Jeremiah 2:13

For us as believers, contentment should be governed by inner attitude and the decisions we make rather than by external circumstances. Because Paul had learned this secret, he was able to experience joy and peace in any kind of situation–whether he was surrounded by friends or isolated in a Roman prison; whether he had plenty or was in great need.

The apostle understood what it meant to live in Christ and to have Christ living in him (John 15:1-9; Gal. 5:22-23). He had made a simple but profound faith decision to draw his life from the Lord and, as a result, had the calm assurance that what he possessed inside could never be stolen. He was confident in his identity as a child of the Almighty, with full access to the abundant life Jesus offers.

I want to challenge you–this week, when something threatens to steal your contentment, choose to draw from God; decide to stop drawing from other sources and trying to be in control. When you find yourself becoming flustered, anxious, or angry, stop and say, “Lord, You are my source, and I draw from You the capacity to be kind. I draw from You the forgiveness I need to extend right now. I draw from You the love I need to express.” This decision is a matter of simple trust.

Watch and see how God will quiet your spirit and provide confidence when you draw only from Him as your source. You’ll be surprised at your own attitude: when you respond from within–rather than from the flesh–Jesus will give you the ability to respond as He would.

 At certain times of the year, an extremely ferocious wind from the mountain blows through the city of Bursa in Turkey. This wind, named Lodos by the locals, is so strong that if you were anything short of a 100 pounds, you would be blown off the street when it hits.

 A few years ago, when Lodos was making one of its many visits, a grade school building collapsed and tragically killed six schoolchildren. Later, officials blamed the poor structure of the building’s walls for the cause of the crash. The public claimed that had the walls been properly constructed according to safe building standards, the school would have been able to withstand the destructive blow of Lodos and the unfortunate incident would not have occurred.

 In a separate incident, some musicians were tearing down parts of their house to build a music studio. Imagine their horror when they found newspaper stuffed between the bricks of the walls of the house! Apparently, the contractor appointed to build the house used paper to gap between bricks to save on costs and make more money from the project.

 Such reports sound peculiarly like what Jesus warned in one of his parables. In Matthew 7:24–27, he tells of two builders—one wise and another foolish. The houses of both builders look sturdy in fine weather, but the test always comes with the storm. The one who built his foundation on the rock had his house still standing after the rain and flood, but the house of the foolish man came crashing down after the storm, as it was built on sand.

 The original audience of this parable knew very well what Jesus was talking about, since theirs was a land known for its torrential storms. Through this familiar analogy, Jesus was warning his followers that only those who take heed of his teachings and live out what they had learned from him will withstand the storms of life and ultimately remain standing. Any shortcuts or shoddiness will eventually be revealed.

 The devotion of those who pretend to have faith, those who simply pay lip service, those who have faith in faith instead of trust in Jesus, will be tested and proven powerless and unable to hold up under pressure. Even those who merely have an intellectual commitment to the teachings of Christ will find that their structure will fool no one when the storms of life come.

 In Ezekiel 13:10–13 a similar warning is given to those who cover up the weak wall that they have built with whitewash. The Lord assures that the storm will come and the foundation of those whitewashed walls will be leveled along with the destruction of its builder.

 Clearly we live at a time in history when storms of various origins seem to beat endlessly against the foundation of our walls from all directions. Belief or conviction is difficult to articulate amidst the torrents of relativism; religion is mocked; lives are constantly distracted by the lure of consumer advertising and its promise of a better life.

 Yet, the invitation of Jesus is still the same. If we are to be like the wise builder, then we must construct our foundation on the rock by practicing the righteousness we have learned. We will find that the cost demanded of us is no less than a radical submission to the exclusive lordship of Jesus. However, the reward comes when we find our house still standing after the final storm leaves and when the sun breaks through again. 

 I’Ching Thomas is associate director of training at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Singapore.

Morning “And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh

with me.” Genesis 21:6

 It was far above the power of nature, and even contrary to its laws, that the

aged Sarah should be honoured with a son; and even so it is beyond all ordinary

rules that I, a poor, helpless, undone sinner, should find grace to bear about

in my soul the indwelling Spirit of the Lord Jesus. I, who once despaired, as

well I might, for my nature was as dry, and withered, and barren, and accursed

as a howling wilderness, even I have been made to bring forth fruit unto

holiness. Well may my mouth be filled with joyous laughter, because of the

singular, surprising grace which I have received of the Lord, for I have found

Jesus, the promised seed, and he is mine forever. This day will I lift up

 psalms of triumph unto the Lord who has remembered my low estate, for “my heart

rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged

over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.”

 I would have all those that hear of my great deliverance from hell, and my most

blessed visitation from on high, laugh for joy with me. I would surprise my

family with my abundant peace; I would delight my friends with my

ever-increasing happiness; I would edify the Church with my grateful

confessions; and even impress the world with the cheerfulness of my daily

conversation. Bunyan tells us that Mercy laughed in her sleep, and no wonder

when she dreamed of Jesus; my joy shall not stop short of hers while my Beloved

is the theme of my daily thoughts. The Lord Jesus is a deep sea of joy: my soul

shall dive therein, shall be swallowed up in the delights of his society. Sarah

looked on her  Isaac, and laughed with excess of rapture, and all her friends laughed with

her; and thou, my soul, look on thy Jesus, and bid heaven and earth unite in thy

joy unspeakable.

 

Evening “He openeth, and no man shutteth.” Revelation 3:7

 Jesus is the keeper of the gates of paradise and before every believing soul he

setteth an open door, which no man or devil shall be able to close against it.

What joy it will be to find that faith in him is the golden key to the

everlasting doors. My soul, dost thou carry this key in thy bosom, or art thou

trusting to some deceitful pick-lock, which will fail thee at last? Hear this

parable of the preacher, and remember it. The great King has made a banquet, and

he has proclaimed to all the world that none shall enter but those who bring

with them the fairest flower that blooms. The spirits of men advance to the gate

by thousands, and they bring each one the flower which he esteems the

 queen of the garden; but in crowds they are driven from the royal presence, and

enter not into the festive halls. Some bear in their hand the deadly nightshade

of superstition, or the flaunting poppies of Rome, or the hemlock of self-

righteousness, but these are not dear to the King, the bearers are shut out of

the pearly gates. My soul, hast thou gathered the rose of Sharon? Dost thou wear

the lily of the valley in thy bosom constantly? If so, when thou comest up to

the gates of heaven thou wilt know its value, for thou hast only to show this

choicest of flowers, and the Porter will open: not for a moment will he deny

thee admission, for to that rose the Porter openeth ever. Thou shalt

 find thy way with the rose of Sharon in thy hand up to the throne of God

himself, for heaven itself possesses nothing that excels its radiant beauty, and

of all the flowers that bloom in paradise there is none that can rival the lily

of the valley. My soul, get Calvary’s blood-red rose into thy hand by faith, by

love wear it, by communion preserve it, by daily watchfulness make it thine all

in all, and thou shalt be blessed beyond all bliss, happy beyond a dream. Jesus,

be mine forever, my God, my heaven, my all.

To us, O Lord, belongs open shame . . . Because we have sinned against you.  Daniel 9:8 

 A deep sense and clear view of sin, its dreadfulness, and the punishment that it deserves should make us lie low before the throne. We have sinned as Christians. It is sad that it should be so. We have been favored, and yet we have been ungrateful; privileged beyond most, but we have not brought forth fruit in proportion. Who is there, although he may have been engaged in the Christian warfare for years, who will not blush when he looks back upon the past? As for our days before we were born again, may they be forgiven and forgotten; but since then, though we have not sinned as before, yet we have sinned against light and against love—light that has really penetrated our minds, and love in which we have rejoiced.

The sin of a pardoned soul is an atrocity! An unpardoned sinner sins cheaply compared with the sin of one of God’s elect, who has had communion with Christ and leaned upon Him for his comfort. Look at David! Many will talk of his sin, but I ask you to look at his repentance and hear his broken bones as each one of them moans out its mournful confession! Consider his tears as they fall upon the ground, and the deep sighs with which he accompanies the softened music of his harp!

We have strayed: Let us, therefore, seek the spirit of penitence. Look again at Peter! We often speak of how he denied Christ. Remember, it is written, “He wept bitterly.” Do we have no denials of our Lord to be lamented with tears? These sins of ours, before and after conversion, would consign us to the place of inextinguishable fire if it were not for God’s sovereign mercy, which snatched us like sticks from the fire.

My soul, bow down under a sense of your natural sinfulness, and worship your God. Admire the grace that saves you—the mercy that spares you—the love that pardons you!

Family Reading Plan

Isaiah 46

Revelation 16