This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:15

 Recommended Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-16

Before Semere came to Christ, he was a leader in the Muslim community in his Ethiopian village. Semere was adamantly opposed to Christianity and “since [he] was a young man, [he] wanted to persecute and even kill Christians.” But after burning the house of a Christian woman in another village, God crushed him and drew him to Himself. Since his conversion, Semere has been used by God to bring more than one hundred people to a saving knowledge of Christ.¹

Like the apostle Paul, Semere’s story is just one of countless stories of how God uses those who were opposed to Him before they became Christians to bring many to Him after they accept Christ as Savior. 

In His sovereignty and goodness God uses our past mistakes and failures to bring glory to Himself. Don’t disqualify yourself from serving your Heavenly Father because of what you have done in the past. Remember: He uses us in spite of us.

The greatness of sin is no bar to our acceptance with God… nor to our being employed for him, if it be truly repented of.
Matthew Henry

¹ “Former Ethiopian Sheikh Burned Houses; Own House Burned After Conversion,” The Voice of the Martyrs, September 6, 2022.

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I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2

 Recommended Reading: 1 Peter 3:13-17

On a regular basis we hear about athletes, students, teachers, small business owners, and others taking a stand for Christ. Sadly, they are often ridiculed and at times punished for their actions. In a world that is increasingly anti-Christian, it is not easy to stand up for one’s biblical beliefs.

In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul exhorted the believers to live their lives as a sacrifice to God. He also challenged them not to conform to the anti-Christian culture of their day.

Why are we to live boldly for Christ? Because of God’s mercy. Think about all God has done for you—the gift of salvation, spiritual blessings, the certain hope of eternity in heaven with Him. When we remember His mercy and what He has saved us from, how can we not live boldly for Him?

As you go about your day, remember God’s mercy and choose to live a life of boldness for Him.

Stop assuming an outward expression which is patterned after this world.
Kenneth Wuest

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All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16

 Recommended Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Years after the Budik people in Senegal heard the Gospel, the Budik believers showed little evidence of spiritual growth, and the church itself wasn’t growing. But one event changed everything. “The Budik believers received the New Testament in their own language.” As one believer said, “Because [of] the Word of God that was brought to us… now the Word is available to everyone…. Now when we have meetings, everyone brings their Bibles, and they’re using the meetings to learn and grow more than they were able to before.”¹

The transforming power of God’s Word is the same no matter the language or the culture of the person studying it. When we read and study God’s Word, our life is changed. We begin to grow in our Christian walk, and we are equipped to live a life that is different from the world.

Take a few minutes today to thank God for the gift of His life-changing Word!

Bible study has torn my life apart and remade it. That is to say that God, through his Word, has done so.
John White

¹Ian Fallis, “The Importance of the Book,” Ethnos360, March 13, 2018.

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The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
1 Peter 1:24-25

 Recommended Reading: 1 Peter 1:22-25

Last year during the World Cup, businessman Karl Baxter was convinced England would win. He printed eighteen thousand beautiful shirts with the words: “ENGLAND / CUP WINNERS / 2022 / It’s Finally Home.” But England lost to France, and Baxter sold the shirts at a steep discount, suggesting people use them to clean their windows.¹

The world seems certain of its opinions, and pundits think they can guess what’s coming next. They’re almost always wrong, for no one except God knows tomorrow. We can’t trust the media, but we can trust the Master. His Word never fails.

Rely on God’s truth, realizing that the Scriptures speak louder than the latest scoops by the reporters. Regardless of the trends of our culture, we must stand firm in God’s truth, never wavering. Regardless of the threats by our enemies, we must never back down from our biblical worldview. Its pages are powerful. It’s God’s personal message to His children. Let’s grasp the Bible firmly in our hands—until we are finally Home.

Christians should be grateful to God for the gift of his written Word, and conscientious in basing their faith and life entirely and exclusively on it.
J. I. Packer

¹ Jess Sharp, “Firm Left With 18,000 England ‘World Cup Winners’ T-Shirts After Gamble Backfires,” Sky News, December 13, 2022.

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For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:2

 Recommended Reading: 2 Peter 3:11-12

A boss assigns a young worker a task in the warehouse. Later the boss stops by unexpectedly to find his employee scrolling through his phone. The worker hops up and points to his completed task. But the boss says, “You could have looked for other things to do or at least asked for your next assignment. Don’t be satisfied with doing the bare minimum; there are always things to be done.”

The Bible says that Jesus’ return for His Church—the beginning of the Day of the Lord—will come like “a thief in the night.” That is, it will come unexpectedly, which raises the apostle Peter’s question: “What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” in light of Christ’s unexpected return (2 Peter 3:11-12)? As we wait for the return of Christ and the end of the age, are we content to do “the bare minimum” as believers? Or are we looking and asking for ways in which to serve Him as faithful disciples until He returns (Luke 12:35-38)?

Look and ask today for ways to serve Jesus as you watch for His appearing.

The highest honor in the church is not government but service.
John Calvin

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Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it.
Revelation 1:3, NIV

 Recommended Reading: Psalm 119:33-40

Tom Meyer is known as the “Bible Memory Man.” He has memorized much of the Scripture and quotes it often. According to Fox News, Meyer suggests people spend more time reading the Bible aloud during their devotions. “We live in a world where nobody reads aloud,” he said. “Originally, the Bible was meant more for the ears than the eyes…. Just listen to a chapter again over and over.”¹

It’s wonderful to discover various ways of studying God’s Word. We can read it silently and aloud, in small bits or large sections; we can copy it in our notebooks. We can study it, pray it, sing it, quote it, convert it into teaching, and share it with others.

As we do so, we’re learning more and more of the mind of God, growing in wisdom and maturity. Diligent study of God’s Word helps us grow spiritually, becoming more like Christ. Thank God for the gift of His Word and spend time learning from it today. You might even read it to yourself aloud!

How can you afford not to be in God’s Word?
Howard Hendricks

¹ Brittany Kasko, “New Year’s Resolution: ‘Bible Memory Man’ Shares Tips for Memorizing the Bible in 2023,” Fox News, December 27, 2022.

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Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
Psalm 103:2

 Recommended Reading: Psalm 103:1-5

We live in a world that is both material and spiritual. On the material side, we access our world through our five senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing. It is no wonder the apostle John warned about “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”—“all that is in the world” (1 John 2:16). It is easy to be enticed by the things of this world, to think they will bless our life.

But the Bible says that God’s blessings are both material and spiritual. He forgives our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from destruction, loves us, shows compassion to us, satisfies our life with good things, and renews our youth (Psalm 103:3-5). The world cannot offer anything to compare with the dual dimensions of God’s blessings—spiritual and material. When we are tempted to seek blessing and contentment in the things of this world, we need to look to God’s promised blessings.

Look around you today and count your blessings. Thank God for His provision and commit all your needs to Him.

The vast majority of mankind never gives a thought of gratitude towards God for all His care and blessings.
Donald Grey Barnhouse

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So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Mark 10:29-30

 Recommended Reading: Luke 14:25-27

We usually hear it in the context of athletics, but it applies to all areas of life: “No pain, no gain.” We tell our children that in order to make an A in history, they will have to sacrifice time spent on other activities and commit to studying. In order to have funds to live on in retirement, we have to sacrifice purchases now and commit to saving.

Jesus had to convince His early followers that any cost to following Him would be rewarded later: “a hundredfold now in this time… and in the age to come, eternal life.” Such a commitment required trust. To prioritize Jesus over family and property was a big decision. But Jesus was proving Himself to be trustworthy, and His early disciples took Him at His word.

 When the cost of following Jesus seems to go up, consider the cost in light of the return.

And all thou spendest, Jesus will repay.
Mary Ann Thompson

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Should such a man as I flee?
Nehemiah 6:11

 Recommended Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-14

In the United States, Michigan and Minnesota are the states least likely to face natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornados, and earthquakes. But they’re also two of the coldest states in America, and, of course, there are no truly safe places on this earth. We never know when a disaster will strike our community. Sometimes we know immediately that a crisis is happening—we feel the earth shake or see the lightning strike. Other times we hear sirens, receive a phone call or text, or turn on the news and see a tragic event occurred.

Our first reaction is shock, but God’s children must quickly move into action mode. For two thousand years, Christians have been the ones running toward the need, toward the hurt, and toward the danger. When Nehemiah was threatened by his critics, he refused to flee. He stood his ground and continued the work that had to be done in the moment.

When times of crisis come to our neighborhoods, let’s look for ways to reach out and help others. God will provide us with the strength and ability to minister to those around us in ways large and small.

God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.
Billy Graham

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They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.
Psalm 92:14

 Recommended Reading: Psalm 92

Springtime makes us feel fresh! Fresh flowers, fresh leaves on the trees, the fragrance of fresh air. It’s a kind of rebirth.

The same thing happens for the believer every single day. God gives us a fresh start as we awaken! Psalm 92 tells us to sing His praises and declare His lovingkindness every morning (verses 1-2). As we begin each day with worship, keeping our eyes on Him, the Lord keeps us fresh with a renewed spirit, an excited faith, a hopeful heart, and a smile. It’s a lifelong experience.

The ruts and routines of life have a way of dragging us into the zone of mediocrity. But remember: “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing” (verses 12-14).

Flourish in your faith today by keeping your eyes on Him.

Fresh faith is compelling. It’s clean and crisp like the beginning of a new day…. Freshness comes by staying whole with God…. Middle age and old age aren’t for complaining, but for proclaiming the goodness of God.
Boyd Bailey

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Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

 Recommended Reading: Mark 4:37-39

One of the ironies of the naming of hurricanes and tropical storms is the fact that some are named Irene. There were tropical storms named Irene in 1947 and 1959, and hurricanes named Irene in 1971, 1981, 1999, 2005, and 2011. The irony? Irene comes from the Greek word eirene—the word for “peace.”

Jesus showed His disciples it is possible to experience peace in the face of a storm. When a squall came up as He and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus “arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). Storms and squalls of all kinds arise in our world. Jesus told His disciples that they would experience trouble in this world but assured them He had “overcome the world” (John 16:33). He tells us the same.

We can have peace and calm in this world knowing that Jesus gives us His peace and He has overcome the world.

Faith that goes no further than the head can never bring peace to the heart.
John Blanchard

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I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22

 Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Danica McKellar, a star from The Wonder Years, recently used Instagram to surprise her fans with an announcement. After years of skepticism, she has embraced Jesus as her Savior. Her decision followed a conversation with a fellow actress who gave her a Bible and invited her to church. Though her spiritual journey is new, it’s already been spread to thousands.¹

Like every other channel of human communication and technology, Satan wants to dominate our modern laptops and phones, but the followers of Christ are to use every means available to share the Gospel and encourage others with the power of Scripture.

Technology has allowed our world to become smaller, making it easier to share the Gospel with people who haven’t heard the Good News. Should we take advantage of new technology and use it to share the Gospel with others? By all means!

How beautiful upon the web are the thumbs of him who shares good news, who publishes the peace of God in Christ, who shares the good news of our happiness and joy in him, and who publishes in his feeds: “God reigns!”
Tony Reinke
 

¹ Talia Wise, “‘Wonder Years’ Actress Closes 2022 Grateful for New Relationship With Jesus Christ: ‘It Feels Miraculous,’” CBN News, December 27, 2022.

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Now on the first day of the week…the disciples came together to break bread.
Acts 20:7

 Recommended Reading: Acts 20:7-12

Earlier this year, the American Enterprise Institute released a study showing that since the outbreak of COVID-19, a third of Americans who previously attended church have stopped going.¹ Another study last year by the Barna Group found the rate of burnout among pastors rose dramatically between 2021 and 2022.²

If these statistics seem discouraging to you, remember this—you can do something about it! You have a vital part to play. Fighting against the changing of culture can be difficult, but gathering with other believers allows us to encourage each other to stand strong for Christ. What a blessing to be part of the Body of Christ in times like these!

Go to church on Sunday. Get involved in a small group. Pray for your pastor and church staff. Invite someone to join you at church. Find a personal ministry to pursue. You’ll be following the great pattern anchored in the glorious pages of the book of Acts.

Christians cannot grow spiritually as they ought to in isolation from one another.
Gene Getz

¹ David Roach, “Church Attendance Dropped Among Young People, Singles, Liberals,” Christianity Today, January 9, 2023.

² Jeff Brumley, “Yet Another Study Confirms: Many Pastors Are Hanging on by a Thread,” Baptist News Global, April 28, 2022.

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If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Luke 9:23

 Recommended Reading: John 16:31-33

One of Jesus’ strongest admonitions to those who would be His disciples came when He told them to take up their cross daily (Luke 9:23). In the Roman world, the cross was a symbol of death. Jesus’ words were a warning: following Him might result in death.

Not until the night of Jesus’ arrest, when He was alone with His disciples for the Passover meal, did Jesus expand on His earlier words and provide them with comfort (John 14–16). He told them that the world would hate them when He was gone because they hated Him first. If they persecuted Him, they would persecute them (John 15:18-21). But He also told them, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). His peace—that is, the peace that comes from knowing and trusting Him (Philippians 4:6-7)—would be their peace in a world that would reject them. 

We don’t know exactly what the future holds for Christians. But we know who does know. We can trust Him to keep us “until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12). 

Peace rules the day when Christ rules the mind. 
Unknown

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The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3

 Recommended Reading: 2 Chronicles 16:7-9

A number of years ago, two men in Iowa tried to disguise themselves before committing a robbery. They didn’t use ski masks or stockings. No, their hapless plan was to draw beards and masks on their faces using a black marker. No one was fooled, and their mug shots sent the police and public into hysterics.[1]

You might say that guilt was written all over their faces.

We can never disguise ourselves from God or hide our behavior from Him. Hebrews 4:13 says, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Jeremiah 16:17 says, “For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes.”

We can’t hide from God; He is everywhere! But for us, this is a cause of restraint, for the knowledge that God is watching us can help us resist temptation, and for rejoicing, for we are never out of His sight for a moment.

You just can’t hide from God. And that’s a good thing. Because God isn’t just watching you; He’s watching over you.
Louie Giglio

[1] Mallory Simon, “They Make Their Mark in Mug Shot History,” CNN, October 30, 2009.

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I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Psalm 32:5

 Recommended Reading: John 6:61-64

Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand to “hide” from predators—as if closing their eyes will make them invisible? No—they lay their eggs in the sand and occasionally stick their heads in to check on and rotate the eggs until they hatch. Even ostriches know they can’t hide from reality.

We sometimes think God can’t see us or our sin if we don’t encounter Him in prayer or worship. Like David of old, we avoid Him and our sin until our guilt becomes too much to bear (Psalm 32). But we can’t hide from God. He is all-seeing and all-knowing; He knows what is in the heart of man (John 2:25). So we may as well raise our eyes and meet His in honest confession and agree with Him about our sin. That’s what confession means—“to say the same as; to agree.” Thankfully, our sins have been forgiven (2 Corinthians 5:21). God asks only that we come to Him and receive His grace.

If there is something you need to confess to God, do it today and be forgiven (1 John 1:9).

We are not finished with the need of forgiveness when we become Christians.
G. B. Duncan

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Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Psalm 143:10

 Recommended Reading: Proverbs 16:9

Life coaches often employ a tool called life mapping—drawing on paper from left to right a chronology of your life so far: high points, low points, major events, and so on. Recording the past is easy; recording the future is more challenging. We may not be certain of the future, but God is. And He can provide the direction we need.

The Bible is filled with verses and examples related to God providing directions for our life—directions based on God’s goodness and His love for us. Jesus even compared the goodness of earthly fathers to the goodness of God in providing what we need (Luke 11:11-13). God provides guidance and direction in a variety of ways. First is through Scripture, which is the basic roadmap for every Christian’s life. Then there are prayer, counsel from wise associates, discernment to evaluate circumstances, and the peace that comes when decisions are made in faith (Philippians 4:6-7). Because of who God is—good, loving, and faithful—we can rest knowing that His guidance will be best.

Do you need God’s direction today? Seek Him by faith and trust in the guidance He provides (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Men give advice; God gives guidance.
Leonard Ravenhill

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But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Psalm 86:15

 Recommended Reading: Matthew 18:21-22

Being a parent is perhaps the world’s best laboratory for learning patience. In fact, the younger the children, the greater the need for parental patience. Young children make the same bad choices over and over. Sometimes they forget; sometimes they willfully make the wrong choice; sometimes they are so young that they haven’t had time to learn. Whatever the reason(s) for the wrong choice, parents need lots of patience.

Compare that situation to our relationship with God. We are His children, all of us at varying levels of maturity (Romans 8:14). Sometimes we forget what our Father God desires; sometimes we choose to disobey; sometimes we haven’t learned what the Father’s will is. Whatever the reason(s) for our wrong choice, God has to exercise great patience with us as we grow spiritually. More often than not, patience requires forgiveness. Because Jesus told Peter not to count instances of forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22), we can assume God doesn’t count either.

Depend on God’s patience and forgiveness when you make a wrong choice (1 John 1:9). His fatherly love is manifested by His patience.

There is no divine attribute more wonderful than the patience of God.
John Benton

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Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27

 Recommended Reading: Colossians 1:24-28

Nothing is as useless as a pair of gloves without hands. They may be made for either high fashion or hard work. But they are limp and idle without a pair of hands. Their very existence is pointless. But once fingers fill the fabric and a hand stuffs itself into the material, the glove can do anything that a hand can do. It can swing hammers, grip railings, open doors, and point out dangers or delights.

We are the gloves of God in this world, but we’re useless unless we are filled with Him. We don’t even have the strength to lift ourselves up. But when we are pervaded and permeated with His Spirit, we operate in His power, not our own.

When we try to serve the Lord in our own strength, we struggle and end up failing. We must yield ourselves to Him, surrender to His total occupancy of our personalities, and let His power sustain and strengthen us as we serve Him. Rely on your all-powerful God to empower your Christian life and labor. His love fits into your soul like hands in a glove.

Blessed Lord, teach us to surrender ourselves unreservedly to the Holy Spirit…. So we are in You, and You work through us.
Andrew Murray

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But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26

 Recommended Reading: Ephesians 1:18-22

You serve a God who can speak a syllable and bring stars into being. He can touch a leper and make his skin like a baby’s. With a word, He can calm a sea or summon a legion of angels. He can send fire from the sky, food from heaven, water from a rock, and frogs into Egypt. He can part the seas, stop the sun in the sky, make ax heads float, make a virgin conceive, and raise dead men to life. He can put coins in the mouths of fish and cast demons into the bodies of swine.

Our Lord gave us a Book filled with His miraculous power, and that same power is undiminished today. There’s nothing that He cannot do, nothing that is too hard for Him. When a situation seems impossible, remember God’s power—He can do the impossible.

Ask Him for the miracle you need, and trust Him to work in His own way and timing to bring about what He knows is best for you and yours.

[God] puts people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in ways that display his greatness.
David Platt

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