Biblical Principles for Living J. L. Williams

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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J. L. Williams

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

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

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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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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.

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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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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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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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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:

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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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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,

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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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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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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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.

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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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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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“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

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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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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.

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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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“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

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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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Joseph L. Williams

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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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

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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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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

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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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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:

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• 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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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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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

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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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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:

• 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)

• Preceded by an “Elijah” (Malachi 4:5–6; Matthew 11:13–14) • Loved and praised by children (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16)

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• 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)

• 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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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)

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• 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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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”

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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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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

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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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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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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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?! 582

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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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,

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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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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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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,

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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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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,

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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Joseph L. Williams

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

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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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 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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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 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

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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 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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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 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

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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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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:

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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. • 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. • Post-tribulation: You guessed it—the rapture happens at the end of the seven years. • 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. • 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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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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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

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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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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

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“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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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):

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• 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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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

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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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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

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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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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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Patt Williams

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

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

1Anne 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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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,

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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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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

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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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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,

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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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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

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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 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

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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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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

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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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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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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 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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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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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

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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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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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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 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 Your word is a lamp for my feet, which way to go. a light on my path. —Psalm 119:105

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I feel like I’m living I am the light of the world. in a dark place. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. —John 8:12

Why would anyone want You are a chosen people to read what I write? . . . 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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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

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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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)

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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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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

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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 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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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Joseph L. Williams

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

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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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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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

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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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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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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.

Without getting into a long explanation, and without trying to offend any readers, let me now briefly address a somewhat sensitive

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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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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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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

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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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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,

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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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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

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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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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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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,

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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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,

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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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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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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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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,

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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.

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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

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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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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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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

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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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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

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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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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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