A Devotional for Students

Is There Meaning to Life?
What do you do when you're bored? A recent Associated Press News Service story mentioned the recreational choice of two teens. Having used the video game Grand Theft Auto 'a means of escaping the monotony of teenage life,' they decided to act it out by shooting at cars. They wound up killing one person and injuring others.

Some choices reveal a sad lack of meaning to a life. Many people wonder whether or not their lives have a purpose. Can you relate? If so, the book of Ecclesiastes was written for you.

The message of Ecclesiastes is brutally straightforward. The writer, Solomon, tells us that he has tried everything life has to offer--wine, women, and song (the ancient equivalent of sex, drugs, and alternative rock). His conclusion is this: 'Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty' (Ecc:12:13). In other words, God gives meaning to our lives. No God, no meaning.

Think of it this way: Without God, you are just a bunch of molecules thrown together by chance. If there is no God, you came from--and are headed toward--impersonal nothingness. Any attempt at finding purpose is utterly doomed to failure. You might just as well be a lizard, or a rock, or nothing at all . . . if there is no God.

Sounds pretty bleak, doesn't it? It is bleak, if we subtract God from the equation. This belief that there is no God and therefore no meaning is what has driven many, including some of the greatest minds in history, to despair, alcoholism, and even suicide.

The good news is: There is something more. We don't have to run pointlessly after illusions like a slightly more sophisticated version of a hamster on a treadmill. There is a God who created you, knows you by name, loves you, and wants you to know him intimately. He gives meaning to life as he calls us to follow him in his grand adventure.

If you're searching for meaning, follow the writer of Ecclesiastes to its source: a lifelong, personal encounter with God.

From and For

From and For

Leviticus 11:1-47

Read "All small animals that scurry along the ground are detestable, and you must never eat them. . . . Do not defile yourselves by touching them. You must not make yourselves ceremonially unclean because of them. For I am the LORD your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. So do not defile yourselves with any of these small animals that scurry along the ground. For I, the LORD, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy." (Leviticus 11:41, 43-45)

Reflect Leviticus 11:43-45 provides a key to understanding all of Leviticus. God prohibited the Israelites from eating and even touching certain "unclean" animals. He wanted the people to be totally separated from what he had forbidden. But there is more to this chapter than avoiding the wrong animals. God wasn't simply separating the people from something. He was separating them for something. God wants his people to be holy, just as he is holy. Holiness means being set apart, different, and unique. God said, "Do not defile yourselves"—that separated the people from sin. God said, "Consecrate yourselves and be holy"—that separated them for himself. The people were wandering in the desert at this time, a perfect analogy for what God was doing. He delivered them from Egypt to separate them from worshiping idols. He was delivering them to the Promised Land where they could worship him alone and live justly. That is also why he designed laws to separate them—both socially and spiritually—from the wicked nations who lived in the Promised Land.

Respond If you struggle with separating yourself from sin, focus on devoting yourself to worshiping God and serving others. You may find that when you do, you don't have time for those old temptations.

Romans 12:10-21

Romans 12

10 Love each other with genuine affection,* and take delight in honoring each other.11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.*12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.13 When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
  14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!
  17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
  19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

"I will take revenge;
  I will pay them back,"*
  says the LORD.

20 Instead,

"If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
  If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
  burning coals of shame on their heads."*

21 Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Our Daily Bread For 05-31-13

READ: John 12:12-19; 19:14-16

Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt. —John 12:15

How quickly public opinion can change! When Jesus entered Jerusalem for the Passover feast, He was welcomed by crowds cheering to have Him made king (John 12:13). But by the end of the week, the crowds were demanding that He be crucified (19:15).

I recognize myself in those fickle crowds. I love cheering for a team that’s winning, but my interest wanes when they start losing. I love being part of a movement that is new and exciting, but when the energy moves to a new part of town, I’m ready to move on. I love following Jesus when He is doing the impossible, but I slink away when He expects me to do something difficult. It’s exciting to follow Jesus when I can do it as part of the “in” crowd. It’s easy to trust Him when He outsmarts the smart people and outmaneuvers the people in power (see Matt. 12:10; 22:15-46). But when He begins to talk about suffering and sacrifice and death, I hesitate.

I like to think that I would have followed Jesus all the way to the cross—but I have my doubts. After all, if I don’t speak up for Him in places where it’s safe, what makes me think I would do so in a crowd of His opponents?

How thankful I am that Jesus died for fickle followers so that we can become devoted followers. —Julie Ackerman Link

For Further Thought
Read these Bible verses and ponder Jesus’ love for you
(Rom. 5:8; Rom. 8:37-39; Heb. 13:5-6,8; 1 John 3:1).
Allow your devotion to Him to grow.

Christ deserves full-time followers.

One Before The Other

Exodus 3:1-15

The question I felt needed to be answered affirmatively before I married Miska was this: Can I live without her? My intentions were romantic and chivalrous, but my focus was dead wrong. I discovered that there was probably nobody that I literally could not live without. In time, I found the better question to ask myself: Do I want to live without Miska?

Moses discovered that finding the right answers required asking the right questions. He had run far from home, and 40 years later he’d lost his identity. God found Moses in the desert and spoke to him out of a burning bush. He spoke of Moses’ history and of Israel under Egypt’s iron hand. “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt,” He said (Exodus 3:7). God had not forgotten Israel, and He had not forgotten Moses. God told Moses that He had chosen him to return to Egypt, confront Pharaoh’s empire, and lead Israel out of bondage.

Incredulous and afraid, Moses answered with a barrage of words protesting: “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people?” (Exodus 3:11). Who am I? Moses asked. It was an honest query; but whatever the answer, he was sure he was not the one to do what God had asked of him.

Rather than answer Moses directly, God responded, “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). Then God gave His name: “I Am Who I Am,” a mysterious name declaring that God is always God—eternity past to eternity future (Exodus 3:14). Wherever humans go, God always precedes.

Before Moses could know who he was, he needed to know who God was. Only then could Moses discover his own identity and the courage he needed.

— Winn Collier

What do these verses tell you about God’s character? (1 Chronicles 29:11-13; Psalm 36:5-7; Romans 1:18-20). Why is it essential to know God’s identity before we discover our own?

How do you answer the question Who am I? How can you put yourself in a posture to hear who God is, so that you can know who you are?

Positive Thought For 05-30-13

Here's a positive thought to pick you up: If you hope in the Lord, you will soar! and your strength will be renewed. See Isaiah 40:31 

What’s the Deal with the Cross?

What’s the Deal with the Cross?
Jack Radcliffe
5/30/2013
There are a lot of things in this world that are hard to understand. For me, math is one of those things. Science, while very intriguing, is a close second. Jesus' teachings probably rank high on that list for a lot of us. It certainly did for many who had the chance to hear Jesus.

In John 6:32-59, those whom Jesus fed miraculously the day before didn't get it when he said, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you" (NLT). If it was difficult for those having a conversation with him, how much more is it for us who simply read about it. Sometimes we don't understand what is happening, what we hear or read.
There are a lot of things about the Christian faith we don't understand, such as the Cross and the practice of crucifixion. We wear crosses around our necks and on our ears; we put them on our bumpers, tattoo them on our bodies, place them along highways, and adorn the tops of our church buildings with them. Part of our problem with understanding the cross is that it's often made to look pretty, used as part of an architectural design and as a symbol of a belief system.

In the first century, this would have been scandalous. The cross was a symbol of shame, accursedness, and weakness. Identification with it came not by choice. It was a death sentence. The person crucified on it was stripped naked, and it often took them several days to die. An analogous symbol for our time is the electric chair. Could you imagine that hanging on the walls of our homes and church buildings and around our necks?

Galatians 3:13 tells us the message of the Cross: Because we're not able to keep all the rules, we are always in trouble. It doesn't matter if we keep most of them. It only matters that you messed up on one; when we do that, we blow the whole thing. We are guilty and deserving of a death sentence. But Jesus took our guilt, our curse, our punishment for us.

Who does that for someone else? It doesn't make sense, does it? The Cross is foolishness to the wise. It doesn't fit conventional wisdom and is never something man would use as a solution to anything, let alone to humanity’s inhumanity, brokenness, and sin.

Our wisdom says that no one deserves to die. Punishment is not necessary, and certainly someone taking another's punishment is ridiculous. This isn't what the savior of the world should do. He is powerful, not weak.

Jesus' audience didn't get it. Neither do many of us. The Cross is not attractive, does not promise prosperity, and is not an emotional boost or positive experience. The message of the Cross won't fill church seats. By today's standards, Jesus was a ministry failure. His following had dwindled to nothing by the time he was hung on the cross.

The cross is a symbol of Jesus' invitation to give our lives away—to come and die. If you've ever had a conversation with someone about being a Christian, my guess is that this particular idea didn't come up. We promote the benefits of Christianity without mentioning what following Jesus requires. It's far more than praying a prayer. The call to follow Christ to the cross means trading our wants and desires for his and making choices that may lead to suffering, shame, and weakness. If more people were actually told this truth, perhaps fewer people would claim to be Christian and the commitment of those who say they follow Jesus would be deeper because it would matter.

In God's wisdom, the Cross makes sense. We can't talk ourselves into understanding it. There is nothing in us that can make it make sense. But to those who are open to its message, God will make it clear (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).

A principle of learning is that we are responsible for what we know, especially when there is a call to action. The Cross presents us with a choice: will we follow Jesus? Will we die to our self-absorbed, self-protecting, self-promoting lives to live the way of Jesus? How will you choose?

Devotional For Leaders

For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.

Luke 14:28-29, NLT

One of the most recognizable landmarks in Washington, D.C., is the Washington Monument. This 555-foot tall obelisk in the middle of town provides a spectacular view of the city and surrounding areas. It also has a rather fascinating story regarding its construction. Work on the monument began in 1848, but six years later, members of the Know-Nothing Party (the nickname of the American Party) stopped the flow of funds, leaving an unsightly stump in the middle of town. It would be 25 years before construction resumed. Visitors can take note of this by looking at the color of the marble used in the building. A lighter shade is used for the first third of the monument, while the remaining section is darker. I'm thankful that the Washington Monument was completed. It wouldn't look too good unfinished! And neither will our Christian lives if we don’t consider the cost of following Christ. With a large crowd following, Jesus told a story illustrating how costly faith is. No one would build a tower or go to war without first considering whether the endeavor would be successful. If the builder decided to plunge into these activities with reckless abandon, the results would be disastrous. Faith is not just reserved for church services but has a part in every decision we make at work, at home, and at school. It affects our choices of entertainment, our comments to other people, and how we spend our spare time. It reveals what our true beliefs about God are. The cost of being a follower of Christ is immense. In fact, judging from the parable of the treasure hidden in the field (Matt. 13:44), the cost is total. But it pays huge dividends in the end. And we will be complete, instead of unfinished.

Priestly Procedures

Priestly Procedures

Leviticus 10:8-20

Read Then the LORD said to Aaron, "You and your descendants must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink before going into the Tabernacle. If you do, you will die. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation. You must distinguish between what is sacred and what is common, between what is ceremonially unclean and what is clean. And you must teach the Israelites all the decrees that the LORD has given them through Moses." . . . Moses then asked them what had happened to the goat of the sin offering. When he discovered it had been burned up, he became very angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's remaining sons. "Why didn't you eat the sin offering in the sacred area?" he demanded. "It is a holy offering! The LORD has given it to you to remove the guilt of the community and to purify the people, making them right with the LORD. Since the animal's blood was not brought into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the meat in the sacred area as I ordered you." Then Aaron answered Moses, "Today my sons presented both their sin offering and their burnt offering to the LORD. And yet this tragedy has happened to me. If I had eaten the people's sin offering on such a tragic day as this, would the LORD have been pleased?" And when Moses heard this, he was satisfied. (Leviticus 10:8-11, 16-20)

Reflect The priests were not to drink wine or other alcoholic beverages before going into the Tabernacle. If their senses were dulled by alcohol, they might repeat Nadab and Abihu's sin and bring something unholy into the worship ceremony. In addition, drinking would disqualify them to teach the people God's requirements of self-discipline. Drunkenness was associated with pagan religious practices, and the Jewish priests were to be distinctively different. This passage (along with Leviticus 19:1-2) shows the focus of Leviticus. The Ten Commandments recorded in Exodus 20 were God's fundamental laws. Leviticus explained and supplemented those laws with many other guidelines and principles that helped the Israelites put them into practice. The purpose of God's laws was to teach people how to distinguish right from wrong and to honor what was holy. The nation who lived by God's laws would obviously be set apart, dedicated to his service. The priest who conducted the sin offering was supposed to eat a portion of the animal and then burn the rest (Leviticus 6:24-30). Moses was angry because Eleazar and Ithamar burned the sin offering but did not eat any of it. Aaron explained to Moses that his two sons did not feel it appropriate to eat the sacrifice after their two brothers, Nadab and Abihu, had just been killed for sacrificing wrongly. Moses then understood that Eleazar and Ithamar were not trying to disobey God. Rather, they were afraid and upset over what had just happened to their brothers.

Respond God regards sin and holiness seriously. When we live holy lives, we participate in God's work in the world. We become part of what God made the world to be. How do your values and lifestyle set you apart as holy?

Proverbs 27:2-27

Proverbs 27

2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
  a stranger, not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
  but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier.

4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,
  but jealousy is even more dangerous.

5 An open rebuke
  is better than hidden love!

6 Wounds from a sincere friend
  are better than many kisses from an enemy.

7 A person who is full refuses honey,
  but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.

8 A person who strays from home
  is like a bird that strays from its nest.

9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend
  is as sweet as perfume and incense.

10 Never abandon a friend—
  either yours or your father's.
When disaster strikes, you won't have to ask your brother for assistance.
  It's better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.

11 Be wise, my child,* and make my heart glad.
  Then I will be able to answer my critics.

12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
  The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger's debt.
  Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.*

14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning
  will be taken as a curse!

15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying
  as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind
  or trying to hold something with greased hands.

17 As iron sharpens iron,
  so a friend sharpens a friend.

18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit,
  so workers who protect their employer's interests will be rewarded.

19 As a face is reflected in water,
  so the heart reflects the real person.

20 Just as Death and Destruction* are never satisfied,
  so human desire is never satisfied.

21 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,
  but a person is tested by being praised.*

22 You cannot separate fools from their foolishness,
  even though you grind them like grain with mortar and pestle.

23 Know the state of your flocks,
  and put your heart into caring for your herds,
24 for riches don't last forever,
  and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.
25 After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears
  and the mountain grasses are gathered in,
26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing,
  and your goats will provide the price of a field.
27 And you will have enough goats' milk for yourself,
  your family, and your servant girls.

Our Daily Bread For 05-30-13

READ: 2 Chronicles 26:3-15

His fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong. —2 Chronicles 26:15

In literature, a tragic flaw is a character trait that causes the downfall of a story’s hero. That was true of Uzziah, who was crowned king of Judah at age 16. For many years, he sought the Lord; and while he did, God gave him great success (2 Chron. 26:4-5). But things changed when “his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong. But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction” (vv.15-16).

Uzziah entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar (v.16), openly defying God’s decree. Perhaps pride convinced him that God’s rules applied to everyone except him. When Uzziah raged against the priests who told him this was not right, the Lord struck him with leprosy (vv.18-20).

In literature and in life, how often we see a person of good reputation fall from honor into disgrace and suffering. “King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, . . . cut off from the house of the Lord” (v.21).

The only way we can prevent the nectar of praise from becoming the poison of pride is by following the Lord with a humble heart. —David McCasland

Humility’s a slippery prize
That seldom can be won;
We’re only humble in God’s eyes
When serving like His Son. —Gustafson

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives. —Proverbs 27:21 NIV

Mirror, Mirror

Psalm 139:13-18

When it comes to physical appearance, we’re constantly bombarded with advice. And truth be told, the suggestions found on magazine covers, in TV commercials, and voiced by store clerks—among other sources—bother me. They’re all trying to nudge me to pursue that perfect look.

One blogger wrote: “For many young men and women, our physical appearance has become the measuring stick against which our entire value and worth are assessed by. But let’s get real: As detrimental as this value system can be, it’s really hard to just ‘walk away’ from that measuring stick when everything around you is pointing you in that direction.”

James reminds us of an important mirror that gives us a true view of ourselves. It’s the Word of God (James 1:23). In Psalm 139:14, the psalmist reminds us that we’re part of God’s marvelous workmanship. Just think about that! The One who made you and me is the wisest, most skillful, and most creative Person in the entire universe! So no matter what size, weight, or shape we are, God sees us as His creation. Beautiful. Created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27).

Regina Franklin in her book Who Calls Me Beautiful? wrote, “The moment we were created we became God’s most precious and coveted work of art—chosen, guarded, and loved. . . . We are ‘fearfully and wonderfully’ made because we have access to one of the greatest intimacies humans can know—a personal relationship with God.”

So while it’s great to “look good,” let’s not pursue it at the cost of our relationship with God. An hour in the gym and an hour in the front of the mirror but zero hours with God will not lead to true beauty.

— Poh Fang Chia

Read 1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 31:30, and 1 Peter 3:3-4 for biblical wisdom that should shape our attitude about outward appearance.

How does the knowledge that you are God’s marvelous creation affect your decision on diet, fashion, exercise, beauty products, and more? What does He consider to be true beauty?

Weekly Sermon: Freedom, The Last, Best Hope on Earth

On May 25/26, Guest Dennis Kutzner taught the lesson Freedom: The Last, Best Hope of Earth.

Weekly Sermon: Freedom The Last, Best Hope on Earth

Positive Thought For 05-29-13

Hope this positive thought helps you today: Use your freedom to help each other, instead of indulging yourself. You can find out more in Galatians 5:13 

Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire

Leviticus 10:1-7

Read Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the LORD's presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD meant when he said, 'I will display my holiness through those who come near me. I will display my glory before all the people.'" And Aaron was silent. Then Moses called for Mishael and Elzaphan, Aaron's cousins, the sons of Aaron's uncle Uzziel. He said to them, "Come forward and carry away the bodies of your relatives from in front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp." So they came forward and picked them up by their garments and carried them out of the camp, just as Moses had commanded. (Leviticus 10:1-5)

Reflect What was the unauthorized fire that Nadab and Abihu offered before the Lord? The fire on the altar of burnt offering was never to go out (Leviticus 6:12-13), implying that it was holy. Perhaps Nadab and Abihu brought coals of fire to the altar from another source, making the sacrifice unholy. Another possibility is that the two priests gave an offering at an unprescribed time. Whatever the case was, the point is that Nadab and Abihu abused their positions as priests in a flagrant act of disregard for God, who had just reviewed with them precisely how they were to conduct worship. As leaders, they had special responsibility to obey God. In their position, they could easily lead many people astray. Aaron's sons acted carelessly by not following the laws for sacrifices. In response, God destroyed them with a blast of fire. Performing the sacrifices was an act of obedience—doing them correctly showed respect for God. We can easily grow careless about obeying God and live our way instead of his. But if one way were just as good as another, God would not have commanded us to live his way. He always has good reasons for his commands, and we always place ourselves in danger when we consciously or carelessly disobey them.

Respond If God has commissioned you to lead or teach others, be sure to stay close to him and follow his advice. And no matter what position you have, ask God to help you remain faithful in your obedience.

Proverbs 11:2-31

Proverbs 11

2 Pride leads to disgrace,
  but with humility comes wisdom.

3 Honesty guides good people;
  dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

4 Riches won't help on the day of judgment,
  but right living can save you from death.

5 The godly are directed by honesty;
  the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

6 The godliness of good people rescues them;
  the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

7 When the wicked die, their hopes die with them,
  for they rely on their own feeble strength.

8 The godly are rescued from trouble,
  and it falls on the wicked instead.

9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends,
  but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

10 The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed;
  they shout for joy when the wicked die.

11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,
  but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

12 It is foolish to belittle one's neighbor;
  a sensible person keeps quiet.

13 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
  but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
  there is safety in having many advisers.

15 There's danger in putting up security for a stranger's debt;
  it's safer not to guarantee another person's debt.

16 A gracious woman gains respect,
  but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Your kindness will reward you,
  but your cruelty will destroy you.

18 Evil people get rich for the moment,
  but the reward of the godly will last.

19 Godly people find life;
  evil people find death.

20 The LORD detests people with crooked hearts,
  but he delights in those with integrity.

21 Evil people will surely be punished,
  but the children of the godly will go free.

22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion
  is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

23 The godly can look forward to a reward,
  while the wicked can expect only judgment.

24 Give freely and become more wealthy;
  be stingy and lose everything.

25 The generous will prosper;
  those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

26 People curse those who hoard their grain,
  but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

27 If you search for good, you will find favor;
  but if you search for evil, it will find you!

28 Trust in your money and down you go!
  But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
  The fool will be a servant to the wise.

30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;
  a wise person wins friends.*

31 If the righteous are rewarded here on earth,
  what will happen to wicked sinners?*

Our Daily Bread For 05-29-13

READ: Mark 4:35-41

He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” —Mark 4:39

My friend Elouise has a wonderful way of putting life into clever perspectives. Once when I asked her, “How are you today?” I expected the usual “fine” response. Instead, she said, “I’ve got to wake Him up!” When I asked what she meant, she kiddingly exclaimed, “Don’t you know your Bible?!” Then she explained: “When the disciples faced trouble, they ran to wake up Jesus. I’m going to run to Him too!”

What do we do when we are stuck in a troubling situation with nowhere to run? Maybe, like the disciples who were stuck in a life-threatening storm, we run to Jesus (Mark 4:35-41). Sometimes, however, we may try to bail ourselves out of trouble by seeking revenge, slandering the one who has caused our problem, or just cowering fearfully in the corner as we sink into despair.

We need to learn from the disciples who fled to Jesus as their only hope. He may not bail us out immediately, but remembering that He is in our boat makes a difference! Thankfully, He is always with us in the storms of life, saying things like “Peace, be still!” (v.39). So, look for Him in your storm and let Him fill you with the peace that comes from knowing He is near. —Joe Stowell

Lord, teach us to run to You in the midst of trouble.
Forgive us for trying to bail ourselves out, and lead
us to the peace of trusting Your wisdom and ultimate
deliverance. Thank You that You will help us!

Make Jesus your first option when the storms of life threaten you.

40 Days

Acts 1:1-9

Forty is a significant number in the Bible. The great flood of Genesis was the result of 40 days of rain (Genesis 7:4). Moses was with God for 40 days receiving the Law (Exodus 24:18). Spies explored the land for 40 days (Numbers 13:25). The Jews wandered in the desert for 40 years (Numbers 32:13). Jonah warned of judgment in 40 days (Jonah 3:4). Jesus was tempted for 40 days as He began His ministry (Luke 4:2), and He appeared to the disciples for 40 days as He concluded it (Acts 1:3). So one Bible teacher suggests that when you see the number 40 in Scripture, it means that God is doing something significant.

Jesus didn’t return to heaven immediately after His resurrection. What did He do in His last 40 days on earth?

• He continued to teach God’s Word, “giving His chosen apostles further instructions” (Acts 1:2). Teaching God’s Word remained Jesus’ priority.

• He “proved to them . . . that He was actually alive” (Acts 1:3). On Easter Sunday, He appeared to Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:1-9), the two disciples on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13-35), and to 10 disciples (Luke 24:36-43). A week after, He appeared to the 11 disciples (John 20:26-32) and several disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25). Paul wrote of six other appearances, once to more than 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).

• He “talked to them about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). He affirmed His disciples’ expectation of a literal physical kingdom on earth. But He corrected their preoccupation on the timing of the kingdom (Acts 1:6-7).

• He commanded His disciples to be His witnesses, “telling people about me everywhere” (Acts 1:8).

Just as Jesus prepared for His ministry for 40 days (Luke 4:2), so for 40 days the risen Jesus prepared His followers for theirs. He wanted His disciples to tell people everywhere about Him.

— K.T. Sim

Read John 21:1-19 to see how Jesus prepared Peter for ministry.

What does it mean for you to be a witness for Jesus? (Acts 1:8). Who can you tell about Jesus this week?

Positive Thought For 05-28-13

Tuesday's Positive Thought! Turn your back on evil and work for the good, and don't quit! See more at Psalm 37:27 in The Message

Devotional For Men

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

Ephesians 6:16, NLT

Along with the practicality of the belt of truth, the safety of the body armor of God's righteousness, and the Good News footwear, those in God's service must carry the "shield of faith." Shields made of metal, wood, and leather we can imagine, but what kind of shield is faith? As with each of the items in the equipment of the believer, its name reminds us that it is spiritual armament for spiritual warfare. A physical shield made of the finest materials known to man has little power to withstand the "fiery arrows of the devil." Since the arrows are spiritual, the shield that protects us from them must function in the same realm. Whenever believers talk about faith, it isn't the amount of faith but the object of faith that makes the biggest difference. A shield of faith in ourselves will fail. A shield of faith in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ will also fail. Our faith and trust is not a muscle we flex but the dependence we place on God. Any power or strength residing in our faith comes from the One in whom we trust. Other places in Scripture draw this same picture of a shield even more directly. "He [the LORD] grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity" (Proverbs 2:7). Our shield is not a metal shape with a picture of Jesus on it; our shield is Jesus. He is our protection. We are in him. The "fiery arrows of the devil" are intended to wound and destroy. In ancient times they functioned like tracer bullets, adding terror to the reality of being under fire. Knowing that the devil is our determined enemy might tend to unnerve us, or it might drive us deeper into Christ. We must never forget that though he was once "pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins" (Isaiah 53:5), Jesus now lives in victory, and Satan has been defeated. His arrows only have the effect that we give them. A veteran soldier checks his equipment frequently. How tightly are you carrying your shield of faith? Are you conscious and confident in Christ's protection?

Burning the Fat

Burning the Fat

Leviticus 9:1-24

Read After that, Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. Then, after presenting the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering, he stepped down from the altar. Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle, and when they came back out, they blessed the people again, and the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole community. Fire blazed forth from the LORD's presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground. (Leviticus 9:22-24)

Reflect In Leviticus 9:6 Moses told the people, "This is what the LORD has commanded you to do so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you." Moses, Aaron, and the people then got to work and followed God's instructions. Soon after, the glory of the Lord appeared. As a display of his mighty power, God sent fire forth to consume Aaron's offering. The people fell to the ground in awe. Some people wonder if God really exists because they don't see his activity in the world. But God is at work in today's world just as much as he was in Moses' world. Where believers are actively participating in his work, God might not display his power in mighty miracles. Instead, he works to change the world through the work of these believers. Don't just look for a glorious act of God—God desires to work through people like you. Do you serve God in the daily routines of life, or do you wait for him to do a mighty act? If you depend on his glorious acts, you may find yourself missing out on the opportunity to be part of what God is doing. When you realize that, you will begin to see acts of love, faith, and obedience that are just as miraculous.

Respond Ask God to use you to change your world, to do his "mighty act" through you.

Psalm 69:32-36

Psalm 69

32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
  Let all who seek God's help be encouraged.
33 For the LORD hears the cries of the needy;
  he does not despise his imprisoned people.

34 Praise him, O heaven and earth,
  the seas and all that move in them.
35 For God will save Jerusalem*
  and rebuild the towns of Judah.
His people will live there
  and settle in their own land.
36 The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land,
  and those who love him will live there in safety.

Our Daily Bread For 05-28-13

READ: Romans 8:1-10

Those who live according to the Spirit, [live according to] the things of the Spirit. —Romans 8:5

I love baseball and have been a fan of the sport since I was a little kid. I especially enjoy following the Detroit Tigers. But during a recent season, the Tigers’ poor play and losing record early in the season frustrated me greatly. So for my own personal well-being, I took a break. I spent 4 days avoiding anything to do with my favorite team.

During those 4 Tiger-less days, I began to contemplate how difficult it is to give up things we’ve grown accustomed to. Yet there are times when God may want us to.

For instance, we may be involved in an activity that has become all-encompassing—and we know it would be best to limit it (see 1 Cor. 6:12). Or we may have a habit or practice that we know misses the mark of pleasing God, and we realize that we need to let it go because we love Him and want Him to be glorified through us (15:34).

When we do find things that interfere with our relationship with the Lord, with His help we can stop. God has given us the provision (1 Cor. 10:13), and the Spirit provides the power (Rom. 8:5).

Let’s ask Him to help us not let anything block His glory from shining through. —Dave Branon

You are perfect, Lord, and we are so far from
perfect. Please chip away at our imperfections
through the work of Your Holy Spirit. Help us
each day to grow more and more like You.

Drawing close to Christ produces a growing Christlikeness.

Worry Less

Matthew 6:25-34

According to the World Health Organization, Americans are more prone to anxiety than people in other nations. The study revealed that 31 percent of Americans suffer from this disorder at some point in their lifetime. The chief culprits that lead to this anxiety are money, work, and the pressure to achieve and succeed. According to the study, Americans’ anxiety is five times higher than that of people in Third World nations.

Long before the World Health Organization collected data and came to their conclusions, Jesus already knew that the human heart was prone to anxiety. So, on the sloping Galilean hillside, in the most powerful sermon ever heard, Jesus gave several reasons why it was irrational for His followers to live in submission to anxiety.

According to Jesus, worry is irrational because life is more than food and clothing (Matthew 6:25), God knows and meets His children’s needs (Matthew 6:26), worry doesn’t accomplish anything (Matthew 6:27), and worry is godless (Matthew 6:32). Jesus’ teaching combats the error that denies God’s care and love by supposing that we can establish our own bright future by temporarily securing our own life needs.

How can we begin to worry less? First, by asking God to search our hearts for any anxious thoughts (Psalm 139:23). Second, by casting all our cares upon God (Psalm 55:22; Philippians 4:6-7). Third, by trusting that our heavenly Father knows our needs and will care for us (Matthew 6:32); His steadfast love will uphold us, and His consolation will encourage our hearts (Psalm 94:18-19).

Finally, we should live God-centered and Spirit-empowered lives (Matthew 6:33; Romans 8:6). When we trust God in our season of worry, our lives will exhibit the blessing and hope that only He can provide (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

— Marvin Williams

Read Philippians 4:6-7 and see what we should do with our worry.

What causes you to get anxious? How can you begin to worry less and trust God more?

Devotional For Women

Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.

Luke 8:3, NLT

Fortunately, faith is no respecter of status or position. We, on the other hand, give fame and popularity entirely too much attention. Do the angels rejoice more when a celebrity repents than when an average person welcomes their Savior in spite of their average-ness? How could we imagine the angels celebrating in any way other than in a larger-than-life exultation? The Bible treats celebrities with wonderful indifference. It practices what it preaches: The humble are raised, while the proud are humbled. Those who expect their political or social status to carry weight in the kingdom of God find themselves treated lightly. Those who seek to be servants find themselves honored. In Luke 14:7-14, Jesus set his story-telling approach aside for a moment and gave a scathing lesson in kingdom manners. Those who assume the honored seat may find the chair removed when it's too late to keep from being humiliated. His lesson receives repeated biblical illustrations. Among the early followers of Jesus, Joanna could have ranked as a celebrity: she had access to Herod's house and might have been a person of some influence. Yet she chose a place of significance far from the palace. She and other women helped meet the needs of Jesus and his traveling band. Luke mentions her with restraint. But what an honor, after all, merely to be mentioned in the company of Jesus! And yet there is more. Joanna is referred to by name only twice in the New Testament. Luke mentions her here in her supporting role with other women. But later (Luke 24:10), she is among those who heard and saw firsthand that Jesus was risen from the dead! Her persistent servanthood was rewarded with honor. How could the basic intention of your life today best be summarized: a pursuit of service to God or self-service? Are you keeping company with those who will recognize you with celebrity status, or are you keeping company with those with whom you can serve Jesus Christ?

Spiritual Cleansing

Spiritual Cleansing

Leviticus 8:1-36

Read Then the LORD said to Moses, "Bring Aaron and his sons, along with their sacred garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of bread made without yeast, and call the entire community of Israel together at the entrance of the Tabernacle." So Moses followed the LORD's instructions, and the whole community assembled at the Tabernacle entrance. Moses announced to them, "This is what the LORD has commanded us to do!" Then he presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. He put the official tunic on Aaron and tied the sash around his waist. He dressed him in the robe, placed the ephod on him, and attached the ephod securely with its decorative sash. (Leviticus 8:1-7)

Reflect All the men from the tribe of Levi were dedicated for service to God, but only Aaron's descendants could serve as priests. They alone performed the sacrifices. These priests had to cleanse and dedicate themselves before they could help the people do the same. Leviticus 8 and 9 describes their ordination ceremony. Aaron and his sons were washed with water (Leviticus 8:6), clothed with special garments (Leviticus 8:7-9), and anointed with oil (Leviticus 8:12). They placed their hands on a young bull as it was killed (Leviticus 8:14) and on two rams as they were killed (Leviticus 8:18-19, 22). This ceremony showed that holiness came from God alone, not from the priestly role. Similarly, we are not spiritually cleansed because we have a religious position. Spiritual cleansing comes only from God. No matter how high our position or how long we have held it, we must depend on God for spiritual vitality. Why were priests needed in Israel? From the time of Adam's fall, sin has separated man from God, and people have needed mediators to help them find forgiveness. At first, the patriarchs—household leaders like Abraham and Job—were priests for their houses or clans and made sacrifices for their families. Later, when the Israelites left Egypt, God chose Aaron and his descendants to serve as priests for the nation. The priests stood in the gap between God and the people. They were the full-time spiritual leaders and overseers of offerings. The priestly system was a concession to people's inability, because of sin, to relate to God individually and corporately.

Respond In Exodus 19:6, God called the Israelites to be a kingdom of priests; ideally they would all be holy and relate to God on behalf of the whole world. But sin continued to wreck this plan. When Christ came, this priestly system was transformed. Jesus Christ himself became our High Priest. Now all believers can approach God through him. Now, "you are royal priests, a holy nation. . . . As a result, you can show others the goodness of God" (1 Peter 2:9).

John 15:13-27

John 15

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command.15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.16 You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.17 This is my command: Love each other.

The World's Hatred
18 "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.20 Do you remember what I told you? 'A slave is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father.24 If I hadn't done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father.25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures*: 'They hated me without cause.'
  26 "But I will send you the Advocate*—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.

Our Daily Bread 05-27-13

READ: Romans 5:1-11

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. —John 15:13

Eric was one of the good guys. As a police officer, he saw his work as service to his community and was fully committed to serving at all costs. Evidence of this desire was seen on the door of Eric’s locker at the police station, where he posted John 15:13.

In that verse, our Lord said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Those words, however, were not merely noble ideals. They expressed Eric’s commitment to his duty as a police officer—a commitment that demanded the ultimate price when he was killed in the line of duty. It was a real-life display of the heart of true sacrifice.

Jesus Christ lived out the powerful words of John 15:13 within hours of stating them. The upper room event where Jesus spoke of such sacrifice was followed by communion with the Father at Gethsemane, a series of illegal trials, and then crucifixion before a mocking crowd.

As the Son of God, Jesus could have avoided the suffering, torture, and cruelty. He was utterly without sin and did not deserve to die. But love, the fuel that drives true sacrifice, drove Him to the cross. As a result, we can be forgiven if we will accept His sacrifice and resurrection by faith. Have you trusted the One who laid down His life for you? —Bill Crowder

’Twas not a martyr’s death He died,
The Christ of Calvary;
It was a willing sacrifice
He made for you—for me. —Adams

Only Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, can declare guilty people perfect.

Make The Time

Psalm 84:1-4

Are you busy? We can easily become overwhelmed with all the responsibilities that loom over us on any given day. We have calendar apps, appointment reminders, and handy lists to keep us organized. I enjoy finding new ways to use my time wisely and stay on task, but I have to be careful not to put my trust in my plans over the One who holds the plan. More importantly, I need to understand that while life often “just happens,” I must approach it with intentionality.

We’ve all experienced times when our schedule took on a life of its own—we were simply along for the ride. But even amid the things over which we have no control, we can be guilty of trying to tackle our schedules without God’s strength and guidance. Flitting about, we ask Him to bless our efforts, safeguard our investments, and take note of all we are doing. But in it all, we should stop and ask the question: Where is God in all of this?

God didn’t choose David to handle the heavy responsibilities of a kingdom because He saw his leadership skills in action, knew he could multitask, or because he had achieved numerous awards for his community service. Long before he sat on the throne, David positioned his life in worship and meditation before his Creator.

David’s declaration of longing for the courts of the Lord wasn’t about a building. It had everything to do with David’s desire to spend time with the Lord (Psalm 84:1-2). He delighted to be in God’s presence and to worship Him while he was there (Psalm 27:4, Psalm 122:1).

Life will not stop to clear the path for us to build a relationship with Jesus. We must make the time to “to live in [His] house, always singing [His] praises” (Psalm 84:4).

— Regina Franklin

Read Luke 10:38-42 and consider what distracts you from spending time with the Lord. What’s the difference between “doing for” and “being with” the Lord?

How often do you spend time with the Lord? Why must our “time with Him” be more than a list of things we accomplish for Him?

Prayer: Mind Your Own Business

Prayer: Mind Your Own Business
Scott Lyons
5/26/2013
The third parable on prayer that Jesus gives us is of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). Most of us are familiar with the story: a Pharisee and a tax collector pray in the Temple. The Pharisee thanks God that he is not a sinner like everyone else, especially not like the tax collector. The tax collector stands far off, not daring even to look to heaven, and beats his chest in sorrow, saying, "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner" (NLT). It is the tax collector who goes home justified. The parable is about being justified before God, being forgiven, and being shown mercy. It illustrates being reconciled to God and longing for him. It tells us that it is better to be sinful and humble than to be righteous and proud.

Some of us need a little sin in our lives. We are too good to be humble. We act shocked by the faults of others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. We condemn others easily and regularly, as if we are discussing the weather. All the time, we miss the fact that we are great sinners ourselves. What will it take for us to have our pride rattled, to open our eyes to the sin of our self-righteousness and to the utter hardness of our hearts?

These parables about mercy and forgiveness lie at the heart of our faith. This is what our faith is about. We often pass over these parables, reading them quickly and checking the "I asked God to forgive me" box or the "I asked Jesus into my heart" box. Then we move on. What do these parables have to do with us? We put on the robes of the Pharisee. We look at our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends and family, and we think to ourselves how desperately they need Jesus. (This is true, of course, but we need Jesus just as much.) We thank God that we are not like the divorcee, the pornographer, or the homeless man on the corner. We talk about how our niece is ruining her life and how our brother is making such poor choices. And we think about the good things we do, clinging to them. We read this parable and, like the Pharisee, ask nothing of God, thinking we need nothing from him that we have not already been given. Failing to understand our need, we exalt ourselves before God.

Our lists are different from the Pharisee's, perhaps. We speak about having invited Jesus into our hearts, about going to church whenever the doors are open, about tithing 12 percent, and about singing in the choir. Maybe we lead Bible studies. We carry our Bibles to church and have never cheated on our spouses. But what does God desire when we come before him? "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner." This cry does not misunderstand God's mercy and forgiveness (as in, "Why are you praying that again? Don't you trust that God forgave you already?") but rather rightly understands our position before him. It is humility that cries out for God and wants God to always be near. Like a deer panting for water (Psalm 42:1), it is desperate for God. It does not go away after we first encounter Christ. It does not diminish after we have confessed our sins. As we progress in holiness—in our love for God and others—we grow in our understanding of our unworthiness, our littleness, our humility. We understand this not only in light of God's majesty but also in his presence in our neighbors. We serve him when we wash our neighbors' feet. We honor him as we put ourselves at others' disposal.

Jesus says, "Do not judge others" (Matthew 7:1, NLT). Paul writes to the Thessalonians that we ought to mind our own business (1 Thessalonians 4:11). These verses are often thrown out against us when we speak into our culture, so we rankle at them at times. Yet these Scriptures are some of the most important for us. You see, we should not concern ourselves with the sins of others, judging them. We should be concerned with our sins, judging them while excusing our neighbors’. Love covers a multitude of sins. It does not see them. It covers them so that God might cover mine. My neighbor's sin is not an occasion for gossip but an occasion to pray for God to have mercy on me. Likewise, the phrase "mind your own business" seems snooty to us. But its meaning is apposite to us as Christians: Concern yourself with your own business rather than with the business of your neighbor. This doesn't mean that we should cease to be evangelical or that we should think it's okay that people sin. It means, quite simply, that you are a sinner, and your neighbor's sin is not conversation fodder.

Humbly cry out for mercy as you show mercy. Lord knows, brothers and sisters, that it is the only way you are given to receive it.

Special Offerings

Special Offerings

Leviticus 7:28-38

Read Then the LORD said to Moses, "Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you present a peace offering to the LORD, bring part of it as a gift to the LORD. Present it to the LORD with your own hands as a special gift to the LORD. Bring the fat of the animal, together with the breast, and lift up the breast as a special offering to the LORD. Then the priest will burn the fat on the altar, but the breast will belong to Aaron and his descendants. Give the right thigh of your peace offering to the priest as a gift. The right thigh must always be given to the priest who offers the blood and the fat of the peace offering. For I have reserved the breast of the special offering and the right thigh of the sacred offering for the priests. It is the permanent right of Aaron and his descendants to share in the peace offerings brought by the people of Israel. This is their rightful share. The special gifts presented to the LORD have been reserved for Aaron and his descendants from the time they were set apart to serve the LORD as priests. On the day they were anointed, the LORD commanded the Israelites to give these portions to the priests as their permanent share from generation to generation." (Leviticus 7:28-36)

Reflect God told the people of Israel to bring their fellowship offerings personally, with their own hands. They were to take time and effort to express thanks to God. The part of the offering that the priests presented before the Lord was theirs to keep. These offerings helped feed the priests, who cared for God's house. In a similar way, the New Testament teaches that ministers should be supported by the sacrifices of people they serve (1 Corinthians 9:14). We should give generously to those who minister to us. God gave his people many rituals and instructions to follow. All the rituals in Leviticus were meant to teach the people valuable lessons. But over time, the people became indifferent to the meanings of these rituals and they began to lose touch with God. When your church appears to be conducting dry, meaningless rituals, try rediscovering the original meaning and purpose behind them.

Respond Take time to think about the rituals you have and what they mean for your relationships with God and others. Look for opportunities to express thanks both to God and to others who have helped and blessed you. Perhaps it's a new ritual that you could begin.

1 Corinthians 13:7-13

1 Corinthians 13

7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
  8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages* and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.
  11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.* All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
  13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.