John 8:39–59

In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis notes that the same person might both be a fool and have a graduate degree. Being highly educated does not guarantee wisdom and spiritual insight. We see this combination of foolishness and education in the way that the religious leaders interacted with Jesus in today’s reading.

The identity of Jesus was abundantly clear. He had “come here from God” (v. 42), sent by the Father to teach His truth. More than that, Jesus had His life-giving power (v. 51). Jesus intensifies His bold claim about His true identity at the end of the passage when He declared: “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (v. 58). Using the very name of God given to Moses in Exodus 3:14, Jesus identified Himself as the God of Israel now standing before them.

The well-educated religious leaders displayed only foolishness and spiritual blindness in their response. Instead of receiving Christ’s teaching, they were trying to kill Him. Instead of loving and following Christ, they insulted Him and accused Him of being demon possessed. Ultimately Jesus identified the underlying cause of their rejection of His teaching: “The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God” (v. 47).

These stinging words should have brought humility and repentance. Instead, when Jesus revealed His full identity as the great “I AM,” their response deepened from hostility to attempted execution (v. 59). God had come in the flesh to bring light and life to His creation, and He was met with rejection. That rejection would ultimately lead to the cross, confirming the opening words of John’s Gospel: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11).

APPLY THE WORD

Many people “celebrate” Christmas while rejecting its true meaning. They are content to have a babe in the manger without recognizing Him as the coming of God in the flesh. Spend time in prayer today for your loved ones who need to accept Jesus as the Son of God, and ask the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to God’s love this Christmas.

http://www.todayintheword.org

John 1:1–3, 14–18

All four Gospels provide an account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, but they each start the narrative in a different place. Matthew and Luke begin with Christ’s birth, and Mark launches into the adult ministry of John the Baptist and then introduces Jesus. The Gospel of John, however, begins at the very beginning, with the creation of the world.

Echoing the first line of Genesis and the theme of creation, today’s reading opens with, “In the beginning was the Word” (v. 1). The Word that was there at the beginning, we are told, was not only “with God,” but also “was God.” Just as Genesis 1 tells us that God spoke things into existence, so now John tells us that it was by this powerful, creative Word of God that “all things were made” (v. 3). In other words, the Gospel of John introduces the main subject of all of Scripture: the Word of God, who created the world, who is God Himself.

Astonishingly, that same creative, eternal Word “became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (v. 14). The Creator God took on a human body and walked among us. The phrase translated as “made his dwelling among us” uses the same Greek word that means “tabernacled among us.” Just as the old tabernacle was the place of God’s dwelling with His people Israel, so now God has a new tabernacle, a new dwelling place, to be with His people on earth. That dwelling place is none other than the person of Jesus.

Because of the Incarnation, the God whom “no one has ever seen” is now “made known” (v. 18). This is, indeed, a “grace in place of grace” (v. 16). Whereas previously God had made Himself known in shadows and symbols, now in Jesus, we see the full glory of God.

APPLY THE WORD

Christian songwriter Stuart Townsend captures the power and beauty of the Incarnation: “When Love came down to earth, / And made His home with men, / The hopeless found a hope, / The sinner found a friend.” God has shown His love by choosing to tabernacle with us in the flesh! How will you respond with praise in your own life?

http://www.todayintheword.org

Ezekiel 36:22–28; Jeremiah 31:31–34

Imagine a major automobile accident that not only shatters the windshield and dents the hood but also damages the motor and transmission. Taking the car to an auto-body repair shop would make no difference if the engine remains damaged. Having a shiny, dent-free car with no working engine does the owner no good! Only by repairing the vehicle inside and out will it be properly restored to working condition.

The same is required of God’s restoration of humanity. We have already seen God’s intentions to return the people to the land, forgive their sins, and dwell with them again. Those messages are echoed afresh in Ezekiel. God would “gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land,” and “cleanse you from all your impurities” (Ezek. 36:24–25). We might describe these actions as God’s auto-body repair shop; by His mercy,

God’s people are clean again and restored to their home.

But more is needed than just a return to the land and forgiveness of sins. An internal fix is also required, a repair of the heart itself. As Ezekiel says, “I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees” (Ezek. 36:26–27). Likewise, Jeremiah describes the “new covenant” in the same terms: “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jer. 31:33).

The barriers to our relationship with God include more than the need to deal with our external sinful actions. Our entire inward being is inclined toward sin and rebellion against God. Only by addressing matters of the heart can we be restored to full relationship with God.

APPLY THE WORD

The promises of the new covenant are fulfilled in Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus called the cup “the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). And in Christ, a love of God “has been poured out into our hearts” (Rom. 5:5). As you look forward to Christmas, give thanks that Jesus transforms our hearts and makes possible a relationship with God.

http://www.todayintheword.org

A GPS navigational system can be a useful tool when driving in unfamiliar territory. Sometimes after taking a wrong turn, however, the best navigational advice is simply, “Turn around.”

Our reading today offers the spiritual equivalent to this GPS command: repentance. Although God was “very angry” (1:2) over Israel’s disobedience, His command through Zechariah was intended to get them back on track. “Return to me . . . and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty” (1:3). The path toward that reconciliation was quite simple: “Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices” (1:4). Repentance is the shortest and most effective means of restoring our relationship with God.

Like many drivers who refuse to follow the GPS advice, previous generations of Israelites failed to heed God’s prophets. Despite God’s warnings, “they would not listen or pay attention to me” (1:4). But now this generation was different; they repented and recognized that “the LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve” (1:6). It was the first step on a path toward a better relationship with God.

The result of their repentance was a beautiful, joyous promise of reconciliation. God urged His people to “Shout and be glad” because “I am coming, and I will live among you” (2:10). The people would once again be restored to the land. But do not miss the bigger picture here. God intended a relationship with more than just Israel. “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people” (2:11). His call was for “all mankind” to “be still before the LORD” (2:13). God’s intention is to have relationship with all of His creation, not just one particular people group.

APPLY THE WORD

God’s reconciling love. Ask your pastor or local church leaders about opportunities to support missionary efforts, Bible translation, or disaster relief services in Christ’s name. You can be part of spreading the gospel through your gifts and prayers.

http://www.todayintheword.org

Ezekiel 37:21–28

In his book Rebel with a Cause, Franklin Graham describes the tough love meted out by his parents during his rebellious youth. “ ‘If you don’t stop right now,’ Mama said, ‘I’m going to pull over and lock you up in the trunk.’ . . . Before I knew what was happening, she opened the back door, grabbed me with both hands, jerked me around back, opened the trunk, put me inside, and slammed the lid shut. I wasn’t expecting Mama to drive all the way to Asheville before letting me out, but she drove on and on.”

God had to enact tough love toward the Israelites after generations of disobedience. He sent the Babylonians who invaded the land, destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and carried the people into exile. God’s discipline did not mean He had abandoned His people. His intention was to restore and renew His relationship with them. First, God promised to gather His people and “bring them back into their own land” (v. 21). Because the land was one of God’s original promises to Abraham, a return to the land was a sign of God’s care and blessing over His people. God also addressed the problem of sin that would accompany the return from exile, promising salvation for His backsliding people (v. 23).

Second, God promised new leadership. Unlike the previously wicked rulers, God promised a new king, and under this new leadership, Israel would “follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees” (v. 24).

Finally, God declared a restoration of His dwelling place. “I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them” (vv. 26–27). His dwelling includes the promises of a restored relationship, a “covenant of peace” that will bind God to His people.

APPLY THE WORD

God’s love for us is described in H. W. Baker’s hymn, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is.” Consider singing or reading this hymn today as a reminder of God’s unfailing relationship with us:

“Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me

And on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.”

http://www.todayintheword.org

1 Kings 8:1–13, 27–30

Before the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, the tabernacle was a movable sanctuary, traveling with the people as they journeyed. After subduing their enemies and establishing the nation, however, King Solomon built a temple for the Lord in Jerusalem.

That temple was meant as a permanent dwelling place for God, and the dedication of this space was a significant moment in Israelite history: “All the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families” (v. 1) were present to witness the occasion. The priests processed into the sanctuary with the ark and “all the sacred furnishings” (v. 4). So many sacrifices were offered that “they could not be recorded or counted” (v. 5). Most importantly, the solemn occasion was ratified by God. “When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple” (vv. 10–11).

God now had a permanent dwelling place on Earth with His people. But Solomon’s prayer indicates that the temple still wasn’t fully adequate. “Even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” (v. 27). Indeed, elsewhere Scripture proclaims: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool” (Isa. 66:1); the hosts of heaven proclaim: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isa. 6:3).

Then why have a temple? Solomon’s prayer hints at the answer: because of God’s mercy. For a time, the Israelite temple was God’s chosen space to reveal His presence and provide fellowship. The temple was God’s way of offering His presence and forgiveness to His people (v. 30).

APPLY THE WORD

As we approach Christmas, consider how you can arrange your home to celebrate our ability to meet with God. Perhaps you can place a “prayer chair” near your Christmas tree or manger scene, or you can create space for friends and family to gather to sing carols or praise the Lord. God’s infinite presence is willing to be in intimate relationship with you.

http://www.todayintheword.org

Exodus 25:8–22

One delightful attraction at Windsor Castle is Queen Mary’s Doll House, the largest doll house in the world. Equipped with electricity, running water, functioning elevators, and flush toilets, the Royal Collection Trust describes it as a “perfect replica in miniature of an aristocratic home.”

The Israelite tabernacle was a replica in miniature of God’s heavenly dwelling. Although God could not be contained in space, the tabernacle symbolized God’s intentional dwelling with His people on earth. The furnishings of the sanctuary reflected heavenly realities that God showed Moses on the mountain (v. 8; see Heb. 8:5).

First, notice God’s concern for beauty. The Ark of the Covenant (like the atonement cover and cherubim) was made “with pure gold, both inside and out” (v. 11). Later chapters reveal additional attention to beauty for the curtains, lampstand, and altars. The place of God’s dwelling reflected the worship of God in “the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 96:9, KJV). Second, the tabernacle reflected the cosmic reality of God’s heavenly dwelling. Just as God is surrounded in heaven by angelic beings (see Isa. 6:1–3), so too the ark was overshadowed by two massive cherubim (vv. 18–20). Third, the tabernacle underscored the centrality of God’s word for His people. Twice, Scripture repeats the instruction to “put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law” (vv. 16, 21). There, above the Ark of the Covenant, God would “meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites” (v. 22).

The tabernacle symbolized God’s dwelling with His people; but it required the acceptance and obedience of God’s word. God’s presence is most clearly manifested when His Word is established among His people.

APPLY THE WORD

When you join others in worship today, you participate in the beauty of worship, the cosmic dimension of worship, and the centrality of God’s Word in worship. As we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ, give thanks that God has both revealed Himself to us and invited us into relational worship of Him.

http://www.todayintheword.org

Exodus 19:1–6; 20:1–7

This past summer, North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile that traveled nearly 600 miles. The launch demonstrated Kim Jong-un’s growing military power and deepened global anxiety over North Korea’s intentions about using their weaponry.

In today’s reading, God’s display of power and might reinforces His good intentions for Israel. Having rescued Israel from Egypt, God declared, “You will be my treasured possession” (19:5). God’s intention was to be in relationship with His people. He cherished them as His own. And there was more! God said, “Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (19:5–6). Out of all the nations of the earth, God had specifically chosen the Israelites. As a “kingdom of priests” they were to represent God to the rest of the world. As a “holy nation” they were to be set apart from the nations around them.

In particular, the Ten Commandments were the means by which the Israelites were to live as a priestly, holy nation. The first four commandments delineated their relationship with God. They were to worship God alone, not carved images; they were to use the Lord’s name with respect; and they were to observe the Sabbath day as holy (20:3–11). The remaining six commandments prescribed their relationship with others: to honor parents and to refrain from murder, adultery, theft, lying, and coveting (20:12–17). Obedience to these commands was essential to their flourishing as God’s people.

Notice the underlying principle of grace. God did not command obedience as the means of earning relationship with God. God had already declared His love for them first. Obedience to His commandments was intended as the response to the love already shown.

APPLY THE WORD

Examine your own attitude about obedience in the Christian life. Has obedience become a means of avoiding punishment? Or perhaps you obey as a way of earning God’s favor and love? If so, ask the Holy Spirit to correct this attitude and to change your heart to see obedience as a response of love for a God who already loves you.

http://www.todayintheword.org

Genesis 3:1–7

In popular books and films, temptation is often portrayed as the dark desires for things like sex, power, or money. While those things certainly can become temptations, today’s reading shows us that at root, temptation is fundamentally about whether we trust God’s intentions for us or not.

The serpent’s underlying strategy was to raise doubt about God’s good intentions for humanity. The serpent began by calling into question God’s reasonableness: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (v. 1). Why would God be so restrictive? Of course, God had actually said that they were “free to eat from any tree in the garden” except one (Gen. 2:16–17), but the serpent’s ploy was effective.

Eve responded by restricting God’s word, misquoting God’s command by adding the clause: “you must not touch it” (v. 3). She then minimized the consequences of disobedience. Whereas God had said that if they ate of the tree, “you will certainly die” (Gen. 2:17), Eve simply stated: “you will die” (v. 3). Thus, having produced a seed of doubt about God’s character, the serpent went for the kill: “You will not certainly die” (v. 4). The serpent depicted God as a liar who was trying to prevent humanity from attaining godlikeness.

In response, Eve looked at the fruit in a new way. It was “good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom” (v. 6). It was no longer a danger God was trying to protect her from, but rather a sinister means God was using to hide something from her. Adam and Eve’s act of disobedience, like all sin today, stemmed directly from the temptation to mistrust God’s loving relationship with us.

APPLY THE WORD

Temptation is ultimately rooted in a mistrust of God’s intentions. If you have things you struggle to trust God for in your life, these are likely the greatest areas of temptation. One way to resist the temptation to doubt God is to list those areas in which you struggle to trust the Lord. Then pray over your list, asking God to increase your trust.

http://www.todayintheword.org

Genesis 2:7–17

Imagine the opening scene of a movie that starts with a view of Earth from outer space and then moves downward, telescoping towards a particular continent, country, city, neighborhood, and then one particular house. This is the progression of Genesis, from the grandeur of “the heavens and earth” (Genesis 1) to the specific scene in the Garden of Eden in today’s passage.

As we focus on Genesis 2, Scripture presents Eden as the special place of God’s presence and blessing. This was the place where He dwelled on Earth.

Within Eden, the abundant blessings of God were available. There were “all kinds of trees grow[ing] out of the ground” (v. 9) and a life-giving river flowing from the garden. Outside its boundaries was a land full of gold and other precious resources.

Into this garden, God placed an image of Himself—humanity—and commanded mankind “to work it and take care of it” (v. 15). Interestingly, the instructions “to work and take care” are also used in priestly contexts later in Scripture. For example, Aaron and the Levites were told to “take care of the sanctuary and altar” and “work at the tent of meeting” (Num. 18:5–6).

Like the Ark of the Covenant, which resided in the midst of the temple and those who touched it suffered death (see 2 Sam. 6:7), so in the middle of the garden was “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (v. 9). Those who ate of its fruit were subject to death (v. 17).

God’s creation was complete, Eden was established, and His image was set in its midst. Unfortunately, not all would remain well for long.

APPLY THE WORD

As you pray, sing, and offer your heart to God, recall that Scripture links worship with our task as God’s image-bearers in the world (v. 15). In response, dedicate your worship this morning to the glory of God, and ask Him for the wisdom and strength to take that spirit of image-bearing worship with you into your daily activities of the week.

http://www.todayintheword.org

Genesis 1:26–2:3

Icons are images or symbols that represent something larger than themselves. We see icons every day on computers and phones; when we open them, the program they represent becomes present.

In the same way, today’s Scripture tells us that humans are made as “images” (a word that could also be translated “icons”) of God. As “icons” of God, humans have the gift of a unique and intimate relationship with our Creator. Humans alone are made in God’s image; no other creature is given this designation. Human beings are made to represent God in the world, to make God’s very presence known wherever we go.

This truth should make us ask an important question: how do our lives point to God and represent Him in the world? First, God declared: “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over” the rest of creation (1:26). Notice the purpose given for being made in God’s image is so that we might rule. God’s divine kingship over His creation, His presence in the world, was represented by mankind. Careful care of creation was intended as a way for mankind to bear the image of the Creator God.

Second, this gift of being image-bearers was coupled with God’s word of blessing. “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it” (1:28). God’s “icons” in the world were to multiply and fill the earth, not just biologically but spiritually as well. God’s presence and kingship were to spread throughout the world by means of the multiplication of image-bearers. The end of our passage, then, demonstrates the perfection of God’s creation after mankind. He declared the world “very good” (1:31) and then “rested from all his work” (2:2).

APPLY THE WORD

We regularly fail in our responsibility to be “icons” of God in the world. Thankfully, because Christ is the perfect “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), our union with Him enables us to represent God to those around us. Consider one way you might bear the image of God in the world today by your creativity or caring for one who needs a friend.

http://www.todayintheword.org

Genesis 1:1–25

A prayer used in many churches each Sunday begins: “Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself. . . .” The words of this prayer remind us that God’s intention for humanity from the very beginning was for His own delight in being with His creation. This month, our study will focus on the ways God’s desire to dwell with us persists from Eden to the End.

Beginning with Genesis 1, we see God’s initiative toward creation, for it was He alone who “created the heavens and the earth” (v. 1). His intimate presence was there from the very beginning as “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (v. 2). From the start, Scripture highlights not only God’s power to create but also His intention to be present with His created world.

Then God spoke and all that exists came into being. As Genesis 1 proceeds, we see the care, creativity, and order of God’s creation. Our world is no random, haphazard result of impersonal forces and chemical reactions. It is the product of a loving God of beauty and design. First, each realm is created—day and night, sky and earth, water and land. Then the inhabitants of each realm are brought forth—stellar bodies, sea creatures, birds, and animals. Like a great artist, God formed His world with purpose and order.

Finally, Genesis 1 demonstrates God’s goodness toward His creation. Throughout the chapter, God beheld His new creation and “saw that it was good” (vv. 10, 12 18). He “blessed” the creatures He had made (v. 22). The creation account in Scripture reveals God’s purpose and initiative toward the world, His care and design in bringing it into being, and His goodness and love for it. The stage was now set for the climax: the creation of humanity.

APPLY THE WORD

In these days before Christmas, reflect on how God’s intention to dwell with us is demonstrated in all of creation. If weather permits, spend time outside noting the ways God’s presence and care are manifested. Then pray that God would use this month’s study to deepen your understanding of His desire for relationship with you.

http://www.todayintheword.org

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Pietist mystic and scholar Johannes Kelpius and his followers settled in present-day Philadelphia in 1694. Known as the “Hermits of the Wissahickon” because they lived along the banks of Wissahickon Creek, these 40 men thought the apocalypse and Second Coming would happen that very year. They were the first group in America to make such a prediction—though they were of course wrong.

Many false prophecies have been made about Christ’s return. The truth is that no one knows the day or the hour (see Matt. 24:36). Like a “thief in the night,” it will be an unwelcome surprise for unbelievers (vv. 1–2). It won’t come out of nowhere, however. A pregnant woman cannot say exactly when labor pains will begin, but when they do it’s not usually a total surprise (v. 3).

In fact, believers shouldn’t be surprised at all (v. 4). For us, His return will mark a joyful end to our waiting. Like a pregnant woman who has her hospital bag packed and ready for when labor pains begin, we, too, can be prepared. After all, we are “children of the light,” meaning we’re spiritually awake and attentive. God has given us the spiritual life and knowledge we need to be on the alert for Christ’s return (vv. 5–7). Our daily waiting involves “putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (v. 8). By contrast, unbelievers live in darkness, meaning they’re ignorant or oblivious (like a drunken person).

Christ’s return is the consummation of God’s plan of salvation (vv. 9–10)! Those who reject Christ will suffer God’s wrath, but for believers His death has saved us from that fate and given us instead eternal life with Him. As we continue to wait, this is the most encouraging and edifying truth we can share with one another (v. 11).

APPLY THE WORD

A good prayer for today is Maranatha, or “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). We do not wait in vain on a false prophecy or wishful thinking. The object of our faith is absolutely truthful and trustworthy. No matter how difficult our immediate circumstances, each of our days can be filled with hope and expectancy. Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back!

http://www.todayintheword.org

Jude 17–25

Christ’s redemption is both “now” and “not yet.” The past dimension of salvation is also called “justification.” We now stand before God without condemnation; this is an accomplished fact (see Rom. 8:1–2). The present reality is called “sanctification.” The Spirit is working in our lives to make us increasingly like Jesus. The future aspect is called “glorification.” This is when that work will be finished (Rom. 8:29–30).

Waiting on the Lord for salvation’s completion, then, is a complex Christian responsibility. Eternal destinies are at stake, as seen in today’s reading, which contrasts those who do not wait on the Lord with those who do.

People who do not wait on the Lord are “scoffers” (vv. 17–19). They think the Day of the Lord will never come. Rather than living in faith and expectant hope, they “follow their own ungodly desires” and “mere natural instincts.” They lack the Holy Spirit, live by worldly values, and reject God’s truth. Such false teachers mislead and divide the body of Christ.

People who do wait on the Lord are the opposite (vv. 20–21). They live according to God’s truth and values. They grow toward spiritual maturity and pray in the Spirit. They stand firm in the love of Christ, from which nothing can separate us (vv. 24–25; Rom. 8:35–39). They are therefore enabled to wait in sure hope and faith for “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life”—the completion of our earthly pilgrimages!

What about those who “doubt” or “waver” because of false teachers (vv. 22–23)? We’re to show them mercy (which seems like an appropriate way to wait for mercy!). The most merciful thing we can do is share the gospel with them, for if they believe it they’ll be saved from the fires of hell.

APPLY THE WORD

Throughout the journey described in John Bunyan’s allegory Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character, Christian, is waiting to arrive at the Celestial City, yet his waiting isn’t passive. He learns much at the House of the Interpreter, is tempted at Vanity Fair, imprisoned in Doubting Castle, and more. Read or re-read this timeless masterpiece!

http://www.todayintheword.org

Hebrews 9:22–28

In his classic devotional book Morning and Evening, Charles Spurgeon wrote: “[Waiting] is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God’s warriors than standing still. . . . But wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in him; for unfaithful, untrusting waiting is but an insult to the Lord. Believe that if he keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet he will come at the right time.”

Christ brings salvation to those who wait. In one sense, our redemption is already accomplished, but in another sense, its full realization lies in our future (v. 28). It is both “now” and “not yet.” “To bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” means to bring the fulfillment or results of salvation, its full accomplishment, the completion of God’s currently ongoing redemptive work in our lives (see Phil. 1:6).

Christ’s work of redemption required the offering of His blood. The blood of animal sacrifices had purified, though imperfectly. Christ offered Himself as the superior sacrifice needed to purify perfectly. He was in fact both sacrifice and priest, mediating between God and man (vv. 22–24; see 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 9:15). Unlike the previous inferior sacrifices, Jesus’ sacrifice needed to happen only once. It occurred “once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin” (vv. 25–26).

In Christ’s first advent, He bore our sins, rose victorious, and ascended to the Father. In His Second Coming, He will bring the fullness of salvation. These are two sides of the same coin, and they are as certain as death and judgment (vv. 27–28). For “so great a salvation” (Heb. 2:3) we can indeed wait in hope and faith!

APPLY THE WORD

Have you joined the fellowship of “those who are waiting” (v. 28)? Have you trusted in Christ for salvation? He died so we wouldn’t have to pay the penalty for sin. He rose again so we can receive His gift of eternal life. We have a choice: Wait for death and judgment, or wait for life, love, and eternity with the Lord. Choose Him today!

http://www.todayintheword.org

Psalm 37:1–9

In a sermon titled “The Beauty of Biblical Justice,” pastor and author Tim Keller said: “In the West, when we think of justice, we think of individual rights. . . . Biblical justice has a different trajectory. Biblical justice means interwovenness, interdependence, bringing individuals to see that our stuff isn’t just ours. . . . [Justice] means taking the threads of your life—your emotions, your time, your body, your physical presence, your money—and plunging them into the lives of other people.”

To wait for God’s justice, then, is not primarily about punishment or even fairness. To wait for justice is to wait for shalom, a state of peace, blessedness, and wellbeing in which God is obeyed and worshiped. That day will come when sin and death are finally and fully vanquished.

Psalm 37 describes what waiting for justice feels like in everyday life. We are not to worry or become angry when it seems like sinners are rewarded for their wrong choices and actions. Instead, we are to be still and wait patiently for the Lord, because His justice is certain (v. 7; Isa. 30:18).

We shouldn’t fret over the apparent success of evil; it’s not real and won’t last (vv. 1–2). Instead, we should draw close to God and do as He leads. “He will give you the desires of your heart” because then your heart is in the right place (v. 4). To trust Him is to choose wisely, to see through the fraud of temptations to the truth of righteous obedience.

Those who do so will be vindicated and rewarded for their patience! As for people who choose and act otherwise, they will be destroyed. Only those who hope in the Lord “will inherit the land” (vv. 8–9).

APPLY THE WORD

Both fretting over the “success” of the wicked and worrying about everyday needs show a lack of faith (see Matt. 6:25–34). Instead of anxiety, we have the privilege of taking these needs to God in prayer (Phil. 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7). When you are tempted to complain or worry, take that as a cue to pray for faith to wait on the Lord.

http://www.todayintheword.org

Zephaniah 3:1–8

The expression “Wait for it!” can be used to build suspense before a verbal climax. One expects that what is said next will be surprising, humorous, or unexpectedly significant. According to one source, its increased “colloquial usage as a dramatic interjection” can be attributed to its frequent appearances in the popular American TV show How I Met Your Mother.

To those who think they have escaped divine justice, God says, “Wait for it!” Whereas in yesterday’s reading the purpose of waiting was to experience God’s deliverance, in today’s reading the purpose of waiting is to see His just wrath against sin and evil. The poetic and prophetic books of Scripture resound with cries for this: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease”? (Jer. 12:1).

The context for Zephaniah 3 is Judah’s sinfulness and unwillingness to repent. The nation was being chronically rebellious, disobedient, and prideful (vv. 1–2). Leaders exploited others, prophets lied, and priests profaned worship (vv. 3–4). God, who is perfectly righteous, had been more than patient, waiting for the nation to accept correction. The fact that He hadn’t punished them yet did not mean they had gotten away with their wickedness, as they seemed to think. They should have already known this from His past judgments on other nations (vv. 5–7).

When God said, “Wait for me,” then, it was a severe and perhaps sarcastic warning (v. 8). They didn’t think He was actually coming. They didn’t want Him to show up and “testify” about their evil deeds. They disregarded and disrespected His righteous wrath and judgment. But His arrival and His justice are as certain for judgment as they are for the salvation of the faithful remnant who waits in hope (see vv. 9–20).

APPLY THE WORD

Can we really give “shouts of joy” when the wicked perish (Prov. 11:10)? That doesn’t seem very “nice.” But the answer is yes, if our desire is for God’s plan to be accomplished and His name to be honored. If, however, our feelings are fueled by hatred or revenge, that is not godly waiting. For a vital lesson on this topic, read Jonah 4.

http://www.todayintheword.org

Micah 7:1–7

Struck blind by an unknown disease in the middle of his career, English poet John Milton wondered in a famous sonnet what God expected him to do. Were his literary and other talents now “useless”? “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?” In the poem, Patience answered, reminding him that God does not need our work: “They also serve who only stand and wait.”

Biblically, waiting is not just waiting for God to do something—it is waiting for God Himself. In other words, our hope is founded upon the character of God. This kind of hope is not tentative but guaranteed. Godly waiting is therefore accompanied by a joyful anticipation and strong faith that He is on the way: “In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Ps. 5:3).

Waiting on the Lord is part of our overall relationship with Him. It is an orientation toward God—an attitude of the heart, mind, and will. We’ll explore different elements of this relationship, orientation, or attitude in the next five days in order to see a definition of biblical waiting.

Today’s reading reveals hope as a key ingredient in spiritual waiting. Micah’s lament for Israel mourns that pretty much everything that could go wrong had gone wrong. Harvests failed (v. 1), people acted in hurtful and violent ways (v. 2), and corruption and exploitation were rampant (vv. 3–4). Relationships were broken at every level, including community, friendship, even marriage and family (vv. 5–6). The only bright side was God Himself—but He is enough!

Waiting on the Lord doesn’t mean a “wait and see” attitude, nor is it mere human optimism. Instead, Micah watched in hope. He waited for the God he knew would be a Savior. And he boldly asserted, “My God will hear me” (v. 7).

APPLY THE WORD

Waiting might not be easy, but Scripture promises that God is present even in our waiting and He will strengthen us to hope and to trust. Keep this verse nearby as a reminder: “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isa. 40:31).

http://www.todayintheword.org

John 6:25–71

Author Flannery O’Connor wrote stories set in the South about odd characters facing spiritual choices. “I think there is no suffering greater than what is caused by the doubts of those who want to believe,” she said. Today’s passage appears to be a disagreement about bread, but it is really about the difficult choice between belief and disbelief.

To both His disciples and to the crowd in the synagogue, Jesus claimed to be the living “bread that came down from heaven” (v. 58). This conversation clearly reveals the confused state of mind of His followers. First, they were looking for a direct solution to their physical needs. They wanted Him to be the bread that satisfied their physical cravings. Notice how they compared him to manna (v. 31). They even phrased it as a demand: “Always give us this bread” (v. 34).

They did not understand that Jesus Himself was the only bread that would satisfy their deepest spiritual longings. They wanted Jesus for what He could give them—physical healing, miraculous provisions, or political freedom. They saw a man whose parents they knew, and they resisted His claim of divinity (v. 42).

Jesus redirected the conversation to His identity as the Son of God. He referred back to the Scriptures and attempted to explain to them that He is the “bread of life” (v. 48). But even after several lengthy explanations, they continued to misunderstand His message: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (v. 52).

The religious skeptics were not the only ones confused. Even His disciples struggled to believe. In fact, many turned away from Jesus and quit following at this point. This was the fork in the road, the dividing point. Would they believe or would they walk away?

APPLY THE WORD

Each of us comes to a crossroads where we must either choose to believe or walk away. What is your choice? Do you believe that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, the bread of life? Do you trust His claims rather than demand that He conform to your own expectations? Through Jesus we can find life, but only if we follow Him.

http://www.todayintheword.org