First Steps: Walking with Jesus

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

First Steps Walking with Jesus

Reflections From Our Daily Bread

Contents Page Bible reading notes: Jesus (1-5) 2 I’m a new Christian: Why is it so hard?

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Bible reading notes: Secure Salvation (6-10) 16 How do you read the Bible? 26 Bible reading notes: Knowing God (11-15) 28 What is worship? 38 Bible reading notes: Relationships (16-20) 40 Rob’s Story 50 Bible reading notes: Christian Living (21-25) 52 Getting Obsessed 62 Our Daily Bread App 64

COVER PHOTO

A young guy with a backpack © OlegKoval, shutterstock.com Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved. © 2018 Our Daily Bread Ministries® • Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA ourdailybread.org • europe@odb.org Printed in the United Kingdom.

Product Code: XF189

Welcome!

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elcome to First Steps! We’re really excited to be sharing this Bible study guide with you.

If you’ve become a Christian recently, you may well have some big questions buzzing around your brain, like: “What does being a Christian actually look like?”; “How do I know what God thinks of me?”; “What is it exactly that I’m meant to believe?”; “Should I be learning ancient Greek, Latin and Hebrew so I can read the Bible in its original languages?”

First Steps is here to help!

Whether you’re a new Christian or you just want to revisit the fundamentals, these short studies and snappy explanations will help you (or perhaps your whole Bible study group) draw closer to God as you dig deeply into His Word! Explore who Jesus is, how we can be certain that we’re right with God, how to read the Bible, what the future looks like and loads more essential stuff! Use First Steps like the launch-pad into the rest of your life . . .

—YOUR FRIENDS AT OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES

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DAYÂ 1

Isaia h 53: 1 -6 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

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He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.

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He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

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Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

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5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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Thinking It Over In this description of Jesus, what do we learn about Him (vv.1-3)?

What did Jesus come to earth to do (vv.4-5)?

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What are we told about ourselves (v.6)?

Can You Spot a Real Hero?

HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED

BY MANKIND, A MAN OF SUFFERING, AND FAMILIAR WITH PAIN. ISAIAH 53:3

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uring World War I a vicar tried to join the army. His age and poor health meant he was turned away pretty quickly.

He volunteered again a year later though, and because so many men had died, he was accepted. He was trained in first aid and joined up with the army—aged fifty-five!

At the end of the war he received several medals for his bravery. Yet no one paid attention when this vicar walked down a street. He wasn’t handsome or tall. He wasn’t very noticeable at all. Yet he had saved the lives of many men.

It says in the Bible that Jesus looked like just a normal guy. He didn’t seem like anyone special (ISAIAH 53:2), but He too came to save many lives. Jesus wasn’t given any medals here on earth, but the Bible promises us that when He returns He will be crowned King. He will be given all the glory.

As His people we are to start following and obeying Jesus as our King RF right away.

Read Revelation 1:12-18 to see what Jesus’ appearance will be like when He is seen in all His glory. How does this help you understand who Jesus is?

Who is Jesus to you?

More The most important question Jesus asked His followers was “Who do you say I am?” (MATTHEW 16:15).

What is your answer to this? Why?

Want to think more about how we can be sure of Jesus’ identity?

Read Who is Jesus? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 3

DAY 2

J o hn 6: 4 8-56 “I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live for ever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

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Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”

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Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

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Thinking It Over What is it that Jesus promises us as people who trust and rely on Him (vv.50-51)?

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What is the ultimate choice Jesus gave to His listeners (vv.53-54)?

Life Without Bread I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. JOHN 6:48

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or many of us, bread isn’t all that important.

It’s just one of many, many foods. Some diets even avoid bread altogether. In the first century, however, bread was the main thing that people had to eat. You couldn’t live without it!

One day a crowd of people went to find Jesus because He had fed more than 5,000 people with just a handful of bread and fish (JOHN 6:11,26).

They asked Him to give them bread from heaven, like God had done in the Old Testament when His people were travelling through the desert (6:30-31; EXODUS 16:4). When Jesus said He was “the true bread from heaven” (JOHN 6:32), the people didn’t understand. They wanted actual bread.

But Jesus was saying that He had been sent to be their bread in a different way; He would feed them spiritually. If they trusted Him and lived for Him, He would satisfy them like bread satisfies our hunger (V.35).

Jesus doesn’t want to be just ‘a part’ of our lives; He wants to be the centre of our lives and the One we depend on. He is our shelter, our security, our provider, our future, our everything—our ‘necessary’ food!

As first-century Jews could never imagine life without bread to eat, may MW we never try to live without Jesus.

Life without Jesus is a life of hunger.

What Does It Mean?

In verse 49, Jesus was reminding the Jews of their history, when God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. As He led them through the desert, He miraculously provided bread (called “manna”) each morning (SEE EXODUS 16).

Just as the people depended on that bread each and every day to stay alive in the desert, we depend on Jesus each day for all our needs.

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DAY 3

Luke 23: 32-4 3 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

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The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

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The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

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There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

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One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

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But the other criminal rebuked him.

“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

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Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

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Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

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Thinking It Over Was Jesus able to save Himself (v.37)?

Why or why not?

How were the two rescues asked for by the criminals different (vv.39,42)?

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How does Jesus’ response to the second criminal (v.43) help you think about the type of people He is willing to save?

Stones JESUS ANSWERED HIM, “TRULY I TELL YOU, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”

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he city of Jerusalem is built on its own history and rubble. When my family and I visited Jerusalem on holiday, we walked the route that some think Jesus was taken along on His way to the cross. The day was hot, so at one point we decided to look round a cool basement below street level. In there we LUKE 23:43 saw some ancient pavement stones—stones marked with games played by Roman soldiers when they were bored.

Those stones made me think about my own walk with Jesus. Like a bored soldier, just passing the time, I had become a bit complacent about my relationship with God. I was challenged as I remembered that near the place I was standing Jesus was beaten, insulted and hung on the cross between two criminals. There He took all my sin, shame and failures on Himself—paying for them in my place.

One of the criminals cried out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (LUKE 23:42). To him, Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (V.43). Even a man being executed for his crimes found forgiveness from Jesus when he turned to Him! I’m thankful that Jesus’ love and forgiveness are far greater than all my sin.

DM Jesus, through Your sacrifice for me, I have forgiveness and new life. I’m sorry for the times I forget what You have done for me, and just drift through life getting bored. Help me to be amazed by You every day!

Our sin is big—Jesus’ love is bigger.

What Does It Mean?

Sin is not just doing ‘bad’ things. It is living our lives without involving or honouring God, our Maker. The Bible tells us “the wages of sin is death” (ROMANS 6:23). Jesus, having no sin of His own to pay for, took our sin on Himself and died in our place on the cross to take the full punishment it deserves.

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DAY 4

Matth ew 28 : 16 - 2 0 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

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Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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Thinking It Over When Jesus’ disciples met Him after His resurrection, “some doubted” (v.17).

What doubts do you have about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection? Who can you talk them over with?

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What is our purpose on earth now that we know Jesus (vv.19-20)?

Dream Team I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE.

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ho’s in your dream team? Whether you follow football, rugby, basketball or any other sport, you can probably list your favourite players who you’d pick to play on your team!

MATTHEW 28:20

Jesus had a very different idea when it came to putting a ‘dream team’ together. He handpicked twelve men to follow and learn from Him. And then, after He had come back to life, He gave those men the task of continuing His rescue mission. Who were these people He chose? Popular, respected leaders? Superheroes? Nope. They were just ordinary men—including fishermen (MATTHEW 4:18-22) and a hated tax collector (MARK 2:13-14).

They were told: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (MATTHEW 28:19).

God’s rescue mission for the world started with these nobodies. Yet they turned the world upside down, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and leading thousands back to God. These men may not have been popular or inspiring, but what they did have was Jesus, who had beaten death and come back to life. He promised them: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me . . . I am with you always” (VV.18,20). Jesus’ dream team isn’t about the players; it’s about Him, our ‘team manager’. We may not feel like much, but Jesus, the One with “all authority” is with us, no matter where we are or what we’re going through.

Let’s share the truth of His life, death and resurrection with those we JFG know. Remember, we’re in His dream team!

Jesus is alive! And He is with us to the very end.

More Do you want to think more about the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection?

Why not read Did Jesus really rise from the dead? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 9

DAY 5

Reve lat io n 2 1: 1 - 8 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwellingplace is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘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.”

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He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

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6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practise magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.”

Thinking It Over List out all the promises in these verses about the life we are looking forward to when Jesus returns.

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What are the two possible destinations described (vv.7-8)? Does this change how you think about the friends and family you have who still don’t know Jesus?

The Last Chapter LET YOUR GENTLENESS BE EVIDENT TO ALL. THE LORD IS NEAR.

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ne of my friends always reads the last chapter first when she starts a new book. “It takes the stress out of reading the story!” But that’s actually what it’s like for Christians—we already know the end of the story, so we can stay calm even when things get crazy, or when everything’s going wrong.

PHILIPPIANS 4:5

Paul says that because we know how things are going to end, we can live today with “gentleness”.

Gentleness is all about being able to react to others out of calmness, rather than fear or frenzy. It’s hard to be gentle when we’re panicking!

But knowing Jesus is returning soon to take us to heaven can help take some of the stress out of our day. Things might go wrong, friends may blank us, the headlines may be scary, but we can still be at peace.

How do we know this for sure? By remembering that “The Lord is near” (PHILIPPIANS 4:5). Jesus is standing just outside the door of this world (JAMES 5:9), ready to burst through and turn everything that’s wrong the right way up! Then this world and all its troubles will become the kingdom of Jesus, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (HABAKKUK 2:14).

Jesus said, “Yes, I am coming soon” (REVELATION 22:20). Today could be the day! It’s the very last thing He said in the very last chapter of His book.

DR How does it make you feel when you remember that Jesus might return today? How might thinking about His return affect your prayers and priorities?

We already know how the story ends— so let’s live with peace and gentleness.

More Why not read Is death the end? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 11

focus article

I’m a new Christian: Why is it so hard?

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he Christian life makes me think of climbing a mountain. When I first came to Jesus, I was thrilled at the new adventure before me. It didn’t take long, however, before the road seemed much harder than I expected.

It was an uphill climb. I couldn’t do the same things I used to do because I didn’t feel right about them anymore. But at the same time I wasn’t really experiencing the heights that I had anticipated. I started to wonder whether I had been better off before I ever started up this mountain. Perhaps I should go back down to the valley below where everyone else was just doing as they pleased. I knew, however, that I could never do that. I had just been saved from that life without meaning and without God; I couldn’t go back.

Why does the Christian life seem like an uphill climb? If God’s plan for us is to know Him, then why isn’t it the easiest life imaginable?

Enemies . . .

Before we trusted Jesus, the Bible called us God’s enemies, because in our natural state we rejected Him and chose to serve and love ourselves instead. You can read about this in Romans 5.

Think about enemies for a minute. Have you heard the phrase “Friend or foe?” It is what a sentry guard might say to an approaching stranger. He’s asking “Are you on our side or are you an enemy?” If you are on our side, you are a friend; an ally. When two groups form an alliance, they fight on the same side against their enemies. If one has an enemy, it becomes the enemy of the ally also.

Now think about what happened when we decided to join ourselves to Christ. We were once God’s enemies, but when we trusted Christ, we became His friends. His friends then become our friends, but His enemies are also now our enemies. This is what makes the Christian life so hard and such a daily battle. So who are our new enemies? The Bible talks about three; the world, the flesh and the devil. Let’s have a look at these enemies in a little more detail.

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Who are our enemies?

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. —EPHESIANS 2:1-5 (EMPHASIS ADDED)

So who exactly are each of these enemies we face as Christians?

The “world” doesn’t mean the earth, or all the people on the earth; it means the world’s philosophy or attitude. The world around us has a way of thinking which is totally different from Christianity. Instead of humility, we are told to put ourselves and our own needs first. Instead of disciplining ourselves and abstaining from certain things, our culture tells us to indulge our every desire. Rather than forgiving, the world tells us to take revenge. Big houses, fast cars, vanity, fame, power and sex all make empty promises of happiness in the endless pursuit of pleasure; while modesty and restraint are mocked as boring. The end goal of the world is to ‘please myself’, ultimately removing God from the throne and putting ourselves there instead.

The second enemy, the devil (the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”), is the ultimate enemy of God. He is the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, and he is still in the business of tempting people. He is a powerful spiritbeing who is actively against Jesus and anyone who is on Jesus’ side. The Bible teaches that it is the devil who is the designer of the world’s code of conduct.

The devil hates God and therefore hates all of us, especially those who belong to Jesus. He wants to distract us from God, tell us we’re better off on our own and make us obsessed with ourselves so that we disregard God entirely.

The “flesh” is what the Bible calls the sinful nature or selfish instinct of human beings. It is that inborn selfishness which causes us to live just for ourselves, and so in rebellion to God. Did you notice that in the garden of Eden, temptation came from the outside? The serpent tempted Eve. Ever since Adam and Eve rebelled against God, temptation doesn’t just need to come from the outside anymore; now temptation also comes from within!

Our desires demand to be gratified, and we instinctively want to obey.

While we still live on earth, our natural instincts will often still live in rebellion to God. We are our own enemies according to the Bible. It is the flesh that listens to the devil’s lures and falls for the world’s distractions—every time.

These are our new enemies. No wonder it isn’t smooth sailing!

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How to beat our enemies You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

—EPHESIANS 4:22-24 (EMPHASIS ADDED)

The “old self” (our instinctive selfishness which is so susceptible to the devil and the world) can be “put off”. I think this is what Jesus means when He says that if anyone wants to be His disciple, they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him (MATTHEW 16:24). The old self must be denied.

That simply means saying no to some of the things we feel like doing. It’s hard because those desires are strong, and we are used to obeying them.

Maybe we used to gossip or be dishonest. Now we know those behaviours are wrong, but we still get tempted to do them. Giving into those things is like walking down a well-worn path with no weeds or obstacles, whereas the new path is a constant battle against overgrown branches and roots.

Once we start getting used to going the new way with God, it will eventually feel like more of a clear path. We will sometimes fall back into our old ways, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t changed.

As well as taking off the old, we need to put on the new. The “new self” is just like Jesus. It is exciting to think we can choose to be like Him! It boils down to making daily choices to obey Him rather than our own desires. Two things are of vital importance here: the Bible and prayer. The Bible reveals what we are to obey, and time in prayer gives PUT OFF YOUR OLD us the desire to obey. Both build our faith. It SELF, WHICH IS is also important to spend time with other Christians, and live openly with each other.

BEING CORRUPTED Underlying this is the Holy Spirit who

BY ITS DECEITFUL lives within each believer. We can’t hope to DESIRES. change or become more like Jesus on our EPHESIANS 4:22 own. But we are not on our own. God lives in us to help us stay focused and centred on Jesus, our Saviour. The Holy Spirit continues to teach us more about Christ so that we can draw closer to Him in a real and active relationship (JOHN 14:26). As we rely on God and spend time with Him, His Holy Spirit will help us overcome the pull of our selfish desires. You can read more about this and the work the Holy Spirit is doing in us in Galatians 5.

Sometimes we try to hide our struggles because we are ashamed of them, often thinking nobody else has the troubles we have. The truth is 14

PUT ON THE NEW SELF, CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS.

that we all struggle and stumble on our journey, and we should never underestimate the help and encouragement we can receive from other Christians. Things like joining a Bible study group, finding a prayer partner or having a mentor can help us overcome the hurdles that easily rob us of the joy of walking with Jesus.

EPHESIANS 4:24 The world is full of temptations. It is tempting to indulge our desires instead of denying them. It is tempting to swell with pride when we do something well, or tell a lie to avoid getting into trouble. It is important to remember that many of our desires themselves are not evil, but they must be fulfilled God’s way. For example, it isn’t evil to want to stay out of trouble; but lying is wrong. It would be much better to tell the truth and trust God to carry us through the consequences. We will find that if we do things that way, He will always help us. In fact, I think this is a key to really moving on with God. Christianity can feel like a steep, mountainous climb. We aim to follow Christ ever higher, but we are in a constant battle with ourselves. We will experience brilliant life-long victories and sometimes our footing will slip because of some little thing. It’s a journey, and all journeys have ups and downs. Walking with Jesus every step of the way is the whole point. If we determine to obey Him with our lives, He will walk with us. And we have the promise of His Holy Spirit to guide and lead us. That is what keeps us going, even when we feel overwhelmed with life’s struggles. We know, when we do finally reach the end of our journey, it will be worth it to be in Jesus’ presence forever (JOHN 14:1-3). And that, to me, is what makes the Christian life the most fulfilling adventure on earth.

Adapted from I’m a new Christian: Why is it so hard? You can read more in-depth Bible studies on big questions, tough topics and Christian living at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 15

DAY 6

1 Peter 1 : 1 7 - 2 3 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these 17

last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 22

Thinking it over What does it mean for Jesus to have saved us from an “empty way of life” (v.18)?

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What should our trust in Jesus and obedience to Him result in (v.22)?

Why (v.23)?

What Are You Worth?

IT WAS NOT WITH PERISHABLE THINGS SUCH AS SILVER OR GOLD THAT YOU WERE REDEEMED . . . BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST. 1 PETER 1:18-19

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n 75 bc a young Roman nobleman called Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates and held for ransom. When they made their modest ransom fee known, Caesar laughed and said they obviously had no idea who he was. He told them to raise the ransom to over double the first amount! Why? Because he believed he was worth much more!

What a difference we see between Caesar’s big-headed opinion of himself and the value God places on each of us. Our value is not based on how much money we are worth, but on what our Father has done for us.

What ransom did He pay to buy us for Himself? Through the death of His only Son Jesus on the cross, the Father paid the price to rescue us from our sin. “It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 PETER 1:18-19).

God loved us so much that He gave up His Son to die on the cross and then rise from the dead. That is what you are worth to Him. Only Jesus pays our ransom from sin and rescues us. Only He makes us part of God’s BC family again.

Father, thank You for the love You have shown to me and for the price You have paid for my forgiveness.

Jesus has paid the full price. He has bought us for Himself.

More How do you measure your own worth? What things make you doubt your value in God’s eyes? Why would God send His Son to die for us when we are so undeserving? (SEE ROMANS 5:6-11). What has Jesus saved us from?

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DAY 7

Ro ma n s 8: 31- 3 9 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or 31

persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Thinking it over What promises are we given in these verses? How should they impact your day-to-day life?

In what ways do we suffer as Christians (v.36); and in what ways are we victorious (v.37)?

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How safe are we once we trust Jesus to be our Saviour (vv.38-39)? Should this security make us careless or complacent?

In His Grip I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME. PHILIPPIANS 3:12

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went wall-climbing at my local gym for the first time a few days ago. The instructor climbed up the wall with me, talking me through it and showing me where to put my feet as I pushed myself higher. When I started wobbling, I grabbed for his hand. As I held on to him, I felt a lot safer.

But it wasn’t really my grip on him that kept me from slipping, but his grip on me.

Something similar is true in our Christian lives: it’s not the tightness of our grip on God that keeps us safe, but the power of Jesus’ hold on us. So Paul tells us, “Christ Jesus took hold of me” (PHILIPPIANS 3:12). Or more exactly, “Jesus has a grip on me!” No one can take us out of His hands—not the devil, not even ourselves. Once we’re in His hands, He will not let go.

We have this promise: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (JOHN 10:28-29).

With Jesus firmly holding us, we couldn’t be safer. These are the hands that shaped the mountains and oceans and flung the stars into space.

Nothing in this life or the next “will be able to separate us from the love DR of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (ROMANS 8:39).

Thank You, Father, that Jesus’ hands, which were nailed to the cross for me, will hold me safely all the way to Your home.

Jesus holds us and He won’t let go.

What Does It Mean?

On one level, eternal life simply means going to heaven after we die. However, Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (JOHN 17:3). Eternal life isn’t just living forever; it is being in a relationship with God. We don’t have to wait for heaven to enjoy unending life with God; our life with God started as soon as we trusted Jesus!

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DAY 8

J o hn 1 4 : 1 5-2 1 “If you love me, keep my commands.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not 15 16

see me any more, but you will see me.

Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Thinking it over How does it encourage you to know that the Holy Spirit lives “in you”?

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How close has God made us to Himself (v.20)?

The Forgotten God HE LIVES WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOU.

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he Holy Spirit is often the subject of a lot of confusion! Is He like a force or power, or is He some kind of spiritual ghost?

The Bible actually makes it pretty clear. The Holy Spirit is God. He has all the characteristics of God: He is present everywhere (PSALM 139:7-8), He knows all things (1 CORINTHIANS 2:10-11) and He has unending power (LUKE 1:35). He also does things that only God can do: create (GENESIS 1:2) and give life (ROMANS 8:2). He is equal in every way with God the Father and Jesus.

JOHN 14:17

Having a relationship with God means we have a personal relationship with His Spirit. He grieves when we sin (EPHESIANS 4:30), teaches us (1 CORINTHIANS 2:13), prays for us (ROMANS 8:26), guides us (JOHN 16:13), gives us spiritual gifts (1 CORINTHIANS 12:11) and grows our confidence about how secure our salvation is (ROMANS 8:16).

As soon as we gave our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit made His home in us.

He desires to transform us so that we become more and more like Jesus.

It is important that we co-operate with the Spirit in His work by spending time with God regularly. It’s often during our times of prayer and reading the Bible that the Spirit will continue to shape us so we can show Jesus to MW the world.

The Holy Spirit is God living in us to make us more like Jesus every day.

More Why not read What is the role of the Holy Spirit? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 21

DAY 9

J o hn 8: 39 -4 7 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

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“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.

41 You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have

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not come on my own; God sent me.

Why is my language not clear to you?

Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.

When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?

47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” 43

Thinking it over What shows we are part of God’s family (v.42)?

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If people don’t belong to God, who do they belong to (v.44)?

Being in God’s Family TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD.

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hen I went to buy a smartphone in the Middle East, I was asked the typical questions: name, nationality, address. But then as the shop assistant was taking my details, he asked, “What’s your father’s surname?” That question surprised me, and I wondered why it was important. Where I’m from, family surnames don’t really matter, JOHN 1:12 but here it was part of each person’s identity.

In some cultures, ancestry (or, family history) is important.

The Israelites believed in the importance of their ‘family history’ too. They were proud of their nation’s ‘father’: Abraham. They thought being part of Abraham’s clan earned them God’s favour and made them His children.

When Jesus was talking with the Jews, He pointed out that this wasn’t the case. They could say Abraham was their earthly father, but if they didn’t love Jesus—the One sent by the heavenly Father—they were not part of God’s family.

It’s the same for us. We can’t choose our human family, but we have decided the spiritual family we belong to. From the moment we first believed in Jesus, God gave us the right to become His children (JOHN 1:12).

It’s like Jesus has made us brand new with God’s own DNA! We are now unmistakably His own family, and we will be welcomed into His home after we die.

KO Dear Lord, You are my heavenly and eternal Father.

Thank You for Jesus, my Saviour.

God is our Father; we are His children.

Who’s That?

You can read key parts of Abraham’s story in Genesis 12; 15; 21-22. He was a hundred years old when God gave him a son, who the people of Israel descended from. God had first promised him an heir twenty-five years earlier!

The Bible calls him “God’s friend” because he “believed God” (JAMES 2:23).

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DAY 10

E phe s ia n s 6 : 10 - 18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth 10

buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

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Thinking it over In Ephesians, Paul describes the armour God gives us in detail (vv.14-17). Why do you think each element is important?

What does the passage say this armour helps us to do?

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What are we battling in our lives? (vv.11-12). What do you think the “flaming arrows” are that our faith can extinguish (v.16)?

Emergency Kit PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD, SO THAT WHEN THE DAY OF EVIL COMES, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND YOUR GROUND, AND AFTER YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING, TO STAND. EPHESIANS 6:13

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or a long time I kept a car emergency kit in the boot of my car, but I never had to use it. It became such a familiar item that on the night we really needed it, I forgot it was there.

Thankfully my wife remembered!

After hitting a deer on a dark country lane, our car was completely wrecked. While I fumbled with a small torch to assess the damage and call a breakdown service, my wife opened the emergency kit, set out a reflective warning marker and then turned on a big, bright flashlight—much to my surprise. Later we talked about how unexpected problems and disasters can make us forget the resources we have, just when we need them most.

Paul told the Ephesians to “put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (EPHESIANS 6:11). This protective covering includes truth, righteousness (our right relationship with God), readiness, faith, salvation and prayer (VV.14-18). Although these spiritual resources guard us each day, we need to remember them when disaster strikes and circumstances try to undermine our confidence in God’s love and care.

Use the kit. “Put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (V.13).

DM Father, Thank You for this armour. Help me to stand firm against doubt, fear, temptation and anything else the devil throws at me.

Thank You for always being with me.

God has already given us everything we need to stay protected against our real enemy.

More Want to read more about the battles Christians face? Why not read I’m a new Christian: Why is it so hard? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 25

focus article

How do you read the Bible?

R

eading the Bible is not necessarily as easy as it sounds. Strange and unusual stories, situations and characters fill its pages. People offer animal sacrifices, stone law-breakers to death, anoint kings with oil, live in tents, observe specific festivals in peculiar ways, express mourning through sackcloth and ashes, have kinsman redeemers, follow unfamiliar traditions and experience and do many, many other things which just don’t make sense to us today.

But the Bible is not just a random mix of history and cultures. In the Bible we meet many historical people who are just like us, facing similar problems and trials. And we see how God interacts with and shapes them, allowing us to find out more about who He is and to deepen our own relationship with Him. Most importantly, we meet the person of Jesus Christ and see what He has done to make us God’s own children. So how do we go about reading, understanding and living out the Bible’s words?

Getting to know a book in the Bible Understanding the context and purpose of the book you are studying is essential to getting to grips with its message. This includes knowing its place in history, intended audience and what type of literature it is (is it an historical narrative with factual events, or a book of prophecy or songs communicating through imagery and metaphors?).

Often the best way to find out about a book is simply to read it. This may sound obvious, but reading through the text as a whole is, in most cases, how the Bible’s books are meant to be read. We wouldn’t read a short story or a note from a friend in little bite-sized chunks. We would probably read it in one go, and then go back and re-read certain bits if they were of real importance or made us react in a particular way. It is the same with the books of the Bible. The chapter divisions and verse numberings were not part of the original texts. They are helpful to break up passages for 26

more in-depth studies, but they can also stop us seeing the bigger picture of any given book if we only ever read in a ‘stop-start’ fashion.

Study Bibles can also be important allies when reading the Bible as they offer details, teaching and insights that may not be apparent to us today.

Reading a book in the Bible Before starting, it is essential that we talk to God about reading the Bible and ask for Him to speak clearly to us through the words we read. Whilst it is important to read the Bible carefully and do our best to know the relevant contexts, nothing is as crucial as trusting the Holy Spirit to teach us and reveal more of Jesus to us (JOHN 14:26; 15:26) through our study. Then we can come to Scripture expecting that He will indeed teach us.

Rather than simply reading Scripture, we should also ‘rest’ in it, taking our time to reflect with God on what He is telling us. Reading the Bible is not a hurried, ‘tick-box’ activity. Perhaps this is one reason we are told to “Be still, and know that I am God” (PSALM 46:10).

It’s very useful to read the Bible with a notepad and pen. When trying to understand the main point or purpose of a book or specific passage, noting down repeated words or phrases can provide the key to unlocking deeper truths that we may otherwise have missed. Rather than glossing over longwinded or boring bits of Scripture, this practice of active observation makes it possible to draw out at least a general point and motive for every passage or chapter.

Applying the Bible to our lives The purpose of reading the Bible is not just to gain more information. We read it to know our God and deepen our relationship with Him. This means that once we know what a passage says and what it means, we need to also apply it to our everyday lives.

A good way to do this is to arm ourselves with certain questions when we read any part of the Bible. These questions might be something like: “What does this passage tell me about who God is?”, “What does it tell me about myself?” or “What does it tell me about the relationship between me and God?” Questions like these will start shaping the things we’ve learned into things that we can think about in our own relationship with God.

Adapted from How do you read the Bible? You can read the full booklet online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper

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DAYÂ 11

P s al m 1 1 9: 9 - 1 6 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

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With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.

13

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

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I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

15

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

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10

11

Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.

12

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Thinking it over How often do you read the Bible? How do you feel about God’s Word compared to this Psalm writer (vv.14-16)?

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What do you think it means to want to seek God with all our heart (v.10)?

Sense of Direction I SEEK YOU WITH ALL MY HEART; DO NOT LET ME STRAY FROM YOUR COMMANDS. PSALM 119:10

I

hate getting lost. Normally the GPS app on my phone means I can easily work out where I am.

But if I’m out of data or signal, my sense of direction always lets me down. I find myself drifting along, just hoping I’m heading the right way.

The same thing can happen in my relationship with Jesus too. If I don’t spend regular time reading the Bible and talking with God, I end up just drifting along. I lose my focus on Jesus and His love for me, quickly getting distracted by other things.

But even when I’m drifting the wrong way, God always brings me back to Himself. And, really, I know I don’t want to walk away from Him. It’s just that there are so many other things in my life trying to get my attention.

Maybe that’s why we have this prayer in the Bible: “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands!” (PSALM 119:10).

If we’re not seeking God with “all [our] heart” (in other words, making Him the most important Person in our lives), we will get distracted from Him and end up drifting the wrong way. On our own, our ‘spiritual sense of direction’ is way off. We need to actively read the Bible and talk to Him if we want to keep going the right way. Let’s thank God for His patience BC and kindness towards us, even though we get so easily distracted.

Thank You, Father, for giving us the Bible. Help us to read it and talk with You about what it says so that we can get to know You better.

No matter how far we go the wrong way, God will always help us back.

More Reading the Bible can be difficult. But it is the main way we get to know God better—so it is really, really important! Why not ask your church leaders if you can join a Bible study group where you’ll be able to read the Bible with others and ask any questions.

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DAY 12

P s al m 91 : 1 -7 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

1

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

2

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

3

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find 4

refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 5

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

Thinking it over List out all the different images given of God’s protection and presence. Which do you find most striking?

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What confidence do these pictures of God’s protection give you? What reasons do you have to “not fear the terror” of our daily problems and worries (v.5)?

Our Safe Place I WILL SAY OF THE Lord, “HE IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS, MY GOD, IN WHOM I TRUST.”

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y first job was at a fast-food restaurant.

One Saturday evening a guy kept hanging around, asking when I got out of work. It made me feel uneasy. As the night got later, he ordered fries and then a drink, so the manager wouldn’t kick him out. Although I didn’t live far, I was scared to walk home alone.

Finally, at midnight, I went in the office to make a phone call. My dad, without a second thought, got out of a warm bed and was there to take me home five minutes later.

PSALM 91:2

The kind of certainty I had that my dad would come to help me that night reminds me of Psalm 91. Our Father in heaven is always with us, protecting and caring for us when we are confused or afraid or in need.

He says: “[They] will call on me, and I will answer” (PSALM 91:15). He is not just a place we can run to for safety. He is our shelter (V.1). He is the Rock who protects us (V.2).

In times of fear, danger or uncertainty, we can trust God’s promise to answer us when we call out to Him. He will be with us in our trouble (VV.14-15). God is our safe place.

CHK

Dear Father, thank You for being my Rock and my safe place.

God will always be our shelter.

More Read What can I do with my worry? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper to think more about how we can pass all our cares and stresses to God. 31

DAY 13

Luke 2: 25-32 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of 25

the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

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For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

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Thinking it over How can you be more like Simeon (who expected God to act) when you are waiting for Him to answer you?

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What is your response when God answers your prayers (vv.29-32)?

How can you make sure you spend time praising Him and giving Him thanks?

On Time SOVEREIGN LORD, AS YOU HAVE PROMISED . . . MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION.

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ometimes I joke that I’m going to write a book called On Time. Anyone who knows me also knows that I’m late—all the time! I’m always rushing around trying to do everything I need to . . . and in the meantime the clock just keeps on ticking. I keep promising my friends that I’ll try to do better, but I never LUKE 2:29-30 can! I always end up running out of time and getting to places much later than I meant to.

Unlike me, God is always on time. We may think He’s late, but He’s not.

All the way through the Bible we read about people getting stressed out with God’s timing. The people of Israel waited and waited for their promised Rescuer. Some gave up hope. But Simeon and Anna did not.

They were in the temple praying daily and waiting (LUKE 2:25-26,37). And their determined trust in God was rewarded. They got to see Jesus, the promised child, when Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple after His birth (VV.27-32,38).

When we’re about to give up waiting because God isn’t acting quickly enough, we can remember that “when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son . . . that we might receive adoption to sonship” (GALATIANS 4:4-5).

God’s timing is always perfect, and it is worth the wait.

JAL

Father, I admit that I get impatient quickly, wanting answers to my prayers straight away. Help me to wait for Your timing in all things.

God is always worth the wait.

More Do you struggle when your prayers seem to go unheard? Why not read Why doesn’t God answer me? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 33

DAY 14

Ro ma n s 8: 22 - 2 6 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no 22

hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

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Thinking it over What is the whole of the world waiting for (vv.22-23)? Is this what you are “eagerly” waiting for too?

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Can you think of a time you didn’t know what to pray? How does it help you to know that “the Spirit himself” was praying for you then, and is praying for you now?

The Day I Couldn’t Pray WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE OUGHT TO PRAY FOR, BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US THROUGH WORDLESS GROANS.

I

needed major surgery. Surprised and shaken, I was naturally worried. Would I die? Were there people I needed to make things right with first? How long would I be out of action for? What should I do first? It was a time to both get things done and to pray. Except I couldn’t do either.

I was so tired and worried that even the simplest of tasks seemed impossible. When I tried to pray, my thoughts would drift to my aches and pains, or my tiredness would make me keep falling into a restless sleep. It was frustrating. I couldn’t do anything! I couldn’t pray and I didn’t have the energy to spend time with my family.

ROMANS 8:26

But God knew all this. And He reminded me of two important promises: the prayer of the Holy Spirit for us when we can’t pray (ROMANS 8:26); and the prayer of others on our behalf (JAMES 5:16; GALATIANS 6:2).

What a comfort it was to know that the Holy Spirit was even then bringing my needs to the Father. And I was uplifted when I remembered my friends and family were also praying for me.

God knows all about what we’re going through, even when we’re RK struggling to call out to Him ourselves.

Lord, what a comfort it is that You care for us, understand our needs and pray for us when we cannot pray for ourselves.

Thank You for Your amazing love.

We are always at the forefront of God’s thoughts.

What Does It Mean?

Redemption is the process of buying something back. Jesus died in our place to take the punishment for our sin and to redeem us (buy us back) from the power of sin and death. God has paid the price, so now we belong to Him. 35

DAY 15

J erem i a h 1 8 : 1- 6 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it 1

into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.”

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Thinking it over How does the image of being clay in God’s hands encourage you?

Does this image trouble you in any way?

Who’s That?

God gave Jeremiah a message for His people at a time in their history when they were actively disobeying His ways and commands. Jeremiah warned them that God was about to judge them using an enemy nation to invade them and take them captive. You can read a summary of Jeremiah’s message in Jeremiah 25:1-14.

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Reshaping CAN I NOT DO WITH YOU, ISRAEL, AS THIS POTTER DOES?

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ave you heard of “sea glass”? Sometimes it’s called “beach glass”. Sea glass is made up of really bright, smooth ‘stones’ that the sea washes up on the shore. But you might be surprised to hear where they come from: rubbish. When bottles get smashed on beaches for example, JEREMIAH 18:6 they’re just ugly, broken and dangerous bits of glass. But then the sea drags the smashed glass out into the ocean.

There, the waves and currents rub against the rough edges of the glass, smoothing them into little jewels!

Does your life feel like rubbish right now? Do you have sharp edges or rough bits you don’t want anyone to see? God works in us in a similar way to the sea turning broken glass into jewels. In the Old Testament, Jeremiah watched a potter at work, making jars and pots. If an object the potter was making wasn’t good enough, the potter simply reshaped it “as seemed best to him” (JEREMIAH 18:1-6).

We are like clay in God’s hands. He is busy at work shaping us into the people He wants us to be. Flaws, problems and sharp edges are not a disaster for Him. He will work to smooth us over for His work. He won’t leave us broken or ‘out of shape’. Whatever you might be struggling with in your life today, you can talk to God, your Potter, about it. We are never too badly broken for God to reshape us and make us new. He loves us and CHK will never stop working to make us more like Jesus.

Father, You know the things I wish I could change about myself.

Please help me to trust these things to You. Thank You that everything I am is in Your hands.

Don’t hide your rough edges; bring them to God for reshaping.

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focus article

What is worship?

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hat is worship? We hear this word a lot in our churches. But could we actually define it? We might say that worship is another word for our times of singing in church when we praise God together. While that’s certainly true, is that all worship is?

Various dictionary definitions of worship include phrases like: “strong feelings of respect and admiration”, “the expression of reverence” and “thanks and adoration”. The attitude of worship is one of thanks, praise, love, wonder and total dependence. It’s a response to who God is. If worship is a response to God, then worship shouldn’t be confined to singing, it should be a way of life.

Still, it’s no surprise that times of singing God’s praise are called worship.

Singing praise is a great way to express our love and adoration towards Him (PSALM 66:4). However, our thanks and praise of God ought not be limited to our church services and songs. The Bible tells us to worship God with every part of our lives, 24/7. We are told to give THEREFORE, I URGE everything that we are to God as a “living sacrifice” (ROMANS 12:1), to rejoice “always” YOU, BROTHERS AND (PHILIPPIANS 4:4) and to “continually offer to SISTERS, IN VIEW God a sacrifice of praise” (HEBREWS 13:15).

OF GOD’S MERCY, It seems that just as our praise in church TO OFFER YOUR is an expression of worship, so too is our obedience to God in the office on a Monday BODIES AS A LIVING morning. Worship is not an action or event, SACRIFICE, HOLY but a way of living in response to who God AND PLEASING TO is. Worship is actually the way God designed GOD—THIS IS YOUR us to live! It directs our thoughts towards God, helping us enjoy His presence, love TRUE AND PROPER and goodness. God wants us to worship WORSHIP. Him so we can benefit from a closer and ROMANS 12:1 deeper relationship with Him each day.

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Our example of worship Jesus Christ, as the perfect Man, gives us the perfect example of a life of worship. He pleased the Father in all He did (JOHN 8:29); He responded to the Father in thankfulness, even in painful situations (JOHN 11:41); He sought time alone to rest and talk with His Father (MATTHEW 14:23); He trusted the Father, rather than taking matters into His own hands when He suffered under the treatment of the authorities (1 PETER 2:23); He didn’t seek His own will, but the will of the Father (MATTHEW 26:39; JOHN 5:30); He lived and worked for the Father’s glory COME, LET US BOW (JOHN 17:4).

DOWN IN WORSHIP, His attitude and actions were perfect LET US KNEEL expressions of human worship. As we BEFORE THE Lord are now “in Christ” (EPHESIANS 1:3) we are given His status before the Father: we are OUR MAKER; FOR perfect worshippers! With His example, and HE IS OUR GOD AND the Holy Spirit working in us, we can now WE ARE THE PEOPLE grow in the attitude of worship with more OF HIS PASTURE, faithfulness and joy each day. When we fail or make mistakes, we have this promise: THE FLOCK UNDER “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and HIS CARE. just and will forgive us our sins and purify PSALM 95:6-7 us from all unrighteousness . . . if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 JOHN 1:9-2:1). Jesus, the perfect worshipper, is our representative in heaven who makes us perfectly clean and blameless before God. Jesus has paid for our sin, He has made us God’s people, He has given us new lives of worship and He has promised to bring us safely into His home! In all circumstances, we have every reason to echo these words from Psalm 95: “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” (VV.6-7).

Adapted from What is worship? You can read the full booklet online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper

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DAY 16

Matth ew 1 8: 2 3 - 3 5 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

23

“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go.

26

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.

He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

28

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

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“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

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“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

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“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

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Thinking it over “Ten thousand bags of gold” was potentially worth 200,000 years’ wages.

What chances did the man have of paying it back? How is this like our situation with God?

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If we always refuse to forgive others, what does it show about our understanding of God’s forgiveness?

Bumper Cars THE SERVANT’S MASTER TOOK PITY ON HIM, CANCELLED THE DEBT AND LET HIM GO.

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ife is a lot like bumper cars at a theme park or funfair. You get in your car knowing that you will get hit . . . you just don’t know how hard. And when you get hit you step on the accelerator to chase whoever hit you—hoping to bump them harder than they bumped you!

That may be fun for bumper cars, but it’s a terrible way to actually live. When you get ‘bumped’ in life, bumping back only makes things worse—and in the end everyone gets hurt.

MATTHEW 18:27

Jesus had a better way for us to live: forgive those who have ‘bumped’ us. Like Peter, we may think there is a limit to how many times we have to forgive people. When Peter asked Jesus, “Up to seven times?”, Jesus answered “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (MATTHEW 18:21-22).

In other words, there’s no limit on how many times we should forgive others. We should always be ready to forgive anyone who has hurt us.

Why? In the story of the forgiving master, Jesus explained that we forgive not because the person who hurts us deserves it, but because we have been forgiven by God. He says, “I forgave you . . . because you begged me.

Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” (VV.32-33 NKJV).

Because we have been forgiven so much, let’s stop trying to get back at people when they hurt us. Let’s love them as we have been loved and show them a better way.

JS Father, help me to always remember how much You have forgiven me.

Teach me to forgive others and to trust You to deal with those who hurt me.

Forgiveness is God’s love in action through us.

More Read Romans 12:9-21. What direction does this passage give for living “at peace with everyone” (V.18)? How might these instructions help us live amongst messy relationships where other people may not want, or think they need, our forgiveness?

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DAY 17

Hebr ews 1 0 :2 3 - 2 5 ; 13 : 1- 6 10 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

13 1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in

prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering.

4 Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

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Thinking it over How does Hebrews 10:23-24 give added meaning and purpose to church and any other Christian meetings you go to?

What do you think “the Day approaching” is (v.25)?

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What examples of brotherly love are we given in Hebrews 13:1-5?

How does the promise of 13:5-6 help for those times we find it hard to love and support others?

T.A.B CARRY EACH OTHER’S BURDENS, AND IN THIS WAY YOU WILL FULFIL THE LAW OF CHRIST.

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n the army, T.A.B stands for a “Tactical Advance to Battle”. It basically means marching—but quickly! When I was a soldier I hated these forced marches, carrying a huge pack on my back and holding a heavy weapon. I have very short legs and found the exercise very tiring. Sometimes the only GALATIANS 6:2 thing that kept me going during a T.A.B was the rest of the squad. Whenever I started to stumble, they helped me to keep going. Without them, I’m pretty sure I would have given up!

Christians are in exactly the same position. We have to face up against many different enemies—illness, insecurity, job loss, relationship problems, difficult decisions and loads of other stuff. Often these things are just too much for us on our own. So it’s good to know our ‘squad’ is with us. Who’s our squad? Everyone who has given their lives to Christ, including the people in our churches.

The Bible tells us that we are “fellow citizens” with the “members of [God’s] household” (EPHESIANS 2:19). And everyone in God’s family should “carry each other’s burdens” (GALATIANS 6:2). In other words, we never need to face a problem alone! God doesn’t want us to battle on our own.

Instead, we can share our battles with others in “[God’s] household” so that they can ‘run’ alongside by encouraging us, teaching us from the Bible and praying for us!

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Don’t face your problems without the support of God’s family!

More Why not read Who or what is the church? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 43

DAYÂ 18

1 T he s s a lo n i ans 3 : 6 - 1 3 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and 6

day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

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Thinking it over What is it that encourages Paul about the church in Thessalonica and makes him give thanks to God (vv.8-9)?

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In Paul’s prayer (vv.11-13), what things does he actually pray for this church?

How does his prayer compare to things you pray for the people you know?

Praying Friends BROTHERS AND SISTERS, PRAY FOR US.

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met my friend for lunch because we’d not seen each other for a few months. At one point she pulled out her phone and read 1 THESSALONIANS 5:25 through some notes she’d written from the last time we met. It was a list of the things I’d told her I was worried or praying about; and so she had also been praying about all of them since then.

She went through each one and asked if God had answered yet or if there were any updates. And then we talked about anything she wanted prayer for as well. It was so encouraging to know I had a friend who prays for me!

In the Bible, Paul had a praying friendship with the churches he worked with, including the one at Thessalonica. He thanked God for the faith, love and hope of the people (1 THESSALONIANS 1:2-3). He really wanted to see them, and asked God “night and day” that he might be able to visit them again (3:10-11). He asked that God would help them “increase and overflow in love for each other and for everyone else” (V.12). He also prayed that their attitudes and minds would be blameless before God (V.13). They must have been encouraged as they read about Paul’s love and prayers for them. And Paul also knew he needed their prayers as he shared about Jesus in dangerous places. So he simply asked: “Brothers and sisters, pray for us” (5:25).

AC Loving Father, thank You for wanting us to talk with You. Teach us all to be praying friends.

The best kind of friend is a praying friend.

Who’s That?

Paul is a key character in the New Testament. He was an apostle (one of the people Jesus specifically met with so that they could teach the gospel with His authority). He initially hated Christians and dragged many off to prison. However, Jesus met with him and changed his life (ACTS 9:1-19). From that point Paul travelled as far as Europe to tell people about Jesus and the new life He offers. Much of Paul’s story is written in the book of Acts. Many of the other books in the New Testament are actually letters Paul wrote to teach and instruct some of the churches he started.

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DAY 19

Colo s s i a n s 3 : 12 - 17 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

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Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body

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you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Thinking it over Now that Jesus has made us God’s “chosen people”, what are some of the key things that should mark how we treat others (vv.12-14)? Which of these do you find hardest? Which come more naturally?

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What sorts of things lead to this way of living (vv.15-17)? How can you make sure the Bible’s words “dwell among you richly”?

Difficult People LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING YOU HAVE RECEIVED . . .

BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE. EPHESIANS 4:1-2

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ho do you struggle to get along with?

Whether they’re selfish, annoying, too loud (or too quiet), gossipy or any number of other things, we all have people we just can’t seem to click with. It’s easy to think that life would be that little bit easier if we didn’t ever have to deal with them . . .

But have you ever thought about how easy it would be for God to think this exact same way about us? We are difficult people too! We are selfish and unkind more often than we might like to admit. But God doesn’t look at us and think life would be easier if we didn’t exist. In love, He gave up His Son, Jesus, to die in our place on the cross.

Knowing our own problems and God’s forgiveness can help us show patience and love to the people we find difficult. In Ephesians, Paul encourages us to be “completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (4:2).

Rather than avoiding the people who annoy us, with Jesus as our example, DF we can be ready to welcome them with God’s love and kindness.

Father, please help me to be patient with the people I don’t get on with.

They were made by You too, and are just as important as everyone else.

When we find people difficult, it’s important to remember that we’re difficult too.

More Want to think more about why God tells us to look out for other people—even the difficult ones? Read Welcoming the stranger online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 47

DAYÂ 20

1 John 4 : 7 -1 6 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12 No one has ever seen God; but if we 7

love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

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God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

Thinking it over What is our example for loving others (vv.10-11)?

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What does it mean to “rely on the love God has for us� (v.16)? What does that look like each day?

Family Pattern EVERYONE WHO LOVES HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD.

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he Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland, have an unusual reason for being well known: their jumpers! Each family on the islands has their own pattern for their own handmade jumpers. The patterns are so individual that if a fisherman 1 JOHN 4:7 were to drown, police would be able to identify which family he was part of simply by looking at his clothes!

In one of John’s letters in the Bible, he says that God’s family should stand out in a similar way. In 1 John 3:1, he tells us, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” He then explains what stands out about God’s family: “Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (4:7).

Because “love comes from God”, the best way to show our family likeness is to copy the love He has shown us. Let’s care for the people we meet BC through our words and actions today!

Father, help me to live out Your family ‘pattern’ of love.

Thank You for making me Your child. Please may others see that I belong to You through the way I live.

Love is our family pattern!

More Read Ephesians 2:1-10. What are all the things this passage tells us God has done for us out of love?

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focus article

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A Giving Heart: Rob’s Story

was completely lost. Desperate. So lonely. I mean my heart goes out to anybody who’s lonely. I’ve been lonely for about two years. Although I was going to work and things like that . . . I was just spending so much time on my own. My life wasn’t like I was pretending it was. My whole life was becoming about trying to fit in and be like everyone else. It’s like it had overtaken my life. My life wasn’t my MY WHOLE LIFE own anymore.

WAS BECOMING It all started to change when I went to the Big Church Day Out, which I found myself ABOUT TRYING TO working at unintentionally. But God led me FIT IN AND BE LIKE there and that was the first nudge in the EVERYONE ELSE. direction of turning to Jesus.

I was working at the stage at the front. And there was a group of four girls who I’d been giving water and biscuits to during the day. Because they get close to fainting and they won’t go back up to Mum and Dad at the back of the tent because they lose their place.

And then there was this call to faith. Funnily enough it came over me and I wanted to put my hands in the air. I just couldn’t find the courage.

I couldn’t do it. I felt too dirty. I felt too ashamed of everything that I’d done.

I went and sat on the footplate at the stage, right by the girls. As the call to faith carried on, the four girls put their hands on me. It was like a mild electric shock. None of them spoke to me. None of them said a word.

I was just aware of those four. I couldn’t hear a thing from the crowd or the guy speaking.

I did the call to faith two weeks later, in bed alone, by myself at night.

With a guy I was watching on this Christian TV channel. I did exactly what he said. No one could see me, the curtains were shut. I got up, repeated what he said. I invited Jesus into my life. I accepted the Holy Spirit into my life.

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It has led me to a point of realising what’s important and what’s not. I couldn’t care less about houses and material things and holidays and this, that and the other. I’m constantly in a frame of mind of being alert and led by the Holy Spirit for anyone who’s in despair. If I’m in a crowd or walking along the sea front, it’s like I’ve got a radar, and if someone is in despair He’ll give me I’M CONSTANTLY IN a nudge and He’ll say, “Don’t let them walk A FRAME OF MIND past you.” And I’ll go, “Excuse me, don’t think OF BEING ALERT I’m mad, but Jesus has asked me to stop you.

AND LED BY THE Can I say a little prayer for you?” And that’s it.

That’s what He does to me all day long. Any HOLY SPIRIT FOR situation. Any place.

ANYONE WHO’S IN Feeding people is a great way of getting DESPAIR. to know people. I used to make dinners up or get fish and chips for some homeless guys that I know. It started with just five or six guys. It became a ministry really, really quickly. We’ve really got to know some hard, broken people. We’re helping people. We’ve had people turn to Jesus. We’ve seen healings. It’s been an amazing thing because God led me to do it all.

If He asks you to do things, you just do it. Because it’s not about just sitting in church for twenty years. It’s about getting out there. That’s where the repair work is. Before you know it, you find yourself walking in the ways of Jesus, and thinking like He would. It’s just amazing. And that’s how my life is now. —Rob (adapted from ourdailybread.org/story/robs-story-fe)

You can watch other stories of how God is transforming lives at ourdailybread.org/story

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DAY 21

J o hn 3: 1 6-21 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

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This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” 19

Thinking it over Can you sum up this teaching from Jesus in your own words?

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What is the only thing our friends and family can do to avoid God’s condemnation and judgement (v.18)?

Keep It Simple WE DO NOT WRITE TO YOU ANYTHING YOU CANNOT READ OR UNDERSTAND. 2 CORINTHIANS 1:13

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ave you ever tried to give some straightforward instructions, only to end up getting confused and making it more complicated? I often muddle up directions when I’m trying to tell people how to get to my house. I mix up road names, lefts and rights, and often miss out important roundabouts!

Sometimes telling people about Jesus can feel like this. It seems like there’s so much to remember, along with hard ideas to explain, things we mustn’t forget and plenty of stuff we don’t really understand ourselves . . . If we’re not careful, we can make Christian living sound like the most complicated thing around!

We need to remember that the Bible actually explains the good news of salvation in clear, easily understood language. Jesus said to Nicodemus, a leader in Israel, that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (JOHN 3:16). He later said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (14:6). And Paul simply said to his jailer in Philippi: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (ACTS 16:31).

When we talk about Jesus, we can keep it simple. He came to rescue us from a meaningless, hurtful way of life to bring us back to God as His DE children forever! That’s good news that anyone can understand.

Talking about the story of Jesus starts by simply retelling our own story with Him. More Why not read Why is it so hard to tell others about Jesus? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 53

DAY 22

P hili ppi a n s 3 : 7 - 1 4 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his 7

sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, 14 I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.

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Thinking it over In what ways does Paul say he has changed because of his relationship with Jesus (vv.7-11)? What is the most important thing in his life (v.10)?

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What attitude does Paul take to his journey with God (vv.12-14)? What is he “press[ing]” forward to?

Hyper-Seeing WHEN CHRIST APPEARS, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM. 1 JOHN 3:2

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ave you ever wondered how artists can turn a block of wood into a carving of an animal? Or turn a lump of stone into a person’s face? Artists have a word for this: “hyper-seeing”. It means that when they look at the same block of wood as us, rather than just seeing the block, they can see the image they want to create from it.

Hyper-seeing is also a good description of our all-seeing God. He sees all that we are—and more. He sees what we will be when He has finished His work in us; when we stand before Him blameless and without fault—just like Jesus. The God who started this great work in us will keep at it until He finishes it on the day Jesus Christ comes back (SEE PHILIPPIANS 1:6). Bit by bit, each day, He is chipping away at us to make us look even more like His Son. God’s work in us can’t be stopped! Whether we’re enjoying life or feeling low, God is at work. Whether we’re looking forward to today or wishing it would go away, God is going to use everything we go through to keep DR shaping us.

In what ways do you look more like Jesus today than you did last year? What is God teaching you at the moment about Himself?

No matter what we see in ourselves today, God can see how we’re going to look in heaven.

More Why not read What am I hoping for? online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper 55

DAY 23

Ge n es i s 39 : 2 , 6 - 1 2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

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So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

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Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house;

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everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even to be with her.

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

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Thinking it over What reasons did Joseph give for refusing Potiphar’s wife (vv.8-9)?

How does his answer challenge your priorities?

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Why would sleeping with Potiphar’s wife have been a “sin against God” (vv.2,9)?

When to Walk Away GOD IS FAITHFUL; HE WILL NOT LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BEAR.

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hen my father became a Christian in his old age, he fascinated me with his plan for overcoming temptation. Sometimes he just walked away!

One day he met with some friends who ordered pito (a locally brewed beer) for everyone. My 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 father had struggled with alcohol before he became a Christian and had decided he was better off without it. So he simply stood up, said his goodbyes and left his friends for another day.

In Genesis we read how Potiphar’s wife tempted Joseph. He immediately knew that giving in would be a “sin against God”, so he ran away (GENESIS 39:9).

Temptation knocks often at our door. Sometimes it comes from our own desires, other times through the situations and people we come across.

Yet the church at Corinth was told, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13).

The “way out” may include being alert to danger and ready to run away.

Or simply getting rid of things from our lives that tempt us. Our best plan of action may be to walk away.

LD Are there things you are struggling to walk away from?

Read Just once more—and then I’ll quit… online at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper.

Every temptation is an opportunity to run to God. Who’s That?

Joseph is a character in the Old Testament book of Genesis. Having grown up in a very dysfunctional family, he was sold into slavery by his brothers. Yet despite this, “the Lord was with Joseph” (39:2) and Joseph chose to live his life for God. This led to many more hardships, including imprisonment and having to face his brothers again many years later. You can read his full story in chapters 37-50.

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DAY 24

Galat i a n s 5 : 1 6 - 2 6 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and selfcontrol. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

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Thinking it over What makes obedience to the Holy Spirit such a battle (vv.16-18)?

What is the “fruit” (or lifestyle) that comes from relying on God’s Spirit (vv.22-23)?

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What is the promise of this passage, even on our worst days (v.24)?

All We Need to Know I KNOW THAT GOOD ITSELF DOES NOT DWELL IN ME, THAT IS, IN MY SINFUL NATURE. ROMANS 7:18

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recently heard a Christian talking about a time he thought he was going to die from a serious illness. On his sickbed, he’d thought about his life and realised what a lot of hurt and pain he’d caused. He became very aware of how much he had needed God’s forgiveness every single day.

That speaker was painfully honest about himself. His story can help us understand how much we need God’s love and guidance every single day.

When we wander off from Him, we just end up doing stuff that hurts others and doesn’t please Him (ROMANS 7:18). None of us is totally good.

We’re often tempted to pretend that we are good people anyway; that we’ve ‘got it all sorted’. But only God makes us good through the work Jesus has already done on the cross. As Christians we need to accept that we will get things wrong (a lot!). We don’t need to hide our failures; God will help us up again and again through His Spirit each time we fall. God is faithful to forgive us as we keep saying sorry to Him and asking Him to change us.

Another Christian, who was getting older and suffering from memory loss, said, “I do remember two things: I am a great sinner, and Jesus is a great Saviour.” When it comes to following Jesus, this is exactly what we need to remember too. We’re going to get things wrong, so the only way to live is by relying on Jesus’ love and leading through the Holy Spirit each day. DR Dear Father, thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You that Your mercy and love are given freely through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus.

We need Jesus every day.

That’s all we need to know.

What Does It Mean?

The flesh is a word the Bible uses to talk about our sinful nature and selfish instincts. When we just want to live for ourselves and do our own thing, we’re listening to the flesh, not the Holy Spirit.

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DAY 25

1 T he s s a lo n i ans 5 : 1 - 11 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety”, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

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But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let 4

us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Thinking it over Why do you think Jesus’ return is described as coming like “a thief in the night” (v.2)?

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What does it mean to be “awake and sober” (v.6)? How does expecting Jesus’ return help us focus on living for God and encouraging His people (vv.8-11)?

Your Last Day BE ON YOUR GUARD, NOT ASLEEP LIKE THE OTHERS. STAY ALERT AND BE CLEARHEADED. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:6 NLT

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hat if you were told that today was to be your last day on earth? How would you spend it? Who would you spend time with and what would you tell them? Would you act differently to normal?

I’ve heard plenty of people give the advice, “You should treat every day as if it’s your last one, because one of these days you’re going to be right.”

There’s no getting around it. Whether our lives end by accident, illness, old age or Jesus’ return, one day will be our last. That’s why we should be careful with the time we have, the things we do and the words we say.

The attitude we’d have on our last day should be our attitude every day.

Making up with people we’ve fallen out with, loving our friends and family, caring for those who need help, talking about Jesus with those who need to hear about Him . . . These things we so easily put off until ‘tomorrow’ should be our priority for today!

Perhaps you’ve been putting off sharing your faith? Or maybe you keep being distracted from reading the Bible and talking with God? Let’s “stay alert” (1 THESSALONIANS 5:6 NLT) and actively live our lives for Jesus today!

Since your last day on earth, or Jesus’ return, could be so unexpected, listen to Paul’s words: “Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation” (2 CORINTHIANS 6:2). Are you living each day as if it were your last?

VG In what ways might your daily life change if you lived each day as your last? How might it affect your relationship with God?

What would you change if this day were your last?

More You can read more about Jesus’ return and what it means for us in 1 Corinthians 15.

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focus article

Getting Obsessed

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thirty-two year old man was found dead in his chair at the beginning of 2015 after spending three days non-stop gaming in an online-gaming café. He had died of a heart attack. Apparently it was a result of sitting still for so long, hardly sleeping and being pumped up to the eye-balls with adrenaline from the fantasy gaming action.

Shockingly, the police reported that even as the dead body was taken away, the other gamers in the café carried on with their own games! They were so obsessed with gaming, that they barely noticed the dead guy next to them! Obsession had killed the man, but had also killed reality for the other gamers. For them, the fantasy world on their screens had become more important than the real world.

That, in effect, is what obsession is. It’s when we allow something to become more real and more important than reality itself.

Many of us obsess over our social media profiles, for example. These sites allow us to create our own fantasy lives and show whatever image we want about ourselves. Our pages, blogs and walls become our own little worlds that we can control. But does this obsession (or any other for that matter) really work? Ultimately we can still worry about our looks; what people think of us can still change; and happiness can fizzle out. The more we obsess over what people are saying about us and what the latest celeb fashion trends are, etc., the more we become like those online gamers: fixated on just a small bit of reality and unable to have a balanced view of our lives.

Fo l low i n g J esus The Bible says (maybe surprisingly) that obsession isn’t a bad thing. We all need something to make us feel secure about who we are and where we fit.

The problem is that we get obsessed over the wrong stuff.

Jesus is the one we’re meant to be obsessed with. He said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (JOHN 10:10). Jesus isn’t just a 62

part of reality to fixate on; He is the very centre of life itself! Only by centring our lives round Him can we gain the assurance and satisfaction we’re looking for. After all, He is the one who made us and designed us! He is the only one who really understands us; even more than we understand ourselves!

When Jesus came to earth, He suffered and died in order to bring us back to God and “full” life—both now and when we die! He did this by choosing to die in our place. He wasn’t just dying a horrible death on the cross; He was dying our death and paying the penalty for our misplaced obsessions and rejection of God. He received God’s correct punishment for how we have lived so that we don’t have to face it. And then He did something that can give us real security. He rose again three days later.

By coming back to life, He beat death. Now He gives us God’s forgiveness, along with new and unending life in God’s family.

G et t i ng o b s e ssio n righ t Jesus alone gives us the lasting satisfaction we need. That doesn’t mean we won’t face problems, job loss, rejection or illness as Christians. But it means that we can still be satisfied even if those things happen, because our satisfaction will be based on God’s love and His promise of a place in heaven.

God will always remain unchanging and reliable, even when everything around us—our likes, our hopes and even our friends—let us down.

But following Jesus isn’t like following another person on Twitter. Jesus isn’t just an addition to our lives. He alone is God, to be followed and loved first, making Him our one good obsession. Everything else (social media, football, celebrities, etc.) can stay as they are: things. We don’t need to ask them to fulfil us—only Jesus gives us full lives!

Getting obsessed with Jesus means putting Him before everything else.

It means we look to God for our acceptance, purpose and satisfaction, just as He designed us to. This is a healthy obsession, because He is the only one in the world who can fulfil us! An obsession with God puts everything else in our lives in perfect balance.

The life of a Christian is not just a one-time decision to trust Jesus to pay our penalty and give us new life. It is a daily decision to allow Him to be in charge of every part of our lives as we follow His plan, not our own. This is sometimes easy and sometimes difficult, as in all of our relationships, but we can trust that God is always good, always loves us and is always on our side.

Adapted from Obsession—no big deal . . . right? Read the full booklet, and many others like it, at ourdailybread.org/lookingatlife

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