Today’s Scripture: Genesis 1-2

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

The Bible begins with a mystery: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” What’s so mysterious about that, you say? Did you know the Hebrew word for God in this passage is plural? All three persons of the Trinity were involved in the creation of the world.

The Bible says the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and God the Father created all things by Jesus Christ. “For by him”–that is, by Jesus Christ–“all things were created” (Colossians 1:16). That means all things spiritual and physical, including your spiritual and physical life, came through Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder that God’s Word reminds us that in all things His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, must be preeminent in our lives. Just as He was Lord at creation, so He is Lord today.

Does Jesus Christ have priority in every area of your life? What about your appointment calendar? How are you spending your time? Is Jesus Christ squeezed out of your schedule because you’re too busy?

Christ is present in all Christians. In some, He is prominent. In only a few is He preeminent. Why not make sure the Lord Jesus Christ dwells supreme in the throne room of your heart.

Prayer

Lord, speak to me about the priorities of my day. Give me the power and wisdom to glorify You in my life today. Amen.

To Ponder

Our seemingly small troubles have eternal value with God, and He is lovingly fitting all things together for our good.

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Today’s Scripture: Judges 17-21

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. – 1 Timothy 6:10

In Judges 18, a son steals money from his mother, but returns it for fear of a curse she pronounced on the thief. The silver in question is soon forged into the image of a pagan god, but in fact, this money had become a god in the lives of these two long before it took the form of an idol.

In chapter 19, we find the same theme, a Levite who cannot resist an offer of wages, clothing, and food. Clearly, these material concerns have crowded out his desire to serve the Lord. When a more attractive financial offer is made, he accepts it without seeking spiritual counsel or the will of God. If it would give him more money, that was all that mattered.

As the book of Judges ends, we see idolatry spread from this one household to an entire tribe. We are told that each man did what was right in his own eyes. The result? One of the blackest periods in the history of the Old Testament people of God.

When people leave the Bible and begin to make up their own rules, anything can happen. There is no sin too vile, no activity too foul. We can see it in today’s headlines. And if we look closely enough, we can see the same tendencies in our own hearts. We need to fall on our knees, plead with God for mercy, and rededicate ourselves to Him.

Prayer

Lord, reveal to me if there’s anything that has become an idol in my life. Amen.

To Ponder

What is your attitude toward the things of this world?

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Today’s Scripture: 2 Samuel 19-20

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. – Ephesians 4:29

In 2 Samuel 19, we see David snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. After his army triumphed over the rebellion of Absalom, David was in tears. His men had won the battle, but he was making them feel as if they’d lost. It’s normal for a father to grieve the death of his son, but there was a problem here. The men in the army who had fought in this battle saw David’s tears and assumed he was angry with them. The Bible says, “The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle” (2 Samuel 19:3).

I wonder how often we do the same thing with our kids. Billy comes home from school with a good grade on a math paper and we greet him with criticism for not making his bed. Susie does a great job in a school play and we’re angry because she hasn’t done anything on her science project. We’re taking a victory and turning it into a defeat for those we love. There’s a time to discuss the dirty room and the science project, but it isn’t on the heels of a victory.

As parents, we often forget how much a kind word or a compliment means to our kids. It costs so little to express appreciation or to give a word of encouragement. But how often these expressions of kindness are lost because our minds are taken up with so-called “larger issues.”

David finally presented himself at the head of the troops and gave them his approval. And how about the troops at your house? Today would be a great time to congratulate them on their successes.

Prayer

Lord, I want to encourage people with what I say. Give me the words to speak today as I interact with my family and others. Amen.

To Ponder

There is very little happening in the world on any given day that is more important than encouraging our children.

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Today’s Scripture: Genesis 37-40

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. – Proverbs 12:18

The late Paul Little of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship used to tell us that when we speak unwisely or boastfully or pass along some gossip, it is hard to retrieve those words. It’s like trying to get toothpaste back in the tube.

In the story of Joseph, we find a young man who spoke unwisely and suffered the consequences for many years afterwards.

One day Joseph and his brothers were in the field, and Joseph told them his dream: “We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” And his brothers, who were jealous of his favored position with their father, hated him even more. They said, “Will you actually rule us?”

Now, folks, I think Joseph was a great man, and very wise. In fact, I don’t remember any other major mistake this man made. But I think what he did here was a mistake.We all know there are some things that we should simply keep to ourselves. Had he thought about it for a moment or two, he could have seen how relating his dream would promote anger and hatred and jealousy among his brothers.

As Joseph’s story unfolds, the power of God turns tragedy into triumph. But the truth still comes through loud and clear that you and I need to watch what we say.

The New Testament makes it clear that the daily walk of the disciple should be characterized by lowliness and meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (see Ephesians 4:2-3).

Prayer

Lord, today may what I say honor You and encourage others. Amen.

To Ponder

Today, look for opportunities to speak healing words.

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Today’s Scripture: Genesis 6-9

What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? – Romans 3:3

Today’s passage concerning the Flood is directly related to a modern difficulty you may be facing. Maybe you’ve talked with someone about Christ, only to have them respond, “I don’t believe the Bible.” What does that have to do with the Flood, you ask?

Let me illustrate. I took a course on evolution in college. One of the professor’s stated objectives was to destroy the faith of any Christian in the class. So I began to witness to him. One day when I left the room, his lab assistant followed me and expressed interest in what I had been saying. I invited him to see the Moody Science film “Dust or Destiny,” which showed the remarkable wisdom in the creative acts of God.

He was impressed, and when I asked him if the film had changed his thinking, he told me it had. He could plainly see there was far more evidence for the truth of the creation story than for evolution. “But I have no intention of becoming a Christian,” he said. “It would mean turning from my sin, and I’m not ready to do that.” It was a moral issue, not an intellectual issue. And this is why some people are so reluctant to believe the biblical account of the Flood. It is clearly tied to the judgment of God and the sinfulness of man.

As you witness to people, you may encounter those who say, “I don’t believe the Bible.” When that happens, just remember that we’re not out to win arguments but to win men and women to personal faith in Jesus Christ. That takes prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. So keep sharing the truth of the Bible, even with those who say they can’t believe it.

Prayer

Lord, help me to keep on telling others about Your Word–even those people who dismiss it. Amen.

To Ponder

Since the Holy Spirit uses the Word to convict us of sin, we should be faithful to proclaim it to others.

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Today’s Scripture: Genesis 3-5

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked… He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. – Psalm 1:1,3

The greatest lie ever told comes at the beginning of the saddest story ever written. “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat [this fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). Adam and Eve believed the lie and ate the only fruit God had kept from them.

As Genesis 3 opens, we see our first parents enjoying a life of fellowship with God in a garden home filled with His abundant provision. They were holy. They were experiencing the grace and blessing of God. Everything that surrounded them was good. But in one devastating stroke, the scene changes.

The apostle Paul gives the summary: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

There is one primary lesson in these chapters. Holiness, not sin, brings happiness. Let me repeat that. As long as Adam and Eve were walking with God in the unbroken fellowship of a holy life, they were happy. Now, how could they turn their backs on God? It seemed so senseless and absurd for them to think they could improve on what God had done.

Before it’s experienced, the life of sin appears attractive, exciting, colorful, and everything you could desire. And the life of holiness appears drab, dull, and unattractive. But once the life of sin is experienced, what you desired and embraced turns to ashes.

Prayer

Lord, help me to remember that sin never delivers what it promises, and that my greatest joy will be in the pursuit of holiness. Amen.

To Ponder

Satan’s basic lie in his war against mankind is that we can improve our lives by disobeying God.

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Today’s Scripture: Genesis 3

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? – Romans 6:16

When someone tells us not to do something, it makes us want to do it all the more, sort of like the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Here was a lush, beautiful garden filled to overflowing with wonderful things to eat, and all available for the taking. But there was one tree in the midst of the garden the Lord declared out of bounds. Adam and Eve were not to eat its fruit.

But, of course, they did. Notice this tree and its forbidden fruit were not evil things. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed, they knew they were in big trouble–so big, in fact, that the effects of their sin are still felt today by the entire human race.

Now why do you think these two indulged their appetites on something that was forbidden when they had so many other choices?

We must take very seriously the biblical admonition to be content with our personal lot. Ask the Lord to give you the attitude of the apostle Paul: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11).

Secondly, ask God to give you a healthy fear of the consequences of giving in to the sins of the flesh. I’ve found that temptation makes a sin seem very attractive, but it’s a lie. After I’ve done wrong, the sin that seemed so attractive is disgusting and short-lived.

Prayer

Lord, through your Holy Spirit, I want to be a thoughtful, obedient person who considers the consequences of sin and says “no” instead of letting desire take control. Amen.

To Ponder

Are you content with the life God has given you?

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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 34

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. – Acts 12:7

Do you remember the television series “Hogan’s Heroes”–the wild episodes of American soldiers supposedly locked in a Nazi prison? They were always breaking out of jail, but they usually did it quietly. No noise allowed.

The apostle Peter’s jailbreak was quite different. Acts 12 says that King Herod threw Peter into prison with four squads of soldiers guarding him. Imagine that! Four squads of soldiers to guard one man!

A few nights later, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers and bound with two chains. The cell was guarded as well. And then the Bible tells us: “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell… Then the angel said to him, ‘Put on your clothes and sandals.’ And Peter did so. ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’”

This angel broke all the rules of conventional jailbreak wisdom! First, you wouldn’t shine a bright light into the cell for fear of waking the guards! Second, you wouldn’t put on your sandals and clomp out of the place. You would carry your sandals and tippy-toe by the sleeping guards in your bare feet. Third, you wouldn’t release the chains and let them clatter to the ground.

God can rescue you just as easily as He rescued Peter. But there are times when God’s deliverance doesn’t fit the mold of human wisdom. God’s ways are not our ways. We must accept the fact that God knows what He’s doing and fall in step with Him by faith, like Peter did.

Maybe you’re facing a situation right now that needs God’s touch. Ask the Lord to send deliverance, but don’t be surprised if it comes in an unexpected way.

Prayer

Lord, help me to recognize Your hand of deliverance in my life and I will give You all the praise and glory. Amen.

To Ponder

Is there a time when God supernaturally delivered you from a dangerous situation?

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Today’s Scripture: Nehemiah 5-7

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9

As Nehemiah struggled to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, one of his greatest enemies was fear. First, he had to fight it among the people. In Nehemiah 4:10, we find the warlike tribe of Judah about ready to throw in the towel, saying, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

They also feared an enemy attack while they worked. So Nehemiah prayed, posted a guard, and encouraged the people to remember God’s faithfulness. But after helping the people with their fear, the next attack came against Nehemiah himself.

Sanballat and Geshem tried to lure him into meeting with them in one of the villages. When he resisted their scheme, they created a false report about him and threatened to report him to the king. Then they tried to frighten Nehemiah into taking refuge in the temple to escape their threats of death. And was he afraid? Yes. But he didn’t show it. He was not controlled by the fear. And he asked God to strengthen him (verse 9).

Christian, we do not have to be under the control of our emotions if we walk under the control of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that one fruit of the Spirit is self-control, or self-discipline.

Paul wrote to his young friend Timothy, “For God did not give us a spirit of [fear], but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). The answer to fear is not denial. Like Nehemiah, admit your fear. That’s the first step. Then place your trust in the never-changing One who, right up to this day, has never lost a battle.

Prayer

Lord, when I am afraid, I will trust in You. Amen.

To Ponder

Walking in the Spirit is a daily decision to hand over control of our lives to God. When we do this, there is no room for fear.

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Today’s Scripture: Hosea 12-14

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. – Galatians 2:20

Hosea 13:15 presents a prophecy of judgment against the nation of Israel: “An east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.”

Here is a picture of someone whose inner source of life and power has dried up. His life was once a blessing to those around him but has now become a curse. As I studied this passage, I was reminded of a man I knew well.

His testimony for Christ shone brightly against the dark background of the people among whom he worked–people whose lives had been ruined by drugs, alcohol, and sin of every description. This man was instrumental in leading many of these people to Christ and seeing them begin new lives. But his inner spring dried up. He left his wife and children, and dismissed his actions by saying that the love was gone and his marriage was no longer working. What happened was not a reaction to outward pressure or tragedy. It was an inward spiritual drought, brought on by his lack of daily personal fellowship with Christ.

In John 7:37-38, Jesus said: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” And then John unlocks the mystery of Jesus’ words. By this, John said, Jesus meant the Spirit.

The secret to a life that fulfills us and refreshes others is to live under the daily control of the Holy Spirit. Then our spring will never fail, and our well will not dry up.

Prayer

Lord, may Your sweet, refreshing Spirit fill me and cause a stream of living water to flow from my life. Amen.

To Ponder

Is the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life a trickle or a stream?

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Today’s Scripture: Exodus 19:1-6

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. – Acts 2:42

Shortly after I became a Christian, I heard a famous preacher speak on “churchianity.” He said, “Don’t confuse churchianity with Christianity. They are not the same. Churchianity will not save you, because the church can’t save. Only Christ can save. And Christianity is Christ.”

Of course, I knew what he was saying. All the same, I grew a bit suspicious of the value of the church and the place of the church in daily life. After that night the church intrigued me, and I wanted to find its proper place in my Christian life.

If the church can’t save, what can it do? Is it just a place to go once a week and see our friends and enjoy fellowship with them? Oh sure, we learn more of the Bible each week through the Sunday school class and from the pulpit, but we could do that at home in personal Bible study.

In the Old Testament the people of God were called out from among the nations to be a holy people. In the New Testament you have the same idea. Christians are said to be “called-out ones.” God calls us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We no longer belong to ourselves; Christ has bought us to be His own special people, to live under His authority and enjoy His unmerited love. And we are more effective for Him when we are united.

The Bible teaches that the church is made up of every believer in Jesus Christ–anywhere in the world and throughout time. That means the congregations you and I meet with each week are members of God’s unique family. Although we may not look like it, Christ calls us His beloved bride. Friend, that’s identity!

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the privilege of being a member of Your family. Amen.

To Ponder

God said, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” (Hebrews 10:25, KJV).

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Today’s Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. – Colossians 1:16

Why does the theory of evolution get such a grip on people? I believe it’s because all people realize that if there is a God, and He made us and gave us life, we are accountable to Him for our actions.

If He has revealed His will to us; if He has given us the Ten Commandments; if He has given us the prophets and apostles, and even His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to teach us what is right and wrong; and if we don’t want to live the way He teaches and believe what He teaches, the simplest thing to do is deny that any of it is true. There is no God, the Bible is a bunch of fairy tales, and we owe our existence to a theory that tells us somehow, somewhere, at some time there came into existence a living cell, and from this cell man evolved by a process of natural selection.

In contrast to this theory, we have the record of the Bible, which tells us that man is a created being. Genesis 1:27 simply and eloquently says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” You would think man would be honored by such a statement. A college founded by Thomas Jefferson would be a mark of prestige. A house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is a mark of honor. But somehow man would rather have crawled out of the slime onto the muddy bank and eventually up into the trees with the monkeys.

Scripture is clear. We owe our life to God. And may our lives be lived in such a way as to please Him.

Prayer

Lord, Master Potter, Your mark is indelibly fixed in the clay that is me, and I rejoice in being created by You. Amen.

To Ponder

It is an awesome thing to contemplate being part of the family of God and to say by the Spirit, “Abba Father.”

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Today’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:57

We all have an Achilles’ heel–a weakness that’s difficult to overcome. I remember when I first started an exercise program years ago. For an ex-Marine, you’d think exercise would come naturally, but there were numerous times I had trouble getting down to the gym. And even after I got there it was tough. After all, it was a workout.

In the Bible there are certain teachings that aren’t easy to obey. And different teachings are difficult for different people. For some, witnessing is a scary thing. Getting up early for a devotional time with the Lord can be difficult. My difficulty can be summed up in one short statement by the apostle Paul: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Friend, it’s hard for me to give thanks in every circumstance.

I remember flying home one Saturday night. I was preparing a Sunday school lesson on the subject of thanksgiving. I had the tray down and was using it as a desk. I was deep in thought when the guy in front of me suddenly reclined his seat. The tray was now hugging my chest, and I sat looking at the top of the guy’s head. I began to mutter and then dropped my pen. Now I really began to fume, under my breath, of course. Then it dawned on me. I was preparing to teach others about giving thanks in every situation, and I sat fretting over a pen. I began to laugh, confessed my bad attitude to God, and finished the lesson.

Sound familiar? I thought so. It’s one of those tough teachings of Scripture, but it can be a reality if we walk daily as disciples.

Prayer

Lord, You are so good to me, giving me the power to do those things befitting Your children. Amen.

To Ponder

God delights in giving me His strength to overcome my weaknesses.

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Today’s Scripture: Job 15-17

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. – James 5:16

When we hear about someone who has been brought low, either through his own sin or through no fault of his own, do we weep over it? Or are we quick to condemn–quick to pass on gossip? It’s easy to snicker and to take on a holier-than-thou attitude. But it’s more profitable to pray.

In today’s passage, we find Job’s friends doing everything but comforting him. They try to expose some hidden transgression. They cast doubt on the integrity of his family. They bring his honesty into question and imply that he obtained his wealth by dishonest means.

Finally, Job cries out, “My friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!” (16:20-21, KJV). That’s the need. Rather than punishing people with words that are as sharp as knives, we need to pray for them with words that are directed by the spirit of truth. It is through prayer that we can help hurting people focus their eyes on Christ.

The Bible challenges us to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. And during the painful process, the Bible tells us to “consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). Is there a person you know who is suffering right now? Will you take a few minutes and pray for that individual?

Prayer

Lord, just as You have showed mercy to me, give me a heart of compassion for the frailty of others and a passion to pray for them. Amen.

To Ponder

It is through prayer that we can help hurting people focus their eyes on Christ.

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Today’s Scripture: 2 Chronicles 21-25

Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? -Amos 3:3

In today’s Scripture passage, we watch an entire nation take a dramatic turn for the worse. This downward spiral is directly related to the marriage of the new king, Jehoram. While his father and grandfather had been godly men, 2 Chronicles 21:6 tells us that Jehoram “walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”

The Scriptures tie Jehoram’s marriage and his conduct together. The lesson is clear: The choice of a marriage partner has far-reaching effects. If you’re a young person feeling the tug of the Holy Spirit upon your life to serve the Lord, your marriage partner will either double your effectiveness for Christ or kill it. There is no in-between.

I heard of a young man whose wife is an encouragement and challenge to him. One of his unmarried friends asked him, “Where did you find a girl like that?” His answer was amazing. He said, “I asked God for a wife like that. Every day since junior high school I’ve prayed for God’s perfect choice for me. And God has answered my prayers.”

According to one recent book on marriage, the statistical improbability of a person finding the right mate is astonishing. The author based his mathematical calculations on six desirable qualities, including physical attractiveness, intelligence, and concern for others. He concluded that a person would have to meet more than fifteen thousand people before encountering one with all of the above requirements. If you consider other criteria like religion and age, the chances become even less optimistic. But we’re dealing with the faithfulness of God, not the chances of finding the right person.

Prayer

Lord, I desire Your will for my life. Keep me in the palm of Your hand. Amen.

To Ponder

Are you asking God for His direction for your life?

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Today’s Scripture: 1 Kings 17-19

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly… – James 5:17

If a person is going to accomplish anything in life, he’s going to have to take action. And that’s what I see in the life of Elijah the prophet, as we meet him in 1 Kings 17-19. At that time, Israel’s sin was right out in the open, parading itself in the streets in defiance of the Word of God. And into this mess the Lord sent Elijah.

The book of James tells us Elijah was a man just like us, a man subject to like passions as we are. So often we think the people God uses are somehow different. They must have some special ability to resist temptation and stand up for what’s right. But Elijah was a person with all the same emotions and struggles we have. He was also a man of action; he had a fiery spirit. He wasn’t content to sit in his chamber and write memos to King Ahab. Elijah was right out there on the firing line, confronting the worst aspects of his world with the Word and the power of God.

Perhaps most important, Elijah was a man of prayer. His communion with God kept rain from the land for three-and-a-half years, then brought it back. His prayer called the fire of God down from heaven in a confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He wasn’t just a loud, angry voice condemning the sins of the nation. He was a humble servant of God, on his knees, pleading with the Lord to work miracles so that his people might come to repentance.

That’s exactly the kind of person God is looking for today–an ordinary person facing the same problems as everyone else, but a person of action and prayer.

Prayer

Lord, make my life count for You in the things I say and do. Amen.

To Ponder

God’s power is perfected in our weakness.

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Today’s Scripture: Deuteronomy 3:21-28

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. – 2 Timothy 2:2

Do you know many people who are living with the next generation in mind? Probably not. Most of us have more than we can handle today without worrying about those who come after us.

It would seem that Moses could have been caught in the same trap with all he had to do, but he wasn’t. For years, he had been investing his life in a young man named Joshua. After Moses knew that he would not enter the Promised Land, and new leadership would be needed, we find him on his knees before God, asking God to make it clear who should take his place.

When Moses prayed, God pointed to Joshua as the new leader of the people. Joshua had already proven himself a man of courage in his battle with Amalek; he was a man of humility, having spent many years as Moses’ servant; and he was a man of faith, one of two men who had brought back a good report from spying out the Promised Land. Joshua was described as a man “in whom is the spirit.”

It has been said that “success without a successor is failure.” In the midst of your present Christian endeavors, are you training someone to continue that ministry? That’s what parenting is all about. And by the way, our children are one of our greatest opportunities for developing disciples of Christ for future years.

You and I have a great responsibility to pray for the succeeding generations of leaders for the work of Christ, that His work might flourish and advance long after we are in our graves. It all depends on which generation you’re living for.

Prayer

Lord, I pray for the young people in our Sunday school classes and youth programs. May we teach, nurture, and love them into leadership positions for Your kingdom. Amen.

To Ponder

Who is the next-generation person you could invest your life in?

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