[APRIL 7] Our Only Hope

Read: 1 Thess. 4:13-18

"We should live... godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope" 
--Titus 2:12-13

An anonymous author wrote, “When I was first converted, and for some years afterward, the second coming of Christ was a thrilling idea, a blessed hope, a glorious promise, the theme of some of the most inspiring songs of the church.

“Later it became an accepted tenet of faith, a cardinal doctrine, a kind of invisible trademark of my ministry. It was the favorite arena of my theological discussions, in the pulpit and in print. Now suddenly the second coming means something more to me. Paul called it ‘the blessed hope.’ But today it appears as the only hope of the world.”

From the human standpoint, there is no solution for the struggles of the world. Leaders are naturally frustrated in trying to deal with the increasing problems in society. The only complete and permanent solution is found in the return of Christ to earth. When He comes, He will set up His kingdom. He will rule the nations in righteousness, and “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14).

As we await our Savior’s return, let us keep on praying, working, and watching, while “looking for the blessed hope”—our only hope for this world. --Richard De Haan

And for the hope of His return,

Dear Lord, Your name we praise;

With longing hearts we watch and wait

For that great day of days! --Sherwood

REFLECT ON THIS:

As this world gets darker, the promised return of God’s Son gets brighter.

[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 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.

[FEBRUARY 21] Running in the Right Direction

Read: John 6:53-69

"Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" 

--John 6:68

One of the most difficult experiences in my years as a pastor was telling a member of our church that her husband, her son, and her father-in-law had all drowned in a boating accident. I knew the news would shatter her life.

In the days following their tragic loss, I was amazed as she and her family responded with unusual faith. Sure, there was deep brokenness, haunting doubt, and confusion. But when nothing else made sense, they still had Jesus. Rather than deserting Him in the midst of their desperately difficult days, they ran to Him as the only source of hope and confidence.

This reminds me of the reaction of the disciples to Jesus. After some of them “went back and walked with Him no more” because He was hard to understand (John 6:66), Jesus turned to His inner circle, and asked, “Do you also want to go away?” (v.67). Peter got it right when he responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (v.68).

Whatever you face today, be encouraged by the words of Peter and by the example of a family who went through the fire with their faith intact. As long as you’re running in the right direction—to Jesus—you’ll find the grace and strength you will need. --Joe Stowell

Jesus is the One to run to
When our lives bring grief and pain;
He provides His strength and guidance
With a peace we can't explain. --Sper

 

REFLECT ON THIS:
When all is lost, remember that you haven’t lost Jesus. Run to Him.

[FEBRUARY 19] If Day

Read: James 1:1-11

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" 

--James 1:2-3

February 19, 1942, was a fascinating day for Canada. It was “If Day”—a World War II staging of a fake Nazi invasion of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The intent was to show what it would be like “if” Canada fell under the harsh occupation of Nazi forces, and so that Canadians would support the war effort more fully.

As one person described the event: “If Day brought home the reality of Nazi occupation. Manitobans got a very bitter taste of nearly every aspect of Nazi brutality.” The key word there is nearly. While “If Day” was a valiant attempt to educate people about danger in the world, it could not begin to recreate the actual suffering that was sweeping Europe.

Real trials in life are not ifs—they are whens. In fact, life’s most profound lessons cannot simply be observed, they must be experienced. It is there, in actual seasons of heartache and loss, that we gain greater insights into life, faith, and our need of God. To that end, James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3).

Trials come because we live in a broken world, but we decide if we will learn the lessons taught. There are no “ifs” about it—it is an important way to grow. --Bill Crowder
 

Though you cannot see the outcome,
Trust the Lord--HE knows what's best;
Be assured He sees your trial,
And He's with you in your test. --Hess

REFLECT ON THIS:
Tough times can teach us to trust.

[FEBRUARY 6] Be the Light!

Read: Ephesians 5:8-14

"You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light"
--Ephesians 5:8

A friend of mine has the opportunity each winter to attend the Super Bowl as a journalist. His job is to garner interviews with Christian athletes and National Football League personnel for a faith-based radio program.

When he first started covering the big game a few years ago, he grew disillusioned with the self-serving, pleasure-seeking atmosphere during Super Bowl week. “I found it to be a very dark place,” he says.

One day he told a former NFL player, a Christian, how he was feeling. The athlete looked at my friend and said, “Brother, you are being light in this dark place.” That comment reminded my friend why he was there, and it helped renew his excitement for serving God in a place where the light of the gospel is needed. It spurred him to shine his light.

Perhaps you work in a setting where God is not acknowledged, faith is mocked, and godless living is applauded. Maybe you feel that you are going into “a very dark place.”

Why not be a light (Eph. 5:8)—through your smiles, kind words and deeds, and diligent work. Ask God to bring opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ. You may be the only light a co-worker sees today. --Dave Branon

God put us in this darkened world

To shine as sons of light;

So, help us Lord, to spread Your Word

And keep our witness bright. --D. De Haan

REFLECT ON THIS:

Our witness for Christ is a light in a dark world.

[JANUARY 12] Finishers

Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" 

--2 Timothy 4:7

When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a black belt in karate. Several years ago, I began training and came close to fulfilling that goal. However, two belts away from my goal, I quit. There were two reasons—my teacher changed styles in the middle of my training, and I got so busy that I could not devote adequate time for training.

Almost every week, I am nagged by the thought that God wants me to be a finisher in all aspects of my life—but especially in my service for Him.

As Paul spoke of the conclusion of his life, he did not have any nagging thoughts of unfinished business about his ministry. In this final farewell (2 Tim. 4:7), Paul used imagery-rich words to talk about finishing his service for Christ. He described his life and ministry in terms of a fight: “I have fought the good fight.” The fight was good because he had engaged in it for God and the gospel. Then he used the imagery of a race as synonymous with his ministry: “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul affirmed that by God’s grace he had finished all that God had given him to do.

As followers of Jesus, let us strive to be finishers, persevering in our service for Jesus Christ. --Marvin Williams

For every follower of Christ

There is a race to run; 

And when we cross the finish line,

We'll be with Christ, God's son. --Fitzhugh

REFLECT ON THIS:

Run the race with eternity in view.