LIKE A LITTLE
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Posted:Mar 6, 2018 5:09 am
Last Updated:May 25, 2024 11:55 pm 10447 Views
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Read: Mark 10:13–16
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 1–2; Mark 10:1–31
Let the little come to me, and do not hinder them. Mark 10:14
The little girl moved joyfully and gracefully to the music of praise. She was the only one in the aisle but that didn’t keep her from spinning and waving her arms and lifting her feet to the music. Her mother, a smile on her lips, didn’t try to stop her.
My heart lifted as I watched, and I longed to join her—but didn’t. I’d long ago lost the unselfconscious expression of joy and wonder of my childhood. Even though we are meant to grow and mature and put childish ways behind us, we were never meant to lose the joy and wonder, especially in our relationship with God.
How can you be more like a in the presence of Jesus?
When Jesus lived on Earth, He welcomed little to Him and often referred to them in His teaching (Matthew 11:25; 18:3; 21:16). On one occasion, He rebuked His disciples for attempting to keep parents from bringing their to Him for a blessing, saying, “Let the little come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). Jesus was referring to the childlike characteristics that ready us to receive Christ—joy and wonder, but also simplicity, dependence, trust, and humility.
Childlike wonder and joy (and more) open our hearts to be more receptive to Him. He is waiting for us to run into His arms.
Abba (Daddy), Father, help us to be more childlike in our relationship with You. We long to be filled with wonder at all You have done.
Faith shines brightest in a childlike heart.
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GRASS OR GRACE
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Posted:Mar 5, 2018 3:04 am
Last Updated:Mar 6, 2018 5:10 am 10224 Views
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Read: Genesis 13:1–18
Bible in a Year: Numbers 34–36; Mark 9:30–50
Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan. Genesis 13:11
My friend Archie came home from vacation to find his neighbor had erected a wooden fence five feet inside his property line. Several weeks went by during which Archie tried to work with his neighbor to remove the fence. He offered to help and to split the cost of the work, but to no avail. Archie could have appealed to civil authorities, but he chose to forgo that right in this instance and allow the fence to stand—to show his neighbor something of the grace of God.
“Archie is a wimp!” you say. No, he was man of towering strength, but he chose grace over a patch of grass.
Lord, help me to show Your love and grace to others.
I think of Abraham and Lot, who fell into conflict because their flocks and herds overwhelmed the land. “Quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and the Perizzites [the unbelieving community] were also living in the land at that time” (Genesis 13,7. Lot chose the best of the land and lost everything in the end. Abraham took what was left over and gained the promised land (vv. 12–17).
We do have rights and we can claim them, especially when other’s rights are involved. And sometimes we should insist on them. Paul did when the Sanhedrin acted unlawfully (see Acts 23:1–3). But we can choose to set them aside to show the world a better way. This is what the Bible calls “meekness”—not weakness. Strength under God’s control.
Dear Lord, I am prone to look out for myself. Give me wisdom to know when giving up my rights would best demonstrate Your love and grace to others.
My life helps paint my neighbor’s picture of God.
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PHONE ZONE
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Posted:Mar 2, 2018 4:46 am
Last Updated:Mar 5, 2018 3:05 am 10334 Views
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Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24
Bible in a Year: Numbers 26–27; Mark 8:1–21
Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
One of the benefits of cell phones is that we now have virtually unlimited access to others. As a result, many people talk on the phone or text even while driving—sometimes resulting in terrible car crashes. To avoid such disasters, many areas of the world have made distracted driving illegal. In the United States, highway signs are popping up to remind drivers of special cell phone zones where they can pull off the road to safely talk and text to their heart’s delight.
While it is a good idea to restrict mobile phone communication for drivers, there is another kind of communication that has no restrictions: prayer. God invites us to call on Him whether we are coming, going, or sitting still. In the New Testament, Paul’s words advise each person who wants to communicate with God to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Paul brackets this divine open-door policy by encouraging us to “rejoice always” (v. 16) and to “give thanks in all circumstances” (v. 18. God calls us to joy and thanksgiving—expressions of faith in God through Christ anchored in continual prayer.
God is available for a quick cry or for a lengthy conversation.
God is available for our quick cry or for a lengthy conversation. He welcomes us into a relationship with Him, a constant and endless sharing of our joys and gratitude, needs, questions, and concerns (Hebrews 4:15–16). We are always in the prayer zone.
I’m grateful, Lord, that You want to hear from me. I need You today.
Access to God’s throne is always open.
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WE WON´T BREAK
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Posted:Mar 1, 2018 2:00 am
Last Updated:May 25, 2024 11:55 pm 10249 Views
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Read: Matthew 6:25–34
Bible in a Year: Numbers 23–25; Mark 7:14–37
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:27
As a native Californian and lover of all things sunny, I shy away from all things cold. I do, however, enjoy beautiful photos of snow. So I couldn’t help but smile when my friend from Illinois shared a winter picture of a sapling outside her window. Admiration turned to sadness when I noticed its bare, knotted branches bowing under the heavy fringe of sparkling icicles.
How long could those bending boughs endure before breaking under their icy burdens? The heaviness threatening to crack the tree’s limbs reminded me of my shoulders, hunched beneath the weight of worries.
We never have to worry, Lord, because You never fail to meet our deepest needs.
After Jesus affirms that the greatest treasures are not earthly or temporary, He encourages us to release our anxious thoughts. The Creator and Sustainer of the universe loves and provides for His , so we don’t have to waste our precious time worrying. God knows our needs and will care for us
(Matthew 6:19–32).
He also knows we’ll be tempted to succumb to worry. He tells us to come to Him first, trust His presence and provision in the present, and live by faith one day at a time (vv. 33–34).
In this life, we’ll face overwhelming troubles and uncertainties that can make our shoulders droop. We may temporarily bend under the weight of worrying. But when we trust God, we won’t break.
Thanks for assuring us that we never have to worry, Lord, because You never fail to meet our deepest needs.
Worry won’t break us when we trust the Giver of all good things.
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LOST BUT FOUND
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Posted:Feb 28, 2018 2:32 am
Last Updated:Jun 14, 2018 6:25 pm 10271 Views
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Read: Luke 15:1–9
Bible in a Year: Numbers 20–22; Mark 7:1–13
Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. Luke 15:6
When we discovered that my mother-in-law had gone missing while shopping with a relative, my wife and I were frantic. Mom suffered from memory loss and confusion, and there was no telling what she might do. Would she wander the area, or hop onto any bus thinking it would take her home? Worst-case scenarios spun through our minds as we began to search for her, crying out to God, “Please find her.”
Hours later, my mother-in-law was spotted stumbling along a road, miles away. How God blessed us in being able to find her. Several months later, He blessed her: at eighty years of age, my mother-in-law turned to Jesus Christ for salvation.
Lord, You search for us and find us. Thank You for making us Your own.
Jesus, comparing humans to lost sheep, gives us this illustration: “Suppose [a shepherd] has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, . . . he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep” (Luke 15:4–6).
Shepherds counted their sheep to make sure every one was accounted for. In the same way, Jesus, who likens himself to that shepherd, values each of us, young and old. When we’re wandering in life, searching, wondering about our purpose, it’s never too late to turn to Christ. God wants us to experience His love and blessings.
Lord, You search for us and find us. Thank You for making us Your own.
Amazing grace! . . . I once was lost, but now am found.
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THE RELEASE OF FEAR
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Posted:Feb 27, 2018 4:40 am
Last Updated:Mar 1, 2018 2:01 am 10081 Views
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Read: Mark 6:45–53
Bible in a Year: Numbers 17–19; Mark 6:30–56
Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. Mark 6:50
Our bodies react to our feelings of dread and fear. A weight in the pit of our stomachs, along with our hearts pounding as we gulp for breath, signal our sense of anxiety. Our physical nature keeps us from ignoring these feelings of unease.
The disciples felt shockwaves of fear one night after Jesus had performed the miracle of feeding more than five thousand people. The Lord had sent them ahead to Bethsaida so He could be alone to pray. During the night, they were rowing against the wind when suddenly they saw Him walking on the water. Thinking He was a ghost, they were terrified
(Mark 6:49–50).
Lord release me from my fears and give me Your peace.
But Jesus reassured them, telling them not to be afraid and to take courage. As He entered their vessel, the wind died down and they made it to the shore. I imagine that their feelings of dread calmed as they embraced the peace He bestowed.
When we’re feeling breathless with anxiety, we can rest assured in Jesus’s power. Whether He calms our waves or strengthens us to face them, He will give us the gift of His peace that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4.7. And as He releases us from our fears, our spirits and our bodies can return to a state of rest.
Lord Jesus Christ, help me when the dread seems to cling to me. Release me from my fears and give me Your peace.
The Lord releases us from fear.
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FEARLESS GIVING
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Posted:Feb 26, 2018 3:22 am
Last Updated:Jun 14, 2018 6:25 pm 10097 Views
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Read: Malachi 3:8–12
Bible in a Year: Numbers 15–16; Mark 6:1–29
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Malachi 3:10
When my Xavier was six years old, a friend brought her to visit and Xavier wanted to give him a few toys. I delighted in our little giver’s generosity, until he offered a stuffed animal my husband had searched several stores in different cities to find. Recognizing the high-demand toy, my friend tried to politely decline. Still, Xavier placed his gift into her ’s hands and said, “My daddy gives me lots of toys to share.”
Though I’d like to say Xavier learned his confident giving from me, I’ve often withheld my resources from God and others. But when I remember that my heavenly Father gives me everything I have and need, it’s easier to share.
Fearless giving to God and others reveals our trust in the Lord’s promises and provision.
In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to trust Him by giving a portion of all He had supplied to the Levite priests, who would in turn help others in need. When the people refused, the prophet Malachi said they were robbing the Lord (Malachi 3:8–9). But if they gave willingly, showing they trusted the Lord’s promised provision and protection (vv. 10–11), others would recognize them as God’s blessed people (v. 12).
Whether we’re managing our finances, our schedules, or the gifts God entrusted to us, giving can be an act of worship. Giving freely and fearlessly can show our confidence in the care of our loving Father—the ultimate generous Giver.
Lord, please help us live with full confidence in Your faithful provision, so we can give freely and fearlessly to You and others.
Fearless giving to God and others reveals our trust in the Lord’s promises and provision.
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MERCY OVER JUDGMENT
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Posted:Feb 23, 2018 5:27 am
Last Updated:Mar 1, 2018 2:02 am 10059 Views
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Read: James 2:1–13
Bible in a Year: Numbers 7–8; Mark 4:21–41
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. James 2:12
When my were squabbling and came to me to tattle on one another, I took each aside separately to hear their account of the problem. Since both were guilty, at the end of our chat I asked them each what they felt would be an appropriate, fair consequence for their sibling’s actions. Both suggested swift punishment for the other. To their surprise, I instead gave them each the consequence they had intended for their sibling. Suddenly, each lamented how “unfair” the sentence seemed now that it was visited upon them—despite having deemed it appropriate when it was intended for the other.
My had shown the kind of “judgment without mercy” that God warns against (James 2:13). James reminds us that instead of showing favoritism to the wealthy, or even to one’s self, God desires that we love others as we love ourselves (v. 8. Instead of using others for selfish gain, or disregarding anyone whose position doesn’t benefit us, James instructs us to act as people who know how much we’ve been given and forgiven—and to extend that mercy to others.
God’s mercy prompts us to be merciful.
God has given generously of His mercy. In all our dealings with others, let’s remember the mercy He’s shown us and extend it to others.
Lord, I’m grateful for the great mercy You’ve shown me. Help me to offer similar mercy to others as a measure of my gratitude to You.
God’s mercy prompts us to be merciful.
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BUCKLING UP!
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Posted:Feb 22, 2018 5:45 am
Last Updated:Feb 27, 2018 4:42 am 9993 Views
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Read: Hebrews 4:11–16
Bible in a Year: Numbers 4–6; Mark 4:1–20
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. Hebrews 4:16
“The captain has turned on the seat belt sign, indicating that we are entering an area of turbulence. Please return to your seats immediately and securely fasten your seat belt.” Flight attendants give that warning when necessary because in rough air, unbuckled passengers can be injured. Secured in their seats, they can safely ride out the turbulence.
Most of the time, life doesn’t warn us of the unsettling experiences coming our way. But our loving Father knows and cares about our struggles, and He invites us to bring our cares, hurts, and fears to Him. The Scriptures tell us, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:15–16 nlt).
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. Hebrews 4:16
In seasons of turbulence, going to our Father in prayer is the best thing we can do. The phrase “grace to help us when we need it”—means that in His presence we can be “buckled” in peace during threatening times, because we bring our concerns to the One who is greater than all! When life feels overwhelming, we can pray. He can help us through the turbulence.
Father, sometimes life is overwhelming. Help me to trust You with all the turbulent moments, knowing how deeply You care for my life.
Although we cannot anticipate the trials of life, we can pray to our Father who fully understands what we face.
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OF SPIDERS AND GOD´S PRESENCE
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Posted:Feb 21, 2018 2:11 am
Last Updated:Mar 1, 2018 2:03 am 10120 Views
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Read: Ephesians 3:14–19
Bible in a Year: Numbers 1–3; Mark 3
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16
Spiders. I don’t know any who likes them. At least not in their rooms . . . at bedtime. But as she was getting ready for bed, my spied one dangerously close to her bed. “Daaaad!!!!! Spiiiderrr!!!!!” she hollered. Despite my determination, I couldn’t find the eight-legged interloper. “He’s not going to hurt you,” I reassured her. She wasn’t convinced. It wasn’t until I told her I’d stay next to her top bunk and stand guard that she agreed to get in bed.
As my settled in, I held her hand. I told her, “I love you so much. I’m right here. But you know what? God loves you even more than Daddy and Mommy. And He’s very close. You can always pray to Him when you’re scared.” That seemed to comfort her, and peaceful sleep came quickly.
Lord, thank You for always being close by.
Scripture repeatedly reassures us God is always near (Psalm 145:18;
Romans 8.38–39; James 4.7–8, but sometimes we struggle to believe it. Perhaps that’s why Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus to have strength and power to grasp that truth (Ephesians 3:16). He knew that when we’re frightened, we can lose track of God’s proximity. But just as I lovingly held my as she went to sleep that night, so our loving heavenly Father is always as close to us as a prayer.
Lord, thank You for always being close by. Please give us strength and power in our hearts to remember You are near, You love us deeply, and we can always call out to You.
God is always near in spite of our fears.
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