there is only one way to heaven. It’s not a place for all good people. You can’t get there by being nice or doing enough good things. In fact, there is nothing you can do to earn your place there.

Heaven is more than a place, it is a Person. What makes heaven so wonderful is the fact that it is about a Who, not a where. We are in the presence of God for the rest of eternity. He is our Creator, our Healer, our Provider, our Redeemer (He rescued us), our Everything.

The problem is, our sin separates us from Him. The consequences of sin, from the smallest to the greatest mess-ups, is death (Romans 6:23). Sin creates an immovable gap, a chasm no man can cross. So God the Father sent His Son to die for our sins on a Roman cross. He then raised Jesus from the dead, so that we could defeat death.

The only way to get to heaven after death is to believe this to be 330

truth. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He is the only way to heaven. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The Bible paints a clear picture of what you must do: “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).

It’s more than reciting a simple prayer. Believe it in your heart so that it overflows out of your mouth. Jesus is Lord! He loves you and gave Himself for you.

To the Christian and non-Christian alike, let me end with this.

We don’t have the answers to all of life’s questions, including those about heaven. Even if we were told the answers, we probably couldn’t comprehend it all.

What we can have is trust, a trust that can see us through every hardship, even to the moment of physical death. This is a trust in Someone who loves us more than we could ever love Him. Please put your trust in Him today.

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Heaven Is for Losers Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Matthew 16:24–25 If you read the verse above, then you already get the title for today.

Once we become Christians, we give up our lives and selfish pursuits and live to serve God. In his book Mere Christianity, former atheist C.S. Lewis wrote: “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”

And that is a message I want to leave you with in this study on heaven. Until we are called to our future home, we need to do the most we can for the Lord while we are in this temporary place.

God put us here to do good works for Him. We are not saved by these works, as some legalistic Christians claim, but we are saved for these good works (Ephesians 2:8–10). Works are just the fruit of the salvation that has rooted itself in our souls; they are the natural overflow of God living within us through the Holy Spirit.

Peter reminds us that one day this world will pass away. Knowing this truth, we are called to live differently than our natural and sinful inclinations. “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” (2 Peter 3:10–11). This is our charge.

As a result of giving our lives to God and living for Him on a daily basis, we will not be focused on gaining earthly possessions that eventually decay and turn to dust. Instead, we will focus on acts of service that store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19–21).

So, what should we be doing? What will create treasures in heaven? Spiritually speaking, every believer has been charged with sharing Jesus to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8).

Practically speaking, look no further than Matthew 25:35–36 for a 332

list of ways to help others in need: feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, help the homeless, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoner.

One day, we will all be judged for our actions, believer and nonbeliever alike. The Lord will be sitting in what is called the judgment seat (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10). People will stand before God and list all the “good works” they did. However, none of our actions will ever be good enough for entry into heaven, as the Bible clearly states.

If our names are written in the Book of Life, though, our heavenly destination is secure (Revelation 20:11–15). Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross wiped our slate clean in the eyes of God, and we have been set free from an eternity without Him (Ephesians 1:13–14). So let’s be about the Father’s business while there is still time! We will close tomorrow with even more motivation.

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Reward Motivation For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

Matthew 16:27 Let me close this study by elaborating further on our reward in heaven. We were reminded yesterday that we are not saved by our works, but are expected to do good works. It is a natural overflow of loving and serving Jesus.

There are many verses in the Bible that seek to motivate us toward good works that increase our reward in heaven. Maybe this surprises you. Perhaps you think this is wrong and that you should feel guilty for wanting and seeking reward in heaven, but this is a good and proper motivation (Hebrews 11:26).

The Bible warns of the pitfalls of wealth in this life. It is not that wealth is bad, but we shouldn’t put our hope and fulfillment in it.

Rather, we should “be rich in good deeds” (1 Timothy 6:17–19). As a result, anyone who builds this kind of wealth “will lay up treasures for themselves” in heaven (verse 19). See the cause and effect?

Think about this story in Matthew 25:14–30. Three servants are expected to be fruitful with the resources they are given to steward by their master. What is the result of being fruitful? “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (verse 21). It’s right there in black and white. Working hard for God equals treasures and reward in heaven, which in this case means more to steward for Him. There are some specific actions that result in reward in heaven: •

Working for the Lord (Matthew 16:27; 1 Corinthians 3:8, 14; 2 John 8) 334

• • • • •

Leaving home and family behind to tell others about Jesus (Mark 10:29–30) Being insulted and persecuted because of Jesus (Matthew 5:11–12) Selling possessions and giving to those in need (Luke 12:33–34) Loving your enemies (Luke 6:35) Caring for the poor and the sick (Luke 14:13–14)

Jesus will one day return. He will “give to each person according to what they have done” (Revelation 22:12; also 2 John 8). We will stand before God as He judges every human who has ever lived. If our names are in the Book of Life, we are saved for eternity. This is our greatest reward. We will also “give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10) and be rewarded accordingly, whatever form it may take (1 Corinthians 3:12–15).

May we long to love and honor God all the days of our life, to serve Him by serving others. Then, we can say as Paul did near the end of his life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8).

As we look toward heaven—and more specifically, God in heaven—let’s strive to finish this race well.

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Are You Right about God? Joseph L. Williams with Matthew Byrd

Table of Contents Preface...........................................................................................339 Introduction...................................................................................341 LAYING THE GROUNDWORK First, Some Self-Examination................................................. 343 An Overview of Major World Religions................................. 345 Others Related to Christianity................................................. 347 The Journey from Genesis to Revelation................................ 349 How the Bible Came to Be..................................................... 351 Authenticating the Bible......................................................... 353 The Most Pivotal Issue............................................................ 355 SCIENCE WEEK In the Beginning...................................................................... 357 Truths of Creation................................................................... 359 It’s Only Natural(ism)............................................................. 361 The Ultimate Cause................................................................. 363 Cosmic Fine-Tuning............................................................... 365 The Origin of Life................................................................... 367 The Complexity of the Mind................................................... 369 STUMBLING BLOCKS Christian Hypocrisy................................................................ 371 Hot-Button Issues................................................................... 373 Old Testament versus New Testament.................................... 375 God of Wrath, God of Love.................................................... 377 Contradictions in the Bible..................................................... 379 My Life, My Way.................................................................... 381 Mad at God............................................................................. 383

TOUGH QUESTIONS Is It Logical to Believe in God?.............................................. 385 Who Is Jesus?.......................................................................... 387 How Do You Explain the Trinity?.......................................... 389 Are There Many Paths to Heaven?......................................... 391 Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?...................... 393 Where Do Children Go When They Die?............................... 395 What about Those Who Have Never Heard?.......................... 397 Conclusion....................................................................................399

Preface The topic of God can be intimidating. Does God really exist, and if He does, can this be proven outside of the Bible? Is Christianity really the only path to God, or one of many? At one point or another, most people have these questions and many more.

The reality is that every topic covered in this 30-day journey has been dealt with extensively by theologians and skeptics alike. They have produced an enormous amount of research in various forms of media to try to either prove or disprove even the smallest of points.

As always, you should never take anyone else’s convictions as your own. Study for yourself and take responsibility for your own beliefs and convictions.

This study is written both to Christians struggling to some degree with their faith and to non-Christians. It is a formidable task to have two different target audiences, but it is worth the challenge to try to address both. And with the limited space provided, you will have to extend some grace to us. Dr. Matthew Byrd and I are painting with a broad brush.

If you are not a Christian, we will often refer to you as a “non-Christian” or “nonbeliever” in the pages that follow. These are not derogatory terms in the least, but merely serve to distinguish between the two audiences throughout this study. You should not feel like you are being disrespected, shamed, or metaphorically beaten over the head with a Bible. No matter what you believe, our hope is that you will at least learn something new every day.

You may notice that certain words referring to God are capitalized. This practice is also followed in some English translations of the Bible. It is done out of respect and as a way to clearly identify who we’re talking about.

To help with this journey, the content is divided into four sections. The first is called Laying the Groundwork and looks at areas 340

like world religions, the overall message of the Bible, and whether the Bible is credible. The second section is Science Week, where Dr. Byrd looks at topics such as creation, the universe, and science in general.

No tough topic or question should be too hard to tackle, so the third and fourth sections are called Stumbling Blocks and Tough Questions. While we can’t address every one of the issues people have, we have selected several of the most notable objections or questions. May this journey help you on your spiritual path.

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Introduction In a country where skepticism and pessimism seem to be on the rise, it is no surprise that these thoughts and feelings have negatively affected Christianity. The number of people who don’t believe in the existence of God is also on the rise in America. Further, most Christians seemingly don’t have the knowledge or confidence to stand up for their belief in God in the public eye.

As a Christian myself, I spent most of my life believing that sharing or defending one’s faith meant being able to quote the most appropriate Bible verse at the proper moment. For certain, Christians should know the Bible enough in their minds and hearts for such a practice.

However, it is my humble belief that knowing a fair amount of additional information is extraordinarily helpful. We need to be prepared to reason with seekers and skeptics on intellectual and commonsense grounds as well. Jesus even demonstrated this practice through continually sharing practical stories called parables.

There are some Christians who believe that quoting the Bible is all that is needed to sway the nonbeliever. Actually, all that is needed is God. He just allows us to help get His story out. My point is this: what weight, if any, does the Bible have if the person you are talking to doesn’t believe in God? At appropriate moments, sharing should include what the Bible says, but reason and evidence should be included as well. This study will seek to offer both of these elements.

Proving that God is real and the Bible is true is a daunting task, and this particular 30-day journey you’ve just started will by no means be exhaustive. There are plenty of wonderful and well-rounded pieces of work readily available. I am convicted to share about specific areas in the pages that follow.

I’ll get some expert assistance from Dr. Matthew Byrd, a colleague and good friend who has a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology.

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Together, we hope to make a compelling case for belief in Jesus Christ not only through quoting the Bible, but also through observation, evidence, and reason.

To the Christian: The Bible says that a doubting follower of Christ is like a boat constantly tossed around by waves. If you’re being honest with yourself, though, at some point and to some degree, you’ve had doubts about your faith. Perhaps you’ve also felt unprepared to give an answer to a seeker or skeptic. I hope you will find the content that lies ahead to be incredibly beneficial.

To the Seeker or Skeptic: One of the main things that defines us as decent and fair-minded humans is the ability to study opposing viewpoints and entertain respectful dialogue. I challenge you to read these pages to better understand why Christians believe what they do. In the process, you might consider the possibility that it may take more faith not to believe in God. Let’s sit down now and reason together. While we can’t have a literal discussion, I encourage you to read these pages and weigh what is being shared with an open heart and mind.

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LAYING THE GROUNDWORK First, Some Self-Examination If you are skeptical or cynical about Christianity and the Bible, or even have doubts about your faith, do you know why? It is important to know why you experience negative thoughts, beliefs, and emotions when you hear about God or Jesus. Perhaps a Christian has shamed and condemned you for a choice you’ve made. Maybe the stark hypocrisy of Christians you know (which we’ll look at another day) has jaded your view of Jesus. Maybe you had legalistic parents who made Christianity a religion instead of a relationship, a list of rules you were never able to successfully measure up to.

You see, it’s not only important that you know logically and intellectually why you disagree with some or all of Christianity, but also that you be able to honestly examine your heart as to why you are shutting out the claims that Jesus made about Himself.

As we get started, here are some important facts for Christians and non-Christians alike to remember about the reality of truth: • • •

Just because you don’t understand something doesn’t change the truth.

Just because your feelings have changed about something doesn’t change the truth.

Just because you don’t logically agree with something doesn’t change the truth.

For example, let’s say you’re a Christian and you’re married, but believe you have fallen in love with someone else. You believe that because it is “love,” this must make the relationship right. However, the Bible is clear that adultery is wrong, no matter how confused 344

you are that it is happening, no matter what your emotions are, and no matter how you rationalize going forward with your non-spouse.

Adultery is adultery and the Bible says it falls short of God’s target for those who follow Him. Christians (should) believe that the Bible is absolute truth. Well, maybe you’re someone who doesn’t believe there is such a thing as absolute truth. If you are, I’m sorry to inform you, your position is hypocritical. You are claiming an absolute truth by claiming there is no absolute truth!

Whether you are a Christian who has lingering doubts or a non-Christian who has large ones, these doubts don’t change the truth. Doubts are not the ace of spades; they are the joker, meant to distract and deceive you for life.

There is a story in the Bible about a father whose son was dealing with a tremendous challenge and the dad wanted Jesus to heal him. The father told Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). This father is like a lot of us if we are being honest with ourselves. We want to believe in God or we actually do believe in Him, but we are human and flawed. Our faith is weak and we waver.

Now would be a good time for self-examination. Ask yourself honestly what keeps you from believing. So many people have pain at the source. You’ll never be able to move on and truly consider God until you work to resolve this dark place. Maybe you’re too content, feeling like you’re in charge of your life, or there is a choice you’re making that is in direct conflict with what God says in the Bible. Try to identify the “whys” of your skepticism now—even if you feel justified in your view of Christianity.

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An Overview of Major World Religions Perhaps we can all agree on the following statement: individuals have done all manner of evil while identifying as a follower of a particular religion. Larger bodies of religious adherents, be they local, national, or international, have also done horrible things in the name of their god. Civilizations have risen and fallen as a result of these actions.

The assumption that many atheists and agnostics then make (I believe rightfully so) is that all religions are flawed. Therefore, it might be helpful to step back from this painful reality and gain a fresh understanding of the main beliefs of some major religions today. We are calling Christianity a “religion” for the sake of simplicity—stay tuned for a better definition. It must also be stated that there are many branches, offshoots, and sects among these religions; we are just painting with a broad brush to make two points at the end: Islam: Allah is God and Muhammad is his messenger; followers prove their devotion through a disciplined life involving adherence to the Quran and five religious duties (Five Pillars), resulting in paradise after death.

Hinduism: There are hundreds of millions of gods and goddesses (polytheism); reincarnation is based on how one lived in their previous life (based on good or bad works, or karma). The goal is to break free of this cycle altogether.

Buddhism: Both a religion and a philosophy, it follows the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha, or Enlightened One), seeking to break free from the cycle of life and death based on living a disciplined life. The goal is to reach a state without desire, called nirvana.

Judaism: There is one God, and believers are in a covenant relationship with Him through a man named Abraham. Adherents follow the many laws contained in the Pentateuch 346

(the first five books of the Old Testament) and await the Messiah to restore them to their rightful place in the world.

Christianity: There is one God (same as Judaism) in three Persons, existing as a Trinity. Believers are in a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus, whom He sent to die for sins. Belief in Jesus, not good works and a disciplined life, is how eternity with God is attainable; followers are also given the Holy Spirit to guide their life.

Atheism: Founded on a lack of belief in the existence of any deity, adherents believe that religion is made up by man to guide ethics and values, and there is no afterlife. Agnostics take a less firm stand and believe there is no way to know for sure whether God exists; atheists and agnostics are often humanists (man uses reason to make the world a moral place) or nihilists (life has no meaning).

So here are the two main points for today about Christianity in particular. First, Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is in spite of the fact that, through the centuries, man has interjected himself in many ways to turn Christianity into a religion. Second, here is perhaps the simplest explanation of how the Christian life is supposed to be: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8–10).

In other words, Christians believe they are saved by faith in Jesus, not by a lifetime of “good” works. Doing good works is a natural overflow or result of following the teachings of Jesus. This is the exact opposite of the world’s major religions. And in contrast to atheism and agnosticism, Christians believe God is the moral compass; man is not capable of fulfilling this role.

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Others Related to Christianity It’s important to look not only at a broad comparison between Christianity and other religions, but also at Christianity and other similar “movements.” I’m referring specifically to Catholicism and three religious sects birthed in the nineteenth century: Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Seventh-day Adventism. There are some differences worth noting for your own knowledge.

Let me be clear that Christians believe only God knows a person’s heart and whether they truly believe in the salvation Jesus offers through the cross. For example, if a Catholic believes this, they are a Christian according to the biblical definition of a believer (Romans 10:9).

Below are some notable differences between these belief systems and what would be called the true Christianity established by Jesus and shared by the early believers. These descriptions are nowhere near exhaustive, but an attempt once again to paint a broad picture: Catholicism: Catholics believe that salvation is a process requiring good works in addition to faith, instead of faith alone as the Bible teaches. They approach God through Mary and the “saints” of the past, whereas Christians do so directly.

They also believe that the 14 books collectively called the Apocrypha should be considered Scripture, in addition to the 66 books accepted by Protestants (those who originally broke from the Catholic Church in the sixteenth century). The teachings of the Catholic Church, its traditions, and the Pope are considered to have authority equal to that of the Bible.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism): Mormons incorporate the teachings and beliefs of Joseph Smith, a nineteenth-century man who claimed to have had 348

visions from God. They believe that God was originally a man who eventually became God, that Jesus and Satan are brothers, and that human beings can become gods. The Book of Mormon is the only infallible book; in other words, it is the ultimate authority instead of the Bible. Likewise, the Mormon Church has been the only true “church” since the time of the disciples. Mormons believe in three heavenly kingdoms where most of humankind will go based on their degree of faithfulness, but only true Mormons make it to the highest level of heaven.

Jehovah’s Witnesses: Started by a man named Charles Taze Russell and his successor, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is neither deity nor equal to God, but is instead God’s creation. Therefore, they deny the Trinity, just as Mormons do (we will look at the Trinity another day). They have their own translation of the Bible called the New World Translation, and do not celebrate Easter or Christmas because Jesus’ birth and resurrection are not considered crucial, only His death. They believe the kingdom of God was established in heaven in the year 1914, and don’t believe in the existence of hell.

Seventh-day Adventism: This movement was started by a man named William Miller, who predicted that Jesus would return in either 1843 or 1844. His successor, Ellen G. White, claimed to have had over 2,000 visions and dreams. Adherents believe worship should take place on the true “Sabbath,” or seventh day (Saturday); that Jesus entered into a second part of heaven in 1844 and began a second phase of work; and that people don’t go to heaven or hell when they die, but remain unconscious until Jesus returns. Groups within the movement hold more extreme views, such as claiming Jesus and the archangel Michael are the same person.

Now that we have this broad overview of other religions and movements similar to Christianity, perhaps it’s best to look next at the overarching message of the Bible.

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The Journey from Genesis to Revelation What might be helpful now is to take a wide-angle look at the story the Bible shares from Genesis to Revelation. It is reasonable for the seeker and skeptic alike to know the full story of what they’re interested in or turned off by, don’t you think?

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is the first verse of the Bible, and it describes a moment in time long past (this will be examined in more detail in Science Week). Then several thousand years ago, God created a man and woman, Adam and Eve. They lived in a paradise on earth called the Garden of Eden in perfect relationship with God and with each other. However, sin entered their hearts and minds and they made a huge mistake. As a result, they were kicked out of the garden, and both they and everyone since has lost true and perfect fellowship with God. Many years passed, and man became wicked—so much so that God sent a flood as judgment (the famous “Noah’s Ark” story). Yet more time passed and man chose the wrong path again. God judged them by changing their language and scattering them throughout the earth.

Later, through a Hebrew man named Abraham, God made a covenant and promised to bless the whole world. Abraham had a son, Isaac, who had a son, Jacob (these three are collectively known as the “patriarchs”). Due to a horrible famine, Jacob’s family, now known as the Israelites, settled in ancient Egypt and lived there over 400 years until a man named Moses led them out of slavery. However, they wandered in the desert for 40 years because of the people’s sins (notice this recurring problem?). During this time, God made another covenant and gave Moses many laws for the people to follow, foremost being the Ten Commandments, to guide them in their daily living and their worship.

Relationship with God was maintained by obeying the laws and observing special festivals. God also established that without the 350

sacrifice of innocent blood, the people’s sins couldn’t be forgiven. So a spotless animal, usually a lamb, was chosen to be sacrificed. Keep in mind we are talking about a nomadic people in a more primitive era.

For many years, Israelites worshiped God in the tabernacle, a tent that was mobile, just as these nomadic people were. They eventually settled in what was called the Promised Land where they later became a nation ruled by monarchy under God. The tabernacle also became a permanent fixture called the temple. Once again, the Israelites had a hard time worshiping and obeying God. The nation eventually split into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah. Ultimately, both kingdoms fell and the Jewish people would be in and out of captivity, scattered, and without their own nation until AD 1948.

There is a gap of more than 400 years between the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, and the first book of the New Testament, Matthew. Hundreds of prophecies in multiple Old Testament books foretold of a Messiah who would come to establish the kingdom of Israel forever, but who would also suffer and die. Most Jews then and now do not believe that Jesus is this predicted Messiah.

The New Testament claims otherwise.

The first four books of the New Testament, called the Gospels, tell of the life of Jesus and declare He fulfilled every prophecy concerning Him. He was truly God and truly man. After three and a half years of public ministry, Jesus died and was raised from the dead

by God. He became the ultimate and final innocent blood sacrifice to cover man’s sins. After Jesus went back to heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to guide the daily life of the believer. Salvation was now available to all.

The rest of the New Testament records how Christianity initially spread and the various problems and growth pains that arose. It also shares many instructions on how to live by faith and to serve God by serving others. Nearly 2,000 years have passed since Jesus left, and Christians look forward to His Second Coming when He will establish His kingdom on earth forever, reestablishing paradise on earth.

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How the Bible Came to Be Most Christians accept it at face value that the Bible is the Word of God, authentic and accurate. We point to Bible verses like 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is God-breathed . . . ,” and Isaiah 40:8, “the word of our God endures forever,” that provide assurance for the believer. Let’s put this to the side for a minute and cover some general facts about the Bible for everyone’s knowledge, regardless of what you believe.

The word Bible is from the Latin biblia, which comes from Greek and means “the books.” There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New, all written between 1500 BC and AD 100.

In total, there are around 40 authors, 35 of whom we know by name.

The books in the Old Testament can be grouped into four categories: Law, History, Prophecy, and Wisdom. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New in Koine Greek (the form of Greek used during the Roman Empire), with a little bit of Aramaic in both.

The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, was written just over 400 years before Jesus was born.

By 200 BC, the Old Testament was translated into Greek, the language of the day thanks to Alexander the Great’s successful conquests. This translation is called the Septuagint, and is the “Bible” that Jesus, His disciples, and Paul primarily (but not exclusively) used and quoted from. It is often abbreviated LXX (“seventy” in Roman numerals) to indicate the supposed number of translators involved in the process.

Let’s look at the New Testament. Most scholars agree that it was written between AD 35 and 95. In other words, the authors of the 27 books wrote them within 60 years of Jesus’ ministry. There were nine authors, and around half of the books were written by a man named Paul. Three authors were among the twelve disciples and one, James, was the half-brother of Jesus. It was written by baptized 352

Jews who were firsthand witnesses or by those who knew them. The New Testament books can also be divided into four categories: the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), History (Acts), Epistles or Letters (21 books), and Prophecy (Revelation).

For the next few centuries, Christians began meeting together and reading these books in various combinations. It became necessary to agree on what was “Scripture” and what was not. The main criteria were whether the books had been written by a close associate of Jesus, had been treated as Scripture by most churches, and whether the content agreed with the content from eyewitnesses. This process took time.

It is worth mentioning again another set of ancient writings known as the Apocrypha. The Catholic Church recognizes these books as Scripture, but the early Church and Protestants today treat them only as informative. They are not considered to be “inspired by God” because they don’t meet the criteria just mentioned.

The earliest known list containing most of the New Testament books is called the Muratorian Fragment and dates to around AD 170. The earliest known record of all the books of the New Testament is in a letter written by Athanasius, the bishop of Alexandria, in AD 367. The New Testament of today was finalized and officially recognized over a series of gatherings of Christian leaders (known as Church councils) leading up to the fourth century. The two oldest, most well-known, and most complete copies of the Bible, the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, date back to around this time.

Also around this time, a scholar named Jerome translated the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate, or “common,” version). This helped spread the Bible throughout the Roman Empire. And the rest, as they say, is history.

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Authenticating the Bible Now that you have a basic overview of how the Bible came to be, you might be asking the next question: Is it reliable? After all, there are no known original texts for any part of the Bible. If they did still exist, just as with items like the so-called Holy Grail, the Ten Commandments, or the Ark of the Covenant, then men would revere and worship them, which to the Christian would be idolatry.

Over the centuries, ancient fragments and manuscripts of various parts of the Bible have been found. Perhaps the most famous discovery was the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran starting in 1947.

They contained parts of nearly all the books of the Old Testament and date back as far as 250 BC. In addition, well over 5,000 Greek fragments and manuscripts with at least a portion of the New Testament have been discovered so far. The earliest date to within 25–50 years of when the original content was produced. Many thousands have also been found in other languages. It has been estimated that up to 99.5% of all ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament agree with each other, and where they don’t agree doesn’t create major doctrinal issues.

It is worth noting the undeniable fact that the Bible is the most circulated book in history. It has endured tremendous scrutiny over centuries and has impacted more lives than any other “religion.”

Over six billion copies of the Bible have been printed. Even though this number does not prove the authenticity of the Bible, it is nevertheless impressive and certainly lends credibility to its relevance in the lives of people from all cultures and throughout every century.

It is also important to realize the painstaking process that Jewish scribes used to make copies of the Scriptures. They had very strict guidelines for the proper type of parchment, quill, and ink. They did nothing from memory but said each word aloud as they wrote it.

Their penmanship had to be consistent, every letter and word count 354

on each page had to be a complete match, and an editor also reviewed their work.

Although human error in transcribing the text is inevitable, there are so many early copies of every book in its original language (as well as other languages) that they can be placed side-by-side, and the original content becomes quite clear. Further, there are no contradictions in what would be called Christian doctrine, as already mentioned.

Let’s compare the Bible to another ancient book represented in archaeology. Homer’s epic poem about the Trojan War, The Iliad, has over 1,800 known copies as of this writing, the earliest of which were produced several hundred years after the original. The number of copies of most other ancient works from the likes of Plato or Aristotle pale in comparison. This is not to question the accuracy of these ancient writings, but to amplify the breadth and depth of evidence for the accuracy of the Old and New Testament.

So, you have a choice. You can choose to believe or disbelieve the Bible’s claim to be the Word of God. The point for today is that you should also give serious consideration to the substantial evidence found through archaeological discovery, through the Bible’s circulation, and in the unparalleled diversity of its followers over the centuries.

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The Most Pivotal Issue As previously mentioned, thousands of independent copies of the Bible have been discovered. Further, archaeology only continues to validate the people and places mentioned in the Bible, not disprove their existence. So if you believe the Bible to be a historically accurate document, then it must also be taken seriously as a record of the claims of eyewitnesses who saw Jesus alive after His death (2 Peter 1:16). This is the most pivotal issue. Most of these New Testament accounts were written within a generation after they happened. The number of eyewitnesses grew in the 40 days that Jesus was seen before He ascended to heaven and included: • • • • • •

the women at the tomb (Matthew 28:8–10; Mark 16:9–11; John 20:11–18) 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12–13; Luke 24:13–35) 11 disciples and others (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36–49; John 20:19–31) 7 disciples fishing (John 21:1–25) 11 disciples before His ascension (Matthew 28:16–20; Acts 1:3–9) 500 believers (1 Corinthians 15:6)

It is worth mentioning that this last verse is part of a creed quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3–7. While 1 Corinthians was written about 20 years after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, most biblical scholars and Church historians agree that this portion originated within just a few years after Jesus (sometime in the AD 30s).

Here are three of the verses: 356

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: [creed begins] Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures [Old Testament], that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas [Peter], and then to the Twelve. . . .

Why is the dating of this important? It backs up the claim of Jesus’ disciples that His resurrection was true from the get-go. They repeatedly saw Him with their own eyes in the days following His death, and many later believed the testimonies of the numerous eyewitnesses.

This passage also dispels the belief that Jesus’ life attained mythical status over a long period of time. Further, the Old Testament prophecies alluded to in 1 Corinthians 15, such as Psalm 16:10 and Isaiah 53, coupled with many eyewitness accounts, would have carried tremendous weight in the ancient world, as it should now.

Whether you believe in Jesus’ resurrection or not, perhaps you can at least appreciate the results. His life and message were so compelling that His disciples and generations of believers since have been willing to sacrifice their very wills and lives to tell others about Him. Sure, there are examples of people in groups, sects, and cults who are willing to die for their beliefs. You might argue that, on a larger scale, Muslims are the same way with their faith. Here’s a primary difference to consider: Jesus’ message was one of love. It is not to be spread through conquest and violence—although some misguided people through the centuries have tried to do so in the name of Jesus.

However, they did not receive this direction from the Bible.

God is sovereign, which means He is supreme or all-powerful.

People are also called to believe by faith in Jesus. It might appear that these two realities contradict each other. While God is in full control and knows the past, present, and future, it seems we also have the choice whether to believe in Him. It can be challenging to understand how the supernatural gift of salvation works. The point for today is that Christianity is built around Jesus’ resurrection. It is the most pivotal issue to consider.

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SCIENCE WEEK In the Beginning Genesis 1:1 is probably the best known verse in the Old Testament.

It makes a seemingly simple statement: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Yet these few words, along with the chapters that follow, have been a source of debate and speculation over just how and when God did this creating. Did it take place stepwise over the course of six 24-hour days? Did it unfold slowly over a long period of time? Is Genesis even talking about time?

Today, we will look briefly at four views of creation held by Christians. My goal is not to argue for one view over another. This is because Christians throughout the ages have been unable to agree on the issue. And, importantly, which view you adopt does not change the reality of human sinfulness and the need for redemption through Jesus Christ. Keep in mind that it is more important to recognize that God created than to know precisely how God created.

Creation in six 24-hour days: Sometimes called Young Earth Creationism, this view proposes that God created space, time, and a habitable Earth—complete with fully formed humans—within six normal, 24-hour days approximately 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Proponents of this view argue that it follows a literal, plain-language reading of Genesis, interpreting the Hebrew word for day, yom, as a 24-hour day.

They also argue that this understanding of Genesis best fits an initially perfect world unstained by sin and death.

Creation over a long period of time: Known as Progressive Creationism, the most popular version of this position sees the six days of Genesis 1 as corresponding to six consecutive, potentially overlapping “ages” in which God 358

continually created. It is based largely on an understanding of yom (Hebrew “day”) as a long but finite period of time, up to millions of years. Like Young Earth Creationism, Progressive Creationism denies evolution as the means of generating new species. Supporters claim that this viewpoint agrees with accepted scientific measurements of Earth’s age, while maintaining the biblical sequence of creation events.

Evolutionary creation: Often known as Theistic Evolution, this view does not correlate days of creation with distinct periods of time, but claims that God created life continuously over billions of years through biological evolution. While there is much diversity within this position, supporters generally accept that all species descended from a common ancestor, yet only humans are made in the image of God. They believe this viewpoint best fits the scientific evidence and that Genesis should be interpreted nonliterally.

Framework interpretation: This view, sometimes known as the Literary Framework Interpretation, presents creation week as a figurative representation of God’s creative activity. Days 1–3 prepare creation for its inhabitants, while days 4–6 populate creation with its inhabitants. Day 1 (light) corresponds to day 4 (sun, moon, and stars), day 2 (sea and sky) to day 5 (sea creatures and birds), and so on. Proponents of this view argue that it fits the unique literary structure of Genesis 1 and best harmonizes with the account of the creation of human beings in Genesis 2. The Framework view does not address day length, age of the earth, or evolution.

As you can tell, these views are quite different from one another.

And there is often great emotion involved in defending strongly held beliefs. Disputes may cause skeptics to doubt the Genesis creation account altogether, and make Christians wonder if they will ever agree on the subject. But it need not be a source of endless contention. Tomorrow we will examine some truths common to all four viewpoints, and how it is possible to have a rich understanding of creation regardless of one’s beliefs over how it happened.

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Truths of Creation Yesterday we looked briefly at some common, but divergent, views on creation held by Christians. Regardless of which viewpoint you adopt, certain themes come through loud and clear when reading the amazing Genesis account. Within just the first verse are at least four profoundly important truths. Let’s take them one at a time.

In the beginning: This one phrase conveys an astounding reality that we take for granted in today’s modern scientific world. For a large part of human history, stretching back at least to the ancient Greeks, it was simply understood that the universe had existed for all eternity. The concept of an ultimate beginning was laughable—after all, how could the world we see, hear, smell, and touch ever not have existed?

What could be before the beginning? Yet, breakthrough discoveries in cosmology within the last century all but require our universe to have had a beginning. It is astounding to think that this truth was present in the Genesis creation account for the last three thousand-plus years, but only found scientific support within the last hundred.

God: Genesis 1:1 does not try to prove God’s existence—it is just assumed. God (in Hebrew, Elohim) does not have a past, a beginning, an “origin story,” or anything like that.

God is self-existent, possessing a quality theologians call aseity, which means, unlike us and our universe, God does not rely on anything or anyone for His existence. Even more intriguing, God alone is self-existent. Christians aren’t just making this up. Beyond what Scripture teaches about the nature of God, reason dictates that an uncaused, eternal Being be the ultimate cause of everything that is finite. Otherwise, 360

the Creator Himself would have a cause that required an explanation. More on this in a couple of days when we consider the opposing viewpoint.

Created: The form of the Hebrew verb bara (“to create”) used in this verse refers to God bringing about or making some new thing. In Genesis 1:1, the new thing just happens to be the entirety of space, time, energy, and matter. Not bad for one small word, huh? Since God needed no starting material to work with, this type of creation is referred to as ex nihilo, Latin for “out of nothing.” Other ancient cultures had creation accounts as well, but those accounts began with preexisting material that various gods fashioned into land, seas, creatures, etc. The Genesis account is shockingly different.

Psalm 33:9 recalls the creation of the earth: “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”

The heavens and the earth: While “heavens” and “earth” in Genesis 1:1 have their respective meanings of sky/outer space and our planet, when used together in the Bible, “heaven(s) and earth” refer to the entire created order. Heaven represents all that is above, while earth represents all that is beneath. Nothing gets left out. It is the way God chose to explain to the ancient Hebrews that He created literally everything. In the New Testament, Jesus uses this same phrase to indicate the permanence of His teachings: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

Even though Christians may not agree on the details, we can all stand in awe of just what God has done in bringing the universe into existence by His command. Genesis 1:1 is a great verse to use in conversation with skeptics, because its ten short words (in English) contain deep, thought-provoking insights into the very nature of reality.

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It’s Only Natural(ism) Think of all the -isms you encounter on a daily basis. The addition of -ism to a word often indicates a set of beliefs or doctrines centered on that particular concept: Buddhism, environmentalism, communism, heroism, and so on. While most of these -isms aren’t relevant to anyone outside a particular field, there is one that we must firmly grasp before we go any further: naturalism. Whether you’re a Christian or a non-Christian, you might encounter this term in discussions about how our physical world came to exist and function.

Let’s start with some definitions. Broadly speaking, naturalism is a worldview that accepts only natural causes resulting from natural laws acting, well, naturally. Those who subscribe to naturalism are called naturalists. We’ll now define three types of naturalism, as one of our goals is to clarify terms so Christians and skeptics can have constructive conversations.

Epistemological naturalism (the Greek word epistēmē means “knowledge”) is the position that knowledge only comes through scientific investigation of the natural world. Anything that cannot be studied or empirically proven is considered speculation.

A serious fault with this view, however, is that its foundational truth claim (“knowledge only comes through scientific investigation”) is itself not provable scientifically. It is simply assumed to be true without any supporting evidence, meaning that, by its own definition, it is speculation! Because it is self-defeating, epistemological naturalism is not a logically consistent approach to knowledge.

Metaphysical naturalism (metaphysics is the study of the nature of reality) claims that the only things that exist are things we can touch, see, or measure—in short, only the physical world exists.

A spiritual being like God is not even a possibility, and miracles are simply out of the question. Our beliefs and feelings, along with truth, reason, and other abstract concepts, are just byproducts of 362

evolution and have no intrinsic value. A purely natural world has no purpose or goal, and no life (including human life) is significant in any meaningful way.

In today’s skeptical culture, metaphysical naturalism is regarded as intellectually fashionable—a liberation from the superstitious world of religion. Many who embrace this form of naturalism do so out of a desire to avoid a world with a just God who will someday judge them. But at what cost does this supposed freedom come?

Methodological naturalism sounds similar to metaphysical naturalism, but its meaning is quite different and it deserves a quick mention here. It is the belief that questions about nature are best answered using scientific methods.

Most Christians who pursue science would agree that methodological naturalism is a reasonable way to discover the nuts and bolts of how our world works because it is limited in scope. It does not rule out the existence of nonphysical things like truth, reason, miracles, and, most importantly, God. Neither does it claim that natural causes are necessarily the best explanations. It only affirms that natural laws should work consistently and continually whenever and wherever we look.

So, what should we make of these terms and definitions? First, it is important to clearly identify what is being discussed. Unfortunately, switching terms midstream or playing word games often clouds an issue. Second, we must proceed gently and graciously when confronting naturalistic viewpoints, making sure we are “relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace” (2 Corinthians 1:12).

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The Ultimate Cause Yesterday, we looked at three types of naturalism. Metaphysical naturalism is the greatest challenge to Christian belief, so this will be our focus. (Going forward, “naturalism” will specifically mean “metaphysical naturalism.”) Today we will look at some real-world implications of naturalistic reasoning as we examine a profound question about origins.

Where did the universe come from? Chances are, at some point in our lives we have each asked this question, or a variation of it.

What we’re really asking is twofold: Did the universe have a beginning, and if so, what caused it? According to naturalism, there are three options: 1. The universe had no beginning.

2. The universe had a beginning but no cause.

3. The universe had a beginning and a (natural) cause.

Until the last century or so, option (1) was a serious contender, as most scientists believed the universe was eternal. Since only things that have a beginning need a cause, asking about the cause of an eternal universe would be pointless. Modern cosmology (the study of the origin and nature of the universe), however, thoroughly debunks an eternal universe.

There is solid evidence that the universe itself is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. What does this have to do with a beginning? If you could travel backward in time, you would see this process running in reverse—the universe getting smaller and smaller. Eventually, you would arrive at a point that, odd as it sounds, has no space.

In other words, space (and everything in it) has not always existed.

Since there is a beginning, we can now ask about a cause.

Option (2) boldly attempts to avoid a cause by claiming the 364

universe just came to be, no cause needed. Everything we see, including all space, matter, and energy, started existing on its own at some point in the past. If you think this is absurd, you’d be right. How many things can you name that have a beginning but no cause? If the universe is somehow an exception to this most basic principle, then that exception would also require a naturalistic explanation.

Currently, option (3) is popular among naturalists who admit that the universe has both a beginning and a cause. However, according to naturalism, the cause of the universe must itself be another natural cause, which also had to have a natural cause, and so on. This results in a never-ending regression that fails to address the ultimate cause of all these causes! The hope is that you will be too confused to notice the lack of a coherent argument.

Fortunately, Christianity offers a different answer: a transcendent, self-existent Creator God freely chose to bring the universe into existence out of nothing. Yes, this is by definition a supernatural cause. Partly due to the influence of naturalism on our culture, supernatural causes are often excluded from the discussion.

However, the word supernatural simply means “above, outside, or beyond nature.” Christians are not naturalists, so they are not bound by the self-imposed rules of naturalism; rules like “supernatural causes are not possible.” Properly defended, supernatural causes are just as legitimate as natural causes. In the case of the origin of the universe, a supernatural cause (i.e., God) is the far better option because of its simplicity and its power to explain what we observe.

What is more reasonable—a single, eternal Being, or an endless regression of causes; a Creator, or a universe that pops into existence on its own? Naturalists’ rejection of anything outside nature is a strong philosophical position that cannot be proven. It must be taken on faith.

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Cosmic Fine-Tuning Since the advent of modern science, both skeptics and Christians have noticed something peculiar about our universe. It seems that everywhere we look, the underlying physical principles that govern nature are precisely balanced to allow intelligent life to exist. The term for this “just so” aspect of reality is fine-tuning. Here are a few examples: Ratio of neutron-to-proton mass: Protons and neutrons are particles found in the nucleus of an atom. The mass of a neutron is just slightly greater than the mass of a proton. If the neutron’s mass were different by even a tiny fraction, the ratio of hydrogen to helium in the universe would be altered, chemistry would fail, and life would not exist.

Strength of gravity: If the force of gravity were any weaker, nuclear fusion would not occur in the center of stars and the universe would be cold, dark, and lifeless. If gravity were any stronger, stars would burn hotter and much more quickly, exposing planets to intense heat and radiation and making life impossible.

Cosmological constant: The cosmological constant refers to the minuscule amount of energy that exists in the vacuum of space and contributes to the expansion of space itself. If this energy were different by as little as one part in 10120 (one followed by 120 zeros), a habitable universe would not exist. For comparison, randomly choosing one particular atom out of all the atoms in the universe has a one-in-1080 probability—a trillion trillion trillion times more likely than the cosmological constant being what it is by chance.

Scientists studying fine-tuning have found dozens of “coincidences” that favor life, ranging from the composition of subatomic 366

particles to the distribution of galaxies in space. Astronomer Hugh Ross has identified at least 150 fine-tuned parameters that each must fall within a narrow range for life to be possible anywhere in the universe. What’s more, many of these parameters interact with one another, meaning a slight change in one would potentially disrupt numerous others.

Once it was recognized that fine-tuning is a built-in feature of the universe, attempts were made to explain why. We don’t have room here to go into all the proposed explanations, so we will discuss the two most popular: chance and design.

Chance is exactly what it sounds like: out of all the possible values for each physical parameter (like the strength of gravity, the mass of a neutron, etc.), our universe just happened to get the right combination for life to exist—we’re simply that lucky. The obvious objection is that it is vastly improbable this would happen by chance; calculating odds is futile because the numbers are outside of our comprehension.

At this point, naturalists often turn to what is known as the multiverse (multiple universe) theory to deal with the probability issue.

According to this theory, there have been an unknown number of universes that did fail to get the combination right and were therefore lifeless. We just happen to be in the one that worked. Conveniently, the multiverse theory is not able to be tested because we cannot observe other universes.

Design is an altogether different explanation: God, in His perfect knowledge of what would happen under any given set of conditions, rationally tailored the universe for life at certain times and places. There is no need for a trial-and-error approach, no need for millions or billions of failed universes. As God Himself declares, “I make known the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10), and He has “established the laws of heaven and earth” (Jeremiah 33:25).

If you’re a Christian, take a moment to reflect and thank God for the intricate detail with which He crafted the universe. If you’re a skeptic, consider whether a roll of the cosmic dice is really the best explanation for our existence—or if it is possible that more is involved.

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The Origin of Life Over the last couple of days, we’ve looked at topics relating to our physical universe—where it came from and how it is designed for life. Today, we will tackle biological origins, once again examining both the naturalistic and Christian viewpoints. We won’t spend much time talking about evolution itself (there are plenty of materials available on the subject), but instead we will zero in on a fundamental assumption of evolution—the origin of life.

According to naturalism, approximately four billion years ago the chemical building blocks of life somehow interacted with each other to produce the first, simple form of life in a process called abiogenesis. Once life emerged from the so-called “primordial soup” (which scientists now doubt ever existed with the types and concentrations of chemicals required for life), evolution took over and produced the abundant diversity of life we see today.

While this makes for a neatly packaged story, the reality is that such a history of life is filled with insurmountable probabilities.

Here are just a few of the necessary conditions that must be met to build even the simplest single-cell organism: • • • •

Amino acids available in a sufficient variety and at the correct concentrations for protein synthesis to occur (plus machinery to catalyze protein synthesis) Lipid molecules of sufficient type, size, and strength to form hydrophobic membranes to contain chemical reactions An energy source powerful enough to catalyze chemical reactions, but gentle enough not to destroy the products of those reactions A stable means to store, retrieve, and process information (like DNA or RNA, which would also need to evolve) 368

• •

• •

A mechanism to import nutrients and export metabolic waste An environment with enough mixing to exchange nutrients, but calm enough not to wash away molecules needed for subsequent reactions Protection from extreme heat, salinity, ultraviolet radiation, etc.

The ability to reproduce

Each of these alone would be fantastically improbable, but naturalism goes further and assumes all these conditions were met at the same time, in a precise order, and in the same place, with absolutely no outside intervention, design, or purpose! If you’re skeptical about all this, you’re not alone. Some naturalists, troubled by the implausibility of their own theory, have gone so far as to conclude that life did not arise on Earth, but actually began somewhere else in the universe and hitched a ride here on a comet, asteroid, or other space rock. However, this fails to solve the problem of abiogenesis; it only moves the problem somewhere else.

Fortunately, there is a solution that doesn’t require such extreme leaps of reason. Creating life and millions of species is not only unproblematic for God, but it is something in which He delights.

Regardless of how God created, Christians can agree with an Old Testament man named Job, who declared about God, “In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10).

The three things missing in the naturalistic view of the origin of life—a God (the Creator), a goal (the purpose, or “end” of Creation), and glory (of mankind, created in the image of God)—are what make the Christian worldview of origins both rational and intellectually satisfying.

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The Complexity of the Mind Have you ever thought much about your mind? The mere fact that you can do this is significant. The human brain is a bewildering collection of interconnected parts—a biological computer, if you will.

Yet, we know that the brain is more than the sum of its parts because it contains our mind, which is the seat of our reasoning, emotions, and perception of the world.

As you read this, billions of cells in your brain called neurons are collecting signals from all over your body, processing them, and coordinating a response within milliseconds. Millions of blood vessels keep the brain supplied with oxygen and glucose, while removing metabolic waste products. Non-neuronal cells act as scaffolding, keeping everything in place and spacing cells at an optimal distance from one another.

Thoughts move through the brain in a delicate dance of electrical and chemical signals. Electrical impulses travel along extended neuron branches called axons until they reach the end of the cell, where they stimulate the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters cross the gaps between cells and are picked up by neighboring neurons, which convert them back into electrical impulses, and the process continues.

The image of our brain as a computer has been taken to the extreme by molecular biology. It is tempting to reduce our thoughts to nothing more than molecules in motion. Indeed, naturalists have done just this, viewing the brain as a machine that takes in information, does some chemistry, and puts out a solution that (hopefully) helps us survive. This is an example of reductionism, the belief that complex living systems can be explained in purely physical terms.

However, a reductionist view of the human mind leads to a troubling conclusion. On one hand, we trust our minds to provide us with a truthful account of the world. On the other hand, we could 370

never know for sure that our perception of the world isn’t some kind of chemical illusion. If naturalism tells us “the brain is just a bunch of jostling atoms,” can we even trust that statement? What if that idea itself is only the atoms talking?

Christians have long viewed the mind in different terms than the reductionist view of naturalism. The mind is a non-physical part of our being that is above or beyond the physical mechanisms of neurons and electrical signals. It is a tool given by God to comprehend the reason, logic, and knowledge with which He has endowed His creation.

Importantly, the rational nature of the creation exists independently of our minds. If none of us were here, the universe would still make sense. The implication of this is that we do not invent or develop concepts like truth, morality, and God; we only discover what is already there.

The unique role of the mind is evident throughout the Bible.

When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37; the Greek word for mind here is dianoia, which means the faculty of deep thought and reflection).

Elsewhere, Paul uses a related Greek word (nous, meaning the capacity for perception and understanding) to indicate that our minds can and should be oriented toward God: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

It’s up to you which view you take of the human mind: a merely physical collection of atoms that may or may not accurately inform us about the world; or a conscious, rational, non-physical component of our selves that recognizes and enjoys the world which God has made.

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STUMBLING BLOCKS Christian Hypocrisy I hope you were stimulated and challenged as you considered Dr. Byrd’s scientific and rational explanations of key topics. Now we move on to some of the main stumbling blocks that people may have with Christianity.

Those who call themselves Christians can be some of the worst examples of how to live like Jesus. I’m sure you know a few, perhaps several. Further, all manner of ill has been done by people throughout the centuries in the name of Christianity. There’s no denying it. Those who claim to use Jesus as the example for their life have acted in direct opposition to what He said and did. They have twisted verses in the Bible to justify all kinds of outrageous behavior from adultery to abuse to murder.

Christians are known for their hypocrisy. They say one thing and do the exact opposite (Romans 2:1). As a result, skeptics have deemed the Christian life to be a fraud and the actions of so-called Christians to be the proof. After all, how could their faith be real when they boldly live in contradiction to it? (Perhaps this standard should extend to politicians or those in Hollywood. They constantly and publicly claim the moral high ground while their actions stand in direct conflict with their words.)

Lest you and I think we are any better, we are most definitely hypocritical in certain areas of our lives. For example, perhaps you tell your child not to curse, yet you do so when they’re not around.

Maybe you sit in judgment of a friend talking poorly about another friend, but you will do the exact same thing without hesitation. So if we’re being honest with ourselves, I think you would agree that in the heat of the moment or under the right circumstances, we’re capable of acting in contradiction to our words and beliefs quite easily.

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Here is what I urge you to consider: just because a Christian is a hypocrite doesn’t negate the validity of their beliefs. In other words, Christians believe the Bible is truth even if they do a poor job of living the life that Jesus calls them to live. Look at it this way, if a doctor you know is terrible at his job, do you then believe that all health care is bad and invalid?

You might be surprised (and maybe relieved) to learn that Jesus was kind to the sinner and harsh on the religious. Over and over again in the first four books of the New Testament, called the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly called out the religious leaders for their self-righteous behavior, but was much more encouraging to the “sinner.”

There was a prophet in the Old Testament named Jeremiah who summed up man’s heart well: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (17:9). But that doesn’t change anything. God directs us to “be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Don’t let the word holy scare you. It simply means being devoted to trying to make decisions in line with what the Bible says.

In the midst of hypocrisy, Christians can live with hope and peace. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This act changed everything. We are not saved because of what we do, but because of what Jesus did. Even though we are all hypocrites on some level, Christian and non-Christian alike, we shouldn’t strive to be.

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Hot-Button Issues Today, I’m not going to try to convince you whether certain social issues are right or wrong. If you are a Christian, the Bible is very clear on just about any issue facing us today. For example, I could list multiple Bible verses demonstrating that abortion and gender confusion are wrong. I could also try to present arguments based on reason and evidence. There are extremely strong opinions to be found in opposition. Perhaps you have one.

First let me say that Christians in particular should never be afraid to deal with hot-button issues. Issues like gender identity and abortion are very divisive in our culture. In many cases, people with opposing views are incredibly passionate in defending their feelings on these matters, and this spills over into animosity from both parties against each other. These are tricky waters for everyone to navigate.

However, there is another way I would like for us to spend our time today. So if you will bear with me, I have two tremendously important truths about Christianity to share, regardless of which side you might take on a particular issue.

The first truth is this: the Bible is clear that all sin is wrong. God set the standard; it is not up to me or any other Christian. Perhaps if we were in charge, we would have made different choices for the world, but we’re not in charge.

Although God set the bar, He has given us the monumental gift of making personal choices. We get to choose how we live and whether we try to avoid sin. And while all sin is wrong, there are different degrees of negative consequences. For example, murdering one person (or many) is certainly worse than just hating them.

Committing adultery has more consequences than just imagining it—even though they’re both wrong.

Look at this list of sins that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10: 374

sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, men having sex with men, stealing, greed, drunkenness, slander, and fraud. The point to make here is that adultery is listed with stealing, homosexuality with lying. All sin is the same in that it all falls short of God’s standard; it is all wrong.

The second point is even more crucial: Christians are called to love everyone, especially those we may see as opposing us, or those who see us as opposing them.

There are lies being perpetuated in our culture and media that being against homosexuality or transgenderism is equivalent to intolerance and racism, or that being against abortion is the same as hating women. These statements are simply not true, and it is incumbent upon Christians to speak up for the truth, but to do so with love flowing from our hearts and mouths. To the Christian, all life is precious, whether it is a baby in the womb or a woman who chooses to have an abortion, whether it is a man honoring his marital vows or sleeping with someone else, regardless of gender. All should still be loved by the Christian.

Let’s conclude with a hypothetical scenario that may actually be a reality in your life. Let’s say that you have a good friend who is living as a homosexual and you have another friend who is cheating on their opposite-sex spouse. What’s the difference? If you are a Christian, you know the Bible says both are wrong. You also know that you are called to love both of them.

Therefore, it is a very delicate matter how you (Christian) handle your relationship with them. You shouldn’t hide your biblical convictions, yet you must navigate these relational waters with extreme care. Anyone you know in a lifestyle of sin should know that you love them and that you stand with biblical truth. If you are a non-Christian in disagreement with a Christian, I encourage you to reciprocate with respect and love.

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Old Testament versus New Testament One of the big stumbling blocks for non-Christians can be the perceived conflicting messages of the Old and New Testaments. This can also breed some confusion within Christians who don’t actively seek a fuller understanding of the Bible.

The Old Testament is composed of 39 books written over the course of a thousand years. It’s pretty impressive to think that such a compilation could be bound together through time! To make matters more interesting, the books are not in chronological order and contain different genres of literature such as prophecy, history, and poetry.

One of the two main issues brought against the Old Testament is the contrast between the laws of the Old Testament and the grace of the New Testament. Skeptics question how this can be so. God seemingly tells people to behave one way in the Old, while Jesus teaches another way in the New. The Old Testament was written over a period of human history far removed from our own and to people living in much more primitive times. This is not to say there are no applicable teachings to be found for us today. However, God ruled and judged people and civilizations harshly, and guided His people differently than He does now. Why? This was before He sent Jesus down from heaven, which changed the course of human history.

The first five books of the Old Testament were written by a man named Moses under the inspiration of God. These books contain the laws that the Hebrew people were to follow. They didn’t do a very good job of it and often faced the consequences on a personal and corporate scale. Before we point fingers, though, this is still true of all people of the world today, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, man desperately needed a path to salvation.

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Many but certainly not all Christian scholars agree that there are three types of law in the Old Testament: civil, ceremonial, and moral (these categories may overlap in some cases). The ceremonial laws dictated how ancient Israel was to worship God. The civil laws guided their daily living. And the moral laws were permanent commands by God. While all these laws were written to a different culture in a different era, the principles behind a portion of them can still guide us today.

Scholars believe the civil laws expired when Jewish government ceased to exist. The ceremonial laws were fulfilled when Jesus came. The moral laws are still in place. I think most morally minded people would agree that the Ten Commandments are still a totally valid and applicable source of guidance in the present day.

Here is just one example of a law no longer applicable. Perhaps you’ve heard that Old Testament law did not allow the eating of pork. God established this because it was unclean; it was particularly unhealthy for the people of the day to eat creatures that had indiscriminate diets. However, we know from an episode in the life of Peter in Acts 10 that God liberated everyone from the burden of this particular law.

The New Testament is abundantly clear that God sent His Son, Jesus, to fulfill the laws of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17). As mentioned in the first week of this study, there was an Old Testament law that the blood of an innocent animal had to be shed for the people’s sins (Leviticus 16:18–19). It came to fulfillment when Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross (Hebrews 10:10). He became the final sacrifice needed. “So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).

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God of Wrath, God of Love I mentioned yesterday that there are two main issues that skeptics raise about the Old Testament. Even Christians grapple with them.

The first was the contrast between the laws of the Old Testament and the grace of the New Testament.

Perhaps an equal or even greater issue that skeptics have with the Bible concerns some of the decisions God made and actions He took during the time period of the Old Testament. For example, at times God is described as angry and vengeful, which seems at odds with how both He and Jesus are in the New Testament.

So, with our commitment not to shy away from any stumbling blocks, let’s dive right in without holding back. The following are some specific instances of people being on the receiving end of God’s anger. Almost all of mankind was wiped out during the great flood of Noah’s day. God completely destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. He sent plagues on Egypt. Men, women, children, the elderly, the sick, and others were all affected.

Lest we think this is isolated to the Old Testament, there are examples of Jesus getting angry in the New Testament. He got angry with the religious leaders of the day (Mark 3:1–6). He angrily overturned the tables of the money changers in the Jewish Temple and used a whip to drive them out (John 2:13–17).

In actuality, the Bible claims that God’s wrath is not flawed, but driven by righteousness and justice. There are several Bible verses, such as Deuteronomy 9:7–8, Nahum 1:2–3, Psalm 7:11, Romans 1:18, and Hebrews 10:30–31, that demonstrate this. The writers of the Old and New Testaments never expressed in the least the thought that God’s anger was wrong. If God exists and He is perfect, then it is illogical to believe that His anger/vengeance/wrath is a flaw. He can’t be perfect and imperfect at the same time. This reality doesn’t exist in the natural or human realm either.

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It is important to reiterate another reality: humans can’t possibly have a true grasp on God. It is illogical to believe that finite creatures understand with full clarity how an infinite God acts. Finite creatures have finite knowledge. Therefore, there is a lot that we don’t know that He knows. There are countless factors in every decision of His that we cannot possibly fathom.

Lastly, if God is unchanging, then His character doesn’t change either. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has always required the shedding of blood to forgive sins. The difference is this: in the Old Testament forgiveness was achieved through the blood sacrifice of a lamb. In the New Testament it was achieved through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. That is why He is sometimes referred to as the Lamb (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18–19).

We will cover the topic of trying to understand God’s actions more in the final section, Tough Questions. For now, I encourage you to read chapter 3 in the book of Romans. Here, Paul, who is a converted Jew, contrasts the righteousness and wrath of God with man’s inability to measure up, and describes how Jesus closed this seemingly impossible gap by fulfilling the laws of the Old Testament.

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Contradictions in the Bible Some skeptics like to make the statement that the Bible has contradictions, saying one thing in one place and something else in another. However, they can rarely give specific examples. There is just an assumption that the Bible is old and so it has errors. They’ve also heard this claim mentioned so often that they conclude it must be true.

First, it is important to realize that issues like apparent contradictions or the omission of certain details do not equate to error.

There are other factors to be considered, such as the target audience of a particular book, whether certain wording is to be taken literally or figuratively, and what the context or the purpose was in writing each book.

Let’s look at three examples of differences found in the New Testament. The first is the genealogy of Jesus in the books of Matthew and Luke. Luke records the family line starting with Jesus and going backward all the way through David, the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), and Adam to God Himself, 77 names in all. Matthew’s list goes from past to present, starting with Abraham and ending with Jesus, 41 names in all (many differing from Luke’s account), spanning 2,000 years.

Biblical genealogies can differ depending on their function and are created for religious, legal, or domestic reasons. Names are sometimes left out to highlight the connection of a descendant to a particular ancestor. Matthew is targeting a Jewish audience, and is seeking to prove that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah descended from Abraham and David. Luke is writing to Gentiles (non-Jews) and is seeking to be as thorough as possible in proving that Jesus is the Son of God. There are multiple other reasons that could be listed.

Let’s now look at the popular example of Peter’s denial of Jesus after His betrayal. While it is recorded in all four Gospels, Mark 380

seems to contradict the other three. The other three Gospels clearly state that Peter would deny knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crows (that is, before morning). Mark states this would happen before the rooster crows twice (14:30).

These accounts are complementary to each other, stating the same thing in different ways. Those who have raised chickens (like me) know that roosters crow at various times, especially after midnight to before daybreak. An expression of this era, “before the rooster crows,” refers to this last window of time as people are about to get up for the day. Jesus is stating that prior to the rooster(s) crowing before daybreak after this long horrible night, Peter would deny Him three times. Mark is being more specific with the crowing, probably because he was close to Peter, and Peter had shared greater details with him about this fateful night.

Lastly, here is another quick example. After Jesus’ death, the disciple Judas hanged himself (Matthew 27:5). But in Luke’s account in the book of Acts, Judas fell headfirst to the ground and his body burst open (1:18). Which is correct? Is the Bible sharing conflicting information? The purpose behind these details gives the answer. Matthew is demonstrating the remorse of Judas and how he committed suicide. Luke (who was a doctor) is sharing what happened after the hanging. Sorry to get graphic here, but Judas’ body was left hanging to decay and bloat in the hot sun. At some point the body fell, whether the branch or rope broke, or the rope slipped off.

Then you know what happens. Let’s quickly move on!

We could try to tackle each supposed example of the Bible being inconsistent or contradicting itself. The point for today is that each concern can be sufficiently addressed if one is willing to do some digging. The question is, Are you willing?

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My Life, My Way It seems that most people who either don’t believe in God (atheism) or don’t follow Him (believe, but reject) are this way for one of two reasons: pain or sin. These two driving forces seem to be much more prevalent than logic and reason in turning someone away from God. Tomorrow we will look at the problem of pain; today, let’s talk about the word sin. This is simply a thought or action contrary to what the Bible says is right. Sin is like an archer missing a target. We fall short of God’s standard.

The reality is that a lot of sin can be fun and/or self-serving. For example, lusting after someone gives you a rush. Constantly eating too much yields short-term pleasure. Most would agree that neither of these actions contribute to a healthy lifestyle. There are many other examples that could be listed, but we’re not trying to single out particular sins here. As we’ve mentioned, all sin misses God’s target for man.

The reality is, to one degree or another, all of us choose sin on a daily basis. The difference between Christians and non-Christians is that Christians are supposed to try to resist sin. They can only do that with the help of God. For the sake of further understanding, everyone assume for a second that God exists. He created Earth and He created humans. He also gave humans the gift of free will. They can and do make thousands of their own decisions each day. Now, you might argue that an all-knowing, all-powerful God controls everything and we only think we have choice. If that were true, we would not be humans, but robots.

God also decides what is right and wrong. Christians don’t decide this. They do not impose their own morality on the world (unless it is a false morality found outside the Bible). Christians try to adhere to God’s standards and encourage others to do the same.

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Having said this, Christians mess up, and mess up a lot. We each also have certain tendencies and weaknesses toward certain actions that don’t line up with God’s standards. Sometimes we resist these tendencies, and sometimes we fail. That’s why we need a Savior.

God, in His infinite love, allows man to choose Him, accept the salvation that comes through Jesus, and try to follow the standards that Jesus taught and exemplified. Christians are not saved by “doing good” and avoiding sin. Instead, we strive to live right in God’s eyes, demonstrating that we love Him and want to serve Him by serving others. In the process, life becomes so much more rewarding.

Here is the point for today, briefly summed up: One of the main reasons people choose not to follow Jesus is because they enjoy being in charge of their own life and doing things their way. They are enjoying something that God calls sin, and they want to keep it that way. Is it possible that this is true for you?

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Mad at God Today’s stumbling block is something Christians and non-Christians alike can relate to: being mad at God. This might seem like a crazy statement since atheists don’t believe in God and agnostics aren’t sure about Him. Hang with me here and allow me to try to explain.

As a Christian, I have noticed that the topic of God brings out a lot of strong emotions in nonbelievers. Perhaps you’re aware of this, regardless of which side of faith in God you land on. Why should someone get mad at something (or Someone) they don’t believe exists? Why can’t they just brush it off as silly, blind faith in an imaginary being? This is why in the first week of our journey we asked you to do some self-examination. Why do you believe what you believe? It’s imperative that you’re clear with yourself.

So I am asking you to define why you believe what you believe.

As a nonbeliever, is your disbelief in God based on logic or on emotion? What has happened in your life that has helped cement this disbelief?

It usually doesn’t take long to get hurt in this life, and deeply hurt at that. This is why we refer to the “innocence” of childhood and hope that our own kids have this preserved as long as possible.

Inevitably, though, the pain hits, and it hits like a sledgehammer.

Let me give you an example from my own life. My children were 15 and almost 12 when my dad died the morning after my father-in-law’s funeral. In the span of one week, my kids lost both granddads. The funerals were only four days apart. Even as a Christian family, those were dark days, and it felt like a part of us died during that time, too, never to be recovered.

At this moment, I’m sure something from your own life has come to mind that either tested your faith or killed it. Maybe someone abused you. Maybe a parent tried to metaphorically shove the Bible down your throat and withheld love when you didn’t comply.

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Maybe you watched a loved one suffer terribly. There is no end to the horrible scenarios.

The reality is, we inhabit dying bodies in a dying world. This truth can be depressing and harsh, and we can turn our anger toward God. This was certainly the temptation for our family. It can even lead us to stray or fall away from our faith in Him. Maybe this is the case for some of you reading this. Maybe you’ve become so disillusioned by the pain that you’ve lost faith in God and no longer believe He loves you. Maybe you’re not so much an atheist as you are someone who has spiritually just given up. Or maybe your faith was killed before it even started. The wound was too early or too strong.

Whether you believe in God or not, it is important to face the pain. As Christians, we believe the greatest healing that can take place in this life is through faith in God, even when we don’t understand. And I can honestly tell you that there is a lot in this life that I do not understand. There are so many questions I have that won’t get answered in this life. But I have come to a place of peace, knowing that God is the same God He was before I was hurt.

We’re all broken people. The question is how much we can be healed. We have a choice of where to look for that healing.

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TOUGH QUESTIONS Is It Logical to Believe in God? Similar to stumbling blocks are tough questions that we have all grappled with at one point or another. It’s important to mention once again that people on both sides of today’s topic have debated Christianity for centuries. In our case, trying to prove the existence of God in this limited space doesn’t do justice to the argument. But we have to try, so let’s consider whether it is logical to believe in God. Atheism is on the rise in America. Today’s youth seem to be disenchanted more than ever with “religion” and with God. Many university professors in particular go beyond their areas of expertise and seek to indoctrinate college students with their personal beliefs—Hollywood perhaps even more so.

The young and impressionable are being told that there is no absolute truth. One man’s truth is not truth for another. This is called relativism, the mindset that we have the ability to create our own truth. A similar viewpoint is pluralism, the conviction that all viewpoints are equally valid and true and therefore should be accepted.

There are some who take it even further into radical subjectivism, which is the belief that we can create our own reality in our minds.

Well, which view is correct? It is logical to believe in absolute truth. In order to deny absolute truth, a person has to claim the absolute truth that there is no absolute truth. Perhaps one of the best laws of logic to bring into the conversation here is the Law of Non-Contradiction. In essence it states that if something is true, it can’t also be false. “A” can’t also be “non-A.” Any given statement can’t be true and false at the same time and in the same sense. For example, a circle (A) can’t also be a square (non-circle, or non-A).

Let’s put this into the context of Christianity. Jesus claimed to be 386

the Son of God who died for the sins of man. Either He was or He wasn’t. He can’t be the Savior to some and not to others. Christians believe He came to save all mankind. He can’t be lying to some and telling the truth to others. The Savior can’t also be the Non-Savior.

We’ll look at this more tomorrow.

Let me appeal to you from another logical position. If you were to take a look at all the cultures of the world, you would see that they have something in common. To one degree or another, they all have a similar moral law. There is an innate knowledge of right and wrong found in every society and civilization in history, without exception.

How is it possible that cultures on opposite sides of the globe and separated by thousands of years could come up with relatively similar moral standards (such as murder being wrong)? Christians believe that because moral law is universal, there must be a moral Lawgiver who put this moral compass within man, namely, God. It is the most logical explanation for the existence of common morality.

The point for today is that Christians believe the Bible is true, but also that it is logical to believe in God. I encourage you, Christian or not, to examine your own philosophical views on life and consider where your beliefs might be contradicting themselves.

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Who Is Jesus?

For the last two thousand years, people from nearly all cultures and ethnic groups have wondered who Jesus was and is. Was He a myth, a great teacher, a fraud, or something else?

There is no record in the Bible that anyone believed Jesus was just a good Teacher, nor did He claim this about Himself. True, He was a rabbi in the Jewish sense, but He claimed to be something more.

There is also no evidence that Jesus was simply a legend. The New Testament in general and the four Gospels in particular are not written in a way that portrays Jesus as a made-up person or different than the Jesus of history. Nor do they paint Jesus in the way that the legends of old were described.

There is a long-standing argument used to evaluate whether Jesus is who He says He is. It is called the Liar-Lunatic-Lord trilemma.

This line of reasoning was popularized by C.S. Lewis, a former atheist. Jesus was either a pathological liar, an attention-starved lunatic, or actually God. First, it’s important to establish that Jesus was a real person.

Even if you’re an atheist or agnostic, you’re ignoring significant evidence if your reason for not being a Christian is that you think Jesus is a myth. There is far too much evidence that Jesus actually existed. Maybe you’re not aware of it.

It should come as no surprise that evidence for Jesus’ existence is found in the Bible. The Old Testament foreshadowed His coming through hundreds of prophecies. The New Testament documented His life and teaching. It was mainly written by firsthand witnesses.

Let’s say, however, that you chose not to give any weight to the accounts in the Bible. What about secular sources who recorded that Jesus was real? Would you give them credence? Here are some accounts for you to consider. Keep in mind that many of them did 388

not view Jesus in a positive light, but they were not refuting His existence either.

Thanks to the Romans and their commitment to recording history, we have some sources to look at. For example, Josephus, a Jewish-Roman scholar, and Tacitus, a Roman historian, both mentioned Jesus. In his Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus wrote about the death of James, the brother of Jesus “who was called Christ.” Tacitus defined “Christians” in The Annals: “Their name comes from Christ, who, during the reign of Tiberius, had been executed by the procurator Pontius Pilate.”

Jesus also claimed to be the Son of God. He claimed to have the power to grant eternal life. Jesus would have to go down in history as the world’s most effective liar if He was a fraud. Think about it.

He was so compelling that He convinced those closest to Him that He was God. They knowingly and enthusiastically propagated faith in Him to the point of being willing to die.

Maybe Jesus was just plain crazy. Yet, Jesus exemplified and lived out what He taught. This goes against the conclusion that He was a lunatic and/or a liar. He also didn’t pursue the things that liars and megalomaniacs usually pursue—namely, money, power, and inappropriate behavior. He behaved quite the opposite.

After only three and a half years of ministry, Jesus was crucified and buried. The Bible claims—and Christians believe—that He was resurrected. If this was a giant fraud or fable, how can anyone explain the explosive growth of Christianity that took place in the years, decades, and centuries to come? If Jesus is not Lord, then it is simply the greatest hoax in all of human history.

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How Do You Explain the Trinity?

The reality of the Trinity is hard to explain in the natural realm and must ultimately be accepted by faith. Christian and non-Christian alike struggle with wrapping their minds around it. However, no hard topic should be off-limits, so let’s give the Trinity its due attention.

First, it’s important to accept that our finite minds are trying to understand the infinite, the physical is trying to grasp the metaphysical, and the natural is trying to define the supernatural. God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (in all places at all times), and we are nowhere near this. So all definitions or word pictures will fall short. There is no equivalent in the human realm. Can we agree on this?

Here is the basic definition of the Trinity, however hard it may be to wrap our minds around. God exists in three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And yet, they all have the same divine nature, or essence. They are all God. The word Trinity is not found in the Bible. It is a word that man has used to explain God as He is mentioned in the Bible. So what are some ways we can try to understand it? Perhaps you’ve heard the analogy that the Trinity is similar to water. It can exist in three different forms (solid, liquid, and gas), but remains the same chemical (water). Another example is a man. He can be a father, husband, and grandfather—three different roles, but the same being. Still another example is playing a three-note chord on the piano. There are three distinct tones, yet they work together to produce a unified sound.

The reality is that there is no proper way to explain the unseen with the seen, but these limited analogies can help.

Regarding the primary roles of the Trinity, God the Father sent Jesus the Son to die for the sins of man. After the Father raised Jesus from the dead and the Son ascended back to heaven, the Holy Spirit was given to all Christians to guide their daily living.

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How do we know the Three have the same nature (i.e., are all God)? There are certain verses in the Bible that explain it as such.

For example, Genesis 1:26 states, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.’” Notice the words here are unmistakably in plural form. The Hebrew word for God as Creator (Elohim) is also plural. In John 10:30, Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one.” They are united in essence and nature.

How do we know they are three distinct Persons? There are also verses that clearly identify each of them individually. Matthew 28:19 encourages Christians to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus gives a description of the Three and their roles in John 14:15–17: “If you love me [Jesus], keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.”

Do you at least begin to understand the Trinity, as limited as our human minds are? God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist as three distinct Persons, but they are united with the same nature.

They are One.

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Are There Many Paths to Heaven?

Are there many paths to God? At least on some level, I think most people want this to be true. Most of us have friends and family we deeply care about who are traveling different religious paths than our own. We can’t bear the thought of them suffering for eternity in some awful place, so we convince ourselves of their eternal safety.

Well, is belief in Jesus the only way to heaven? For Christianity to claim that it is the only true path to heaven can certainly sound like arrogance. With the number of “believers” or Christians compared to the world’s overall population, how can it be that only a portion have figured out the right path?

If you refer back to the Overview of Major World Religions, this cursory summary demonstrates fairly dramatic differences. These religions do not hold the same beliefs, monotheistic or not. Buddhism doesn’t believe in God. Hindus believe everything is God. So if you believe that all religions are merely paths to the same God, your belief flies in the face of their differences.

Another distinct difference must be emphasized whether or not you agree with Christianity. In every other belief system, a person is striving for goodness and to be found worthy of paradise, or some greater reward, or just finishing their life well. Christianity claims that people find salvation only through faith in Jesus, not through good works. We strive to do good works as a result of salvation, not in order to reach it.

What does the Bible claim exactly? In John 14:6, Jesus states, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” God the Father lives in heaven, so Jesus is saying that belief in Him is the only pathway to heaven. All other religious leaders who have existed claim to know the truth and point you to it. Jesus went the ultimate step further and claims to be the truth.

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resurrection—and for the purpose of providing the path to salvation.

Further, the book of Acts records this statement by a disciple of Jesus named Peter: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name [Jesus] under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (4:12). So whether or not you agree with Christianity, you have to at least concede that the Bible lays claim to the exclusive path to God. As we’ve stated, the God of Christianity allows for choice. If He didn’t, He would have made everyone mindless robots that served Him and Him alone. Personal faith requires a choice be made.

When personal choice is involved, how many are willing to pursue the answer at all costs? Most people are caught up with just trying to survive or make their lives more comfortable. Still, at some point, people begin to ponder the deeper questions of life, such as how the universe came to be and if there is a higher power. Perhaps the pondering is brought on by a health challenge or external crisis.

The question is, Will you consider that Jesus is the only answer, the only path to heaven?

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Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

This is a good question: Why do bad things happen to good people?

Why do “innocent” people get caught in the crossfire? If God is the One who creates earthquakes and tornadoes and other natural disasters, why would He allow them to kill multitudes of people? Why does God allow evil and war? There are so many questions. For years, these kinds of questions have kept people from really believing and trusting in God. Let’s look to the Bible for some answers, so you can understand how Christians are to deal with this.

When a man named Job found out that all his children had been killed when a violent wind caused his house to collapse, he mourned.

No doubt “Why, God?” had crossed Job’s mind. Many “whys” are recorded throughout the Old Testament book that bears his name.

But his prayer to the Lord after this family tragedy is most interesting and holds some keys to dealing with hardship: “‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’ In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (1:21–22).

There are a few things we can learn here. First, we came into this world with nothing, and we’ll leave with nothing. How God fulfills His purpose in our lives is up to Him. Job understood this, even though he was grieving. “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.” Most of His purposes and plans will not be understood in the present. So, we must rest in this fact when what appear to be unfair hardships or “untimely” deaths occur.

Second, Job didn’t blame God. He knew better. Through his pain and grief he knew that God’s ways were higher than his ways.

He knew God was incapable of wrongdoing. God has a plan for this world and for each life that only He knows and only He can 394

carry out. Christians believe that we must trust Him all the way to the grave.

Lastly, we live in a fallen and sinful world where bad things happen to both good and bad people. Jesus warned us that our lives would be filled with trouble (John 16:33). Therefore, it is somewhat futile to try to figure out the answer to a “why” question. We may not know whether God is bringing judgment, or something bad is happening because we live in an imperfect and flaw-filled world. So don’t try to figure out how an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God works. It is impossible.

Have you struggled with this issue of why? Our family did after my dad and father-in-law died just days apart. The key is to have faith in God’s master plan that He is intricately weaving throughout history. Find peace in the fact that He doesn’t desire that anyone should die without believing in Him. It takes faith to believe that God is in control, and that He has a purpose for everything. It is certainly okay to be sad and even upset when hardship and tragedy happens, but don’t turn your anger toward God. Christians believe that we will one day understand why He chose and acted and judged the way He did.

God never meant for man to experience pain and death. Adam and Eve were to live forever. God gave man and woman the ability to make choices. Unfortunately, they chose sin, and that sin is present in the hearts of all people. As a result, God told them, “For dust you are and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:19).

It is, however, important to remember that there are no innocent people. The book of Romans tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). As much as we wish it were true, nothing in creation, from the greatest to the least, measures up to God’s standard.

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Where Do Children Go When They Die? Let’s build off yesterday’s tough question. Today, we are dealing with a sensitive question that many skeptics ask: Do children and infants go to heaven or hell when they die? More specifically, Does a loving God send children to hell? In Christian circles, this often brings up an issue called the “age of accountability.” In other words, how old must a child be before God holds them accountable for understanding what it means to be saved? When do they know enough about God to exercise faith in Him? First, we must once again acknowledge that God is a God of love who “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). He doesn’t want “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

We must also repeat the last verse shared yesterday, that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are all “sinful at birth,” even from the moment of conception, according to Psalm 51:5. This is because we are a fallen race, fallen ever since Adam and Eve blew it in the Garden of Eden. However, just because babies are sinful, it doesn’t mean they can comprehend it.

There are some Bible passages worth investigating. King David had a child with a woman who was not his wife, and the baby boy died. After he mourned, he stated in 2 Samuel 12:23, “Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” David knew he would be reunited with his son in heaven.

In Deuteronomy 1:39, the Lord told Moses that his successor, Joshua, would lead the Hebrew people to what was called the Promised Land. God told Moses, “Your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land.” Here, the Lord is establishing that, until a certain age, children don’t have a proper understanding of morality, and thus God’s standards.

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The prophet Isaiah gave a message to King Ahaz of Judah about a boy soon to be born. Twice, the passage in chapter 7 refers to an undefined point when “the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right” (verses 15 and 16). What this age is for knowing right from wrong is unknown. One could argue that the Jews believe the age of accountability is around 12 or 13. At this age, they are expected to fully observe Jewish law.

It is important to note that on multiple occasions Jesus esteems the simple faith, humility, and unassuming nature of children, and declares that we must exemplify these traits to enter heaven. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

On a similar occasion, Jesus told the disciples, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). These verses certainly point to children being in heaven.

As we conclude, let me encourage you to place your trust in a God who is loving, but also righteous and just. He will make the right decision with the fate of each person who has ever lived, no matter their age.

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What about Those Who Have Never Heard?

Today’s question goes beyond “Why would a loving God send people to hell?” to a question specifically about those who have never heard of God. In the most remote places on earth, how can people even get a chance to learn about God, much less understand how to “be saved?”

Paul declares in Romans 1:20 that God has revealed “his eternal power and divine nature” to earth’s population, “so that people are without excuse.” Everyone lives in God’s creation, so, at some point, everyone will speculate as to how creation and all that is around them in nature came to be—or, more importantly, Who brought it into being.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 states that God has “set eternity in the human heart,” even if people don’t fully understand it. There is a thirst deep inside everyone that only God can satisfy (John 4:1–14).

Jesus said the entrance to heaven is narrow and “only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14). This means that the majority of people will not believe in Him. We may not understand why God would make it so—much less like it—but it is true nonetheless. (Remember, our feelings don’t dictate truth.)

All mankind is sinful from birth (Psalm 51:5) and falls short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23). God is loving, but also holy, just, and righteous (Isaiah 5:16), so to allow a sinful person into heaven goes against everything He says in the Bible. How could it be okay to absolve anyone of personal responsibility? If lifelong ignorance were a path to heaven, then the worst thing a Christian could do is tell someone about Jesus.

As we saw yesterday, God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but does want all people to be saved. There was and is no way for humans to be made right with God without a blood sacrifice to atone 398

for man’s sin (Hebrews 9:22). Salvation is only attainable through belief in Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5). It is the only way to heaven. This is the claim of Christianity.

Jesus tasks Christians with spreading the message of salvation to the world (Matthew 24:14; 28:19; Acts 1:8). Therefore, a nation or ethnic group’s failure to know about Jesus is at least partially due to believers failing to tell them. Many believers who complain about the unfairness of God are the very ones responsible for not obeying this directive from Jesus. They are instead staying at home and living their own lives.

There is hope that God will respond to the seeking of any and every individual on earth. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Hebrews 11:6 further echoes: “Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” See the story of Cornelius in Acts 10 as an example.

God has a plan for the entire world, including the most remote ethnic groups. Although man falls short of God’s standards, God made a path to salvation through His Son, Jesus. As a result, those who seek Him will indeed find Him. The Christian can and should have faith that a perfect and holy God who is loving, righteous, and just will sort everything out as it should be. In the meantime and with a sense of urgency and passion, the believer must share about Christ with others, from their own street corner to around the world.

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Conclusion So there you have it. We hope that you have been enlightened and encouraged to some degree, regardless of what you believe. Thank you for taking the time to read what two Christians believe about God—both from what the Bible says and from reason and evidence.

We have tried our best in the space provided to present a strong case for belief in God and His Son, Jesus.

In Christian circles, a Greek word is used to describe the defense of one’s faith. It is apologia, from which we get the word apologetics. Unfortunately, this word sounds like “apologize,” and this is what followers of Christ are not and should not be doing. That is why we haven’t used this word in our journey together. Rationally and respectfully sharing in favor of the Christian faith has been our goal. This journey was not necessarily meant as a be-all and end-all closing argument to win over the seekers and skeptics, but a helpful step on everyone’s journey, Christian and non-Christian alike.

Here is the inescapable reality regarding belief in Jesus Christ: rationale will only get you so far. At some point there is a measure of faith required to believe in Him. I get it; we are talking about believing in Someone who lived two thousand years ago and barely owned a thing. We have no original texts for any book in the Bible.

And the claim that Jesus made is the most audacious in history: you can be saved for eternity by believing in Him. Jesus is clear that you are not saved by doing good works, despite your schooling and your occupation pushing you to produce acceptable performances. Jesus already died for every bad thing you ever did or ever will do. And then God the Father raised Him from the dead. This act defeated death and its grip on your soul—but only if you believe. This is the ultimate act of faith. Hundreds of millions through the ages, perhaps more, have made that step of faith. And yet, the majority do not choose to believe.

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To the Christian, we hope that you have been encouraged in your walk with God, that you have been empowered to study further on your own, and that you are more confident in your dialogue with others. Reject the doubt and believe by faith, going forward better equipped to reason with others.

If you are a non-Christian, we hope you have felt you were treated with respect, and that you have reciprocated with a mind and heart open to the possibilities. In eternity, each person will be in one of only two groups: those with God and those away from God. This is the simplest description of the difference between heaven and hell.

God loves you so much that He provided a path to heaven. Here it is, simply explained in Romans 10:9: “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.” The gift of salvation, just like God’s love, is free. We hope you will consider taking this step of faith and believe.

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Are You Right about Prayer?

Joseph L. Williams

Table of Contents Preface...........................................................................................405 Prayer 101 .....................................................................................407 The Aaronic Blessing....................................................................409 When You Need a Miracle............................................................411 A Genuine Motive.........................................................................413 Listen for the Whisper..................................................................415 The Spiritual Battle.......................................................................417 Get Your Praise On.......................................................................419 When You Need a Good Cleansing...............................................421 I Want Justice—Now!...................................................................423 If It’s Most Important to a King . . . .............................................425 National Repentance.....................................................................427 A Deathbed Prayer........................................................................429 The Prayer of a Pained Man..........................................................431 The Plea of the Cupbearer.............................................................433 A Tale of Two Prayers...................................................................435 Mary’s Song..................................................................................437 Hypocrites and Babblers...............................................................439 The Lord’s Prayer.........................................................................441 Give Thanks or Get Eating?..........................................................443 God Has Ears................................................................................445

Jesus Prays for You.......................................................................447 A Battle of Wills............................................................................449 Pray for Your Enemies..................................................................451 Opposition and Boldness..............................................................453 Encouraging Words.......................................................................455 Hands-On Praying.........................................................................457 Praying for People Groups............................................................459 Worship Now, Worship Later........................................................461 What’s the Right Way to Pray? Part One......................................463 What’s the Right Way to Pray? Part Two......................................465

Preface I would venture to say that by adulthood nearly everyone on earth has prayed at least once. Maybe they were taught to pray at dinner or bedtime. Maybe they did it in an hour of desperation even though they weren’t sure anyone was listening.

Many religions involve prayer as a primary activity. Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, among others, encourage or require prayer. The nineteenth-century German atheist and philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach even summarized its role this way: “The most intimate essence of religion is revealed by the most simple religious act: prayer.”

This 30-day devotional is written from the perspective of Christianity. We believe, of course, that not only are we praying to the one true God, but that He hears our prayers because He loves us, not because we have finally gotten His attention.

Prayer is invaluable and irreplaceable to the Christian. I truly believe that. I have personally experienced the lows of feeling prayers go unanswered for years and the highs of sensing the unmistakable holy presence of God as I’ve prayed.

This devotional is part of a series that includes Are You Right about Heaven? and Are You Right about God? In addition to being spiritual resources for believers, all three target the skeptic and seeker as well. They focus on the main areas of Christianity about which people often have the most questions or concerns.

It is my sincere hope that you will find this study an effective catalyst for your own journey to a deeper prayer life. A greater intimacy with our great God awaits . . . .

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Prayer 101 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6–7 Would you agree that everyone on earth, regardless of “religious” belief, is looking for purpose and peace? This is what I love about the two verses above. Paul is telling us that we can achieve purpose and peace “in every situation” when we go to God in prayer.

Perhaps other than a belief in angels, there isn’t an aspect of Christianity that appeals to non-Christians more than prayer. It seems that in an hour of need, just about anyone is willing to give prayer a try. My brother serves as a physician in an emergency department and he offers to pray with every patient. Many say yes, including an atheist friend of mine who greatly appreciated the gesture.

It can seem hard and intimidating to try to have a conversation with someone who is not there in person. This is where faith comes in, believing God is always present, always listening, and responding as and when He sees fit.

Here is the problem: many Christians (and non-Christians) do not fully understand how to pray, when to pray, or what to pray. It’s not a mystery, but many don’t seem willing to take the time to study what God says about it in the Bible. That is the purpose of this 30day journey—to gain biblical knowledge about prayer and put it into practice.

The purpose of this devotional is not to show you how to pray certain prayers and get them answered. Our intention is to understand how various people in the Old and New Testaments prayed, including Jesus. Since Jesus is our perfect example, we will need to take a close look at His prayer life and how He prayed.

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Each day we will look at someone’s prayer in the Bible and try to extract a few nuggets from each gold mine. There isn’t enough room in this devotional format to detail every facet of each prayer, but we’ll try to accomplish what we can in the space provided. In the process, we will learn how to pray and how to have the right heart and attitude.

So, as we get started on this prayer-learning journey together, now would be a good time to stop and pray that God would use this time to give us further knowledge and a deeper prayer life.

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The Aaronic Blessing The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24–26 I think if you polled most parents—even non-Christian ones—they would tell you that they pray for their children. Most of them probably do so on an ongoing basis.

Admittedly, I did this more faithfully when my children were younger. It was easier to do when they were being put to bed. In addition to praying for whatever was going on in their lives at the time, I ended this prayer time by placing my hand on them (often on their forehead) and reciting a blessing. It is one sentence found in three verses in the Old Testament.

In the book of Numbers, God gave a man named Moses some detailed instructions on how the Israelites were to worship and live life.

As part of their religious structure, they had priests. The first high priest was a man named Aaron. The prayer for today was the blessing from God Himself for Aaron to pronounce over the Israelites.

By starting each phrase with “the Lord” (this is a translation of God’s personal name in Hebrew; see Exodus 3:14–15), God is putting His name on us (Numbers 6:27). That is powerful! Now, let’s look briefly at the two actions in each of the three verses to grasp the fuller meaning of the prayer: •

The Lord bless you and keep you—God will give His blessing, bestowing His power and productivity. The Hebrew word for “keep” means to guard or protect.

•

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you—God will show favor by illuminating Himself, bestowing His joy, and providing comfort and fullness.

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•

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace— God will give us His full attention and His peace. Specifically, the word for “peace” here is shalom and denotes bringing wholeness.

With the coming of Christ into the world and the salvation we have by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), God has given us life, peace, and blessing. We must believe it, and this prayer is a vivid reminder to embrace all that God gives us.

Just as the Lord blessed the Israelite people through the priests, I have used this prayer as a conduit for God to continually bless my children. I encourage you to do the same for the loved ones in your life.

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When You Need a Miracle Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.

1 Samuel 1:11 The Bible contains stories of several women who were unable to have children. Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was barren (Genesis 11:30).

So too were Rebekah, Isaac’s wife (Genesis 25:21); Rachel, Jacob’s wife (Genesis 29:31); Samson’s mother (Judges 13:2); Samuel’s mother, Hannah (1 Samuel 1:5–6); and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:7). Today we will look at Hannah.

Hannah was one of the two wives of Elkanah. While polygamy was not part of God’s plan (Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15), it was somewhat common in the culture of the day, especially when the first wife was barren. So, while Hannah could not bear children, Elkanah’s other wife could.

At some point after years of barrenness and during one of their family’s annual pilgrimages for a Jewish festival, Hannah went to the tabernacle to pray over her situation. This was no doubt one prayer in a long line of many lamenting her inability to have children. A priest named Eli witnessed her anguish and heard her reason for praying.

Hannah pledged to give her potential child to the Lord (similar to the Christian practice of child dedication at a church service).

Without getting into a long explanation, she made a Nazirite vow for her child (see Numbers 6). Her son would serve the Lord directly as a priest his whole life.

God chose to answer Hannah’s prayer for a miracle. She conceived and later had a son named Samuel. She named him this because it means “heard by God,” which is what God did with her prayer. And once the child was old enough, Hannah brought Samuel 412

to Eli at the tabernacle to begin his lifetime of service to the Lord.

She told Eli, “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:27–28).

Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1–11, sometimes referred to as the Song of Hannah, is her praise to God and His character. Psalm 113 no doubt also echoes Hannah’s heart after she conceived: “He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord” (verse 9).

Did God answer Hannah’s prayer for a miracle as she wanted?

Yes. Does God answer every prayer that is prayed? Of course He does. Does God answer every prayer the way we want? Of course He does not. Does He answer every prayer in the time span we want?

Unfortunately (in our opinion), often no.

At some point, we’re all faced with a situation where we’re hoping for a miracle. While we don’t know if God will respond in the miraculous way that we desire, we can take comfort that He does hear the prayers of those who try to live rightly (Proverbs 15:29), and that our prayers are effective when we try to do so (James 5:16).

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A Genuine Motive Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.

1 Kings 18:36–37 I have always admired the prayer of the prophet Elijah in this passage from 1 Kings. Let me set the stage first before we look at it further. Ahab was king of Israel and did incredible evil in the sight of the Lord. He married an evil woman—notorious to this day—named Jezebel. They led the people of Israel to worship two false gods, Baal (male) and Asherah (female).

God sent a prolonged drought as a punishment for their actions, and only through Elijah could the drought be lifted. It was time for a showdown between Ahab and Elijah and between their respective gods. What a spectacle it turned out to be.

Elijah faced down a king, 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 prophets of Asherah at a place called Mount Carmel. The people came to see and decide who they were going to follow. Who was the real God? It was agreed that the real God would cause fire to fall from heaven and ignite an altar. It’s worth noting that Baal was the god of lightning.

All day long, the prophets of Baal called and shouted out to their god to start the fire, even to the point of cutting themselves to try and get his attention, but to no avail. It was no surprise to Elijah that nothing happened.

It was now the God of Israel’s turn through Elijah. Just to make the point even more dramatic, Elijah instructed that his wooden altar be drenched in water three times. And then he prayed the simple prayer you read above. Elijah asked that God would allow the 414

people to see Him as real and that He would turn the people’s hearts back to Him. This prayer is a stark reminder that when my motive for prayer is simply for God to be glorified and to save the lost or those who have fallen away, He can do great things in and through me. This is not for me to boast as a result of what God may choose to do, but to glorify God. God indeed quickly sent fire from heaven and consumed everything on the altar, including the water. The people fell down in worship of the true God, who soon also sent rain on the drought-parched land. This was a further demonstration of who was real, since Baal was also supposed to be the god of storms.

You can never go wrong when your prayers are directed toward God glorifying Himself and asking Him to show Himself to the lost.

We know that, one day, “every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God” (Romans 14:11, quoting Isaiah 45:23).

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Listen for the Whisper After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

1 Kings 19:12 When we read God’s Word, we are also to stop and meditate on it and let the Holy Spirit show us certain details and meanings (Psalm 119:15–16). Similarly, prayer is a two-way street. It involves us talking to God, but also being still and waiting for what He might say to us in our spirit through the Holy Spirit who dwells in all who believe.

In Old Testament times, God would manifest Himself in amazing ways, such as in a pillar of cloud during the day and fire at night (Exodus 13:21), through smoke and fire (Exodus 19:18), and as a storm (Job 38:1). His presence is truly earthshaking. But He can also connect with us in the form of a whisper, as in today’s verse from 1 Kings 19.

Yesterday we looked at Elijah’s prayer during his showdown with the prophets of Baal. Despite the spiritual victory that was achieved that day, he went into hiding because he was being pursued

by Queen Jezebel.

Elijah reached a desperation point where he just wanted to die.

However, God sent an angel to care for his needs until he was restored. Elijah then traveled to a cave in a place called Horeb where he talked with God. He was still at a point of frustration with his fellow Israelites for forsaking God. God instructed Elijah to go to the entrance of the cave. A powerful wind blew, followed by an earthquake, and then a fire. After these impressive displays came a gentle whisper. Elijah recognized it as the voice of God. He then received instruction from God on what to do next.

Sometimes we wish God would announce Himself and His will 416

for our lives to the sound of trumpets and as clearly as a highway billboard or neon sign. The reality is, in the day-to-day grind of life, God may seem silent, so He must be continually pursued through personal time with Him. God later spoke to the Jewish people through the prophet Isaiah.

He encouraged them that “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21).

Similarly, Jesus sent His disciples out to witness throughout Israel. He said, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs” (Matthew 10:27). He will guide us if we are attuned to His Spirit. Make no mistake, this takes diligence and endurance.

Instead of “whisper,” the King James Version famously calls this “a still small voice.” Our lives are often so busy that I’m not sure we would recognize the voice of God even if He were using a loudspeaker! Being still in the midst of prayer takes practice, but it is a worthwhile discipline to develop so that we can hear Him as He hears us.

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The Spiritual Battle 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.

2 Kings 6:17 Aram was at war with Israel. The prophet Elisha (who succeeded the prophet Elijah) had warned the king of Israel about Aram’s military plans several times during the war. Naturally, this upset the king of Aram, who sent a large contingent of soldiers to capture Elisha.

They surrounded the city where he was staying.

Upon learning of this, Elisha’s servant panicked. Elisha’s response is our prayer lesson for the day: “‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them’” (2 Kings 6:16). Confronted with this dangerous reality but at peace because of God, Elisha prayed the simple prayer above.

He wanted his servant to see the spiritual reality around them. When this happened, the servant saw an army of angels larger than the human army sent for their capture.

There are really two points of emphasis I would like to make regarding this prayer. First, when we are faced with a difficult challenge, we should not panic but pray. Perhaps one of the most well-known passages on prayer (quoted in “Prayer 101,” page 407) should guide us in situations like these. Philippians 4:6–7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Notice the steps here: (1) don’t be anxious, (2) pray about it, and (3) God will give you peace. This doesn’t mean God solves everything to your liking, but He will give you peace regardless of the outcome.

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Second, this Old Testament story gives us the opportunity to talk about angels in the context of prayer. There is a spiritual battle raging around us that we can’t see (Ephesians 6:12). God will dispatch angels to your care (Psalm 91:11). However, there is no instance in the Bible where we are instructed to pray to angels. They are servants of God “who do his bidding” (Psalm 103:20). Elisha didn’t pray to the angels to show themselves; he prayed to the Lord. Jesus was clear that we pray to “our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9).

There is even a story in the book of Revelation about the Apostle John’s interaction with an angel where John starts to worship the angel as he would God. The angel responds, “Don’t do that . . .

Worship God!” (22:9). Our praise, worship, and prayers are for God and God alone.

Like He did for Elisha’s servant, may God give us the eyes to see the spiritual battle around us. And may we also go to Him in prayer during the battles we can see. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

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Get Your Praise On My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.

Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:21 Psalms is the name given to this book of the Bible by the translators of the Septuagint, the oldest Greek translation of the Old Testament. Its original Hebrew name is Tehillim, meaning “praises.”

Actually, there are several different types of psalms within the 150 chapters, including praises or hymns, psalms of thanksgiving, and laments. They are divided into five books: psalms 1–41, 42–72, 73–89, 90–106, and 107–150.

Psalms are songs. They are poetry. They are prayers. And they are rather emotional. Because of this, they help us in our communication with God. King David wrote around half of them. Other authors include Moses, Asaph, the sons of Korah, and King Solomon. Several authors are unknown, and their work is sometimes referred to as the “orphan” psalms. Today and tomorrow we will look at a praise and a lament from David.

Why should we praise God when we pray and when we sing?

Praising God reminds us of all His wonderful traits. It puts the focus on Whom it should be on and takes it away from our problems. Jesus instructs us in the Lord’s Prayer to begin in praise: “Hallowed [holy] is your name” (Matthew 6:9).

One of the psalms of praise is Psalm 145. Although it’s not obvious in English, this psalm is an alphabetic acrostic in the Hebrew language. (Each couplet begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which has 22 consonants. See Psalm 119 for a clearer example.) Perhaps structuring some psalms in this way demonstrates how God is our Everything from the aleph to the taw, or our “A to Z.” “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise” (verse 3). King 420

David is praising the true King and His attributes in this psalm: His majesty, wonderful works, great deeds, goodness, righteousness, graciousness, compassion, love, trustworthiness, faithfulness, and the list goes on.

Stop for a minute and read all of Psalm 145. I encourage you to grab a hard copy of the Bible. I have found there is something more intimate about reading in this way—without an electronic device.

Being able to flip through the pages for a cross-reference or to read a footnote is also helpful. And get in whatever room and body position you need to fully focus on these words as you praise the Lord today.

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When You Need a Good Cleansing Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 51:1 There is obviously no way to cover all the prayers that are found in the book of Psalms. It is a treasure trove of praise and worship of God. Your personal prayer time would benefit from both reciting them and using them as guidance for how to express your own heart of thanksgiving and reverence for the Lord.

One prayer is worth mentioning because it is incredibly helpful, not for praise and worship, but during a time of remorse over personal sin. Some of you will immediately know which psalm I am referring to: Psalm 51.

King David had committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba. To cover for his sin instead of confessing and repenting, he had Uriah shipped off to certain death in a war so that he could have Bathsheba for himself. Unfortunately, David succeeded.

God had to use Nathan the prophet to confront this selfish and sinful king who had shown no remorse for his actions. The words of Psalm 51 are the heart’s cry of David after Nathan helped him see the error of his ways. This is a great reminder that one of the roles believers have is to hold each other accountable.

We can find great comfort in this psalm because if we seek God, ask for forgiveness, ask for His mercy, and ask for His cleansing power to change our heart, He will move.

But it doesn’t stop there. We don’t just need His forgiveness. We don’t just need His restoration of close fellowship with Him. We also need a vibrant joy going forward (verses 8 and 12).

Acting in defiance of God’s standards creates a separation from Him. I can tell you from experience that when I am not walking well with the Lord, I feel a great distance from Him and don’t sense the 422

Holy Spirit guiding me. It is only when I recognize my selfishness and laziness, and come back to the Lord on my spiritual (and sometimes literal!) knees, do I then get restoration.

David had to learn the hard way that God calls us to be remorseful after sin. Our struggle against sin demonstrates that the love of God and the truth of His Word reside in our hearts. He wants this manifested through “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (verse 17). As a result, “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).

Lastly, it is worth mentioning how our past failures can help other believers. We can sound the warning to others not to follow in our footsteps (verse 13). So, take the time today to confess any and all sin. Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart so that you fully embrace God’s forgiveness, turn from the sin, experience God’s joy again, and share this journey with others.

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I Want Justice—Now! Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.

Psalm 7:9 Let’s look at one more prayer by David. It is another psalm he wrote that appeals to God for justice. It is believed that he wrote this in the context of being unjustly pursued by King Saul and his men (see 1 Samuel 23–24).

First, let’s acknowledge that there is a lot of injustice in this world. It is certainly not exclusive to our day and age, but has been going on for millennia. Seeing children starving, watching the vulnerable being used as pawns for the agenda of the powerful, enduring political promises that can’t or won’t be kept, witnessing the media push a narrative instead of reporting the news, hearing of someone being senselessly killed, and the list can go on and on and on. It can be disheartening to the point of resignation.

In this psalm, David acknowledges that God is his refuge. He also examines his own heart to make sure it is in the right place, asks the Lord to deal with those against him, and ends with praise to God. We can take comfort that God does not sit on His throne and watch injustice with indifference: “God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day” (Psalm 7:11).

At the same time, we are not called to complacency. God expects His people to stand up for the weak and vulnerable. Isaiah 1:17 states: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

Proverbs further admonishes us: “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (31:9).

Make no mistake, God will bring full justice (Deuteronomy 32:35)—but not yet. This happens after the Second Coming of Jesus, 424

when every person will be judged. Those who believe in Him will be saved. Those who don’t will reap the fruit of their sins. “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels” (2 Thessalonians 1:6–7).

In the meantime, let us pray for justice, realizing that all will be fairly judged by God in the end. Let us also act in the here and now by advocating for justice for the poor and needy.

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If It’s Most Important to a King . . .

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?

1 Kings 3:9 It could be debated whether 1 Kings 3:6–9 is an actual prayer (also found in 2 Chronicles 1). God appeared to Solomon in a dream and the two spoke together. Since prayer is a line of communication with God, I believe it is appropriate to view Solomon’s words in the context of prayer, especially because he is expressing his heart to God. When I read this passage as a teenager, it deeply impacted me.

This was the wisest man of his day. The very next chapter states Solomon had “a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore” (4:29). People from all over the known world came to hear him speak.

He was gifted at writing poetry and song, composing 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs, to be exact. He was also knowledgeable of all manner of plant and animal life. Perhaps his crowning achievement was the construction of the elaborate First Temple in Jerusalem.

In the dream, God told Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon responded by first acknowledging his father David’s good relationship with the Lord and the Lord allowing Solomon to succeed him on the throne.

Most scholars and historians put Solomon somewhere in his twenties when he became king. For whatever reason, perhaps because of his age, he did not feel adequate to succeed his father. The passage states that he was overwhelmed by the number of people under his care. So instead of asking for a long and prosperous life free of war and conflict, he simply asked for wisdom.

In response to this display of humility, maturity, and a pure motive, God chose not only to bless him with the requested knowledge 426

and wisdom, but also to give Solomon what he didn’t ask for: “wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have” (2 Chronicles 1:12). Amazing!

The moral of the story is not that you should pray for wisdom and in turn God will give you that and more, because that is not asking with a pure heart. Rather, we should “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33) according to God’s will. Therefore, “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).

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National Repentance 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 King Solomon had just finished the temple for the Jewish people.

The temple was the center of Jewish religious life and where they offered special prayers to the Lord—because that was the earthly location where His glory resided. Praise the Lord that He now dwells in each believing heart and a temple is not necessary to be with Him! The king gave an impassioned prayer in the previous chapter of 2 Chronicles. Solomon began his prayer with worship to God. He also asked for the Lord to restore His people whenever He might bring judgment due to their disobedience, whether in the form of a lost war, a lack of rain, famine or plague, or captivity.

After Solomon finished his prayer and God’s glory came over the temple, the people echoed with one voice their praise to God: “He is good; his love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 7:3). Many animal sacrifices were then made to honor God. Aren’t you glad that Jesus was the final and lasting sacrifice of blood that would forgive all our sins?!

Soon thereafter, the Lord appeared to Solomon at night. He told the king that He was honored by the temple and would hear their prayers. However, if they turned from God, He would turn from them and calamity would come. Unfortunately, this is what happened to Israel. They turned away from God, worshiped other gods, and pursued their own selfish desires. The temple was eventually destroyed and so was the nation.

Like Israel, America was dedicated to God. The difference was that God chose Israel, while the US “chose” to dedicate itself to God 428

in its founding documents. As a result, it is reasonable to expect God to have a similar relationship with America as He did with Israel. There is a cause and effect. If our country honors God, He will honor us. If we don’t honor God, judgment will eventually come.

However, if judgment does come (such as in the form of a terrorist attack or pandemic) and we humble ourselves and pray, He will bring restoration.

That’s the purpose of this type of corporate prayer on a national level. God’s people must first come together in humility and repent (turn away) from the sins of their land, and He will offer forgiveness and healing. See Daniel 9 for another example of prayer for a nation. May this kind of powerful prayer take place in our country.

Until then, let us keep praying that America would return to its spiritual roots.

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A Deathbed Prayer Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

2 Kings 20:2–3 Hezekiah was a good king who reigned for nearly 30 years. He “trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him” (2 Kings 18:5).

About halfway through his reign, Hezekiah became deathly ill.

Apparently, he had a boil that became so infected that it threatened his life. This took place during the time when the prophet Isaiah was prominent. Isaiah told Hezekiah to put his house in order because he was going to die. The good news for Hezekiah was that even before Isaiah had left the king’s palace, God conveyed to the prophet that a different outcome would take place.

There seem to be three ways that God can answer a prayer for physical healing. He can heal through an act of His divine power.

He can also bring healing through modern medicine. Or He can say no and eventually the person will die if it is a terminal condition (all our bodies are terminal).

In this case, healing came through a known remedy of the day—a paste made of figs applied to the infected area. Three days later, Hezekiah was healed. God chose to answer the king’s prayers favorably. The Lord even performed a supernatural sign to prove He would heal him (2 Kings 20:8–11).

This story of serious illness is a good reminder that death is not the end, but is the beginning of a glorious and perfect eternal existence. When God brings physical death, we will never have a fallen and broken body again. So even physical death brings healing in a manner of speaking.

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Regardless, no doubt everyone reading this has prayed for someone they cared about who was sick or dying. We have all lost loved ones. And yet, God does hear our prayers. Even if He brings healing for a season, our bodies are all destined to die. The question is whether we know where we are going after death.

So, as you pray for your own healing or someone else’s, know that God hears your prayers and will answer them in His way and in His time. While we know the ultimate outcome for our physical bodies in this life, we don’t know what His plans are for an illness.

And so we pray.

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The Prayer of a Pained Man Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”

And God granted his request.

1 Chronicles 4:10 The above prayer came to the forefront of American Christian culture after Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book entitled The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to a Blessed Life in 2000. It sold nine million copies in the two years that followed. It was promoted that if you read the prayer daily, God would honor your prayers and respond.

More on this at the end.

From this Bible passage we are told that Jabez was an honorable man, more so than his brothers. Apparently, his birth was a tough delivery, so his mother gave him a name that in Hebrew sounds like the word for pain. In biblical times, names held special meaning. They often indicated the kind of person that a child would grow up to be.

Now let’s break down the four parts of this prayer: • • • •

Bless me: This phrase is fairly self-explanatory. Jabez wants God to bless him as He sees fit.

Enlarge my territory: He wants God to give him more to do for God’s glory. Think larger impact, not more land.

Let your hand be with me: Be favorable to Jabez. He can’t fulfill God’s plan without God’s supply or help.

Keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain: Jabez is rejecting his own name. He doesn’t want to be the giver or receiver of pain.

I will admit to you that I read Bruce Wilkinson’s book and was motivated to recite the prayer daily for a while. God chose to enlarge 432

my ministry territory so much that I stopped praying it! I was overwhelmed and felt too weak to handle what was on my plate. I prayed in faith that God could do it. According to His will and not mine, He chose to enlarge my territory for His glory.

This is NOT a materialistic prayer asking God for financial prosperity and the pain-free life that supposedly goes along with wealth.

When we become believers, our lives cease to be our own—at least that is our aim. Therefore, when we pray like Jabez did, we are asking through a spiritual lens. We want God to bless us so we can bless others. We want our territory enlarged so that more lives can be touched by the love of Jesus. We want what God wants. We don’t dictate how, when, or to what degree He answers prayers like these.

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The Plea of the Cupbearer Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.

Nehemiah 1:11 The people of Israel had been exiled for some time. King Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed Jerusalem some 140 years earlier. Previous attempts to rebuild its walls had failed (Ezra 4).

Boundary walls have been an irreplaceable component of villages, towns, and cities throughout the centuries. After all, an area’s inhabitants were basically defenseless from ill-intentioned outsiders without fortification.

An Israelite named Nehemiah was burdened with the state of Jerusalem. He was cupbearer to the king of Persia, Artaxerxes I, in the mid-fifth century BC. This occupation might seem a bit strange—to have one of your main duties be drinking the king’s wine to make sure it wasn’t poisoned. In the custom of the day, however, the cupbearer would have also been the bearer of the king’s signet ring as well as be in charge of finances. It is fair to assume, then, that being in this position meant Nehemiah was an honorable man who was trusted by Artaxerxes.

Still, in order to rebuild the wall, Nehemiah had to ask the very king who had stopped a previous attempt to rebuild it. Nehemiah surely needed to pray about this. His prayer in Nehemiah 1:5–11 is a great precursor to the Lord’s Prayer. Stop and read the six verses of this prayer now.

Notice the progression of topics. It starts with praising God in verse five: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” Nehemiah then asked that God be attentive 434

to his prayer because he had been constantly praying on behalf of the people of Israel, confessing his own sins, his family’s sins, and the sins of his people. He was well aware of God’s history with His people through their faithful and unfaithful times. He also knew of God’s promise to them that if the people returned to Him and were obedient to His commands, God would bring them back to the land of Israel. The problem was, there wasn’t much to go back to, so the land needed to be rebuilt, starting with the city wall. Otherwise, Jerusalem was defenseless.

Nehemiah closed his prayer by asking the Lord to hear him and respond favorably through the king’s response “today.” Interestingly, it was four months from when Nehemiah first became burdened by the wall until he asked the king. Perhaps God was making it clear as to the right time to ask. We know the wait was eating at Nehemiah, because his visible distress caused the king to ask what was wrong (2:1–2). Artaxerxes heard Nehemiah’s request and responded favorably. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Jerusalem’s walls were rebuilt in 52 days despite opposition (Nehemiah 6:15), and the people began to return home. God’s will is accomplished in His way and in His time. We just need to be steadfast with our prayers and have faith that He is listening.

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A Tale of Two Prayers But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.

Jonah 2:6 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.

Jonah 4:3 We’re all familiar with the story of Jonah and the “whale.” Unfortunately, most churches only treat this as a story for kids, just as they do Noah’s ark. It has been reduced to the level of a cartoon or children’s play. As a result, it’s not taken too seriously by adults. That’s a mistake.

Jonah is a great example of the tug-of-war between our carnal (worldly) self and our service to God. The Lord asks us to do things that we try to avoid. Perhaps we eventually obey, but things don’t play out the way we had in mind and we become disillusioned. This is Jonah’s story in a nutshell.

There are two prayers of Jonah that demonstrate this reality. The first prayer is while Jonah is stuck in his fish prison. It is a beautifully poetic description of how God rescues us in our distress when we cry out to Him. Jonah was stubborn and had not obeyed God’s charge to warn the people of Nineveh that judgment was coming. So, during a storm at sea, Jonah was swallowed up by a giant fish (not necessarily a whale). He spent three nights in its stinky belly thinking over his decision, and ultimately prayed this first prayer (2:2–9).

After the fish finally ejected him onto dry land, Jonah obeyed and warned Nineveh. To Jonah’s apparent disappointment, the king and the people heeded his warning and repented. He found an overlook from which to view God’s impending judgment on the city, but became angry in his prayer because God extended mercy (4:1–4).

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The hypocrisy is telling: Jonah was grateful for God’s mercy on him while in the fish, but got upset when God extended that same mercy to a city of 120,000 people.

This is just like us. We can be hot toward the Lord one minute and swivel 180 degrees the very next minute. We can be grateful for what God has done for us one day and upset that things don’t go as we expect the next.

There are two quick reminders from the words of Paul and Jesus that would be helpful for our prayers. Even when we are stuck in a hard place like Jonah was in the fish, we must strive “to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). God is in control.

Second, as God moves, we need to trust in His wisdom and sovereignty even when we don’t agree with or like how things have turned out. Just as Jesus prayed, “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). God is in control.

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Mary’s Song My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Luke 1:46–47 We will now transition to the New Testament and look especially at how Jesus prayed. But first, we are going to start with His mother, Mary. After she conceived through the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, she sang a prayer to the Lord.

God had a plan for Mary. When the angel conveyed the news to her about what was to happen, he twice referred to her as favored (Luke 1:28, 30). The Greek word used here is charis, which means grace or undeserved favor. Neither she nor we deserve God’s salvation or His favor, but He extends it nonetheless.

Mary’s prayer in response is known as the Magnificat because this is the Latin word for “[my soul] glorifies” used in the first phrase of the prayer as shown above. This aptly describes the focus of Mary’s heart: praising God. It’s worth noting here a similar pattern to Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2. Just as Mary rejoiced and praised God through prayer, Hannah had done so over a millennium earlier. They both proclaimed the holiness and sovereignty of God and the joy of salvation. They acknowledged that God lifts up the humble and feeds the hungry.

These are good prayer tips for us.

There are two points in particular I would like to make regarding Mary and her prayer that pertain to us. First, we need to believe that God can do amazing things through us “ordinary” people. Second, we need to praise God in advance for what He is going to do in our lives.

Here was Mary, an unmarried virgin likely from a poor family, chosen to be the mother of the Savior of the world. You might be thinking, How could God’s calling for my life compare with how 438

He used Mary? True, it was one job that will never be repeated. But there is still much work the Lord plans to get done by using us.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (emphasis added). Jesus also said that “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” (John 14:12).

God has a plan for you. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). It doesn’t mean there won’t be hard times. It doesn’t mean you won’t stumble. He uses us anyway in amazing ways for His glory, and so He is worthy of our prayers and praise—before, during, and after.

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Hypocrites and Babblers Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:8 Now, let’s focus on Jesus and prayer. Matthew chapters 5 through 7 are full of timeless advice for all Christians. This passage of the Bible is known as the Sermon on the Mount. In this familiar message, Jesus covers a myriad of topics from murder to adultery to loving one’s enemies to fasting to worrying to judging people.

What we are of course looking for in this famous sermon are some instructions on prayer. Thankfully, Jesus addresses this very topic. We will look at part of chapter 6 over the next two days, for it contains helpful teachings on prayer.

Tomorrow, we will look at what is known as the Lord’s Prayer, found in verses 9–13. Just prior to this perfect prayer, Jesus briefly admonishes us both on how to pray and how not to pray. This is not an exhaustive description by any means, but these details set the stage for Jesus to teach us more specifically about what to pray for.

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•

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What not to do: Just as Jesus warns about giving publicly at the beginning of this chapter, He encourages us not to pray in front of others to impress them. Both of these improper actions are aimed at gaining attention.

What to do: To help our prayers be honest and sincere, it is good to pray privately. This removes the temptation to impress others and helps us reduce distractions.

What not to do: Don’t pray repetitively, stating the same words over and over again in hopes of earning God’s attention. Some translations phrase this as “babbling like pagans” or “vain repetitions,” and these prayers do not impress God. 440

•

What to do: Since God is all-knowing, He is already aware of what we’re going to ask for. What He is looking for are simple, heartfelt prayers that reflect the genuine desires of our heart.

As we transition to the Lord’s Prayer tomorrow, let’s remember that we don’t need to make a spectacle of our prayers. We also don’t need to act as if saying things enough times will earn God’s attention. Think of praying as a conversation with your father—because that’s what it is. The big difference, however, is that instead of talking to an imperfect, sinful father, we have a perfect, loving Father who knows what we’re going to pray before we pray—and our motives for doing so.

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The Lord’s Prayer This, then, is how you should pray: Matthew 6:9 The best known and most recited prayer in the Bible is found in Matthew 6:9–13. In just five verses, Jesus provides a clear pattern on which to model our prayers to God. There are six parts to the prayer: the first three focus on God’s sovereignty and the last three focus on our need for Him. Perhaps the best way to explain each part of the prayer is to list the prayer line by line along with some simple clarification.

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Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name—This clarifies Who we are praying to and where He currently is. Worship should start our prayers. “Hallowed” simply means holy. Praise God for all His wonderful attributes!

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Your kingdom come—All of creation belongs to God. All believers eagerly await the day when God will send His Son to establish His kingdom forever.

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Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven—We should acknowledge our desire to see God’s will accomplished in the world, just as it currently is in heaven. We do not seek Him to fulfill our will.

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Give us today our daily bread—Just as God provided daily manna in the wilderness for the Israelites (Exodus 16), He will do so for all believers. We don’t need to worry about tomorrow, but only the needs of the day.

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And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors—Our sins are like debts before God. We should forgive others because God has offered forgiveness to us.

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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one—The original Greek word peirasmos, translated “temptation,” means testing. It is understood as asking God to help us not sin when we are tested. It is also a reminder that the devil is real and working against us.

•

(Some later manuscripts of this passage end with “for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”)

So, the Lord’s Prayer could be summarized in six steps. These can provide the framework to guide your prayers: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Acknowledge God and worship Him Pray that He establishes His kingdom Pray for His will to be done Ask for your basic needs to be met Confess your sins Ask for help to resist future sin

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Give Thanks or Get Eating?

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.

John 6:11 Do believers need to pray before every meal? For many Christian families, it is easy to do because of our gratitude toward God, but it can also just become a habit that requires little thought. Unfortunately, I’ve found that I can be very good at flippant prayers.

As is the norm for followers of Christ, our best bet is to mimic Jesus’ words and actions. Today, we’ll look at the specific topic of “giving thanks” at mealtime, but we’ll also look at the bigger picture.

There are some specific instances when Jesus prayed before food was consumed. Two of these occurred after He preached to very large gatherings of people. Most people are aware of the story “The Feeding of the Five Thousand” found in all four Gospels, but perhaps you’re not aware of “The Feeding of the Four Thousand” found in Matthew and Mark. On both occasions, Jesus looked up to heaven and gave thanks before distributing the food.

Perhaps the most important meal mentioned in the New Testament is the Last Supper that Jesus had with His disciples before His betrayal and death. On that fateful night, Jesus prayed before sharing the bread and wine after the Passover meal.

There is another instance where it is recorded that Jesus prayed before eating. It was after the resurrection when He met two disciples on the road to Emmaus and later shared a meal with them.

When they sat down to eat, according to Luke 24:30, Jesus “took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.” (Paul also prayed before eating in Acts 27:35).

So, it seems to be an open and shut case that we should give 444

thanks before eating. It’s a reminder that God is our Provider and food in particular should not be taken for granted.

However, our gratitude to the Lord should encompass all areas.

King David declares in 1 Chronicles 16:34 and at the beginning of multiple psalms, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” According to Paul, we should “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

As I begin each day with a brief time of prayer, I always start with the same expression of thanks. I tell the Lord, “Thank you for this day. Every day is a gift from You.” This prayer, although repetitive, has not become a stale habit because every time I say it, I try to embrace the true gift that life really is and convey my desire to make that day count for God’s glory.

So, I encourage you to pray before every meal and give thanks to God. Make sure, though, that your gratitude to God is expressed throughout the day as well.

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God Has Ears Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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.”

John 11:41–42 One of my favorite movies growing up was The Princess Bride.

Without going into the details, at one point the hero is seemingly dead. However, a character named Miracle Max declares he is merely “mostly dead.”

This humorous scene stands in stark contrast to the sorrow surrounding the death of a friend of Jesus named Lazarus. I guess you could say that Lazarus was not mostly dead, but temporarily dead.

There is a wonderful nugget of truth to be found in John’s account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

As you know if you’ve read the story, Lazarus was the brother of Martha and of Mary, the latter being the one who poured expensive perfume on Jesus as a foreshadowing of His death and burial. The sisters got word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill, but Jesus tarried where He was, presumably for ministry purposes.

In the meantime, Jesus stated to the disciples and later to the sisters that Lazarus would not stay dead from the illness he had (John 11:4, 11, 23). And yet, by the time of Jesus’ arrival to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead and in the tomb for four days. In a display of love and compassion, Jesus wept with the family in the midst of their grief.

Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus prayed a very simple prayer that contains the important truth about prayer for today.

He said to God, “I thank you that you have heard me.” Now, it’s one thing to believe that God hears Jesus’ prayers, but does He hear ours as well?

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It is important to know that the Bible supports itself without contradiction. It stands to reason, then, that there would be other Scripture that affirms the truth that God hears our prayers. Indeed, that is the case. Proverbs 15:29 clearly declares, “He hears the prayer of the righteous.” First Peter 3:12 similarly states of the Lord that “his ears are attentive” to the prayers of the righteous. What peace we can have knowing that the one true God hears the prayers of mere mortals!

First John 5:14–15 spells it out even more clearly: “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.”

We’ll cover this second verse in a couple of days. Until then, find great peace in the fact that God loves you and He hears you.

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Jesus Prays for You My prayer is not for [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

John 17:20–21 There is perhaps very little I find more comforting than the fact that Jesus prayed for you and me on the night He was betrayed. Think about that reality for a minute. He was about to die on the cross for your sins and mine. In His humanness, He was greatly troubled by what was about to take place. But Jesus was also concerned about us.

John chapter 17 records a long prayer by Jesus. It is divided into three sections in modern Bibles. In the first five verses He prays that God would be glorified through His life. In the next 14 verses He prays for His disciples that God would continue to purify them and protect them from Satan as they journey forward without him.

In the final seven verses, Jesus prays for all believers beyond the original disciples—that would be us. Let’s briefly look at what He prays for us, and then consider whether we are doing our part to honor His prayer. Stop and read the prayer now.

There are two main points to Jesus’ prayer for us. First, He prays that we would be one (verse 21). Even more explicitly, He wants all believers to be in “complete unity” (verse 23). The result of achieving this is that the world will believe in God’s love and His offer of salvation.

Now ask yourself honestly, Is there even remotely any unity in the Body of Christ in America or the world? I’m not sure there could be any more discord. From the constant creation and splitting of denominations to vehement disagreements on basic tenets of the faith, it is a truly disheartening scene. We have not demonstrated being one body.

Let’s pray harder for unity and then seek to build bridges with 448

other believers in our communities and beyond. The change has to start with each one of us.

Second, Jesus wants us to see His glory and receive His love and guidance. Jesus longs to be reunited with us in person. Until then, He desires that we experientially know God’s love and sense His guidance through the Holy Spirit. What great comfort can be found in this desire of Jesus for us. The question is, Has this prayer come true in your life?

Let’s diligently pray that we would see God’s presence strongly manifested in and through us. Let’s also find great peace and joy in the fact that Jesus prayed for us and continues to do so. Ever since His ascension to heaven, He has been with God the Father “interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). Hallelujah!

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A Battle of Wills “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you.

Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Mark 14:36 On that same fateful evening when Jesus prayed for us, there is something else that He prayed. In a desperate period of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to His betrayal, trial, torture, and crucifixion, Jesus asked God to remove this incredible burden. I mean, really, who would naturally embrace such a future? And yet, Jesus knew that His Father should be trusted at all costs, not just in the general sense, but with this specific prayer request. And yet, not my will, but God’s will be done.

If we’re honest with ourselves, a lot of our prayers tend to be what we would like to see happen. A loved one is sick and we want healing. A friend lost his job and we want him to get another job that has opened up. A high school student doesn’t get accepted into her college of choice. We battle against God’s will when it doesn’t match our own.

Do you know why God doesn’t answer based on our will? It’s because He is the one and only God. Only He sees the big picture.

He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9–10). Why would He trust the will of finite humans over His? So, let’s revisit 1 John 5:14–15, because this passage recalls Jesus’ prayer in John 17. In verse 15 it says that God hears our prayers and grants our requests. The problem is, many Christians are guilty of leaving out verse 14 and only quote verse 15 as if God is a genie required to answer favorably any prayer. The reality is that He indeed does hear the prayer.

The distinction, however, is that only if it is according to His will, will He answer with a yes. So, pray with confidence knowing that God hears the prayers of the people who seek Him, and trust that His will is perfect.

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What we don’t realize or perhaps appreciate is that God has a plan. Yes, He hears our prayers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean our requests are congruent with His will. Maybe our sick loved one will have a greater ministry to others who are sick. Maybe our friend needs to say no to the prospective job because it’s settling for something good instead of God’s best. Perhaps God has a different path for the high school graduate.

Jesus had to die for the sins of the world. It was God’s will. Now, like Jesus, we must be willing to die to our desires and wishes and submit to the God who loves us and hears our prayers. It’s all about submission and obedience. I want what He wants for me. I hope the same is true for you.

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Pray for Your Enemies While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Acts 7:59–60 As the early church grew, seven men were appointed to take care of the widows. One of them was Stephen, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5).

The number of Christians grew even more, and so did the opposition. Persecution broke out. Stephen was brought before the Jewish religious leaders, where he gave an impassioned account of their history from Abraham to Jesus. By the end of Stephen’s speech, however, the leaders rejected his words as blasphemy and proceeded to drag him out of the city for stoning (the punishment for blasphemy).

It was in this fleeting moment and with his final breaths that Stephen spoke a simple prayer with two parts. Stephen asked the Lord to welcome him into His presence and to forgive the very ones who were killing Him. It is this second part that we will focus on today.

Stephen had every right to be angry at his murderers. He had every right to desire God’s justice and for his life to be spared. Maybe he had these feelings—we don’t know. What we do know is what came out of his mouth, and that was a prayer to God that He would have mercy on them. Amazing!

Surely, we do not have the ability to pray such a prayer by our own resolve. Only the Holy Spirit can give us the boldness to do so. Remember that Jesus directed us to pray this way in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts [or sins], as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Even on the cross, enduring incredible agony, Jesus still asked that His enemies be forgiven: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

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God expects us to show mercy to others just as He has shown mercy to us. Jesus shared a parable in Matthew chapter 18 about how we must forgive “seventy-seven times” (verse 22), or as many times as it takes. The only way to achieve this spirit of forgiveness is through the power of the Holy Spirit and by praying for it.

Jesus directs us to take things one step further. We don’t just pray for our enemies. We don’t just have mercy on our enemies. We should also love them. Talk about flying in the face of our self-centered human logic! And yet that is what He directs us to do: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Likewise, Paul says in Romans 12:14, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Do you have the courage and the heart to pray such a prayer?

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Opposition and Boldness Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

Acts 4:29–30 Jesus had ascended to heaven. Judas the betrayer was replaced. A massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit had just occurred at Pentecost.

Peter addressed the amazed onlookers and told them about Jesus.

On a day not long after, Peter and John were in the temple and healed a lame beggar. This created another public commotion, so Peter spoke to the growing crowd about Jesus. The religious leaders were distressed by what was being said, so they had Peter and John put in prison. The two apostles stood before the leaders the next day and proclaimed the Gospel once again. Since the healed man was in their midst, they couldn’t refute the miracle, yet they admonished Peter and John to keep quiet.

When these two disciples were reunited with the other believers, they prayed and thanked God for the experience. What they specifically prayed about is the point for today. Once again, they started with praise and worship of God. They then recounted how everyone conspired against Jesus and crucified Him. They closed with the prayer request shown above. In other words, they prayed for boldness in the midst of opposition, in the face of persecution.

This is another example of loving your enemies.

As recorded in the very next chapter of Acts, the disciples continued to boldly proclaim the message about salvation through Jesus Christ. The religious leaders didn’t like it and had them arrested once again, this time with flogging. How did they respond? Did they want to be spared? Did they abandon their faith? No! They left “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering 454

disgrace for the Name” (5:41). God gave them boldness and peace.

When Jesus prayed for the disciples on the night He was betrayed, He didn’t pray for their escape from hard times. Instead, He prayed this: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15). We know that more opposition and persecution did indeed come for the early believers. Eventually, all but one of the twelve disciples would be martyred for their faith.

So often, God doesn’t deliver us from pain, but instead helps us through it. Do you remember the bold stand that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego took against King Nebuchadnezzar? As a result of their boldness, they were to be thrown into a blazing furnace.

They were fully prepared to die for their faith, but they also knew that God could deliver them if He so chose. Read Daniel chapter 3 to see how it turned out!

Through prayer, may we display this measure of boldness and peace in the midst of any future opposition that may come against our faith.

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Encouraging Words May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 Around half of the New Testament was written or dictated by Paul.

He wrote to specific believers and to communities in places like Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica. These were (or are) all located in what is now Italy, Greece, and Turkey.

Previously, Paul had made missionary journeys to these locations and more, and was now writing letters of encouragement to the believers as well as addressing some of the issues troubling the church at each place.

What we would like to focus on today is the fact that in these letters he would also often share with his recipients how he had been specifically praying for them. His prayers are a great example of how we can pray for other believers. We are to lift each other up when we are together, and we are to lift each other up when we are apart. Two of the main ways we can do that are prayer and sending encouraging messages.

At this point, I think it is important to list several of Paul’s prayers so that you can read them on your own. This is not nearly an exhaustive list, but the ones I would like to highlight today are: • • • • • •

Romans 15:5–6, 13 Ephesians 1:15–23; 3:14–21 Philippians 1:3–6, 9–11 Colossians 1:3–14 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 456

In these selected passages, Paul prays that the Christians in Rome would have unity, joy, peace, and hope. He prays for the Ephesians to gain wisdom, revelation, and power. For the church in Philippi, he prays for love and righteousness. Paul prays much for the Colossians, that they would gain knowledge, be fruitful, endure, and have patience. For Thessalonian believers, he prays for spiritual fruit such as faith and strength.

Let me encourage us to pray as Paul did. Pray for other believers. Pray for their strengths. Pray for their weaknesses. Pray that they may grow in their faith and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22–23.

One helpful practice that works with several of Paul’s prayers is to insert into them the name of the person you’re praying for.

Praying Scripture over someone is a powerful experience that can have an incredible impact, so it should be an integral part of your prayer life.

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Hands-On Praying While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:2–3 Today, we’re going to look at the laying on of hands while praying for someone. This is not the same as holding hands while praying, which might be done as you’re giving thanks before a meal or having some prayer time with others. These are traditions, not something we are directed to do by Scripture. Certainly, holding hands while praying can be a genuine expression of love and unity.

There are several instances in the Bible of laying hands on someone during prayer because they were being commissioned or sent out in ministry. In the Old Testament, there are two instances of note. The Lord instructed Moses to have the Israelites lay hands on the priests as they began their service (Numbers 8:9–11). He also instructed Moses to lay hands on Joshua as his successor (27:18–21).

The disciples and church leaders in Jerusalem prayed over and laid hands on the seven men chosen to look after the widows (Acts 6:1–6). The leaders of the church at Antioch did the same with Paul and Barnabas as they left on a missionary journey (Acts 13:1–3).

Church elders also laid their hands on Timothy (1 Timothy 4:14).

Jesus and the disciples laid hands on the sick to heal them. There are also instances when Peter and John, and later Paul, placed their hands on people so that they would receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14–17; 19:1–7). And everyone is fond of the well-known account of Jesus laying His hands on the little children and blessing them (Matthew 19:13–15).

I used to lay my hands on my children when I would pray the Aaronic blessing over them at bedtime. Our extended family has laid 458

hands on the grandkids when they left for college. We just prayed over the first grandchild entering the workforce after completing college. I, too, had leaders lay hands on me and pray for me when I was ordained.

Hopefully, you are a member of a church that practices laying on of hands and praying for those entering ministry, going on mission trips, dedicating children to the Lord, etc. If you have children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews, I hope you will also bless them as you pray for them just as Jesus did.

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Praying for People Groups And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:10 Let’s talk a little about race and culture and then tie this into prayer.

The Bible clearly states that we are one race, the human race. Everyone is descended from Adam and Eve (Acts 17:26) and is made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27). Differing skin colors are merely differences in the amount and type of melanin produced by specialized cells in the skin.

Ever since the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), man has been divided into language and culture groups. However, in Christ, we are all one. His love bridges all differences.

In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus lists many signs that will precede His Second Coming. They are somewhat vague, and many a Christian has tried to apply them to their situation and era. However, there is one sign that does have specificity, and it can be found in verse 14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

The Greek word used here for “nations” is ethnos, and Jesus is saying that when His lifesaving message has been preached to all ethnic or people groups, then He will return. Mission organizations like the Joshua Project and Finishing the Task are attempting to track the progress of reaching each people group, but only God knows exactly when this feat will be accomplished.

The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of the future reality of all ethnic groups worshiping God in person around His throne in chapter 7: “There . . . was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” (verse 9). This is a direct fulfillment of Matthew 24:14. Can you just imagine this assembly—and the fact that you will be an active part in it? Here we 460

worship God in prayer. One day, we will worship Him in person! We will look at this tomorrow.

Until then, we need to pray that the Lord would return soon (“Your kingdom come” in the Lord’s Prayer). Near the very end of the book of Revelation, John prays, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (22:20).

We also need to pray for those who have not heard about Jesus.

The primary way they hear is by Christians going out into all the world and sharing about Him. We must pray that believers would be obedient to this call: “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:38).

I hope you are looking forward to worshiping God one day in His presence. Until then, let’s worship Him in prayer. Let’s also take the time to pray for unreached ethnic groups and for Christians to go into the world to share the good news of salvation. In so doing, it will hasten the Lord’s return.

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Worship Now, Worship Later Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!

Revelation 7:12 There’s a lot we don’t know about heaven (for more about what we do know, revisit Are You Right about Heaven? beginning on page 269). One of the things we know is that we will be worshiping God for all eternity (Psalm 30:12; 44:8; 86:12; 145:2; and many more).

We are given several glimpses in the book of Revelation of the worship taking place in heaven both now and in eternity. Angels, elders, strange creatures, and people from every ethnic group are among the worshipers. So, it makes sense to embrace worship as part of our prayer life in the here and now. By embracing worship, it demonstrates that we not only understand who God truly is, but that we need to make worship of Him integral to our spiritual walk.

When Jesus was being tempted by Satan in the wilderness, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 to the devil: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only” (Luke 4:8). Later during His ministry, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 to the religious leaders. They asked Him what the greatest commandment was, and He responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This sure sounds like a call to worship to me.

The writer of Hebrews also admonishes us to worship God. One day, the new heavens and earth will be established. In light of this future reality, and “since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (12:28).

Our worship can be done in private or in public. It can be done through singing or in prayer. It can be done alone or with others. It can be demonstrative (such as raising your hands) or in absolute stillness.

It can be verbal or in your mind. It can be done in joy or through tears.

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I will say that in my experience (which may not be yours), I have found that the more I am caught up in worship, the less I am aware of my surroundings and the more demonstrative I am. It is hard to contain yourself with total reservedness when you fully grasp the awesomeness of our God! Let us be unashamed of our love and devotion toward God. So, as we pray, let us make sure we continually worship the Creator and Ruler of everything.

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What’s the Right Way to Pray?

Part One When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

Acts 20:36 It is intriguing to study how various people prayed in the Bible. I am referring specifically to body position. Does a specific pattern or template emerge? Does Jesus prescribe a certain position? In short, the answer is no. Here are body positions for prayer mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments: •

Standing: Hannah told Eli the priest, “I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:26). Jesus told the disciples, “And when you stand praying . . .” (Mark 11:25).

•

Reclining: As was the custom of the day, Jesus and the disciples reclined at the table to eat the Last Supper, which included praying for the bread and wine (Luke 22:17, 19).

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Bowing: Abraham’s servant bowed to worship God (Genesis 24:26), as did the Israelites (Exodus 12:27), Gideon (Judges 7:15), and the Magi, or wise men (Matthew 2:11).

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Kneeling: Both Daniel (6:10) and Ezra (9:5) knelt to pray.

Solomon knelt before all of Israel (1 Kings 8:54). Peter knelt and prayed that Tabitha would be raised from the dead (Acts 9:40). Paul knelt with the elders of the Ephesian church (Acts 20:36), the disciples in Tyre (Acts 21:5), and when he was praying for others (Ephesians 3:14).

•

Prostrate: “Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell 464

down in worship before the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:18).

Jesus also prayed with His face to the ground in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39).

What about our head? Should it be raised or bowed down? Jesus looked up to heaven as He prayed at the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:19) and at the healing of Lazarus (John 11:41–42).

Conversely, the tax collector wouldn’t lift his head when he prayed (Luke 18:13).

What about our eyes? Perhaps the most visible sign that someone is praying is that their eyes are closed. Interestingly, there is no clear mention of anyone doing this in the Bible as they pray, nor is there a directive from Jesus to do so. It seems anyone who prayed looking to heaven had their eyes open.

Similarly, what about our hands? Should they be raised? Should they be flat against each other as many children are taught? Or should our fingers be interlocked with our hands together? Ezra prayed with his hands “spread out to the Lord” (Ezra 9:5). Likewise, Solomon “spread out his hands toward heaven” (1 Kings 8:22).

It seems that there is no clearly favored body position for prayer.

Instead, it seems to depend on the situation we’re praying about and on the specific circumstances.

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What’s the Right Way to Pray?

Part Two When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.

Matthew 6:6 So far, there doesn’t seem to be a primary prayer position for the body in general or for the head, eyes, and hands in particular. What about location? Where should you pray—in private or in public?

In community worship settings throughout the Bible, God’s people openly prayed together.

God’s people also prayed in private. Daniel went into an upstairs room of his house (Daniel 6:10). As Jesus stated in the verse at the top, we should often go into a private room and close the door. He doesn’t mean it is the only place to pray, and He doesn’t say what position our body should be in.

What about the question of how often we should pray? Daniel chose to pray three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Paul instructs believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray continually.” He casts an even wider net in Ephesians 6:18, encouraging us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

What is my point for all of this? Why do you think there is not a clear position or place in which to pray? I believe it is because God is more concerned with the place and position of your heart (1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 26:2). So, pray in a way that helps you to best shut out distractions and focus on God. And do it often.

The Lord deserves your full attention, so put yourself in the best position, literally and figuratively, to achieve this. But most of all, live a life of prayer. It will result in a fuller life lived for God’s glory.

Remember that the purpose of prayer is not to give you a way to rub the side of the magic lamp and get God in genie form to grant your every wish. The formula for prayer is not: 466

Prayer + God = Your Desired Result in a Timely Fashion Rather, the correct approach is: Prayer + God = His Will Done in His Time and in His Way Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.

In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:10–13

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Biblical Principles for Living J. L. Williams

Table of Contents Introduction...................................................................................471 The Blood Covenant.....................................................................473 Life Steps......................................................................................475 Understanding Your Hebrew Roots..............................................477 How to Study the Bible.................................................................479 Understanding Proverbs................................................................481 Authentic Fatherhood....................................................................483 Christianity and Women................................................................485 The Ministry of the Holy Spirit....................................................487 The Seasons of Life......................................................................489 The Secret Battlefield of the Mind................................................491 Managing Your Emotions.............................................................493 Faithing Down Your Fears............................................................495 Biblical Pictures of the Church.....................................................497 The Power of Partnership..............................................................499 Follow the Leader.........................................................................501 The Divine Rewarder....................................................................503 God as an Investment Capitalist...................................................505 Thieves in the Church...................................................................507 Storehouse Giving.........................................................................509 Spiritual Olympics........................................................................511

The Rise and Fall of Satan............................................................513 Living Dangerously for the Kingdom...........................................515 A Christian Perspective on Islam..................................................517 Transformation of a Terrorist........................................................519 A Call to Fasting...........................................................................521 The Storms of Life........................................................................523 Death and After Life.....................................................................525 Hell: The Final Separation............................................................527 Heaven and Eternal Life...............................................................529 What Time Is It?............................................................................531

Introduction

by Joseph Williams

How in the world do I even begin to try to encapsulate a portion of my father’s teachings into a 30-day devotional? For the sake of newer partners of Feed the Hunger, this ministry was founded by my parents 50 years ago. Throughout his time at the helm of what was then New Directions and until his heaven-going, my dad was a gifted teacher, preacher, and author.

As we both mourn and celebrate his recent passing, and as this year is the ministry’s 50th anniversary, perhaps there is no better occasion than now to share several of his teachings in this concise format. This task was no small order though. Countless thousands of words on each topic had to be reduced to a single page.

My dad was thorough to a fault, you see. He believed he was cheating his audience if he didn’t use as many points and Scripture references as possible. It was not unusual for him to preach a tenpoint sermon (all points starting with the same letter, of course) or put out an extensive study guide or book on both normal topics and more obscure ones.

For those of you who have read his writings, you know that every sentence was important in his eyes. How this manifested was that each sentence had some combination of boldfaced, italicized, quoted, or underlined material. He also loved punctuation like dashes, ellipses (. . .), and exclamation points. “The message was so important!” For the sake of maintaining a conversational style in this devotional, these elements have been modified. I’m convinced you will, however, still hear my dad’s voice clearly in the words you read and the lessons you learn.

If you can hear my father’s voice speaking to you, it means I have achieved my goal of sharing the essence of the message he wanted to convey. But more importantly, I pray you will hear our 472

heavenly Father’s voice speaking to you through the Biblical Principles for Living found in this study. This was the name my dad gave to his collection of teachings, so it seems only appropriate that the devotional go by the same name.

If my father could speak in this moment from heaven, I believe he would quote the following two verses. They capture what he would say to me, and what in turn he would want conveyed through this devotional: You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

2 Timothy 2:1–2 As you begin this month-long journey, may it draw you closer to the Savior, encourage you in your walk, and embolden you in your testimony. God bless you.

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The Blood Covenant This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Luke 22:20 You can’t really understand the Bible at all until you have an understanding of covenants. The Christian life is a life lived in covenant.

The word covenant is both an Old and a New Testament word.

The Old Testament Hebrew word for covenant is bereeth (silent “h”).

Bereeth means literally “cutting” or “the act of cutting.” It means to enter into a pact, an agreement, or a testament by passing between pieces of flesh. The New Testament Greek word is diatheke, and it means a disposition of property. It means one person making a deposit of valuable property to another person’s account.

What does this mean to us? God has made a divine disposition of property. He has said, “All that I have and all that I am is at your disposal.” Unfortunately, most of us live such spiritually poverty-stricken lives that we act as though we serve a God who is just barely getting by.

The Bible shows three different types of covenants recorded in Scripture. A two-sided covenant is a covenant between two people who are roughly equal to each other. A one-sided covenant is a covenant that is imposed by a superior party upon an inferior party. A self-imposed covenant is one initiated by God. He does not have to enter into it because there is no one higher. He just chooses to do it because of who He is.

God’s self-imposed covenant with you and me is remarkable because there is absolutely nothing in us that God needs. One of the reasons why “works” righteousness has such appeal to us is because we want to believe that there is something that we have that God needs. But, God just loves us. He has set His everlasting affection upon us, even when we fail Him. 474

All of us are guilty before God. We somehow must assuage the guilt in our lives either by bearing through the shedding of our own blood or by someone dying in our place. There must be a substitute; in the Old Testament, God allowed for an innocent animal’s blood to be poured out in our stead. This was a reminder to us that this should have been our lives. We are the guilty ones and the animal was innocent.

There was going to be a time when all the sins of the human race—past, present, and future—would be uncovered and laid on Jesus Christ. But, once they were, the New Covenant, through the blood of Jesus, provided redemption. “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20).

Have you actually entered into this covenant relationship by exchanging all that you are, or ever hope to be, for all that He is? Remember, God willfully and lovingly offers you an irrevocable agreement. He, as the superior Person with all the resources and wealth, has chosen to dispose of His property to you.

The enormity of such an offer almost stretches the mind beyond belief. But it’s true! “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

So, boldly and confidently lay hold of this covenant from the Lord’s hand, offered to you right now. He who promised you will be faithful to fulfill it (Hebrews 10:23). Today is your day and now is your time.

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Life Steps Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity.

Hebrews 6:1 Your decision to give your life to the Lord Jesus is the single most important decision of life. It radically impacts your living for time and eternity. That’s because only Jesus can give you new life, abundant life, and eternal life. And all three levels of life became yours when you put your faith in Him. After your decision, growing spiritually is like growing physically—both take time. There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity as a Christian. It will take time to become a mature son or daughter, a strong spiritual athlete, and a good soldier of Jesus Christ. So, we need to have fellowship with God in two important ways: prayer and Bible study.

As growing Christians, we must also fellowship with other Christians through some local church where the Bible is preached, taught, and applied. We should not expect everyone in the church to be alike, because it is diversity and variety that make real harmony possible through Christ. We should not get distracted or disappointed by the hypocrites in the church, but instead keep our eyes focused on Christ. The local church needs fewer critics and more involvement, starting with us.

Times may change, people may change, circumstances may change, but God’s Word never changes! Nor do the devil’s devices and trickery. Down through the centuries, the evil one has been able to successfully use the same temptations, deceptions, accusations, and condemnation to subtly ensnare and entrap new generations of young believers. That’s why we all—regardless of where we are in our spiritual growth—need to regularly go back to the basic fundamentals of our faith, as well as the basic principles of spiritual warfare.

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There are three primary spiritual enemies on the outside and inside trying to sabotage our Christian life: the world, the flesh, and the devil. We must learn to fight against them and overcome them through God’s Word and God’s Spirit.

We must also confront sin. No one likes to talk about sin because we are all guilty of it. We are all sinners by nature and choice and are incapable of saving ourselves from sin or removing it from our lives. It is not a sin to be tempted, but yielding to temptation is sin.

If we do yield to temptation and sin, we must apply 1 John 1:9 to our lives: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” When we repent, God restores.

Most Christians will hit slumps, usually because their emphasis is wrongly placed on feelings. When their feelings change, their faith in Christ tends to change. Spiritual security is based upon what God has done for us through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—not on feelings.

God sometimes gives emotional experiences to encourage our growth, but He will not allow us to build our Christian lives on our fickle feelings. Christianity is firmly rooted in historical facts, and the important thing for us is faith in those facts. Feelings are by-products of our faith.

So, keep fact, faith, and feeling in the proper perspective. Then and only then will your life steps be steady and secure!

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Understanding Your Hebrew Roots You, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root . . .

You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Romans 11:17–18 Christians today are rooted in everything except Judaism: Hellenism, Greco-Romanism, and enculturation with all the false “isms” of our day, such as Buddhism and Hinduism (the root of the New Age Movement so prevalent in America). I would suggest to you that the missing foundational piece of your spiritual puzzle is your Jewish roots.

However, I am not speaking here of modern Israel and contemporary Judaism as it is largely practiced today. I am referring to the older, historic Judaism that the Bible records and archaeology continues to dig up. Christianity first grew in the spiritual soil of Palestine. Ours is the Judeo-Christian faith—not just the Christian faith.

While what we now refer to as Christianity originated with the life and teachings of Christ, Jesus was fully Jewish. He was born a Jew, He died a Jew, and He will be a Jew when He returns to earth at His Second Coming. Throughout His entire life, His practices, lifestyle, and teachings reveal a deep commitment to the Jewish beliefs and practices of His day.

It is unfortunate that our mental picture of Jesus has been far more influenced by classical art than by the Bible. Many great artworks portray Jesus as a light-skinned Aryan with sandy hair and blue eyes. He is a westernized Jesus rather than a Jewish Jesus!

To think biblically is to think Hebraically—not through a Western mindset! In reading and studying the Bible we must remember that virtually every writer was a Jew or a Jewish convert. If we are going to correctly interpret the Bible so that we can correctly apply it to our lives, we must learn to read it through a Jewish mindset.

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Throughout his entire lifetime, Paul remained a Jew. His only Bible was the Tanakh, or the Jewish Scriptures. His God was the God of his fathers. His Messiah was a Jew by the name of Jesus— Yeshua! Many Christians today wrongly believe that the Apostle Paul totally set aside the Law in favor of grace through faith. However, Paul quotes from the Law some 80 times to establish the spiritual authority for his arguments.

We Gentiles are spiritual Jews because we have been grafted into the Jewish olive tree. Paul makes it clear that Gentiles were added to the birthright promised to God’s chosen people, and we can draw from that nourishing sap!

However, when the early church cut itself off from its Jewish roots, it ceased to be enriched by the rich sap of the olive tree. Needing to draw nourishment from somewhere, the church turned to the poisonous sap of the Greco-Roman world. The church philosophically moved from Mount Sinai to Mars Hill and from Jerusalem to Athens. She not only forgot her Jewish roots, she became hostile to everything Jewish from the second century on. This prejudiced mindset made it easy for many Christians to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Only as we rediscover our spiritual roots in Judaism and separate ourselves from our secular roots in paganism will we begin to be the people of God that we are called and redeemed to be.

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How to Study the Bible 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.

Joshua 1:8 Of the over 16,000 Greek and Hebrew words used in the Bible, the Hebrew word for “success” is used only once—in the above quoted verse. So here is the one place where God offers us a guarantee of success! But the conditions on our side are plainly set forth: studying and storing up God’s Word in our minds, making it the fixed point of our thought and meditation, and that knowledge must lead to obedience.

Not only will most people—even most Christians—not find prosperity and success, most will stand unapproved and ashamed one day before God because of their lack of diligent study and corresponding sloppy and incorrect handling of God’s Word! Every great heresy in the history of the Christian Church has been started by someone mishandling and incorrectly interpreting God’s Word.

Because of laziness and ignorance, the lovers of the Bible have done and continue to do more harm than the haters of the Bible!

I would like to make some practical suggestions to help you get started. First, take time to prepare yourself spiritually for your Bible study time. Before going to God’s Word, go to God first and ask that His Holy Spirit “guide you into all truth” by illuminating your heart and mind (John 16:13).

Second, have some theologically sound biblical tools and aids on hand. These include: several translations of the Bible, a paraphrase or two for reference, a study Bible, a recent concordance, word studies, a Bible dictionary, and commentaries.

Vary your approach to Bible study. The Bible can and should be studied from many different angles. Each one will yield a rich treasure of knowledge. Several suggestions are as follows: 480

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Thematic or Doctrinal Study—Study the great doctrines of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation: God, man, sin, salvation, etc.

Word Study—Here, instead of studying the doctrines of the Bible, you study the words that teach us the great truths of God’s Word.

Character Study—Go through the Bible and study the great heroes and patriarchs of the faith: Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Paul, etc.

Study by Outline—To really begin to grasp and digest a portion of the Word or an entire book, it is very helpful to outline it.

Let me also say a word about reading and memorizing God’s Word. This is a lost discipline in Christianity today. When I first started to read Watchman Nee, I was amazed at his spiritual understanding and overall grasp of the Bible—especially when some of his major works were written when he was in his 20s! He supposedly read the Bible through 105 times before he wrote his first book!

Throughout his life he averaged reading the Bible through about once a month. No wonder God blessed him so much!

You may not become a writer like Nee, but if you take God’s Word as seriously as he did, it will eternally enrich your life!

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Understanding Proverbs The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 It has often been said that Psalms will keep you right with God, while the Proverbs will keep you right with man. However, both Psalms and Proverbs focus on God first, and then on man. But, generally speaking, the primary focus of Psalms is vertical, dealing with my relationship with God, while the primary focus of the Proverbs is horizontal, emphasizing my relationship with my fellow man. A happy, healthy, and holy life requires a balance of both of these relationships.

The purpose of Proverbs is to teach us God’s divine wisdom, the wisdom that was incarnated in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). We find this purpose stated clearly at the beginning of the book in the first seven verses. In these introductory words of Proverbs, we can see both the vertical and horizontal inseparably related: “. . . for gaining wisdom (vertical) . . . for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair” (horizontal).

So, biblical wisdom is not something philosophical, abstract, ethereal, or nebulous. It is intensely practical. Wisdom, therefore, is something we walk more than we talk. It is practical rather than polemic. It is experiential rather than ethereal. It is heavenly information that must result in earthly application.

Information that is not followed by application results in stagnation! The Word of God, which is the wisdom of God and the will of God, was not given for our information, but for our transformation.

The crucial question for each of us, then, is: How is my life going to be different as a result of what God’s Word says to me? As James asks, are we a hearer or a doer of the Word? (James 1:22–25).

There is another important aspect concerning a study of Proverbs, 482

and that is the Hebrew literary form called parallelism. In other words, a proverb will state the same truth in different words for the sake of emphasis and understanding. Sometimes the parallel truth is one of similarity. A good example is in the prologue (the first seven verses of the first chapter). There, we are told that the purpose of wisdom is “for receiving instruction in prudent behavior.” How do we know what kind of behavior “prudent behavior” is? It is that which does “what is right and just and fair.” The two statements in essence say the same thing, but with different words.

A few verses later we see a parallelism of dissimilarity. That means that there is a stark contrast between parallel statements.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Here we clearly see the parallel of contrast between the wise person and the fool, a recurring theme throughout the book.

Here’s a final note to parents. Who in particular is the book addressed to? Children, young people, and teenagers (Proverbs 1:4).

This is the crucial time in life when they either take the path of wisdom or the path of foolishness. They either learn to make wise decisions that result in discipline and knowledge or they make foolish decisions that result in rebellion, destruction, and death! Study and apply the wisdom of Proverbs to your life and this will be the greatest example for your children. It will cause them to want to live

by God’s wisdom rather than by the world’s foolishness!

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Authentic Fatherhood The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.

Proverbs 20:7 Fatherlessness is an epidemic in America today as well as in many other countries. I believe that we are only beginning to see the first fruits. The absence of a father in millions of homes has left a relational vacuum that is being filled up with the emotional demons of insecurity, loneliness, resentment, anger, and hostility. This results in a growing host of self-destructive activities like alcohol, drugs, video addiction, sexual perversion, crime, and suicide.

One of the greatest witnesses of the Christian Church down through the centuries has been its witness about fatherhood. The Old Testament not only reveals the true and living God as our Creator, but it also reveals Him as our Father. Jesus not only revealed the Father, He taught His disciples to pray by saying, “Our Father . . . .”

That was revolutionary for the first-century world, for much of Judaism, and to hundreds of millions of people in the world today!

Some cultures do not even have a word for this kind of love or grace. Their image of God as Father is either totally unknown or obscured at best. There are also millions of people in the Western world who have heard something about Jesus, but have still grown up fatherless. They are the by-products of divorce, sexual promiscuity, unwed mothers, and abandonment.

The spiritual consequence is that they project upon the heavenly Father their relationship—or lack of a relationship—with their human father. Therefore, if God is anything like their earthly father, they don’t want anything to do with Him. The result is that they grow up with neither a human nor a divine authority figure, which is manifested by a host of rebellious attitudes and actions.

The ancient world was not much different—until Christ came.

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After His life, death, and resurrection, and as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, Christian teaching about the role of men as husbands and fathers began to radically improve family relationships. Christian men were challenged to love their wives and be faithful to them for life. Marital faithfulness and sexual purity were a prerequisite for church leadership. Husbands and fathers were taught to nurture and discipline their children.

Everything we do in life has radical, lifelong consequences— especially on our children. The biblical proverb is still true: “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Jeremiah 31:29). That simply means if we as fathers develop a taste for the “sour grapes” of this world, rather than the “milk and honey” of the Kingdom of God, our children will also develop our jaded, worldly appetite! We are either passing on a godly inheritance or an ungodly inheritance.

What is your relationship with God like today? Do you know and relate to Him as your heavenly Father who passionately loves you? Maybe you had no father, or the one you had was distant, unavailable, and uninvolved in your life.

God said that He would be a “father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5). Will you let Him be all that He desires to be as your Father today? Will you let Him begin to heal those broken father images in your life? Let Him embrace you and envelop you in His everlasting, unconditional love right now.

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Christianity and Women Help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel.

Philippians 4:3 No other religion in the world has a higher view of women than Christianity. For most religions and cultures, a woman is a second-class citizen, little more than chattel, a slave, or the property of her parents first, and then her husband. The man has all the rights, and the woman has little to no rights. She is often reduced to a sex object. Many pagan religions also abuse women through religious prostitution.

But not in Christianity! Only in Christianity and in the Bible do you see not man’s view of women but God’s view of women! God gave specific laws in the Bible to protect women (Exodus 20:14, 17). He commanded that both the father and mother were to be equally honored and respected (Exodus 20:12). Both the father and mother were to be involved in the spiritual instruction of the children (Proverbs 1:8).

We can see women in leadership from time to time like Deborah, who was the fourth judge of Israel. She was also called a prophetess, who made spiritual and legal decisions for Israel.

In the New Testament, Luke’s birth narrative was told from Mary’s perspective. In Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, four women are listed, which was against the cultural tradition of the day: Rahab, Tamar, Ruth, and Bathsheba.

In addition to the 12 Disciples who followed Jesus, there were also women such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others. Jesus not only had close friendships with men, but also with women like Mary and Martha, whose house He enjoyed visiting for meals, fellowship, and rest. Women were with Him until the end at the cross, at the tomb, and at His resurrection.

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Women were a part of the very first Pentecost and experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They were also very active in the ministry of the Apostle Paul, as the verse above shares.

Paul entrusted Phoebe with the responsibility of carrying the Letter to the Roman Christians! She was also one of the first deaconesses of the church. Acts 16:14 tells us that the first convert in Philippi was a prominent woman by the name of Lydia. Paul acknowledged the great spiritual influence that Timothy’s mother and grandmother had on Timothy’s spiritual development (2 Timothy 1:5).

Women are as essential to the life and health of the spiritual family—the Church—as they are to the life and health of the physical family! Just like they give birth to and nurture babies, they are also crucial in the birth and nurturing of new Christians.

They are not a substitute for the men—nor should they ever try to be! But neither are the men a substitute for them! Just like a physical family needs both a father and mother to be healthy, the Church needs both men and women active in ministry to be healthy.

Both women and men are equally filled with the Holy Spirit and gifted by Him. In one sense, men are the spiritual head of the church, while women are the spiritual heart of the church. A church must have both actively involved through their various gifts, and in unity and harmony, to be a healthy, growing church.

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The Ministry of the Holy Spirit And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.

John 14:16–17 The Christian/biblical doctrine of the Trinity is the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: three Persons in one Godhead, equal in power and glory (Deuteronomy 6:4). Here is a human example to help you visualize. One person can simultaneously carry out three distinct roles as a man: son, husband, and father.

There are three basic truths about the Holy Spirit: 1. The Holy Spirit came to take the place of Christ (His physical presence).

2. He is the same Spirit who lived in Christ, and He is to be in us just as He was in Christ.

3. He is to live in us in order to reproduce Christ in us and to make us to be in the world exactly what Christ was and what He would have continued to be if He had stayed on Earth!

And yet, the Church can’t seem to agree on the role of the Holy Spirit. People’s opinions about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit are varied. Charisphobia is exercised by people who have a great fear of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit—especially speaking in tongues. They have a tendency to look down on all forms of freedom and spontaneity as dangerous, disruptive, and fanatical.

Charismania is carried out by people who have a preoccupation with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit—especially speaking in tongues.

They have a tendency to feel that they have “arrived” and, consequently, look down on other Christians as second-class citizens of the Kingdom.

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Well-balanced charismatic Christianity is practiced by those who have developed the biblical balance on all gifts of the Holy Spirit. They realize that the real proof of the Spirit’s work is moral and not miraculous. They, therefore, have a greater concern with the presence and maturity of the fruit of the Spirit than with a display of the gifts.

So, how can we be filled with the Holy Spirit? We must deal with ourselves honestly. What is keeping me from being filled? What areas of my life are not fully surrendered to His Lordship? Confess all known sin to God. Appropriate your crucifixion with Christ. Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit and accept it by faith. As a result, there will be fruit of the Spirit manifested in your life (Galatians 5:22–23).

The fruit of the Holy Spirit cannot be manufactured, imitated, or worked up by the human spirit. The natural life of man can only produce what Paul called the “acts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19–21).

Fruit is the natural consequence of abiding in the Word through the Spirit.

So, the life of the Christian is like a field in which a farmer sows.

The field is divided into two sections. One Paul calls the field of “the flesh” (what we are by nature), and the other he calls the field of “the Spirit” (what we have become by new birth/grace). We have the freedom to sow in either field. So be careful what you plant and where you plant! Once planted, life will germinate from one and death from the other.

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The Seasons of Life There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 When God created the universe, He established definite seasons that His world would annually go through. His natural world would not be static and unchanging. It would be dynamic and cyclical. The cycle of these seasons is determined by the sun and the moon. Each natural season has its own uniqueness, bringing changes in temperature, weather patterns, and environment.

Just as nature goes through predictable cycles, so does life. As human beings, we go through cycles of growth, from conception to birth, infancy, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, old age, and death. In these seasons of life, we each experience physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual change.

Therefore, each season directly influences and impacts the next season. You always reap in one season what was sown in the previous season. “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). What you are now as well as where you are now is the direct result of past sowings in the seasons of your life—by you or by others.

Your season of childhood may have been scarred by many broken relationships. Your early years may be emotionally pockmarked by family violence, divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse, verbal vilification, sexual exploitation, or just parental neglect. Your teenage years may have been spent sowing wild oats from which you are still reaping the consequences. And the result is a lot of wasted seasons of life, painful experiences, damaged emotions, barren years, and negative harvests.

But, my friend, regardless of the season of life you are currently in, God’s grace can intervene if you will give Him complete control. His love “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). His Word 490

assures us that “where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20).

If you will give Him this season of your life—starting right now—the next season of your life can be radically different! At this very moment you can begin to sow positive seeds that will result in a future harvest of pleasure rather than pain.

But in order to change this present season of our lives, we must begin by changing our minds. This change of mind is what the Bible calls repentance. If it is authentic repentance, there will be a change of mind that will result in a change of direction and a change of behavior. It will result in a new direction for our lives.

While we cannot change or erase what happened to us in the earlier seasons of life, we can accept full ownership of our response and reaction to what happened to us. And we must begin by accepting God’s unconditional forgiveness. Then we must extend that same unconditional forgiveness to everyone who hurt us—whether intentionally or unintentionally.

You are God’s field. Don’t let it lay fallow and unplanted. Don’t let Satan and the world plant weeds in God’s garden! He wants to make you fruitful in every season of life for His glory and for the good of others. So, “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

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The Secret Battlefield of the Mind We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 What causes professing Christians to act so directly contrary to the revealed Word of God? Two words: wrong thinking. Somewhere in that person’s past, a fleeting disobedient thought was not brought into obedience to Jesus Christ. When entertained over a period of time, that fleeting thought became a focused thought, which ultimately became a mindset. Once the mind was convinced, all that was left was for the will to give its consent, which it soon did—especially if it was wooed along by inflamed emotions! And in the process, lives and relationships were devastated.

Lucifer tempted Eve with the same wrong thinking that had caused his own fall. He became intoxicated with a prideful and rebellious thought. Rather than continue to submit to God, Lucifer tried to usurp His throne. Once Satan got Eve mentally questioning the intentions and goodness of God, it was just a matter of time until that wrong thought produced a whole pattern of wrong thinking, which ultimately resulted in wrong action. As a result, Adam and Eve lost the Garden of Eden. Likewise, we all lose things that can never be restored or replaced by our wrong thinking and wrong acting!

That’s why the only hope for man’s wrong thinking is repentance! Interestingly, the word repent basically means to change your mind. We must change our minds about God, about ourselves, about our sin, and about Jesus Christ. Then and only then can we receive the mind of Christ.

We receive His mind at conversion as a part of our new birth, new heart, and new nature. But we must then feed our new spiritual mind 492

with the Word of God. We do that through the process of reading, memorizing, and meditating on God’s Word. When we fail to do that, we easily lapse back into our old way of thinking and behaving. We become what the Bible calls “double-minded” (James 1:5–8; 4:8).

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, the Apostle Paul instructs us how to win in the secret battlefield of the mind long before the disobedient thought becomes a hostile mental stronghold against the truth of God’s Word. If we do not use the Word of God through the Spirit of God to demolish those unbiblical thoughts at conception, they will surely grow and develop to the degree that they express themselves in unrighteous behavior.

Christian worship and fellowship are also essential to the process of renewing our minds. As we meet together as the Body of Christ in a church where the Word is faithfully taught and practiced, we nurture the process of mental renewal.

Let me give one more biblical prescription for spiritual and mental health: “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.”

What will be the result of such biblical thinking? “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7–8). And in the process, you will strengthen your marriage, secure the emotional well-being of your children, and confirm your example as a truly spiritual man or woman. God wants you to have victory in the secret battlefield of the mind!

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Managing Your Emotions I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Romans 7:15 Like every Christian, I struggle with managing my emotions. Or, more correctly stated, I struggle with letting the Holy Spirit manage my emotions through the principles of God’s Word.

From your own personal experience, you already know that it is far easier to manage almost anything in life other than your emotions. Even your money is more easily managed than your emotions!

Since the Bible never teaches us to be dispassionate or unfeeling—like the Buddhist or Hindu faiths—we all must learn how to manage our emotions. In their proper place, they are a gift from God. Properly used, our emotions enrich our lives and relationships.

Our lives would be flat without our emotions and feelings accentuating and punctuating our lives and experiences.

The Apostle Paul was one of the greatest saints who ever lived and served the Lord. He expressed this emotional struggle in Romans 7:15. What the spirit wants, the flesh doesn’t want. What the flesh wants, the spirit doesn’t want. There is enmity between these two; they are constantly battling each other for dominance. Both want to control, but they both can’t! One always has to submit to the other.

The good news is that by God’s power through His Holy Spirit, we can manage our emotions. The witness of the Bible and Christian experience is that we can have Spirit-controlled temperaments rather than emotionally controlled temperaments.

We were created by God for relationships. He made this possible when He created within us a radical need for all of our relationships.

He did this because He created us for a relationship with Him. He had to do this, for He is supernatural, and to relate we have to have a mind that can interact with His. 494

Our emotions were radically damaged by the fall of man. Therefore, they have to be healed if we are ever going to have meaningful relationships. A healthy relationship with ourselves and a happy relationship with others begins with a holy relationship with God. Both sin and self have to be dealt with in order for us to be able to build holy, healthy, and happy relationships.

So, the quality of your life is determined by the quality of your relationships. Your emotions determine your relationships. Consequently, your emotional state either causes you to move out and move toward healthy relationships, or it causes you to withdraw and pull back from building healthy relationships.

It is my hope and my prayer that whatever your current emotional condition, whether it is one of fear, insecurity, anxiety, grief, confusion, anger, or depression, that God will bring you emotional healing and emotional maturity (Psalm 34:17–19).

We don’t have to live in the futility of our minds. We can be healed, delivered, and freed; we can be made whole. We must open our lives to the healing power of the Holy Spirit, so that we can become whole people and enjoy the relationships that He created us to have.

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Faithing Down Your Fears I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4 A number of years ago, one of the richest men in the world died of fear. He was a Texan named Howard Hughes. He became one of the most famous figures and faces in America. He had everything money could buy—everything, that is, but a freedom from fear. In spite of his many successes, great wealth, and fame, he became more fearful and paranoid as he grew older.

His fears caused him to increasingly pull away from people in an eccentric and reclusive lifestyle. As a result of his growing paranoia, this once-famous figure purposefully disappeared from public view and died alone.

Fear attacks both the head and heart. As an emotional enemy, fear invades the spirit and soul of people and ultimately manifests itself in the body, as the story of Howard Hughes reveals. It can hijack the mind, distort the emotions, cripple the will, and destroy the body of its victim, slowly or quickly. But over time, nothing ultimately conquers the demon of fear. It completely and totally possesses its victim.

While a person may experience eternal life through their faith in Christ, they will not really experience His abundant life (John 10:10) until they “faith” down their fears through the power of His Spirit and authority of His Word.

We need to meditate on the liberating words of Paul: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

John, the “beloved disciple,” appropriately gives us the principle of liberation: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

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As John rightly observed, “fear has to do with punishment.” The gloriously Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus already fully faced your punishment on the cross! All of your sin and my sin and the sin of the whole world was poured out on Him. Because God is a just and righteous God, He cannot punish both Christ and you for sin. It is impossible for God to collect a spiritual death twice.

Psalm 34:4 is the verse that liberated President Abraham Lincoln from his besetting fears during the very stressful days of his presidency. Just as that verse was almost worn out by Lincoln’s finger passing over it as he read in his Bible to faith down his fears, I pray that you too will let those words be indelibly impressed upon your spirit. Then you will also experience what both King David and President Lincoln experienced: “He delivered me from all my fears.”

Remember that everything depends upon the object of your fear.

Fear, like faith, hope, and love, must have an object. The object of your faith and the object of your fear make all the difference in the world. Therefore, if we do not fear God, we fear everything else. On the other hand, if we fear God, we fear nothing else!

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Biblical Pictures of the Church For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Ephesians 3:14–15 Almost everyone in the world likes to look at pictures. All of us are especially drawn to photographs if we are in them! In doing this, we are motivated either by egotism or insecurity. Few of us see ourselves in a positive light.

If we don’t like how we look on the outside, how would we feel if a picture could be taken of what we look like on the inside? How would we like to have a photograph made of our thoughts, emotions, and motives? How devastating!

Man has not yet devised a machine that can take pictures of the spirit and soul. God, on the other hand, has provided us with a spiritual camera that can both photograph and reveal the human heart.

What is this wonderful spiritual device that can look into the deepest recesses of the human spirit and can reveal your thoughts and motives? It is the Bible.

The Bible is God’s photo album. It has very clear and vivid pictures of people under every condition and circumstance. We can watch them in happiness and sorrow, in obedience and rebellion, in victory and defeat, in life and death, in heaven and hell.

It is filled with living pictures. Many of the people portrayed on the pages of the Bible think with your thoughts, feel with your emotions, act out your motives, express your fears, demonstrate your rebellion, and reveal your sin. That’s one of the great reasons why so many people fear the Bible—it is far too disclosing! It reveals to them accurate pictures of themselves they do not want to look at.

However, most of the human race has never looked through God’s camera. They have been unwilling to look at the big picture of divine revelation. Therefore, most people live with a skewed, myopic, restricted view of life here on planet earth.

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Even though the Bible contains thousands of individual photographs, the most important pictures are the family pictures. We see a very early family picture in His Old Testament album with the photo of Abraham and Sarah. He was the first patriarch of God’s people.

Under this early snapshot, God’s Spirit wrote this amazing promise He made to Abraham: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you . . . . All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring” (Genesis 12:2–3; 28:14).

From that moment on, after God entered into His covenant with Abraham, He has continually added more people to His spiritual family. That unique family is known as the Church. This word comes from the Greek root ekklesia and means “an assembly of people who have been called out.” When God first “called out” Abraham, He said, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Thousands of years later, God sent His only begotten Son into the world to continue and consummate His redemption of a people unto Himself.

Regardless of your social and religious standing through natural birth, we are only members of God’s family through spiritual birth.

The true Church of Jesus Christ is not a building, a denomination, a particular theology, or an organization. It does not belong to any person, priest, or pope. The Church belongs exclusively to Jesus Christ. Are you in His family?

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The Power of Partnership By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:35 The Bible is a book of partnership from Genesis to Revelation.

One of the great, unique attributes of the Christian faith is its emphasis upon relationships. While most other world religions are ritual-based, Christianity is relational-based. Every picture of the church in the Bible is a relational picture.

But, unfortunately, most of our contemporary church models are organizational rather than relational. The biblical emphasis on the priority of relationships is why the word koinonia, or “together,” is one of the defining words of the book of Acts.

For many years, relationships and partnerships have been the very heart and soul of what our ministry has stood for. For decades, we have sought to build partnerships interdenominationally, interracially, interculturally, and internationally.

Whatever success we have experienced for the Lord and His Kingdom around the world is primarily because of these strategic partnerships that God has sovereignly given us.

If a ministry or mission relationship is primarily built upon projects rather than partnership, it will ultimately fail. The ministry principle, then, is this: Kingdom projects must flow out of Kingdom partnerships—not vice versa. The partnership is the root and the project is the fruit. One is a by-product of the other. It is sad, however, that projects often overshadow relationships and partnerships.

Soon they begin to motivate, drive, and control partnerships rather than the partnerships controlling the projects. Then, the partners are only using each other to accomplish their own agenda.

When Kingdom relationships degenerate to this low level, God is not glorified. That’s because the partnership becomes a means to 500

an end; that is, the accomplishment of a project alone. It shows that we value the project more than the partnership. And, in God’s eyes, no project is more valuable than a partnership! Jesus said to His disciples: “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35)—not by how you do projects together!

So, there must be agape (love that is of and from God) partnerships before there can be anointed projects. While people may be helped and needs may be met by projects apart from partnerships, God will not be glorified and people will not be edified. So, if we want to do ministry that will truly glorify God and edify others, we must first be centered on people and partnerships—not just on projects and programs.

A good partnership in marriage or in ministry will grow and mature to God’s glory. As the church in any country or culture emphasizes these spiritual virtues and relational principles of partnership, the watching, skeptical world will take notice.

Remember: the only thing that is eternal is our relationships.

Therefore, building covenant relationships and Kingdom partnerships is our highest calling and greatest priority in ministry. When we die, we will not take a single project with us to heaven. Not one.

But we will take every relationship and partnership that is based in the Lord Jesus.

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Follow the Leader Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.

Mark 3:13–14 Growing up, almost every child played “Follow the Leader.” The followers had to imitate the leader and do everything he or she did.

The challenge for the leader was to keep all of his playmates interested in what he was doing, so that they would continue to follow his leadership and stay close behind him.

This game does not end with childhood; it is a lifelong activity.

If we had a bad leadership experience as a child, we will be insecure and timid about accepting a leadership position as an adult. If we had a bad experience following someone as a child or teenager, we will have a problem trusting leaders and other authority figures in our adult life.

Jesus expressed the universal need for leadership when He said that mankind is “like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). If people do not have a good shepherd to follow, they are very vulnerable to the deceits and deceptions of a false leader.

A leader is a person who influences people, motivating them to follow him or her toward a particular goal. There are two kinds of leaders: those who are leaders by nature, and those who are leaders by nurture. That means that some leaders are born, while many others are built. It is my firm belief that leadership skills can be both caught and taught. But if a person is going to be a good leader, whether they are a born leader or a built leader, they must be available, teachable, responsible, and accountable.

We can see a clear example of both of these types of leaders in the first 12 disciples chosen by Jesus. Some of them, like Peter, James, and John, were more natural-born leaders. But the majority 502

of the rest of the Twelve were not so much natural leaders as nurtured leaders.

We read about Jesus’ mentoring method in these verses from the Gospel of Mark. We can see at least three phrases that distinguish His leadership training with the Twelve. First, He called them to Him (mastery). Second, they were to be with Him (mentoring).

And thirdly, they would be trained by Him (ministry). Christ’s mentoring model of leadership development was relational, informal, oral, practical, concrete, mobile, and transferable. His emphasis was upon learning by doing. He was not interested in producing academicians, but apostles.

Jesus knew that the only way for His disciples to come to personal and spiritual maturity was in the context of intense relationships. In just three short years, He had spent enough time with the Twelve to prepare them for the greatest leadership challenge in the history of the world—leading His Church!

Some of you reading this naturally exemplify certain characteristics of a good leader. However, in order to see other characteristics develop in your life, it will take a supernatural endowment by the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit and the Word, you may learn leadership characteristics rather quickly. For others to be manifested and matured in you, it will take a lifetime of disciplined study and striving. Either way, God wants you to develop and mature as a leader.

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The Divine Rewarder You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.

Genesis 2:16–17 The true and living God delights in blessing and rewarding His people. He gives rewards on the basis of His love, mercy, and grace.

No rewards come to mankind because they are deserved. The only thing that we all deserve is judgment, punishment, death, and hell!

But because of His sovereign, unmerited grace, God redeems us, reconciles us, restores us, and rewards us—all for His own honor and glory. All rewards and crowns are awarded on the basis of who He is and not on the merits of who we are.

Because of this fact, our all-powerful, all-loving, and all-wise heavenly Father created each of us with an internal spiritual and emotional response mechanism for rewards and punishments. He has written this positive/negative dynamic into His universe. More importantly, He has indelibly inscribed it on the tablets of our hearts.

This internal moral compass is what the Bible calls conscience.

Even a cursory investigation of the world around us proves that there is an obvious good/bad tension written into the universe. In a sense, they are opposite sides of the same moral coin. Those in the Eastern world call this tension the yin and yang. But in their minds, the difference between the two is only illusion. They believe that things like good and evil or light and darkness are all a matter of our limited perspective. What is “good” to one may be “bad” to another, and vice versa. It is only our limited perspective that causes us to call one thing “good” and another thing “bad.”

However, from the biblical perspective, there is no illusion at all between these moral opposites! Right and wrong are not the same.

Holy and unholy are not a matter of perspective. Good and evil are 504

not interchangeable. Light and dark are not synonymous. Morality and immorality are not relative. Freedom and bondage are not equal.

Life and death are two very opposite experiences. Obedience and disobedience lead to very different results. One leads to rewards and the other to retribution! One ends in eternal life, or heaven, while the other ends in eternal death, or hell.

The very first human experiment in this took place in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2. In that place of absolute perfection, God promised Adam and Eve fellowship or alienation, oneness or aloneness, pleasure or pain, abundance or adversity, beauty or brokenness, liberty or bondage, and life or death. And He gave each of them a will that had the freedom to choose.

We all know the rest of the story! Eve listened to the serpent rather than to God. Adam listened to Eve’s advice rather than to God’s command. They both blamed God and each other for their own disobedience and were banished from the Garden. Their first son, Cain, created the first religion of good works by substituting his own sacrifice for God’s prescribed one through blood. In anger he murdered his brother, Abel. Lamech, one of Cain’s descendants, became the first polygamist—and the beat goes on until this very day!

It is my closing prayer that we will have a teachable spirit, that we would be wise and choose life, so that we may receive His rewards and escape His retribution. How could we do anything but love and live for a God who delights in rewarding His people!

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God as an Investment Capitalist “Put this money to work,” he said, “until I come back.”

Luke 19:13 Many people are surprised to read about God in economic terms, much less in the terms of capitalism. They do not associate God with business in any way, shape, or form. He is God of the sanctuary, not God of the marketplace. His domain is a church altar, not a business counter.

While He is a spiritual God (John 4:24), He never created matter to be separated from its spiritual origins. He is the Source of both.

One is the root and the other is the fruit. That’s why when materialism is cut off from its spiritual roots, it becomes cold, impersonal, and unfulfilling—regardless of how much of it you make or have in the bank.

Therefore, as the ultimate Owner of all of the earth’s wealth, God invests portions of His wealth in His people. Because of His love and grace, He makes a specific deposit in each person in order to make a profit for His honor and glory—as well as for the good of other people.

One of the ways we worship the Creator is by being good stewards of the creation He has entrusted to us. Therefore, our spiritual faithfulness is revealed through our material faithfulness. That means that our worship and our work are to be synonymous.

The parable of the ten minas in Luke 19:11–27 brings together the inseparable relationship between the spiritual and material. The master put resources in the servants’ hands that tested and brought to light the motives of their hearts. This business parable from the lips of the Lord Jesus is filled with practical principles about how we are to invest our lives and resources until the Lord returns.

God is a generous, benevolent investment capitalist. Because of His love, mercy, and grace, He liberally invests His possessions in 506

each of our lives. He entrusts and invests life, time, talents, salvation, spiritual gifts, and opportunities to each of us. God invests in us so that we can invest in others. He blesses us as He did Abraham, so we can be a blessing to others.

As a result of His investment in us, He expects us to “redeem the time,” “buy up every opportunity,” “occupy until He comes,” and “do business until He returns.” He expects us to take what He has invested in us and use it to create all the spiritual and financial profit we can for His Kingdom and glory.

Because of His grace, He gives each of us equal opportunity to be faithful, to be involved, to invest, and to multiply His investment in us. If He has given you an entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, or the ability to make money or create wealth, then He wants you to be His missionary in the marketplace! He wants you to be a wise capitalist and leverage your opportunities and finances for His Kingdom and glory.

One day we will each face Him personally to give an account— either through our own death or at His Second Coming. What will you hear from Him at that time? I trust that it will be, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” I hope you will go to work tomorrow and all the rest of your life as a Kingdom entrepreneur committed to leveraging every opportunity for His glory and the good of others!

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Thieves in the Church Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, “How are we robbing you?” In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:8 It is easy for all of us to point the finger of accusation at corporate executives who have exploited and plundered their company’s finances or used their assets as their own personal bank account. It is also easy to condemn the accountants who cooked the books to cover up blatant financial abuse.

What about the church? What about the millions of Christians who weekly rationalize their stealing? Let’s get even more personal.

What about your own financial records? What would they reveal if they were made public—not to Congress, but to your local congregation?

Tragically, when it comes to money and materialism, there is more of the world in the church than there is the church in the world!

Unfortunately, too many of us Christians mirror and reflect the economic greed of the world rather than the economic contentment that is supposed to characterize God’s people!

Would your buying and spending habits reveal that you have been cooking the books to cover up your own economic greed?

Would a total audit of your personal financial records reveal that you are also guilty of theft—not from man, but from God? One day at the Judgment Seat of Christ, God will “open the books” and “audit the accounts” for each of us (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11–15)!

This is not a new problem for the people of God! That’s why one of the oldest and most familiar questions in the Old Testament is this: “Will a man rob God?” In this passage in Malachi, a renewal in giving was the minimum starting point for God’s people to prove their sincerity to the Lord. It would be a tangible way of demonstrating a change of heart concerning their relationship with God. 508

Just as God’s ancient people were often guilty of robbing Him, so His people today are consistently guilty of robbing Him. Our theft is not so much from taking, but from holding back and keeping what rightfully belongs to God. Millions of us Christians regularly steal from God just as certainly as if we reached in our hand and took money out of the offering plate when it passed by us! We pocket God’s money as if it were our own. We deposit His funds in our accounts and then we consume it on ourselves.

What about you, my friend? If you want to be “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8), then get in step with what God is doing in the world—both locally and globally! Invest your resources where God is investing His Spirit. Make His treasure your treasure. You can never know the fullness of His blessings until you quit robbing God by not systematically tithing and giving.

I lovingly urge you, then, to accept God’s challenge that He lays before His people. Tithing is the spiritual and financial key to obedience that will “open the floodgates of heaven” so that God will be able to “pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10)!

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Storehouse Giving “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 Due to this single reference in Malachi, many churches have adopted the concept of “storehouse giving.” This is interpreted to mean that the entirety of one’s tithes is to be given to the local church. The pastors and churches that teach this concept of giving equate the local church with the Old Testament temple.

How are we to view this concept of storehouse giving? Is it a biblical principle? Does it represent a balanced teaching on giving?

Is it to be the norm for all Christians today? The Bible must be our final authority on all matters of faith and practice. And we must never base our theology regarding any biblical subject upon just one isolated verse.

One of the clearest New Testament examples of storehouse giving is Christ’s observation of the “widow’s mite” (Mark 12:41–44).

This poor widow was giving her sacrificial gift to the temple storehouse. As Jesus was making His observation, He made no comment on the practice of giving to the temple treasury. His purpose was not to focus on the place of giving, but on the practice and proportion of giving.

A second teaching of Christ is about giving in secret (Matthew 6:1–4). This was a reference to the public and ostentatious manner of giving often used by the religious hypocrites of His day. This passage can be equally used to substantiate both storehouse and secret giving.

There are many additional exhortations about giving in the New Testament—mostly from Christ—that are not explicitly to be given 510

through the temple storehouse. Matthew 10:5–10 clearly shows that Jesus expected His disciples to both give and receive material and financial help directly. Jesus implied that the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:21 should liquidate his wealth and give it personally and directly to the poor. It is obvious in Luke 8:1–3 that women financially supported Jesus and His disciples directly. We see God’s people sending financial support to meet the needs of Paul in Philippians 4:14–18 with no involvement by the temple storehouse.

Christians today should certainly give a majority of their tithes and offerings through their local church storehouse. It is the believer’s primary spiritual community, just like the temple was for the Old Testament saints. A Christian owes their presence, participation, and support to their primary spiritual community.

However, if the local church is either selfishly hoarding resources or wasting them on unbiblical programs or monuments to human ego, a reevaluating of church involvement and giving must take place. To continue to attend and tithe to a church that has lost its biblical focus and spiritual priority is very poor stewardship of your time and God’s treasure.

Storehouse giving, then, is a biblical principle and guideline for Christians. But even though it would represent a norm and starting point for one’s tithes and offerings, it certainly should not represent the totality of giving for any individual Christian. The opportunities and needs are too broad for any serious Christian to be that narrow and exclusive in their giving.

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Spiritual Olympics 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 Top athletes from all over converge in the Olympics to compete for the gold, silver, and bronze medals in their areas of athletic prowess. Many have been in training almost all of their lives for these two weeks of competition. Unfortunately, the majority of the athletes will go home empty-handed. They will not take any medals home, but will lose by milliseconds or millimeters and forever second-guess themselves.

They at least had the thrill of competing for the gold, while most of humanity spent their lives “sitting in the stands.” While the rest were spectators, they were the participants, and all the eyes of the world were on them.

The Bible teaches that the eyes of the universe are also on you.

You too are involved in running a marathon race—and it is literally the race of your life. As exciting as the Olympics are, your race has eternal consequences. It will result in a clear win-or-lose finish.

Although God is impartial in His judgments (Acts 10:34; 1 Peter 1:17), I want you to know that He wants you to win—not only for time, but also for eternity! He did not send His Son to die so that you would be a loser. He died and rose again to make you a winner in the game of life. And to help ensure that, He has made His Holy Spirit totally available to live within you and empower you to be a spiritual winner. Also, our Master Coach has not left us without a “sports manual” to help train us for victory. It is known as the Bible, and it speaks a great deal about running and competing.

The Apostle Paul often traveled and worked in places like Greece and Corinth, where the Olympics were held every few years.

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Is it any wonder, then, that Paul uses so many athletic metaphors or figures of speech to illustrate his own Christian life? He especially emphasized this when he was writing to a young spiritual athlete he was coaching and mentoring: Timothy.

Paul reminded Timothy of the unique benefits of a total workout that includes body, mind, and spirit. He did not in any way discourage or disparage the importance of “physical training.” However, he did point out the superiority of spiritual training that resulted in “godliness.”

How are you doing in the game of life? How do you feel you are running? Are you sitting in the stands, or are you competing on the field? Do you feel that you are winning or losing in your spiritual Olympics? What kind of award do you feel the Judge of the universe will give you when you stand before Him? Paul summarized his own Christian life with athletic metaphors.

He could say in humble confidence to young Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

May you and I strive to be that kind of spiritual athlete. May we, too, be the kind of Christian champions who start well, run well, win well, and end well. By His grace may we also stand on the winner’s platform and receive the medal we will wear for all eternity—for God’s glory!

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The Rise and Fall of Satan Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 In today’s world, it is safe to say that most people are ignorant as to the origin and nature of Satan. We would do well to remember that our two greatest enemies in the Christian life are spiritual ignorance and spiritual disobedience. Spiritual ignorance is the result of biblical illiteracy, while spiritual disobedience comes from a rebellious will.

Those without biblical literacy are completely vulnerable to what the Apostle Paul called “the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). In another similar passage, we are again admonished not to allow Satan to outwit us. “For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Likewise, spiritual disobedience due to a rebellious will serves the purpose of Satan and thereby dishonors God. We are engaged in a life-and-death spiritual warfare with the adversary of our soul for as long as we live on this earth! The Lord Jesus called him a “murderer from the beginning,” and a “liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). And so we “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground” (Ephesians 6:13).

There are three popular ideas about Satan—all wrong—and we want to put each of them to rest. The first myth is Satan does not exist. This is a very popular opinion among the so-called educated and enlightened people of the world. The second myth is Satan is only the personification of evil. This philosophy says Satan is not a real, objective, malevolent being. And the third is Satan is a mythological billy goat-type of being with hoofs, horns, and a tail. This is a holdover from the Middle Ages when Satan was depicted in religious dramas and books in this graphic manner for the benefit of the illiterate.

To find out more about his origin and rebellion, study the 28th 514

chapter of Ezekiel and the 14th chapter of Isaiah. There, we learn that he was created by God and was once an angel of the highest order.

His biblical names include Lucifer, the angel of light, Satan, the father of lies, the evil one, and the god of this world. It is important to remember that he is not eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient. His doom was sealed at the cross by Christ (Genesis 3:15). Christ will one day cast him from heaven to Earth (Revelation 12:12), then from Earth to the Abyss (Revelation 20:1–3), and finally from the Abyss to the lake of burning sulfur or fire (Revelation 20:10).

Until that time, believers have victory over him now (1 John 4:4; 5:18)! Yet, will we follow in the folly of Lucifer, the rebellious angels, and the majority of mankind that populate our world? Will our daily experiences increasingly be those of frustration, nothing but dust in our mouths? Or through obedience to God will we increasingly know the fulfillment that He can bring—delight to our soul?

The choice is yours.

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Living Dangerously for the Kingdom For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10 Every American should be profoundly thankful for the great opportunities we have in this country—the most prosperous, powerful, and peaceful on Earth. But we are also aware of the equally great dangers of allowing those freedoms and opportunities to make us ungrateful, prideful, greedy, selfish, and indifferent to the needs of others who do not enjoy what we so easily take for granted.

The good life of America can lull us to sleep in our comfort zones to the degree that we accept selfish living as the best there is. Once we set up our housekeeping, vocations, and church life, we can miss God’s best for us. We mistake the “good life” for the “God life.” We become addicted to playing it safe rather than living dangerously for the Kingdom of God. It causes us to seek and settle down into what I call middle-class mediocrity.

Are you living within your limits or beyond your limits for the Kingdom of God? It is only when we live, love, and lead beyond our limits that His Holy Spirit manifests His power in our weakness, limitlessness in our limitations, sufficiency in our insufficiency, and ability in our availability.

True Christianity has always been radical! Authentic Christian living has always been dangerous. And we know that Satan is the angry, antagonistic, animating force behind all of this. Since he hates Jesus Christ, he hates His Bride, the Church. Since he cannot assault the exalted Christ, he constantly attacks His Church.

But, if we consciously choose to live dangerously for the Lord Jesus, what does it mean? Will it mean that I will always experience success in the Christian life? It all depends on how you define 516

success. According to the New Testament, success in God’s eyes is defined by faith and faithfulness.

That’s the wonderful theme of Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter. There we walk through the faith “Hall of Fame” and read about the spiritual lives and exploits of the great patriarchs and matriarchs of the faith. People like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David. Then we read their epitaphs: “Through faith [they] conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised” (11:33).

But it does not end there. As we continue our walk, we see another door marked “Others.” What does it record of them? They were tortured, imprisoned, persecuted, and mistreated (11:35–38).

Which group was the most faithful and successful from God’s perspective? Both! “These were all commended for their faith” (11:39). That means that the individuals in both groups lived dangerously for the Kingdom of God. Whichever group God sovereignly chooses you and me to live and die in, we can have the confidence that Paul wrote about: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

Go for it! Rush the enemy lines! Then attack the strongholds in your sphere of influence. Live boldly, proactively, radically, lovingly, and dangerously for the Kingdom of God. You will never regret it!

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A Christian Perspective on Islam Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.

Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

1 John 2:22–23 By its very nature, Islam, like Christianity, is evangelistic and expansionistic to the core. The Qur’an demands a world that is 100 percent Islamic. Therefore, it cannot and will not stop until it has sought to extend the Islamic crescent across the entire globe! But, neither can Christianity rest until she has clearly communicated the message of the cross to the entire world. We, too, are under a Great Commission to evangelize.

Christianity seeks to extend the message of the cross in the spirit of the cross and in the agape love of Jesus Christ. The only force we are to use is the force of love! We are compelled by compassion, not by compulsion. However, we have no illusion that we will one day Christianize the world. Nowhere does the Bible even hint at the fact that every person will convert to Christianity. God’s true people have always been a remnant, a minority, or the few who enter at the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13–14).

Faithful Muslims are out to “Islamicize” the world, or impose the theology and ideology of Muhammad upon every human being.

That is known as the forceful imposition of Shari’a, or Islamic law, upon the world under a Caliphate led by a Muslim ruler. In obedience to the clear dictates of the Qur’an, they must seek to make their religion and culture the dominant one in any country they are in—including America.

We Christians also believe in the spiritual superiority of our faith. When it comes to Islam, we firmly believe that Jesus Christ is superior in every way to Muhammad; the Jehovah God of the 518

Bible is the only true and living God and not Allah; the Bible is a far older and superior revelation than the Qur’an; and the spiritual ethics symbolized by the cross of Christ are a far greater blessing to mankind than the crescent of Islam.

The revealed nature of the Triune God of the Bible and the Allah of the Qur’an are eternities apart. Islam and Christianity are mutually exclusive in their absolute claims about God, men, women, marriage, politics, law, and culture—about all of life.

Was Christ a great teacher, a great moral example, a wise philosopher, and a great prophet as Islam believes? Or was He God incarnate? The entire witness of the Bible is clear on this: Jesus was fully God while being fully man. That is the great mystery and miracle of the Incarnation, the true and living God! Did the prophet Muhammad deny the Incarnation? Did he also deny the crucifixion of Christ? Clearly he did, according to the witness of the Qur’an (Surah 4:157–158). Does that put his witness in the realm of the antichrist (1 John 2:22–23)? I believe it clearly does by his own testimony. Does that mean further that Muslims are spiritually lost? Or do we worship the same father and just use different names? The biblical witness is clear.

We can only pray, then, that the living Christ will continue to sovereignly and supernaturally reveal Himself to millions of Muslims the world over, so they will come to true saving faith through Him. “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). Amen!

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Transformation of a Terrorist Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

1 Timothy 1:13 It has become one of the defining words of our day. Since the events of September 11, 2001, the word terrorism has been constantly on our minds. It has become a household word. Virtually every newscast has some kind of report on this menacing evil. As a result, consciously or subconsciously, the reality of terrorism hangs over America like a dark, threatening cloud that could unleash its destructive and disruptive fury upon us at any time.

We need to remind ourselves that the true and living God is in the business of transforming terrorists. Like the name of Osama bin Laden, this man’s very name struck panic in the hearts of those whom he sought to eliminate. His name was Saul.

In Acts chapter 9, God transformed this terrorist on the Damascus Road. He changed Saul of Tarsus into Paul the Apostle. To any rational person, this radical transformation of Saul to Paul is explicable only as a direct divine intervention of the true and living God. As a result of his radical conversion, the blasphemer became the believer, the persecutor became the preacher, the accuser became the apologist, the terrorist became the teacher, the antagonist became the apostle, and the murderer became the missionary.

In God’s sight, a radical is a radical. If God can convert a Jewish radical, He can just as easily convert an Islamic, Hindu, or Buddhist radical. If He can transform a Jewish fundamentalist into a Christian apologist, He can do the same for the fundamentalists of our day, which He is doing in many countries around the world.

Today, some of the most bold and fearless preachers of the Gospel in Islamic countries are converted mullahs and Qur’anic scholars 520

to whom Jesus supernaturally appeared in a dream or vision, just like He did to Paul on the Damascus Road! We must also pray that God will raise up more bold Christian disciples like Ananias (Acts 9:1–19) who will put it all on the line in forceful faith and radical love to reach out to the terrorists in our world.

As believers, we need to pray and work for this because radical enemies make radical friends! Converted terrorists make radical Christians! That’s because they already understand radical commitment. They already have vision and passion—although misguided.

They are already zealous. They are already turned on and on fire.

They already understand what it means to be sold out for a cause.

They understand the cost of discipleship. When necessary, they are prepared to be persecuted for their faith and even die a martyr’s death for their faith.

So may God motivate and empower each of us to be radical Christians for the Kingdom of God! Only then will we see God transform terrorists by the power of the Spirit and the Word. Only then will His Holy Spirit turn the Church back into a radical, transformational fellowship of Christian revolutionaries who will again turn our world upside down for God’s glory!

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A Call to Fasting Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves?

Isaiah 58:5 The topic of fasting is not a very popular one in Christian circles today. You seldom hear preaching or teaching about its importance. In the American Church we are not often exhorted to fast regularly. It is something that is associated with mystics, ascetics, and fanatics—not with mainstream Christianity!

If we are honest, we will all confess that we greatly prefer feasting to fasting. I certainly do, because we were created by God to eat, and we naturally prefer eating to starving. From the moment of birth, one of our strongest drives is for food and liquid. Without it we cannot long survive.

Fasting, then, goes against our basic instincts to eat and drink. It is a conscious resisting of our hunger pangs that constantly drive us to food. Therefore, it takes a willful decision for a person not to eat and drink. It is a subjugation of our natural appetites with a supernatural expectation.

Fasting is a constraining of the outer man in order to release and strengthen the inner man or woman. It is not something that we do thoughtlessly, unconsciously, or involuntarily—unless we are physically, emotionally, or spiritually sick.

Let’s look at several examples of what we might call false fasts.

First, there are involuntary fasts that millions of people in the world face regularly simply because of a lack of food to eat. The Apostle Paul experienced this type of involuntary fasting from time to time in his ministry (2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27).

Secondly, a person may give up eating temporarily because of physical sickness. There are a number of illnesses that can cause one to lose their appetite for food for a period of time. Thirdly, a person 522

who is emotionally sick will sometimes consciously starve themselves through some disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia.

Finally, there are millions of sincere, well-intentioned people who starve themselves physically in order to gain merit or “appease the gods.” You often see this kind of voluntary fasting in religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. In a similar way, millions of faithful Muslims fast yearly during the month of Ramadan. From a Christian perspective, all of this fasting has little or no authentic spiritual merit before the true and living God. So, if there are so many counterfeits and false fasts, there must be an authentic faith fast that pleases the Lord.

In the Old Testament, the word fast comes from the primary Hebrew root tsuwm and means “to cover over the mouth.” In the Greek of the New Testament, the word is nesteia (noun) and nesteuo (verb), which means “not to eat.”

There are only a couple dozen references to fasting in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. But one thing is absolutely clear, and that is that fasting was definitely a normative practice in Judaism and later in Christianity.

As Christians, we fast for a season for at least seven reasons: humility (Ezra 8:21), humiliation (Psalm 35:13), helplessness (2 Chronicles 20:2–4), healing (Isaiah 58:6–9), holiness (Matthew 6:16–18), hope (Mark 2:19–20), and harvest (Acts 13:2–3). It is my prayer that God will use fasting to add these spiritual virtues to your life.

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The Storms of Life You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.

Isaiah 25:4 Make no mistake about it: the Christian life does not exempt you from experiencing times of trouble. The storms will be ominous and threatening. It will be a time of darkness and danger. The dark clouds may be so thick and intense that they will seem to enshroud you and cut you off from God. Sometimes they will be brief. At other times, they will seem unending.

God providentially designs some storms for His children to test and try them. His storms purge from our lives those things that are not eternal. God uses them to separate us from our love affair with the temporal, trite, and trivial, so our lives will not one day be reduced to ashes. These stormy times of darkness and danger are also part and parcel of the Christian life, because we live in a fallen and rebellious world where everything is spiritually upside down and the natural realm is out of balance.

While your storm may leave you with some scars, your relationship with Him is totally secure. Remember that He loves you with an everlasting love. Jesus promised that nothing or no one can snatch you from His Father’s hand (John 10:28). He has you in His eternal grip—and no storm can wash you out of His nail-scarred hands!

Jesus came to meet you and minister to you in your storm. He came to comfort you when you mourn (Matthew 5:4). He promises to take you through victoriously to the other side. And there He will give to you “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3).

Whatever storms you have been through in the past, whatever 524

storms you are in right now, or whatever storms you will face in the future, only Jesus can be your sure anchor and secure harbor! Only in Christ can you find a “shelter from the storm.”

“It Is Well with My Soul” is a hymn written by a successful businessman, Horatio Spafford. The ship carrying his family went down at sea in a great storm. His wife was saved, but his beloved daughters were lost.

When he visited the place where the ship sank, he looked into the deep, dark waters and penned these words: “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”

That’s my prayer for you, my friend. I trust that whatever storm you have gone through and whatever you have lost, it is still “well with your soul!”

Now, with your spiritual anchor securely fastened to Him, I pray that you will also reach out to others who are being devastated by life’s storms. Just as Jesus has ministered to you in your storm, I pray that you will minister to others in their storms with the love and compassion of the Lord Jesus!

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Death and After Life The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:26 The question of death slumbers and periodically arouses and shouts in almost every experience of life. Falling leaves, wilting flowers, the death of a beloved pet, an accident in which a friend is killed, or the sight of a hearse leading a funeral procession are just a few of the constant reminders.

Man has arrived at many theories concerning death and the afterlife. Most have been the result of ignoring the biblical revelation.

Others have been drawn from incorrectly interpreting what the Bible teaches. Death was not a part of God’s original plan for man.

It came as a result of the fall of man. Ever since Adam sinned and died spiritually, every human being has been born spiritually dead.

It is, therefore, an enemy and “the last enemy to be destroyed” (1 Corinthians 15:26).

Physical death is the separation of the spirit and soul from the body, the material from the immaterial, the temporal from the eternal, the mortal from the immortal, and the physical from the metaphysical. Death and the grave are not the end of man’s existence. God will redeem the righteous from the powers of death and the grave. The righteous will see God face to face after physical death when the glorified spirits and souls of the righteous will be united with their glorified bodies. The spirits and souls of the unrighteous, however, go to torment to await the second resurrection, final judgment, and their eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Daniel 12:2).

Jesus died the death we deserved, and He conquered death through His own resurrection from the grave. Therefore, death has been changed from a period to a comma, a question mark to an exclamation point, a conclusion to an introduction, a final destination 526

to a rest stop, a tomb to a tunnel, and an earthly end into an eternal beginning!

In many ways, death for the believer is the wedding day. Christ is the Divine Bridegroom and we are His bride. He has bought us and we are betrothed to Him! At the moment of death, the engagement is over and the marriage begins, face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). What absolute liberty from the fear of death we will have when these truths fully penetrate our lives. Death cannot separate us from God! Satan is the master counterfeiter who “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). He knows that death does not change anything, but only makes eternally secure the spiritual condition in which he lived his life.

Two of his many deadly deceptions are suicide and the study of death through science, or thanatology. That is why we should expect him to make his final deception and goal-line stand about the point of physical death. If he can be successful at this, he knows that he can plunge the person into a Christ-less eternity!

There are three important questions that you need to ask yourself regularly concerning death: Am I in right relationship with God? Am I in right relationship with others? Am I investing myself in things that will last for eternity?

Only confessing your sin to God and accepting Him into your life can guarantee that you will have eternal life. Your salvation and God’s justification give life where there was death. God’s holy and sanctifying presence will make it possible for you to experience abundant life, which is the earthly experience of eternal life.

Decide now!

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Hell: The Final Separation Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:15 Physical death is the separation of the body from the soul and spirit. Spiritual death is the separation of the soul and spirit from God eternally. It is sometimes referred to as the second death. Neither physical death nor spiritual death is a state of non-being, unconsciousness, soul sleep, annihilation, reincarnation, etc.

Gehenna is the Aramaic form of the Hebrew word for Gehennom, or Valley of Hinnom. It was located on the south/southwest side of Jerusalem. In post-Old Testament times, the Jews referred to it as the entrance of hell and later as hell itself. Because it was declared by God to be an abominable place (Jeremiah 7:31–32), the Jews could not use it for anything but the city garbage dump where fires burned continually. It existed during the time of Christ, and He repeatedly referenced this physical place that everyone was familiar with to illustrate a metaphysical place called Gehenna, or hell fire.

Hell, then, is the absolute withdrawal of God from men. Life without God, the Light of the world, is hell! One of the common words used to describe it in the Bible is “darkness.” And it is a place where God’s wrath will be poured out on all unrighteousness.

The Bible speaks a lot about the permanence of hell. The word for unending in Greek is aioonios. There is not one single instance where it means temporary or lasting only for a period of time. Another similar expression is forever and ever (eis aioonas aioonoon).

It is used in reference to Christ and of God’s existence, the unending bliss of the faithful, and the unending punishment of the wicked.

God has total power over Gehenna; Satan does not. He originally created Gehenna for the devil and his angels, not for mankind.

However, when people willfully reject God’s love and refuse to let 528

Him be their Father, they become children of the Devil (1 John 3:10) and are destined for the same eternal end that awaits Satan.

In some way, the resurrection body of the unrighteous will be able to experience torment, pain, and anguish. No one is in Gehenna now because all the activity surrounding it takes place in the future.

For now, all the unrighteous are in “torment,” or a temporary hell (Luke 16:19–31).

The first ones to occupy Gehenna will be the Beast and the False Prophet, and then the Devil a thousand years later. But be assured that when Satan goes to hell, he will do so as hell’s greatest prisoner—not as its chief proprietor. The second group will be the unrighteous from the Great White Throne Judgment who were not recorded in the Book of Life. Finally, Death and Hades/Torment will be thrown into the lake of fire.

Let me close with a popular question: “How can a loving God send anyone to hell?” One should respond, “How could God be loving if He denied us the freedom to choose an alternative to heaven?”

So, at physical death, God only ratifies man’s choices. In hell, there will be no complaint of injustice because God’s judgments are both right and righteous. The existence of hell, then, is proof of God’s love—not a contradiction of it.

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Heaven and Eternal Life He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelation 21:4 The Bible divides the life of man into three stages: the period from birth to death in a physical body and a physical world; between death and resurrection, which is a life without a physical or glorified body; and the final, or eternal, state in the resurrected, glorified body. No believer has entered the eternal heaven yet, just as no unbeliever has entered the eternal hell yet.

Man cannot attain eternal life through any means. It is a free gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8–9). This knowledge comes only through Christ. The unrighteous cannot receive it, and the believer can never lose it. Eternal life guarantees heaven for the believer immediately at death and, ultimately, eternal heaven after the first resurrection.

There are three heavens. The first is the atmospheric heaven. It is the location of the sun, moon, stars, and heavenly bodies (Genesis 1:14–18). The second heaven is the heavenly kingdom of Satan. This is a spiritual place, not a physical one, and is the realm of the principalities, powers, world rulers of this present darkness, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Satan was thrown down to this sphere after he tried to ascend into the highest heaven and supplant God. The third heaven is the highest heaven. It is the dwelling place of God (Deuteronomy 10:14). It is the location of God’s throne and the dwelling place of His angels. It is also where Christ sat down at the Father’s right hand, where we are seated with Him in the heavenly place, and where He intercedes for us.

This is where the believer is to lay up their treasure, where his affection is to be, and where he will be rewarded with his imperishable 530

and undefiled inheritance. He or she will receive their crowns there, and there will be degrees of rewards.

Because the eternal heaven is indescribable and incomprehensible, God could not give us anything but general characteristics of heaven. What He did tell us about it should totally excite the spirit with joyful anticipation concerning the things God has prepared for those who love Him. It is a place/state filled with the glory of God and His joy because none of the things that cause unhappiness on earth can enter there. It is a place/state of blessedness and rest and intense pleasure.

There will be no more tears or pain, no more sickness or death, and no hunger or thirst. We will be satisfied with the Bread of Life and the Water of Life.

There will be no sun or heat or night. After all, sleep is to restore tired bodies, and our glorified bodies will never get tired. There’s no marriage, because the fulfillment of marriage will take place in the marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 21:9); no temple, because God and Christ are the temple. Finally, there will be no sun or moon, because the Lamb is the Light.

God is populating heaven from every group of people He has ever created, and they will all be around the throne glorifying Him. They will have been purchased with the blood of Christ and will be standing before the throne!

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What Time Is It? From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

1 Chronicles 12:32 If you are an adult, you know how to tell time. You can read your watch as surely as you can read these words. We have clocks everywhere: on our walls, TVs, radios, cell phones, and computers.

When it comes to time, the most important question of all is this: Do you know what time it is from God’s perspective? You see, the Bible is God’s clock. It is His timepiece. The Scriptures, especially the prophetic passages, are His revelation about time. Since God created time and exists outside of our human time capsule, the Bible reveals time from the vantage point of eternity. It tells eternal time and not just temporal time.

Obviously, then, it is only when we understand what time it is from God’s perspective that we will be able to be like the men of Issachar. It is only when we properly understand the times that we will know the proper course of action to take. If we wrongly interpret time, we will wrongly invest our lives.

In the Bible there are two primary words used to describe time.

The first biblical word is chronos. It primarily means a period of time, duration of time, segment of time, or moment in time, whether short or long. Chronos time is measured by clocks and calendars.

From the human perspective, there can be no more important word than chronos. It represents the very essence of our lives. In one real sense, it is what will one day define each of our lives. Therefore, chronos has both temporal and eternal significance.

But there is another word for time in the Bible that is even more important than chronos. It is kairos. While chronos refers to a quantity of time, kairos refers to a quality of time. It usually means a particular point of time, the right moment, a special time, or a 532

special season. You might think of it as the divine time measured by the watch that God wears on His arm—a significant timepiece indeed! It is God’s sovereign kairos that determines our chronos.

That’s why the Bible reminds us: “My times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:15).

What time is it? It is time to synchronize your watch with God’s!

It is time to adjust your chronos to His kairos! I’ll leave with you a challenging, anonymous poem entitled “God’s Minute”: I’ve only just a minute, only sixty seconds in it.

Forced upon me, I can’t refuse it, I didn’t seek it, I didn’t choose it.

I must suffer if I lose it; Give an account if I abuse it.

Just a tiny little minute, But eternity is in it.

So, saint of God, it is the time for salvation, sanctification, service, and stewardship! It is time to wake up, get up, stand up, lift up, look up, speak up, and give up—all for His Kingdom and glory!

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The Jewish Jesus Joseph L. Williams

Table of Contents Introduction...................................................................................537 Day 1—So Many Names..............................................................539 Day 2—It’s All Greek Hebrew Aramaic to Me............................541 Day 3—Scriptures = Old Testament.............................................543 Day 4—The Prophecies................................................................545 Day 5—A Closer Look.................................................................547 Day 6—Old Testament Appearances............................................549 Day 7—Tabernacle and Temple....................................................551 Day 8—Yerushalayim...................................................................553 Day 9—Did Jesus Abolish Old Testament Law?..........................555 Day 10—The Gospel of Levi........................................................557 Day 11—It’s in the Genes.............................................................559 Day 12—The Baby Presentation..................................................561 Day 13—Do We Have to Talk about Circumcision?....................563 Day 14—The Jewish Boy.............................................................565 Day 15—A Life Foreign to Us......................................................567 Day 16—Son of David..................................................................569 Day 17—Rabbi.............................................................................571 Day 18—Tefillin, Tallit, and Tzitzit..............................................573 Day 19—Getting to the Root........................................................575

Day 20—Identifying Certain Groups............................................577 Day 21—Making Disciples...........................................................579 Day 22—Interaction with Gentiles...............................................581 Day 23—High Priest.....................................................................583 Day 24—The Passover Lamb.......................................................585 Day 25—Pass the Matzah, Please.................................................587 Day 26—King of the Jews............................................................589 Day 27—First Jew, Then Gentile..................................................591 Day 28—Synagogue versus Church.............................................593 Day 29—The Book of Hebrews...................................................595 Day 30—Lost to this Day.............................................................597

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Introduction Jesus’ life was very simple. He spent it walking from place to place and meeting the needs of the people, the Jewish people in particular.

By the time of His ascension, however, He had commanded His disciples, and subsequently commands us, to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) and to be His witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He was born a Jew, was raised a Jew, and died as the Savior of the world.

In this devotional, we will be looking at the life of Jesus, specifically His Jewish upbringing and influence. This is often overlooked today. In fact, I’ve noticed that there are three groups of people who don’t concern themselves with Jesus’ life as a Jew. First, I daresay many American Christians subconsciously view Jesus as a white-skinned, English-speaking man who wrote the King James Bible. Our perception is simply not based in reality. It is highly doubtful that most churches today would even allow Jesus to preach from their pulpit. Let’s be honest—who would allow this plainly clothed Man without a seminary degree, with no possessions to His name and with only His feet as transportation, to be given a place of authority in the church?

Second, there are those who believe that the Jewishness of Jesus is just not important. They believe that the Church completely replaced Israel as God’s chosen people because Israel failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. They also believe that whatever happens to modern-day political or spiritual Israel or to the Jewish people corporately has no relation to the Church or to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. They believe God now only calls the Church “His people.” The Jews and Israel had their chance and missed it.

Last, there are many believers who just don’t know or seem to care about Jesus’ life as a Jew. They walk in ignorance of this crucial aspect of His life. They mainly read the Bible at face value, rarely 538

seeking to understand historical, religious, or cultural context, and have an inadequate commitment to know God’s Word. Let’s face it: we’re all a little guilty of this laziness.

The commonality tying all three viewpoints together is a self-centered Gospel. Instead of studying the Bible and its context objectively and with a whole-hearted passion to know the full truth of God’s message, we allow biases and lethargy take over.

From the Old Testament law and prophecies to Jesus’ birth, upbringing, and ministry, we’ll look broadly at the Jewish religious culture, customs, and influence in His life and beyond. The majority of Scripture references will be from the Old Testament and two New Testament books (Matthew and Hebrews) written to a Jewish audience. Several names from the Old Testament will also continue to pop up.

As with any devotional I write, it is impossible to be exhaustive.

Rather, it is meant to encourage and inspire you to dig deeper into God’s Word in your own personal study time. If I achieve this objective, then to Him be the glory!

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So Many Names Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.

Genesis 10:21 Right out of the gate, it is important to try and establish a measure of clarity. It can get a little confusing to hear the different names used for God’s people: Semites, Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews. Let’s briefly look at each one to gain a better understanding. I think you will see an interesting pattern emerge, but allow me some grace as I paint with broad strokes. We start today’s study after the great flood, looking for the origin of each word.

Semites are the descendants of Shem, the middle of the three sons of Noah (Genesis 10:21). They settled in the general area known today as the Middle East. As we’ll see tomorrow, Semitic is the term used to define the language group to which Hebrew belongs.

The word Hebrew is derived from the name Eber, also in the verse above. Abraham was a descendant of Shem and of Eber. It was Abram/Abraham who was first called a Hebrew (Genesis 14:13).

The last time the word is used in the Old Testament to label someone is by Jonah about himself (1:9). However, the Apostle Paul referred to himself as a Hebrew twice (2 Corinthians 11:22; Philippians 3:5).

Jacob was renamed Israel by God in Genesis 32:28. He was a descendant of Shem, Eber, and Abraham, and his descendants were called Israelites. This term is used as a corporate name throughout Scripture, even in the New Testament. References to Israel are particularly numerous in the first five books of the Old Testament. They can also be found in Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Kings, and so on. Once again, Paul referred to himself as an Israelite in the same verse in 2 Corinthians (11:22).

What about the word Jew? This is derived from the name Judah. He was one of Jacob’s 12 sons. This means that he, too, was a descendant 540

of all the same people in the family line we’ve been examining. So, Jews were specifically descended from the tribe of Judah. Jesus was accurately referred to as King of the Jews (Matthew 27:37) because He also was descended from Judah (Matthew 1:3). However, it seems over time that Jew came to mean all people of descent from the 12 tribes.

The meanings of these four terms have somewhat changed up to the present. Anti-Semitic is a term used to describe those who are racist against the Jewish people of today. Hebrew is the name of the modern-day Jewish language, and Israeli (Israelite) refers to anyone living in Israel. Jew is especially used in a religious context as the name of those who adhere to Judaism. For the sake of continuity in this devotional, I will mainly (but not exclusively) refer to them as Jews.

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It’s All Greek Hebrew Aramaic to Me 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.

John 19:20 Now, let’s look at the language itself. Hebrew is in the Semitic language family and its sister languages include Arabic and Aramaic.

You might already know that Arabic is the language of those who follow Islam. This should not be surprising, as Muslims and Jews both trace their roots back to Abraham. They differ on which son was blessed, Isaac or Ishmael. This is only the beginning of vast differences in beliefs between the two.

Hebrew is a pictographic language, which means that each of the 22 letters stands for something. Think of it like Egyptian hieroglyphics, where meaning is conveyed visually in each hieroglyphic shape. Words used to describe the Hebrew language are “vivid,” “poetic,” “lively,” and “rhythmic.” Its modernized version is used today in Israel.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, with a few exceptions written in Aramaic (Ezra 4:8–6:18; 7:12–26; Daniel 2:4– 7:28; Jeremiah 10:11). Perhaps the assumption is that Jesus spoke Hebrew since that was the language of the Old Testament and the people of Abrahamic descent. It is likely that when Jesus read from the Old Testament in the synagogue, He was doing so in Hebrew (Luke 4:16–21).

However, there were other languages present at the turn of the first millennium. The New Testament was written in Greek. The Romans spoke Latin. The sign put on the cross above Jesus’ head was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek (see above).

There are two instances in the New Testament where Jesus spoke Aramaic: 542

•

Matthew 27:46: On the cross as He was about to die, “Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).” Interestingly, Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1, which was originally written in Hebrew.

•

Mark 5:41: Jesus raised a girl from the dead. “He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’).”

There are also several verses in John’s Gospel that mention specific Aramaic words: Bethesda (5:2), Gabbatha (19:13), Golgotha (19:17), and Rabboni (20:16). God spoke to Saul (later, Paul) in Aramaic on the Damascus Road (Acts 26:14), and Paul spoke to the crowd in Jerusalem in Aramaic (Acts 21:40; 22:2).

So, it is reasonable to conclude that Jesus spoke several languages (at least three). English was not one of them. This might sound silly, but the way some churches revere certain English Bible translations today, it makes you wonder.

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Scriptures = Old Testament He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Luke 24:44–45 The Old Testament comprises 39 books written over a very long period of time. The first five books are called the Pentateuch and were written by Moses in the 1400s BC. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and was written around 400 BC. Let it sink in that we are reading a compilation of divinely inspired instructions, historical accounts, poetry, and prophecies that span one thousand years. Is man capable of accurately compiling such a collection on his own? I don’t believe so.

Here is a brief summary of what took place over this millennium of writings. God set up a covenant with the Hebrew people through a man named Abraham, then his son, Isaac, and then his grandson, Jacob. The people grew in number and eventually became slaves to Egypt. They were liberated and led to the Promised Land by Moses.

Early on during this age, God set up a sacrificial religious system. The people made symbolic offerings of animals to atone for their sins against Him. Jesus would later become the ultimate sacrifice even though most Jews to this day still don’t recognize Him as their long-awaited Messiah. We’ll look at this further on a future day when the Passover is discussed.

God gave them commands and instructions to obey. Disobedience occurred in various degrees under the leadership of judges and through the reigns of good and bad kings. The land was finally divided into northern and southern kingdoms, which were both eventually conquered. Prophecies were given throughout this period concerning a future Messiah who would bring victory. We’ll look at some of those prophecies tomorrow.

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It is important to note that, as we study this devotional, whenever Jesus was referring to “the Scriptures,” He is specifically referencing the Pentateuch, Psalms, and most or all of the books written by prophets. We in today’s world often forget that the New Testament writings did not exist during Jesus’ day. So, it is through this lens that we need to find understanding. When the term Scripture is used, it is referring to most of the books found in the Old Testament.

Scripture is also indirectly referenced whenever we read the phrase “As it is written.” For example, in Luke 3:4 it says, “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’” He is quoting from Isaiah 40:3.

To summarize, a millennium of divinely inspired writings set the stage for New Testament authors to record the First Coming of Jesus, the spread of the early church, and prophecies concerning His Second Coming.

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The Prophecies For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 Yesterday, we set the stage for understanding the broad scope of the Old Testament. It is amazing that such a compilation exists for our spiritual benefit. What is equally amazing are the prophecies in these books about Jesus that occurred centuries before His birth.

Did you know that there are at least 300 prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament? Around two-thirds of them occur in Psalms and Isaiah. It seems every aspect of His life and ministry was foretold by these prophecies. Here are some of the more well-known examples. Isaiah 9:2–7 presents a message of hope about His birth.

Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are probably two of the most descriptive of how Jesus would suffer and die for our sins.

Likewise, there are prophecies in the Old and New Testament about the climax of human history and Jesus’ second and final return, especially in the book of Revelation. There are also short passages and verses about the Second Coming, like Matthew 24:30, 1 Corinthians 15:52, and 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

I have heard it said that prophets are only given pieces of a larger puzzle. This seems to be true in the Bible. Various prophets were given different details, and we are blessed to view them collectively and see how they came beautifully into fulfillment through Jesus’ First Coming.

Since we have not yet seen His Second Coming, we likewise only see pieces of the puzzle—some of which contain heavy symbolism and are cryptic. Be wary of those who claim divine inspiration and the key to unlock an understanding of what hasn’t happened 546

yet. There are many around today who claim the gift of prophetic answers to more than what God may have revealed to them.

In my humble opinion, the study of the prophetic is meant to give us an appreciation for our biblical history, excite us about the future, and encourage us to live a fruitful life for the Lord today.

So, as we consider what is to come in Matthew 24, the next chapter encourages us through three parables to (1) be ready for His return, (2) be good stewards of what God has given us, and (3) help people in practical ways.

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A Closer Look For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.

1 Corinthians 15:3–5 Let’s take a closer look at some of the many Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. I think you will find them encouraging, knowing that Jesus’ First Coming was prophesied in great detail many hundreds of years before He came. Specifically, Genesis was written before 1400 BC; Micah, Hosea, and Isaiah were written 700 or so years before Christ. All of the Old Testament was written at least 400 years before Christ. You get the point.

It is also helpful to have knowledge of these prophecies for those experiencing “doubting Thomas” moments or to share with those skeptical of our faith. Here is a list of just a small fraction of the specific prophecies about Christ, followed by the Scripture references for both the prophecy and its fulfillment: His Birth • From the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Matthew 1:3) • Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:5–6) • Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22–23) • Called Immanuel (same) • Would spend a season in Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14–15) His Ministry • Preceded by an “Elijah” (Malachi 4:5–6; Matthew 11:13–14) • Loved and praised by children (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16) 548

• • •

Would proclaim good news (Isaiah 61:1–2; Luke 4:16–21) Spoke in parables (Psalm 78:1–2; Matthew 13:35) Praised as He rode a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1–5)

His Death and Resurrection • • • • •

Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13; Matthew 27:6–10) His clothes divided up by casting lots (Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35) His body was pierced (Isaiah 53:5; Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34) Forsaken by God (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46) Would be resurrected (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:22–32)

This is just scratching the surface of the Old Testament prophecies dealing with the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. It does not even include the Old and New Testament prophecies about the eventual return of the Messiah.

Take comfort in the fact that God has a sovereign plan that He reveals over time to prophets. They are each given various pieces of the puzzle, as we’ve said. And we, through the compilation of the 66 books in the Bible, are given a comprehensive picture of God’s plan for the Jewish people and for all mankind. We can now look forward to the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding His Second Coming with great anticipation.

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Old Testament Appearances There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.

Exodus 3:2 Angels seem to be often misunderstood and improperly revered in today’s society. They are worn on jewelry and even prayed to. We know that angels are found throughout Scripture and are mentioned many times. God deploys them to convey His messages, to protect His people, and to battle against the fallen angel, Satan, and the angels who fell with him.

There are two angels mentioned by name: Michael and Gabriel.

Michael’s task was to protect the Jewish people (Daniel 12:1). Gabriel appeared four times: to Daniel (twice), to John the Baptist’s father, and to Mary.

It is a commonly held belief that whenever the Old Testament mentions “the angel of the Lord,” it is likely Jesus appearing to someone in pre-incarnate bodily form. This happened several times.

It’s worth listing many of these occurrences, so that we can see the moments that God chose to have direct communication with the Jewish people.

The angel of the Lord appeared to many individuals in the Bible: • • • • • •

Sarai (Sarah) regarding Ishmael’s birth (Genesis 16:7–14) Abraham when he was about to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:11–18) Jacob during a dream (Genesis 31:11–13) Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3) Balaam and his talking donkey (Numbers 22:21–35) Gideon about his upcoming victory against the Midianites (Judges 6) 550

• • •

Samson’s parents about his birth and future (Judges 13) Elijah after fleeing Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1–18) David as God brought a plague on Israel (2 Samuel 24:16–17; 1 Chronicles 21:15–19)

The angel of the Lord isn’t mentioned again after the birth of Jesus. Nonetheless, I find great comfort in the fact that God intervenes supernaturally in the lives of His people throughout the ages. And you know what is even more exciting? He still does this every day in the lives of believers because we have God living within us through His Holy Spirit.

Just as angels convey messages and bring protection at God’s bidding, so the Holy Spirit guides us into making wise choices and avoiding evil. The catch is that the still, small voice of His Spirit (1 Kings 19:9–18) is awfully hard to hear when we’re walking in sin and not pursuing Him with all our might.

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Tabernacle and Temple The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 Starting during the nomadic life of Moses and the Hebrew people, God dwelt in a tabernacle consisting of a tent and all its contents, which were to be specifically constructed, including the priestly garments. These instructions were spelled out in Exodus 25–40. The tabernacle was contained within a 75-foot-wide by 100-foot-long enclosure. The courtyard around the tabernacle included a continuously burning bronze altar for offerings and a basin for washing.

The tabernacle itself was an inner, curtained-off area of 15 feet by 45 feet that held the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Within the Holy Place was a golden table for the showbread, a golden lampstand, and the altar of incense. The Most Holy Place held the Ark of the Covenant, arguably made more famous in America by the first Indiana Jones movie than by the Bible itself. The lid of the ark was called the Mercy Seat, where the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled by the high priest for the atonement of the people’s sins.

While the tabernacle could be relocated in times of wandering and war, the temple in Jerusalem became its replacement as a permanent place to worship God. It existed in good times and bad, and it was both kept to God’s standards and defiled. King Solomon built the First Temple (1 Kings 6), and the second was built by Zerubbabel after the Babylonian exile (book of Ezra). It was later renovated

by Herod the Great, but then destroyed in AD 70.

Of course, there is not room here to go over the tabernacle and temple in more detail. There is quite a lot to read in the Old Testament and some in the New Testament, as Jesus visited the temple often. The point for today’s devotional is to get the “30,000-foot view” 552

and realize how Jesus replaced both the tabernacle and the temple.

No longer did God require a religious structure or institution to have a relationship with Him. In John 1:14 above, the word used for dwelling here is “tabernacle.” Jesus became flesh and dwells with us. God no longer required blood to be shed as an offering, because Jesus “gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).

A literal temple was replaced by a spiritual one. Each of us individually (1 Corinthians 6:19) and corporately as the Body of Christ (Ephesians 2:21–22) are now the figurative temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. Other analogies can be found in Hebrews 8–9. I encourage you to study this sometime.

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Yerushaliyim On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.

Zechariah 12:3 Yerushaliyim is the Hebrew name for Jerusalem, the center of the Jewish world. This city is first mentioned as Salem in Genesis 14:18.

It is also where David purchased land on Mount Moriah to build an altar to God (2 Samuel 24:18–25). It later became the site of the First and Second Temples. Centuries later, this same piece of real estate in Jerusalem was claimed by the Muslims as one of their holy sites and the city was named al-Quds. For many more centuries up to the present, the battle has raged for God’s Holy Land and City.

Let’s rewind back to Jesus’ day and look at His close connection to this place. He was taken to Jerusalem as an infant to be dedicated to the Lord (Luke 2:22–24). His parents also went there every year for Passover (verse 41). On one of these occasions, Jesus, as a child, left His parents and went to the temple to engage the religious teachers in discussion (verses 43–50).

As an adult, Jesus rode on a donkey into the city on the day we now celebrate as Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1–11). Shortly thereafter, He chased away the money lenders from the temple (verses 12–16). He again engaged the religious leaders there (21:23–46).

Jesus mourned for Jerusalem because the people had rejected the prophets before Him, and because they would not see Him again until His final return (23:37–39).

Jesus had the “Last Supper” and was arrested, crucified, and resurrected in Jerusalem. After His ascension, the gift of the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost in Jerusalem, and the city became the headquarters of the church (the book of Acts).

Prior to His Second Coming, Jerusalem will be a major site of 554

events at the End of the Age. Specifically, the Temple Mount in the heart of the city is a primary hotspot (Revelation 11). After God’s ultimate victory is won in Revelation 21:2, the Apostle John foresaw a future Jerusalem that we will all enjoy: “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

So how do we apply Jerusalem to us living in the West? Psalm 122:6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” This city that has meant so much to the Jewish people, to Jesus, and to Christendom will be constantly surrounded by war and unrest. We need to pray for Israel in general and Jerusalem specifically until the day comes when Jesus returns and establishes His kingdom there forever.

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Did Jesus Abolish Old Testament Law? Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6:13–14 One of the arguments against Christianity today may seem valid to some, but in my opinion it usually just demonstrates ignorance. It should receive a sound biblical answer in response. Sadly, it seems that few believers engage in this discussion because of a lack of knowledge and/or confidence.

Here is what I’m referring to: let’s say a Christian speaks out against militant Islam. A non-Christian will point to some seemingly violent act of God in the Old Testament and say that Christians are being hypocritical. Our “religion” is no better than any other. Or they’ll point to one of the unusual commands or laws in the Old Testament and say that the Christian is not obeying the entire Bible and, therefore, has no room to talk. Have you encountered this criticism from skeptics in your own life?

I would appreciate a little grace as I try to lay out a somewhat complex issue in one brief devotional. Please also know that we are trying to understand a supernatural God in human terms. There are aspects we’ll not fully comprehend this side of heaven.

Having given this disclaimer, let me attempt to summarize the symbiotic relationship between the Old and New Testament. Starting with Abraham, God chose the Hebrew people (who became the Jews) to bless all nations (Galatians 3:8).

Before Jesus came, God instituted a religious system through Moses for the Jewish people to obey. We looked at this earlier. It 556

covered ceremonies, civil law, and morality. It was not directed to Gentiles. It doesn’t mean that Christians ignore the Old Testament, for there is a wealth of knowledge and guidance that can be gained there. We just have to remember the target audience.

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Jesus fulfilled so many of the Old Testament practices and laws that no longer were necessary. He opened the door of acceptance to the world. For the Jews and Gentiles, salvation and freedom henceforth came through Him to those who believed.

Anyone who believes in the atoning work of the cross is not bound by legalism or performing for the sake of approval or special benefits. God’s laws are still good, but many are kept in a spiritual way. The upcoming devotional about physical and figurative circumcision is a good example.

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The Gospel of Levi All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet.

Matthew 1:22 As you know, Matthew is the first of the four Gospels in the New Testament. Many of the stories are repeated in these four accounts, especially in the first three (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). That is why they are called the Synoptic Gospels. We rely on them because they are the best biographies on Jesus that exist. Although written in Greek, Matthew seems to be targeting Jewish believers.

Tradition and the early church fathers believed that Matthew was the author. He was one of the 12 Disciples, or Apostles. Matthew, or Levi, as he is called in Mark and Luke, was a Jewish tax collector. This would have made him an ideal person to keep notes on the life, and especially the teachings, of Jesus that are so prominent in this Gospel.

The genealogy at the beginning of the book emphasizes Jesus’ direct line to King David and to Abraham (1:1). In particular, it includes stories that highlight one of Jesus’ titles, the Son of David.

We’ll look at both of these aspects in this devotional.

Similarly, the book also emphasizes Jesus as King, including accounts of Him being given this title by the Magi and by Pilate, the description of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem like a king, and by the sign over the cross. He was the prophesied King, the foretold Messiah for whom the Jews had been waiting.

While all the Gospels include quotes from the Old Testament, Matthew contains numerous additional ones. All of these were quoted to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the fulfillment of the prophecies spoken by men of God like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Micah, and Zechariah. So, one could argue that Matthew’s purpose was demonstrated in the verse at the top. Everything about 558

Jesus’ life took place to fulfill what God had spoken through Isaiah (and other prophets) centuries before.

There is an important lesson for us in this, and the Apostle Paul emphasizes it in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23. Like Matthew, we should be aware of our target audience and adapt our message accordingly.

If we are speaking to a youth group, we approach them differently than if addressing scientists. Why? “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (verse 22).

We should use wisdom and tact as we approach people from different walks of life with the life-saving message of the Gospel.

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It’s in the Genes This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Matthew 1:1 The Gospel I will quote the most in this devotional study is Matthew, as it was written primarily to a Jewish audience. It should be no surprise, then, that this book starts out with a genealogy to prove Jesus was descended from Abraham. Luke also records a genealogy that starts with Jesus and goes all the way back to Adam.

The most common explanation for the two genealogies differing from King David to Jesus is that Luke appears to be tracing through Mary, while Matthew goes through Joseph, though both parents belonged to the tribe of Judah. Both books had different target audiences as well. Matthew also spiritualizes the genealogy a bit, while Doctor Luke seeks to be literal in his account.

For the sake of space, I am only going to give a brief summary of this family line to make today’s point. Let’s go all the way back to Abraham when he was still called Abram. God told Abram that He would bless him and make him a blessing (Genesis 12:2–3). This was in spite of his then-barren wife, Sarai, who had Isaac at an old age. Later, Isaac married Rebekah and they had Jacob and Esau. Jacob received Isaac’s blessing despite being the younger son.

Jacob had 12 sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin. The descendants of these sons eventually formed the 12 tribes of Israel.

The tribe of Judah was the leader among the tribes and would see a future king rule the nations (Genesis 49:10). This was initially fulfilled through David and later by Someone far more important.

From the genealogies, we realize that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah and descended from King David. Further proof is in John’s apocalyptic vision, Revelation. He sees that “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed” (5:5).

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From these biblical accounts, we can conclude with confidence that Jesus was a descendant of the Hebrew patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, and from the royal line of King David. We can rest in God’s sovereign plan, which was made before the foundations of the world, to send His Son through a very specific race, tribe, and family line.

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The Baby Presentation When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

Luke 2:22 In our modern-day Christian denominations, we either have infant baptism or baby dedication. Some churches do both, based on the preference or belief of the parents. Jesus was dedicated via presentation at the temple. Luke is the only Gospel that records this and a few other interesting facts about Jesus being presented to God in Jerusalem.

In the previous verse, Doctor Luke mentions that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day (we will look at circumcision tomorrow). The time then came for “the purification rites required by the Law of Moses.” What exactly is Luke referring to here? Leviticus 12 gives us the answer through an instructive timeline.

According to Levitical law, a woman was ceremonially unclean for seven days after giving birth to a son. The child was then circumcised on the eighth day, so Mary and Joseph were being obedient to this command. Further, the mother needed 33 days “to be purified from her bleeding” (Leviticus 12:4). So it was after this period of time that Jesus’ parents took Him on the six-mile journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, brought Him to the priest, and offered a specific sacrifice.

Apparently, Mary and Joseph were poor because they could only sacrifice two small birds instead of a lamb (Luke 2:24). The purpose of sacrificing the pair of birds was for Mary’s benefit and for this reason: “one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.

In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean” (Leviticus 12:8).

So, let me close with a personal application. God made it clear 562

to Moses that every firstborn male was to be consecrated to Him (Exodus 13:1–16). Mary and Joseph were obedient to this as well (Luke 2:23).

Likewise, once our lives are dedicated to the Lord, we need to present ourselves to Him as an offering. We need to give Him control of our lives. In Romans 12:1, Paul urges us all, “in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” We need to consecrate ourselves to the Lord on an ongoing basis. We do this through actions like prayer, Bible study, worship, and discipline.

You are never too young or too old to dedicate your life to serve Him and serve others.

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Do We Have to Talk about Circumcision?

This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.

Genesis 17:10 This might be an uncomfortable topic for some, but it is integral to the Bible. God instituted circumcision when He changed Abram’s name to Abraham (Genesis 17). No doubt that was an uncomfortable procedure for him and the adult males of his household! As mentioned yesterday, all males henceforth were circumcised on the eighth day after birth, including Jesus.

The physical act of removing the foreskin from the male penis was an outward sign of the Hebrew’s covenant with God. It signified that the man was consecrated to serving Him. The opposite was also true: to be uncircumcised was to be cut off from God’s blessing.

During the life of the early church, there arose a disagreement from the Jewish believers as to whether Gentile converts should be circumcised (Acts 15:1–29). Not surprisingly, this matter was of concern to the Pharisees who had been converted, as their whole lives had been dedicated to observance of the laws of Moses. This matter was taken before the early church council in Jerusalem by Paul and Barnabas.

Peter was also present, and they gave a compelling argument that salvation is through grace, not by keeping the law, including the requirement to be circumcised. It was also obvious to the council that God was doing miracles among the Gentiles and giving them the Holy Spirit as well. So, the decision was made to encourage new Gentile believers to make wise choices about certain specific issues of the day, rather than requiring this physical demonstration of being one of God’s people.

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In the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4) Jews were encouraged to circumcise their hearts. In Colossians 2:11, Paul reminded the believers in Colossae (and us) that in Christ “you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ.”

Here’s an application for us to consider today. While God desires for us to do the right thing, we are not saved by works. We are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:10). However, because as children our parents and teachers expect obedience, it is easy to slip into legalism and only “feel good” about ourselves when we are continually doing the right things. Instead, since we have salvation and the Holy Spirit living in our “circumcised” hearts, we should more readily produce good works as a natural result. May that be true of us today.

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The Jewish Boy Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.

Luke 2:41–42 Luke chapter 2 gives us another exclusive glimpse into the early life of the Jewish Jesus. We will look much more closely at Passover on another day. For now, we read this passage that contains the only Gospel story of Jesus when He was a child (verses 41–52).

Every Jewish man tried to make the annual trip to Jerusalem for three festivals, including Passover (Deuteronomy 16:16). So, when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus took the journey, many others were also on this pilgrimage, including family and friends. This would be very similar to the caravans we see portrayed today in movies or in National Geographic.

Perhaps it wasn’t surprising, then, that Jesus’ parents didn’t realize on the trip home that they didn’t have their son. The women and children were usually in the front of the caravan and the men in the rear, so they may have assumed that their maturing son was somewhere in this long line. Instead, they later “found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46).

What we’re going to focus on today is Jesus’ age. At the age of 12, Jewish boys were preparing to take their journey into adulthood.

At age 13, males were required to observe the law, just as full-grown men were. This didn’t make the new teenagers adults, but they were of the age that observation of and obedience to the law were expected, and they were now accountable for their actions.

You might also agree that in previous centuries and millennia children had greater responsibilities at much younger ages than their counterparts in today’s advanced societies. In many of the poorer 566

countries where I travel, a lot of the children have responsibilities that American teens have not yet remotely tasted.

Today, this Jewish teenage transition is celebrated through Bar Mitzvah. Translated, this means “son of the law,” or “son of the commandment.” This requires fervent study of the Torah, which encompasses the first five books of the Old Testament (referred to by Christians as the Pentateuch).

Let us take this example from Jewish life as a guide to raise our children to obey God’s law. While we are not bound by legalism, we are compelled to obey His commands out of love for the One who fulfilled, not abolished, the law. We ought to mirror the servant’s life that Jesus led, a life of devotion to the will of the Father, a life full of Scripture embedded in our hearts and proceeding from our lips.

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A Life Foreign to Us Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Matthew 8:19–20 There are several aspects of Jesus’ life that we do not relate to very well. These are not so much Jewish aspects as they are aspects of living in His day that are just not relatable to the modern world.

Here are some that come to mind.

For one, Jesus spent His whole life walking. We are so used to driving somewhere in five minutes that we can’t relate to this reality. I’ve seen estimates north of 20,000 miles that Jesus walked in His lifetime—most of which were before His three or so years of ministry. For example, it was mentioned earlier that every Jewish man was expected to travel to Jerusalem three times a year for the festivals. This would have been a 240-mile round trip from Nazareth each time.

Further, life would have revolved around the basic essentials— food, water and shelter. Jesus lived even one step beyond this during His ministry, likely relying on the goodwill of others each day to survive. Conversely, we live in a land of plenty that would be inconceivable to the people of Jesus’ day. That is both a blessing and a huge responsibility for us to be good stewards.

Jesus didn’t start His ministry until age 30. This is not to say He didn’t have an occupation before then, as He was a craftsman, possibly a carpenter (Mark 6:3). Today, most men and women go into ministry right out of high school or college, preferably after seminary. Would Jesus be accepted into a Bible college today?

Another aspect of the Jewish Messiah’s life was a continual occurrence of the miraculous. The Gospels record many instances, but 568

many more were not written down (John 20:30; 21:25). We don’t see a lot of miracles in the Western world today. It has been my experience that most miracles take place where the message of Christ is in its early days of being declared in a particular location.

In conclusion, it is amazing to me that a simple, “uneducated” Man who was basically homeless, had no seminary education, spoke no English, and never preached in a church could impact our modern-day world. Likewise, we in the American Body of Christ should be very cautious as to the man-made measures we use to evaluate other believers. Where we may see an “unqualified” person, God may see someone available to change the world. The Bible is full of stories in which the Lord worked through the simple and humble to do great things. May we be so fortunate to be used in this way.

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Son of David He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

Luke 1:32 As we’ve covered, both Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels list David in their genealogies. David is one of many names, yet this connection is greatly magnified in the New Testament. Matthew gives special recognition in his first sentence. Jesus was not just descended from the Jewish patriarch Abraham, but also from the revered Jewish king David. In addition, Luke also records that the angel Gabriel told Mary that her Son would be the prophesied One from David’s line (above). Why is that important?

During the reign of King David, God told him through the prophet Nathan that the Messiah would eventually come from his family line. This prophecy can be found in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17.

Solomon also mentioned this when he was dedicating the re-established altar in 2 Chronicles 6. This promise is referred to today as the Davidic Covenant. Isaiah also later prophesied that the Savior would come from the “house of David” (16:5; 22:22) and “reign on David’s throne” (9:7).

The Jews of Jesus’ day were clearly familiar with this prophecy.

Many were asking if the Son of David, the foretold Messiah from the tribe of Judah, the one who would come from Bethlehem, the town of David (Luke 2:4, 11), had finally arrived.

Since Matthew was mainly written for a Jewish audience, let’s look at this book for examples of when Jesus was called the Son of David. Some of the instances include the two blind men (Matthew 9:27), the amazed crowd that witnessed one of His miracles (12:23), the Canaanite woman (15:22), and the crowd as He entered Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday (21:9, 15).

Due to this prophetic covenant, the first three Gospels mention 570

that Jesus Himself responded to the prophecy that the Messiah would be the Son of David (Matthew 22:41–46; Mark 12:35–37; Luke 20:41–44). He did this by quoting David from Psalm 110:1. After some questions from religious leaders that were meant to trap Jesus were unsuccessful, Jesus asked them why David will one day call the Son of David “Lord.”

On the surface, this seems like a contradiction or an inaccuracy in Scripture. However, the explanation is simple. David will call his descendant “Lord” because Jesus is also the Son of God, supernaturally conceived in human form by a human mother who was from his family line.

The prophecy concerning the title Son of David is but one of the many prophecies we’ve already discussed that Jesus fulfilled. This one, however, was a vital sign to the Jewish people. Pray that many Jews today will have their eyes opened.

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Rabbi But you are not to be called “Rabbi,” for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

Matthew 23:8 This may be a news flash to you: Jesus was viewed as a Rabbi—at least by His disciples. The following are some examples in Scripture.

Nathanael called Jesus “Rabbi” the first time he saw Him (John 1:49).

Peter called Jesus by this name on the Mount of Transfiguration and later near the withered fig tree (Mark 9:5; 11:21). The same is true for the blind man who was healed in Mark 10:51. Judas called Jesus by this title before and as he betrayed Him (Matthew 26:25, 49).

The Hebrew and Greek meaning of this word is “teacher,” with the Hebrew being even more specific, “my teacher.” Does this not make sense that He has this title? The New Testament is full of His teachings to the people of His day and, subsequently, to us. He is our teacher, so we are to follow Him closely and “do life” with Him, just as the disciples did.

It is interesting to note some of the ways that rabbis teach their students. One of the methods is by asking questions. This encourages thought, study, and dialogue among the followers. In one short passage alone (Mark 8:14–21) Jesus asked the disciples eight questions.

Rabbis also teach through parables, and boy, Jesus shared a lot of parables! Matthew 13 alone is full of them, such as the parable of the sower, the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast, and the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl.

Look through the Gospels and discover for yourself the pervasiveness of these two methods. Sometimes I wish Jesus would just be direct and cut through the questions and figurative language, but that’s just my laziness talking.

Jesus is our Rabbi. He is our one Teacher. In the passage mentioned at the beginning, Christ cautioned the teachers of the law and 572

the Pharisees of His day against taking titles out of pride. I have been convicted by this.

In my own life and ministry, I have been ordained, so technically I have the title of Reverend. If you know me, however, you have never heard me ask to be called this—except in settings where I’m joking with friends. The focus of our lives should not be on us, but on the one true Rabbi, Jesus. When people see us, they should see Him. For many of the lost, we may be the only Jesus they ever see.

So, let’s reflect our Teacher by living according to His teachings.

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Tefillin, Tallit, and Tzitzit Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long.

Matthew 23:5 In Matthew 23, Jesus was scolding the Pharisees and teachers of the law because they made the law an impossible burden on the Jewish people. Further, they wore religious clothing in a prideful way that drew attention to themselves and not to their assumed devotion to God. So what are the phylacteries and tassels that this verse mentions?

Let’s start with phylacteries. This is the word tefillin in Hebrew. It was worn during morning and evening prayer time. The phylactery is a black box that contains a parchment with four passages from the Old Testament: Exodus 13:1–10, Exodus 13:11–16, Deuteronomy 6:4–9, and Deuteronomy 11:13–21.

One phylactery was worn on the forehead and the other on the left arm. There were leather straps attached to the black box for wrapping around the forehead, and another wrapping from the left hand to the upper arm near the heart.

Within all four of the passages in the box, God stated that His commands are like signs or symbols on their hands and foreheads.

So, the Jewish people took this literally and created the phylactery.

Devout Jewish men still wear them today.

The Jewish men also wore an outer garment called the tallit, with tassels on the four corners. These tassels are called tzitzit. Having these on the garments was a command by God through Moses in Numbers 15:37–41 and Deuteronomy 22:12. This garment became a prayer shawl and covered the head during prayer. Today, it is worn as an inner garment.

It is reasonable to assume that Jesus would have worn both items. The woman with the bleeding problem touched Jesus’ outer 574

garment and was healed (Mark 5:21–34). Likewise, others who desired healing also wanted to touch the edge of His garment (i.e., the tallit with the tassel: Matthew 14:34–36). One could easily argue that during the many times Jesus went alone to pray (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 6:12), He was probably wearing an earlier version of these items than are worn today.

Our practical application for Christian life today is to look at Proverbs 7:1–3: My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.

Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

The symbolic position of our heart and mind is most important to God, not the physical appearance of devotion and obedience.

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Getting to the Root Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119:18 We have a lot of sayings and idioms in our culture. I imagine this is true for all cultures. “It’s raining cats and dogs outside.” “Don’t jump down my throat!” “Cat got your tongue?” This list could go on and on.

Is it not logical to conclude, then, that these types of figurative sayings also existed in Jesus’ day? Further, might He have used some of the idioms of His day? Yes, He did.

We find one such idiom in Matthew 24:36: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Long story made short, Jesus is using an idiom that describes the Feast of Trumpets, which takes place in August/September each year. It starts on the first day that the new moon is seen by two independent witnesses. This uncertainty over the day is why no one knows the day or the hour. Jesus is simply stating that He will return on a future Feast of Trumpets, not addressing the uncertainty of His return.

We can also look at how Jesus referred to His Second Coming: “If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into” (Matthew 24:43). The high priest would sometimes sneak into the temple “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–2) to make sure everyone was doing their duty. If not, there were consequences (Revelation 16:15).

Here is another example of a Hebraic idiom. In Luke 13:35, Jesus is sad for the people of Jerusalem, and He says, “You will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name 576

of the Lord.’” This was also proclaimed as Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we now refer to as Palm Sunday (Luke 19:38). This phrase—“Blessed is he who comes”—first appeared in Psalm 118:26 and is actually a proclamation used at a Jewish wedding when the bridegroom approaches the bride. This prophetic statement is telling us that, one day, Christ will return for His bride, the church (Revelation 19:6–8).

This is a challenge for us in the modern Western world. We cannot necessarily take every word of the Bible at face value. We need to do our best to pursue the original intent and meaning, to understand Jewish history, culture, and context. This can only be accomplished through further study and prayer, asking God to open our eyes to the “wonderful things” in His Word (Psalm 119:18).

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Identifying Certain Groups Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 In order to “correctly handle” God’s Word, we need extra knowledge beyond it. This includes tools like study Bibles with footnotes, exhaustive concordances, Hebrew and Greek dictionaries, and commentaries. So, as we pursue a deeper understanding of the Jewish aspects of our faith, it’s important to know the meaning of certain terms. Today, let’s look at the different names of groups that were present at the time of Jesus: Nazirites—a Jewish group dedicated or consecrated to a special service. Specifically, they vowed to avoid wine, to never cut their hair, and to not have any contact with a dead body (Numbers 6:1–21). Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were Nazirites.

Zealots—a Jewish group that forcefully stood against Roman rule. Simon the Zealot was one of the 12 Disciples (Luke 6:12–16).

Pharisees—in Hebrew means “separated ones.” They strictly followed the Law of Moses and Jewish tradition (Matthew 15:2). They believed they were the only ones with the proper authority from God to interpret the law. Paul was formerly a Pharisee (Acts 23:6).

Sadducees—belonged to the priestly line and were usually wealthy and politically minded. They rejected anything past the first five books of today’s Old Testament, as well as the oral traditions. They were often mentioned with the Pharisees due to their common dislike of Jesus (Matthew 16:1–21).

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Sanhedrin—the 70-member ruling body, or council, of the Jewish people. Sadducees and Pharisees were in the Sanhedrin and were against Jesus and His disciples (Matthew 26:59). It was also this group that had Stephen stoned (Acts 7:54–60).

Disciples—we will look at this group in-depth on another day. These were committed “learners” or followers of Jesus.

John the Baptist also had disciples (Luke 7:18). So did the Pharisees (Matthew 22:15–17).

Apostles—in Greek means “messenger” or “sent one.” Technically, the group we call the 12 Disciples were actually also 12 apostles (Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13), a higher position for the disciples of Jesus. Other later apostles included Paul (Romans 1:1), Barnabas (Acts 14:14), and James, the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19).

Whether or not any of these names come up again in the study, it is still useful for your own personal knowledge. It’s also important that we don’t just skip the words we don’t know or understand.

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Making Disciples Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Matthew 16:24 Recalling terminology from yesterday, Jesus had Jewish disciples, and He also appointed 12 to be apostles. So then, who were the disciples? Let’s look beyond Jesus’ life first, and then return to it. In the book of Acts and forward, followers of Jesus often went by the following names: • • • •

Disciples—Acts 6:1–2; 18:23; 21:16 Saints/Holy People—Acts 9:13; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:12 Brothers/Sisters—Acts 6:3; Ephesians 6:23; James 1:2 Christians—Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16

Jesus the Rabbi, as the Teacher, or Master, had close followers who were His learners, or pupils. They were referred to as disciples.

As previously mentioned, Jesus wasn’t the only one with disciples.

John the Baptist had them, as well as the Pharisees. Even Moses is mentioned as having disciples (John 9:28).

John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray and fast (Luke 5:33).

He even had two of his disciples switch to following Jesus (John 1:35–40). One of the two was Andrew, the brother of Peter.

Jesus’ disciples followed Him closely as He went about His itinerant ministry in Judea and Galilee. No doubt “the Twelve” were given a more intimate path of discipleship than others. He also sent the disciples out two by two to do ministry. He did this with the Twelve in Mark 6:7–13. He also sent out a larger group of disciples, specifically the 70 (or 72, as translations differ) in Luke 10:1–24.

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Here is something else interesting to note. Just as the Twelve may have been a symbolic connection to the 12 tribes of Israel, so the 70/72 may be related to the seventy-plus-two elders of Moses’ day who were anointed with the Spirit (Numbers 11:24–26).

As Jesus’ earthly ministry was almost complete and He prepared to ascend to heaven, Christ gave a clear command. He instructed His disciples to keep the chain of discipleship going (Matthew 28:19–20).

They were called to go into the world and make disciples. The Gospel from that point on was and is for every nation, not just the Jews. This is our charge as well.

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Interaction with Gentiles 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.

John 10:16 We know from Scripture that the Gospel was meant for the whole world. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, wherever they are. What about during His life and ministry? Did He interact with any nonJews? Or was He being exclusive up to a certain point in time? After all, in one particular passage, Jesus told His disciples as He sent them out only to minister to Jews (Matthew 10:5–6).

Technically, we could look at non-Jews in the life of Jesus starting with the Magi, or Wise Men (Matthew 2:1–2). They came from the East to visit Jesus as a young child, possibly of toddler age. The East at that time would have included Babylon and Persia. So, you could say that this was His first interaction with Gentiles.

During Jesus’ three and a half years of ministry, there were a couple more notable interactions with Gentiles. There was the Roman Centurion with the paralyzed servant (Matthew 8:5–13). There was also the Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon possessed (Matthew 15:21–28). Jesus changed lives in both stories.

You could also argue that any ministry to the Samaritans was viewed as non-Jewish. Most were half-Jews and were treated as second-class citizens due to their idolatry and intermarriage with foreigners. Jesus went to one of their villages and changed an adulterous woman’s life, which led to many other Samaritans also believing in Him (John 4:1–42).

It is worth noting that Doctor Luke was believed to be Greek.

While he was not one of the disciples, he was close with Paul. God obviously had a calling on him to accurately record both the life of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke and the beginning of the early church in the book of Acts. Aren’t we glad that he did?!

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Even with His primary focus on the Jewish people during His ministry, Christ commissioned His disciples—and us—to the ends of the earth to spread His love to all nations (Mathew 28:19; Mark 11:17; Acts 1:8). There is a good example of this truth taking hold in the story of the Apostle Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. Through a vision from God, Peter and his companions were shown that the household of this Italian Centurion—and subsequently all Gentiles—could receive salvation, the Holy Spirit, and baptism (verses 44–48).

Give thanks to God today for being invited into His everexpanding Jew and Gentile family!

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High Priest Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Hebrews 7:27 The book of Hebrews was written to the Jewish converts who were tempted to revert to their Judaic roots. We’ll look at this more indepth later. So, it should not be surprising, then, that one of the purposes of the book was to point to Jesus as the fulfillment of all that was foretold in the Old Testament. This included many references to Jesus as the final and ultimate High Priest. But let’s rewind a bit and look at this position.

The first high priest mentioned in the Old Testament was during the time of Abram and his name was Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18).

Other high priests were mentioned by name as well: • • • • •

Aaron, during the time of Moses Hilkiah, during the reign of the good king Josiah Eliashib, who helped Nehemiah rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem Joshua, during the prophetic ministry of Haggai; helped rebuild the temple Caiaphas, who had a high profile during Jesus’ crucifixion

One of the main sacrificial duties of the high priest was to “sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement” (Exodus 29:36). They also had to offer a morning and evening lamb sacrifice, along with flour, olive oil, and wine (29:38–41). The book of Leviticus spells out five types of offerings that were made: burnt, grain, 584

fellowship, sin, and guilt. There’s not room to elaborate here, but you can read about these on your own. Once a year, the high priest also entered the Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies, on the Day of Atonement for the corporate sins of the Israelites.

Now, back to Hebrews. The author reminded the Jewish followers about Jesus’ ultimate role in the verse above. Jesus was in the order of Melchizedek because He was appointed by God (Hebrews 6:20) and not through the tribe of Levi. He was not only the High Priest, but He Himself was the Sacrifice and ultimate atonement for sins.

Praise God today for sending His Son to atone for our sins: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14–16).

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The Passover Lamb In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:22 To the casual reader—and perhaps to you as well—there are parts of the Old Testament that are hard to understand or are difficult to swallow. One of these is animal sacrifice as an integral part of religious life. This is both foreign to us in the modern world and despised by animal lovers. It seems barbaric, but I encourage you to read all the Scriptures mentioned in today’s devotional to get a more complete view.

Why did an animal, specifically a lamb without blemish, have to die for a person’s sins to be forgiven? Here is the explanation the Lord gave to the people through Moses in Leviticus 17:11: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” The shedding of blood was necessary in the eyes of God to forgive the Jewish people of their sins and to reconcile them to Him. One of the spring feasts that Jews commemorate is Passover. It begins on the fourteenth day of the first month of the Jewish religious year, and the people were given very specific instructions on what to do (Exodus 12:1–14; Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 28:16–23; Deuteronomy 16:1–7). This somber feast commemorates the Jews’ deliverance from Egypt and the time they put the blood of unblemished lambs on their doorposts.

Tomorrow we will look at the Passover meal. For today, we focus on the fact that Jesus fulfilled this feast with His death. Jesus became the perfect and final Lamb that needed to be slain. He had to be. God ordained that His own Lamb would be slain so that we could be redeemed (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19).

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Revisit the story of the Last Supper and crucifixion. Realize that this climactic moment in history took place at Passover (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18). And look forward with hope that, one day, the Lamb who was slain will return and be worshiped forever by all heavenly creatures and those whose names are in the book of life (Revelation 5:6–12; 13:8). The rest will have eternity to wish they had recognized the Messiah. We should be motivated by this future reality and witness to our nonbelieving friends and family while there is still time.

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Pass the Matzah, Please On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

Mark 14:12 As Christians, we remember Jesus’ death on the cross with communion: the cup representing His shed blood for our sins, and the bread symbolizing His body that was broken (1 Corinthians 11:23–26).

Let’s look at the overall menu today because we usually imagine Jesus and the disciples having wine and crackers. Or in many Western churches today, grape juice and cubed pieces of bread!

As mentioned yesterday and in the verse above, the Last Supper took place at Passover. This was followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During this feast, God’s people ate bread without yeast for one week. This is called matzah, and it can be found in grocery stores today. Yeast symbolized sin, and the Jewish people were recognizing the need to purge it from their homes and hearts.

Let’s take a deeper look at this Passover meal. There was not one cup, but four used at the annual Passover meal and, subsequently, at the Last Supper. The four cups represented the four “I will” promises of God in Exodus 6:6–7 to deliver His people out of Egypt: “I will bring you out,” “I will free you,” “I will redeem you,” and “I will take you.” Jesus fulfilled the meaning behind each cup. You can study this further on your own, but you can surmise how He fulfilled each one.

As far as the meal itself, Exodus 12 is instructive. It included “meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast” (Exodus 12:8). The lamb had to be without blemish, and the preparation process of the body was crucial. Other elements have been added to the meal over time, such as an apple mixture, 588

eggs, and vegetables dipped in salt water. Each dish carries more symbolism about Hebrew/Jewish history and the life of Jesus, which merits your further study.

The purpose for today’s devotional is to help us break out of a poor understanding of the Last Supper. In reality, it was a full meal with rich and somber meaning, and was eaten in a reclined position as was the custom (Matthew 26:20).

Likewise, we should approach the communion table with the understanding and respect it deserves. Then, we must examine our hearts, remove sin from our lives, and express gratitude for the Lamb’s sacrifice.

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King of the Jews When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

Matthew 27:35–37 When the Magi, or Wise Men, as most refer to them, were looking for Jesus sometime well after His birth, they called Him the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:1–2). Today, we are going to look at this title given to Jesus that appears in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 22–23; John 19). The Passover meal was complete.

Judas’ betrayal plot was in full motion, and so was Peter’s denial.

Jesus had been interrogated by the Sanhedrin, Herod, and Pilate.

Now, He was in the hands of a company of soldiers with ill intent.

Jesus was stripped and beaten by the soldiers. They did the equivalent of what we call “playing dress-up” today and made Him to look like royalty. They clothed Christ in a robe, put a crown of thorns on His head, and placed a staff in His hand. They mocked Him and said, “Hail, king of the Jews.” Then they stripped Him of the robe, spat on Him, and took the staff and beat Him with it.

Later, this title was given again to Jesus via a sign that was placed above His head on the cross. It was customary during this time to write the charges against a condemned person on a wooden board that accompanied them to their execution. This placard was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek to make sure that everyone who saw it knew why He was dying. The chief priests didn’t take to this wording well, as they wanted it to read only that Jesus claimed to be king, not that He actually was King. Pilate refused to change it, though. What Pilate meant as a mockery was a true title—and then some. He was and is and is to come, the King.

Jesus may have been labeled King of the Jews upon His death, 590

but He died for the sins of the world. As a result, we are engrafted into God’s family tree (Romans 11:11–24). We are one in Jesus, and we are children of God (Galatians 3:26–29).

One day, the King will return to establish His kingdom forever. In Revelation 11:15, the seventh trumpet is blown and heaven proclaims: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

Let us agree with John as he closed this final book (22:20) and look forward with anticipation to the King’s triumphant and final return: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

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First Jew, Then Gentile For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 I hope we can agree that all of the Old Testament and the New Testament Gospels primarily revolve around the Jewish people. I believe we can also agree that Jesus was raised a Jew, and His earthly ministry was almost exclusively to the Jews.

By the time Jesus had ascended into heaven, however, a transition had taken place. Jesus had already proclaimed His love for the world (John 3:16). He announced that disciples should then be made from all nations (Matthew 28:19) and should be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). It was even prophesied centuries before

by Isaiah that Jesus would be “a light for the Gentiles” (42:6).

The primary messenger of the Gospel after Jesus was the Apostle Paul. He was a former Pharisee who had an incredibly strong Jewish upbringing and education (Philippians 3:5–6). However, he was primarily a missionary to the Gentiles. His letters to Gentile churches make up a good number of the books in the New Testament, including Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Colossians, and Philippians.

Paul understood the historical perspective of the Old Testament.

He mentioned in Romans 1:16 that salvation was offered first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles. After all, the Messiah was a Jew, so salvation came from the Jews (John 4:22).

I cover the issue of “replacement theology” in more detail in Terminus (pages 637–38), but it is worth mentioning briefly in the context of this study. This is the belief that the Jewish people in general, and now the modern-day nation of Israel in particular, have permanently fallen out of God’s favor and have been replaced by the Gentile Church. Since the Jewish people failed, any reference to 592

Israel from Acts forward is interpreted to mean the Church by those who believe in replacement theology.

Those opposed to this theology believe the Jewish people should not be condemned or forsaken for their role in Jesus’ death because this was prophesied to happen (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53). Further, opponents of replacement theology believe that the Jewish people still have a special role to play and that modern-day Israel is a miracle prophesied in many places, including Ezekiel 37:1–14 and Matthew 24:32–35.

I encourage you to study all these scriptural references on your own, and let the Holy Spirit impress upon your hearts the truth of the matter.

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Synagogue versus Church 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.

Matthew 9:35 There are no references to synagogues in the Old Testament, but there are many in the Gospels and the book of Acts. Jesus spent a significant amount of time teaching in them (Matthew 4:23; 9:35), including in His hometown of Nazareth (13:54). Luke 4:14–30 gives an earlier and more detailed account of Jesus in the synagogue, and how He read from a scroll containing the book of Isaiah.

It is believed that the synagogue originated as early as the Babylonian exile. It was a place where the Jewish people could corporately gather on the Sabbath and on holidays to study Scripture and pray. The speaker would sit in Moses’ seat and read aloud (Matthew 23:2). By Jesus’ day, the synagogue was integral in the life of the Jewish people.

Let’s look at another word: church. The first mention of this word was by Jesus in the book of Matthew. In one instance, He said to Peter, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (16:18). The other mention is in the context of dealing with sin in the church (18:17). The first time church is mentioned in Acts occurred with the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira: “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events” (Acts 5:11).

After the book of Acts, there is no mention of synagogues, except in a metaphorical sense in Revelation. Conversely, the rest of the New Testament consistently mentions the church—over one hundred times, in fact.

New Testament-era synagogues coexisted with the first churches. How well they coexisted is questionable. It was likely a time of 594

increased tension. Regardless, it seems clear that the church would go forward as a place for believers to congregate and for the message of Christ to spread.

Synagogues continued in their Judaic traditions and were not places where believers were welcomed. Many of the Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, despite His many attempts to teach them that He was the fulfillment of their Scriptures. This unbelief

by Jews continues today, even though there is a growing number of Messianic Jews, especially in modern-day Israel.

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The Book of Hebrews In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

Hebrew 1:1–2 You may be asking why we are looking at a book written a few decades after Jesus’ life. It’s because Hebrews brings to light the transition that Jewish Christians were struggling with. They were tempted to either revert to Judaism or try to “Judaize” the Gospel. In other words, they were trying to convince themselves and the Gentile believers to still follow the rituals, sacrifices, and laws of God, neglecting the truth that revolves around what Jesus fulfilled.

The Apostle Peter even struggled with this to a degree, and Paul confronted him about it in Galatians 2:11–21. Think of it: for centuries, the way to God was marked by ritual, obeying the law, and animal sacrifice. Now, this was no longer what was most important or needed. I imagine this paradigm shift was difficult to grasp for many.

The author of this New Testament book—written in Greek, not Hebrew—was possibly Paul, Apollos, or Barnabas. Through numerous Old Testament quotes, he established clear facts for the Jews. God was now speaking to man through Jesus. He was (and is) greater than angels and even the revered Moses (Hebrews 3:3).

The book also contains several exhortations to avoid false teaching (2:1), not rebel or have unbelief (3:7–12), mature in the faith (6:1), persevere in doing God’s will (10:36–39), and properly worship Him (12:28–29). It greatly elaborates on the strong theme of Jesus as the ultimate High Priest, which we looked at on a previous day.

Passages on the subject include Hebrews 4:14–5:10 and 6:20–7:28.

In chapter 8, He is named high priest of a New Covenant. And since 596

He is the high priest, He could enter into the Most Holy Place because of His own shed blood (9:12). The forgiveness of sin was dealt with once and for all (9:26–28).

Hebrews concludes with a wealth of practical application. One of the most encouraging chapters in the Bible for me is Hebrews 11, also known as the “Faith Chapter.” It takes us through the Old Testament and speaks of many individuals who were credited with having great faith. Likewise, we should have faith. We should “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1).

Hebrews closes in chapter 13 with some final exhortations to these Jews, urging them to righteous living in marriage, money, obedience, and prayer. Though we are not the originally intended audience, we would be wise to heed these words as well.

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Lost to This Day From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

John 6:66 To say that many of the Jews in Jesus’ day were not receptive to Him would be an understatement. Even though Jesus “had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him” (John 12:37). Sadly, it was prophesied in Isaiah 6:10 and 53:1 that they would fail to believe.

I find it interesting that the Scripture reference for the verse above includes 666, as six is the number of man. How fitting that this verse shows a crucial failure in man to follow Jesus, even by those closest to Him. Though John 6 starts with the amazing miracle of feeding the five thousand and includes Jesus walking on water, it ends with this desertion.

John 12 mentions that many Jews believed, but would not publicly profess their faith. They were afraid of the Pharisees, and rightfully so (12:42). The religious leaders held much sway and were ultimately the ones God allowed to incite the masses and convince the Roman authorities to crucify Jesus.

Before we go casting stones, however, let’s examine ourselves.

How often have we abandoned our faith to look good in front of our friends? When have we kept quiet for fear of offending others, even though we know the truth that will set them free?

So I ask you now to stop, pray, and examine your own heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind instances where you had an opportunity to witness and testify, but through fear or doubt, you caved in and symbolically deserted Christ through your silence or even active rebellion. Repent of each act and pledge to represent Him with loving boldness in the future.

Many Jews today are still as lost as their ancestors. Yet, it is estimated that there are over 260 Messianic congregations of various 598

sizes in Israel and perhaps 350,000 Jewish believers worldwide. The number of Jews who believe in Yeshua HaMashiach, or Jesus the Messiah, has been growing steadily. Pray for revival to grow among the Jewish people.

Despite millennia of persecution, the last 1,900 years of which was spent without a homeland, the Jewish people have miraculously survived as a race and been re-established as a nation. Why? God’s story for them and each of us, though written, is not done yet (Psalm 139:16; Ephesians 1:11). Eternity is at stake, so let’s reach out to the Jew and to the Gentile with fervency!

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Terminus Joseph L. Williams

Table of Contents Introduction...................................................................................603 Day 1—Staying Prepared.............................................................605 Day 2—The Primary Point...........................................................607 Day 3—Prophecy Teachers...........................................................609 Day 4—Normalcy Bias.................................................................611 Day 5—Proof Texting and Confirmation Bias..............................613 Day 6—The First Amendment......................................................615 Day 7—The Not-So-Supreme Court............................................617 Day 8—Is America in the Bible?..................................................619 Day 9—What’s Next for America.................................................621 Day 10—The Prophecy-to-Judgment Gap....................................623 Day 11—My Message to American Christians.............................625 Day 12—I’m a Prepper. You’re a Prepper....................................627 Day 13—God’s 7,000-Year Plan?.................................................629 Day 14—The Final 3,000 Years....................................................631 Day 15—The Spring Feasts..........................................................633 Day 16—The Fall Feasts..............................................................635 Day 17—Replacement Theology..................................................637 Day 18—The Fig Tree..................................................................639 Day 19—The Final Generation.....................................................641

Day 20—And Then the End Will Come.......................................643 Day 21—The Timing of the Rapture—Part One..........................645 Day 22—The Timing of the Rapture—Part Two..........................647 Day 23—The 70th Week of Daniel...............................................649 Day 24—Great Tribulation...........................................................651 Day 25—The Two Witnesses........................................................653 Day 26—The Revelation of John.................................................655 Day 27—Is Islam an End-Times Player?......................................657 Day 28—The Mahdi.....................................................................659 Day 29—The Muslim Jesus..........................................................661 Day 30—Apostasy, Now and Later .............................................663 Day 31—I Don’t Know You.........................................................665

Introduction The spoon-feeding of the American Church on all biblical topics needs to come to an end. This is especially true with End Times prophecy. Do not accept at face value what you have been hearing from American prophecy teachers for decades. Much of it is sensationalized and catered in such a way that you hear what you want to hear, not what you need to hear. Much is also focused on escapism and America’s supposed favored status in God’s eyes.

It has been my practice in the study of Bible prophecy to be aware of everything possible that is being promoted and discussed.

This is so that, if I live to see these things come to pass, I am not caught off guard. I can adjust to their fulfillment and share about Jesus with as many as possible.

I wrote this devotional carefully and somewhat hesitantly, realizing that all manner of people have already plowed through and trod on this ground. There are men far wiser than I who could not be more diametrically opposite in their views on Bible prophecy interpretation and fulfillment.

The point of this study is not to convince you of what I believe.

In fact, if I have done my job correctly, it shouldn’t be too obvious where I stand on several of the main issues. I’m trying to be objective for the most part and help deepen your understanding. On some days, I will present a viewpoint regarding an aspect of prophecy for you to consider. Do not take it as gospel. These thoughts are worth filing away in your mind as a possibility. There’s a good chance some of my speculation will turn out incorrect, and that’s okay.

There is one kind of prophecy I am addressing in this book, and one that I’m not addressing. Let’s start with the latter. This study does not really look into the gift of prophecy that occurs in the Body of Christ. As a reminder, this is one of the gifts given to certain believers, as stated in Romans 12:6. Instead, this devotional is 604

primarily a look at Bible prophecy and eschatology as it pertains to the End of the Age. We will also look at America’s troubled future.

As with previous devotionals, my primary goals are to (1) encourage you and me to feed our spiritual hunger by focusing on God’s Word and (2) drive us to our knees before Him in prayer. No one can answer for us on the Day of Judgment. We will stand alone and answer for what we did do, didn’t do, and should have done.

Only belief in the atoning work of Jesus Christ will save us from the eternal punishment we deserve. So telling the Lord you believed what other preachers and teachers told you won’t hold any weight.

The title of this devotional is Terminus. This word means the end boundary or extremity of something, like the final train or bus stop. That is what we will be looking at over the next 30 days: the terminus, or end, of America (at least as we know it) and the End of the Age.

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Staying Prepared I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:12–13 In some ways, what I am about to share with you is the most important message of this devotional—which is why it’s Day One of this journey. So, hear me out and then dwell on it.

Chances are very good that you and I don’t have all Bible prophecy figured out perfectly. That’s a safe assumption. Yet, so many prophecy teachers believe they have it all interpreted correctly.

More often than not, I believe the root of this is pride and thinking of one’s intellect or “anointing” too highly. Perhaps God has given a key or two to part of the prophecy puzzle to various individuals.

It is my opinion, though, that no one has a full understanding yet, but that He will reveal it all in His time to those who have faith and diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

My exhortation to you is this: should America’s downfall and/ or the End of the Age play out in our lifetime, be flexible. God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), and He will bring understanding (Proverbs 2:6). Stay close to Him through prayer, the reading of His Word, and fellowship with other believers. As things happen in the world and it unravels, He will guide us as to what to do.

I draw strength and encouragement from Paul’s words above to the church at Philippi. He wanted us to learn to be content and to roll with what God puts before us. This is true in our everyday lives, and I believe it will also be true for America and for the final tumultuous period on Earth. There will be much going on during both stages of time. Many will witness. Many will fall away from the faith. Many 606

will be persecuted. Many will die. It will simultaneously be a wonderful and unspeakably horrible period in human history.

A glorious eternity awaits those who confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in their hearts that God raised His Son from the dead (Romans 10:9). If for some reason this is not true for you, deal with it now. Don’t delay. If it is already true for you, embrace it and the challenges God has for your life. He is worthy of our worship and the surrendering of our lives to Him.

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The Primary Point Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”

Matthew 25:34 It is my humble opinion that the primary point of studying Bible prophecy is not to be thoroughly knowledgeable of the End of the Age, though this knowledge is a good thing. The point is not to become preoccupied with it or build entire ministries and lifestyles around the possibility of prophecies being fulfilled in part or in full during our lifetime.

I have a good brother in the Lord who once told me that whenever God burdens us with a “Matthew 24 message” (Jesus talking about the End of the Age), our application is Matthew 25. So, what does this subsequent chapter share? Jesus spoke of three parables, which then give us three lessons to guide our lives in the light of future fulfillment of prophecies.

The first lesson is the parable of the ten virgins. Half of the virgins were foolish and half were wise in their preparation and expectation of the bridegroom’s (Christ’s) delayed return. The moral of the story: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (verse 13). Live your life in a faithful manner, and be ready for His return.

The second is the parable of the talents, a very popular lesson referred to often today about making the most of what God gives us to steward. Three men were given talents. The first received five talents; the second, two; and the last, one. The five and two were doubled, while the one went unutilized. The moral of the story: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there 608

will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (verses 29–30). In other words, be good stewards with whatever talent God has given you.

The final lesson is the parable of the sheep and the goats. The basis for God’s judgment will be how we treated His people, how we practically helped them in a time of need. The moral of the story: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (verse 40). One could argue that Jesus is referring specifically to the Jews (since Matthew was writing to Jews) or generally to all believers.

It is my hope that you and I will live our lives ready for His Second Coming, using our talents for His glory, and helping people in need.

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Prophecy Teachers Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.

Matthew 7:15–16 The following summary is exclusively my opinion on how prophecy teachers should and should not execute their ministry. These are my observations over the last three decades of study, and hopefully they will be helpful to you: What prophecy teachers shouldn’t do: Be preoccupied with giving to their ministry. Every “nonprofit” is concerned about their bottom line. On the flip side, Christians are also called to walk by faith. There is a fine line between making people aware of financial needs to operate and making it the centerpiece of the ministry.

Be flashy and over the top. I fully realize that we often look at the outer man while God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Still, I have seen a correlation between how a preacher/teacher dresses and what comes out of his or her mouth.

Expensive suits and jewelry are a huge yellow flag to me (1 Timothy 6:3–5). These “teachers” are often the ones telling people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear (2 Timothy 4:3).

Be preoccupied with the purchase of their materials. If God gives anyone a message to share, it is my opinion that they should share it freely. Otherwise, they are trying to profit from someone else’s (God’s) wisdom (2 Peter 1:20–21).

This is not to say I don’t think they should sell their books, but they shouldn’t make it so purchasing something is a necessity to hear what God is saying through them.

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Their teaching is Western-centric. The Western world didn’t even exist when much of the Bible was written. As a result, the Bible seems abundantly clear that the End of the Age is Middle East-centric, while these teachers focus on the West.

What prophecy teachers should do: Exude humility. Their speech is a key indicator of their genuineness. There is a fine line between arrogance and urgency. I don’t think it’s too hard to tell when someone is grandstanding and when they are humbly yet passionately pointing people to Jesus and His Second Coming.

Encourage nonbelievers to repent. No doubt there are many secular folk tuning in to a particular book, website, or TV show due to curiosity, conviction, or boredom. We must share the Gospel through these platforms.

Point believers to a life of service and obedience. Being preoccupied with the next prophecy that might be fulfilled is not the point to life or ministry. Making disciples is (Matthew 28:18–20). It’s great to be aware of prophecy that might be fulfilled in our lifetime, but this should only make us strive to serve the Lord more wholeheartedly in practical ways.

Promote more time in prayer. What the world needs is more fervent prayer from ardent followers of Jesus (James 5:16).

Prayer is the powerful weapon that opens hearts, liberates souls, and prepares us to share with boldness.

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Normalcy Bias The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Proverbs 27:12 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:3–4 Having studied prophecy for some 30 years now, I have made nearly every mistake in the book. I started as a naïve, but well-intentioned, teenager who believed everything the prophecy “teachers” said. It was only many years later that I began really to study for myself God’s Word on the matter. In some areas of prophecy, I now believe the exact opposite of what I once did. It is for this reason that I have made it a point to be aware of all End Times prophecy viewpoints, so that if I live to see them fulfilled, I will not be caught off guard by the manner in which they are actually fulfilled.

One mistake I don’t want to be guilty of is called normalcy bias. Normalcy bias refers to a mental state that individuals enter when facing a disaster or pending danger. People believe that since something has never happened before, it never will happen. So, they don’t know how to respond when it does happen. It also goes by the names frozen calm, analysis paralysis, the ostrich effect, and the saying, “ignorance is bliss.” These verses above from 2 Peter describe this condition.

It is believed that when disaster strikes, 70 percent of people will exercise normalcy bias, 10–15 percent will panic, and 10–15 percent will act appropriately. I’m not sure how one can know for sure that these statistics are correct, but here are a couple of examples.

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The Nazi genocide of millions of Jews is a stark reminder of normalcy bias. Even after knowing that friends, family, and other Jews were being taken against their will, many in the Jewish community still stayed put and refused to believe something life-threatening was going on. Hundreds of thousands didn’t flee their homes and countries when they had the chance.

Here’s another example. During that tragic day of 9/11/01, many working in the World Trade Center stayed or returned to their offices during the evacuation to turn off their computers and make phone calls. They ultimately died in the collapsing towers because of their delay in exiting.

In relation to the terminus of America and the End of the Age, many people will not believe it is either about to happen or when it actually happens. Jesus told us in Matthew 24:37–39 that the End will be like the days just before the flood came. People will be living “normal” lives until things suddenly change. How will they react?

Will they react quickly enough? Will God’s people be ready to share the lifesaving knowledge of Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation? And will we be ready to offer practical help too?

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Proof Texting and Confirmation Bias For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

2 Timothy 4:3 Let’s look at two major mistakes made in studying prophecy: proof texting and confirmation bias. Perhaps you’ve never heard of either of these terms. These two practices go hand-in-hand, and many of us are guilty of them regularly. In fact, I risk being guilty of proof texting by only quoting single verses with each day’s devotional.

So I have to be very careful, and you shouldn’t assume I’ve quoted them appropriately! Study for yourself.

Let me mainly address these two practices from the standpoint of studying prophecy. Proof texting is a very dangerous and lazy practice. We studied this frequently in a previous devotional. In the Christian arena, we believers are often guilty of quoting a single Bible verse (or a portion of one) to justify our views, while disregarding the verse’s context. There is a saying that provides a warning for this practice: “A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text.”

Let’s look at an example of this in the prophetic world. People often speak about the rapture by quoting 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to justify when they think it will happen. It states: “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

When looking at the context, you understand what “after that” is referring to. This passage is mainly addressing the question of what happens to believers who have died before Jesus returns. It does not address when the rapture happens in the context of the End of the Age. This is but one brief example.

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Confirmation bias is somewhat similar to proof texting. It is also called “myside bias.” It means that you and I often go looking for information to confirm what we already believe. Rather than looking and reading and learning objectively, we tend to seek out materials and teachers that we already agree with. We are selective in our study and research. We then use this knowledge to justify our deeply entrenched viewpoints that have not been thoroughly vetted.

I would argue that 2 Timothy 4:3 addresses this practice. Let me encourage us all to swallow our pride and study viewpoints on Bible prophecy that we may not agree with (am I stating this enough?).

What if by chance they are right and you are wrong on a particular aspect?

What this open-minded practice will also accomplish is this: it will force you back into a deeper study of God’s Word. You should be able to justify your position based on a thorough knowledge of the Bible, not by saying that a certain prophecy teacher agrees with what you believe and therefore you must be right.

Having set the stage, let us now look at the specific topics at hand, starting with America.

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The First Amendment Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.

Psalm 33:12 As we look at America, let’s briefly go back and survey history.

From Christopher Columbus to the early settlers to our “founding fathers,” most called themselves Christians, although they were all far from perfect. They made mistakes along the way, such as the mistreatment and massacre of Native Americans, entrenching the unbiblical and ritualistic practices of freemasonry, and the abomination that was slavery. Even worse, all these errors were often carried out in Jesus’ name. So, we should not venerate the founders more highly than we ought.

Still, as believers, we can admire their overall desire to put God at the center. From Columbus’s first arrival to the Declaration of Independence, there was recognition of the blessings and rights endowed by our Creator. As a result, God has blessed this nation for many years. But His blessing is conditional upon our obedience to His will. Should our nation turn its back on Him, He, in His loving mercy, will correct us and eventually judge us in order to bring repentance and revival.

Now to the topic at hand. Here is the First Amendment to the Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The first statement of this amendment is called the Establishment Clause. Many believe its original intent was to prohibit the 616

establishment of a single national church or denomination over others. Many of the early settlers were fleeing religious persecution in their native countries and wanted the freedom to worship someplace other than under an official church or denomination.

The popular phrase, “a wall of separation between church and state,” doesn’t actually appear in any founding documents. Thomas Jefferson wrote it in a private letter to Baptists in Connecticut in 1802 to reinforce the fact that a national denomination of Christianity would not be chosen. In 1947, however, the Supreme Court, specifically Justice Hugo Black, removed these eight words from their context (proof texting) and used them to redefine the Establishment Clause.

To this day, all manner of politicians and voters quote the phrase almost religiously and in the context of the church not interfering with the state, not the other way around. The saying has been completely turned upside down to mean the exact opposite of how Thomas Jefferson intended it. How incredibly unfortunate and potentially fatal for our nation.

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The Not-So-Supreme Court Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Isaiah 5:20 Since the previously mentioned Supreme Court decision in 1947, the “modern,” or humanist, interpretation has led to several Supreme Court decisions against Christianity (primarily). A ruling in 1971 established what is called the Lemon Test, which determines whether something violates this modern interpretation of separation of church and state. Basically, it ensures that government stays secular.

Decisions from 1962 forward removed any element of Christianity from public schools in particular. The 1973 decision to make abortion legal has led to the deaths of more than 57 million unborn babies as of this writing. This is a larger population than 88 percent of the nations on this planet. Think of the magnitude. And now we have had the recent Supreme Court decisions to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act (2013) and recognize same sex marriage (2015).

The sanctity of life (Psalm 139:14; Jeremiah 1:5) and the covenant between man and woman (Matthew 19:4–6; Romans 1:26–28) have been redefined by a nonreligious authority. The Supreme Court is acting like a supremely ungodly branch of government that has forsaken its spiritual roots.

Now, before we make the Supreme Court the scapegoat for the moral and spiritual decline of our once great nation, think again.

They are merely a reflection of the evolution of our society away from its Creator. Now that He has been removed as our compass, morality has become relative, and many things once considered abominable have become permissible.

It is a dangerous day—which has arrived in full force—when we treat the church, the very foundation of this country for hundreds 618

of years, as a bad influence on government, society, and education.

Instead, the things that the majority of Americans once called evil are now called good and are influencing each subsequent generation into an increasingly warped view of right and wrong. Our country needs to return to its clear spiritual roots to have any hope in the future.

Let me conclude by saying that I believe blame and judgment begin with the Body of Christ (1 Peter 4:17). Our laziness and self-centeredness have now been coupled with apathy and silence, as we’ve let secularism become the ruler of the day. We’ll look at this aspect further in a couple of days. But next, we’ll see if America is in the Bible, especially in regard to prophecy.

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Is America in the Bible?

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.

Proverbs 14:34 American Christians can be a self-centered and blindly arrogant bunch. Many of us tend to think that God functions merely to serve us; that He sits on His throne in heaven draped in an American flag and speaking English. I’ve been there. We see Bible prophecies through our Western lenses instead of Eastern lenses. The reality is that the Bible was written in an area of the world we call the Middle East, and it is Israel-and-Jerusalem-centric through most, if not all, of the books.

I’ve got a news flash for you: it can’t be proven yet that America is directly mentioned in the Bible. Many a prophecy teacher has attempted to find verses and passages that allude to the USA. Perhaps they will turn out to be right. Here are some of the more popular examples: Ezekiel 28:7–8, Daniel 11:39, Revelation 12:13–14, and Revelation 18. This last reference is the most popular, as there are those who believe America is “Babylon the Great.” Time will tell.

Certainly America has been blessed by God like no nation in history. We have had the strongest economy and fighting force the world has ever seen. For many years, we have sent out more missionaries and mission funding than any other nation. This has helped set the stage for the Gospel to be preached to all people groups (Matthew 24:14). We have stood by Israel and have been a refuge for the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3). And we have helped to increase knowledge on the earth at an incredible rate, as prophesied at the end of Daniel (12:4).

One of the reasons people believe that America is not mentioned in the Bible is because of the rapture. This is due to the opinion that most Americans are Christians. Perhaps the rapture will one day 620

radically alter our population. Since we are viewed as a “Christian” country (and that would be a very generous description of us today), the sudden departure of millions would collapse our economy and defenses, leaving us vulnerable. Once again, I believe this is rooted in a self-centered view of thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3).

We may have once been a majority-Christian nation, but no longer. Therefore, we exemplify the verse above from Proverbs. This is reason enough to get on our knees, pray for our country’s leadership and our churches, and look for personal opportunities to witness.

Lastly for today, I would like to leave you with one name of a humble but fiery man of God whom I believe is a prophet of God to the American Church. His name is Jonathan Cahn. Look into what God is saying through him.

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What’s Next for America If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.

Jeremiah 18:7–8 Let’s look a little further at America’s downfall. I believe it is likely that if America is not an End-Times player, it is because we will not be a factor. The Bible records a very long history of God judging nations for not following Him and for coming against His people.

Look at Ezekiel 25–29 for several prophetic examples.

I would argue that America fits all too perfectly the mold of a nation that should expect God’s judgment. We’ve looked some at our nation’s journey in the wrong direction. Let’s bring it to the present. We are the world’s largest purveyor of pornography. The majority of US citizens now officially reject God’s first covenant between man and woman. We have killed more people than Stalin and Hitler combined through abortion. Think of it—only 23 out of 200 nations have living populations larger than the number we have murdered in the womb. Our nation’s perch atop the world is but a ticking time bomb.

The church in America certainly can share a healthy portion of the blame. We sit silently in the pews while moral decline accelerates. We should be the country’s solution to poverty, not the government (my opinion), and yet only five percent of Americans tithe.

Some churches have clung so tightly to tradition and liturgy that the Holy Spirit can’t be found. On the other hand, other churches have tried so hard to be welcoming to people that their services are more similar to a rock concert, where sin is not dealt with, than a holy gathering of saints crashing the gates of Hell. There are many different ways the American Body of Christ has either watered down or stifled the simple Gospel message.

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Even if you don’t believe anything I’ve written about America’s future from a spiritual standpoint, simple economics or mathematics will clearly show you that our economy is built on a house of cards set to collapse at the slightest breath. We simply cannot borrow, print money, and go into debt the way we have without consequences. The current federal debt is headed for the number 20 with a dozen zeroes behind it. Well over three billion dollars a day in debt is being added.

How might our nation fall? Pick your poison. My guess is that it will be a domino effect that includes some or all of these possibilities: extreme natural disaster, terrorist attack(s), foreign invasion, catastrophic warfare (chemical, nuclear, biological, etc.), economic collapse, and anarchy. If you think this is impossible, then I ask you to study history. Examine your heart to see if your viewpoint is based in naïve nationalistic pride. There are many peoples and nations that would love to take a swing at us, get revenge, and pillage our natural resources.

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The Prophecy-to-Judgment Gap The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.

The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:16–17 You might be asking yourself the questions, How long is the space of time between a prophetic warning and God’s judgment, and when does it come down on a nation such as America? Naturally and appropriately, let’s look at some stories from the Bible for guidance.

God told King Solomon that because he was not faithful to God’s commands (1 Kings 6:12–13), Israel would be divided during the rule of his son, Rehoboam (1 Kings 11:9–13). It seems this word came to Solomon near the end of his 40-year reign, but we don’t know exactly when. Solomon died around 931 BC and the kingdom was divided into Israel and Judah the next year.

How about Sodom and Gomorrah, as recorded in Genesis 18 and 19? These cities are often compared to America. One of their greatest sins was unquestionably homosexuality (Genesis 19:5; Jude 7). Read the story for yourself. There is no doubt that this and many other sins were embraced by their society. Abraham pleaded for Sodom, but no righteous person could be found there. Angels came to warn Lot what was about to happen, and the very next day judgment began.

The famous story of Jonah gives a pretty clear timeline for the city of Nineveh. God announced that in 40 days, Nineveh would be destroyed if the people didn’t repent (Jonah 3:4). The people took this warning seriously and repented; God did not bring destruction (verse 10). Nineveh gives me hope for America, but not much to be honest with you.

In the stories mentioned, the gap of time between the prophetic 624

warning and the judgment doesn’t seem that long. This is something to keep in mind, but this is not an exhaustive study on the matter. So, study it for yourself.

We’ve already looked at the downward spiral of our culture with no sign of repentance or revival, and it doesn’t look good. One could argue that there have been many who have spoken prophecies of America’s impending judgment. And we should expect it. Remember that God disciplines those He loves (Revelation 3:19), and He loves the whole world, not just America. He has also brought about the end of nations and will bring about the ultimate End. This will lead to a glorious eternity for those who believe in Him. Here is a final thought: God can use the death of a loved one to finally reach the soul of a family member. He can bring illness to cause a person to be totally dependent upon Him. He can bring America to its end in order to reap a harvest of lost souls. He can use any and all negative circumstances for His glory, including the terminus of nations.

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My Message to American Christians Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Revelation 2:4–5 God has blessed me with more than 20 years in ministry, and I have traveled to dozens of countries. Included are some of the richest and some of the poorest nations, some of the most free and some of the most persecuted. I’ve been to Israel three times and walked where Jesus walked. I’ve seen man at his best and at his worst. I share all this just to make the point that I’d like to believe I have some perspective on the world as a result of my travels and ministry.

Here is what I have learned from my experience. In many ways, America is still one of the best places to live. But, we have gotten far too comfortable, lazy, and arrogant due to the prosperity God has given us. We now use our freedom to forsake our first love (the verses above). We’ve always been flawed, but now we are reckless and of little faith.

Let me take this opportunity to share with you the primary prophetic message God has given me to share with American believers. So take a deep breath and a long sip of coffee to hear this with open ears.

The Body of Christ in America is too comfortable and too preoccupied with trying to figure out when the “rapture” will take place (regardless of when they believe it happens in the context of the End of the Age). As a result, many have failed to consider the possibility—and even the likelihood—that God will judge America before we are taken from Earth. His judgment on us may have nothing to do with the End of the Age. And this judgment will include hardship, persecution, illness, and death that we did not think 626

was possible this side of the rapture. Does that make sense to you?

In other words, God could send His Son back for His people before the horrors described in Bible prophecy, yet we could still live through unimaginably troubling times in America first. Why do we think that America is immune to hard times? Are we so special that we can ignore His Word and still expect His blessings to continue? Further, why should we expect a carefree life when there are believers in Iraq, China, North Korea, etc. who have paid the ultimate sacrifice? Why should we never expect major terrorist attacks or a foreign invasion, plagues, famine, pestilence, etc.?

Repent, America, before it’s too late!

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I’m a Prepper, You’re a Prepper 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.

John 15:4 There is a growing alarm among a segment of Western Christians that we should literally be preparing, or “prepping,” for tougher days ahead. The line is blurred between whether these tough days are for America or whether they signify the End of the Age. Furthermore, there is another segment of Christians that believes no prepping is necessary because the church will be raptured prior to traumatic times of any kind. So who’s right?

In the Bible, God sometimes gave His people time to prepare.

Consider the seven years Joseph stored grain before the famine (Genesis 41:48–49). On the other hand, sometimes fleeing took place at a moment’s notice. The Israelites had to leave in the middle of the night after Pharaoh released them, although the Lord did bless them with quick provisions from the Egyptians (Exodus 12:31–36).

Later, the Israelites were utterly depleted and relied on God to send manna and quail from heaven to feed them and water from a rock to quench their thirst (Exodus 16:1–17:7).

Most importantly, reliance on God is the best prepping we can do. We need to be in a constant state of dependence on Him regardless of what is going on or what we have stored up. That is the nature of the Christian walk. Apart from Him we can do nothing of eternal consequence. For centuries there have been believers who have endured such harsh times as to be reduced to no other possessions but their faith in God, and that was enough.

Secondly, I believe it is okay to be prepared with the basics.

Even the US Government encourages all households to have at least 72 hours of food, water, and other supplies on hand at all times. You 628

can see for yourself on FEMA’s secondary website, www.ready.gov.

Preparation beyond that is a matter of consistent prayer between you and God. If you choose to “prep” extensively, let me encourage you to do so with the intention of helping family, friends, and neighbors (1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 3:27–28). Prepare to share as an act of mercy and for the sake of sharing the Gospel in hard times.

Physical food and spiritual food should be paired together as much as possible.

Now, we will transition to a couple of weeks of general study on the End of the Age.

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God’s 7,000-Year Plan?

A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

Psalm 90:4 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

2 Peter 3:8 What follows is an explanation of the belief, held by some, that God has a 6,000-year plan for man followed by a 1,000-year reign by Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4). The conviction that this reign is figurative (because so much of Revelation is symbolic) is called amillenialism. Early Church writers like Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Victorinus, and the author of the Epistle of Barnabas, however, believed in the 6,000 years of man. Early Jewish writers did too. This doesn’t mean that their belief is reality. It’s just a factor worth considering.

Let’s look at some interesting patterns in the Bible that support this belief. God created the heavens and the earth in six days, and on the seventh day He rested (Exodus 20:11). Here are other instances in the Bible that involved six days and a distinct seventh day: Mount Sinai and the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:16), the destruction of Jericho (Joshua 6:13–15), and the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1).

God also instructed the Hebrews to follow certain rules that reflected a similar kind of timeline. Slaves served for six years and were freed in the seventh year (Exodus 21:2). Fields were to be worked for six years and then rested in the seventh year (Exodus 23:10–11). People were to work six days and then rest on the seventh day (Leviticus 23:3).

The verses above state that God sees a thousand years as a day.

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Is this a way of stating that just as He created the world in six days, so man would rule six “days,” or 6,000 years?

Within this belief of 6,000 years is that there are three approximate ages: 2,000 years from Adam to Abraham (Age of Chaos/Desolation), 2,000 years from Abraham to Jesus (Age of the Torah), and 2,000 years from Jesus’ First Coming to His Second Coming (Age of the Messiah).

In what year are we in relation to the possible 6,000 years of man? I don’t believe we can know for sure. It is likely that the 6,000year clock commenced not when Adam and Eve were created, but when they sinned and were kicked out of Eden. This would be the beginning of the 6,000 years of man’s self-rule. The Bible does not tell us when this happened. However, it does make one think we are close if this timeline is correct.

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The Final 3,000 Years?

The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.

Luke 24:7 Let’s continue along yesterday’s line of thinking and consider the last 3,000 of the 7,000 proposed years. Specifically, this refers to the last 2,000-year segment of man and the 1,000-year reign of Christ to follow (if literal). There is another interesting pattern that appears from Bible stories to support this time structure. I am speaking of two “days” followed by a distinct third “day.”

There are several instances in the Bible of a third “day” that brings spiritual breakthrough or restoration. Here are most of the major examples: • • • • • •

God giving Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:9–25) King Hezekiah’s healing (2 Kings 20:5) Esther going before the king and rescuing the Jews (Esther 5:1) Israel’s future restoration (Hosea 6:2) Jonah’s release from the fish (Jonah 1:17) Jesus’ death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21)

Pretty interesting, huh? You are probably tempted now to break out your calculator and try to figure out where we are. Here are a couple of important things to consider. First, it’s worth mentioning that perhaps these last 2,000 years shouldn’t be computed using our solar calendar of 365.25 days per year. The Jewish calendar is lunar based, with 29.5 days per month. An extra month is added to their calendar every two or three years. This equates to seven leap years 632

every 19 years. On the flip side, maybe it should be computed in solar years because this is the “church age.”

Second, when did the final 2,000 years actually commence?

Was it when Jesus was born, when He began His ministry, when He was crucified, when He was resurrected, or 40 days later when He ascended into heaven? Just as with yesterday’s devotional, I don’t believe we can know this for sure either, yet.

Scholars can’t agree on when these milestones happened. Most agree Jesus wasn’t born until just before or right at the turn of the millennium from BC to AD. Most also agree that the crucifixion/resurrection/ascension happened between AD 30 and 33. If you went forward 2,000 solar years, it would mean 2030–2033. In lunar years, we would have passed 2,000 years over a decade ago.

It’s important not to get too dogmatic on exactness because of all the disagreements over the true dates of events long ago. Instead, let us focus on the fact that God is sovereign. He has a precise plan for man that will be fulfilled in His perfect and ordained time, and it could be right around the corner.

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The Spring Feasts The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.’”

Leviticus 23:1–2 The Jewish people held festivals that were ordained by God to commemorate important events in the history of their people. Jesus also symbolically and literally fulfilled or will fulfill them all. This is crucial to understand.

Over the next two days, let’s look at the Jewish festivals as they relate to Jesus’ First Coming and Second Coming. They paint a beautiful picture of how He has fulfilled the spring feasts and will fulfill the fall feasts. The first three spring feasts occur over eight days in our months of March or April. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection also happened during this window of time. The fourth feast is called the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, and is 50 days later in May or June.

Here is a basic summary (which does not nearly do them justice) of the four feasts in the spring: Passover begins on the fourteenth day of the first month of the Jewish religious year (Exodus 12:1–14; Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 28:16; Deuteronomy 16:1–7). It commemorates the Jews’ deliverance from Egypt and when they put the blood of unblemished lambs on their doorposts. Jesus fulfilled this feast by being the unblemished lamb that was slain for us (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Revelation 5:6, etc.).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is celebrated right after Passover, starting on the fifteenth day of the first month of the Jewish religious year (Exodus 12:15–20; Leviticus 23:6–8; Numbers 28:17–25; Deuteronomy 16:8). It commemorates 634

the hasty escape of the Jews from Egypt (Exodus 12:31–34).

During the feast, all leavened bread was removed from the homes to signify removing sin (leaven or yeast) from their lives. Jesus fulfilled this by declaring Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:26–58) and encouraging us to remove the sin, or leaven, from our lives (Luke 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:6–8; Galatians 5:7–9).

The Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9–14) is the day when Jews offered the first fruits of their barley crops to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 declares that Jesus is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep,” or died, in the faith. It is believed that Jesus was resurrected on this feast day. And as a result, we will also be raised from the dead at His Second Coming should we not be alive at the point of His return.

The Feast of Weeks is one day that is seven weeks after Passover (Leviticus 23:15–21; Numbers 28:26–31; Deuteronomy 16:9–12). The people joyfully made an offering to the Lord from the wheat harvest. The New Testament fulfillment took place in Acts 2:1–4, which is called Pentecost, the time of the Holy Spirit’s arrival. A great spiritual harvest also took place. This occurred on the exact day of the Feast of Weeks.

Tomorrow we will look at the fall feasts, and how Jesus will fulfill them all at His Second Coming.

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The Fall Feasts These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times.

Leviticus 23:4 The three feasts in the fall occur over a span of 21 days around our September and October. They foreshadow Jesus’ Second Coming, Day of Atonement, and Millennial Reign. Not surprisingly, Christians do not agree on the future occasions that fulfill the fall feasts.

Here is a description of each, including what they could mean for the future.

The Feast of Trumpets is a day of rest when the people assemble together with trumpet blasts and make an offering to the Lord on the first day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:23–25; Numbers 29:1–6). It also goes by the name Rosh Hashanah and is the start of the new calendar year. There is a fascinating similarity between this feast and the fall of Jericho, but we don’t have room for explanation here.

It is believed that this feast is tied to the rapture/Second Coming, which is marked by the sound of trumpets (Matthew 24:30–31; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 11:15).

The Day of Atonement takes place 10 days after the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 16; 23:26–32; Numbers 29:7–11).

Another sacred assembly gathered, fasted, and treated it as a Sabbath rest. Once a year, only on this day, which is also known as Yom Kippur, the high priest entered the inner sanctuary of the Holy Place to make an offering, which was to be atonement for the sins of the people. Jesus, our High Priest, made atonement for our sins once and for all (Hebrews 10:1– 14). This day seems to be connected to the ultimate future 636

day when we stand before God and His throne to be judged for our sins. Due to His Son’s atonement, our names appear in the book of life (Revelation 20:11–15).

The Feast of Booths, Ingathering, or Tabernacles occurs five days after the Day of Atonement and is a week-long celebration (Leviticus 23:33–43; Numbers 29:12–34; Deuteronomy 16:13–15). The people would erect booths, somewhat like canopies, celebrate the harvest, and make offerings to the Lord. Perhaps this celebration is a foreshadowing of perfect union with Him in the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem mentioned in Revelation 21:1–4. God will dwell, or tabernacle, with us from then on. Zechariah 14:16–19 also references a future day when all nations will come to worship the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

Once again, I should mention that Christians do not agree on how these three fall feasts will be fulfilled, so take what I’ve written with a grain of salt. Others see the Feast of Trumpets symbolizing the rapture, the Day of Atonement as the Second Coming, and the Feast of Tabernacles as the Millennial Reign. I lean toward what I’ve written above. Let us find peace in the fact that God will fulfill these fall feasts, and it will be glorious.

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Replacement Theology Consequently, you [Jew and Gentile] are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

Ephesians 2:19–21 It is safe to say that the Christian world believes Jesus was a Jew and His literal ministry was exclusively to the Jews during His time on Earth. Further, there is no dispute that the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day were the instigators in having Him crucified. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, a transition was declared. Jesus declared His love for the world (John 3:16). He announced that disciples should be made from all nations (Matthew 28:19) and that we should be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

The Apostle Paul was one of the initial evangelists to the Gentile world (Romans 1:16). Salvation was offered “first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” The majority of the New Testament was written by him to both Jew and Gentile.

Where there is disagreement in the Christian world is whether the Jewish people and the nation of Israel have permanently fallen out of God’s favor and have been replaced by the Gentile Church.

This is called “replacement theology” or “supersessionism.” In other words, the Church superseded the Jews as God’s chosen people to carry out His plan in the world. So, from Pentecost forward, any reference to Israel is interpreted as the Church by those who believe in replacement theology.

Since the Jews have been blamed as the people who rejected the Messiah and crucified Him, an intense hatred has boiled over from time to time against them. It is important to remember that this act 638

of sacrifice for us was prophesied hundreds of years earlier in numerous Old Testament verses and passages (Psalm 22:1, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 53, and Micah 5:2, just to name a few).

Still, the Jewish religious leaders didn’t recognize Jesus as the prophesied Messiah. Subsequently, there has been 2,000 years of anti-Semitism, even by some individuals we call “church fathers.”

More recently, the Nazis succeeded in nearly wiping them out, executing six million in the most despicable and horrible ways.

Amazingly, through millennia of persecution and no homeland, the Jews have returned to part of the land promised to Abraham (we’ll look at this tomorrow). Replacement theologians would not find this fact to be a miracle or a fulfillment of prophecy. Those opposed to replacement theology believe this is a miracle and was prophesied in many places, including Ezekiel 37 and Matthew 24:32–35. What do you think?

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The Fig Tree Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

Matthew 24:32 Let’s take a closer look at the prevalent view that Israel becoming a nation again is of profound importance. In the Bible, Israel’s nationality is signified by the fig tree (Jeremiah 24:5; Hosea 9:10). It is also symbolized spiritually as the vine and religiously as an olive tree. It is believed as well that Ezekiel 37 describes Israel’s rebirth as the Valley of Dry Bones that comes to life. We only have room to discuss the fig tree today.

Interestingly, the fig tree begins to blossom in the spring on the previous year’s growth and before leaves are produced. This explains why Jesus cursed the fig tree in Matthew 21:18–22 (also Mark 11:20–25). The leaves had already come forth but there was no fruit.

The parable in Luke 13:6–9 makes a similar point. Applying this to our lives, how can we prove we are growing in our faith and walk with the Lord if we produce no fruit year after year?

Now, back to Israel. In Matthew 24:32–35, in the midst of His talk about the End of the Age, Jesus says that once the fig tree starts to show leaves, summer is near. Likewise, when they see all that Jesus described as “signs of the times,” the terminus is just around the corner. In fact, much has been made of verse 34, which states that “this generation [also translated as “race”] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.”

The prevailing belief has been that once Israel became a nation again, that generation (depending on how long you believe a generation is) will live to see the End of the Age. And what a long wait it has been for the Jewish people to have a homeland again. They are a modern-day miracle in the eyes of many.

The Roman emperor Titus destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70, and 640

the Jews were scattered. Beginning with the Balfour Declaration on November 2, 1917, they began to return to the ancient land, culminating on May 14, 1948, with Israel declaring its independence.

Israel was recognized by the United Nations on May 11, 1949, and Jerusalem was recaptured on June 7, 1967.

Despite being mostly surrounded by hostile Arab nations, Israel continues to exist and in many ways thrive. Now, over eight million people call it home. Nazi Germany and many other empires and nations throughout the centuries have tried, and failed, to exterminate the Jews.

Regardless of how you feel about Israel and the End Times, I believe we can agree that modern-day Israel is an amazing miracle! We can also pray for a revival to break out among this people group and all people groups. May the Jews finally recognize their long-awaited Messiah. He already came and is coming again!

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The Final Generation Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Matthew 24:34 Prophecy students and teachers alike sometimes get upset if they think you are date-setting Jesus’ return. They cite “about that day or hour no one knows” in Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32. This expression is actually a Jewish idiom that should not be taken at face value. It is really describing the uncertain appearance of the new moon at the Feast of Trumpets. We know that the Lord will return during this September festival. We just don’t know at this point what year it will happen.

To keep from offending you, know that I am not trying to set specific dates in today’s devotional. However, let us consider some possibilities for the sake of study. Assuming that Israel being reborn is scriptural (see yesterday’s devotional and Isaiah 66:7–9 for some of the many examples), and assuming that this generation won’t pass away until the End of the Age comes, how long is a generation? Ah, “therein lies the rub,” as I misquote Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Some have pointed to 40 years as the length of a generation.

This is the length of time that Moses led the wandering Hebrews in the desert as punishment from God for not entering the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33–34). Why is this important? There is compelling evidence that portions of Matthew 24 were fulfilled in the first century, as it was approximately 40 years from Jesus’ crucifixion to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Others thought Jesus would return 40 years after Israel became a nation in 1948, which was 1988. I don’t think that happened, do you?

There also seems to be evidence that a life span/generation is 70–80 years. Look at these passages on your own: 2 Samuel 5:4; Acts 13:36; Psalm 90:10; 2 Samuel 19:32, 35; Isaiah 23:15; and 642

Daniel 9:2. From the time of King David to the present (around 3,000 years), one could argue that this range has been the average life span. But are life span and generation the same thing?

There are many opinions on how long a generation is and over the true translation and fulfillment of this verse, but not room to visit them all. In fact, I almost didn’t include this topic in the devotional because the water still seems so muddy to me. May the Lord give us all discernment.

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And Then the End Will Come And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:14 The temptation is there for every generation to look at a snapshot during their lifetime and fit the “signs of the times” and fulfillment of prophecy to what they see (confirmation bias). To do so requires ignorance of Scripture and its context. Let me give you an example.

After nearly every major earthquake, drought, or plague in history, those who lived through or observed it have speculated that it was a sign of the end. After all, Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that there will be earthquakes, famines, etc. in certain places.

In my humble opinion, though, there is one single Scripture that stands head and shoulders above the rest regarding the End of the Age. It needs no explanation, yet it is often ignored despite its preeminence.

I believe that every generation should compare the signs that they see to the above verse from Matthew 24. The disciples asked Jesus for the sign of His coming—sign as in singular. He listed false messiahs, famines, wars, earthquakes, etc. as the beginning of birth pains. Then there were persecutions, deaths, false prophets, and so on. Then we come to verse 14.

Until every people group on Earth has heard the message of salvation found through Jesus Christ, we shouldn’t expect His return.

The End will come only after this point is reached. So my suggestion is to research the Christian organizations that are working and monitoring the spread of the Gospel to all people groups. I personally recommend The Joshua Project and Finishing the Task.

Here is something else to consider: Did Jesus mean that this testimony to all nations (people groups) happens at the same point in time? For example, if the Gospel was spread to every corner of 644

country XYZ in the fifth century, but this nation has since turned completely to Islam, does God consider it reached since it once was?

Or does this complete spread of the Gospel need to reach critical mass at one point in time? Something to think about.

Until that day when the Gospel has been preached to all nations, please pray for the unreached and those trying to reach them. Treat this sign with the attention it deserves.

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The Timing of the Rapture Part One For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And so we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 There are three views of Christ’s rapture/Second Coming in regard to the 1,000-year reign of Revelation 20:4 that we will not look at today: premillennialism (before), postmillennialism (after), and amillennialism (no literal 1,000-year reign). And the way the joke goes, there are even some who say they are panmillennial if they’re unsure, meaning it will all “pan” out in the end. Instead, we will take the next two days to look at the timing of the rapture.

There is no way I can avoid addressing this central issue in eschatology. There are extremely strong opinions on all sides about the so-called “rapture.” I addressed the root of this word in a previous devotional. In short, the word rapture is derived from the Latin version of the word, raptus, which is derived from the Greek word harpazō. It refers to the time when both living and dead believers are “caught up . . . in the air . . . [to] be with the Lord forever.”

There are five primary viewpoints as to when the rapture will take place in regard to the “70th week” mentioned in Daniel chapter 9. This is the literal final seven-year period of time at the End of the Age. We’ll look at this in a couple of days. The latter half of these seven years is often called “The Great Tribulation” (more on this later).

Here are the five main viewpoints on the timing of the rapture: 646

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Pre-tribulation: This is the belief that the church will be secretly raptured prior to the final seven years. Most also believe in the imminent return of Jesus, meaning nothing has to happen before the rapture.

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Mid-tribulation: This is the conviction that the rapture happens in the middle of the seven years, just prior to the second half, or 1,260 days, of the seven years.

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Post-tribulation: You guessed it—the rapture happens at the end of the seven years.

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Pre-wrath: This is the viewpoint that the Body of Christ is taken to heaven after judgment has come upon the world, but before God’s wrath is poured out on it (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9). There is disagreement, though, over when His wrath starts at the End of the Age.

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No rapture: There are Christians who believe there is no literal rapture or Great Tribulation, and that everything outside of the Second Coming was fulfilled in the first century.

Tomorrow we will look at this further, and it will hopefully help you find a place of perspective and peace about the rapture.

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The Timing of the Rapture Part Two Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 Here is my advice to you on the timing of the rapture. First, don’t take any prophecy teacher’s word for when the rapture will happen.

Study for yourself and be able to justify your position clearly through Scripture. Look at the primary verses in their context. Other verses/ passages include Matthew 24:30–31, John 14:3, and Titus 2:13.

As you’ve heard me say, far too often we quote verses or parts of verses that sound cute or poignant, but we quote them improperly because we ignore context (proof texting). It is my hope that when you study the verses and passages mentioned over the last two days, you will be able to speak with more conviction as to when you believe the rapture may take place.

Second, find peace and joy in the fact that the Lord will return one day. He will bring an end to all pain and suffering for those who believe.

Third, be sobered for those who haven’t accepted Christ into their hearts. They face an unspeakably tortured reality in their future. Pray for them and witness to them as God opens doors of conversation.

Fourth, in my travels overseas, especially where Christians are enduring hardship, persecution, and death, I’ve noticed something.

They are not concerned with the timing of the rapture. They are too busy experiencing tribulation, laying down their lives, and living for the Lord each day. Perhaps we should follow their lead.

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Fifth, regardless of which viewpoint you hold, please don’t assume that you will escape hardship, persecution, and martyrdom prior to the rapture. This reality has already been true for millions of believers throughout time and could one day be likely for America.

We covered this on a previous day, but it is worth repeating.

Last, don’t get defensive or offended by those who hold a different view of the rapture’s timing. It’s okay to disagree. Our hope is in Jesus, not in the timing of His return. Let’s exercise grace in the “nonessential” areas of our faith. In other words, does my belief in the timing of the rapture determine whether I go to heaven? No, I don’t believe it does. So avoid treating someone who views the rapture differently than you as a heretic. They are likely your brother or sister in Christ.

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The 70th Week of Daniel He will confirm a covenant with many for one “seven.” In the middle of the “seven” he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.

And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.

Daniel 9:27 Forgive me if this is a difficult read to understand today, but you might need to go through it slowly or even twice to let it sink in.

Also, you won’t be surprised when I say that religious scholars don’t agree on how this subject matter was or will be fulfilled.

To understand what the “70th week of Daniel” is and when it occurs, we need to go back to the previous three verses in Daniel 9 and discern the meaning of “seven.” Verse 24 states that 70 “sevens,” or 70 weeks, are decreed.

Most generally agree that a prophetic week can stand for seven years, a year for each day. See Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 for other examples of a prophetic day equaling one year. Further, a prophetic year is believed by many to be 360 days long, as the Jewish calendar is lunar based, not 365.25 days per year like our solar calendar (as we’ve already covered).

In verse 25, it says: “From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’” So, seven “sevens” is 17,640 days, or 49 lunar years, or 48.33 solar years, while 62 “sevens” is 156,240 days, or 434 lunar years, or 428.05 solar years.

There were four similar decrees during this era that were possible starting points to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem”: the decree by Cyrus in 536 BC (Ezra 1:1–4); by Darius in 520 BC (Ezra 6:1–12);

by Artaxerxes in 457 BC (Ezra 7:11–26); and again by Artaxerxes in 444 BC (Nehemiah 2:1–8). There are “scholarly” opinions about which one was the starting point. The math looks doubtful on at 650

least the two earliest decrees; also, they focus on rebuilding the temple and not the city.

Whichever decree is correct, it commenced the seven “sevens,” or 49 years, that it must have taken to rebuild Jerusalem (though this completion date is not verified anywhere that I could find). Another 62 “sevens” later, “the Anointed One will be put to death,” or crucified (verse 26). This would be around AD 33.

Then there is this final seven, or week, mentioned in the verse at the top. Some believe this was fulfilled in the first century, while more lean toward a future week. The book of Revelation (11:2–3; 12:6; 13:5) also mentions a period of 42 months, or 1,260 days, when many troubling things happen. “Time, times, and half a time” is also a reference to the same 3½ years that seems to be mentioned in Daniel 7:25, 12:7, and Revelation 12:14. All of this sounds very similar to the disruption in the middle of the 70th week in Daniel 9:27. More on this tomorrow.

One day the Lord will clearly reveal how the first 69 weeks were fulfilled down to the day and how the final week was or will be fulfilled.

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Great Tribulation These [martyred believers] are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:14 Let me start, once again, with a big disclaimer and reminder that prophecy teachers and students alike have come up with various explanations for every prophetic detail that seems coded. There are those who believe that every prophecy found (primarily) in Daniel and Revelation, except for a very few, were fulfilled in the past. Others believe there are dual fulfillments. Still others believe the prophecies not associated with Jesus’ First Coming are to be fulfilled in the future.

What I am trying to accomplish is to assist you in some basic framework for further study. Keep this in mind as we now look at the “Great Tribulation.”

In addition to the verse above, Matthew 24:21 also contains the phrase “great tribulation” in certain translations: “For then there will be great distress [tribulation], unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.” There is compelling evidence that the Great Tribulation is actually the latter half, or three and a half years, of the seven-year finale called the 70th week of Daniel, which we looked at yesterday.

We learned from Daniel that in the middle of these seven years, a covenant will be broken with God’s people. There are three other biblical terms used to describe the three and a half years (assuming you believe they are literal years): Time, times, and half a time. An example of “times” being used to signify one year is in Daniel 4:32, where it was declared that King Nebuchadnezzar would lose his mind for 652

“seven times,” or seven years. This “time” terminology is used in Daniel 7:25 to identify when the beast (believed by many to be the Antichrist) blasphemes God, oppresses the saints, and tries to change the times and laws. In Daniel 12:7 it refers to when the “holy people” are broken, and in Revelation 12:14 to when the woman (believed by many to be Israel) flees.

42 months is mentioned in Revelation 11:2 and 13:5. The former is when Jerusalem is trampled upon. The latter is when the beast out of the sea blasphemes God’s name, makes war against the saints, and forces everyone to worship him.

1,260 days is used in Revelation 11:3 as the time period when the “two witnesses” will prophesy. Who these two men are is another debate that will be covered tomorrow. Revelation 12:6 also mentions 1,260 days as the length of time that the woman flees into the desert.

The fact is, several different terms in Scripture all seem interconnected and point to bad things happening in a literal or figurative three and a half year period. As always, whether we live to see these times or not, God is our refuge in the storm (Psalm 46:1).

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The Two Witnesses And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”

Revelation 11:3–4 In the above verse, John records quotes from Zechariah 4:12–14.

The angel told Zechariah that the two witnesses “are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” So who exactly are these olive trees/lampstands/witnesses?

We know in the verses that follow in Revelation 11 that these two will prophesy for 1,260 days, be clothed in sackcloth, be able to destroy their enemies, stop it from raining, turn water into blood, and strike the earth with plagues. They are unable to die until they have finished their testimony. Then the beast will kill them and their bodies will lie in the street “for three and a half days.” (Does this period of time sound familiar?) God revives them and they are then taken up to heaven.

I’m not sure what your experience has been, but I was taught that the two witnesses were either Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah.

The reason for Moses and Elijah is because they were on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus (Matthew 17:1–13). Since they appeared on Earth at that time, they could do so again. Malachi 4:5 also states that Elijah would return again, but Jesus on the Mount actually clarified that this was fulfilled through John the Baptist (read the passage).

The reason for Enoch and Elijah is because neither seems to have tasted death. They ascended to heaven at the end of their time on Earth (Enoch: Genesis 5:24 and Hebrews 11:5; Elijah: 2 Kings 2:11). I’m not going to get into a theological debate now as to which of the three heavens (covered in a previous devotional) they ascended to and if they really did escape death.

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There is another belief that the two witnesses are figurative and represent Israel and the Church. They are viewed as being God’s witnesses on the earth. In Romans 11:11–24 Paul describes Israel as the cultivated olive tree and the Gentile church as the wild olive tree.

And Revelation 1:20 states that the seven lampstands John had just seen represented seven churches.

Still, others believe the two witnesses represent the Old and New Testament. It can get confusing and frustrating.

Whether there are literally two of these men of old, or two future men that come in the spirit of Moses, Elijah, and Enoch, or two figurative witnesses, I urge you to once again focus on God’s ultimate victory at the End of the Age. And, in the here and now, how can you be a more effective witness for Him?

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The Revelation of John I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.

And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.

Revelation 22:8 Let’s take a step back and look at Revelation. It is important to note that out of all 66 books in the Bible, only the book of Revelation promises a blessing to those who read and understand it (1:3 and 22:7). It is also important to realize that Revelation is of the apocalyptic genre. There are several other genres in the Bible including poetry, historical narrative, prophecy, gospel, letters, etc. Some books even contain more than one genre or sub-genres.

The point is, you shouldn’t read and interpret Revelation the same way you do Psalms, for example. Look at it this way: you don’t read a book or watch a movie that is science fiction and treat it as a romantic comedy. You would be lost and miss the point entirely. Further, Revelation was written in the late first century, so you need to understand historical context too—what the world was going through in John’s day.

Here is the basic topical structure of Revelation. It opens with messages for seven churches in cities situated in modern-day Turkey. It then gets a good bit more symbolic: the throne in heaven, the Lamb of God, seven seals, trumpets, plagues and bowls, 144,000 witnesses and two other witnesses, persecution by beasts, three angels, a woman on a beast, the fall of Babylon, the rider on the white horse, a thousand years, a new Jerusalem, and the river of life.

Whew! That’s exhausting and a bit daunting to read, much less try to figure out the meaning.

Let me mention again about the different schools of thought.

There are those “smarter” than I who believe that most of Revelation was fulfilled in the days of and immediately following the 656

Apostle John, and that the rest of the book is metaphorical, not literal. There are others who believe it is all to be fulfilled in the future.

Still there are some who believe this and other Bible prophecies have some measure of dual fulfillment, meaning fulfillment in the days relatively soon after the prophecies were given and written, and also at the End of the Age. I have found it helpful to read commentaries on Revelation. I’ve also found it helpful to read this and other books in one sitting if possible. It gives you the big picture and helps you understand the flow. You will probably read and realize details you hadn’t noticed before. Ultimately, it’s worth focusing on the final chapter and the return of “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). That’s something to truly look forward to.

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Is Islam an End-Times Player?

Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.

Deuteronomy 4:39 For several decades, perhaps longer, the Western mindset of the End of the Age has revolved around prophecies being fulfilled in and around Europe. Maybe you’ve heard it said that a 10-nation confederacy would arise from European nations led by the Antichrist. This End-Times leader would emerge from a country like Great Britain or Greece, and a future pope would be the False Prophet. Russia would also be a major player. For those who’ve been exposed to prophecy teaching based out of America, this should sound familiar to you. But is it biblically accurate? Here is another viewpoint for you to consider.

There is another region and religion of the world that has an uncanny similarity to what is mentioned in the Bible. Over the next few days, we will look at Islam as a possible major End-Times player, the 12th Imam as the Antichrist, and a Muslim Jesus as the False Prophet. But first, some background information.

Islam is more than just a religion; it is a way of life that controls all areas of life. Muslims believe that Allah is the one true god (it is NOT the same God whom Christians serve; see verse above) and Muhammad is the one true prophet. Muhammad lived AD 570–632.

Starting at 40 years of age, he claimed to have been visited by the angel Gabriel in a cave and given certain revelations about Allah.

He recorded them in what is known as the Quran, or the holy book of Islam. Other writings called the Hadith and Sira have documented the life and times of Muhammad.

Muhammad had up to 13 wives, the youngest of whom was Aisha. She was six when they were betrothed and nine when the marriage was consummated. After Muhammad’s death, there was a split 658

among his descendants as to who was his rightful successor. As a result, there are two main branches of Islam. The Sunnis firmly believe that Abu Bakr was the true religious heir as Muhammad’s chief advisor and father of Aisha. The Shias, or Shiites, firmly believe that Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, Ali, was to be his successor.

The vast majority of the world’s Muslims are Sunni, around 85 percent in fact. This would include Sunni-majority countries like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan and terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the Taliban. Shias are the majority population in Iraq and Iran and include terrorist groups such as Hezbollah.

It is the Shias in particular who believe in the 12th Imam, or Mahdi, their future Messiah who will establish a caliphate, or Islamic state, that will unify all Muslims. Could this be the End-Times world leader spoken of in the Bible? We’ll look more at this tomorrow.

Time will tell if it is Islam or another apostate religion that the Antichrist will one day lead. Just be aware of this possibility.

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The Mahdi It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

Revelation 13:7 Were you aware that, just as followers of Christ believe Jesus will return to establish His kingdom forever, Muslims believe a Messiah is coming too? However, they believe this person is someone called the Mahdi. Did you also know that Muslims believe Jesus (called Isa) will accompany the Mahdi to bring about a final Muslim caliphate, or Islamic government? We will talk about this Muslim Jesus tomorrow. Today, we will look at the 12th Imam, or Mahdi.

I would be remiss if I didn’t first mention Joel Richardson’s book The Islamic Antichrist. He has done exhaustive research into this topic and goes into far more detail than I can in this devotional.

In short, many Shia Muslims believe that there have been 12 Imams, divinely appointed successors of Muhammad. These men lived in the seventh and eighth centuries, after Muhammad’s death.

Muhammad ibn al-Hassan was the 12th, and it is claimed that he disappeared as a child and has been in hiding ever since. He will one day return to reign for seven years (sound familiar?!).

Sunni Muslims and some Shias believe that the Mahdi, whose title means “Guided One,” will come to bring peace to the world, but that he has not been born yet. So, the reality is that all 1.6 billion Muslims (around 25 percent of the world’s population) basically believe that a savior is coming to establish Islam as the world’s religion.

The Mahdi has other Arabic names, translated as “the Awaited” and “Lord of the Age.” In broad terms, what the Bible says about the Antichrist are the same attributes as the 12th Imam, or Mahdi, has in Islam’s writings.

Here are some of the main similarities (there are more): 660

• • • • •

Spiritual world leader (Revelation 13:8) Rides on a white horse (Revelation 6:2) Makes a seven-year covenant/treaty (Daniel 9:27) Global seat is on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:4) Beheads nonbelievers (Revelation 20:4)

Will the Mahdi reappear, unite the Sunnis and Shias, and establish a caliphate? Will he be the foretold Antichrist? Time will tell, but the case is rather uncanny and compelling.

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The Muslim Jesus It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.

Revelation 13:12 In compelling ways, Islam is a severe perversion of Christianity.

It claims Jesus is only a prophet who will one day return to point people to the Muslim Messiah (the 12th Imam, or Mahdi) as the true savior of the world.

In the first half of Revelation 13, the Antichrist is described as the Beast out of the Sea. The latter half of the chapter speaks of the Beast out of the Earth. Most agree that this is a description of the False Prophet, the right-hand man to the Antichrist. He is also mentioned (in the NIV) as the False Prophet in Revelation 16:13, 19:20, and 20:10.

Look at some of the alarming similarities between the False Prophet and the coming Muslim Jesus. Once again, this is only a snapshot. I highly recommend the book The Islamic Antichrist by Joel Richardson for more. Here are just some of the eerie similarities between Revelation 13:11–18 and Muslim writings: • • • • •

Right-hand man to the Antichrist, or Mahdi Appears like a lamb Speaks great things Points people to worship the Antichrist, or Mahdi Kills those who don’t worship the Antichrist/Mahdi

Think of this for a moment. Both Christians and Muslims believe Jesus is coming back. Imagine the hysteria, confusion, and worship that will arise when someone claims to be Jesus and then 662

points people to the Mahdi. Naïve and shallow Christians will assume they had it wrong, as this holy blast from the past actually directs people to an Islamic Messiah. Could this be a source of the “powerful delusion” that causes the apostasy, or great falling away (2 Thessalonians 2:10–11)? We’ll look at this topic tomorrow.

Today is as good a day as any to ask you to reexamine your faith in the one true God and His Son, Jesus. He died for your sins and was resurrected to defeat sin forever. Only He has the power to save you from a hopeless eternity. Now is the time, more than ever, for you to have assurance in your salvation so that you can endure the troubling days ahead with peace, hope, love, and steadfastness.

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Apostasy, Now and Later It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Hebrews 6:4–6 No one ever identifies themselves as apostate. It’s a label we use for others we believe have either renounced or perverted their faith in Christ. Their belief system has gotten polluted by the world and by their own selfish desires. The Bible uses the term “falling away.”

The Bible warns against falling away in general (2 Corinthians 11:3–4; Hebrews 3:12–14; 6:4–6), but also specifically during the End Times (2 Thessalonians 2:1–12).

The causes of apostasy are numerous, including false prophets (Matthew 24:10–13, 22–24), carnality, hearing what we want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3–4), and evil spirits (1 Timothy 4:1).

What should be a sobering thought to all believers is how bad the deception and apostasy will be during the final climactic period of human history. God allows the Antichrist to perform incredible signs and miracles. This will no doubt cause some who claimed to be believers to become enamored with him. They have not studied or grasped the truth of the Bible enough to recognize the deception.

It is a sobering thought. A falling away, by its very nature, means that those who call themselves Christians will turn away from the faith. They will fall away and follow the ultimate darkness, acting as if clothed in light but evil to the core.

We could easily agree that apostasy is growing in America. We are surrounded by preachers and teachers telling us what we want to hear. You know who I’m talking about—those who speak of God 664

as a genie waiting to grant our every material wish. Their book titles focus on man, not God, and on what He can do for us, not what we should do for His glory.

Let me stress a previous point. Just because one could argue that America has growing apostasy, it does not necessarily mean it is the End of the Age. It could be, but far too many believers tie what is happening in America to the terminus of all things. Chances are pretty good, in my opinion, that America’s downfall will likely precede the End of the Age. There may be a gap of weeks, months, or years before the rapture takes place. We could face all sorts of severe hardship and even death before Jesus returns.

Should the End of the Age happen in our lifetime, we will see many we called Christians—friends and family even—turn from the true message of the Gospel and follow the Antichrist. That should make you shudder.

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I Don’t Know You For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 8:13 Let me close with another sobering devotional. I want to deal with a subject that you really won’t find many talking about in American churches today. I view it a little differently than the End Times apostasy that we discussed yesterday, because it applies to the here and now.

There are some unsettling passages in Scripture about people who call themselves followers of Christ, yet they will not enter the kingdom of Heaven. These passages are unavoidable and extremely sobering to me, so much so that they keep me on my spiritual knees before the Lord. This is not a debate on “once saved, always saved.”

So, knowing this, let’s briefly look today at two disturbing passages together.

Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:21–23 that there will be many (wow!) who call Him “Lord” who will not enter heaven. Even successfully performing miracles and driving out demons doesn’t give anyone the “get out of hell, free” pass. Also, earlier in the chapter (verses 13–14), Jesus talks of the narrow gate and how only “a few find it.” How incredibly heartbreaking.

There is another passage from Jesus Himself in Matthew 25:1–13.

It is referred to as the parable of the ten virgins (mentioned a few weeks ago). These ladies signify the church, Christ’s bride, awaiting His return, or Second Coming, as He is the Bridegroom. To the half not ready for His return, He will tell them, “I don’t know you.” Can you imagine the horror on this future day? Keep in mind that Jesus spent much of His time expressing displeasure with hypocrites and teachers of the law—those who viewed themselves as the most holy and religious and were viewed as such. Do you think they believed they were going to Hell?

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I propose that there are people sitting beside you at church, in the choir, serving at VBS, in Bible studies, etc. who have not surrendered their lives to the Lord. As it stands today, they will not enter eternity with Jesus. Only God can truly know the position of their hearts, but we should encourage each other into a clear faith commitment and total submission to God and His will in our lives.

Believing that God exists is not enough. Doing so only puts you on the same level as demons, for they “believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19). Yet their goal is evil. We are saved by grace through faith in the God who mercifully sent His Son to die for our sins.

Then, God defeated death and sin by raising His Son from the dead.

May we believe and have peace about our future Day of Judgment.

Remember that we are not saved by our good works (Ephesians 2:8–9). Rather, our good works are a demonstration that the faith we have in Him has taken root and produced fruit (James 2:14–26).

May your life abound in good works in the days ahead!

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Pressing On Patt Williams

Table of Contents Preface...........................................................................................671 The Dream....................................................................................673 The Spoiled American...................................................................675 The Guarantees.............................................................................677 The Survival Kit—Part One..........................................................679 The Survival Kit—Part Two.........................................................681 The Test.........................................................................................683 The Opposites...............................................................................685 The Commander............................................................................687 The Baby.......................................................................................689 The Bridge....................................................................................691 The Timing....................................................................................693 The Small Step..............................................................................695 The Heart......................................................................................697 The Journey—Part One.................................................................699 The Journey—Part Two................................................................701 The Sound.....................................................................................703 The Trivial.....................................................................................705 The In-Between.............................................................................707 The Fall.........................................................................................709

The Shadow..................................................................................711 The Help........................................................................................713 The Dust........................................................................................715 The Joy..........................................................................................717 The Stuff Part—One.....................................................................719 The Stuff Part—Two.....................................................................721 The Decision.................................................................................723 The Walls......................................................................................725 The Moments................................................................................727 The Picture....................................................................................729 Pressing On...................................................................................731

Preface This book began as the result of a dream, which I describe in the first chapter. To see whether God was really leading me to write a third book, I sat down at my computer later that morning. The thoughts flowed so quickly that I felt as if I were sitting back and watching the words appear. Of course, many chapters were tough and took weeks to write, but this surprising start encouraged me through the dry times. To God be the glory!

I’m grateful to those who helped finish Pressing On. To Dr. Matthew Byrd for his guidance with proofreading and advice and the hours we spent in virtual meetings, thank you. To Vincent Graves, your creativity in layout and design and your ability to manage printing and distribution continues to bless me. Thank you. And to the great staff at Feed the Hunger, it’s a privilege to be working with such dedicated people.

I close with part of a prayer from Anne Graham Lotz’s book The Light of His Presence. The chapter is entitled “A Prayer to Be Salt and Light.”

Raise us up as a body of believers who will be beacons of Your light, trumpeters of Your truth, ministers of Your comfort, and ambassadors of Your peace. May we be the salt and light You declared us to be. . . . We choose to redeem the time we have left so we do not waste a moment in inviting all to live with You forever, clearly explaining how they can be assured their names are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. We boldly ask this in the name of the One who is coming—Jesus, Amen.1

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In Christ alone, by grace alone, Patt May 2021 1

Anne Graham Lotz, The Light of His Presence (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2020), 145–7. Used by permission from Anne Graham Lotz. Her books and other materials can be found at www.annegrahamlotz.org

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The Dream Just about the time I think full maturity in Christ is attainable, the Holy Spirit kindly shows me an area that I’ve left unattended.

Here’s how it unfolded. Several months ago, I found out that a certain boss had put a friend of mine in a difficult situation. He had been asked to side publicly with her views even though he thought they compromised his beliefs. This was very upsetting. My friend didn’t give in, but did ask me to pray for him as he navigated the ongoing work relationship.

I think all would have gone well except I added a part to my prayers that didn’t belong. Yes, I did ask the Lord to be glorified through my friend’s ongoing response in the work situation. But because I had personally taken up my friend’s offense as if it had happened to me, I wanted revenge.

As I said, that was several months ago, and the whole incident resolved itself in the best way possible. But early this morning, with my face still buried in my pillow, I was aware that I was coming out of a short dream.

In my dream, a group of people were meeting in a large room, and I was there to pick up some keys because I would be returning later to let others in. Standing there with the keys in her hand was . . . the boss. She was pleasant. I was not. She wanted to talk some more. I looked for a way to leave. When someone across the room waved to me, I abruptly took the keys from her and walked away.

When I looked back at the boss, she was sadly looking at me.

That’s when my eyes popped opened and my face came up from my pillow.

“Oh no, not again!” I moaned. After so many years of living the full life God has given me through His Son, Jesus Christ, why do I keep letting resentment creep into my heart and mind? My friend’s situation had been resolved and everyone had moved on, 674

but my heart was still carrying the offense. And, to top it off, I had a self-righteous attitude.

Quickly, I asked the Lord to forgive me and, as so many times before, I experienced the sweet peace that God always bestows when I turn to Him in repentance. What a gracious, loving, forgiving, and patient God. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Acts 3:19

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The Spoiled American We had flown 36 hours to get there and had traveled throughout the next day over difficult roads to reach the remote village. Now, I was seated on the ground at the women’s conference, waiting for my turn to speak. Even though we were in the Himalayan mountains, it was hot . . . and humid . . . and did I say hot?

The church walls were made from split bamboo, with a straw roof. Through the slits in the walls, I could see the ladies in charge of lunch, getting the fire started under their big pots, cutting up onions and garlic, mixing the spices and vegetables. One lady was struggling with a couple of protesting chickens that would soon be added to the stew.

The church was full. Women who had no children sat toward the front and mommas with babies toward the back. Hot as blue blazes, we sat on the straw-covered ground with toddlers who wandered here and there. No air-conditioning or soundproof sanctuary or childcare provided or soft seats—or diapers.

And yet, the women were never distracted. They stayed attentive, eager to hear the Word of God proclaimed to them. Many women were illiterate, but there were enough who could read and write that they could teach the material later to the women in their churches.

Just as I stood up to teach, a rooster crowed and the water buffalo that was staked outside the “front door” started to “mmMOO-uh . . . mmMOO-uh.” And still the women sat there, undeterred.

Whenever I’m among such women so hungry for biblical teaching, I am humbled. They have so little, but trust God so much. I have so much, but, honestly, don’t turn to the Lord as quickly.

My memory of them stirs me again to stop whining, stop trying to arrange a perfect life for myself, stop spending money on stuff.

(Hadn’t I just complained to my husband before leaving the USA that the color of my washer didn’t match my dryer?) They challenge 676

me to desire God more, pray more, give more, and want things less.

Don’t get me wrong, these Third World women are not perfect.

However, because of suffering, privation, and persecution, they run to God quickly. They have neither power, position, nor money. But, oh, how they love the Lord. When they read the Scriptures or hear a promise from Him, they simply believe it by faith. If God says it, He will do it!

I want to be like that. Most of all, I want to be like Jesus, because being a spoiled American Christian does not achieve the purposes of God. Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:1–2

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The Guarantees My life was never supposed to be like this, having myself and the people I love in their personal world of crisis. Somehow, I reasoned, if I did my best, prayed, tithed, and loved the Lord, I (or we) would escape these kinds of difficulties. We would be the counselors and not those in need of counseling, as we are today.

I thought there would only be a few bumps in the road for those who truly seek God’s purposes and love Him dearly. My desires were a hope, a prayer, and even something I daydreamed about, but the conflict-free life was never guaranteed. My tiny, finite mind just thought it would be.

Today, I’m grieving what has been lost, not knowing if it will be lost forever in this lifetime or just during this season. Resurrection is at the center of my faith, but tonight there’s no feeling of that. I can’t see the mountaintop in this valley, yet I know it’s there. It has to be there!

How long till I see it? Surely God knows. Therefore, I make it my resolve to focus on Him and not try to control or manipulate these areas that have unraveled. Even as I write this, I know that I have no power in myself to fix it, but even this reality keeps overshadowing all that is right in my life.

Holy Spirit, take control of my controlling nature. Help me surrender my right to be right. Help me see each person’s desire to serve You. Give all of us tender hearts, humility, compassion—Your will before ours. We look to You and for the day when we will confess, forgive, and live in Your peace. Show us how to move forward as we work on reconciliation with each other.

Yes, my hopes, my prayers will continue, even though there is no sign of a victory—yet. The prophet Habakkuk must have gone through something similar because he complained about God not stepping in to solve Israel’s problems. Yet, in the end, he knew what his response should be. And so, 678

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

—Habakkuk 3:17–18 God never leaves us hopeless or without a promise. Through His Word, He lovingly explains His guarantees to encourage us. Jesus spoke three of them to His disciples in John 16:33: I have told you these things, so that (1) in me you may have peace.

(2) In this world you will have trouble.

(3) But take heart! I have overcome the world.

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The Survival Kit Part One There is a special place in my heart for mothers of young children.

They need a lot of encouragement because of the diapers/dishes/ dusting that is repeated every day . . . and for many days after that.

If you add a full-time job on top of trying to be a full-time mother, it can be daunting.

The following comes from a talk I gave years ago when I was just emerging from my own challenge with young children. I’ve made a few changes to it, but it’s basically the same message. My survival kit was my way to give women hope that they, too, would survive those busy years.

The first thing you need is a shovel. Set it right next to the front door so guests can clear a path to the sofa. Anyone with small children knows the havoc those precious darlings can execute in a matter of minutes. I consoled myself by remembering that those who had small children would understand the mess. Those who didn’t would never understand—so I didn’t try.

Next you need an extra hand, symbolized by a glove. One is always needed to pick up a crying child while pouring the milk or separating combatants! It’s hard for a mother to survive in good condition without one. So, if any of you older moms have a few hours free once a month or so, give a mother of preschoolers “an extra hand.” She may write you into her will!

I always keep a washcloth and Kleenex handy. The times are countless when you will need a washcloth for a dirty face or sticky fingers, like when your adorable daughter finds your makeup or your son wears his lunch. And runny noses . . . well, this too shall pass.

By the time they’re 15, you won’t remember any of this.

Next, and this is very important, you should have a Bible-story 680

book nearby. Telling little ones about Jesus usually comes at unexpected times. So always be ready. If you forget the book, at least talk about Jesus and sing songs about Him. Don’t worry about doing this part perfectly. Your attempts will be like little seeds sown in fertile soil. God will help with the rain and the sun and the weeding. Especially don’t forget this: God’s commands are to be on your heart first; only then can you Impress them on your children.

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:7

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The Survival Kit Part Two The children and I traveled a lot with J.L. and the New Directions singing group. I often had to excuse myself from the adult company so I could supervise my little ones’ play. This was very important because April’s immediate response to conflict was to bite and Jonathan’s was to punch. I had to be watchful. (I’m happy to report that since they’ve grown up and have children of their own, they no longer bite or hit.)

In my survival kit, there is a whistle and a wooden spoon. These were used in sequence when disputes broke out among our four children. The whistle was used to get their attention. After I listened to each side and pronounced judgment, the spoon was used to punish as needed.

If the discord was a result of immaturity, they were taught the right way or reminded of it—again. If the discord was because of disobedience, they were spanked hard enough with the spoon to feel pain but not hard enough to be injured. J.L. and I agreed on painful punishment knowing that if they felt the consequence of disobedience, it would make obedience to us—and eventually to God—an easier choice.

Lastly, I have a miniature STOP sign. This is to remind me of one of my weakest areas—doing for children what they should be able to do for themselves. J.L. and I determined what were age-appropriate tasks and assigned them, some for pay and some as a part of family life. We didn’t want our children to be irresponsible or lazy in caring for themselves or looking out for others.

With all these items stuffed back into my survival kit, we end where (hopefully) we started, on our knees. We press on in our arduous and joyous journey—a God-centered journey—presenting 682

the way to know Christ to each child. Even though they will make mistakes, we can trust the Holy Spirit to provide all the necessary wisdom for us to guide them into becoming young men and young women who love the Lord.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 kjv

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The Test Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2–4 Have you ever stumbled over a minor thing in your Christian walk that for some reason loomed large at the time? It happened to me this week when someone got on my very last nerve. My feelings escalated from irritation to outright anger, and I couldn’t move past their self-centeredness. I wanted to yell at them, “It’s not about YOU! What about ME?” Spiritual tests are like school tests—they reveal what you’ve learned well and what you still need to work on. My recent spiritual test caused me to read James 1:2–4 again. However, to be honest, I didn’t want to consider this trial “pure joy.” I had lost my patience and wanted to be done with that person.

Now, a day removed from that incident, I see how trivial my outrage was. Their self-centeredness? So, I went back to my starting place—repentance—with my head down in discouragement. If I get worn out from lesser trials and struggles, what will I do when the big tests of faith come? I will remember that God has greater purposes for me with the tests, and one of those purposes is to learn to triumph over mess-ups. He wants to make me tougher, stronger, more trusting.

Sometimes I think He says, “Lift up your head, Patt. You still have so much to learn and I’m here to help you!” God will lovingly, but firmly, use the painful times for greater purposes in my life.

For now, perseverance must finish its work so I’ll be mature, not lacking anything, realizing that becoming mature is a long process in the same direction, not a one-time event. There are many people 684

who have yet to be loved and taught and nurtured into the kingdom.

Don’t we want to abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8) so that nonbelievers will clearly see the way to Jesus and not get detoured by our immaturities? Whether great or trivial, trials will continue to come to us and our faith will be severely tested. But we can trust the Holy Spirit to ensure that we learn our lessons well while ministering to others. When the Lord has enabled us to fight the good fight of faith, we’ll enter heaven—not just somehow, but triumphantly!

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

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The Opposites One of the most perplexing things I had to deal with in my marriage was to try and come to a livable understanding of how different and opposite men and women are—and that it’s okay. God never intended our differences to be a battlefield, but a field of completeness.

The challenge is to make your differences work for you. To be different is not wrong unless it goes against God’s Word. If sin is the reason for the problem, repentance is in order. If sin is not the reason, then the solution may be forgiveness, kindness, or seeking godly counsel.

Every man has the right to expect his wife to be lovingly honest if she is troubled (or pleased) with something in her relationship with him. Every woman has the right to expect her husband to be lovingly honest if he is troubled (or pleased) with something in his relationship with her.

Look at a dollar bill. Two different sides with almost nothing in common as far as the printing, the pictures, or the words are concerned. Each side faces the opposite direction and yet, together, they make up something of value. If you were ever able to separate them, their value apart would be zero. Only together do they have worth.

A Christian marriage should be the same way. It’s God’s amazing mathematics that created this equation: 1 + 1 = 1. Our differences are meant to bring strength and unity into our union, not conflict and division. But we often let those differences divide us, and we lament that we are incompatible.

Whenever J.L. and I heard couples use that word as one of their excuses for wanting a divorce, we replied, “You’re incompatible?

Of course you are! Welcome to the human race—we’re ALL incompatible. Surely you’ve figured out by now that men and women are opposites!”

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God is on the move in hearts everywhere. If He can move an entire nation, He can change the heart of your insensitive husband.

He can change the heart of your nagging wife. No barrier is too high and no chasm is too wide to keep God from accomplishing a loving marriage that glorifies Him. Since we were made in God’s likeness, a loving marriage is guaranteed, but it requires a lot of work, selflessness, and commitment.

Neither J.L. nor I had all the answers, but we relied heavily on the One who did. One thing you can count on: it is God’s will that couples have a fulfilling and wonderful life together.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

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The Commander This chapter was written during the week of November 3, 2020, while we waited to see who would be the next president of the United States of America.

It’s easy to take sides—my side versus their side. I am firmly convinced that my candidates will benefit our citizens the most, but the Christian lady down the street is just as firmly convinced that hers will do the same. Will it be possible for the political divide to be healed and for us to unite once this is all over?

Reconciliation is possible. As Christians we should be praying, working, and seeking unity in the name of Christ. Of course, we can’t compromise what the Lord has told us in His Word, but, as far as it depends on us, we “make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy” (Hebrews 12:14).

Joshua was preparing the children of Israel to enter the Promised Land at Jericho. That’s when he looked up and saw a man in front of him with a drawn sword. Joshua asked him, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” (Joshua 5:13). I have wondered the same thing about this election. Is God on my side or their side?

The man’s answer to Joshua should surprise us (verse 14): “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

As a nation, we have continued in a downward spiral for decades and decades in our sinful departure from the sanctity of life and marriage, racial unity, and concern for the poor and the oppressed.

Surely, God desires that both sides repent. In view of that, we should echo Joshua’s response to the commander of the Lord’s army: “Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for his servant?’”

Yes, God, You who are the Supreme Commander of Your army, what message do You have for us, Your servants?

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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) My question to those of you who read this chapter months and years from November 2020 is this: Did we, us and them, humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wickedness? If we did, God heard and forgave and healed our land. If we did not, we are experiencing God’s discipline and punishment.

One thing we know from Scripture is that it’s never too late to turn back to God. His heart is always open to the penitent because He does not want anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

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The Baby The Christmas story was increasing in interest for our two girls. Trish (three and a half) and April (two) had been attired like the Virgin Mary for at least a month, donning the too-large dresses from the dress-up box, putting scarves on their heads, and stuffing baby dolls under their belts. They also imitated my walk as I waddled around the house, our third child being due the first week of January.

It was amusing to watch the girls make a sudden stop, loosen their belts, and let their dolls drop to the floor. At that point, they gleefully exclaimed, “Look! Baby Jesus was just born!” Grabbing their dolls by an arm or leg, they wrapped them up in blankets and laid them on a bed. Then everything was repeated, again and again.

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve was always full of important events for our family. Besides Christmas, our wedding anniversary was on the 27th (what were we thinking?!), my dad’s birthday was on the 29th, and J.L.’s was on the 31st.

So, we were quite surprised when I went into labor on Christmas Eve, delivered Joseph in the early hours of Christmas morning, and was discharged from the hospital on New Year’s Eve (also J.L.’s birthday). Fortunately, my parents were there to help! I had a little time to get settled in a back bedroom before the start of the New Year’s Eve service that J.L. was having for our New Directions singers and friends.

When it was time for our guests to arrive, J.L. went to the living room and I was left with baby Joseph and the girls. That’s when Trish decided to have a serious talk with me. April stood beside her, nodding throughout her sister’s oration. “Okay Momma,” she deliberately began, “we know the story about Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus (a pause, then a deep breath), but really, you are Mary, Daddy is Joseph, and this baby is Jesus, right?” Both girls nodded in unison.

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Slowly, I responded with, “I know how much you girls love the Christmas story, but I am not Mary and Daddy is not Joseph and little Joseph is not Jesus.”

It was profoundly apparent that my short speech did NOT register at all—they just stared at me. Suddenly, Trish turned and dashed down the hall toward the room full of people and, with April in pursuit, called out, “Hey, you guys! You wanna see Jesus?

He’s here! C’mon, we’ll show you!”

It’s a call that still goes out to all who want to know Jesus. More than just a baby, He came “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45) through His birth, death, and resurrection. When we confess our sins to Him, He promises to live in us forever so that we, in turn, will live with Him forever.

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The Bridge bridge (n) \ ‘brij \ a structure carrying a road, path, railroad, or canal across a river, ravine, road, railroad, or other obstacle.

This word has come to mind often in recent months. I’ve been thinking about how it describes our assignment in the Christian life—to be a structure that provides a way across an obstacle.

The continual spread of COVID-19, along with ongoing racial and political division, has made us feel like we either need to keep our distance from one another or engage in confrontation. These obstacles have strained our ability to live in community and have left some of us overly annoyed with others’ insensitivities to our needs.

We are restless for someone or something to fix this so we can return to “normal.” But while we wait, some of us have allowed hatred and violence to be our response, while reason, common sense, and kindness are put aside.

The Body of Christ is supposed to be engaged in showing the world how to be a bridge. But are we? If not, perhaps it’s because we know a basic fact: bridges are traveled from both sides. We’re criticized when we try to initiate dialogue or reconciliation with those of different views on religion, politics, the environment, etc. And others who venture forth to dialogue or reconcile with us are criticized by their people.

Influenced by Black gospel music, Paul Simon wrote the famous song “Bridge over Troubled Water” in 1969. It was later sung as a duet with Art Garfunkel. You’d almost think they were describing what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross.

When you’re down and out When you’re on the street When evening falls so hard I will comfort you I’ll take your part 692

Oh, when darkness comes And pain is all around Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Christ’s love living within us compels us to lead the way in reconciliation, in being the bridge that brings opposite sides together.

Will we lead by example in how to be the sacrificial link, the bridge over trouble and conflict and prejudice and injustice?

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

1 John 3:16

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The Timing A friend called me for advice about her niece who was having marital troubles. “He doesn’t love me anymore!” she sobbed to her aunt.

It turns out her feelings had been hurt at work and she desperately needed to tell her husband.

He had barely opened the door of their house when she dumped her boatload of emotional hurt onto him. He was so startled by her attack that he froze. She mistook his lack of an immediate response for indifference and not caring. It was a mess.

If I changed just a few details in this story, you would be reading about me and my poor husband. Some days he never knew what hit him. My expectations were that he was supposed to listen and not interrupt and fix my problem! Or maybe I wanted him to interrupt.

Or maybe I didn’t want him to fix it. I don’t know. I was so confused about what I wanted him to do that I sent mixed signals.

During our years of marriage, I learned to ask myself the following questions before I opened my mouth. The first question was, Do I want my husband to fix this for me? His God-given design was to rescue the damsel in distress—me. So, if I just wanted him to hear me out—but be silent—I might be better served by emoting with godly girlfriends.

However, if I needed his input or even a solution, I asked myself the second question, When is the best time to talk to him about it?

Mostly for him, but sometimes for me too, it was after a meal, when our stomachs were full and the endorphins were giving off a sense of well-being.

I’m not talking about manipulation so I could get my way, because a godly marriage is desiring what is best for each other. Granted, emergencies happen and must be dealt with spontaneously, but from my life experiences, a planned approach was best.

Forgive me for repurposing this verse, but I think we women 694

should seriously consider Naomi’s advice to her daughter-in-law Ruth. She told her, “Don’t let him know . . . until he has finished eating and drinking” (Ruth 3:3). It’s great to think that Naomi knew thousands of years before I did that timing is everything!

Timing means giving each other a chance to walk into a peaceful home, have supper together, and then, guided by prayer and love, discuss the issues.

There is . . . a time to be silent and a time to speak.

Ecclesiastes 3:7

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The Small Step Tolerance used to mean recognizing and respecting others’ beliefs and opinions. Now the more operative word is intolerance. If you don’t see it my way, we’re done.

But we worship the Prince of Peace, who urges us in His Word that “if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). We look to the Holy Spirit to guide us in how to live peacefully with those of opposing views, without sarcasm or hostility.

Unless we find the needed wisdom and love of Jesus Christ, we won’t be able to reach across the great divide that separates so many of us. Here’s a very recent story of how God did just that for “Christy,” a (white) friend of mine.

“Let me tell you about the angel who visited me today,” she excitedly exclaimed. She sure had my attention!

Christy was putting a few final items in her “generously full” grocery cart when, at that moment, she recalled, “A tall, black gentleman stood in front of my cart. He took a few moments to look down at all the items and finally looked up at me. I watched as he opened a notebook and took out a small piece of paper. It was a $20-off coupon if you spent a certain amount on groceries. As he gave it to me, he said, ‘I feel like you could use additional funds.’”

Christy was overwhelmed and replied, “Thank you, sir, for your generosity!” And with that, he was gone . . . I mean gone. She looked everywhere for him to thank him again but never found him. With a tearful voice, she told me, “Patt, he was the angel who visited me.”

But, there’s one more part to her story. Christy was shopping for items she was going to cook because God had asked her to take food to those in need during COVID-19. “My angel allowed me to bless even more people.”

In today’s culture, the gentleman and Christy are viewed as 696

belonging on different “sides.” But he, in his compassion to help her, enabled her to help others, thus demonstrating how God’s love always multiplies.

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon. He said, “That’s one small step for man . . . one giant leap for mankind.” So, what about your one small step? The Lord can show you and me how to share His love, even in a grocery store!

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.

1 Peter 3:8–9

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The Heart J.L. loved to take things from nature and apply them spiritually.

While we were hiking one day, he found a tree that had fallen over, revealing that while the outside looked healthy, the inside was hollow. He cut a section of the trunk about three or four inches thick and used it in sermons to reinforce the fact that God is always interested in the heart of the matter—our hearts.

The prophet Samuel learned this lesson when evaluating the sons of Jesse based on their “kingly” appearance. God reminded Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

J.L.’s love of agriculture is one of the reasons I’m missing him today, because I’ve come across a most interesting plant. It is growing from a seed I planted a while ago and now sits on a window sill in my kitchen. It is six feet tall at this writing.

Let me introduce you to Cardiospermum halicacabum.

It rises from my flower pot as a delicate vine a little thicker than a thread. Every three inches or so it sends out three leaves, each about an inch long. And each leaf has three points, with the center one larger than the ones on either side.

After more time passes, tiny white flowers appear and a small green ball forms near the leaves, growing until it’s about the size of a grape. If you could open the top while the ball is still green without destroying it, you’d see even more evidence of threes. Down inside are three chambers, and in each one is the tiniest ball attached to an even tinier cord. By the time the grape-sized globe turns brown, something quite remarkable has happened inside.

If you gently squeeze the brown capsule it makes a soft popping sound, earning its familiar name, love in a puff. Breaking through the shell, you will find three identical, dark seeds lying 698

next to each other. As if an unseen hand has been at work—and this is the coolest part—each of the dark seeds has a white heart indelibly imprinted on it.

Surely you can see that the first part of Cardiospermum halicacabum’s name is cardio (heart). In its small way, this amazing plant has given me a little better understanding of the Trinity, the Three in One, the One in Three. It’s the perfect unity of the heart of the Father, the heart of the Son, and the heart of the Holy Spirit.

It’s glorious to think that this unity and love is transferred into our hearts when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord. Envision with me our creator God, with His creative hand, indelibly imprinting His heart onto yours and mine when we became His children.

Truly, we of all people are blessed, grateful, and humbled because He sent “the Spirit of his Son into our hearts” (Galatians 4:6).

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The Journey Part One It’s never just one situation that I go through to learn how good God can be during hard times. It seems I need this lesson over and over again. And so it was that my husband asked me to do a women’s conference with him and his sisters in Nepal. He gave me months of advance notice so I would have time to prepare.

But, as is so typical of me, my old avoidance patterns reemerged as I gave a list of reasons why this wouldn’t be possible. My normal insecurities also reemerged. What if I don’t do well with my interpreter? What if my illustrations about being a woman in the First World don’t apply to women in the Third World? Why can’t I be as powerful in content and delivery as J.L. and his sisters? They are so deep and “meaty,” and I’m so . . . Lean Cuisine.

Then there was my dad’s health. He lived in another state and was having heart problems. At age 76 he was quite aware that something was seriously wrong. Likening his condition to a car, he told me, “The paint job’s still pretty good. But the motor’s shot.”

So, I had two battles on two fronts, and both loomed large.

The preparation time for the conference was a terrible struggle.

Every point completed for each of the five messages was a battle won. As the time got closer for our departure, I continued to labor over what to say. But God’s timing is always perfect. At just the right moment, He graciously gave me a verse to cling to: But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread.

—Psalm 53:5 Wow! I was dreading leaving the US, dreading the travel, dreading the teaching—and stumbling badly when it came to trusting 700

the Lord. Because of His infinite patience, He was reminding me AGAIN that there was nothing to fear. Nothing . . . really? Correct.

My job was to walk the walk of faith regardless of my feelings, dreads, or insecurities.

In retrospect, I see how God had been ahead of me on this and was going to make sure there was nothing to fear. But just as I was appropriating those encouraging words, I received a long-distance call that threatened to unravel my new confidence. A family friend was visiting my parents in their home when my dad’s heart stopped and he fell from the sofa to the floor.

What was God going to do about this?! I knew the verse below, but would it be true this time?

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

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The Journey Part Two Flying to Ohio to see my dad, I pondered the interesting “coincidence” that the family friend visiting my folks that day was an emergency physician. Surely God had a definite plan. Dr. John had begun CPR right away, while my mother called 911. The EMS technicians established a semi-regular heartbeat.

While awaiting a connecting flight from Cleveland, I opened my Bible and, once again, there was a verse to sustain me for what lay ahead. God was present.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress.

—Psalm 20:1 Dad was not quite conscious when I first saw him, but he gradually came around, exactly one week before my trip to Nepal. Did his heart attack mean I was to cancel the trip? How could I leave my mother to do this by herself?

I asked J.L. and my mom what to do. They said it was my decision. I complained to God and said, “Nobody will tell me. I’m asking You to show me as clearly as You showed Gideon with the fleece.”

When Dad could talk, I asked him. “You should go,” he said. “Don’t worry about me. We’ll meet again, either here, there, or in the air!”

But I still wanted and needed a direct word from the Lord. Here’s what He gave me: If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

—Psalm 139:9–10 702

The answer was obvious to me. The “wings of the dawn” happened to be an airplane, and “the far side of the sea” happened to be Nepal. So I left the CCU and, in a definite act of obedience, I set my conflicting thoughts aside and flew to Nepal with J.L. God was true to His promise to guide me and hold me fast through each message, even though the emotional concern for my dad was as hard as I had imagined it would be.

In the meantime, our oldest daughter, Trish, had gone to help her grandparents in my absence. On the fourth night of the five-day women’s conference, she called to say that Dad had died a few hours earlier.

Many situations are just hard, hard, hard all the way through.

Sometimes the weight doesn’t lift until it’s all over. Turning the difficult stuff over to the Lord doesn’t guarantee it will get easier, but it does mean it will be possible.

But, how can it be possible? Because God is always faithful.

His grace is always sufficient. His Word is always a guide and His Holy Spirit is always the Comforter. No matter what God assigns or allows, His promise remains the same: “The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

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The Sound Years ago, if I was in another part of the house and heard the outside door open into my kitchen, I stopped and listened for the next sound. If the door slammed shut, it was J.L. If it crashed against the wall and shutting it was forgotten—again—it was one or more of our four children. How did I know who was making the noise? Because I had spent so much time with them I knew what their arrivals sounded like.

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.

(Genesis 3:8) God makes a sound as He walks? Was He singing, laughing, maybe even greeting the animals in their own languages? (I imagine they bowed to Him as He passed by.) Perhaps He was joyfully calling out to His favorite people—granted, they were His only people!

But how did Adam and Eve know it was God? Because they had spent so much time with Him they knew what He sounded like.

On one of our trips through the countryside outside Jerusalem, our bus had to wait while two very large herds of sheep crossed the road. They were coming from opposites sides and converged in front of us on their way across. Surely there would be chaos when numerous sheep got disoriented, joined the wrong crowd, and followed the wrong shepherd.

The fascinating part was that the sheep were never confused about where to go, even though they became so intermingled that we quickly lost track of who went with whom. That’s when we shifted our eyes from the sheep to the shepherds. The shepherd on our right was singing as he led his sheep across the road. The shepherd on our left was playing his flute.

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We continued watching in awe as each sheep perfectly wove its way through the others to reach the opposite pasture. So, how did the sheep know which sound to follow? They had spent so much time with their shepherd (and he with them) that they knew what he sounded like.

We have a Great Shepherd who deeply desires to guide us, feed us, protect us, and care for us. In a world of confusing voices pressing in on all sides, we can get disoriented. We can follow the wrong counsel and head off in the wrong direction with the wrong people.

Our challenge is to spend time with our Shepherd. Do we worship Him, study His Word, pray to Him, and rest in His presence? That’s the only way we will know what God’s voice sounds like.

Every day, O Lord, every day, help us spend so much time in Your presence that we will know Your voice anytime . . . anywhere.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27

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The Trivial J.L. had taken our four children on a mission trip to Haiti, and I was spending time with my folks touring my dad’s hometown. Dad’s best friend, Bill Porter, still lived in the same town, and I sat there, happily listening to story after story of the childhood they had shared. Then Bill looked at me and said, “You look like Grandmother Morrow.”

No one had ever told me that before and I was quite surprised.

My brother, R.J., the chief genealogist in our family, found a picture of her with the Morrows, probably taken in the early 1920s.

What an austere looking bunch, those Scottish Morrows, except for Mary, who looked less stern.

The story goes that Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Emond Morrow sat in her rocking chair in the mornings memorizing the Bible.

She wrote poetry and won every spelling bee while a student. She was also a stern, no-nonsense woman who lived by a strict set of rules, such as you had to stay dressed up all day on Sunday. Children couldn’t play on Sunday either (except quietly with buttons from a circular tin) and were forbidden to chew gum—or whistle!

Ah, whistling. One of the chants I remember being taught as a child was Whistling girls and crowing hens always come to a no-good end.

Since my dad loved to whistle (and taught me how to as well), I hope he saved his disobedience until he was well out of earshot of his grandmother when he was a child.

All these musings have brought my thoughts to rules and regulations in the church. Christian guidelines devoid of love and reason always lead to legalism and bondage. And they continue today, as if following a strict code of conduct and a dress code alone justifies 706

oneself before God. Naturally, everyone must answer to God for their behavior because we are examples to the watching world of how a Christ-follower’s life should be lived. But rules alone are counterproductive.

Let’s agree to hold back on condemnation and criticism of others when they don’t follow our expectations for how a Christian should live. Specifically, let’s set aside the lesser, trivial things and commit ourselves to the weightier parts of our Christian faith: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and so on. There’s no law against any of these (Galatians 5:22–23). After all, the letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6).

We . . . know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. . . . If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

Galatians 2:16, 21

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The In-Between Sometimes while reading my Bible, I stop and wonder what was going on behind the scenes. For example, what was happening in Jerusalem on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, in the liminal space between what had been and what was yet to come?

We know Pilate ordered the tomb sealed and a guard posted in case the disciples tried to steal Jesus’ body and claim He had risen from the dead (Matthew 27:62–66). We also know that the Jewish people were observing a Sabbath rest in obedience to the Law (Luke 23:56). We don’t know much else.

In the absence of any further information, here are my wonderings: 1. Was there a private meeting among the Pharisees about the urgency of repairing the temple curtain? Perhaps the priests had a theological discussion on how that huge veil could have been torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38), instead of vice versa. Maybe the meeting’s only focus was who would pay for this extensive repair!

2. Did Pilate’s wife continue to suffer? She had warned her husband about her dream and had “suffered a great deal” because of “that innocent man” (Matthew 27:19). Now that innocent man was dead.

3. Was Malchus still rubbing his right ear, amazed that it felt completely whole? Surely he relived Peter’s impulsive action the night before and Jesus’ unbelievable response (Luke 22:49–51; John 18:10–11).

4. Did Lazarus have a different perspective altogether since Jesus had raised him from the dead (John 11:17, 43–44)? I wonder if he thought, “You just wait—Jesus is up to something.”

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5. Did Peter’s bitter weeping (Matthew 26:75) continue into Saturday as well?

6. Was Mary, now experiencing Simeon’s prophecy that “a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:35), struggling with how to bear the pain of her son’s death?

And now the disciples, along with Mary and other women, were fearfully locked in a room (John 20:19), in the in-between, still in the tragedy and not yet in the ecstasy, unable to imagine the glorious joy that was coming the next day. Such a scary, frightening, intense, hopeless place—filled with shock, grief, doubt, tears, fears.

I have been there. Have you? Maybe it was just for a few days or maybe it was for a season, but hope seemed elusive because God seemed silent. However, God is never silent, nor has He ever been inactive or forgetful of our situations (Psalm 121:8).

Your goals may appear to have been interrupted or even dashed, but God’s plans never are. Will you accept the hope and the Way He offers while you’re in your in-betweens? Let us look to Jesus, the “author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) as we stand on the threshold of our future.

But now, Lord, what do I look for?

My hope is in you.

Psalm 39:7

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The Fall My grocery shopping could be delayed no longer and I had to take all four children with me. Of course, I’d done this many times before and had developed a system that worked well, as long as the children behaved perfectly.

First, I had to locate all their comfort things that accompanied them on car trips, then buckle them in, find my wallet and keys, etc.

Drive to the store. Reverse the order and find a grocery cart. Put Jonathan (six months old) in a special thingy in the cart seat closest to me, instruct Joseph (three) and April (five) to hold on to each side, and have Trish (six and a half) hold on to the front. Everything was going along nicely until . . .

The “side children” decided I needed help selecting some cereal and off they went. Trying to look like a mother in control, I got them back to their assigned places while I put most of the boxes back on the shelves. We were rounding the end of the aisle closest to the cashiers when the same two took off running. I couldn’t help but notice a few judgmental stares from those checking out.

Meanwhile, April and Joseph screamed with delight in their newfound freedom and raced onward, sideswiping a pickle jar. Luckily, I was close enough to grab the jar just before it hit the floor. When they stopped at the end of another aisle to catch their breath, I grabbed them and realized we were once again facing the people in line.

I was mortified! I desperately wanted them to think well of me, so I loudly said, “I sure will be glad when your mother gets here!”

The desired results were perfect. The watchers’ faces immediately changed from a look of judgment to one of heartfelt sympathy! I had done it! Yes, yes, I had!

Until . . . wait for it . . . until April turned around, looked up at me, and loudly said, “But, you’re our mother!” As fast as I could, I herded my group to the far end of the store and hid.

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Even now, I catch my breath when I relive that moment. Pride’s a funny thing, isn’t it? It poked up its ugly head when I least expected it, when the approval of others—others I didn’t even know—was more important than being an example in front of my children.

Being humbled was a good thing. It brought me to confession and repentance and reminded me again of the seriousness of my job: to train up my children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6), and “in everything set them an example by doing what is good” (Titus 2:7).

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

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The Shadow The bright sunlight shone on the brick wall outside my kitchen window as I sat down for breakfast. Looking out across J.L.’s fish pond I saw an oddly shaped shadow. It was a squashed oval shape with something like two short, fat legs and a short, fat neck. An eye or a nose topped the fat neck.

It so interested me that I went outside to get a closer look and was surprised to realize I had completely neglected the object on which the sun was shining. Tracing the shadow back to its source, I saw the statue of a crane, tall and stately, with long, slender legs and neck, and its head stretched upward toward the sun.

Is it possible that I’m not the only one who misses how the sun shines on a situation because they’re drawn to the shadows, the sadness, the distortion, the darkness? Too often, we focus on the problem instead of turning our attention to God, who shines on our situation and guides our steps (Luke 1:78–79).

There’s a story in Acts 5:12–16 about people putting their sick on beds in the street so Peter’s shadow might fall on them. While it’s true that even his shadow had the Holy Spirit’s power to heal, were there some eyes that remained only on the shadow, never looking with thanks to the apostles themselves? Even more importantly, were there any who lifted their eyes and hearts above the apostles in praise to the One who had given the apostles the power to heal in the first place?

I have shadows in my life that, if allowed to overtake my mind, emotions, and will, tend to keep me from knowing God’s revealed truth. Here are three of my shadows and three of many promises from His Word.

I don’t know which way to go.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

—Psalm 119:105 712

I feel like I’m living in a dark place.

I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

—John 8:12 Why would anyone want to read what I write?

You are a chosen people . . . that you may delcare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

—1 Peter 2:9 The words of Henry van Dyke were put to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, giving us a powerful hymn of praise: Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!

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The Help It was 5:00 p.m., J.L. was out of town, and I had just put some French fries in hot grease when the phone rang. It was J.L., long distance, requesting some information he had left in his home office.

He suggested I put one of the children on the phone while I went to locate the material.

Lord, You know where everything is.

Please help me find what J.L. needs.

April (ten) was closest, so I handed the phone to her and dashed off. As I was rummaging through J.L.’s filing cabinet, I heard Jonathan (five and a half) scream from the other end of the house. At that very moment, Trish (eleven and a half) and Joseph (eight) came into the office demanding that I settle whose turn it was to draw with the magic markers. They were calling each other creative names like “scum bag” and such.

Oh God, please give me the wisdom to deal with these children!

Telling them to calm down and dashing back to the phone, I told J.L. I couldn’t find the files and to repeat where to find them. Passing the phone off to Trish, checking on the fries, and yelling “Mommy will be right there!” to a sobbing Jonathan, I raced back to the filing cabinet. Just then, April announced that a “strange-looking man” was at the front door.

Protect us, Lord.

Actually, he was a nice man who wanted to encourage me to read more Christian books. He had a few books I could buy if I were 714

interested. As politely as I could, I thanked him, closed the door, and scooped up Jonathan on my dash back to the phone, while he showed me his smashed finger.

Lord, please fill me with compassion right now.

With the fries still doing okay, it was my turn to talk to J.L. His happy greeting was, “Hi there, how has your day been?” HA! I never did find the material he wanted and decided to finish our conversation without bothering him with any of the current “activities.”

After a short lecture on name calling, I determined it was Trish’s turn to use the magic markers. With the assurance that I really, really did care about his smashed finger, Jonathan’s pain was eased. And, finally, the French fries were ready—perfect timing.

Right then, I looked at the kitchen clock. Wait! Just seven minutes had passed? Only seven?! You have got to be kidding. Surely it had taken an hour. The clock must have stopped! (It hadn’t.)

As I began to exhale and let my heart rate return to normal, I thanked God over and over again. He had been true to His promise of being “an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). There was no other reasonable explanation for that day ending safely in peace.

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The Dust One of the Charlie Brown cartoon characters that amused me the most was Pigpen. Even when Pigpen tried to stay clean, he couldn’t.

One cartoon described him as a dust magnet because a dirty cloud followed him everywhere he went and ruined any chances for him to be successful or even make friends—except for one: Charlie Brown.

Cartoons usually imitate life, so this memory reminds me of us, God’s little dust people. But long before that, in a perfect world, God created a man “from the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7).

When His creation rebelled against Him, God’s punishment was swift. He said to Adam: 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.

—Genesis 3:19 All of us come into this world spiritually dead, destined to die both here and for eternity. No matter how hard we try, we can’t make ourselves clean. That fact follows us everywhere and ruins any chances for us to enjoy faith, hope, love, and true friendships.

However, God knew all of that in advance and provided a way for us to be intimate friends with Him through the sacrifice of our one true Friend, Jesus Christ.

Because of this, God’s love for us goes far beyond the word amazing. Seriously, we are not capable of loving that way, so it’s hard to comprehend why God does—or even wants to.

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As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

—Psalm 103:13–14 It’s the last line that brings me great hope and encouragement— God remembers we are dust. When we confess our sins, He forgives us and cleans us up (1 John 1:9). We won’t be perfect until heaven, but He lovingly takes all of that into consideration whenever we cry out to Him. Thank you, Lord, for Your tender and compassionate and redemptive and Fatherly heart.

With deepest love and humble gratitude, Your daughter Patt, one of Your little dust people

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The Joy Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 51:11 Is it possible to march right through the worst times of our lives because of the joy within us? I’m talking about joy as a deep knowing, a peace that lives within us. This has been on my mind a lot recently since many are just wringing their hands in despair because of COVID-19. Several people I know are living in so much fear that, even after taking all the precautionary measures, they won’t leave their homes. What is happening to us? How did we get so detached from believing the promises of God? Yes, we’re supposed to be careful about protecting ourselves and others from our germs and theirs. But, aren’t we supposed to be doing that anyway, like during cold and flu seasons? We should embrace the fact that Jesus has conquered death (1 Corinthians 15:55).

Are we afraid of the coronavirus because we’re afraid of dying? My husband used to laugh about such a fear and often responded by saying, “Don’t threaten me with heaven!”

Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). For those of us who love the Lord, we have that joy within us and because of that truth, fear shouldn’t overtake our joy.

Think about the shepherd boy David who did not let the fear controlling others keep him from running to the battle line to meet Goliath (1 Samuel 17:48). There is something encouraging about this visual, because there is nothing humanly logical about this fight between an average-sized David and an over nine-foot-tall Goliath.

Surely David felt emboldened by God’s presence and was perhaps even filled with excitement and joy to face what could have been the last day of his life.

Struggling to survive during this pandemic can truly feel like our 718

cross to bear. Would you join me and do as Jesus did, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2)? We look to Jesus as our example of facing the worst thing possible because the best thing possible awaits—though what we’re facing hardly compares to the price Christ paid dying on a cross for our sin.

Fear must not defeat us! Just as He promised, the Lord God Almighty will help us. Let us boldly continue with the work God has called us to do, for the joy of it all.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Psalm 46:1–2 Written in late summer 2020.

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The Stuff Part One Every few years an occasion demands I reduce my possessions. I’m in one of those seasons now. The last time was about three years ago when I cleaned out my attic. It took three months! Things went into labeled piles: 1. Throw away 2. Offer to family or friends 3. Give to a Christian thrift store It was very liberating to get rid of extraneous stuff, like clothes that had been stored in boxes and didn’t fit, or items that hadn’t been used in a couple of years. But this time, I am looking at what’s in my everyday living space. Oh my, it is obvious that sorting and eliminating these items will be much harder because, well, because I have an emotional attachment to them.

I used to nag my husband, J.L., because of his stuff. When I pointed out an item and asked why he was keeping it, he would lament that it was given to him by an overseas ministry partner or a friend here in the states. “I can’t get rid of that because there’s a name, a face, and a memory attached to it. It was a gift. You can’t just throw away something like that.”

For the first time, I understand how he felt. My emotions are playing a huge role in keeping me from parting with my “treasures.”

But I’ve been convicted to get the victory over this problem because I’ve never seen storage space next to a grave. First Timothy 6:7 reminds me that “we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

So, I’ve been asking myself some questions. Is it because my 720

identity is so tied up in these things that I’m reluctant to part with them? If they were all gone, would I still experience the comfort, peace, and joy of the Lord, or do I keep these treasures because they are part of my comfort zone? Worst of all, have a few become idols I would never part with—absolutely never?

Possibly, maybe, I’m not sure. I do know that as long as my heart finds my treasure and my fulfillment in Jesus, He will keep my life balanced concerning earthly possessions. So bring on the boxes and cartons! I have much work ahead of me.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21

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The Stuff Part Two In the last sentence of part one, I proudly wrote, “So bring on the boxes and cartons, I have much work ahead of me.” You may have been impressed at my spiritual approach to letting go of earthly possessions. But it’s time for a full confession—I’ve done little to pare things down after last year’s strong resolve.

In every room of the house where J.L. and I raised our family for over 48 years, there are items I emotionally pick up and hold close to my heart. “How do I part with this, or this, or that?” I ask myself.

But this year, the answers are serious. This year, I’m moving to a smaller place even closer to family.

Soon after J.L. died, I became anxious about many things, one of which was deciding how and when to downsize. As I was praying about it late one evening, the Lord settled my spirit with this: “When the time is right, the place will be provided.” He has not altered those comforting words in the four years since. Surely, if the Lord has given me His Holy Spirit to guide and sustain me, He will also enable me to move on, to trust Him through this next transition, and to joyfully relinquish my possessions.

I’ve thought a lot about Jesus’ move from heaven to earth, because He possessed nothing in the human sense. First, He “made himself nothing” (Philippians 2:7), and then He had “no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). Yet, He was given everything necessary to do His Father’s will. At just the right time, He was provided with: A virgin’s womb to develop in (Luke 1:34–35) A manger to be laid in (Luke 2:7) A father and mother to raise Him (Luke 2:41–42) A home to teach in (Luke 4:38–39) 722

A table to fellowship around (Matthew 9:10; Luke 10:38) A home to spend the night in (Luke 19:5–6) A boat to preach from (Luke 5:3) A donkey to ride on (Luke 19:35) A room to meet in (Mark 14:12–15) A garden to pray in (Mark 14:32) A cross to die on (John 19:17–18) A tomb to lie in (Luke 23:52–53) As I open my hands to release what is not eternal, I am confident that I, too, will be given everything necessary to do my Father’s will.

I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands.

Psalm 31:14–15

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The Decision But Jonah ran away from the Lord . . .

Jonah 1:3 “The word of the Lord came to Jonah . . .” (Jonah 1:1). If I had heard God’s audible voice, I think I would have fallen to the ground and echoed little Samuel’s response, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). But instead of quickly obeying the Lord, Jonah thought he could run away from Him, and thus he began his disobedient descent. Rebellion always leads us downward.

Look at how the story unfolded for Jonah: He went down to Joppa and found a ship (verse 3) He went down below deck to sleep (verse 5) He went down into the raging sea (verse 15) He went down into the belly of a great fish (verse 17) I said I would echo little Samuel’s response, but would I? Am I a secret Jonah? Truth be told, there are moments when I don’t immediately run to the Lord for help. If I perceive that my strengths are sufficient for solving a problem, I have been known to jump right in without much forethought of asking God for His wisdom. I rationalize that I’m not exactly running from Him, only bypassing Him, just this one time.

However, you can count on me going to the Lord if the problem involves my weaknesses. I’m no dummy—I know I need lots of help in those areas. I make haste, forfeit all else, and run to Him, finding Proverbs 18:10 to be true: “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Every time I have run to the Lord, I have found a safe place.

Perhaps Jonah 1:3 and Proverbs 18:10 summarize our daily lives—either running to the Lord or running from Him; seeking Him 724

first or seeking Him after everything else has failed. Let’s eagerly and intentionally obey what God has called us to do and quickly run back to the Lord when we stray. God must watch us with sadness when we deliberately move away from Him with our bad decisions.

Yet, His infinite and undeserved patience is far above and beyond anything we could ask or think.

I have selected these three verses to apply to our common dilemma: You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?

Galatians 5:7 Therefore . . . let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1 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

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The Walls The Bible recounts several stories about walls. There’s the familiar one about the wall that fell after Joshua and the children of Israel marched around Jericho (Joshua 6). Centuries later, Nehemiah encouraged the Jews returning from exile, “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” (Nehemiah 2:17). And John describes the future Holy City as having “a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates” (Revelation 21:12).

God promised the children of Israel that if they ceased in their rebellious ways, loosed the chains of injustice, and set the oppressed free, He would answer their cry for help. They would be able to rebuild ruined Jerusalem and would be called “Repairer of Broken Walls” (Isaiah 58:12). I love that phrase because we know not only who is our Repairer of the Broken, but also who is our Wall that surrounds and protects us.

But there is one place in the Bible that has a negative description of a wall. This wall surrounds but does not protect. It divides and does not unite. It is called “the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). This wall separated Jews and Gentiles—the circumcised from the uncircumcised, those in the covenant and those excluded from it.

For those of you reading this in the distant future, I’m writing in the summer of 2020, a summer that has featured rising COVID-19 infections and deaths, Black Lives Matter protests, quarantines, white supremacy, riots, property destruction, and heated political discourse as we near the presidential election in November.

Even though conflicts have been going on for millennia, a pandemic was the perfect storm that added fuel to our current hostile wall being built. It’s been growing longer and higher ever since.

The virus couldn’t be controlled; therefore, many have lashed out on other issues.

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People engaging in the current violence are acting as if they are “without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). But only a changed heart can bring about a changed culture. Jesus came to us from the Father and He has become our peace, who has made the two groups [Jews and Gentiles] one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility . . . His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. (Ephesians 2:14–16) Jesus is the only one who changes hearts, who unites opposing groups and tears down all hostile walls. Only when those walls are destroyed can we work peacefully against injustice, reconcile racial and political groups, and promote change. Our Lord and Savior truly is the Repairer of the Broken Walls.

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The Moments It’s strange and inexplicable that we never seem to appreciate things until there’s a possibility of having them taken away. Things that don’t otherwise rate take on renewed meaning if we can be in the moment, if we can set aside our personal obsessions and focus on what is going on around us. Friendships and sunsets demand our full attention, not our benign neglect.

I remember sitting at my only sister’s bedside, watching the white sheet rise and fall over her skeletal body. Sue would be seeing Jesus soon. Before I flew to Pennsylvania to be with her, I had been consumed with thoughts about what color to paint my kitchen. Now in her presence, I realized she would be gone before that was accomplished. I wanted to say “I love you!” and pray and sing hymns we had loved as children. So I did.

There is something very important about staying in the moment instead of planning the next contribution to a conversation or the next activity to check off the list. It’s not that we shouldn’t carefully plan or that we carelessly do things halfway, but the Holy Spirit constantly challenges me to be present, whether in my quiet time with Him or in conversations with others. I pray for discernment both in what words to speak and in what acts of kindness to render.

In our daily duties and interactions with the world around us, in all the moments of everyday life, let us continue to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. First, be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Then He will help us be fully in the moment as we feed the hungry, supply clothing to those who need it, invite in the stranger, look after the sick and those in prison, and offer the thirsty both physical water and the Water of Life (Matthew 25:34–40; John 4:10).

Frances Ridley Havergal wrote the words to the hymn “Take My 728

Life and Let It Be.” Here are parts of it to remind us that God wants to use us in the here and now for His glory.

Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine.

Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee.

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The Picture There’s a picture hanging in my kitchen of J.L. and me smiling as we kneel behind two lions. One of the reasons I keep it there is to remind me of the emotions I felt as that picture was taken. We were “Walking with Lions,” part of a reintroduction program in Zimbabwe after distemper had killed so many of the big cats. Andrew Connelly was the owner and visionary of the lion project.

Each of us walkers was given a skinny stick about three feet long to “protect ourselves” as we followed along behind them. We had signed a waiver and were given instructions about what to do if the felines suddenly turned around and came after us.

First, don’t run away! Stand tall and stand still. Just take your stick, lift it high above your head and bring it down sharply on his nose, yelling “BAD LION!” I mean, really?! How would that work?

Now would be a good time to mention that Mr. Connelly only had one arm, the other having been ripped off and eaten by one of his lions. True story.

Ah, what are we to do with the fear that threatens to unravel our brave resolve? If we let what we feel guide our thoughts and emotions, we are in big trouble, perhaps to the point of paralysis.

Today’s political and social climate can produce a sense of panic.

Surely that’s not how the Lord wants us to live our Christian lives.

There’s something very important about that picture that I haven’t told you yet. It’s what you can’t see, because it is out of frame. Standing to the photographer’s right is a soldier . . . with a powerful rifle.

So, my brave smile really is brave, not because I am, but because I know I have a strong defender and protector close to me.

We must embrace the truth that our Defender, who lives within us and around us, who goes before us and never leaves us, is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). We should neither fear 730

nor run away, but stand tall, staying close to our Protector who has given us “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).

PS—Andrew said he got the last laugh because the arm that was eaten had his watch on it. The alarm was set to wake him up every morning. So, in the days after the attack, the lion roared on schedule, protesting his unwanted wake-up call!

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Pressing On Engraved atop the US Post Office in New York City: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

One year when we were visiting New York, I saw this famous saying outside the front entrance to the main post office. As we drove past, I thought of all the obstacles I had seen our couriers endure.

Snow and rain, ice, and gloom of night when a late delivery was necessary in unsafe sections of the city. There were definitely seasonal challenges with bitterly cold mornings and blisteringly hot afternoons.

And there are multiple stories of mail delivery problems involving dogs, including ours. Back when we had Caesar the Great IV, J.L.’s hundred-plus-pound St. Bernard, we went without mail for days because Caesar had gotten loose. When the stack of mail finally dropped through the slot in our front door, a note was attached: “Couldn’t deliver mail. Dog was out.”

Then there was the season when we had chickens in the backyard.

It was hard to keep them corralled, but the hens weren’t the problem.

The rooster was. Very territorial, those roosters. When we finally got mail after days and days of nothing, the note read, “Couldn’t deliver mail. Rooster was out.” A dinner of rooster ’n’ dumplings solved that problem.

Our mail carriers were committed to swiftly completing their appointed rounds. At least they tried again and again, because they had a specific job to do and their motto inspired the brave in them.

Thoughts about their determination led me to think about ours, realizing, of course, that we Christians have more than a motto, and it comes from an even higher authority than the Postmaster General.

We have our orders from Jesus Christ Himself. Among them is the 732

command to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations for Him (Matthew 28:19).

We may be “hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” To what purpose? Because we want to show that the all-surpassing power of serving the Lord amid hardship is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:7–9). The Holy Spirit lives inside us and it is He who inspires the brave in us.

Even when we’re pummeled about by opposition, discouragement, and doubts, or chased by fears, or feel the enemy pecking away at our faith and hope, there is victory in Jesus!

So, pressing on, let us complete the appointed rounds of love and good works that our gracious God has given us to do.

Engraved on our hearts, wherever we are: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13–14

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The Coming of Christos Joseph L. Williams

Table of Contents December 1—Introduction...........................................................737 December 2—Starting with a Clean Slate....................................739 December 3—A Tale of Two Births..............................................741 December 4—Yahweh Remembers..............................................743 December 5—Old Elizabeth.........................................................745 December 6—Young Mary...........................................................747 December 7—The Dreamer..........................................................749 December 8—Miracle Mommies.................................................751 December 9—Magnificat..............................................................753 December 10—The Tongue Set Free............................................755 December 11—Benedictus...........................................................757 December 12—Judah’s Descendant.............................................759 December 13—Caesar’s Census...................................................761 December 14—Can I Stay at Your Place?....................................763 December 15—The Prophesied One............................................765 December 16—The Big Moment Arrives.....................................767 December 17—Incarnation...........................................................769 December 18—Shepherds and Angels..........................................771 December 19—And on the Eighth Day . . ...................................773 December 20—Presenting Baby Jesus.........................................775

December 21—Old Man Simeon..................................................777 December 22—The Widow Prophetess........................................779 December 23—Christmas Presents!.............................................781 December 24—The Sign Overhead..............................................783 December 25—A Christmas Story Retold....................................785 December 26—The Other King of the Jews.................................787 December 27—Have Dream, Will Travel.....................................789 December 28—The Nazarene.......................................................791 December 29—Christmas Conclusion..........................................793 December 30—The Post-Christmas Blues...................................795 December 31—It Came upon a New Year’s Eve..........................797

December 1 Introduction For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 Christmas, or Christ’s Mass, is the festival celebrating Christ’s birthday. It wasn’t until the fourth century during the reign of Constantine that documentation of this celebration first appeared. Christians and non-Christians alike still commemorate this day, but with different reasons and motivations. As we head into another Christmas season, perhaps there is no better time to revisit the biblical narrative surrounding Jesus’ birth.

Let’s start this devotional journey together by acknowledging that the Christmas story, as currently shared, is rife with inaccurate details and traditions that may or may not bear a resemblance to what actually took place. I won’t focus on these contested details as much as I will look at the various characters and occurrences, and then apply them to our lives.

The birth of the Messiah is mainly recorded in a mere four chapters of two Gospels: Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2. We will obviously spend a great deal of time with this content, but there are other books of the Bible as well as extra-biblical resources on language, first-century life, and culture that I’ve consulted to help guide our journey.

Let’s remember this reality: Jesus lived two thousand years ago.

Historical records are incomplete, so there is nowhere near a consensus on when He was born or when He died. Neither do the Gospels of Matthew and Luke record every detail we wish they did. In fact, the two accounts are very different in several respects, because 738

they had different target audiences. Still, I will attempt to weave the two together chronologically.

I believe it’s much more important for us to study why things happened during the birth narrative of Jesus than exactly when or how they happened. So, I may mention various theories about certain details when applicable, but will quickly transition into the topic at hand for that day.

As needed, we will do a quick word study to gain a better understanding of a particular passage. This includes words like inn, star, magi, etc. Since the New Testament was written in Greek, to Greek we must often go to gain additional knowledge. We’ll also look at some Hebrew and Latin words too. This is what inspired The Coming of Christos as the title of this devotional. Christos, or Christ, means “Anointed One” in Greek. It is the translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah.

I began the research and writing for this study many months ago because I take this incredibly seriously. My goal is that you will learn something new every day of this devotional. Perhaps it’s a detail you weren’t aware of, a timeline that surprises you, or even a person you’ve overlooked. My heart’s desire is to point the reader— you—to the Savior, to reinvigorate your faith and deepen your love for the Messiah. My aim is to inspire an even deeper appreciation for God taking the form of a newborn to rescue mankind from a hopeless eternity.

We’ll spend one more day laying a little more groundwork for this special devotional journey. May God use this Christmas study for your edification and for His glory.

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December 2 Starting with a Clean Slate Read: Luke 1:1–4 Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus.

Luke 1:3 For the sake of this devotional, allow me a little (or a lot of) liberty: pretend that I wrote this verse above and insert your name in place of Theophilus. His name in Greek means “one who loves God” or “friend of God.” Hopefully this is true of you. Though I am nowhere near as smart as or as knowledgeable of the details around the life of Jesus as Luke was, I do hold a connection to Christmas Day. December 25th means a little bit more to me personally because it is my birthday.

We won’t really delve into the disagreement over what day or year Jesus was actually born, though, as it diverts from our purpose.

However, I think we can all agree that Christmas has turned into the most profitable time of the year for a myriad of businesses and enterprises. Its true meaning has therefore been lost for many. Make no mistake, many couldn’t care less about Jesus—they only care about their bottom line.

Likewise, many churches have turned to the benevolent Christmas season and its close proximity to the end of the year as a time of hope that people will give above and beyond the normal. I can tell you this is also a temptation for just about every nonprofit organization as well.

We Christians have turned Christmas into what we want it to be: a warm and fuzzy scene of a newborn in a stable. The current 740

narrative goes something like this: Joseph leads Mary on a donkey to an inn that has no room (conveyed through a grouchy innkeeper).

The couple is left to share oxygen with farm animals in a shed out back. Jesus is born on December 25th and laid in a wooden manger.

Shepherds visit and park their sheep in the stable too. Not long after, three kings hop on their camels and visit Jesus as a newborn.

Virtually none of these details are true. But in our soundbite-filled, marketing-crazed culture, truth plays second fiddle. None of these erroneous details nullify the main purpose of the story, of course.

The Savior took the form of man to bring salvation to the world! It does demonstrate, however, our proclivity to laziness and altering God’s Word for the sake of convenience, to help peddle whatever we’re selling, to fit personal taste, or because we view it through the lens of our own modern-day lives instead of from a first-century perspective.

It is interesting to note that nowhere in the Bible does it encourage the reader to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Jewish people held festivals that were ordained by God to commemorate important events in the history of Israel. Jesus later fulfilled some of these festivals with His death, resurrection, and ascension, and will fulfill the rest at His Second Coming. As mentioned yesterday, mankind celebrating His birth started much later.

As we begin, let me mention that I will be sharing much of the birth story in present tense to place us in the story as it happens.

Hopefully, this will enrich the reading experience.

Now, let’s commit ourselves to study God’s Word, resist the many distractions, and view this beautiful story with a clean slate.

And as always, don’t take what follows as truth. Study it for yourself.

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December 3 A Tale of Two Births Read: Luke 1:5–7 So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age.

Luke 1:35–36 Perhaps the most ignored aspect of the Christmas story is the birth of John the Baptist, which preceded that of Jesus. John’s prophesied birth is integral to Luke’s Gospel account, yet it is rarely touched on during the Advent season. We, however, will start our devotional journey together looking at Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Gabriel.

You might ask, Why should we look at the events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist? Think of his story as the opening act of a play, for there will be his role—to precede and make way for the Messiah. Just as everything prophesied about Jesus must come to pass, the prophecies about the one who precedes Him must come to pass as well.

For today, let me set the table by sharing with you some of the amazing similarities between the accounts of these two births. There is a clear list of remarkable likenesses to be found in Luke’s account.

We will begin by examining these, and then back up and navigate through the events more closely in subsequent days.

These two couples are close, as Elizabeth and Mary are related.

There is much evidence in Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels that both sets of parents are righteous people. They give praise to God for the children with whom they are going to be entrusted. Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary all prophesy, while Joseph receives several dreams.

In both cases, the angel Gabriel is dispatched by God to declare several things. First, he tells them to not be afraid as he stands before 742

them. He announces to Zechariah and later to Mary that they will be parents to sons whose arrivals had been prophesied for centuries.

Gabriel declares to both John’s dad and Jesus’ mom the names that God has for their children and what their missions will be. As we read in Luke, we discover that both are given similar special titles. John is to become the “prophet of the Most High,” whereas Jesus will be “Son of the Most High.”

Both births are miraculous in nature. Elizabeth is beyond childbearing years, while Mary is still a virgin. Only the sovereign, miracle-making God can bring shattered or future dreams of conception into reality. The last similarity for today is that both infants are circumcised on the eighth day as was the custom, and they both grow up spiritually in the years leading up to their time of ministry.

Isn’t this a pretty impressive list of similarities? Spend some time studying these stories for yourself and you will find additional likenesses. Marvel at this special period in human history and God’s sovereign hand upon it. As for our Christmas journey together, let’s now look deeper at the people and events surrounding the amazing story of John the Baptist’s birth.

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December 4 Yahweh Remembers Read: Luke 1:8–23 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayers have been heard.”

Luke 1:13 Four hundred years. That’s how long it had been since God spoke— at least from the standpoint of biblical writing. Despite the efforts of Nehemiah and other exiles to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, the Jews had not remained faithful to God in the subsequent years. The prophet Malachi was used by the Lord to warn the priests and the people of their sin and to foretell of a man in the spirit of Elijah who would make way for the Lord’s return (Malachi 4:4–6).

Four centuries later, a faithful priest named Zechariah (Zacharias in Greek) is fulfilling the task of a lifetime. He is descended from Aaron, specifically from Abijah, the eighth of 24 divisions of priests established during the reign of King David (1 Chronicles 24:10, 19).

Zechariah serves in the temple two weeks out of the year. On this occasion, however, he will be the one out of perhaps a thousand in his division “to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.” This specific task performed by a priest signifies the prayers of God’s people being sent up as a fragrant offering to Him. The name Zechariah means “Yahweh (the Lord) remembers.”

God had remembered a constant prayer of this old priest. So, in that special moment, the Lord sends Gabriel with special news for Zechariah and his barren wife, Elizabeth.

Around 600 years earlier, this special angel had also appeared to Daniel and foretold the Messiah’s coming. Now, he is standing before an old priest to declare that the priest’s future son will be the 744

prophesied man who will have “the spirit and power of Elijah” and will “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Imagine Zechariah in the Most Holy Place of the temple. It is arguably the most sacred moment in his life. God shows up in this place in an unprecedented way with the news of a future son for him and Elizabeth. This is news he has probably longed to hear, but news for which he likely lost hope long ago.

How will Zechariah respond? Despite being a godly and upright man, he doubts the news is true. Zechariah wavers where Abraham did not after receiving the same news (Romans 4:19–22). As a result, his punishment is a silenced tongue. This will last from the moment he emerges before the crowd awaiting him to pronounce the customary blessing until the prophetic message through Gabriel comes to pass.

Do we demand too much evidence from God before believing?

Do we lose faith over a prayer request that has seemingly gone unanswered for years? Does God’s blessing tarry because of our doubt?

I’m grateful we serve a God who forgives and restores. Even though Peter messes up three times, Jesus restores him three times.

Even though Zechariah has doubts, his voice is eventually returned to him with praise bursting from his lips. May we also do the same after the Lord deals with any doubts we have. After all, Yahweh remembers our prayers.

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December 5 Old Elizabeth Read: Luke 1:24–25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Luke 1:25 Zechariah has just blown it, so to speak. In this high and holy moment of divine intervention, he responds with an unacceptable measure of disbelief to God’s news conveyed through the angel Gabriel.

Whereas Zechariah doubts the miraculous message from Gabriel, it seems that Elizabeth (Elisabet) is instead filled with gratitude. God knows the measure of faith—or lack thereof—driving each of their responses. Even though barren and advanced in years, Elizabeth believes conception is possible.

Perhaps she remembers that the Lord performed the same miracle for Sarah (Genesis 18). Sarah was eavesdropping when the Lord appeared to Abraham, and she laughed when God said that in a year’s time she would have a son. God’s reply: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” He answered the laughter with a son whose name, Isaac, means laughter.

Perhaps Elizabeth also remembers that the Lord performed the same miracle for Hannah (1 Samuel 1). She, too, was barren and unable to provide children for her husband, Elkanah. Eli the priest was moved by Hannah’s heartfelt prayers for a child, and he conveyed hope and peace to her. She later gave birth to Samuel, whose name means “name of God” or “God has heard.”

Indeed, God hears all our prayers. This includes the prayers of a barren mother. He doesn’t always answer in the way we expect or on the timeline we want. Perhaps adoption is sometimes the path for a 746

couple. Or maybe God has other plans that will be revealed in time.

Regardless, the heart cries of Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth are a reminder for us to persevere in prayer. God finally answers Elizabeth’s long-unanswered prayers for a child, conveying the message through the now-mute Zechariah. Her response is gratitude for God’s favor.

Jesus will one day share a parable with His disciples about this perseverance in prayer. The parable is about a widow seeking justice through a judge (Luke 18:1–8). She is so persistent that the judge grants her wish just so she will leave him alone. Jesus’ purpose for this story: “They [and we] should always pray and not give up.”

I encourage you today to think about an unanswered prayer in your life. Maybe you’ve gotten lax or have completely lost heart to keep praying for God’s answer. Don’t give up! Whether or not the Lord gives you the answer you seek, I hope He will find you persevering with praise on your lips and faith in your heart. He is sovereign. May His will be done.

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December 6 Young Mary Read: Luke 1:26–38 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

Luke 1:31 Six months after Elizabeth’s long-awaited conception, her relative is visited by the same angel who visited her husband. Mary (Miriam in Hebrew) is a young teenager betrothed to Joseph, a fellow descendant of David living in the town of Nazareth.

The angel Gabriel’s first words to Mary are words I imagine all of us would love to hear directly from the Lord: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” However, hearing this face-toface from an angel might be a little unsettling, as it is for both Zechariah and Mary. She ponders what’s going on, trying to figure it out. The Greek word used here for “pondering” is dialogizomai, which means to reckon thoroughly. I reckon I would be reckoning too!

Gabriel’s first word to Mary in Greek, chairō, means rejoice, or be glad. This is the origin of the Latin phrase “Ave Maria,” or in its better known English form, “Hail, Mary.” Perhaps you have heard this phrase in the prayers of Catholics or in the famous song at Christmastime. If you read the English translation of the lyrics, however, you will notice that it practically deifies Mary. More on this issue in a few days.

Gabriel then proceeds to inform Mary of the miracle about to take place in her virgin body—a conception without sexual relations. As if a virgin birth to a boy named Jesus isn’t news enough, Gabriel shares an additional tidbit that will only affect all mankind for eternity. Mary will give birth to Christos, the Anointed One, the long-awaited Messiah and Savior of the world.

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We have to assume that as Mary questions Gabriel about this, she does not ask in doubt or ask for a sign as Zechariah does. Rather, it must be out of wonder and sheer amazement. Her response after Gabriel’s explanation demonstrates the position of her heart: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answers, “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Her submission to God’s will and her simple faith shine through.

God does just as Gabriel conveys and literally touches the wombs of both Elizabeth and Mary. He does what He said He would do. I find great comfort in this. Gabriel’s last words to Mary are indeed the last words on the matter. They are the words we need to focus on when we are tempted with doubt: “For no word from God will ever fail.” Nothing is impossible with God. It’s a done deal before it happens in reality.

In Genesis, the angel rhetorically asked Sarah, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (18:14). The prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, “Nothing is too hard for you” (32:17). God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, “My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (55:11). As an adult, Jesus will later say that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Do our doubting hearts need more proof? God is sovereign and immutable; He is over everything and does not change. He will do what He says He will do. This is truth whether it is in Scripture or it is a message conveyed to us on a personal level, such as through the Holy Spirit. Let us be found faithful and with the answer ready on our lips, “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

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December 7 The Dreamer Read: Matthew 1:18–24 Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1:20 There is something to be said for the repeating stories, miracles, and themes in the Bible. Among them, we’ve already seen the similarities between Elizabeth and the two barren moms in the Old Testament, Sarah and Hannah. Now, we look at Joseph. Just as Joseph in the Old Testament was guided by dreams, so the earthly father of Jesus is given divine direction while sleeping. The dreams of the first Joseph would change an empire. The dreams of this Joseph will change the world.

Joseph is already betrothed to Mary, which means the marriage has been arranged and locked into place. However, the ceremony has not yet occurred; this usually happened a year later. Unlike today’s engagements that can easily be broken off, this was a more binding arrangement that involved a payment for the bride.

Infidelity during this betrothal phase is considered adultery. So, the natural assumption for Joseph upon learning of Mary’s pregnancy is that his bride-to-be has slept with another man. Perhaps out of love and mercy, Joseph plans to divorce her privately so that she is not disgraced. But disgrace will probably come anyway once the pregnancy becomes obvious to everyone else. According to the law, Mary is also in danger of being stoned (Deuteronomy 22:23–24).

We are not told if the angel who appears to Joseph in a dream is Gabriel. Regardless, Joseph receives a very clear message from this angelic visitation, with equally clear instructions. Mary is 750

pregnant by the Holy Spirit, it is Immanuel—the Savior Himself— with whom she is pregnant, and Joseph is to take her as his wife.

Joseph obeys. I like that the text says that he simply does as the angel commands. This command means it is a pretty strong message, and Joseph receives it. He takes Mary as his wife, even though she is pregnant and not by him. And the marriage is not consummated until after Jesus is born, thus the virgin birth, not just the virgin conception.

We, as the corporate body of believers, are referred to as the bride of Christ, and He is our bridegroom. Marriage is a picture of our relationship with Him. Paul explains this in Ephesians 5:21–33: “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. . . . Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

He paid the price for us with His death on the cross. And while we have been united with Him in spirit in this life, we eagerly await the day when the Bridegroom will return for His bride. Revelation tells us of that future day when we will “rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (19:7). What a day that will be. Hallelujah!

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December 8 Miracle Mommies Read: Luke 1:39–45 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:41 Elizabeth is six months pregnant when her kinswoman, or relative (Greek word, syngenis, possibly a cousin), Mary, visits her. It is assumed that Mary is pregnant at this point as she makes the journey to where Elizabeth lives in the hill country of Judea.

Friendship between close friends is special. The bond between family members can be even more precious. Imagine the closeness these two might now feel with both of them becoming pregnant by miraculous means. Despite being separated geographically and by age, they have perhaps one of the most special connections of all time. And I’m sure that while Mary is inexperienced, she is of great help as her elder relative is now going through the final months of pregnancy—and doing so for the first time.

The once-barren and old Elizabeth is well into her pregnancy with the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah. Mary hasn’t consummated her marriage with Joseph yet, but is supernaturally pregnant with the Son of God. Wouldn’t you have loved to sit down for coffee with them and talk about these things!

Anyone who has had children through natural means has felt the developing baby move and kick. It’s a special moment to lay your hand on mommy’s growing belly and feel the life of another just underneath. The Greek word used in today’s passage for baby is brephos, which does not mean fetus, but baby. God declares the developing life a baby. So should we.

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The conversation we are blessed to read about occurs when Mary first arrives at Zechariah and Elizabeth’s house. At the moment of Mary’s greeting to Elizabeth, John “leaped [for joy] in her womb” and Elizabeth feels the Holy Spirit move in her as well. We also know from Gabriel that John is filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb (Luke 1:15). On a side note, it is worth studying the role of the Holy Spirit in both Luke’s Gospel account and in Acts, as He is greatly magnified in both.

Elizabeth shares a blessing with Mary for being chosen to bear Christos, and Mary responds with humility and wonder. We see this exchange end with proof that Mary believes by faith that what God tells her through Gabriel is true: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

We’ll look at Mary’s song of praise tomorrow, but I want to return to this issue of special friendships, be they with family or friends. This story demonstrates the necessity and great benefits that come when believers have an ongoing, strong bond with one another.

Proverbs gives us some timely advice on the matter. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (17:17). “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (18:24). “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (27:17).

If you have these types of relationships, praise God for the special people in your life today. If you don’t have them, pray that God will connect you to people of such character. Doing life with these kinds of people will make a huge difference in your faith walk.

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December 9 Magnificat Read: Luke 1:46–56 My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Luke 1:46–47 Elizabeth has just declared great things for Mary and her baby. In fact, she cries out in a loud voice, shouting this proclamation. Mary responds with an anointed praise of her own. It is often referred to as the Magnificat because this is the first word of her song (“My soul magnifies,” or “glorifies”) in the first Latin translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek, called the Vulgate. This translation was done by Jerome in the late fourth century.

What we see in these words, also known as Mary’s Song, is her knowledge of the Old Testament. Many themes are represented. Let me show you in an obvious way.

As we’ve mentioned, there are quite a few similarities and repeating stories between the Old and New Testaments. This is true when we look at Mary’s Song. It is fascinating to realize and study the similarity between Mary’s words and those of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1–10. You remember Hannah from the other day—another barren mother blessed by God with the miracle of conception. I encourage you to also read her song of praise today.

In both passages, the women praise and thank God. He is holy and He is our salvation. They both speak of social justice, helping the poor and hungry, and exalting the lowly while bringing down the rich and the unjust rulers.

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subject. Elizabeth’s declaration to Mary, “Blessed are you among women,” and Mary’s subsequent choice of words is why so many people revere her, perhaps too much so.

The phrase “all generations will call me blessed” has led readers for centuries to conclude that she is to be adored and even worshiped. The Greek translation is a bit tricky, but a better explanation of the actual meaning is that people will recognize that Mary was indwelt by God and therefore will be celebrated for generations to come. The word used here, “blessed,” is the same Greek word, makarios, used by Jesus repeatedly in the Beatitudes (“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” etc.).

This clarification is important to drive home a critical truth about the Lord we live for and worship. There is but one God (John 17:3).

He exists as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is hard for us to wrap our finite minds around, but it is truth nonetheless.

Angels are not to be worshiped, nor is any human being.

So, as we celebrate this Christmas season, let’s focus our praise, adoration, and worship toward the Lord. Let’s celebrate that God the Father sent His Son through Mary. Let’s be grateful that the same Holy Spirit who filled Elizabeth and baby John in her womb also fills us as believers. Let us praise Him as Hannah did, that “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2).

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December 10 The Tongue Set Free Read: Luke 1:57–66 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. Luke 1:64 At last, John is born to Elizabeth, six months before Jesus is born to Mary. Friends and family rejoice for this long-awaited day. Not until the eighth day, when John is circumcised and named, is Zechariah finally able to speak. We’ll look at both circumcision and baby naming when we get to Jesus’ birth. For now, we see that this is the point when everyone is expecting the newborn son to be named for his father or grandfather.

Apparently, Zechariah has already conveyed to Elizabeth the news that God has chosen John as the baby’s name, so she tells the eager audience the same. Can you imagine there might be a dramatic pause at this moment as everyone looks at each other and at Elizabeth? Maybe there is skepticism, criticism, and a judgmental attitude present. Perhaps they think Elizabeth is not speaking for everyone, so they look at Zechariah.

Only when he affirms John’s name in writing is Zechariah then able to speak—and not just speak, but praise God! As you can imagine, this story spreads throughout Judea, and the people ponder the future of this special child.

A couple of reactions are worth mentioning. First, the people of the area are in fear as a result of this news. Specifically, this is a reverential awe for the God they worship. He has just done an amazing thing. Second, they keep in mind what has just happened, for surely this means that something special is in this child’s future.

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As Zechariah is liberated from his mute condition, let us ponder the miracle-working power of God. Whatever affliction you or a loved one may be enduring right now, take comfort that one of two things will happen if you are a believer. One, God may heal you in this present life; or two, He will heal you in the life to come. Take comfort that you serve a healing God who loves you, cares for you, and will restore you physically, just as He has already done spiritually. Our infirmities and weaknesses are temporary and are confined to this life.

What I also love about this part of the Christmas story is that Zechariah is restored by the Lord. How many of us have had to learn a lesson the hard way? How many of us have doubted that He will act? No doubt Zechariah received a heavy dose of humility and spent much time in silence prior to John’s birth (maybe Elizabeth appreciated this part too!).

After a period of discipline, God brought back Zechariah’s voice.

With a repentant heart, God will restore us into a right relationship with Him after we stumble. Let’s find great peace in this truth.

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December 11 Benedictus Read: Luke 1:67–80 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him.

Luke 1:76 Okay, we can admit this together. During the Christmas season (or any other time of year), I daresay that most of us have rarely, if ever, read Zechariah’s prophetic praise after John is born. Mary’s song of praise is much better known, due especially, perhaps, to the Catholic community’s great reverence for her.

Zechariah’s words in this passage are often called the Benedictus because this is the first word of the prophecy in Latin. “Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel,” translated, is “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.” This phrase can also be found in the Old Testament (see Psalm 41:13 and 2 Chronicles 6:4 for examples).

The first half of Zechariah’s prophecy is praise directed at God for the approaching arrival of Jesus and the salvation He will bring.

You can read this portion out loud in praise to God as if reading a Psalm. As deliverance was coming to Israel, salvation now has come to the whole world. Praise the Lord!

This blessing was promised centuries earlier to Abraham and would now finally be fulfilled. As we will study tomorrow, Abraham and David are both mentioned in this passage and in the genealogies that reinforce Jesus’ lineage. God’s “holy prophets” are also invoked as a reminder of the many prophecies about to be fulfilled.

In the latter half of his prophecy, Zechariah spells out the role John will play in relation to Jesus. How humbling and awe-inspiring it must be for Zechariah and Elizabeth. They now know fully and 758

without any doubt that John will indeed be “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” foretold by Isaiah (40:3). Their son will preach God’s salvation, forgiveness, and mercy, and will pave the way for Christos.

What Zechariah is declaring here is truly momentous. The Jewish people had been waiting centuries for the prophecies of old to come to fruition. Imagine the joy and celebration among friends and family who join Zechariah and Elizabeth in faith. The time has finally come for another “Elijah” in the person of their son, John.

Yeshua HaMashiach (Hebrew), Jesus the Messiah, will also soon come into the world! And of all families, it is theirs, which includes their beloved relative, Mary, that has been blessed with being parents to these special, prophesied sons.

The last we hear of young John in the Gospel of Luke is that he grows up in the desert and becomes strong in body and spirit.

Presumably, he loses his older parents prior to his public ministry.

He re-emerges in Scripture as an adult, preaching and teaching and “preparing the way of the Lord.”

We, too, should view our role on this earth like John. We are here to live for Christ, to share about Him, and to prepare the way for His Second Coming. After that, there will be no more second chances for people to believe. This should be our great motivation for witnessing. We must prepare the way!

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December 12 Judah’s Descendant Read: Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38 See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.

Revelation 5:5 It’s fairly popular these days to get online and trace our family roots.

In previous years, we relied on the public records, libraries, and graveyards of our parents’ and grandparents’ hometowns. Now, we can simply go to a website like ancestry.com and pool information from others who are seeking the same answers. We can also send off a blood sample for genetic analysis and find out what nationalities are indicated by our DNA. The Bible is full of genealogies that contain strange names of people long ago. In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, the authors list the genealogy of Jesus for their readers. It is important to prove that Jesus is who He says He is. The only similarity between the two genealogies is the portion of the lineage from Abraham to David.

Biblical genealogies can differ depending on their function and are created for religious, legal, or domestic reasons. Names are sometimes left out to highlight the connection of a descendant to a particular ancestor. So, let’s look more closely at these two genealogies of Jesus.

Through Old Testament prophecies going all the way back to the book of Genesis, we know that God would bless the nations through Abraham. The Son of God would be from the tribe of Judah and also from the royal line of King David.

Luke records the family line starting with Jesus and going backward all the way through David, the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, 760

Jacob), and Adam to God Himself—77 names in all. Matthew’s list goes from past to present, starting with Abraham and ending with Jesus—41 names in all, spanning 2,000 years.

Rather than skip over the differences, let’s embrace that they are there and try to figure out why. Matthew was targeting a Jewish audience, and he clearly drives this point home in the first verse of his Gospel. He is proving that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah descended from Abraham and David. Luke, on the other hand, writes to Gentiles as a historian and is seeking to be as thorough as possible in proving that Jesus is the Son of God. It is also interesting to note that Matthew’s account goes back to a time before Jews even existed as a race. He also mentions four wives—at least three of whom are Gentiles. Why does he do this?

Some speculate this is done to show that Jesus has come for all people, not just the Jews.

Among the differences, why do Matthew and Luke trace Jesus’ lineage through different sons of David? Matthew shows the line going through Solomon, while Luke’s account goes through Nathan.

The most logical explanation I have found is that Luke appears to be tracing through Mary, while Matthew goes through Joseph. Both parents belong to the tribe of Judah, just to different families within the tribe. And while Joseph isn’t Jesus’ physical father, he is in a legal sense.

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we can rest in the surety that God sent His Son, this newborn King, through a very specific and prophesied lineage. We are also now a part of this lineage. And one day, this descendant of Judah and David will triumph forever!

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December 13 Caesar’s Census Read: Luke 2:1–5 [Joseph] went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Luke 2:5 John has been born to Elizabeth, and Mary is well into her pregnancy.

Joseph has taken her as his wife, though they have not consummated the marriage. The couple now takes the long journey from Nazareth in the north to Bethlehem in the south, a town that sits on a ridge 2,000 feet above sea level. This journey is a result of a decreed census.

Censuses were conducted mainly for the purpose of taxation, and people had to return to their native land. Bethlehem is the ancestral hometown of those descended from David, which includes both Joseph and Mary. Perhaps Joseph still owns property in Bethlehem despite no longer living there.

What is unclear and has led to much disagreement is the historical context of this census decreed by Caesar Augustus across the Roman Empire. Specifically, the uncertainty is over the fact that Quirinius is mentioned as being governor of Syria when the census takes place. In the first century, this area of Palestine is under the Roman province of Syria, and thus under Quirinius.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this devotional, I don’t want us to dwell too much on uncertainty or disagreement over details. In this case, though, it is unavoidable to a degree. I will just address it briefly and then make a practical point for us today.

Let’s start with what is known for sure. There is a well-known and widespread census soon to take place in AD 6 that leads to a revolt. It is the one mentioned in Acts 5:37. This cannot be the census 762

referred to in the Christmas narrative, because all historians agree that King Herod (the one who wanted the baby Jesus dead) died in a BC year, likely 4 BC. In other words, he has been dead for 10 years before this well-known census takes place.

There is incomplete evidence that Quirinius serves in the area in a similar capacity previous to AD 6 and that there is another census known to this region but lost in the records over time. Perhaps that is why Luke describes it as the “first” (prótos) census taken under Quirinius, differentiating it from the well-known census of AD 6 for his first-century readers.

What matters most? Today’s study is a good reminder to trust the accuracy of Scripture. All of it is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), and Luke’s Gospel is no different. Luke was written decades after Jesus’ ascension. However, Luke implores Theophilus (and us) to trust his account, as “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning” (1:3).

Therefore, let us have peace over the unknown specifics and our incomplete historical picture, continuing to put our faith in the God we trust. Let us believe in what is recorded: Joseph takes his pregnant wife on the arduous journey to Bethlehem in obedience to a census that has been decreed. A Savior will soon be born!

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December 14 Can I Stay at Your Place?

Read: Luke 2:4–7 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.

Luke 2:4 Joseph and Mary arrive for the census in Bethlehem, the city of David. Both parents are descended from Judah and, subsequently, from David. Since they are in the town of their kinsmen, it’s highly likely that they have extended family in town. Even if they don’t know anyone, hospitality is expected in this culture. To top it all off, a pregnant mother in need will receive help just about anywhere. And yet, there seems to be a lack of living space. This is probably due to the census that Caesar has decreed. Many others have also made the journey to the towns of their ancestors.

A basic home in first-century Bethlehem is usually a simple structure that may have a second floor or roof for sleeping during hot weather. The main floor is divided, with an elevated level or terrace for the family and a lower ground floor or a closely connected space where the animals stay at night. This provides extra warmth inside the home and prevents the animals from being stolen or harmed.

There are inns present at this time. However, the Greek word used in the birth story, kataluma, is the word for guest room or chamber. This room is either divided from the main room or is on a second level. Contrast this with the story of the Good Samaritan. He bandages the wounds of the beaten man and takes him to an actual inn, a pandokheion (Luke 10:34). It is worth mentioning that there are others, citing certain old traditions dating back to the second century, who believe this space is actually a cave or grotto.

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Other kataluma, or guest rooms, are mentioned in the Bible. Perhaps most notable is the room where Jesus and His disciples will have the Last Supper. Two disciples will approach the owner of the home with these words: “The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” (Luke 22:10–11; Mark 14:14–15).

When Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem, the guest room of the extended family with whom they must have expected to stay is already occupied. So they likely stay in the family room or other space in close proximity to mangers and animals.

When I think of this aspect of the birth story, one word comes to mind: hospitality. Surely this is the time of year when we are more inclined to be gracious. Let’s use this season as a catalyst for year-round hospitality, both to those we love and to those in need.

Paul encourages us to share with believers who are in need and to practice hospitality (Romans 12:13). Peter tells us to be hospitable without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9).

Make the effort this month to open up your home to someone.

Host a neighborhood party. Take friends to a Christmas musical at church. Volunteer at a shelter. Take food to the nearest food pantry.

The list of ideas is endless—if you are willing. And if you are willing, make it the beginning of a habit of hospitality.

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December 15 The Prophesied One Read: Isaiah 9:2–7 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet.

Matthew 1:22 Just before we look at the birth of Jesus, we need to briefly step back and look at some of the Old Testament prophecies about this event.

This will help us appreciate the magnitude of what is about to take place.

Only a sovereign God could leave a gift like this—the gift of His Word, written over a period of more than a thousand years and by dozens of authors. Only He could ensure that these sacred Scriptures were compiled as they exist today in order to share His love and redemptive plan for all His creation. In particular, we should notice the many prophecies about the Messiah, His Son, who will come to die and later return to rule.

I want to share with you just a few prophetic verses from different Old Testament books, compiled into a single paragraph (Genesis 49:10; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14). This is to demonstrate the specific details surrounding the birth of Jesus foretold centuries before: The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, 766

whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

To put it in plain English, Jesus will come from the tribe of Judah, be born in Bethlehem, be born of a virgin, and be called Immanuel, or “God with us.” The first two chapters of the Gospel of Matthew mention these prophecies and declare them fulfilled.

Think of it: these prophecies just mentioned (and there are many others) were made between 700 and 1,400 years before Christ was born!

Let me end today’s devotional with the prophecy quoted most often concerning the coming of Christ, which is also found in today’s passage, Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Indeed, the newborn Child is eternal and wonderful. He will grow up, minister, die, and rise again, and He will one day return in all His might to bring all governments under Himself and usher in peace. Until then, He will continue to guide us and provide us counsel through our Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Glory to God in the highest heaven!

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December 16 The Big Moment Arrives Read: Matthew 1:24–25, Luke 2:6–7 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.

Luke 2:7 At last, the birth of Christos is about to take place. The Anointed One, the Messiah, is about to bring a new reality to the world. The Godhead is about to take human form and bless it with the gift of salvation. As we know, our salvation will come at a heavy price for Jesus as an adult. But let’s continue to focus on the birth story.

Joseph and Mary have been staying in Bethlehem, which in Hebrew may mean “house of bread.” Indeed, the Bread of Life (John 6:48) is about to be born in the house of bread. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King.”

Jesus is born, wrapped in cloths, and laid in a manger. Mangers are common during this time and are usually made from hollowed-out stone. Archaeologists have found several in excavations in Israel. The popular birth narrative is correct, however, in that mangers are used to hold the food for the animals to eat. It is as ideal a place as any for a newborn child to be wrapped up and snugly laid to rest in between feedings from mommy, and it is especially appropriate given the crowded lodging situation.

The prophet Ezekiel gives us the step-by-step process in caring for a newborn such as Jesus. The actual context is a prophecy against Jerusalem, so you will understand why he uses negative phrasing.

Jerusalem is compared to a baby girl. “On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths” (16:4).

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Just as done today, the umbilical cord from Mary to Jesus is cut and the baby is washed. This is simple enough to picture. The practice of rubbing salt on the baby is primarily believed to help the skin develop while being swaddled.

And now the infamous “swaddling clothes” we love to mention.

These are actually long strips of cloth wrapped around the baby to make him or her feel snug. It is a warm and comfy place somewhat similar to the womb the baby just exited.

It is also a common practice to wrap the baby like this early on because it is believed to help make the limbs grow correctly. We swaddle babies today because it increases the likelihood that the baby will sleep better, helps prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and keeps them from scratching themselves.

We will revisit the Savior’s birth on Christmas Day. For today, as we celebrate His arrival on Earth a few days early, let’s pray for those we know who haven’t recognized the Messiah and made Him Lord of their lives. Pray for the Jewish people. Pray for your family and friends. As the hymn “Joy to the World” declares, “Let every heart prepare Him room.” And as Paul prays, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1). Amen!

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December 17 Incarnation Read: John 1:1–18 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 The first two chapters of Matthew and Luke are our main sources for Jesus’ birth narrative. The Gospel of Mark jumps right into the adult ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. The Gospel of John does the same halfway through the first chapter. However, the first 18 verses of this chapter give a wonderful summation of how John the Baptist came to pave the way for Jesus and how God took the form of man and dwelled among us—His incarnation.

John 1:1 starts out, “In the beginning . . . .” Where have we read that before? In Genesis 1:1, of course. John ties together the Word of God from the start of Scripture to his present time.

In the subsequent verses John uses two images to describe God: life and light. He is (in Hebrew) Jehovah Elohim, the Creator who brought life into the world. And He came so that we would not just have life, but have an abundant life (John 10:10).

The Apostle John also refers to John the Baptist in this passage.

Just as John precedes Jesus in birth, he will also precede Him in ministry. His sole purpose is to be “a witness to testify” that Christ, the Light of the world, is coming into it (John 1:8). John will point people to God, not to himself.

While John the Baptist and Jesus didn’t grow up together, surely John grows up being told by Zechariah and Elizabeth that Mary’s son is the prophesied Messiah. Further, being six months 770

older means John knows that Jesus will enter ministry soon after he does. I imagine this contributes to his passion in paving the way for the Lord. Yet, the Apostle John reminds us that, despite John the Baptist’s efforts and the fact that there had been and will be false messiahs, “the world did not recognize him.”

The Jews in particular are expecting a conquering King. Most can’t grasp the reality of their Savior experiencing a humble birth or being the son of a carpenter from a nowhere town. This simply clothed man will have a ministry marked by a simple life of walking from place to place, eventually ending in tragedy. It doesn’t match the selected Scriptures on which they are hanging their hopes. If they will only look closely enough at the Old Testament, though, they would indeed read prophecies of Jesus’ birth, His death, His resurrection, and His return as the conquering King.

We are blessed with the Bible and the knowledge it brings us.

We know, as John shares with us here, that the law came through Moses. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law through grace and truth. Until His return, we who believe are born again spiritually and have become children of God. Let us rejoice in our salvation as we celebrate His life this month!

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December 18 Shepherds and Angels Read: Luke 2:8–20 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Luke 2:10 Just outside of Bethlehem, shepherds are living out in the open and watching over their sheep. It is night, and a census has been issued, so this scene is likely not happening during the winter months. Not being far from Jerusalem, the center of Jewish culture and worship, it is quite possible that these sheep are being raised for temple sacrifice.

Regardless, the shepherds are about to have a moment to remember. A lone angel initially appears and tells them not to be afraid, just as Zechariah and Mary were told. The angel announces to the shepherds that in Bethlehem, the town of David, the Savior of the world has been made incarnate.

At this news, “a great company of the heavenly host” appears and the worship really gets going (Luke 2:13–14). Can you just imagine the spectacle? How can the indescribable be put into words, to see such a sight as this?

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

Once again, it is worth mentioning that the first word in Latin is used to reference the proclamations surrounding the birth of Jesus.

In this case, it is called the Gloria (in excelsis Deo) for obvious reasons. The angels have praise on their lips!

How many is a great company? The Greek word used here is plethos, and it means a large number. Host, or stratia, is a word 772

also used to describe an army. Bottom line: that’s a lot of angels! If not for the first lone angel, I imagine the sight of an endless sea of an angelic army would be too much to process for these shepherds.

What an unlikely group to be chosen for the heralded news—or so it may seem.

Shepherds are at the bottom of the social spectrum. Since they are often out for long periods of time tending their sheep, they can’t adhere to the cleanliness standards and temple visits that their Jewish faith requires. Yet here they are, the first to be told of the Messiah’s birth. And not only that, but He can also be found in a simple peasant home similar to their own. He will be in a manger, the same kind of feeding trough their sheep use. He is one of them!

Sure enough, the shepherds find the baby Savior just as described. They then become the first humans to spread the word that the long-awaited and prophesied birth has happened.

You and I are just like the shepherds. We are just normal, everyday people. Jesus came as Man to rescue man. He was born to save “all the people,” people like us. And after He has rescued us, we can never be the same. Like the shepherds, we need to praise the Lord all the days of our lives and also tell others about Him. And how can we forget the analogy of Psalm 23? The Lord is our Shepherd, and because of Him we don’t lack anything. He takes care of us, feeds us, disciplines us, and is with us all the days of our lives. What have we to fear when we are part of God’s flock?!

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December 19 And on the Eighth Day . . .

Read: Luke 1:59–60, 2:21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Luke 2:21 As mentioned earlier in our study, we see similarities in the births of John and Jesus. Both are circumcised on the eighth day as is the Jewish custom. This is a momentous day in the life of the baby boy that involves friends and family in celebration.

God instituted circumcision when He changed Abram’s name to Abraham (Genesis 17) and reaffirmed the practice through Moses (Leviticus 12:1–3). The physical act of removing the foreskin from the male reproductive organ was an outward sign of the Hebrew’s covenant with God. It signified that the man was consecrated to serving Him. By this time, according to the Jewish historian Josephus, it has become standard for the male infant not to be named until the eighth day. Both John and Jesus are named on this day, and neither is given the name that people expected.

It is the custom for family names to be given. For example, in Luke’s genealogy from Adam to Jesus, the names Judah and Mattathias each appear twice. The name Joseph appears three times, and Jesus also had a brother named Joseph.

In the case of these two special sons, God instead chooses names that have special meaning related to their lives. John’s name means “the Lord is gracious,” and Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “the Lord saves.” Surely John 774

was a gracious gift to Zechariah and Elizabeth, as well as to those he told of the coming Messiah. Even more so, surely as Joshua led the people into the Promised Land, so Jesus came to lead us into an eternal life with Him. In the Old Testament, Jews were encouraged to circumcise their hearts (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4). In Colossians 2:11, Paul reminded the believers in Colossae (and us) that in Christ “you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ.”

We need to stop and pray again this Christmas season for those who have uncircumcised hearts. They will forever be cut off from God’s blessing unless they become His people. This is the perfect time of year to share the love story of God sending His Son into the world to personally and intimately seek and save them from a hopeless eternity.

Through Christ we have been given new hearts and new identities, as we are now called His children, His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 3:26). Praise God today for your salvation, and let that gratitude and enthusiasm spill over into sharing your faith with others.

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December 20 Presenting Baby Jesus Read: Luke 2:22–24 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

Luke 2:22 Maybe your church has child dedications or baptisms during a special Sunday service in December. Jesus, too, is dedicated via presentation at the Jewish temple. The time has come for the “purification rites required by the Law of Moses.” What Luke’s account is referring to here is spelled out in Leviticus 12.

According to Levitical law, a woman was ceremonially unclean for seven days after giving birth to a son. The child was then to be circumcised on the eighth day, so Mary and Joseph are being obedient to this command, as we’ve already seen. The mother of a newborn male required another 33 days “to be purified from her bleeding” (Leviticus 12:4). So, it was after this period of time that Jesus’ parents take Him on the six-mile journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, bring Him to the priest, and offer a specific sacrifice at the temple.

Mary and Joseph are poor—at least at the time around Jesus’ birth—so this part of the modern-day narrative is accurate. How do we know this is true? At the temple, they can only afford to sacrifice two small birds instead of the standard lamb. This option for the less fortunate is indicated in the Leviticus passage. The purpose of sacrificing the pair of birds is for Mary’s benefit and for this reason: “one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean” (Leviticus 12:8).

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This sacrifice for Mary is an important fact that can be easily overlooked. As mentioned, there are certain segments of believers today that overly revere and worship Mary. She is a human tarnished by sin, and so she requires the sin offering just like every other Jew of her day.

There is another interesting aspect to the life of baby Jesus contained in this brief mention. God made it clear to Moses that every firstborn male was to be consecrated to Him (Exodus 13:1–16). Mary and Joseph are obedient to this command by going to the temple (Luke 2:23). Even at a young age, Jesus is demonstrating that He has come to fulfill the law of the day, not to abolish it.

This is not to say that every child isn’t special in the eyes of the Lord. It is standard in the Jewish culture, as well as in many other cultures today, that the oldest son is the family heir and, therefore, carries special responsibilities in life.

Once our lives are dedicated to the Lord, we, too, need to present ourselves to Him as an offering. We need to give Him control of our lives. Paul urges us all “in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). During this Christmas season, let’s pledge our lives anew to the Lord as an offering, for Him to use us for His will and for His glory.

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December 21 Old Man Simeon Read: Luke 2:25–35 Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.

Luke 2:29–31 The wisdom of the older generation should always be appreciated.

We all need elders like Simeon in our lives. They have been through battles that we have yet to endure; they have learned spiritual and practical lessons that we need to grasp; and they can tell us like it is, both the good and the bad, hopefully doing so with wisdom and tact.

Simeon is one of these people. He is a righteous man who has been blessed with special knowledge from the Holy Spirit. Before his death, he will see the long-awaited Christos. Can you imagine the anticipation? I would’ve gotten a bit impatient as each day passed and my body aged!

Then, the day finally arrives. God creates a sovereign intersection. The Holy Spirit moves in Simeon to go to the temple courts on the exact day and time that Jesus is brought there by His parents and presented to the Lord.

The words of Simeon are sometimes referred to as the Nunc Dimittis, or Song of Simeon. This is the beginning of the sentence translated from Latin: “Now you dismiss [your servant in peace].”

Simeon can indeed die in peace now that God has fulfilled His promise of allowing him to see the Messiah.

Through the Holy Spirit, Simeon declares that Jesus will be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” However, he also shares a sobering message with Mary in 778

particular. Her son will divide the Jewish people (Isaiah 8:14–15), and she, too, will be deeply grieved by what will happen to Jesus.

Paul reinforced the discord that will later take place when he said that Christ is “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

Joseph and Mary are amazed by Simeon’s words. Perhaps it is a never-ending cascade of one awe-inspiring moment after another for them. Supernatural occurrences have been happening since before the divine conception of Jesus, and these continue throughout His time on Earth. What a humbling yet sobering experience it must be for a godly man like Simeon to share with them. I’m sure there will be many more conversations and times of prayer for Joseph and Mary as they contemplate the future of their Sovereign Son. Would you like to be described as someone who is full of the Spirit, righteous, and devout, just as Simeon is? Would you willingly wait a long time for a chance at a brief face-to-face encounter with the Messiah? This is almost exactly the story of your life as a believer, but your ending is even better. Like Simeon, we will spend a lifetime doing our best to live a life pleasing to God. And one day, our reward will be to see our Savior face-to-face, but not for a brief encounter—for eternity!

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December 22 The Widow Prophetess Read: Luke 2:36–38 She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Luke 2:37 Three verses. That is all that is given to Anna, the second aged person after Simeon who is given the utmost privilege of seeing the baby Jesus at the temple. A respected man and now a woman of the same character bear witness to the fact that the Messiah has now come into the world. She will be remembered by future generations as the model of a faithful widow.

There are very few female prophets, or prophetesses, mentioned in the Bible, and Anna is one of them. Others named are Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and Noadiah. There are also a few others not mentioned directly by name, like Isaiah’s wife and Philip’s four daughters in the book of Acts. Perhaps these female messengers of God warrant your later study.

What an example of faithfulness Anna is to us. After only seven years of marriage, she is widowed. The original Greek is unclear as to whether she was 84 years old or had been a widow for 84 years.

Regardless, it doesn’t change the point that she is now an old widow.

What might have been a life of hopelessness in that culture Anna instead turned into a life of fulfillment in the Lord. She could be found in the temple night and day for decades, fasting and worshiping the Lord. If we accept this at face value, we can assume that this resulted in a very close walk with God. We know that God can supernaturally intervene in our lives too, but this isn’t necessarily the norm. It requires discipline like that of 780

Anna to seek out the Lord through reading and meditating on His Word, praying, fasting, and seeking fellowship with other believers.

I know from my own personal experience that if I dedicate myself to such pursuits, God is more evident in my life and I am more attuned to His Holy Spirit guiding my actions. It is a clear case of cause and effect.

This is surely the case with Anna. As a result, God uses her as a prophetess and rewards her faithfulness with a personal encounter with His Son. Can you imagine the motivation that it is for her from that day forward to tell about Jesus “to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem”? The Jews were definitely looking for redemption from Roman rule and for the prophesied Messiah to come, so this should be welcome news.

The lesson I’ve learned from Anna’s life is simple: be found faithful with your life, and God will show up and do amazing things in, to, and through you. So, make that commitment today to be disciplined in your spiritual walk.

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December 23 Christmas Presents!

Read: Matthew 2:1–12 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.

Matthew 2:2 It is unclear how much time passes before the visit of the Magi. We will not focus too much today on who the Magi are. They likely practice various forms and combinations of divination, dream interpretation, astronomy, and astrology. They may hold considerable religious and governmental authority.

It is quite possible that these Magi believe in Jesus just as one of their predecessors did. Did you know that Daniel was not only a magus (the singular of magi), but chief among them (Daniel 2:48; 4:9; 5:11)? Due to his influence, power, and success, it is reasonable to conclude that Daniel shared the Scriptures about the coming Jewish Messiah. This information could have been passed down over time to these special visitors from the distant East.

The Magi show up in Jerusalem to see the earthly “king of the Jews” (Herod) in order to find the true King of the Jews. No wonder King Herod is disturbed about this. He points them to Bethlehem and tries to get them involved in locating Jesus for him. We know Herod’s true motive and will look at him more later.

A special star (we’ll look at this tomorrow) leads the Magi to the place where Jesus is living. The Greek word used in this passage to describe Jesus is paidion, which means young child, not infant. The Magi bestow some interesting presents on young Jesus.

Bringing gifts is an Eastern custom, so this practice is not unusual (Genesis 43:11; 1 Samuel 9:7–8). Likewise, in 1 Kings 10:1–13, 782

the Queen of Sheba visited from Arabia (the East) and gave King Solomon “120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones.” Also, Isaiah 60 mentions gold and incense as gifts brought from foreign lands to bless Jerusalem.

Let’s look quickly at the three gifts. Everyone is familiar with the value of gold throughout the ages. The other two gifts, however, are less known in today’s Western world. Frankincense is a gum-like substance derived from the resin of a tree in the balsam family. It’s used primarily as perfume, medicine, and in religious ceremonies (Exodus 30:34–38). Myrrh is a valuable spice and perfume that was also used in embalming. Each gift had significant value in its own right.

Having said this, there is also prophetic symbolism to each gift.

The gold may represent Jesus as the coming King (Matthew 2:2).

Frankincense is used by the priests in the temple, and Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 2:17). From John 19:38–42, we know that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea will use myrrh on the body of Jesus as He is prepared for the tomb. So, this gift from the Magi foreshadows the future fate of the newborn King.

What gifts do you have for Jesus? Do you lay your best at His feet? Or are you tempted to cling to worldly possessions as if you will hold on to them forever? I encourage you to examine your life in this regard. Give Him your all and throw away your attachment to the things of this world. Lay everything at the feet of the Messiah!

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December 24 The Sign Overhead Read: Matthew 2:2, 9 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Matthew 2:10 Let’s look again at the visit of the Magi, specifically at the appearance of a star. We said yesterday that these men from the East may have been influenced by a legacy of information from Daniel, one of their respected predecessors. One Scripture they may have been aware of is Numbers 24:17, part of which states: “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Also, Jesus will later tell John in Revelation that He is “the bright Morning Star” (22:16).

The Magi see this star on at least two occasions. They had already seen it rise in the East (the Greek means in the direction of the rising sun). This was prior to their arrival in Jerusalem and meeting with Herod. This second time, they see the star rising ahead of them “until it stopped over the place where the child was.” It is this moving and stopping that has created disagreement.

We’re not going to delve too deeply into this; instead, we will paint with a broad stroke and then focus on application. There are various theories in the Christian world as to the true nature of this cosmic event from the first decade BC. Was it a star, comet, or supernova? Or was it a rare alignment of planets such as Jupiter and Saturn?

We have already established the practice in this devotional of going to the Greek, the original language of the New Testament. The word used here is astēr, which means star. Seems simple enough, but it doesn’t rule out any of the possible explanations mentioned, as they all would look like stars to the naked eye.

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Perhaps the question is, Is this a natural, but rare, occurrence for a heavenly body? Or is it some special cosmic event directly created

by God to direct the Magi? I believe it is not important to know for sure, because ultimately it is God who orchestrates everything in the heavens anyway. After all, God created the stars and calls them each by name (Genesis 1:14–19; Psalm 147:4).

When I think about the so-called “Star of Bethlehem,” I think of God’s guidance. He is always there showing us the way. This, of course, usually takes the form of His Word, the Holy Spirit, and other believers. However—and this is crucial—we need to pay attention and look for the signs of God’s leading. Like the Magi, we need to be ready for action, so that when God directs, we can be on the move.

Take a few moments now to look back on your life and recall the moments when God gave you a “star,” a marker in your path that brought clarity of decision and direction. God gives you these moments to draw you closer to Him and to accomplish His will. Thank Him today for His sovereign guidance and intervention in your life.

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December 25 A Christmas Story Retold Before time begins, there is God. He exists as a Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. After He created man, the Godhead chose the Hebrew people to later bring forth Himself in human form. Prophecies foretold the coming of Christos over a period of centuries. The Son would descend from the human line of David, Abraham, and Adam, among others.

Before Jesus is born, His forerunner is also prophesied to come.

This man will come in the spirit of the great prophet Elijah. A priest named Zechariah is visited by the angel Gabriel and told that his old and barren wife, Elizabeth, will finally conceive and give birth to a son named John. This same angel also visits Elizabeth’s relative, Mary, and gives similar news of an imminent conception. This virgin teenager, betrothed to a godly man named Joseph, will give birth to a son about six months after Elizabeth does.

While Zechariah has doubts and is disciplined with a muted tongue, Joseph needs supernatural guidance through dreams before and after the birth of Jesus to ensure he knows the proper decisions to make and the right paths to take.

Mary is in awe of what God is up to, and she praises Him with Elizabeth. These two women spend months of blessed fellowship together. When John is born, Zechariah’s speech is loosed, and he, too, praises God. Joseph and Mary head to Bethlehem, the town of their kingly ancestor David, in order to take part in the Roman census. They likely stay in the crowded and simple house of relatives and await the birth of Jesus.

Jesus is born, swaddled per the normal custom, and laid in an animal feeding trough. The Son has finally come and has taken the form of flesh, making His dwelling among us. Hallelujah!

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Another supernatural moment arrives as shepherds tending their sheep nearby are visited by an army of angels who herald the birth of the long-awaited Anointed One, Christos. The shepherds then find their Messiah in a simple home much like their own, and they worship Him. On the eighth day after Jesus is born, Joseph and Mary follow the custom and have Him circumcised. On the 40th day, Jesus is taken to the temple in nearby Jerusalem and is presented to God. While at the temple, two faithful followers of God are given the long-awaited blessing of beholding the Son in human form. Before their own heaven-going, old Simeon and then the aged Anna encounter their Savior in baby form.

Jesus grows older and later receives a visit from Magi from the East. These exotic visitors have been led by a star to worship the newborn King. Their presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh bless this poor family and also foretell Jesus’ future.

Dreams given to both the Magi and Joseph warn them that King Herod, a worldly and dangerous “king of the Jews,” should be avoided at all costs. So, the Magi head home on a different route, and Joseph leads the family into temporary exile in Egypt. With two more dreams after Herod’s death, they return to Nazareth to raise up young Jesus for a short time of ministry that would change the world forever.

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December 26 The Other King of the Jews Read: Matthew 2:1–8, 16–18 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious.

Matthew 2:16 We touched on the final chapter of the Christmas story in yesterday’s narrative, so today let’s look at Herod further. Let’s start with some of the contrasts between this earthly kingdom and the true heavenly one.

The Roman Empire established a vast kingdom that lasted for centuries. God created a worldwide kingdom that will last for eternity. Caesar Augustus, his name meaning “exalted,” was referred to as divi filius, Latin for “divine son.” Yet, he wasn’t divine because he’s still in the grave. Only Jesus is the Son of the Immortal God. Caesar had declared the Pax Romana, the age of Roman Peace, in 27 BC. However, only Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Herod the Great went by the title bestowed upon him by the Roman Senate in 40 BC, “King of the Jews.” Only Jesus is the true King of the Jews (and Gentiles). Herod was a half-Jew, at best, who was initially appointed tetrarch, or governor, by the Romans over Galilee; his reign grew from there through conquest and political alliances.

As has been our practice, let’s now visit Herod in the present tense. While Herod has achieved military, construction, and tax-reduction accomplishments, he has ongoing domestic problems. He has 10 wives, the majority of whom together bear him dozens of children. The wives who bear sons naturally want theirs to be his eventual successor. Herod changes his will six times and has many family members executed, including his favorite wife, her mother, 788

his brother-in-law, and several sons. The joke made by Caesar Augustus himself was that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than his son, as Herod didn’t eat pork!

So you can see why a man like this will have no problem executing boys less than two years of age. He has to make sure he kills another perceived threat—the true King of the Jews. By this time in his reign, Herod is quite ill and constantly paranoid. Evidence points to Herod’s death in 4 BC. So, Jesus could have been born as early as 6 BC. Regardless, the Magi choose to obey a God-given dream and not conspire to help this ungodly ruler kill Jesus. The hunt is on. Thankfully, God gives another dream to Joseph, and the family flees to Egypt before the murder spree commences. It is widely speculated that this trip is financed by the Magi’s gifts.

It is estimated by some that, based on the population of Bethlehem at this time, perhaps “only” a dozen or so male infants and toddlers are murdered. This fulfills the sad prophecy in Jeremiah 31:15 of mourning by the Jewish mothers in this geographic area.

Historians cannot locate proof of this act by Herod, but you can see that it is both consistent with Herod’s wicked character and might not have involved enough deaths in a small village to draw much outside attention.

People will hate Jesus during His years of ministry through His crucifixion. He warned us that people will hate us too because of Him (Matthew 10:22). Persecution is to be expected for His followers. Paul went even further and told us to “glory in our sufferings” (Romans 5:3). This is a man who knew persecution and pain more than most ever will.

There will always be enemies of Christ. Satan will always target God’s people, especially those who are making advances for God’s kingdom. In fact, I dare to propose this to you: if you are not experiencing some measure of hardship, perhaps you’re not doing enough for the Lord. The devil may be preoccupied with others deemed a greater target. So, take stock of your life and what you are doing for Him. 789

December 27 Have Dream, Will Travel Read: Matthew 2:13–15, 19–22 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.

Matthew 2:19 We saw yesterday that Joseph was given another dream (there are a total of four, all of which are recorded in Matthew). The first was to tell him of the miraculous conception of Jesus. The second instructed him to flee to Egypt to avoid Herod the Great’s killing spree. This journey fulfilled the prophecy of Hosea 11:1. Just as God had called His children, the Hebrew people, out of Egypt under Moses (another famous child spared from a murderous ruler), He now calls His Child out of the same land.

At this time, Egypt is still the location of large Jewish colonies.

Joseph, Mary, and the Child likely find Jews sympathetic to their situation. I would even take it one step further and believe that God moved in various people’s hearts there to aid the family of the Messiah.

Now, back to the story. Within two years, Herod dies of a dreadful disease, described by some as similar to gangrene. His area of rule is divided up among some of his sons. Herod Philip II gets Iturea and Traconitis in the north; Herod Antipas is tetrarch of Perea to the east and Galilee in the middle; and Archelaus gets the area south of Galilee, which includes Samaria, Judea, and Idumea.

The angel tells Joseph in a third dream that Herod is dead and that they can return to Israel. In Herod’s place, one of his sons named Archelaus now reigns over the region Joseph originally fled.

This news bothers Joseph, as Archelaus has a reputation for being a 790

tyrannical ruler, killing thousands after he first took power. He will be removed from power 10 years later.

The town of Nazareth can be found 15 miles from the Sea of Galilee and 20 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. It is a place with a Roman military presence and is near active caravan trade routes.

This area falls under Herod Antipas’ rule, and he rules for much longer than Archelaus in his respective region. Instead of returning to his ancestral homeland of Bethlehem, Joseph settles his family in Nazareth. This directive to go to the region of Galilee is seemingly due to a fourth dream that closely follows the third dream.

It is interesting to note that it is Antipas who later has John the Baptist beheaded (Matthew 14:1–2). He also seeks to kill Jesus (Luke 13:31) and eventually plays a role in Jesus’ journey to the cross (Luke 23:7–11). Herod’s grandson, Agrippa, later has James, the brother of Jesus, executed and has Peter arrested. Needless to say, the house of Herod has not been viewed favorably by Christians through the centuries.

Many of us wait weeks, months, or years for God’s direction in our lives. Should we change jobs? Should we move so our children get a better education? What is the Lord telling us to do?

When He does speak, we need to act in swift obedience. He may do so through a dream, through a godly messenger such as a family member or friend, through faithful prayer, or through His Word. So, as we sit on the edge of the start of another year, ask the Lord afresh to direct your steps with each passing day.

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December 28 The Nazarene Read: Matthew 2:23, Luke 2:39–40 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

Luke 2:39 Joseph and Mary do everything they are supposed to do as spelled out in the Mosaic Law, which is recorded in the first five books of the Old Testament. The threat from Herod the Great is over.

Matthew and Luke tell us that, once relocated to Nazareth, Jesus is raised there. Specifically, Matthew 2:23 refers to the prophets foretelling that Jesus will be called a Nazarene. What does this mean, because no one in the Old Testament directly called Jesus a Nazarene?

Or did they?

The answer is yes! The prophet Isaiah referred to Jesus as the Branch coming out of the stem, or stump, of Jesse, David’s father (11:1). One of the Hebrew words for branch is netzer. And where did Jesus grow up, but in Netzeret, the place of the Branch. This is only the tip of the iceberg studying this word, but we must move on.

I love how Luke ends his account of this phase of Jesus’ life: “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him” (Luke 2:40). This verse is the only information we have on the next decade or so of the young Messiah’s life. After that, we only know of one episode in Jesus’ childhood: when the family visits the temple during Passover when He is around 12 years old.

We know that through at least these first 12 formative years in Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth, Joseph is alive. Luke’s glimpse paints a positive picture of these early years. We can assume that Jesus is like a normal child in many ways, yet without sin.

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We can also conclude that Joseph slowly but surely begins to teach Jesus and His brothers the ways of his trade. This likely involves not only carpentry, but also stonework, because so much was constructed of stone in the first century. The Greek word for carpenter is tekton, which could be a craftsman or builder. Later in life, Jesus will be identified as the carpenter or carpenter’s son.

Unfortunately, Joseph is not directly mentioned in the years of Jesus’ ministry, and most assume he dies prior to this point. Jesus does have sisters, but their names are not mentioned. His brothers, however, are: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55).

Now that’s a big family!

As we conclude today’s devotional and also our study on the birth of Jesus, let’s focus on our own children. Wouldn’t we all as parents want it said of our children what is said of Jesus? We want our kids to grow up healthy and strong, to be full of wisdom beyond their years, and for God’s grace to be on them. Make that your prayer for your children today.

Christmas is a time to celebrate new beginnings. One of those beginnings can be you becoming a better parent, a better spouse, and a better follower of Christ. Life is too short to live selfishly and to let friends, TV, the internet, etc. be the primary influence in your child’s life. God can use them in the days ahead in spite of you, but why not give parenting your all for His glory?!

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December 29 Christmas Conclusion For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:17 I hope you have been blessed by this in-depth look at the stories surrounding the birth of Jesus. Perhaps you’ve been able to further understand and appreciate the genealogies, prophecies, and intertwined lives of Jesus and John the Baptist.

We cheat ourselves and our witness to the world when we focus on certain aspects of the narrative and compile them into one starry night of fabricated details. In actuality, our study this month has looked at the conception of John the Baptist to Jesus at 40 days old to the visit by the Magi and so on—a span of up to or even beyond three years.

While this journey is worthwhile, it is interesting to mention again that the early church did not celebrate Jesus’ birth. Rather, His death and resurrection were deemed far more important to commemorate. It’s true: coming in bodily form was only the first step for God Incarnate. Jesus’ death on the cross was the act that crucified our sins and His resurrection defeated those sins for eternity. And because of His ascension, He gave believers the Holy Spirit to guide our daily living until either our heaven-going or Jesus’ Second Coming.

Having said this, I do think it is perfectly okay for us to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Let me encourage you going forward to do so keeping in mind the broader context of all that He was, is, and ever will be.

As I mentioned in the introduction, we don’t need to focus too much on the different theories and opinions over actual dates or unclear details of His birth. However, I will share one interesting 794

possibility with you for the purpose of focusing one last time on the Messiah, Christos.

For reasons too long and laborious to list here, there are those who believe that Jesus was actually born on the Feast of Tabernacles. This is the most celebratory of the Jewish feasts, occurring over eight days in September of each year. The Jewish people would erect booths (somewhat like canopies), celebrate the harvest, and make offerings to the Lord.

Would it not be an appropriate occasion in history for this glorious day of Jesus’ birth to occur on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and culminate on the eighth day when Jesus was named and circumcised? What a glorious week!

Regardless of whether Jesus was born on December 25th or not, here’s the point: the birth of Jesus is the arrival of Immanuel, God with us. Christ came to Earth to tabernacle with mankind. As we’ve already read in John 1, Christ “became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” He will do so again for a second and final time. Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus!

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December 30 The Post-Christmas Blues Read: Philippians 3:7–16 But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

Philippians 3:13 Okay, don’t read the partial verse quoted above and think I am asking you to apply this to Christmas. However, judging by how quickly everyone moves on after the 25th, that is what has happened. Christmas is quickly forgotten. Personally, I am in the so-called Christmas spirit until January 2nd after New Year’s celebrations are over.

I’ve also found that people are a little blue and depressed once Christmas Day is in the rearview mirror. Maybe it’s because all the presents have been opened (with plans to return some of them), families are saying goodbyes until the next holiday, and most of us are returning to work, with school back in session just around the corner.

Instead, during this window of time, I hope you will focus your mind and heart to do some pre-resolution soul searching. We will look at so-called New Year’s resolutions in our final time together tomorrow.

Today, we once again take a look at our hearts. We’ve spent the month taking the journey from pre-conception to toddler and all the miraculous events surrounding this portion of Jesus’ life. Hopefully, this has brought greater depth to your biblical knowledge and a new appreciation for our celebration of His birth. There are practical and spiritual applications to be made. Let’s bundle all this together and narrow down our focus to producing real heart-change in ourselves.

This passage in Philippians is a great reminder of the perspective we should have 365 days a year. Paul tells us that no matter what we 796

can brag about in life, everything pales in comparison to knowing Jesus. And as imperfect as we are, with a godly perspective and passion we press on toward a closer relationship with Him and His will.

Paul’s message is certainly an encouraging motivation, but it is also quite easy to get caught up in our failures, our scars, and our present problems. “Forgetting what is behind” is a discipline that most of us find wearisome to maintain. The damage already done and the daily challenges of life rob us of our focus and our joy in the Lord. Don’t let this Christmas and New Year’s season pass without a fresh effort to reach forward and press on through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Looking for a daily prescription to fulfill this Bible passage in your life? Read what are perhaps the three most succinct Bible verses on the matter from Paul: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

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December 31 It Came upon a New Year’s Eve Read: Proverbs 6:6–11 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

Proverbs 6:6 The start of another year is perhaps the most popular time in our culture to make life changes. We call them New Year’s resolutions. These changes are seemingly all for the better, so from this standpoint, making them is a good thing. However, New Year’s resolutions can also be a scapegoat the rest of the year, allowing you to avoid making a needed or overdue change. For example, why would I wait until January 1st to lose weight when it’s June and my doctor says I should try to lose it now?

As we have looked this month at the events surrounding the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, let’s look to their teaching to guide us into the new year. Specifically, I am referring to being resolute in bringing needed change to our lives, so that we are a better reflection of a righteous and holy people.

John the Baptist told the religious leaders of his day to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Repentance goes beyond forgiveness and means altered behavior to prove the forgiveness has taken root.

Jesus certainly doesn’t want anyone to delay in obeying His word. He said, “leave your life of sin” to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11). This is the standard for which we are to aim. In the first verse of Hebrews 12 we are also admonished to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” It is imperative that we turn from our sinful ways.

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I bet that Zechariah learned his lesson and was a changed man after doubting God’s wonderful news through Gabriel, but it was a painful journey. Better for him and us to be ready to spring into action with our faith, don’t you think?

As today’s passage in Proverbs encourages, let us be like the ant and avoid complacency. Let’s do the work and ask God the Father to give us power through the Holy Spirit to bring about needed change. This includes normal resolutions like exercising, reading more books, watching less TV, doing less internet streaming, and abstaining from unhealthy eating habits. This is also true for more spiritually based resolutions like spending more time with family, being faithful with daily prayer, and pledging to share Christ with others.

While we should be ready to change for the better at all times of the year, since we have arrived on the doorstep of a new year, let’s make a resolution together. Let’s make this the last time that the turn of the year is when we pledge to make needed spiritual change.

Instead, let’s make the transformation that God desires in us when it is needed and not a day later. We don’t need a special day to do this.

Every day is a gift from the Lord and we need to take advantage of it. Amen!

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Feed the Hunger

Anthology Drawing on a rich history of sharing spiritual tools with our supporters, we have collected 12 of the most memorable and timely Feed the Hunger devotionals into a single volume. Feed the Hunger Anthology contains a dozen month-long spiritual teachings from ministry co-founders J. L. and Patt Williams, Feed the Hunger CEO Joseph Williams, and others.

Throughout the year, you’ll gain insight into topics as varied as heaven, prayer, prophecy, global missions, biblical culture, and more. We hope that this journey will aid your walk with the Lord. And we pray, along with Paul, that God would “fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives” (Colossians 1:9).

If you would like more information about Feed the Hunger, please visit www.feedthehunger.org. There you will find each devotional in the Anthology available separately to download and share.