Psalm 62:7

Music: "Trust In God"

Meme: Be Like Christ

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"Your friendship with Me is changing you from the inside out. I am shaping you into the person I want you to be. Don’t fight the changes, or try to speed them up. Let Me set the pace as I create a better you. Hold My hand and walk with Me - step by step."

"Our faces, then, are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory. And it comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ICB)

- "Jesus Calling for Kids" by Sarah Young

Quote: Pastor Steven Furtick

Meme: God Makes A Way Through Our Problems

Are You Being Made Perfect?

though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation
to all who obey Him,
Hebrews 5:8-9

There is a positive aspect to suffering. We all endure suffering to some degree, but the good news is that through it we can become like Jesus. Are you willing to pay whatever price is necessary in order to become like Christ? There are some things that God can build into your life only through suffering. Even Jesus, the sinless Son of God, was complete only after He had endured the suffering His Father had set before Him. Once He had suffered, He was the complete, mature, and perfect Savior through whom an entire world could find salvation.

If you become bitter over your hardships, you close some parts of your life from God. If you do this, you will never be complete. Some places in your soul can be reached only by suffering. The Spirit of God has important things to teach you, but you can only learn these lessons in the midst of your trials. King Saul was made king without ever enduring hardship, but he never developed the character or maturity to handle God's assignment. David spent years in suffering and heartache. When he finally ascended the throne, he was a man after God's own heart.

Don't resent the suffering God allows in your life. Don't make all your decisions and invest everything you have into avoiding hardship. God did not spare His own Son. How can we expect Him to spare us? Learn obedience even when it hurts!

Jesus' human life was not a script that he passively followed. It was a life that he chose freely (John 10:17,18). It was a continuous process of making the will of God the Father his own. Jesus chose to obey, even though obedience led to suffering and death. Because Jesus obeyed perfectly, even under great trial, he can help us obey, no matter how difficult obedience seems to be.

Christ was always morally perfect. By obeying, he demonstrated his perfection to us, not to God or to himself. In the Bible, perfect usually means completeness or maturity. By sharing our experience of suffering, Christ shared our human experience completely. He is now able to offer eternal salvation to those who obey him.

- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Meme: Give It To God

 

Prayer: Grace To Get Through It All

Application of God's Word: John 17:17

Verse: John 17:17

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Application:
Just as Jesus did not belong to the satanic world system, so believers do not. They belong to the heavenly kingdom (Colossians 1:13) because of their new births (John 3:3). Jesus had prayed for protection for His disciples (John 17:11). Now His second petition for them was for their sanctification (Sanctify means “set apart for special use). A believer is to be distinct from the world's sin, its values, and its goals.

The means of this sanctifying work is God's truth. The truth is communicated in the Word, which is both personal and propositional. As the message about Jesus was heard, believed, and understood, the disciples' hearts and minds were captured. This change in their thinking resulted in changes in their living. The same is true of believers today. As they appropriate God's Word to their lives, they are sanctified - set apart for God and changed in their living in order to honor God. God's message set the apostles apart from the world so that they would do His will, not Satan's.

Q&A: "Higher Power" vs. "God"

How can people say they believe in a "higher power" and not just say that so called "higher power" is God?

Belief in a "higher power" is a more inclusive term that allows for a range of spiritual, religious, and philosophical perspectives. Some people may use this term to acknowledge a divine or transcendent force without aligning themselves with specific religious doctrines or the concept of "God" as defined by particular faith traditions.

For instance, individuals who identify as spiritual but not religious might believe in a universal energy, cosmic consciousness, or interconnectedness of all life forms. They might find the term "higher power" more fitting to their beliefs, as it doesn't carry the same connotations or structures associated with organized religion.

Others might come from polytheistic traditions, where multiple deities or spirits are venerated, making the term "higher power" more encompassing than "God," which often implies a singular, monotheistic entity.

Lastly, some people might be agnostic or still exploring their beliefs. They might prefer a more open-ended term that allows them room to explore without committing to a specific definition.

The diversity of human experience and belief is vast, and language helps us navigate these nuances. 
 

No matter the optional "mindsets", I still believe they all point to God.

That's a meaningful perspective, and it reflects a deep sense of faith. Many people find comfort and clarity in their belief that all spiritual paths and experiences ultimately lead to the same divine source. This belief can foster a sense of unity and connection with others, even those with different spiritual or religious backgrounds.

It's fascinating how personal and unique each person's journey of faith can be. Whether one sees the "higher power" as God, the universe, or something else entirely, these beliefs often guide their values, actions, and sense of purpose.

(Answer obtained via Microsoft Copilot)

Meme: God's...Not Mine

 

Music: "Graves Into Gardens"

But, God, I Don’t Want To Plant a Garden Here

"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel,
says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”

Jeremiah 29:4-5

During difficult times of life or when facing hard transitions, I have found myself struggling to understand God’s plans.

In seasons I certainly don’t want to embrace or settle into, many times my desires don’t line up with God’s plans. I cry out for rescue, hoping He will swoop in and remove me from my uncomfortable situation — but sometimes His response is, Stay where you are. Build houses, plant gardens, and live your life.

Jeremiah 29:4 portrays this surprising command given to God’s people in exile. Taken from their homeland to Babylon, the people of Judah longed for a quick return to Jerusalem. They wanted to be rescued, for God to undo their captivity and restore them to their former lives. But instead of immediate deliverance, God’s message through the prophet Jeremiah was to settle down in the very place they wanted to escape.

“This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce’” (Jeremiah 29:4-5).

It’s not difficult to imagine their frustration and hopelessness. But, God, we don’t want to plant gardens and build houses here. We don’t belong here. This is not our home. Fix this, Lord!

Yet God’s command was clear — He had a purpose for the Israelites in Babylon. They wanted to hear His plans for immediate relief, but instead they heard that their stay would not be short. Thus He encouraged them to embrace the present instead of wasting their days longing for the past or dreaming of a faraway future.

This passage challenges our perspective on difficult seasons of life. We often plead with God to change our circumstances, to remove our pain, struggle or discomfort. But sometimes God’s answer is not to change our situation but to change us within it. He invites us to build and plant, creating and loving life in the very place we don’t want to be.

Perhaps you currently feel out of place, longing for God to change your situation. It’s natural to want to escape hardship and discomfort. But what if God is telling you to stay and “plant a garden” right where you are? What if He is cultivating something within you that requires time, patience and perseverance so true growth can take place?

Resist the urge to merely endure. Instead, ask God how you can invest in the season He has you in, and trust He has a plan even in the waiting.

He’s got you, and you’ve got this. Now, go plant that garden.

Lord, life has changed, and it feels so difficult. Please give me peace, the ability to embrace where You have me, and the courage to live fully, trusting in Your plans for me and Your sovereignty over all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Tracie Miles
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Sermon: When You Just Can’t Win

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"I want you to be all Mine. I want you to depend only on Me - not on your friends, or yourself, or your circumstances. Depending only on Me may make you feel a bit like the tightrope walker at the circus. But don’t be afraid of falling; I am your safety net. I will catch you - I promise! So don’t look down. Look ahead to Me. I am always in front of you, encouraging you to come closer to Me, one step at a time."

"Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:39

- "Jesus Calling for Kids" by Sarah Young

Quote: Oswald Chambers

 

The Gift of Being Seen and Known by God

“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her:

‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said,

‘I have now seen the One who sees me.'”

Genesis 16:13

I called my closest friend with joyful expectation. Sunday afternoon was our time to spend together. However, she told me she had promised another friend she’d go to the cinema, and we couldn’t meet. She didn’t invite me to join, nor did she offer me another time to talk or meet.

I felt the rejection hardening my stomach with its icy sting.

Have you felt this sting too? Have you struggled with rejection from your family, friends or co-workers?

Rejection is truly one of the most painful human experiences. It cuts to the core of our being and projects powerful and heart-shattering messages like:

You are not enough.
Your work is not good enough.
You are not loved.
You don't deserve it.
You don't belong.
You are worthless.
You will never measure up.

These harmful messages can damage our identity and relationships if we believe and internalize them.

But God’s Word has a different message. One of my favorite passages in the Old Testament is the story of Hagar - an abused and rejected woman who experienced God's love and care.

Genesis 16 tells us Hagar was the slave of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, who was barren and used Hagar as a surrogate mother. This changed the dynamic in the family, and Sarah began to mistreat Hagar. Rejected and despised, Hagar fled to the desert.

There, God sent an angel with a personal message for her. God Himself manifested His presence with Hagar in a powerful way: He came to this woman and brought encouragement, comfort, vision for the future, and a magnificent promise to bless her family.

Hagar gleaned hope from the angel’s words about God’s love and acceptance of her, and she trusted the message. She heard God saying:

I see you.
You are valuable to Me.
I love you.
I accept you.
I have a plan for you.
I will take care of you.
I will not abandon or reject you.

Hagar gave a name to the Lord right then and there: “‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me’” (Genesis 16:13).

Imagine this for a moment: God sees, understands and loves every part of your being. He sees your past, present and future. God sees the hurt and even the invisible wounds in your heart. He sees the light and the darkness.

And He stays; He does not reject. He sees your true self, and all parts of your story come together as His plan unfolds.

May we accept this gift of being seen and known by God, letting Him heal our wounded hearts as only He can.

Dear Lord, rejection is hard. I sometimes struggle with lies bombarding my mind, and I doubt my worth as a person. Let me experience Your unconditional love and acceptance in a fresh way. Heal my wounds, and impart Your blessings to me. I want to see the One who sees me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Hadassah Treu

Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Music: "Friend In High Places"

New Life

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Christians are brand-new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore. We are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated - we are re-created (new creations), living in vital union with Christ (Colossians 2:6,7). At conversion we do not merely turn over a new leaf; we begin a new life under a new Master.

You do not become a Christian by asking Jesus into your heart. You become a Christian when you are born again. Jesus said, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Saying a prayer or making a public commitment or signing a decision card will not save you. Only being born again will do that. The apostle Paul said that when you are “in Christ,” the old things pass away. In the moment of your salvation, every sin you ever committed is forgiven. Healing for every hurt you have ever suffered is available. Love and acceptance are yours despite every failure you have ever experienced. Your past, no matter how difficult or painful, is completely and thoroughly provided for.

Some will seek to diminish the awesome reality of your spiritual rebirth. You will hear them say, “Even though you're now a Christian, you must still undergo years of counseling to overcome the hurts you've experienced” or “You may be born again, but you'll continue to struggle with your sin, and hopefully you will eventually gain victory in areas of your weakness.”

The problem is that we seek changes by our own will rather than by turning our lives over in faith to the One who has given us new life. The profound testimony of Scripture is that the blood of Jesus Christ and the death of the Son of God is sufficient to completely free you from your sin. Satan will seek to convince you that it is not. Whom will you believe?

- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Meme: Why Me?

God Never Gets Tired of Hearing About It

“Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.”
Psalm 62:8

Sometimes I can’t shake the feeling that I’m a burden.

I’ve even felt this way during prayer-request time in my weekly small group - one of my favorite moments with some of my closest friends from church. We’ve shared so many beautiful and difficult things. But when it comes time for me to speak, I sometimes hesitate.

Normally I’m an open book, quick to share what’s on my heart. But what if they’re tired of hearing about this? The thought echoes in my mind. So instead of being honest, I keep my requests safe and surface level.

There are seasons in life that last far longer than we expect - times when the same frustrations seem to keep repeating. Though I know my friends would listen without complaint, the weight of my burden feels too heavy, and I don't want to place it on their shoulders.

Maybe you’ve felt this way too. Whether it’s a lingering struggle with your health, a broken relationship that continues to cause pain, or a financial need that feels impossible to overcome, it can feel never-ending and overwhelming.

But, even if those around us grow weary of hearing our struggles, God never does. He invites us to come to Him.

Psalm 62:8 reminds us, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

God not only calls us to trust Him with our challenges but welcomes us to pour out everything burdening our hearts - worries, sorrows, frustrations and unfulfilled hopes. In Him we find the shelter we need in the middle of storms that seem too long to bear.

Despite the nights when I've sat in that small group and held back what I wanted to say, I find comfort in knowing that God is never burdened by what weighs on my heart. He never tires of my repeated prayers.

Sometimes what our weary hearts need most is to pour everything out to Jesus. He invites us to bring it all - no matter how messy or heavy it feels. He offers the strength we long for and the compassionate ear we crave. He provides exactly what we need.

So let's dare to run to Him as our safe place. He will never grow weary of our tears.

Oh Lord, help me to remember that You have asked me to trust You with all my heart. Thank You that no matter how many times my burden comes to my mind, I can pour it out to You again. Help me feel Your tender protection from this storm as I come to You, my Shelter. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Ashley Morgan Jackson
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Meme: I Can't Wait...

Sermon: Where You Meet With God

 

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"When you pray, I want you to share everything with Me: your joys and heartaches, your struggles and triumphs, your worries and questions. I am your best Friend - pour out your heart to Me. And then thank Me for the answers that are already on the way."

"Jesus has the power of God. His power has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness."

- 2 Peter 1:3 (ICB)

- "Jesus Calling for Kids" by Sarah Young

Music: "Miracle Power"

 

Q&A: Am I "Religious" or "Spiritual"?

Question:
I'm a born again Christian, however, I do not believe in organized (man made) religion. Am I considered to be "religious", "spiritual" or something else?

Answer:
Great question! While "religious" and "spiritual" are often used interchangeably, they describe two different ways of relating to the world and the divine.

Being Religious

• Organized Beliefs and Practices: Typically involves regular worship and rituals in a community setting, often according to the doctrines of a particular faith. Examples include attending church, mosque, synagogue, or temple.

• Sacred Texts: Religions usually have holy books or scriptures, such as the Bible, Quran, Torah, or Vedas.

• Authority Structure: There are often defined leaders, such as priests, imams, rabbis, or monks, who guide the community and interpret sacred texts.

• Cultural and Social Identity: Religion can also be a big part of cultural and family identity, influencing social customs and holidays.

Being Spiritual

• Individual Experience: Emphasizes personal and individual connection with the divine or the transcendent. This can include meditation, personal reflection, and experiencing nature.

• Flexible and Inclusive Beliefs: A spiritual person may draw from multiple religious traditions or none at all, creating a personal belief system.

• Less Formal Structure: There may be no set rituals or community worship; instead, spirituality is often more fluid and open-ended.

• Focus on Inner Life: Often involves seeking personal growth, inner peace, and a deeper understanding of oneself and one's place in the universe.

Some people see themselves as both religious and spiritual, finding that the two aspects complement each other. Others might identify more strongly with one or the other. 

Spiritual Christian

• Personal Faith: You maintain a strong, personal connection with Christian teachings and Jesus Christ, focusing on your relationship with God rather than following formal practices or church structures.

• Flexible Practice: Instead of adhering strictly to church rituals, you might choose to express your faith through prayer, meditation, reading the Bible, and living according to Christian values in your daily life.

• Individual Beliefs: Your faith is shaped by your personal experiences, reflection, and interpretations of Christian teachings, independent of institutional doctrines.

You might be considered part of a growing group of people who identify as "spiritual but not religious" (SBNR), where the emphasis is on personal spirituality rather than organized religion. It's all about what feels authentic and meaningful to you!

(Answer obtained via Microsoft Copilot)

Quote: Rick Warren

But Is the Bible True?

Scripture:
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” – John 17:17

Reflect:
How do we know if we can trust the Bible? How do we know it is God’s Word?

The world, especially the Internet, is rife with people who claim that Christians believe in a storybook rather than a holy book. When Christians counter secular arguments with the truth of Scripture, they often aren’t taken seriously by skeptics, atheists, and sometimes even by people who claim to be Christians.

But in today’s verse, we can see clearly that Jesus said that His Word is the truth. Not one of many different truths, but the only truth. In this verse, Jesus was praying for His disciples during the Last Supper. He prayed that they would be “sanctified” by the truth of God’s Word. To be sanctified means to be set apart, cleansed, and made holy for a sacred purpose. Jesus was praying that the truth that He had communicated to them would set them apart and make them holy because they had a high and holy calling. The apostles were going to establish His church even though they were merely men. But Jesus knew His Word had the power to change lives.

Jesus wasn’t the only one in the Bible who testified to the truth of Scripture. The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119 and the main theme of the 176 verses is the truthfulness, usefulness, goodness and beauty of the word of God. Psalm 119:160 says, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” The psalmist is saying that the entirety of the Bible is true and will never fail.

But we don’t have to believe the Bible is true just because the Bible tells us so. In fact, I believe that many young people are deconstructing their faith largely because they have no intellectual basis for believing the truths of the Bible. As soon as they go off to college or out into the world and have the truthfulness of the Bible challenged, their faith often falters and sometimes collapses completely. We need to understand that it is reasonable to believe the Bible is true.

Thankfully, we have scholars, historians, archeologists, and textual critics who can attest to the accuracy and reliability of the Bible. Did you know that it is hard to find a serious historian who denies Jesus’ existence even as they question or deny His deity? Louise Antony is a professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts who is an outspoken atheist. But she was quoted in the Washington Post in 2012 as saying, “I don’t personally know a single atheist who would deny that Jesus existed…”. There is too much historical evidence that the Jesus of the Bible was a real person in history.

Bart Ehrman is an agnostic who questions the Bible but even he maintains that there is historical evidence for Jesus' existence. But while he points to differences and inconsistencies in biblical manuscripts as his biggest issue, it is interesting that he and many other secular and Christian textual scholars agree that of all the variants in the manuscripts that we have, the differences are minor. Most do not impact the meaning of the text, and not one impacts the understanding of any core Christian doctrine or biblical event. Secular scholars may reject the Bible because they are biased against supernatural events but many of those same scholars will affirm that biblical manuscripts have been preserved with a degree of accuracy that is remarkable - more than any other historical document.

Further, we can believe the truth of Scripture because it was written by eyewitnesses or those closely associated with and discipled by eyewitnesses. The Bible is full of primary source documents! Detective J. Warner Wallace is a former cold-case detective who decided to investigate the claims of the New Testament Gospels. He used his skills as a detective to determine whether or not each Gospel author could be considered a reliable eyewitness. What he discovered in his research led him away from atheism into a committed relationship with Jesus Christ. He went from being an atheist cop to a Bible-believing Christian, author, and apologist solely because he studied the evidence for the truth of the Bible.

I could go on and on about the reliability of the Bible, but I am out of space. This is just a small sample of the reasons I believe that the Bible is what Jesus said it is - the Word of God. If you are interested in this topic, I encourage you to start reading some apologetics books, specifically about how the Bible was compiled. You’ll find that Scripture holds up to scrutiny. I read the Bible because I believe it and I believe it because it has proven true. “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Proverbs 30:5).

Pray:
God, thank You for Your Word. I know that it is the truth and that it has the power to sanctify me. Use Your Word to set me apart for Your purposes. Amen.

- Nat Crawford (Provided by "Back To The Bible")

Quote: Billy Graham

 

2 Timothy 2

Be Strong in Grace

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.

¹² If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.

¹³ If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

Approved and Disapproved Workers

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

 - 2 Timothy 2 (NKJV)

Application of God's Word: Daniel 8:1

 Verse: Daniel 1:8

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank…
  

Application:
Daniel "made up his mind" to be devoted to principle and to be committed to a course of action. When Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself, he was being true to a lifelong determination to do what was right and not to give in to the pressures around him. We, too, are often assaulted by pressures to compromise our standards and live more like the world around us. Merely wanting or preferring God's will and way is not enough to stand against the onslaught of temptation. Like Daniel, we must resolve to obey God. 

It is easier to resist temptation if you have thought through your convictions before the temptation arises. Daniel and his friends made their decision to be faithful to the laws of God before they were faced with the king's delicacies, so they did not hesitate to stick with their convictions. We will get into trouble if we have not previously decided where to draw the line. Before such situations arise, decide on your commitments and what you will do. Then when temptation comes, you will be ready to say no.

Romans 12:2

 

Meme: There Is No Perfect Life...

 

Start The New Year With God!

 

Quote: Brother Yun

 

Jesus Wants You To Know...

“I am your Strength and your Shield. Long before you get out of bed each morning, I am there, preparing and planning your day. Instead of wondering what will happen and worrying about how you will handle it, talk to Me about it. I’ve already got it all figured out. If you ask for My help, My Strength will flow freely into you. You will be strong enough to face whatever comes.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.” - Psalm 28:7 (NKJV)

- "Jesus Calling for Kids" by Sarah Young

Why Should We Read the Bible?

Scripture:

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. - 1 John 4:9-10

 

Reflect:

Why do you think reading the Bible is an important spiritual discipline?

 

If you asked someone “Why should I read the Bible?” you will get a variety of answers. American history tells the story of a skeptic surprised to see Abraham Lincoln reading a Bible. Lincoln’s response was, “Take all that you can of this book upon reason, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a happier man.”

 

John Piper once said, “I have never met a mature, fruitful, strong, spiritually discerning Christian who is not full of Scripture, devoted to regular meditation on Scripture, and given to storing it in the heart through Bible memorization - and that’s not a coincidence.”

 

It is true that there are a variety of reasons why reading the Bible is valuable and important. But I propose to you that the most important reason to read the Bible is because it is God’s special revelation to man and what He reveals to us is beyond amazing.

 

The Bible contains the greatest love story ever told. About how God made us even though He didn’t need us. About how He wanted a relationship with us. But we sinned. We ruined our relationship with God and His perfect creation was tarnished. But still, He loved us and wanted that fellowship restored. So He sent His Son, Jesus to sacrifice His own life on our behalf - to pay the penalty for our sins and to give us life in His name. Those of us who call upon His name will be saved, our relationship with God will be restored, and we will receive life everlasting. He will come again to finally end sin and death with judgment and to establish His eternal kingdom in the new heaven and the new earth where His saints will reign with Him.

 

Today’s verses summarize the main storyline of the Bible. John wrote that it’s not about how we loved God but rather how God loved us. After all, He created us out of His great love and yet, we disobeyed Him. Throughout the Bible (and human history), humans have disobeyed and even displayed hatred for God more than we’ve loved and obeyed Him. We sinned and we deserved eternal punishment.

 

But still, John says, God loved us! So much that He made His love manifest, or tangible by sending Jesus into the world. Jesus was God in the flesh. But He went even further to demonstrate His love for us. He became the propitiation of our sins. The NIV says God, “sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (v. 9). That is what propitiation means - an atoning sacrifice or a sacrifice given to right a wrong in the eyes of God. Because Jesus paid the due penalty for our sins, John says that we can have life in Him instead of the death we rightfully deserved. The storyline of Scripture is the creation, fall, redemption, and restoration of mankind by a God who loves us.

 

If you are wondering why it is worth the time and effort to read the Bible, here’s my answer. Read the Bible so that you can get to know the God who loves you. It is the most important love story ever written. True story!

 

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15).

As you read the Scriptures, let God’s love transform your heart.

 

Pray:

God, thank You for Your abundant, steadfast love. Thank You for dying for me, even as I was dead in my sins against You and for raising me up to new, eternal life in You. And thank You for sending us all a message about this great love all throughout Scripture so that we can know You. Amen.

 

- Nat Crawford (Provided by "Back To The Bible")

Joshua 1:8

 

Who I Am In Christ