Impossible

Daily Devotional, March 31, 2011

Impossible

read›
Matthew 6:1-6
Let someone else praise you, not your own
mouth—a stranger, not your own lips
(Proverbs 27:2).

Despite his status as a former world-class
basketball player, David Robinson has resisted
superstardom’s relentless temptations and forged a
reputation as a quality human being on and off the court.
One of the tangible results of his ongoing legacy is a
private school in San Antonio, Texas.

A cursory glance at this academically rigorous institution
won’t tell you that Robinson contributed $9 million (USD)
to found it. The Carver Academy doesn’t bear Robinson’s
name, but rather honors the memory of the great botanist
and educator George Washington Carver (1864–1943).
In a world that clamors for praise and adulation, David
Robinson’s humble generosity is refreshing.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He warned against doing
things for the purpose of getting praise. “Watch out!” Jesus
said. “Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired
by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in
heaven” (Matthew 6:1). He extended that warning to indict
“hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and
in synagogues where everyone can see them” (v.5). Jesus
wanted us to be secretive about our good deeds.

It’s easy to get addicted to praise and to fish for
compliments. We crave to hear the glowing things
people say about us. Humility, it seems, is impossibly
elusive. And yet to be humble is the absolute standard
Jesus calls us to. He lived it out for us. Paul wrote,
“Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to
cling to. . . . He took the humble position of a slave” (Philippians 2:6-7).

Some good advice for your humility quest is found in these words: “Let
someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips”
(Proverbs 27:2). “God blesses those who are humble,” Jesus declared, “for they
will inherit the whole earth” (Matthew 5:5). —Tim Gustafson

more›
What did Jesus say about
good deeds in Matthew
5:14-16? How does this
jibe with 6:1-6?

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Time Well Spent

Daily Devotional, March 30, 2011

Time Well Spent

read›
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
We now have this light shining in our hearts,
but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars
containing this great treasure. This makes
it clear that our great power is from God, not
from ourselves (v.7).

Her name is Mary Jane. Having married a
steelworker, she’s seen the boom and death of a
Pennsylvania steel town where they happily raised
their children. When the town no longer held any promise
for them, they moved to Florida to enjoy their latter years.

Today, though, she misses her husband even though
he’s been gone a while (she’s uncertain of exactly how
long). As she sits gracefully in her wingback chair, Mary
Jane understands why she now lives in an assisted living
center. It’s because her memory has started to fail her.

Life is incredibly fragile. The apostle Paul reminds us
of the great contrast that exists between the everlasting,
transforming power of the gospel and our frail, finite
humanity. Trials will come, with some seeming as if they
will last forever while others appear merely as a blip on the
radar of life. But this truth remains: We have but one life to
expend for Jesus before we die (Job 14:5; James 4:14).
In the busyness of life, our priorities can seem to be so
appropriate and necessary. So much so, with our to-do
lists close to our eyes, we lose perspective—unable to
see anything beyond the blurry ink on the page, much
less the white of the paper in our hand.
For the believer, though, living a full life goes far
beyond any “bucket list” of new hobbies or dream
vacations. Knowing we were made for eternity
(Ecclesiastes 3:11; 2 Corinthians 4:18) should shape our
present days so that our lives are not only transformed
(2 Corinthians 4:16-17; Romans 12:2), but transformational (vv.11-15).

Our purpose is not to live successful, happy lives. We need “to realize the
brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Then our lives
can truly be a means for others to learn about Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:13-15).
—Regina Franklin

more›
Read Psalm 116:12-14
to see the context in which we should offer
our lives as a living sacrifice.

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Seeing It - Nicholas Vujicic

Daily Devotional, March 29, 2011

Seeing It

read›
John 9:1-9
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’
sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the
power of God could be seen in him” (v.3).

On December 4, 1982, a baby boy named
Nicholas Vujicic was born. As he grew, Nick
learned to brush his teeth, comb his hair, and
dress himself each morning. Like other boys, he learned
to swim, fish, and play soccer. But throughout Nick’s life
there has always been one big difference between him and
those around him. Nick was born with the rare Tetra-amelia
disorder—he entered this world without arms or legs.

As you’d imagine, Nick’s life has had its share of pain.
His defects were a shock to his parents. How could God
have allowed this? Nick was teased at school. So much
so, that when he was just 8 years old, he tried to drown
himself in a bathtub. He prayed to God every day for a
miracle, but never woke up with new limbs.

Nick’s turning point came while reading today’s
highlighted Bible verse. Jesus met a man born blind,
and His disciples wondered what caused the defect.
“Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
(John 9:1-2). According to traditional wisdom, there
was no suffering without sin. Either one’s parents or the
person himself had sinned, perhaps even in the womb.
Jesus said that sin wasn’t the issue. This man had been
born blind, He proclaimed, “so the power of God could
be seen in him” (v.3).

Nick told me, “Those verses changed my life forever.”
His disability has been used to reveal God’s power.
Today, he travels the world as an evangelist, and it’s claimed that 200,000
people have given their lives to Jesus through his testimony.

For the blind man, the power of God was seen in him receiving his sight
(v.7). For Nick, it’s seen in the lives changed through his story. “When God
doesn’t give you a miracle,” Nick says, “maybe you’re the miracle God has for
someone else.” —Sheridan Voysey

more›
Read Romans 5:3-5
to see the good that
suffering can produce.
Read 2 Corinthians
12:7-10 to see how
God can use our
weakness for His glory.

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The Way

Daily Devotional, March 28, 2011

The Way

read›
Isaiah 30:1-22
This is the way you should go (v.21).

I always assumed that Isaiah 30:21 had something to
do with directions. My understanding was, if I stood
at a crossroads and veered one way or the other, the
Holy Spirit would let me know if I was going the right
way. God would alert me if I was heading into trouble or
beginning to venture outside of His will.

While I still believe that Isaiah 30 has application for
steps we should or shouldn’t take in life, after digging
deeper I now have a better grasp of what Isaiah was
communicating. In this passage, the prophet was
speaking to the wayward tribe of Judah, which had
foolishly entered into a treaty with Egypt. “Without
consulting Me, you have gone down to Egypt for help.
You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection” (v.2).
In so doing, Judah had:

• Made plans that were against God’s
• Made alliances not directed by the Lord
• Gone down to Egypt for help without first
consulting God
• Put their trust in Pharaoh’s protection

It was Isaiah’s role as a prophet to warn God’s
“rebellious children” (v.1) of the subsequent outcome that
awaited them: humiliation, shame, disgrace, loneliness,
and calamity (vv.3-5). Isaiah also plainly stated that
despite what they had done, God was waiting for His
stubborn people to repent and return to Him. He longed
to shower them with love, compassion, grace, and forgiveness (vv.18-19).

Through Isaiah, we learn the very essence of God’s heart: to draw His
beloved people close so that—despite their hideous sins—they could repent and
receive His infinite blessings. Our God is so loving that when Judah strayed—
and when we stray—God provides “a voice” to show us the way back to the
Lord’s protection and eternal riches. —Roxanne Robbins

more›
Read Isaiah 30:23-26
to see the blessings God promised to shower
on Israel if they would turn and “come to Him”
(v.18).

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Shawn McDonald - Don't Give Up (Acoustic)

Daily Devotional, March 25, 2011 - Featuring Shawn McDonald

Don’t Give Up

Read Luke 18 1-8

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7

I was never good at anything as a kid. I was always the smallest kid in school, the one who everybody found their place for laughs. I was an easy target because I had quite the temper. It’s all I had because it wasn’t like I could beat them up so I would just get mad. This would just egg them on and the teasing would continue. Most of my childhood consisted of this. I didn’t have a lot of self-confidence. I tried out for sports but was always the kid who kept the bench warm. I remember dreaming up scenarios about shooting the game-winning shot. Yeah, that never happened. I was always so timid and kind of scared of everything. I just wanted to be good at something. I just wanted to belong.

I turned to drugs when I got older. I think that there were many different reasons for it. Some were to hide the pain, some of it was to be cool, and well, when I was intoxicated I just didn’t care. For the first 20 years of my life I didn’t really believe that my life mattered. I really didn’t even know why I was here…at least not until I had an intense encounter with Christ.

Everybody’s story is different, that is the beauty of life. We all go through different storms at different times. We all mess up, but the good news is we have the choice of standing back up and trying again. The God I follow is a God full of mercy and healing. He is relentless and in love with us, even though it doesn’t make sense. Failing, to me, only comes when we choose to not try again.

I have seen and done so many things that I had never dreamed possible. But I had to fall a lot first. Seasons come and go, so hang in there, and please, whatever you do, don’t give up.

-Shawn McDonald

Visit: http://www.ShawnMcDonaldMusic.com

Shawn McDonald - Don't Give Up (Acoustic)

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Shawn McDonald - Rise

Daily Devotional, March 23, 2011 - Featuring Shawn McDonald

Rise

Read John 16:31-33 Jesus said..."I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (v. 33)

I love to sit by the campfire. There is something very soothing about watching fire consume whatever is thrown into it. I had this fire pit out back of my house in Seattle that I spent many hours hanging with friends and thinking. It was kind of like going to Disneyland for me. I would have my bros over all the time and we would sit back there and talk about life, God, love, or whatever else had consumed our minds that evening. I loved it. You know those moments you wish would never end. Those moments in which life feels as if it was suppose to be. Still, peace, joy, love, laughs. These for me are what bring life into a broken world and yet they are sometimes hard to find.

I remember spending hours upon hours with my family camping as a kid. My grandpa and I would fish all day and then take our catch back to our campground, start a fire and cook our fish. My uncle Don would always yell at me because I loved to stick things in the fire pit. Mostly sticks, an occasional bug, or some trash I found laying around. But I loved to burn stuff. Fire is crazy. It literally burns things to nothing, yet the ashes that are left become a rich soil, making a place for new life.

I was watching a show on television not too long ago about the Sequoia National Park and how fires are a vital part of life in the forest. They were saying that if wild fires don’t happen, then new life and new trees don’t either.

This is very similar to our own lives. Sometimes we have to go through intense heat and flame to burn off all the trash we have collected along the way. I know going through hard times is never the place we want to be, but I believe in reason and that maybe it is the place we need to be. Even if it hurts to have our lives crumble down and burn to nothing, it is here where new life starts. If everything in your life right now seems great, I guarantee that some day you will encounter some kind of fire. One without the other gives us nothing to compare it to. We need fire to live, at least to live alive. Hang in there because out of the ashes we will rise!

-Shawn McDonald

Visit: http://www.OurDailyJourney.com

Rise (Acoustic) - Shawn McDonald

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Shawn McDonald - Closer CD

Daily Devotional, March 21, 2011 - Featuring Shawn McDonald

Closer

Hebrews 10:22 "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

When I was a little boy, I was so afraid of the dark. So much so, that I would be laying in bed and have to go to the bathroom and…well I wouldn’t go because I was sure there was something out there to get me. I would hold it to the point of no return and then bolt down to the end of the hall where the bathroom was, and flip on the light….safe. I had this fear of monsters as a child. Maybe from one too many shows on TV that I wasn’t supposed to be watching. I was just scared of the things I didn’t know. I would use the restroom, and then look back down the hall to see if anything was out there. It would take me a while to build up the courage to run back, being I had a little less motivation than my reasoning for going to the bathroom in the first place. Eventually I would build up the nerve and take off running back for my bedroom. I was so sure that…whatever was out there trying to get me…had moved from the hallway to under my bed. I would run full force and then leap, landing safe, yet again.

I don’t really have a lot of memories of ever really calling out for help. I think I had this underlying thought that I wasn’t supposed to be scared of things that weren’t really there. I still was, though.

As I have gotten older, my not-wanting-to-call-out-for-help hasn’t changed much. I don’t know why hiding from the things that hurt and scare us is so natural. I have found that God is the only healing force that gets me through the monsters of life, yet it takes everything in me to believe that. I’m trying to learn to let go and trust, and most importantly draw closer to God.

I have been going through one of the darkest and scariest times in my life these last few years. Peering down the old dark hallway, wondering if there would still be love on the other side.

I was sitting with a friend of mine, talking about the darkness we find ourselves in, and we could only come to one common ground: that the only way out of darkness is to draw near to light, it is to draw near to the life-giver, so that our lives can be healed.

I named my new record and my song “Closer” for a reason. Even though “closer” is such a simple thought, it is one of the most vital points of our faith.

I think that God desires our closeness with him much more than we realize. Where we spend our time is what makes us who we are. I don’t know about you, but I want life and I want it in abundance, making “closer” why I live.

-Shawn McDonald

Visit: http://www.ShawnMcDonaldMusic.com

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Simply Profound

Daily Devotional, March 18, 2011

Simply Profound

read›
Isaiah 55:1-9
Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very
thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord
that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our
God, for He will forgive generously (v.7).

A Malaysian gangster was extorting money from
a dental clinic. When the dentist gave him the
cash “payment” he was forced to make, he also
gave him a booklet. He said, “Read this. It’s good for
you.” The gangster was angry with the dentist for giving
him a religious booklet—a copy of Our Daily Bread
(sister publication of Our Daily Journey). But the dentist
replied, “Please keep it. Wait till you are in a good
mood, then read it.” Nine months later, when the booklet
accidentally dropped to the floor, the gangster picked
it up. As he read its pages, he was convicted of his sins
and received Jesus as his Savior.
What an incredible way to be confronted with God’s
Word! But was this story extraordinary? Maybe not. For
the God of the Bible is the God of the extraordinary.
Everything is possible with Him (Mark 10:27). God has
said of Himself: “My ways are far beyond anything you
could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8).
God’s ways may be inscrutable to us (v.9), but the way
to God is simple: Turn away from your sins and turn to
God (vv.6-7; Acts 3:19). Isaiah says, “Let the wicked
change their ways. . . . Let them turn to the Lord that He
may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He
will forgive generously” (55:7). And that’s exactly what
the Malaysian gangster experienced. He’s now an exgangster
who loves God and others.
The invitation to come to God is given three times in
verses 1 to 3. Come is one of the most inviting words in Scripture. God invites
anyone and everyone to come to Him, to find life, and to experience His love
(v.3). “It’s all free!” (v.1). Come. If God can change the heart of a gangster, He
can change you. —K.T. Sim

more›
What is Jesus’
invitation to us in
Matthew 11:28-30
and John 6:35?

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Why Work?

Daily Devotional, March 17, 2011

Why Work?

read›
Proverbs 12:24–13:4
Warn those who are lazy
(1 Thessalonians 5:14).

Think back to a time when you were part of a team
through school, church, business, volunteer work, or
sports. With that experience fresh in your mind, answer
the following: What was your team’s primary goal? Prepare
a class presentation? Share the gospel with 500 people?
Increase sales by 25 percent in three districts? Win a state
or national championship? Did your team meet its goals?
Why did your group effort succeed or fail? Who worked
the hardest on your team? Did anyone fail to put forth the
effort needed to achieve the desired results?

On almost every team, there’s a standout performer, the
one who works tirelessly and who diligently makes “use of
everything they find.” There’s also often a person who’s rich
with talent, but who’s lazy and poor at execution; the type
of person who doesn’t “even cook the game they catch”
(Proverbs 12:27).

People who fail to make the most of opportunities or
to follow through with their responsibilities hurt not only
themselves, but also their teammates. God’s Word has
much to say about the value of work. For example:
• “Lazy people want much but get little, but those
who work hard will prosper” (13:4).
• “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (21:5).
• Be happy in [your] work. That is why we are here!”
(Ecclesiastes 3:22).
• “Enjoy your work . . . this is indeed a gift from God” (5:19).
• “Those who work [hard] deserve their pay” (Luke 10:7).

Jesus also said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to
eternal life” (John 6:27 NIV). Make it your goal to complete what God calls you
to do, keeping in mind that no work “you do for the Lord is ever useless”
(1 Corinthians 15:58). —Roxanne Robbins

more›
Read Acts 20:24 to see
the work God assigned
to Paul. Consider how
this is your work as well.

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The Effects

Daily Devotional, March 16, 2011

The Effects

read›
Romans 1:18-32
Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge
God, He abandoned them to their foolish
thinking and let them do things that should never
be done (v.28).

This was a tough week. Someone I know was accused
of a crime so brutal I can’t describe it. Waves of
disbelief, disgust, and sadness have swept over
me. I grieve the loss of life for the victim and what he
went through prior to his death. I grieve for the families
involved. I grieve the potential loss of a once-promising
future for my young friend. I grieve the effects of sin.

In Romans 1, the apostle Paul issued a solemn warning
we should all take to heart. The essence of his message?
Sin leads only to more sin and ultimately to spiritual
death. When people choose to reject and disobey
God, even though His message has been “obvious to
them” (vv.19-20), they begin a descent into darkness
and confusion (v.22). Their choices and actions become
foolish—worshiping their own sinful wants and desires
while ignoring “the glorious, ever-living God” (vv.23,25).
What happens next is scary, for God “abandons” or
turns these people over to experience the bitter fruit of
their wicked ways (vv.18,24). He allows them to reap
“the penalty they [deserve]” as they engage in acts “that
should never be done” (vv.27-28).

Paul wrote down many types of sins people will commit
as they sink deeper and deeper into darkness (vv.9-30).
Although the list isn’t exhaustive, a few stand out: haters
of God. When we turn from God, our hearts reveal our
hate for Him and His truth; proud—the worship of self can
lead to unimaginable consequences (see Adam and Eve); new ways of sinning—
jaded in depravity, our sins become worse and worse; heartless . . . no mercy—
our choices become cruel and evil.

Turn from your sin today before it’s too late. If you don’t, the effects could be
devastating for you . . . and others. —Tom Felten

more›
Check out Psalm 14:1-3
to see what God said
when He looked at the
hearts of “the entire
human race.”

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Aim of Instruction

Daily Devotional, March 15, 2011

Aim of Instruction

read›
1 Timothy 1:1-11
The purpose of my instruction is that all
believers would be filled with love that comes from
a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine
faith (v.5).

Every so often, it’s good to ask yourself: “Why do
I do what I do?” It’s so easy to get caught up in
simply getting things done, while forgetting the
ultimate purpose for our tasks.

In 1 Timothy 1:4-7, Paul presents three failures of false
teachers that—if we’re not careful—can become our
failures too: (1) Their teachings promote meaningless
speculations that “don’t help people live a life of faith
in God” (v.4); (2) their motive is all about position and
reputation, rather than to see that the truth is taught
or that lives are changed (v.7); (3) they appear to be
impressive teachers, but they have no real understanding
of the law or the gospel (v.7).

In contrast, the purpose of good teaching is “that all
believers would be filled with love that comes from a
pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith” (v.5).
When truth is being taught, preached, and believed, it
will always result in love—love for God and love for one
another. As we instruct others in God’s Word—whether
in Sunday school, a small group, one-to-one, from the
pulpit, or as parents—what’s the aim of our instruction? Is
it so they will “be filled with love”?

Paul tells us that teaching the Bible to others can be
an uphill task, for in the last days “people will no longer
listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow
their own desires and will look for teachers who will
tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3). That’s why
we have the great responsibility to teach the Word in a way that reveals God’s
authority.

It’s not about our own thoughts or human wisdom but about accurately
representing His Word. —Poh Fang Chia

more›
Read Titus 2:7-8 to see
more qualities a person
who teaches God’s Word
should possess.

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False Strongholds

Daily Devotional, March 10, 2011

False Strongholds

read›
Judges 6:11-14, 25-32
Build an altar to the Lord your God here on this
hilltop sanctuary. . . . Sacrifice the bull as a
burnt offering . . . , using as fuel the wood
of the Asherah pole you cut down (v.26).

Four-months pregnant with our second child, I was
surprised one day when a co-worker unexpectedly
shared that she had experienced a miscarriage
years prior at the 4-month mark. Pregnancy is a walk
of faith in itself, but her words sent what ifs racing
through my mind faster than my surging hormones. God,
however, was not taken by surprise. A few days later,
someone said to me, “I was praying for you and the
Lord told me to give you Psalm 8:2 as a Scripture for this
baby.” Those words were truly welcomed!

Before choosing his small but mighty band of men by
the river (Judges 7:8), sneaking to the enemy’s camp at
night (v.13), and winning the battle with clay pots on the
hill of Moreh (v.19), Gideon came up against the powers
of darkness in a formidable venue—the familiar.
When the angel of the Lord addressed Gideon by
calling him “mighty hero” (6:12), Gideon’s first question
was neither how nor when. Rather, he asked, “If the
Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?”
(v.13). Eventually he came to realize that God had not
abandoned them. He had been true to His Word. God
simply wouldn’t be their stronghold if others took His
place (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).

Before they could ever be free from their oppressors,
the false places of protection had to be destroyed. After
pulling down the gods made by human hands, Gideon
signified the supremacy of Yahweh by building an altar to the Lord “on the top of
[the] stronghold” (6:26 NASB).

In our distress, God sends His Word. We can either worship at the places
of false protection (for me, trying to control by imagining every “what if . . .”),
or we can acknowledge that He alone is our strength and stronghold.
—Regina Franklin

more›
Read Psalm 9:1-10 to see
how David celebrated
God as his stronghold.

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burlap and ashes

Daily Devotional, March 09, 2011

Covered In Ashes

read›
Isaiah 58:1-14
[You] cover yourselves with ashes. . . . Do you
really think this will please the Lord? (v.5).

Today is Ash Wednesday. It’s the first day of the
Lent season, observed several weeks before Good
Friday. Those who attend Ash Wednesday services
typically apply ashes (or will have ashes applied) to their
foreheads. The priest or pastor marks the forehead of
each worshiper, often saying, “Remember that you are
dust and to dust you shall return.”

Ashes in the Bible are viewed as a symbol of humility
and associated with repentance from sin. To demonstrate
that they had repented from their sins, people put on burlap
or sackcloth and sat in ashes or placed ashes on themselves
(Esther 4:3; Job 42:6; Matt. 11:21). So, wearing burlap
and ashes are ways to express sorrow and mourning.
The prophet Isaiah, however, warned that merely
performing an outward show of religious rituals doesn’t
please God. “They act so pious! They come to the temple
every day . . . pretending they want to be near Me.

You humble yourselves by going through the motions of
penance . . . . Do you really think this will please the
Lord?” (Isaiah 58:2,5). God looks at the heart—and their
hearts were far from Him (29:13).

Isaiah called God’s people to please Him by doing
what’s right: Act justly and treat workers fairly (58:3,6,9),
stop fighting and quarrelling among themselves (v.4), help
those burdened or imprisoned by life’s circumstances and
poverty (v.6), and be generous to those in need (vv.7,10).
Simply observing external rituals will not please God if the heart does not seek
to obey Him. God lamented to His prophet: “My people come pretending to be
sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention
of doing what you say. . . . They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!”
(Ezekiel 33:31-32).

God wants your heart, not a show. —K.T. Sim

more›
Read Micah 6:8 to
understand what God
requires of His people.

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Goldfield's Miracle

Daily Devotional, March 08, 2011

Goldfield's Miracle

read›
1 Corinthians 15:12-53
In fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.
He is the first of a great harvest of all who have
died (v.20).

Science’s discovery of nature’s laws makes an
intervening God less believable. We surmise that
lost limbs don’t grow back, and dead men don’t
return to life. Or do they?

In October 2008, medical doctor Sean George
was driving from Esperance to Kalgoorlie in the West
Australian goldfields, when he started feeling chest pain.
He called his wife and got to the nearest clinic. A short
while later, he was pronounced dead. Fifty-five minutes of
CPR and electric-shock therapy couldn’t bring him back.
The death was called when Sean’s wife, Sherry, arrived.
Sherry walked into the room and picked up her
husband’s cold hand. ”Lord,” she prayed. “Sean is only
39 years old. We have a 10-year-old boy. I need a
miracle.” At that moment, medical staff reported, Sean’s
lifeless body took a deep breath and his heartbeat
returned on the monitor. Later, Sean told me his miracle
story as a completely well man.

Skepticism about the miraculous goes way back. The
apostle Paul confronted cynicism about resurrection
among the believers in Corinth (1 Corinthians 15:12).
He reminded them that Jesus’ bodily resurrection was the
foundation of the Christian faith (v.4). If it was untrue,
their faith was “useless” (v.14) for they were still lost in
their sins (v.17). Just as importantly, Paul said that Jesus’
resurrection was the prototype for our own (vv.21-23).

Our bodies will be raised and transformed, just like Jesus’ (vv.20,53).
I firmly believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection. And although Sean George’s
miracle was resuscitation, rather than resurrection, it is still modern proof of
what God can do. Talk about inspiring! For a true resurrection awaits those who
love Christ—the complete transformation of our bodies, souls, and hearts.
—Sheridan Voysey

more›
What does Paul reveal
in Romans 8:11 about
the life that the Holy
Spirit brings?

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Random Strangers

Daily Devotional, March 07, 2011

Random Strangers

read›
Hebrews 5:11-14
Those who are mature. . . recognize the
difference between right and wrong (v.14).

I recently read an article about a site where Web
chatters are exposed to random strangers from
around the world. As the article states, “One minute
you’re chatting via Webcam with a mom of two [in the
US] and the next you’re staring at a stark-naked man in
Bangkok.” One psychiatrist calls the site “a predator’s
paradise.” Definitely not a destination for the discerning!

The writer of Hebrews provides us with a helpful wakeup
call to make sure we’re growing in discernment. He
wrote to his readers, “There is much more we would like
to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially
since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen”
(Hebrews 5:11). The words “spiritually dull” literally
mean dimwitted and negligent. (Words that definitely
apply to people using the Web site mentioned earlier!)
Back when Hebrews was written, the Christians in
house churches in Rome (to whom the letter was likely
addressed), were struggling to maintain their faith and to
live it out with conviction. Christians who show a lack of
discernment today often wrestle with the same two issues.
So how can you become more discerning?

• Do what you know. The believers in Rome had been
well fed spiritually, but they lived like spiritual babies
(v.12). They acted as if they didn’t “know how to do
what is right” (v.13). We become more discerning when
we actively live out the truths of God’s Word.
• Train your mind for action. We can better tell right from wrong as we train
our minds (v.14), and “prepare [them] for action” (1 Peter 1:13 NIV). This
includes continually growing in our knowledge of God’s Word and consciously
applying its wisdom to our choices.

It’s not discerning to do stuff like chatting online with random strangers.
Instead, let’s pursue discerning lives as we live out God’s truth. —Tom Felten

more›
Read Philippians 1:9-10
to see the good things
that result from the
greater knowledge
and understanding that
God provides.

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Good Ground

Daily Devotional, March 03, 2011

Good Ground

read›
Luke 8:11-15
The seeds that fell on the
good soil represent . . . people who hear God’s
word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge
harvest (v.15).

At dusk, I left the house with a fistful of wildflower
seeds. I crossed the street and tossed them into
the open field adjacent to our home. I waited all
summer for the flowers to bloom, but all that grew was a
monster thistle bush, milkweed, and some prairie grass.
Since then, I’ve learned a bit about gardening. I now
know that my silly experiment was doomed to fail
because seeds prefer soil that is moist, free of weeds,
and deep enough to accommodate their roots. They need
good ground.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus said that we
are good ground for the gospel when we hear and
understand God’s Word. While most people get the gist
of the gospel, not everyone understands it. For example,
recent studies show that many professing Christians don’t
believe Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Our world
wants us to be cool with Christ, as well as other religious
leaders, teachings, and practices. That’s not what it looks
like to understand the gospel.
Those of us who comprehend the good news and
“cling to it” are supposed to bear fruit, patiently
producing “a huge harvest” (Luke 8:15). Spiritually
speaking, our lives should be characterized by Christlike
righteousness (Philippians 1:11). Over a lifetime of
experiences, our spiritual yield of righteousness should
multiply. Jesus said, “When you produce much fruit, you
are My true disciples” (John 15:8).
We can consider ourselves good ground for the gospel if we understand that
God sent His only Son to take the punishment for our sin, and that Christ alone
is the way to eternal life (John 14:6). Then we can bear the fruit of a changed
life—one that produces “thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had
been planted” (Matthew 13:23). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

more›
Read Colossians 1:3-7
to learn what happens
when people receive
the good news. Read
Matthew 13:19-23 to
find out how people
can become sidetracked
from living fruitful
Christian lives.

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Never Too Late

Daily Devotional, March 02, 2011

Never Too Late

read›
Judges 16:23-30
Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign
Lord, remember me again. O God, please
strengthen me just one more time” (v.28).

In the popular TV series LOST, a character named
Sayid Jarrah was an airplane crash survivor and
castaway on a mysterious tropical island. As a
former military interrogator, he was haunted by those he
tortured and spent much of his adult life trying to atone
for his past mistakes.

At the start of LOST’s final season, Sayid died from a
gunshot wound. He was resuscitated, however, by an
evil character (the unnamed man in black) and recruited
to the dark side. But just when viewers were convinced
that he had given himself completely over to evil, he
sacrificed his life to save his fellow crash survivors.
That shocking twist (something LOST fans were
accustomed to seeing) takes me back to the Old
Testament character Samson. Remember him? The longhaired
Nazirite, endowed by God’s Spirit with superhuman
strength to deliver Israel from the hands of the
Philistines? (Judges 13:5). Unfortunately, Samson became
full of himself and fell prey to manipulation by the woman
he loved (16:4). Eventually, Delilah coaxed him into
divulging the secret of his strength, which she then used
to betray him into the hands of his enemies (vv.5-21).
Samson’s foolish pride left him blind, weak, and in
shackles. Publicly disgraced and chained between
two massive pillars supporting the roof of a crowded
Philistine temple, Samson humbled himself and asked
God for one last feat of super-human strength. God granted Samson’s request.
And with one mighty push, Samson brought down the temple, destroying more
enemies in his death than he did while he was alive (Judges 16:23-30).

Samson’s life shows it’s never too late to come back to God and do something
great for Him. Even after we make huge mistakes, our lives can still be redeemed
for His purposes. —Jeff Olson

more›
Read John 21:15-17 and
notice how Jesus shows
Peter, who denied Him
three times, that He was
not done with him.

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God is King

Daily Devotional, March 01, 2011

God is King

read›
Psalm 97
For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth (v.9).

Recently, my wife, Miska, and I toured London. As
we walked through Westminster Abbey (founded
in AD 960), we viewed the many tombs of monarchs
who reigned centuries ago. We also took in Buckingham
Palace, the main home of the British royal family. Touring
the royal and governmental sites, the word sovereign
repeatedly appeared. The queen’s subjects refer to her
as their Sovereign. When she goes to parliament, she
uses the Sovereign’s entrance. Though England’s ruling
structure has changed, the reflections of an age when
royals ruled absolutely can still be seen.
The psalmist declares another Sovereign who is over the
world: God. He’s the one who is supreme (absolute, final,
unmatched, unparalleled) over all the earth. God rules
over every corner of the globe, every square inch.
Psalm 97 opens with this unflinching, singular
declaration: “The Lord is King!” (v.1). No matter what
powers (political, religious, philosophical, economic) may
declare their autonomy and insist on our allegiance, the
Lord alone is King. No matter how often we’re tempted
to believe that we rule our own destiny or that we must
orchestrate our own existence, the Lord (alone) is King—
not us.
This is astoundingly good news! As the psalmist
proclaims: “The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice!” We can
revel in joy because God is king. Yes, God is King, and He
can rescue His people “from the power of the wicked” (v.10). When God is King,
justice rules (v.8). When God is King, light “shines on the godly” (v.11). When
God is King, our world and all we are trying to make of it doesn’t depend on us.
No wonder, then, that the “farthest coastlands [can] be glad” (v.1). All of
God’s creation is free to laugh and dance and live in obedience to the one true,
good King. —Winn Collier

more›
Psalm 97 has many
images. Which ones feel
more powerful to you,
more ominous, more
restful? Write a few of
these images down and
consider how they lead
you to acknowledge that
God is King.

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