Hidden Treasure
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Posted:Feb 4, 2016 2:42 am
Last Updated:Feb 5, 2016 1:43 am 16658 Views
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Read: Proverbs 2:15
Bible in a Year: Exodus 34–35; Matthew 22:23-46
Search for [insight and understanding] as for hidden treasure.
Proverbs 2:4
My husband and I read in different ways. Since English is a second language for Tom, he has a tendency to read slowly, word-for-word. I often speed-read by skimming. But Tom retains more than I do. He can easily quote something he read a week ago, while my retention can evaporate seconds after I turn away from the screen or book.
Skimming is also a problem when I’m reading the Bible—and not just the genealogies. I’m tempted to skim familiar passages, stories I’ve heard since I was a , or a psalm that is part of a familiar chorus.
We come to know God and His wisdom when we search for it with our whole heart.
Proverbs 2 encourages us to make the effort to know God better by carefully seeking a heart of understanding. When we read the Bible carefully and invest time memorizing Scripture, we absorb its truths more deeply (vv. 1-2). Sometimes reading the Word aloud helps us to hear and understand the wisdom of God more fully. And when we pray the words of Scripture back to God and ask Him for “insight and understanding” (v. 3), we enjoy a conversation with the Author.
We come to know God and His wisdom when we search for it with our whole heart. We find understanding when we seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure.
Dear Lord, help me to slow down and listen to what You want to teach me through Your Word so I can be the person You want me to be.
For further study, check out this guide for how to grasp the truths of Scripture: at A Message for All Time
Read the Bible carefully and study it prayerfully.
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LEAVE A LEGACY
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Posted:Feb 2, 2016 5:18 am
Last Updated:Feb 4, 2016 2:43 am 16541 Views
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Read: 2 Chronicles 21:4-20
Bible in a Year: Exodus 29–30; Matthew 21:23-46
Even the of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.
Mark 10:45
When a road-construction foreman was killed in an accident, the love of this man for his family, co-workers, and community resulted in an overwhelming sense of loss. His country church couldn’t accommodate all the mourners, so planners moved the service to a much larger building. Friends and family packed the auditorium! The message was clear: Tim touched many lives in a way uniquely his. So many would miss his kindness, sense of humor, and enthusiasm for life.
As I returned from the funeral, I thought about the life of King Jehoram. What a contrast! His brief reign of terror is traced in 2 Chronicles 21. To solidify his power, Jehoram killed his own brothers and other leaders (v. 4). Then he led Judah into idol worship. The record tells us, “He passed away, to no one’s regret” (v. 20). Jehoram thought that brute force would ensure his legacy. It did. He is forever commemorated in Scripture as an evil man and a self-centered leader.
Life isn't just about ourselves. It's about Jesus.
Although Jesus also was a king, He came to Earth to be a servant. As He went about doing good, He endured the hatred of those who grasped for power. In the process, this Servant-King gave His life away.
Today, Jesus lives along with His legacy. That legacy includes those who understand that life isn’t just about themselves. It’s about Jesus—the One who longs to wrap His strong, forgiving arms around anyone who turns to Him.
Lord, in Your death as well as in Your life, You did the will of Your Father and served others. In some small way, help us to serve others with our lives today.
A life lived for God leaves a lasting legacy.
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ALWAYS PRAY AND DON'T GIVE UP
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Posted:Jan 31, 2016 8:26 pm
Last Updated:Feb 2, 2016 5:19 am 17025 Views
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Read: Luke 18:1-8
Bible in a Year: Exodus 27–28; Matthew 21:1-22
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1
Are you going through one of those times when it seems every attempt to resolve a problem is met with a new difficulty? You thank the Lord at night that it’s taken care of but awake to find that something else has gone wrong and the problem remains.
During an experience like that, I was reading the gospel of Luke and was astounded by the opening words of chapter 18: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (v. 1). I had read the story of the persistent widow many times but never grasped why Jesus told it (vv. 2-8. Now I connected those opening words with the story. The lesson to His followers was very clear: “Always pray and never give up.”
Prayer is a process of recognizing God's power and plan for our lives.
Prayer is not a means of coercing God to do what we want. It is a process of recognizing His power and plan for our lives. In prayer we yield our lives and circumstances to the Lord and trust Him to act in His time and in His way.
As we rely on God’s grace not only for the outcome of our requests but for the process as well, we can keep coming to the Lord in prayer, trusting His wisdom and care for us.
Our Lord’s encouragement to us is clear: Always pray and don’t give up!
Lord, in the difficulty I face today, guard my heart, guide my words, and show Your grace. May I always turn to You in prayer.
Prayer changes everything.
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HER FATHER'S ZOO
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Posted:Jan 29, 2016 6:17 am
Last Updated:Jan 31, 2016 8:26 pm 16772 Views
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Read: 1 Kings 4:29-34
Bible in a Year: Exodus 21–22; Matthew 19
The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 12:10
June Williams was only 4 when her father bought 7 acres of land to build a zoo without bars or cages. Growing up she remembers how creative her father was in trying to help wild animals feel free in confinement. Today Chester Zoo is one of England’s most popular wildlife attractions. Home to 11,000 animals on 110 acres of land, the zoo reflects her father’s concern for animal welfare, education, and conservation.
Solomon had a similar interest in all creatures great and small. In addition to studying the wildlife of the Middle East, he imported exotic animals like apes and monkeys from far-off lands (1 Kings 10:22). But one of his proverbs shows us that Solomon’s knowledge of nature went beyond intellectual curiosity. When he expressed the spiritual implications of how we treat our animals, he mirrored something of the heart of our Creator: “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel” (Prov. 12:10).
The beauty of God's creation should inspire us to take better care of what He has entrusted to us.
With God-given wisdom, Solomon saw that our relationship to our Creator affects not only how we treat people but also how much thoughtful consideration we give to the creatures in our care.
Father in heaven, when we think about the wonder and diversity of Your animal kingdom, please help us not only to worship You, but to care for what You’ve entrusted to us.
God is the real Owner of all of us.
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BEFORE THE PHONE
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Posted:Jan 28, 2016 5:05 am
Last Updated:Jan 29, 2016 6:17 am 16924 Views
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Read: Psalm 18:1-6
Bible in a Year: Exodus 19–20; Matthew 18:21-35
In my distress I called to the Lord.
Psalm 18:6
As a mom of young I’m sometimes susceptible to panic. My first reaction is to call my mom on the phone and ask her what to do with my ’s allergy or my ’s sudden cough.
Mom is a great resource, but when I read the Psalms, I’m reminded of how often we need the kind of help that no mortal can give. In Psalm 18 David was in great danger. Afraid, close to death, and in anguish, he called on the Lord.
Jesus always hears our cries.
David could say, “I love you, Lord” because he understood God was a fortress, a rock, and a deliverer (vv. 1-2). God was his shield, his salvation, and his stronghold. Maybe we cannot understand David’s praise because we have not experienced God’s help. It may be that we reach for the phone before going to God for advice and help.
Surely God puts people in our lives to give us help and comfort. But let’s also remember to pray. God will hear us. As David sang, “From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears” (v. 6). When we go to God, we join David’s song and enjoy Him as our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer.
Next time you reach for the phone, remember also to pray.
Dear Lord, help me to remember You are my deliverer, and You always hear my cry.
Prayer is the bridge between panic and peace.
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WHAT IS IT?
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Posted:Jan 27, 2016 5:39 am
Last Updated:Jan 28, 2016 5:06 am 16655 Views
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Read: Exodus 16:11-31
Bible in a Year: Exodus 16–18; Matthew 18:1-8
When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?”
Exodus 16:15
My mother taught Sunday school for decades. One week she wanted to explain how God supplied food for the Israelites in the wilderness. To make the story come alive, she created something to represent “manna” for the in her class. She cut bread into small pieces and topped them with honey. Her recipe was inspired by the Bible’s description of manna that says it “tasted like wafers made with honey” (Ex. 16:31).
When the Israelites first encountered God’s bread from heaven, it appeared on the ground outside their tents like frost. “When [they] saw it, they said to each other, ‘What is it?’ ” (v. 15). The Hebrew word man means “what,” so they called it manna. They discovered they could grind it and form it into loaves or cook it in a pot Num. 11.7-8. Whatever it was, it had a baffling arrival (Ex. 16:4,14), a unique consistency
(v. 14), and a short expiration date (vv. 19-20).
Sometimes God provides for us in surprising ways, but He always meets our needs.
Sometimes God provides for us in surprising ways. This reminds us that He is not bound by our expectations, and we can’t predict what He will choose to do. While we wait, focusing on who He is rather than what we think He should do will help us find joy and satisfaction in our relationship with Him.
Dear God, please help me to freely accept Your provision and the way You choose to deliver it. Thank You for caring for me and meeting my needs.
Those who let God provide will always be satisfied.
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WHEN QUESTIONS REMAIN
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Posted:Jan 26, 2016 5:52 am
Last Updated:Jan 27, 2016 5:39 am 16923 Views
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Read: Job 23:1-12
Bible in a Year: Exodus 14–15; Matthew 17
He knows the way that I take.
Job 23:10
On October 31, 2014, an experimental spacecraft broke apart during a test flight and crashed into the Mojave Desert. The copilot died while the pilot miraculously survived. Investigators soon determined what had happened, but not why. The title of a newspaper article about the crash began with the words “Questions remain.”
Throughout life we may experience sorrows for which there are no adequate explanations. Some are catastrophic events with far-reaching effects while others are personal, private tragedies that alter our individual lives and families. We want to know why, but we seem to find more questions than answers. Yet even as we struggle with “Why?” God extends His unfailing love to us.
When Job lost his and his wealth in a single day (Job 1:13-19), he sank into an angry depression and resisted any attempted explanations by his friends. Yet he held out hope that someday there would be an answer from God. Even in the darkness Job could say, “[God] knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (23:10).
Oswald Chambers said, “There will come one day a personal and direct touch from God when every tear and perplexity, every oppression and distress, every suffering and pain, and wrong and injustice will have a complete and ample and overwhelming explanation.”
Today, as we face life’s unanswered questions, we can find help and hope in God’s love and promises.
When we face unanswered questions, we find help and hope in God’s love.
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CARELESS WORDS
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Posted:Jan 25, 2016 2:08 am
Last Updated:May 1, 2024 9:31 pm 16905 Views
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Read: James 3:1-12
Bible in a Year: Exodus 12–13; Matthew 16
The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.
James 3:5
My has had a lot of ill health recently, and her husband has been wonderfully caring and supportive. “You have a real treasure there!” I said.
“You didn’t think that when I first knew him,” she said with a grin.
She was quite right. When Icilda and Philip got engaged, I was concerned. They were such different personalities. We have a large and noisy family, and Philip is more reserved. And I had shared my misgivings with my quite bluntly.
I was horrified to realize that the critical things I said so casually 15 years ago had stayed in her memory and could possibly have destroyed a relationship that has proved to be so right and happy. It reminded me how much we need to guard what we say to others. So many of us are quick to point out what we consider to be weaknesses in family, friends, or work colleagues, or to focus on their mistakes rather than their successes. “The tongue is a small part of the body,” says James (3:5), yet the words it shapes can either destroy relationships or bring peace and harmony to a situation in the workplace, the church, or the family.
Perhaps we should make David’s prayer our own as we start each day: “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).
Father, please curb my careless speech and put a guard on my tongue today and every day.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:11
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A PRISONER NO MORE
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Posted:Jan 22, 2016 5:32 am
Last Updated:Jan 25, 2016 2:08 am 16951 Views
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Read: Romans 7:15-25
Bible in a Year: Exodus 4–6; Matthew 14:22-36
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Romans 7:15
A middle-aged man approached me after I led a workshop at his place of employment and asked this question: “I’ve been a Christian nearly my whole life, but I’m constantly disappointed in myself. Why is it that I always seem to keep doing the things I wish I didn’t do and never seem to do the things I know I should? Isn’t God getting tired of me?” Two men standing next to me also seemed eager to hear the response.
That’s a common struggle that even the apostle Paul experienced. “I do not understand what I do,” he said, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Rom. 7:15). But here’s some good news: We don’t have to stay in that trap of discouragement. To paraphrase Paul as he writes in Romans 8, the key is to stop focusing on the law and start focusing on Jesus. We can’t do anything about our sinfulness in our own strength. The answer is not “try harder to be good at keeping the rules.” Instead, we must focus on the One who shows us mercy and cooperate with the Spirit who changes us.
Focus on the One who shows us mercy & cooperate with the Spirit who changes us.
When we focus on the law, we are constantly reminded that we’ll never be good enough to deserve God’s grace. But when we focus on Jesus, we become more like Him.
I sometimes get caught in the cycle of trying harder to be good, failing, getting discouraged, and giving up. Help me, Lord, to depend on Your grace and to draw near to You so that You can change my heart.
Focus on Jesus.
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WELCOME HOME!
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Posted:Jan 21, 2016 3:29 am
Last Updated:Jan 22, 2016 5:32 am 16751 Views
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Read: Luke 15:11-24
the Bible in a Year: Exodus 1–3; Matthew 14:1-21
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him.
Luke 15:20
When we were going through a particularly challenging time with our , a friend pulled me aside after a church meeting. “I want you to know that I pray for you and your every day,” he said. Then he added: “I feel so guilty.”
“Why?” I asked. “Because I’ve never had to deal with prodigal ,” he said. “My pretty much played by the rules. But it wasn’t because of anything I did or didn’t do. ,” he shrugged, “make their own choices.”
I wanted to hug him. His compassion was a reminder, a gift from God, communicating to me the Father’s understanding for my struggle with my .
No one understands the struggle with prodigals better than our heavenly Father. The story of the prodigal in Luke 15 is our story and God’s. Jesus told it on behalf of all sinners who so desperately need to come home to their Creator and discover the warmth of a loving relationship with Him.
Jesus is God in the flesh seeing us in the distance and looking on us with compassion. He is God running to us and throwing His arms around us. He is heaven’s kiss welcoming the repentant sinner home (v. 20).
God hasn’t just left the porch light on for us. He’s out on the front porch watching, waiting, calling us home.
We ask again today, Lord, that our prodigals would come home.
Our loved ones may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons—but they are helpless against our prayers.
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