Friend of Sinners

Daily Devotional, April 29, 2011 "Friend of Sinners"

Friend of Sinners

read›
Matthew 5:20-48
The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and
drinks, and you say, “He’s a glutton and a
drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other
sinners!” (Luke 7:34).

Jesus’ teachings can seem to be paradoxical.

Exhibit A: He requires a standard of living that’s
even more rigorous than the Old Testament. Jewish
law condemned adultery (Ex. 20:14); Jesus said that
even looking at someone lustfully was wrong (Matt. 5:27-
28). Jewish law allowed for divorce (Deut. 24:1); Jesus
condemned it except for marital infidelity (Matt. 5:32).
Many Jewish leaders misread the Law and felt it allowed
for retaliation (Exodus 21:23-25); Jesus taught otherwise
(Matt. 5:38-42). Murder was always condemned (Ex.
20:13), but Jesus saw anger and hate as equally bad
(Matt. 5:22). Jesus definitely calls us to high moral
standards of eternal significance (v.20).

Exhibit B: But Jesus also earned a rather odd reputation
as the “friend of . . . sinners” (Luke 7:34). He dealt
gently with the divorced and the sexually loose (John
4:17-18, 8:10-11). He had dinner with thieving tax
collectors (Luke 19:5-8) and welcomed people with bad
reputations (7:37-39). Simon the zealot, one of Jesus’
own disciples, was a political revolutionary, and Peter
was even capable of violence (6:15; John 18:10). Jesus
kept company with the very people least likely to live up
to His moral standards. And that’s good news.

If you’re a murderer, adulterer, thief, or drunkard; if
you’ve lusted, lied, or been lax in keeping confidences; if
you’re greedy, angry, jealous, or selfish, Jesus is prepared
to accept you. He’s a friend of sinners. The only people Jesus can’t accept are the
arrogantly self-righteous—those who deny their need for change and forgiveness;
those lost in the deceptive belief that they are superior to all (Matt. 9:12).

Jesus was no doe-eyed softy, relaxing morals in some free-love way. His ethics
are hard, His standards high. But He’s also a friend of sinners, including you
and me. —Sheridan Voysey

more›
Read the story of
Zacchaeus in Luke 19.
Which came first—Jesus
seeking out this tax
collector or Zacchaeus
seeking forgiveness for
his sins?

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Searching

Daily Devotional - April 28, 2011 "Searching"

Searching

read›
Lamentations 3:22-32
The Lord is good to those who depend on Him,
to those who search for Him (v.25).

Recently, archaeologist Eilat Mazar found
fortifications that were built in Jerusalem some
3,000 years ago. She believes that they were
constructed by Solomon, as described in the Old
Testament. Her unearthed evidence strongly rebuts what
secular scholars believe: “that David’s [and Solomon’s]
monarchy was largely mythical and that there was
no strong government to speak of in that era.” Eilat’s
passionate digging and searching made for one
amazing find!

In Lamentations 3, the author (believed to be the
prophet Jeremiah) wrote of the importance of searching
after something more important than ancient ruins. He
wrote, “The Lord is good to . . . those who search for
Him” (v.25). What’s so striking about this verse—and all
of chapter 3—is that it’s an oasis of hope within a book
of the Bible known for its misery and lament. Why did
the prophet have hope? Because of God’s “faithful love”
and the fact that “His mercies never cease” (v.22).

Keep in mind that Jeremiah had witnessed the heartwrenching
destruction of the city of Jerusalem. God’s
people had been defeated, and many of them had been
exiled to Babylon. Death and devastation followed them.
Even in that dark moment, Jeremiah chose to earnestly
seek God and His compassionate heart (v.32). He wrote,
“The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!” (v.24). Hope. He still
had it, even though everything else was gone—painfully torn from him and his
people. Jeremiah chose to wait in silence before His faithful God (vv.23,28). The
prophet and his people had been disciplined by the Lord for their rebellion against
Him, but Jeremiah knew they wouldn’t be “abandoned by [Him] forever” (v.31).
If you’re lacking hope today, search for God. His love and compassion will
never fail you. —Tom Felten

more›
Read Deuteronomy
28:45 to learn why
God allowed His people
to be defeated by the
Babylonians. Verses 36
and 37 predicted exactly
what took place later.

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Wanted

Daily Devotional, April 27, 2011 "Wanted"

Wanted

read›
Ephesians 1:1-14
Even before He made the world, God loved us and
chose us in Christ (v.4).

Two weeks ago, our friends traveled to Ethiopia to
meet and bring home their newly adopted daughter.
For a couple of years, our friends have prayed for
little Lilia, saved thousands of dollars to pay the adoption
expenses, and then waited months and months until they
could welcome her into their life. But before they knew
who would be their daughter and before they knew her
name or face, they were already waiting for her. They
wanted her.

In his Ephesians letter, the apostle Paul offers a long list
of the myriad ways God has waited for us and desired
us. In the original Greek, these verses (1:3-14) are one
long, gushing sentence (more than 200 words). It’s as if
Paul gets carried away with excitement and his words
run off the page as he attempts to describe the extent of
God’s love for us. Paul tells us that:

• God chose us “before He made the world” (v.4).
For those of us who have always felt left out and never
included, we can relish in the fact that we’ve been
chosen. And we were chosen long before we took our
first breath.

• God “decided in advance to adopt us” (v.5). For
those of us who live with the constant fear that we will
somehow bungle or mismanage God’s kindness, we can
rest in God’s firm decision to love us. If we want Jesus,
we will find He has already (and for a very long time) wanted us.

• God “has showered His kindness on us” (v.8). For those of us who have
never felt another’s extravagant, I’m-crazy-about-you love, we can rejoice in the
reality that God delights in us.

If you have never felt that you were truly wanted, know this: God wants you . . .
more than you can imagine. —Winn Collier

more›
Read again through these
verses (vv.1-14), marking
each word that expresses
how God feels about
you or the desires God
has for you. What does
this tell you about God’s
character and heart?

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Orderly Arrangement

Daily Devotional, April 26, 2011 "Orderly Arrangement"

Orderly Arrangement

read›
Colossians 3:18-21
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for
those who belong to the Lord (v.18).

A group of children were asked, “How can a wife
submit to her husband?” An 8-year-old named
Mary said, “My mom could mow the yard,
feed the dogs, work in the garden, and help us with our
homework instead of making my dad do it. She could also
make food for special occasions, go grocery shopping,
take us to doctors’ appointments, pick out our clothes
every morning, and fix our breakfast, lunch, and supper.”
Mary’s definition of submission makes for marital chaos
and a perpetuation of misinformation regarding submission.
So, what did Paul have in mind when he penned those wellknown
words at the end of Colossians 3?

The command for wives to submit to their husbands was
actually one of the evidences of the Colossians putting on
the new self. So when Paul gave this command for wives
to submit to their husbands (v.18), he was not saying that
wives were inferior, that husbands could force submission,
that all women must submit to all men, that wives aren’t
intelligent and don’t have good ideas, or that wives should
follow their husbands into sin.

The word submit meant to “line up under.” Paul was
saying that each wife, in recognition of God’s orderly
arrangement established at the creation of the first human
beings (Genesis 2:7,18,21-23), should line up under the
headship of her husband. This brings honor to Jesus and
clearly reflects His rule in her life.

As followers of Jesus, we shouldn’t react negatively to the word submission
based on bad experiences and misuse. Instead, reflect on its true biblical
meaning. Husbands and wives ought to confer on decisions and situations
they face and strive for unity in their decisions—all with the husband lovingly
bearing the final weight of responsibility (Colossians 3:18-19). That’s God’s
orderly arrangement. —Marvin Williams

more›
Read Ephesians 5:25-
29 to gain a greater
understanding into the
husband’s responsibility
to his wife.

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Too Big To Fail

Daily Devotional, April 25, 2011 "too big to fail"

Too Big To Fail

read›
2 Samuel 12:1-14
Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!” (v.7).

Jerry terHorst resigned as US Press Secretary when
his friend President Gerald Ford pardoned disgraced
former President Richard Nixon. He told Ford that
he didn’t know how he could “credibly defend” the
President’s decision to pardon Nixon when common
citizens were being punished for conscientiously refusing
to serve in the Vietnam War. For his part, President Ford
did not want to pardon his predecessor, but he thought
it was necessary for America to put the “long national
nightmare behind” and move on.

Isn’t that how it goes? The people on top get away
with more than those at the bottom of the food chain.
Entry-level staffers are imprisoned for their crimes, but
prosecuting a President would be too difficult for a nation
to endure. Workers lose their jobs and go bankrupt while
large banks are bailed out because their failure would
devastate the world’s economy.

We rage at the politics of such injustice, and yet we
may do it too. We cover for a pastor to preserve the
reputation of our church or dismiss the misconduct of our
candidate in order to win the election. The bigger you
are, the less likely you are to fail.

Not in God’s world. James said that leaders in the
church “will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1) and
Paul wrote that all leaders will be held accountable
(1 Corinthians 4:2-5). Jesus reproached the religious
elite for turning their converts “into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!”
(Matthew 23:15). Rather than be intimidated into silent consent, let’s follow the
example of Nathan who spoke truth to King David. He didn’t rationalize David’s
adultery and murder, but boldly declared “You are that man!”

The bigger you are, the harder you will fall. Let’s lead others in integrity and
honesty that honors God. —Mike Wittmer

more›
Read Matthew 23:1-39
to see how Jesus spoke
truth to the powerful.
What can you learn from
His example?

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The Hard Way

Daily Devotional, April 22, 2011 Good Friday

The Hard Way

read›
Luke 22:54-62
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give
in to temptation. For the spirit is willing,
but the body is weak! (Matthew 26:41).

In this devo, I will write about a subject of which
I must say—with great confidence—is an area
of expertise. Yes, I will be boasting here. For I’ve
been well-trained and have lots of experience in it. My
subject? Failure. No one wants to experience it, but you
and I have both come to know it up close and personal.
The apostle Peter knew what it felt like to fail Jesus.

Hours before Peter caved, Jesus warned the disciple
that he would deny Him (Luke 22:34). This was more
than simply a prophetic possibility. It was a done deal.
Later, Jesus took His disciples out to the Garden of
Gethsemane to pray and to prepare for “the time when
the power of darkness [would reign]” (v.53; Matthew
26:36-45). Prayer strengthened Jesus as He surrendered
to God’s will (Luke 22:41-43; Mark 14:36). It could
have also provided Peter with God’s peace and power,
but he slept instead of praying (v.37).

Peter had underestimated the severity of his trial. His
self-sufficiency, self-confidence, and self-dependence
ultimately led to self-deception, which fueled his pride
(see Isaiah 2:22; Psalm 62:9). Pride was the cause of
Peter’s failure (Proverbs 16:18). He boasted too much
and prayed too little. Rejecting Jesus’ warning, Peter
didn’t seek God’s power, provision, and protection
through prayer (Luke 22:32). In the end, the impulsive
disciple denied Jesus three times.

When the rooster crowed, Peter was reminded of the
sovereignty of Jesus and the infallibility of His Word (v.61). Peter’s word was
proved fallible, but God’s Word is infallible.

The crowing of the rooster signaled the dawn of a new day. It also ushered in
a new beginning for Peter as he wept bitterly over his failure and repented of it
(v.62). What failure against Jesus will you confess to Him today? —K.T. Sim

more›
Years later, Peter wrote
down some wise
instruction that reflects
what he learned the
hard way (see 1 Peter
5:5-9). How do his
words help you?

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Adrenaline For The Soul

Daily Devotional, April 21, 2011 "Adrenaline For The Soul"

Adrenaline For The Soul

read›
Philippians 2:5-11
At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father (vv.10-11).

Using contemporary language, while attempting to
capture the depth and vitality of the original words
that moved and inspired early believers in Jesus,
Eugene Peterson translated Hebrews 12:2-3 this way:
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished
this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never
lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating
finish in and with God—He could put up with anything
along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s
there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When
you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that
story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He
plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
(The Message).

Over the years, I’ve grown to more deeply appreciate
the importance of studying how Jesus boldly lived out His
convictions (Philippians 2:6-8). I’m often instructed and
deeply moved by His surprising acts of compassion, by
His strength to confront injustice, and by His willingness
to suffer for a greater good.

I can now better see that my favorite class in Bible
college—“The Life of Christ”—wasn’t so much about
the teacher as it was the topic. While my teacher was
excellent (thank you, Mike Sullivan!), the subject was
even better! Simply put, Jesus is the most captivating
figure to ever walk the face of the earth.

Going over Jesus’ life is more than just an academic or intellectual exercise. This
is not about getting pumped full of information so you can pass an exam or sound
“spiritual.” It’s about becoming personally acquainted, captured, and loved by the
One whose life, death, and resurrection changed everything (vv.9-11).
Celebrate the life of Jesus “detail by detail.” Soak it in. His reality will “shoot
adrenaline” into your heart. —Jeff Olson

more›
Read Galatians 2:20 to
better understand what
the depth of our identity
with Jesus should be.

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Counterfeit Faith

Daily Devotional, April 20, 2011 "Counterfeit Faith"

Counterfeit Faith

read›
2 Timothy 3:5-17
These teachers oppose the truth. . . . They have
depraved minds and a counterfeit faith (v.8).

After waiting in line at a local store, it was finally my
turn to pay. The clerk took my money, held the bill
up to the light and then disappeared to confer
with her manager. When she returned, she explained that
the store had recently received several counterfeit bills.

Then she looked at me and added, “You don’t look like
a counterfeiter.” She was right; I wasn’t passing funny
money. But, I wondered what would make me look like a
counterfeiter—shifty eyes, sweaty palms, ink-stained fingers?
During Paul’s day, some spiritual con men were
spreading a “counterfeit faith” (2 Timothy 3:8). Paul
described these guys in detail so that his protégé,
Timothy, could tell the true teachers from the phonies.

These faux Christian leaders were weaseling their way
into the homes of vulnerable people. In some cases, they
targeted women burdened with sin and “controlled by
various desires” (v.6). The false teachers preyed on people
who were least able to defend themselves—the kind of
people who were “forever following new teachings, but
. . . never able to understand the truth” (v.7).

With followers who lacked spiritual discernment, the
bad guys were free to “oppose the truth” at will (v.8). In
fact, Paul compared them to the ancient sorcerers, Jannes
and Jambres, the magicians who tried to duplicate Moses’
miracles (Exodus 7:11). And, just like that devilish duo, Paul
promised that someday everyone would recognize the false
teachers as fools (2 Timothy 3:9).
Until that day, we have to look out for spiritual swindlers who infiltrate our
homes through television, books, and the Web. The best defense against them is
to know the truth. We need to mimic the Bereans, who “searched the Scriptures
day after day” (Acts 17:11), refusing to accept the false teaching of a counterfeit
faith. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

more›
Read 2 Peter 2:12-19 to
learn why following false
teachers can’t provide
the way to freedom from
sin. Read Jude 10-16
for a description of false
teachers.

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Prepare For Action

Daily Devotional, April 19, 2011 "Prepare For Action"

Prepare For Action

read›
1 John 3:11-24
Let us show the truth by
our actions (v.18).

As a chaplain for athletes competing in the 1998
Nagano Winter Games, one night I stayed
out particularly late serving at the figure skating
venue. Cold and exhausted, I finally headed back to my
room at 1:00 a.m. On the way, I was shocked when
several members of the USA Men’s Hockey Team walked
by—boasting about the partying they were about to
engage in.

Their “good times” in Nagano were short-lived,
however. For just one day later, the team that was a
medal favorite lost in an early round and ultimately
finished an unthinkable sixth overall.
God’s Word teaches that “just as you can identify
a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their
actions” (Matthew 7:20). For the team mentioned above,
the actions of some partying hockey players brought
criticism upon themselves, their teammates, and their
country. “Their lasting legacy of the Nagano Olympics,”
wrote freelance hockey journalist Joe Pelletier, “was a
trashed hotel room courtesy of a few unnamed players.”
To achieve success, an athlete’s skills must be backed
by a disciplined lifestyle. Similarly, to bring glory to
Jesus, a believer’s faith and actions should work together.

It is actions that make “faith complete” (James 2:22).
“Our actions,” wrote the apostle John, “will show that
we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when
we stand before God” (1 John 3:19). This idea was lived out by Rahab the
prostitute, who was “shown to be right with God when she hid those messengers
and sent them safely away by a different road” (James 2:25).

When our actions reflect our faith in Christ, we’re more likely to draw people
to God than by words alone (James 2:14). Let’s truly display our faith by the
things we do and say (1 John 3:18). —Roxanne Robbins

more›
Read Psalm 119:4-6
to see what our actions
should “consistently
reflect.”
next›

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Pray For Me - Make My Life A Prayer

Daily Devotional, April 18, 2011 "Pray For Me"

Pray For Me

Make my life a prayer to You,
I wanna do what You want me to,
No empty words and no white lies,
No token prayers, no compromise.

read›
Ephesians 6:10-19
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every
occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your
prayers for all believers everywhere (v.18).

I love those lyrics from Christian singer/songwriter
Keith Green who died almost 3 decades ago. His
passionate heart for God is reflected in every word.
In Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul described how we
can make our lives a prayer to God by having an active
prayer life. He wrote, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and
on every occasion” (v.18).

It’s not coincidental that Paul penned those words after
having addressed the fact that we’re in a spiritual battle,
not “fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies” (v.12). His
famous metaphor of us putting on spiritual armor is clear
and instructive (v.13). For without truth, righteousness,
peace that comes from the good news, faith, salvation,
and God’s Word, we will wilt before our unseen enemies.

But what’s the one thing the apostle tells us to do
every moment as we battle? Pray. To do what God wants
us to do, to live without compromise, to withstand “the
fiery arrows of the devil” (v.16), requires continuous
communication with our Father in heaven. We should
“never stop praying” (1 Th. 5:17).

When things go wrong, sometimes we stop praying the right way. As Keith
wrote, either our prayers are “token,” or we’ve simply stopped communicating with
God altogether. Instead of being “persistent in [our] prayers” (Ephesians 6:18),
we’ve shown our lack of faith and loss of love for God by not talking with Him.
It’s time to make your life a prayer to God. Follow Paul’s example. He told the
Ephesians, “Pray for me” (v.19). By doing so, he acknowledged the amazing
power that comes from God as we pray to Him “at all times.” —Tom Felten

more›
Read 1 Corinthians
14:15 and reflect on why
it’s so important to pray
“in the spirit,” not just in
our minds.

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Forever Young

Daily Devotional, April 15, 2011 "Forever Young"

Forever Young

read›
Hebrews 5:11–6:3
So let us stop going over the basic teachings about
Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and
become mature in our understanding (6:1).

Brooke Greenberg likes to giggle and crawl around
just like any other toddler. She’s 76 cm (30 inches)
tall and weighs about 7 kg (16 pounds), but
Brooke was born in 1993. At 18 years old, she’s
still trapped in the body of a 1-year-old due to a rare
condition called Syndrome X. A doctor observed, “Her
cellular age does not match her actual age.”

When the author of Hebrews penned his epistle, he
addressed the spiritual immaturity of his audience. His
concern was that they were acting like spiritual babies
who needed basic instruction instead of more advanced
teaching (5:13). The writer wanted to give them real
spiritual meat, but they hadn’t developed beyond the
intake of spiritual milk. Though they’d been believers
long enough to be teaching others (v.12), they hadn’t
been growing in their knowledge of the Word of God.
This stifling inertia had left them “spiritually dull” (v.11).

They lacked maturity to discern the basic difference
between right and wrong (v.14). In fact, they were
clueless about doing the right things (v.13).
So the author challenged them to move on to maturity
and the deeper truths of the faith (6:1-3). But just prior to
his appeal, he gave them the secret to maturity: Spiritual
maturity comes from the constant application of God’s
Word into the situations of life (5:14). It’s not something
that just develops automatically over time.

Recently, I was reminded that God is more concerned about the way we do
the tasks He’s entrusted to us than in our ability to simply get them done. This is
because He wants us to become like Jesus. But many of us are more concerned
about accomplishing our to-do list than in Christ being formed in us.
Let’s seek to become mature in Jesus as we passionately feed on His Word
and live out its wisdom. —Poh Fang Chia

more›
Read Luke 8:12-14 to see
the things that can stifle
our maturation in Christ.

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More Than Loaves

Daily Devotional, April 14, 2011 "More Than Loaves"

More Than Loaves

read›
John 6:25-59
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to
be with Me because I fed you, not because
you understood the miraculous signs” (v.26).

Isaac Penington, an early defender and promoter of the
Quaker movement (founded in 17th-century England),
said, “Thus has the Lord been teaching me to live
upon Himself, not from anything received from Him but
upon the Life itself.” The crowd in John 6 wanted to live
off Jesus, not because their hearts were loyal to Him,
but because their hearts were loyal to what they thought
He could provide for them—food and deliverance from
Roman oppression.

The provision of the loaves of bread (John 6:8-13) was,
in their minds, a confirmation of this. So Jesus withdrew,
showing His rejection of their perception of the kind of
Messiah they desired (vv.14-15).

The next day the crowd looked for Him and found Him,
suggesting a successful quest (vv.22,25). Again, they
had followed Him because of what they thought He could
provide for them. But Jesus turned the tables on them and
identified Himself as the Bread of Life (v.35). He—rather
than the law or anything else—was the source of eternal
life (vv.33,48,51,58). Only those who believed in Jesus
and internalized His words, ethics, pattern of thinking,
and truth would find true fulfillment in life. This was so
radically different from what the people had in mind that
some of them stopped following Him (vv.60-66).

In our consumer-driven world, it’s easy to follow Jesus
just for “the loaves.” But He alone can satisfy our deepest
hunger for Himself. He will satisfy us when we stay connected to Him (see John
15) through reading and living out His words; when we stay connected to His
body of believers, and when we serve others as He did.

Let’s follow Jesus, not simply because He can provide the loaves, but because
He alone is God and—as we trust in Him—He provides all we need for life
today and for all eternity. —Marvin Williams

more›
Read John 4 to see how
the Samaritan woman’s
perception of Jesus
changed during their
conversation.

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Angels

Daily Devotional, April 13, 2011

Angels

read›
Genesis 18:1-15
“My lord, . . . stop here for a while. Rest in the
shade of this tree while water is brought to wash
your feet. . . . Let me prepare some food to
refresh you before you continue on your
journey” (vv.3-5).

I was leaving the Guangzhou train station with
my ticket when I noticed a distraught Westerner
bewildered by the long and jagged lines forming
around her. I realized that she must be new to China
because she apparently didn’t know that train stations
often have ticket offices reserved especially for
foreigners. I told her to follow me and I led her to a
special room where she easily bought a ticket. Along
the way, I learned that she was a Christian. She was so
grateful for my help that she asked if I was an angel!
I laughed and said that I was only a human with a
bit more experience in China, but she may have had
a point. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Don’t forget to show
hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this
have entertained angels without realizing it!” While this
is true, as Gideon and Manoah discovered in Judges
6 and 13, it’s also true that the person who extends
hospitality is himself a kind of angel.

The term angel means “messenger,” and it’s not a
stretch to think that God sent me to the Guangzhou train
station at that time to help His child who was in distress.
Scripture repeatedly commands us to be on the lookout
for others. Paul writes, “When God’s people are in need,
be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice
hospitality” (Romans 12:13). Peter adds, “Cheerfully
share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay” (1 Peter 4:9).
And Jesus explained that when we feed and clothe the poor, we are feeding and
clothing Him (Matthew 25:37-40).

In light of God’s emphasis on hospitality, I’m glad that I was mistaken for an
angel. But I’m sad that it’s happened only once. —Mike Wittmer

more›
Read 3 John 5-11 to
discover the importance
of hospitality in the early
church. Also see 2 Kings
4:10 to catch a view of it
in the Old Testament.

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Covered

Daily Devotional, April 11, 2011

Covered

read›
Numbers 13:25–14:4
Then the whole community began
weeping aloud, and they cried all night (14:1).

Springtime in Georgia rarely arrives without fanfare.
While many anticipate the brilliant pink and white
azaleas, others stock up on antihistamines and
await the onset of the sneezing season. This past spring,
the pollen was especially intense. One morning, my
husband and I were amazed to see an ominous cloud of
pollen visibly hanging in the air. Our noses and throats
bore witness to nature’s invasiveness.

Numbers 13 records the story of the 12 spies appointed
to check out the Promised Land. You might recognize
the names of Joshua and Caleb, but the other 10
also impacted an entire generation of God’s people.
Their names aren’t memorable, and their stance was
regrettable: God’s promises weren’t possible (vv.28-29,
31-33). Like a fine dusting of pollen, their discouragement
covered the people, and their words of fear choked out
faith in the greatness of God. Weeping, the people cried
out to return to Egypt where bondage felt safer (14:1-3).

Discouragement is a sneaky enemy because it leads to
a slow bleed, a gradual erosion. As the battles become
difficult and the results delayed, discouragement settles
in, layer upon layer, until we’re ready to give up. Forty
years after the 10 spies brought their discouraging
message, Moses reminded Joshua—who was about to
lead the people into the Promised Land—to “be strong
and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For
the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

We have the choice to become covered with disbelief or faith. Joshua trusted
God’s promises so much that he voiced them to others (Joshua 1:6,9,10:25)
and, consequently, led an entire nation into God’s freedom. It begs the question:
What are our lives reflecting to others—discouragement or deep trust in God?
—Regina Franklin

more›
Read Proverbs 4:23,
13:12, and 15:13 to
learn more about the role
of the heart in dealing
with discouragement.

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The Arms of Love

Daily Devotional, April 08, 2011

The Arms of Love

read›
Psalm 81:8-16
I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would
satisfy you with wild honey from the rock
(v.16).

Donna Simpson weighs 600 pounds, but she’s
working on gaining another 400. Intending
to become the heaviest woman alive, Donna
commenced a public campaign to market her intentions.
She intends to eat healthy, but she plans to eat a lot. In
her words, she eats “massive quantities of healthy food,”
including more than 70 pieces of sushi and 20 chicken
wraps in single meals. While Donna’s appetite captures
headlines, other personal details appear to also be at
play. Journalist Karine Ioffee writes that Simpson admits
“she is as hungry for attention as for calorie-rich food.”

Whatever Simpson’s motivations and whatever one
thinks of her choices, we all crave love and attention—and
we work our own angles in attempting to secure them.
The psalmist reiterated over and over again how vast and
limitless God’s love was for His people. Repeatedly, the
Psalms reminded Israel of God’s kindness, mercy, and
protection. They retold the story of how God had “rescued
[Israel] from the land of Egypt” and how, if Israel would
simply obey God and receive His love, God would “fill
[them] with good things” (81:10).

“But no,” says the psalmist, “[God’s] people wouldn’t
listen. Israel did not want [Him] around” (v.11). Isn’t it
interesting that we spurn the very One who loves us most
deeply? Often, we keep at arm’s length the only One
who has the capacity to fill our deepest longings and
cravings.

The psalm speaks of God’s intent to feed and satisfy us (v.16). He desires to
love us in the places where we’re most deprived of love, and He wants to satisfy
our deepest longings—our longings for Him. But God will not force Himself upon
us. We have to open ourselves to Him. We have to walk into the wide arms of
His love. —Winn Collier

more›
Psalm 81 speaks of
Israel’s “stubborn desires”
(v.12) that seem to be at
odds with the people’s
longings God wants to
fill (v.10). Look through
the psalm and see what
these competing desires
might be.

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Soul Surfer

Daily Devotional - Featuring Soul Surfer - April 07, 2011

Get Some Perspective

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Greg, an accomplished surfer, was out in some large surf one day and wound up wiping out and getting
spun around by a powerful wave. Once he got past the tumbling motion, Greg put his feet on the
sand and pushed up toward the surface. He immediately got a nasty surprise as his head smacked against
something hard. Only discipline and years of surfing experience kept him from panicking—and perhaps
drowning. Greg suppressed his fear and took in his surroundings. The huge wave had swept him into a
small, underwater cave. When he pushed off from the bottom, he had struck his head against the cave’s
ceiling. Once Greg saw the big picture and realized his situation, he was able swim out through the
mouth of the cave and make his way up to the surface.

Our perspective can be small and limited by our individual experiences, our fears, and a lack of knowledge
of the future. But God is “omniscient,” which means that He has the capacity to know all things
in the past, present, and future. When we trust in God’s promises, believing that He loves us and has a
good purpose for our lives, we see a different—and bigger—point of view. So, do whatever it takes to
get some perspective. That new perspective will allow God to use you to accomplish the good works for
which He created you, the ones He planned even before you were born!

Read: Jeremiah 29:10–14
In this passage, God is speaking to the people of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah. The Israelites are
about to be conquered by their enemies, the Babylonians, and spend the next 70 years in exile. But God
reassures His people that they will return home to Israel, and He will listen to them and prosper them.
1. In this passage, God reveals His character and His love for His people. What comfort and encouragement
do you receive from this passage?
2. What’s your reaction to the promise God makes in verses 12 and 13?

Read: Isaiah 55:8–9 and Proverbs 3:5–6
1. Has there been a time in your life when things “just plain didn’t make sense?” What happened, and
would you say you had a broad perspective on the problem or a limited one?
2. When you’re faced with problems or difficult decisions, do you trust in God completely, or do you
tend to rely on your own judgment? What would help you lean more on God and His wisdom?

Read: Ephesians 2:10
1. How do you feel about the fact that God call you His “handiwork?” (Some translations use the
words “masterpiece” or “workmanship.”)
2. In what ways did Bethany use the loss of her arm as a way to “do good works” for others? What
could you do with your life’s circumstances to positively impact the lives of the people around you?

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“The Beauty of the Cross” - Jonny Diaz

Daily Devotional - Featuring Jonny Diaz - April 06, 2011

The “BEAUTY OF THE CROSS”

Is found in the Resurrection

Jonny Diaz

Read

1 Peter 1:3b-4 (The Message)

Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven. . .

There is a song on my new record called, “The Beauty of the Cross.” This title may not sound very strange or contradictory to you. After all, we’ve been singing songs such as “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” and “How Beautiful the Cross” for decades. However, if you step back and check this out from a non-churched perspective, you have to admit that it seems a little, well . . . weird!

That’s because to this day the cross is known as one of the most torturous killing devices ever conceived. No one would ever sing a song called “The Beauty of the Electric chair,” or “The Wondrous Lethal Injection.” Songs like these would not only get puzzled looks, but they would enrage many listeners. And yet, we sing songs proclaiming the wondrous beauty of the cross, and no one bats an eye. How do we explain this?

Well, it was on that ugly, barbaric cross that God’s amazing love for us was demonstrated. It was on that cross that Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us was made. It was on that cross where the forces of evil and the grace of God battled for supremacy.

At first glance, it would appear that evil was victorious . . . but three days later, when Jesus’ tomb was found empty, everything changed! You see, it was the resurrection that brought beauty to that blood-stained cross. It was the resurrection that turned tragedy into triumph and sacrifice into salvation. It was the resurrection that transformed condemnation into redemption.

Without the resurrection the cross would remain just a horrific symbol of suffering and shame. Instead it is a symbol of love and life and beauty. And, when we believe that Jesus died on that cross for our sins and that he rose from the grave on the third day, our lives become beautiful too.

-Jonny Diaz

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Particular People

Daily Devotional, April 05, 2011

Particular People

read›
Philippians 1:1-11
I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi (v.1).

I like to walk around my neighborhood and take in
the sights. As I wander along, my eyes view the
textures, the details, particular names, and particular
places. My street’s texture includes the Williams’ home
(neighborhood patriarchs who sip cold orange sodas on
their porch), the young couple who walk to the market
(always holding hands) and, of course, the third-grade
boy who’s up to some mischief. My neighborhood isn’t
an undefined stretch of houses, but individual people
with individual stories. As professor Elaine Scarry writes,
“Beauty takes place in the particular.”

Sometimes we forget that the Bible’s writers addressed
their words to particular people. They didn’t write to a
vague, general audience, and it’s likely that they had no
idea that their text would be read by so many people
(like us) over such a vast stretch of time. Rather, they
wrote to specific people in specific cities dealing with
specific questions and wrestling with specific problems.
The Bible’s authors were immersed in particulars.

When Paul wrote to the church gathered in Philippi,
he had individuals in mind. The apostle had words
for Euodia and Syntyche who apparently were having
a feud and needed to “settle [their] disagreement”
(Philippians 4:2). He spoke directly to those serving in
the halls of Roman power—in “Caesar’s household”
(v.22). Paul spoke to those he knew had sacrificed
generously to help their impoverished and devastated friends (v.15); and he also
wanted to encourage his faithful friend, Clement (v.3).

The Bible is a very particular book. It cuts into the grain of our lives just as it
delved into the lives of its first readers. Scripture rolls up its sleeves and digs in
with us, amid our doubts, our fears, our sin. Whatever our turmoil, God knows
it—and God’s Word has something to say to it. —Winn Collier

more›
Choose another New
Testament letter (Philemon
is a short one!) and read
it over. Note the many
particulars: specific
issues, unique stories,
and individual people.

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Called to Kindness

Daily Devotional, April 04, 2011

Called to Kindness

read›
Acts 27
Julius was very kind to
Paul (v.3).

The baby threw up her breakfast—all over the
kitchen. She was crying and both of us were
covered in pureed pears. Then, a telemarketer
called, followed by a prerecorded political message.
When the phone rang a third time and it was the
handyman announcing his imminent arrival, I yelled:
“Will you have to come inside to fix the vent?” As I hung
up the phone, I felt terrible for being so unkind.

As Christians, we’re called to be kind (Ephesians 4:32).
It may sound basic, but in a society that worships sarcastic
comebacks and “me-first” attitudes, kindness is a lost art.
Julius, a high-ranking Roman official, was kind to his
prisoner Paul. On their maritime voyage to Rome, Julius
let Paul “go ashore to visit with friends so they could
provide for his needs” (Acts 27:3). Julius was lenient
when he could have been strict; permissive instead of
controlling—all to ensure Paul’s comfort. Kindness lends
a helping hand.

Kindness also protects the lives of defenseless people.
At one point in Paul’s journey, powerful waves began
to shred the boat into toothpicks. The guards decided
to kill the prisoners rather than let them escape into the
water. “But [Julius] wanted to spare Paul” (v.43), so he
put a stop to their evil plot. Amazingly, everyone made
it safely to Malta. The islanders were very kind there; in
the cold and rain, they kindled a welcoming fire (28:2).
Like the people of Malta, kindness may require us to show hospitality and greet
newcomers with open arms.

Maybe kindness is calling you to feed the hungry or to protect the defenseless.
Whatever you do, remember that each selfless act reflects God’s kind heart
toward us: “[God] is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our
freedom with the blood of His Son” (Ephesians 1:7). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

more›
Read Matthew 25:35-40
to see why kindness
matters to Jesus.

next›
In what ways has God
showered His kindness
on you? What can you
do to show kindness to
someone this week?

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