[MARCH 31] The Beauty of Forgiveness

Read: Luke 15:11-24

"When he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran... and kissed him."

--Luke 15:20

What started out as a collection has grown into a ministry opportunity for Larry and Mary Gerbens. For the past 10 years they've been collecting artistic works based on the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15. Their collection includes a painting from Rembrandt and a number of items by other artists depicting this story.

The Gerbens wanted to share their collection, so they put it on display at a local college. Larry said, "The artists have ministered to us, and we hope their work will minister to others.

As I wandered through the displays, I was touched by the deep need of the prodigal, his honest repentance, and the beautiful forgiveness of the father portrayed in the variety of art pieces--paintings, etchings,engravings, glasswork, sketches, and silk screens.

We have all been like the son in this story, who had other plans for his life than what his father had for him. We have all run away from our heavenly Father (Rom. 3:10-12). But He welcomes us when we come to Him.

You too will see the beauty of forgiveness in your heavenly Father's face when you cry out to Him, "Father, I have sinned..." (Luke 15:18). If you're far away from Him, head home now and experience His love. --Anne Cetas

O Lord, I now admit my guilt,

And I accept Your grace;

Transform my life and help me grow

Until I see Your face. --Hess

REFLECT ON THIS:

When God forgives, He removes the sin and restores the soul.

[MARCH 30] The Kingdom of Me?

Read: 1 Peter 3:8-17

"Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts."

--1 Peter 3:15

In 1977, 15 year-old Kevin Baugh and a teenage friend decided to create their own country, just for fun. The Republic of Molossia began as they drew a map, created paper money, and made a flag. Today, Mr. Baugh continues his micro-nation the same way it began--just for fun. When Chicago Tribune reporter Colleen Matony toured his 1.3 acre kingdom in the Nevada desert, Baugh assured her he still pays US taxes, which he calls "foreign aid."

"It's always tongue-in-cheek," Baugh admits. "I'm doing this for the pleasure and enjoyment of having my own country."

Not many of us will create our own nation, but we all have a kingdom of the heart where we decide who will rule. The apostle Peter wrote: "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" (1 Peter 3:15). "Sanctify" means to set a part Christ as Lord or Ruler of our life.

There is something within each of of us that longs to be in control of our lives. It may be only a small corner where we assert our spiritual independence and answer to no one but ourselves.

But true freedom comes when we allow Christ to rule our hearts. --David McCasland

'Tis mine to choose if self shall die

And never rise again;

'Tis mine to yield the throne to Christ

And bid rule and reign. --Christiansen

REFLECT ON THIS:

When Christ rules in our heart, our feet will walk His ways.

[MARCH 29] Thanks, God!

Read: Psalm 105:1-5

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord!"

--Psalm 105:1

At RBC Ministries, our human resources team has developed an effective and encouraging program that centers around gratefulness.

When an employee notices something good another employee does here at the office, he or she can take a special "Thank You" card provided by human resources and write a note of appreciation. It's a good feeling to walk into your office and find one of those cards on your desk.

Isn't it great to be thanked for a job well done? Doesn't a good hearty "thank you" brighten your day? And doesn't it make your relationships a little more special--just to know that your work is not being taken for granted?

Everybody loves to be thanked. Even God. Our heavenly Father finds pleasure in our expression of thanks to Him. It's His will that we tell Him "Thank You." Give thanks in all circumstances," Paul said, "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18 NIV). The writer of Hebrews took it a step further by saying, "Let us be thankful, and so worship God" (12:28 NIV).

Keep looking for ways to improve your relationship with God. Don't forget what may be the most basic way to worship and honor Him: Tell Him "Thanks." --Dave Branon

Then let us adore and give Him His right,

All glory and power, all wisdom and might,

All honor and blessing, with angels above,

And thanks never ceasing for infinite love. --Wesley

REFLECT ON THIS:

The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful heart.

[MARCH 28] Helping Love Grow

Read: 1 Corinthians 13

"[Love] does not seek its own."

--1 Corinthians 13:5

A young man told his father, "Dad, I'm going to get married."

"How do you know you're ready to get married, Ron?" asked the father. "Are you in love?"

"I sure am!" he replied.

The father then asked, "Ron, how do you know you're in love?"

"Last night as I was kissing my girlfriend goodnight, her dog bit me and I didn't feel the pain until I got home!"

Ron has got that loving feeling, but he has a lot of growing to do. Vernon Grounds, a former writer for Our Daily Bread, who has been married for more than 70 years, shares these points about how to grow in love:

Ponder God's love in Christ. Take time to reflect on how He gave His life for you. Read about Him in the Gospels, and thank Him.

Pray for the love of God. Ask Him to give you an understanding of His love and to teach you how to live that out in your relationships with your spouse and others (1 Cor.13).

Practice the love of God. Give of yourself. A newlywed told me he thinks love is practical. He said, "My responsibility is to make life easier for my spouse." The other, tougher side of love is to challenge each other to act in godly ways.

Love will grow when we ponder love, pray for love, and practice love. --Anne Cetas

This is my prayer, kind Father,

So direct me from above

That I may live a life for You

And reflect my Savior's love. --Messenger

REFLECT ON THIS:

As Christ's love grows in us, His love flows from us.

[MARCH 27] Loving God

Read: 1 John 4:7-21

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

--1 John 4:11

Early in our marriage, I though I knew the ultimate shortcut to my wife's heart. I arrived home one night with a bouquet of a dozen red roses behind my back. When I presented the flowers to Martie, she thanked me graciously, sniffed the flowers, and then took them into the kitchen. No quite the response I had expected.

It was an introductory lesson in the reality that flowers are not my wife's primary language of love. While she appreciate the gesture, she was mentally calculating the cost of an expensive bouquet of flowers--a budget breaker for a young couple in seminary! And as I've discovered through the years, she is far more interested in my time and attention. When I devote myself to her in an uninterrupted and attentive way, that's when she really feels loved.

Did you ever wonder how God wants us to show that we love Him? We get a clue when we read, "He who loves God must love his brother also" (John 4:21). It's that simple. One of the primary ways we show our love for God is by loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we genuinely love each other, it brings pleasure to our heavenly Father.

So watch for opportunities to tell Jesus that you love Him. He's infinitely worth whatever it costs. --Joe Stowell

All those who say they love the Lord

But don't love one another,

Should question the relationship

They have with God the Father. --Sper

REFLECT ON THIS:

To show your love for God, share your love with others.

[MARCH 26] Worthy of Respect

Read: Philippians 2:19-30

"Receive [Epaphroditus] therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem."

--Phil. 2:29

Just before kickoff at a Super Bowl XLIII. Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award--a tribute given to the player who had best combined on-field excellence with off-field community service. "A am humbled the Lord has given me such an amazing life to impact others," said Warner, a dedicated Christian. "Of all the awards, given to NFL athletes, [these one] stands out...because of what it represents." It represents a commitment to giving and sacrificing for others.

Paying homage to those who serve is not a new concept. Paul spoke of it when he reminded the Philippians to honor those who gave themselves in serving Christ. he told them of their friend Epaphroditus, who had nearly died (Phil. 2:30) because of his efforts for Christ in ministering to others--including the people of Philippi. How should they respond? Paul said, "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem" (v.29). Clearly, when we think of those sacrifice in serving the Savior, they are worthy of our respect and appreciation.

Why nit look for ways to show gratitude to those who have served you spiritually. Give them the honor they deserve. --Bill Crowder

To honor is to show respect,

To meet another's need,

To give someone encouragement,

To love in word and deed. --Sper

REFLECT ON THIS:

We honor God when we honor those who serve God.

[MARCH 25] Far Better

Read: Revelation 21:1-4

"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying."

--Revelation 21:4

Having suffered greatly--first from cancer, and then from the grueling medical regimen--pastor Dan Cummings was tired. After 2 weeks of treatment in Texas, he was looking forward to going back home to Michigan. In a post on his blog, he wrote: "Today is far better...amazing what some hydration will do...Will fly home on the weekend to continue treatment at home."

Dan did return to Michigan, nut several days later, his journey on earth ended. He went home yo be with God--whom he loved with every bit of his weakened body but mighty spirit.

When I view his blog a few days later, his words "Today is far better" jumped out at me. I smiled through my tears in the knowledge that Dan was now experiencing a life that is truly "far better" (Phil.1:23).

Someday we who claim the name of Jesus will also go to that place where there is "no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying." It is a place where there is no more pain and where a loving Father promises to "wipe away every tear from [our] eyes" (Rev.21:4).

The life we have here isn't all there is. There is a far far better place that Jesus is preparing for those who love Him (John 14:2-3). --Cindy Hess Kasper

When our life on earth has ended

We will feel God's warm embrace;

There will be no pain and sorrow

In that far, far better place. --Sper

REFLECT ON THIS:

Heaven--no pain, no night, no death, no tears.

[MARCH 24] Worst Possible Scenario!

Read: Job 1:13-22

"When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." 

--Job 23:10

When I used to teach at a Bible college in a large city, I sometimes graded papers at a food court while waiting for  commuter train. One day, I accidentally bumped my large cup of coffee. Its entire contents emptied my open briefcase.

In most cities, there is a quiet reserve on the part of commuters. However, the coffee splash was so dramatic that it could not be ignored. A man sitting nearby said aloud, "Worst possible scenario!"

That comment was obviously an overstatement. But each of us dreads the thought of something in particular: financial loss, the death of a child or spouse, cancer, or another loss or hardship.

The book of Job is a case in study in worse possible scenarios. yet Job wisely assessed God's role in trying circumstance of loss and poor health: "He knows the way that I take, when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). From this wise statement we can learn two valuable lessons: One is that what we dread most can be used to test our character and make us stronger. The other is that God will provide the strength and comfort to see us through.

Cling to God. He has promised to work on our behalf, even in the worst possible scenario. --Dennis Fisher

God often sends me joy through pain,

Through bitter loss, divinest gain;

Yet through it all--dark days or bright--

I know my Father leads aright. --Conklin

REFLECT ON THIS:

The living God can take the fear out of living.

[MARCH 23] Signature Scent

Read: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

"Through us [God] diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place."

--2 Corinthians 2:14

You can't see it , hear it, or touch it, but scent is powerful. The smell of things like crayons, petunias, and colognes evoke memories that transport me to the past and bring to mind people and places I might not otherwise recall.

Some celebrities have fragrances named after them. Fans can identify with an actress or singer by dabbing on the scent bearing her name. Along those lines, Ladies Home Journal published a quiz to help readers determine the perfect fragrance for them. The idea is that every woman, to be memorable, should have a specific scent associated to her.

The idea of a signature scent is not new. God introduced it as a part of worship. In the tabernacle, a certain scent was to be associated with the Lord (Ex. 30:34-35). The people were forbidden to use this fragrance for anything but worship (vv.37-38).

This idea continues under the new covenant, but with a stunning difference. Instead of using incense to make people think of Him, God uses Christians as His "signature scent" to the world (2 Cor. 2:14-15). The fact that God identifies Himself with us in such a powerful way is a truly humbling thought, and causes me to ask, "What do people think about God as a result of being around me?" --Julie Ackerman Link

When we've been alone with Jesus,

There's a difference others know;

And to them it's like a fragrance

That we leave where we go. --Hess

REFLECT ON THIS:

A life lived for God has pleasing aroma.

[MARCH 22] Texting God

Read: Colossians 1:3-12

"[We] do not cease to pray for you."

--Colossians 1:9

An article in the Washington Post told about a 15 year-old girl who sent and received 6,473 cell phone text messages in a single month, She says about her constant communication with friends, "I would die without it." And she is not alone. researchers say that US teens with cell phones average more than 2, 200 text messages a month.

To me, this ongoing digital conversation offers a remarkable illustration of what prayer could and should be like for every follower of Christ. Paul seemed to be constantly in an attitude of prayer for others: "[We] do not cease to pray for you" (Col. 1:9). Prying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit" (Eph. 6:18). "Pray without ceasing?" (1 Thess. 5:17). But how can we possibly do that?

Missionary Frank Laubach described his habit of "shooting" prayers at people as he encounters them during the course of each day. In a sense, he was "texting" God on their behalf, saying in constant communication with the Father. Laubach believed that prayer is the mightest force in the world, and said: "My part is to live in this hour in continuous inner conversation with god and in perfect responsiveness to His will." 

Pray without ceasing. Perhaps what Paul urged us to do can be done. --David McCasland

Give me a spirit of prayer, dear Lord,

That I may commune with Thee

As i travel along life's rugged road,

In Thy company always to be. --Dawe

REFLECT ON THIS:

Prayer should become as natural as breathing.

[MARCH 21] Pure Milk

Read: Acts 15:1-11, 19-21

"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby."

--1 Peter 2:2

Recently it was discovered that some milk producers in China had been diluting cow's milk and adding the industrial chemical Melamine. This chemical was added because it artificially enhanced protein readings. Sevaral infants died and other became seriously ill. Such adulteration is not new. Other countries have been adding Melamine to animal feed for at least 40 years for the same purpose, resulting in the death of animals.

Another kind of adulteration is when people add to God's Word, "the pure milk of the Word" as Peter described it (1 Peter 2:2). The word pure means "adulterated" or "uncontaminated." The early church had to deal with those who considered circumcision necessary for salvation (Acts 15:1). That idea was rejected because it was not in accordance with the Word of God, which says that salvation is by grace alone. Peter encouraged his brethren in the Lord: "Why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the desciples?... We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved (Acts 15:10-11).

Examine carefully any teaching that asks you to do anything more than what is in God's Word. Otherwise it can be deadly to your spiritual well-being. --C.P. Hia

The Lord has given man His Word,

His will He has made known;

Let man not try to change that Word

With words that are his own. --D.De Haan

REFLECT ON THIS:
God's Word needs no additions or subtractions.

[MARCH 20] A Worthy Offering

Read: Genesis 4:1-7

"If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door."

--Genesis 4:7

I was delighted when a mutual friend gave my neighbor a Bible. But my neighbor told me she stopped reading it because she couldn't understand why God would be so unfair as to reject Cain's offering. "After all," she said, "as a farmer, He simply brought to God what he had. Did God expect him to buy a different kind of sacrifice?" Sadly, she had missed the point. 

It wasn't that God didn't like vegetables. Rather, He knew that Cain's offering was masking an unrighteous attitude. Cain wasn't fully committed to God, as expressed by the fact that he wasn't living according to His ways.

It's easy to worship God on the outside while stubbornly keeping territory from Him on the inside. Jude writes about outwardly religious people who use religious activities to cover the reality of their sinful lives: "Woe to them! For the have gone in the way of Cain" (Jude 11). We can faithfully serve God, sing His praises, and give sacrificially to His work. But God doesn't want any of that without our hearts.

Does the Lord take priority over our plans and dreams? Is He worth more than the sin that tempts us? When we express to Him that He is more worthy than anything or anyone else in our lives, it's offering He won't refuse. --Joe Stowell

Lord, may our worship and our praise,

From our hearts surrendered to Your ways,

Be worthy offerings of love

For all Your blessings from above. --Sper

REFLECT ON THIS:

God won't refuse a heart that is surrendered to Him.

[MARCH 19] Authentic Beauty

Read: Proverbs 31:21-31

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."
--Proverbs 31:30

I often take a moment as I wait at our grocery store checkout stand to scan the covers of the magazines displayed there. It seems that if they aren't about sex and money, they're about diet, fitness, health, and outward beauty. There's nothing there for the soul.

The problem is that people read the wrong magazines--those that are full of lies that fixate on beauty of fact and form as though that's all there is. This can lead to comparison terrible despair.

Some years ago, a friend of mine told of a conversation he had with lovely, self-assured teenager. "You're very self-confident," he observed. "Can you tell me why?" "Yes," the young woman answered. "It's because I'm so pretty." "Oh, I'm sorry," he said with extraordinary wisdom. "Why?" she asked in surprise. "Because," he replied, "you may always be pretty."

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing" is the wisdom we read in Proverbs 31. Physical beauty all too quickly fades away; all ones efforts to keep it are doomed to fail. But there is an inner beauty--authentic beauty that will endure forever--in the one "who fears the Lord" (v.30). --David Roper

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me--
All His wonderful passion and purity!
O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine.
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. --Orsborn

REFLECT ON THIS:

Righteousness in the heart produces beauty in the character.

[MARCH 18] Who are You?

Read: Matthew 4:18-25

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

--Matthew 4:19

If someone were to ask, "Who are you?" my guess is that you would tell a little thing about yourself and what you do--"I'm an electrician" or "I'm a nurse." But that's not really who your are--it's what you do. Which leads to the question, If what you do is who you are, who will you be when you stop doing what you're doing?!

Who you are is found in your relationship to Jesus. And this sense of identity will drive your behavior. Take Matthew, for example. As a tax collector during the reign of the Roman empire, his life was driven with greed. But everything changed the day Jesus showed up and invited Matthew to follow Him (Matt. 9:9). Suddenly Matthew had a whole new identity as a follower of Christ! And he wasn't the only one. we also read about the fishermen in Matthew 4:18-25, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who left their nets to follow Him.

Jesus is a compelling Person, and He is still looking for followers. He wants to make something of your life by giving you the indetity of a follower of Jesus. It doesn't mean giving up your career, but it does mean that you will do your work--and all of life--according to His will and ways.

So next time someone asks, "Who are you?" I hope you'll answer, "I'm a follower of Jesus"! --Joe Stowell

Lord, as I follow You by faith,

Help me each day to learn

That pleasing You in all I do

Must be my main concern. --Fitzhugh

REFLECT ON THIS:

If you are a follower of Jesus, that's all the identity you need.

[MARCH 17] A Good God

Read: Psalm 46

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble
--Psalm 9:9

When my brother-in-law was a missionary in Mali, West Africa, he was involved in a traffic accident. A man had wandered into the road in front of Chick's motorcycle. The cycle struck the man and sent Chuck and the bike sliding along the ground for more than 200 feet. Shortly after Chuck regained consciousness in the hospital, his doctor told him he had been "really lucky." Chuck smile and replied, "God is good."

Later he thought about the day events. The man who was struck hadn't received any permanent injuries, and Chuck would also recover from injuries. But what if one of them had been killed? He thought, God would be no less good.

When we experience tragedy, we may wonder about God's goodness. Is God always good? Yes. He is. He never promised that bad things will never happen to us, but He does promise to be "our refuge and strength" (Ps.46:1). He doesn't promise that we will never walk through heart-wrenching circumstances, but He promises that we won't be alone (23:4).

God is good--no matter what suffering we are experiencing. Even we don't understand, we can say with Habakkuk, "Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (3:18). --Cindy Hess Kasper

O taste and see that God is good
To all who seek His face;
Yea, blest the one who trusts in Him,
Confiding in His grace. --Psalter

REFLECT ON THIS:
God tests our faith so that we may trust His faithfulness.

[MARCH 16] The Real Hero

Read: John 3:22-30

"He must increase, but i must decrease." 

--John 3:30

Louis B. Neumiller was known for his humility, integrity, and commitment to quality. As president f the Caterpillar Tractor Company from 1941-54, he led the manufacturer of earth-moving ewuipment through the challenges of World War II into global expansion. In the book In Their Time: The Greatest Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century, authors Mayo and Nohria describe Neumiller's leadership as "success without fanfare." His mark of greatness, they note, was that he took his identity out of the business and "let his company become a hero instead of himself."

We see the same quality of selflessness  in John the Baptist, the dynamic preacher who repeatedly affirmed his mission on paving the way for the Messiah. When John's followers became concerned that Jesus was baptizing people and crowds were following Him, John replied: "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent before Him.'... He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:28,30).

As followers of Christ, are we lifting Him up instead seeking honor for ourselves? Rather than being disappointed when our contribution is unnoticed, we should be glad because our highest privilege is to magnify the Lord. He's the hero!

Honoring Him is the mark of greatness. --David McCasland

A Prayer: Lord, tech us to be humble. 

May our desire be that You be known, honored, loved, and exalted 

in every thought and action--above ourselves. Amen.

REFLECT ON THIS:

The great Christian is one who is small enough to let God be great in his life.

[MARCH 15] Last Line of Defense

Read: Romans 8:31-39

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

--Romans 8:37

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the site of a battle of America's Civil war. One of the focal points of the conflict was a rocky knoll called Little Round Top where Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the men of the 20th Maine Infantry stood their ground. Had the Confederate troops gotten past Chamberlain's men, some historians believe the Union army would have been surrounded--possibly leading to the loss of the war. The "20th Maine" was the last line of defense.

Followers of Christ are also engaged in a vital war. As the battle "the wiles of the devil" (Eph.6:11), we are called to wear the armor of God and to stand firm in the conflict (vv.10-18).

And like Gettysburg soldiers, we have a "last line of defense." For us, though, this defense is greater than any human force. In Romans 8:31-39, Paul says that our ultimate confidence is in the undying love of Christ. So complete is our protection that nothing can "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (v.39).

When the enemy seems overwhelming and all seems lost, remember, we have an unbeatable last line of defense: "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (v.37). --Bill Crowder

We are more than conquerors

Through Him who loved us so;

The Christ who dwells within us

Is the greatest power we know. --Carmichael

REFLECT ON THIS:
God's plan always leads to victory.

[MARCH 14] Unique Priveleges

Read: Romans 8:12-17

"Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself" 

--Ephesians 1:5

In Forever Young: My Friendship with John F. Kennedy, Jr., Billy Noonan recalls the life experiences he shared with the son of President John Kennedy.

In 1980, as one of the stories goes, John Jr. and Billy were invited aboard the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier. On a guided tour of the ship, the two young men and their guide inadvertently entered a restricted area. When an officer stopped them, the guide pointed to John and said, “This is his father’s ship.” Snapping to attention, the officer saluted John. He explained his understanding that when a US Navy ship is named for someone, it is considered that person’s ship. Thus, as the son of the man for whom the ship was named, John Jr. had unique privileges.

This illustrates a vital spiritual principle. As adopted children in God’s family, we who have been saved possess the position of sonship. Paul wrote that as believers we are “predestined... to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself” (Eph. 1:5). By virtue of this sonship, we have the unique privileges that belong to the children of the King of kings.

In life’s challenging voyage, we can take courage that our “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15) owns the ship and shares all with us. Praise God, we are joint-heirs with Christ! --Dennis Fisher

The wealth of God is ours to share

Through Jesus the Lord,

Joint-heirs with Him we claim it, then;

According to His Word. --Sherbert

REFLECT ON THIS:

A Christian’s inheritance is guaranteed forever!

[MARCH 13] A Safe Pair of Hands

Read: Psalm 138

"Your right hand will save me" 

--Psalm 138:7

Edwin van der Sar, goalkeeper for the Manchester United soccer team, had a “safe” pair of hands. He kept the ball from entering his team’s goal for 1,302 minutes, a world record in one season! That means that for almost 15 games of 90 minutes each, no one was able to score even one goal against his team while he was guarding the goalposts. But one goal by an opposing team in March 2009 ended his record.

The psalmist David found comfort in the safest pair of hands—God’s hands. He wrote of God’s protection in Psalm 138, “You will stretch out Your hand... and Your right hand will save me” (v.7). Like David, we can look to God’s safe hands to keep us from spiritual danger and defeat.

Another assurance from God’s Word for followers of Christ is Jude 1:24-25: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” That doesn’t mean we’ll never stumble. But it does mean we won’t stumble so badly that God cannot pick us up.

God’s safe pair of hands can never fail—ever! --C.P. Hia

From Him, who loves me now so well,

What power my soul can sever?

Shall life or death, or earth or hell?

No--I am his forever. --Small

REFLECT ON THIS:

No place is more secure than to be in God’s hands.

[MARCH 12] United Goal

Read: 1 Cor. 1:10-17

"I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you" 

--1 Corinthians 1:10

The spotted owl has been disappearing in the US. Originally it was believed that old growth logging was its greatest threat. But research shows that one of the owl’s relatives may be the problem. For the past 15 years, the barred owl has been rapidly migrating westward. Barred owls, which used to live exclusively east of the Mississippi, compete for the same food as spotted owls but are more aggressive and adaptable.

In a similar way, our greatest spiritual conflict often comes not from outside the church, but from other Christians. This was happening in the church of Corinth, and Paul took some time to address the divisive spirit that had grown in this congregation. This spirit threatened the unity of the church. Paul, with a pastoral nudge, encouraged the Corinthians to agree on the essentials and not be divided over the nonessentials. People were quarreling because they were aligning themselves with different Christian leaders—Paul, Apollos, Peter, and even Christ. In creating these divisions, they were valuing their favorite leader above unity in Christ.

Paul said the one essential that should unify the church is preaching the good news. That should be our united goal as well. --Marvin Williams

Lord, bless our congregation,

We humbly ask of Thee,

That we may walk together
In perfect unity. --Fennema

REFLECT ON THIS:

A united church is a strong church.

[MARCH 11] God's Mercies

Read: Genesis 32:3-13 

"I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies" 

--Genesis 32:10

Less than the least of all God’s mercies.” This was the motto 17th-century English poet and clergyman George Herbert engraved on his signet ring, and it was the phrase with which he signed his letters and books. Jacob had spoken these words when he pondered God’s goodness despite his own sin and shame: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant” (Gen. 32:10).

The word “mercies” is from the Hebrew word chesed, meaning “God’s enduring love.” I think it is significant that it rose from the heart of one who saw himself as utterly unworthy.

Relying solely on God’s faithful love, Jacob cries out: “Deliver me!” What an odd combination of thoughts: “I am not worthy... Deliver me” (vv.10-11). Unlike some who seem to have it all together, Jacob knew that everything he brought to God had been ruined by sin. He thought of himself as a man undeserving of God’s grace. But his hope lay not in his worth but in the promise of God to look with favor on those who throw themselves on His mercy. Humility and contrition are the keys that open the heart of God.

As He did with Jacob, God hears us when we humbly cry out to Him for mercy. --Dennis Fisher

For mercies so great, what return can I make?

For mercies so constant and sure?

I'll love Him, I'll serve Him with all that I have

As long as my life shall endure. --Chisholm

REFLECT ON THIS:

Mercy is an unearned blessing bestowed by God on an unworthy recipient.

[MARCH 10] Reminders

Read: 2 Peter 1:5-15

"I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things" 

--2 Peter 1:12

Jill Price has an extraordinary memory that has stunned scientists. In 2006, her overdeveloped memory was described in a scientific journal article, “A Case of Unusual Autobiographical Remembering.” Price has no special aptitude for memorizing lists of words, numbers, facts, or languages. But she does remember what happened to her on any given day over the last 30 years. Name any date and Price will tell you what day of the week it was, the weather, what she had for breakfast, the TV programs she watched, and the people she spoke with.

Few of us have a memory like that. That’s why we need reminders to complete simple tasks and keep our appointments. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual truth. The apostle Peter showed he understood the need of spiritual reminders when he wrote: “I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things... Yes, I think it is right... to stir you up by reminding you... Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things” (2 Peter 1:12-15).

No matter what kind of memory we have, we need to be reminded of biblical principles. Daily Bible reading, small group studies, and involvement in a local church can all help us to remember God’s vital truths. --Dennis Fisher

Remembering the Word of God

Does not come naturally;

We need reminders to fulfill
What God wants us to be. --Sper

REFLECT ON THIS:

Let God’s Word fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your steps.

[MARCH 9] Don't Forget

Read: Deut. 8:1-2,10-18

"Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments" --Deuteronomy 8:11

One of my favorite Far Side cartoons is captioned “Superman in his later years.” It shows the elderly Man of Steel perched on a window ledge, ready to leap, as he looks back and says, “Now where was I going?”

Forgetfulness happens to us all, and while our occasional lapses may be amusing or annoying, a lack of memory toward God can be disastrous.

With the people of Israel poised to enter the Promised Land, Moses challenged them to “remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness” (Deut. 8:2) and to “beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments” (v.11).

Forgetting God can spring from: Testing (vv.2-4). God allowed His people to hunger and then provided manna. When we lack the necessities of life, it’s easy to feel that God has somehow forgotten us. Satisfaction (vv.10-11). Abundance or need may produce spiritual amnesia because both cause us to focus on ourselves, not on God who provides. Pride (vv.12-16). If prosperity brings a feeling of self-accomplishment, then we have forgotten God.

Humility, obedience, and praise help us remember God’s faithful provision and care. Let’s not forget to thank Him today for all He’s done. --David McCasland

Lest I forget Gethsemane,

Lest I forget Thine agony,

Lest I forget Thy love for me,

Lead me to Calvary. --Hussey

REFLECT ON THIS:

Never let the abundance of God’s gifts cause you to forget the Giver.

[MARCH 8] To the Rescue

Read: Luke 15:1-7

"There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance" 

--Luke 15:7

Martie and I recently traveled to some major cities in several countries. We were struck with how lost our world is and grieved over the millions who have never heard the message of the saving grace of Jesus. The thought of reaching our world for Christ felt overwhelming.

Until I remembered the story of the boy walking on a beach. Encountering hundreds of starfish dying under the heat of the burning sun, he started throwing them back into the sea. A passerby asked, “What are you doing?” “Saving their lives,” the boy replied. “Forget it,” the man said. “You can’t possibly save all these starfish.” “Right,” replied the boy, “but it makes a big difference to each one I do save.”

I love the boy’s perspective. When the wave of sin threw us onto the shore to die, God sent His Son to walk on the beach to rescue all who would repent. And, as Jesus told His listeners in Luke 15, each time someone is rescued, heaven throws a party. “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

Has heaven rejoiced over your rescue? If so, join the ranks of those who reach other lost souls with the rescuing grace of Jesus.

Your love, O God, would spare no pain

To conquer death and win;

You sent Your only son to die
To rescue us from sin. --M. Gustafson

REFLECT ON THIS:

When you’ve been rescued, you’ll want to rescue others.

[MARCH 7] God's Helpers

Read: Psalm 103:19-22

"Bless the Lord, you His angels" 

--Psalm 103:20

I was having a conversation with some children about God and superheroes when Tobias asked a question. An imaginative, curious 5-year-old, he asked anyone listening: “Does God have a sidekick like Hercules does?” His wiser, older brother, age 7, quickly responded: “Yes, He has thousands of them—they’re His angels.”

Angels are a popular topic of discussion, and people believe a number of myths about them. For instance, some people pray to angels, thinking they are on the same level as God Himself. And some believe that people become angels when they die. But here’s what the Bible, our authority, teaches:

• God created angels (Col. 1:15-17).
• Angels worship God (Neh. 9:6), and are known by these terms: archangels (Jude 1:9), cherubim (2 Kings 19:15), and seraphim (Isa. 6:1-3).
• They minister to God’s people (Heb. 1:13-14) by guarding and protecting them (Ps. 91:9-12).
• They are given special assignments by God (Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:26).
• God’s angels rejoice when we repent of sin and turn to Christ for salvation (Luke 15:7,10).

Only God deserves our worship. So let’s join the angels in singing His praises! --Anne Cetas

All hail the power of Jesus' name!

Let angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem,

And crown Him Lord of all. --Perronet

REFLECT ON THIS: 

Angels are God’s special helpers.

[MARCH 6] Is it Well?

Read: Philippians 4:4-7

"The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" 

--Philippians 4:7

As the high school chorale prepared to sing Horatio G. Spafford’s classic hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul,” a teen stepped forward to tell the song’s familiar history. Spafford wrote the song while on a ship that was near the spot at sea where his four daughters perished.

As I listened to that introduction and then the words sung by the teenagers, a flood of emotions washed over me. “Where his four daughters perished” were hard words to grasp as I listened again to Spafford’s words of faith. Having lost one daughter suddenly, I find the idea of losing four unfathomable.

How could it be “well” for Spafford in his grief? I hear the words “When peace like a river attendeth my way” and remember where peace can be found. Paul says in Philippians 4 that it can be found as our heart-prayers are voiced to God (v.6). By trustful praying, we unburden our hearts, divest our anxieties, and release the grip on our grief. And we can gain “the peace of God” (v.7)—an inexplicable, divine calmness of spirit. This peace supersedes our ability to understand our circumstances (v.7), and it is a guard on our heart, through Jesus, that protects us enough to allow us to whisper, even in the pain, “It is well with my soul.”

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea-billows roll--

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul. --Spafford

REFLECT ON THIS:

Jesus never makes a mistake.

[MARCH 5] The Right Information

Read: 1 Thess. 4:13-18

"I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" 

--1 Thessalonica 4:13

Our flight had been airborne about 15 minutes when the pilot announced that the aircraft had a serious problem the crew was trying to analyze. A few minutes later, he announced that it was a vibration and that we would have to return to the airport. Then the flight attendants made a serious of step-by-step announcements explaining what was going on and what would happen once we were on the ground. In an event that could have been terrifying, the fears of the passengers were relieved because we were given the right information.

In the first century, a group of believers in Thessalonica were afraid that their believing loved ones who had died were gone forever and would miss out on the second coming of Christ. For that reason, Paul wrote, " I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13). Paul's words of comfort were intended to soften their fears by giving them the right information, which made all the difference in the world. While grieving their loss, they could still have hope of a coming reunion with those who were in Christ.

In seasons of loss, we too can find comfort and hope because the Bible has given us the right information. --Bill Crowder

He' s coming back! The dead shall rise,

Caught up to meet Him in the skies.

Upon that hope my soul relies;

He's coming back. --Sherbert

REFLECT ON THIS:
Death is not a period, it's only a comma.

[MARCH 4] What Brings Happiness?

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

"All was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun" 

--Ecclesiastes 2:11

After studying the effect of the post-World War II economic boom in Japan, Richard Easterlin concluded that monetary growth does not always bring more satisfaction. More recently, economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers conducted surveys in more than 100 nations and concluded that life satisfaction is highest in the richest countries.

So who’s right? Let’s check with the writer of Ecclesiastes. He should know! He was a truly rich man (2:8). He had the means to try everything in this world—and he did! He gave himself to pleasure (vv.1-3), grand projects (vv.4-8), entertainment (v.8), and hard work (vv.10-11). But he concluded that it was all “vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun” (v.11).

Lasting satisfaction doesn’t come from possessing tangible things like savings accounts and material goods. Recent events have shown that these things can suddenly lose value. To find true happiness, we have to find it in Someone who is not from “under the sun.” And that is our Savior, Jesus.

Hymnwriter Floyd Hawkins wrote: “I’ve discovered the way of gladness, I’ve discovered the way of joy, I’ve discovered relief from sadness... When I found Jesus, my Lord.” Only He can give joy that is full (John 15:11). --C. P. Hia

Take the world, but give me Jesus,

All its joys are but a name;

But His love abideth never;

Through eternal years the same. --Crosby

REFLECT ON THIS:
To know happiness, get to know Jesus.

[MARCH 3] A Mighty Stream

Read: Amos 5:21-27

"Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream" 

--Amos 5:24

When I was a young teenager, my dad, uncles, cousins, and I went trout fishing at the head waters of the Sacramento River in California. The source of the river is melted snow, so the water was swift, clear, cold, and refreshing. My cousins and I couldn’t resist stepping into the cool current while angling for rainbow trout.

On the way home, we stopped for a dip in a pond that was far different. The pond water was warm, and it smelled stagnant. It contrasted greatly with that swiftly flowing, invigorating stream.

The prophet Amos used the metaphor of a stream to illustrate the transforming power of righteousness. Appalled at Israel’s dead religious ritual and their exploitation of the poor (Amos 2:6-8; 5:21-27), he called for justice and righteousness to prevail. He saw that God’s people were stuck in the stagnant pond of injustice toward others when what they needed was a life marked by “righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Likewise, God desires for us to allow justice to “run down like water” from our lives. One way that can happen is to strive for just laws and to champion loving care for the poor. May we seek to be a part of God’s mighty stream of His righteousness until Christ returns. --Dennis Fisher

Justice is the clarion call for Christians--
We cannot step aside from what God said;
He has told us how to treat our neighbor,
And we must follow on the path He's led. --Hess

REFLECT ON THIS:
Righteousness follows when truth springs into action.

[MARCH 2] God is Here

Read: Luke 4:16-21

"[The Lord] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" 

--Psalm 147:3

Leslie and her two daughters were about to be evicted from their home. Although Leslie believed that God could help, so far He hadn’t given a clue as to how. She wondered, Where is God? As she drove to the courthouse, she prayed for God’s intervention. Then she heard a song on the radio proclaiming, “God is here! Let the brokenhearted rejoice.” Could this be the assurance from God that she was longing to hear?

Inside the courtroom, Leslie stood before the judge, heard his decision, and signed the legal documents, but still God had not given her an answer.

As Leslie was walking to her car, a truck pulled up beside her. “Ma’am,” said the driver, “I heard your testimony inside the courtroom, and I believe God wants me to help you.” And he did. Gary helped Leslie get in contact with a woman from a local church who was able to work with the parties involved to reverse the process so that she and her girls could stay in their home.

When people ask, “Where is God?” the answer is, “Right here.” One way God is at work is through Christians like Gary who are continuing the work Jesus started—healing the brokenhearted and binding up their wounds (Ps. 147:3). --Julie Ackerman Link

God is here; He stands beside you.

God is here; He wants to guide you.

God is here and He will help you,

So do not fear--Your God is near. --D.De Haan

REFLECT ON THIS: 

When we love God, we will serve people.

[MARCH 1] The Fairest

Read: Revelation 5:8-14

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!" 

--Revelation 5:12

When I first became a Christian and started attending church at age 19, I immediately fell in love with singing the great hymns of the faith. My heart overflowed with joy and thanksgiving as we sang of God’s love for us in Christ. Soon one of my favorite hymns (from the late 1600s) became “Fairest Lord Jesus!” I love the simplicity of the melody and the awesomeness of the One exalted in these words:

Fair is the sunshine,
fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.
Beautiful Savior!
Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration
now and forevermore be Thine!

God’s Son, whom we sing about in this song, came to this earth, lived a perfect life, and gave Himself for us on the cross (Luke 23:33). He arose from the grave (Luke 24:6) and is now seated at God’s right hand (Heb. 1:3). One day we’ll join in worship with thousands upon thousands and say: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13). Maybe we’ll sing “Fairest Lord Jesus!” too.

Until then, let’s allow Jesus to be “the fairest” above all in our personal lives by seeking wisdom from His Word and following in His ways. --Anne Cetas

REFLECT ON THIS:

We can never praise Jesus too much.

[FEBRUARY 28] The Country of Old Age

Read: Mark 7:1-13

 

"If anyone does not provide for his own,... [he] is worse than an unbeliever" 

--1 Timothy 5:8

In the book Another Country, author Mary Pipher met with people in their seventies, eighties, and nineties who were confronting many different life situations.

“I wanted... to understand the country of old age,” Pipher writes. “We are not organized in a way that makes aging easy.” The root problem, she observed, is that young and old have become segregated, to the detriment of both groups.

This social trend is not necessarily intentional. But many people do ignore and shirk their responsibilities for the elderly. In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees found creative ways to avoid their family duties. In Mark 7:9-13, Jesus rebuked their common practice of dedicating their material possessions to God (declaring them as Corban) rather than using their assets to provide for their parents. Their tradition had violated the commandment to honor their father and their mother.

Our children, work, and church activities can pull us in many directions. But that doesn’t excuse us from honoring our aging parents by making provision for their needs, as much as we are able (1 Tim. 5:8). When the time comes for us to enter the country of old age, let’s hope we’ve set the right example for our own children to follow. --Dennis Fisher

Proving for our parents' needs
With loving words and selfless deeds
Is what the Lord expects of those
Who try to follow where He leads.

REFLECT ON THIS:
Honoring our parents is learned by example.

[FEBRUARY 27] Strength in Weakness

Read: Matthew 20:20-28

"Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant" 

--Matthew 20:26

No one wants to be weak, so we find ways to appear strong. Some of us use the force of our emotions to manipulate people. Others use the force of personality to control people, and some use intellect to intimidate. Although these create an illusion of strength, they are signs of weakness.

When we are truly strong, we have the courage to admit our licomitations and to acknowledge our dependence on God. As a result, true strength often looks a lot like weakness. When the apostle Paul prayed that an affliction would be taken from him, God answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul responded with these troubling words: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (v.10).

Toward the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, some of His disciples were striving for positions of prominence. Jesus used their argument as an opportunity to teach them that in His kingdom things are different: greatness comes when we willingly assume positions of weakness (Matt. 20:26).

This is a hard truth. I prefer the illusion of strength to the reality of weakness. But God wants us to realize that true strength comes when we stop trying to control people and start serving them instead. --Julie Ackerman Link

The life that we live for God's glory,
Let's live it in biblical light:
God's strength is made perfect in weakness;
He alone controls power and might. --Branon

REFLECT ON THIS:
God’s greatest power can be displayed in our biggest weakness.