Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Make the Signs Obvious

I was going door-to-door, telling people about Jesus in a community in Florida. Every home I stopped at had a little metal plaque nailed to the doorframe. It had Hebrew letters on it. Those little signs made it obvious that Jewish people lived in that home, and they had read the words of today’s reading from the Bible, “Write these words of mine on the doorframes of your houses.” Many Jewish people take these words quite literally. They nail God’s Word to the doorframes of their houses.

But it is clear from the Bible that God doesn’t want his people to simply nail his Word to the frames around the doors of our houses. He wants us to have his Word in our hearts and minds. He wants us to be talking about them all the time, at home or away, at night or by day. And he definitely wants us to be teaching them to our children.

Why are these words so important? Because in his Word, he gives us the words and promises about Jesus, our Savior. Jesus is the way to heaven. Knowing that through him, we have forgiveness and eternal life is the most comforting truth imaginable. No wonder our gracious God wants us to keep his Word close to us!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, may your Word always fill my mind and heart. Amen.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27

Built on the Rock

When we bought our house, we thought that the yard looked pretty good. We liked how the water drained on the property, and we were impressed by the landscaping. But one of our new neighbors scared us. “Check the foundation of your house for cracks,” he said. “We saw the builder bring in a lot of fill dirt before he built, and we have always worried about your new home’s stability.”

We checked the foundation. No cracks. We have lived in the home for ten years. So far, so good.

How about your house? Is it built on rocks or sand? How about your life? How stable is your foundation?

Jesus said that you need a solid foundation to withstand the storms of this life. If your foundation is built on sand, your life will come crashing down during stormy times. If your foundation is built on rock, you’ll be able to withstand life’s storms.

How do you build your life’s foundation on rock? Jesus is very clear about that. He tells you, “Hear these words of mine! Put them into practice!” The words of Jesus are what he says in the Bible. Those words include, “I am your Savior. You aren’t good enough on your own to get to heaven. But I was good enough to get you to heaven.” Trust Jesus. No foundation can be more solid than that, both for life right now and for eternal life in heaven.

Prayer:
Jesus, keep me firmly grounded, trusting your words for life now and forever. Amen.

The God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11

To the Anxious

Scott Stossel is a highly respected journalist. He is a graduate of Harvard. His abilities and work ethic have brought him to the point where he now serves as editor of The Atlantic magazine. Those who work with him have often observed how he is able to display a calm demeanor, especially in times of crisis.

It came as quite a shock to many of his colleagues, therefore, when Stossel wrote a book entitled, My Age of Anxiety. In his book, Stossel confesses that extreme anxiety often grips him. He writes, “On ordinary days, doing ordinary things—reading a book, lying in bed, talking on the phone, sitting in a meeting, playing tennis—I have thousands of times been stricken by a pervasive sense of…dread.”

After the book’s release, it became clear that Stossel was not alone. My Age of Anxiety spent weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Its popularity only confirmed what others were saying. Psychology Today has called anxiety “one of our modern plagues.” A recent report estimates that some 40 million adult Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, with almost 7 million suffering a level of anxiety characterized by “persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worry about everyday things.”

For many of us, this is not news. For many of you, severe anxiety—anxiety over past regrets, present problems, future outcomes—threatens to grip you every day.

What to do with such worry? What to do with such dread and so much fear?

First of all, confess to the Lord. Confess to the Lord that severe anxiety is a temptation into which you can often fall. Remember that Jesus died for your every sin—including your sins of worry. Take a deep breath. Bask in his forgiveness.

Then, rest on his promises. “The God of…peace will be with you,” Paul wrote. In Psalm 139, David reminds us that our God of peace is in front of us, behind us, around us. His right hand “holds [us] fast.”

When anxious thoughts trouble you deeply, look intently to your Savior God, who is your peace permanently.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, so often I give in to anxiety. Forgive me. Wash me in your blood. Surround me in your peace. Empower me to trust in you, my Savior. Amen.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them.
Genesis 1:27

Created by God

What a blessing it is to be created by God! And how humbling it is to realize how far short we have fallen from the perfect creatures he intended us to be. The Bible tells us we were created in God’s image and describes that image as perfect, holy, and righteous. And as we look in the mirror, we realize that no longer describes us.

When we look at the mirror of God’s commandments, perfection is not what stares back at us. When we consider what God wills for us to do, what do we find when we look at our lives? Sure, there are some outward signs of morality as we are kind to people, and we volunteer for things in our community. But underneath the surface, what do we see? Perhaps some hateful, unkind thoughts toward a sibling or coworker. Terrible language is thrown around as we work or mutter under our breath. Then there are the things that lurk in our hearts that we don’t like to acknowledge: greed, lust, selfishness, and anger. These things come out all too often in our words and actions as well. God’s image? Not so much.

That’s when we need to look to Jesus. In him, we find everything we are not: kindness, selflessness, generosity, contentment, a complete lack of pride and ego. Our Savior lived a perfect life in our place. He did everything that you and I have failed to do. He also avoided every sin and temptation that we fall into. Jesus is our perfect Savior and supplies everything that we lack.

And by the miracle of the cross, when God looks at us, he sees Jesus in our place. Through faith in him, Jesus’ righteousness is now our righteousness. His victory is our victory. Jesus has restored us and brought us back to God. He ensured that we will go to heaven, where we will live forever with that image of God fully restored!

Prayer:
Dear Savior, forgive me for all my sins. Thank you for living a perfect life in my place and earning salvation for me. Help me to know that in you, God sees me as righteous. Help me to live as his child today. Amen.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Genesis 1:31

Perfect

Can you even imagine what perfection looks like? We often speak of having the perfect wedding, the perfect gift, or the perfect vacation. But let’s be honest, we have no idea what perfection really looks like. Especially now. A virus continues to bring our world to its knees. Sin continues to turn people against each other, whether they are husband and wife, Democrat and Republican, boss and employee. All around our world is breaking down. Death and decay show up everywhere.

It wasn’t always like that. At the end of six days, as God looked around at the beautiful and wonderful creation he had made, he could only come to one conclusion: “Perfect!” There was no sin to be found. And with no sin, there were none of its effects—no disease or death. Creation was not breaking down. People were not at odds with each other. Everything was in perfect harmony.

What would God say now as he looks down and sees all of this? Certainly, none of us would expect him to proclaim: “And God saw that it was very good.” But there is good news. God wanted us to have that perfection we have lost through sin. God had a way to fix what was broken, and it was “perfect.”

That way to perfection is Jesus. He came to live a perfect life in our place and to die an innocent death for us. Through his life, death, and resurrection, you and I now have a way out of this sinful world and a way to get back to the perfect life of harmony with God in a place he has provided for us. The way to this perfect heaven is through faith in Jesus. Our Savior will guide us through life in this sinful world, and in the end, will take us home to heaven. And once there, we will all look around and say, “Perfect!”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the victory you have won for me. Help me to know and believe that in you, I have the answer to this sinful world. In you, I have eternal life in heaven. Give me patience and trust as I wait for the day when you will take me home. Amen!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14

God Is Always With You

It’s not easy getting up in the morning knowing that if you make the slightest mistake at work, your boss is going to jump down your throat in front of everybody. It’s not easy getting up in the morning wondering if today is the day your boyfriend is going to leave you because he’s fallen in love with someone else. It’s not easy getting up in the morning, dreading another lonely day. (Looks like it’s going to be another Lean Cuisine in front of the TV tonight.) It’s not easy getting up in the morning fearing your medical test results, your ADHD son’s future, or whether or not you’ll have enough money for this month’s groceries, gas, and mortgage.

It may not be easy to get up in the morning, but God gives you every reason to get up. Your boss may point out your every failure, but Jesus gives you his grace and forgives your every sin. Your significant other may dump you but God the Father promises his eternal love. You might not feel like you have any real friends, but the Holy Spirit gives you his fellowship and friendship 24/7. You may have numerous fears regarding your health, family, and finances, but God blesses you with a peace that is beyond all understanding. In our Scripture verse today, the Apostle Paul reminds you that you are truly blessed. Here it is again: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.”

Blessed with the grace, love, and fellowship of God, you can get up every morning knowing that God is always with you.

Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for assuring me of your continual presence in my life. No matter what the circumstances, I can count on your grace, love, and fellowship. Amen.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42

Devoted to the Word

The members of the Jerusalem church had heard the apostle Peter proclaim the good news that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had crucified, was the promised Messiah and their Savior. Through God’s Word, they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, who convicted them of their sin and convinced them of their Savior. Their sins were forgiven. Heaven was their home. Their hearts were filled with joy.

We are told, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” The Word of God was their delight. It was the one thing they needed. It was more precious to them “than thousands of pieces of silver and gold” (Psalm 119:72). It was their dearest treasure. Therefore, they not only held it in the highest regard, but they also put it into practice. They lived in the joy of the gospel. In their worship, fellowship, witnessing, praying, love, sharing, and offerings, they thanked God for the blessing of his Word.

God’s Word has not changed. It is still the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. The way of salvation has not changed. Jesus Christ is the only Savior this world will ever have. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Scripture continues to be the only true source for direction in this life and hope for eternity. Where repentant, blood-bought souls gather around the Word of God, regard it as holy, and gladly hear and learn it–there the power of the Holy Spirit will be present to lead us into all truth and the joy of the gospel.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to be devoted to the hearing of your Word, to fellowship with your people, and to prayer that is pleasing in your ears. Amen.

“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. . . . Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Acts 2:32,36

Christ Lives to Reign

King Cyrus of Persia, King David of Judah, Caesar Augustus of Rome—these are three of the countless people who have ruled over the centuries. Some kings and kingdoms lasted for generations; some were short-lived. As different as they were from each other, they all had one thing in common—they did not last.

How uncertain life would be if all we had to lean on were these passing kings and kingdoms? Our immortal souls need something more. How eagerly, then, we listen to the words of the apostle Peter! He tells us of a far greater King. This King is the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter tells us of a far greater kingdom. Jesus’ kingdom will last for eternity.

It didn’t always seem this way, though. Jesus’ enemies plotted for years to kill Jesus. Finally, they carried out their plans and crucified him. Above his bloody head hung the inscription: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37).

Yet Jesus was different. Years before he died, he said, “Destroy this temple [this body of mine], and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). On Easter Sunday, he did just that. His disciples ran to an empty grave. He had risen. He was still King, and his kingdom was still intact.

Today let Peter’s words give you strength. Be assured of this: your King lives to reign. He the Lord of your heart. He is your eternal source of forgiveness and hope.

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for reminding me today that you are my king and are ruling all things. Use this truth to comfort and calm me. Amen.

“How is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?”
Acts 2:8

A Different Language

Learning a foreign language is a long process and hard work. If you have ever tried it, you know. But a long time ago, on the day of Pentecost, a miraculous thing happened. The Holy Spirit’s power came upon the Apostles, giving them the ability to speak fluently and instantly in languages they had never learned. Amazing!

There was another time in the Bible that languages played a prominent role. People plotted to defy God’s plan to have them spread out over the whole earth and populate it. They began to build a great tower as a symbol of their power and as a rallying point to hold them together. But for their own good, the Lord interrupted their efforts, confused their languages, and put an end to their defiance. (See Genesis 11:1-9.)

Contrast that with what happened on Pentecost. This time languages did not play a role in God’s anger over a defiant people, but rather in his merciful love for all. People from at least 15 different countries all heard the wonders of God in their own native languages. Instead of using language to separate these people, God endowed his disciples with a gift that drew the people together.

Pentecost demonstrated that “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Despite all their differences, these 15 groups of people were very similar—they were all sinners. In languages they could understand, God communicated to them the good news that their sins were paid for by Jesus’ death.

Perhaps we will meet someone today who speaks a different language. If so, our first reaction might be: How different this person is from us. Remembering Pentecost, however, let us think this way: How similar this person is to us—someone who needs Jesus and someone for whom the Lord Jesus lived, died, and rose again.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for demonstrating your mercy and power on the day of Pentecost. Give me a heart that sees every person’s need to know about your mercy and your power. Amen.

[Jesus said] “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”
John 17:4

Give Glory to God

When our favorite team enjoys success, isn’t it great how we get to share in that glory, even though we didn’t earn or deserve it? “Hey, Mike, your Brewers are really having a great season. You guys are playing some great ball. Way to go!” We are eager to return that undeserved and unearned glory to our team by cheering for them and telling others about their victories and successes.

Our God is glorious and awesome! He is the Creator and Preserver of the universe. Most glorious of all, he is the Savior of all mankind. There is nobody like him.

He has graciously allowed us to share in the glory of his love by bringing us to trust and rely in him, even though at one time, we were dead in our sins and unbelief. We didn’t earn his love and surely didn’t deserve it. Amazing grace!

Jesus gave glory to his heavenly Father by his death on the cross. Jesus’ death, while bearing the sins of the world, has reconciled God and sinners together. The doors to heaven and eternal life are open for all. That means they are open for you, too!

Strive to give God glory every day as you live for him and seek to do his will for your life. As the Bible says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing glory to the Father by dying for my sins. Thank you also for leading me to trust in you. Help me to glorify your name by all that I say and do. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17,18

An Eternal Perspective

Imagine a regular day. If you are awake for 17 hours of that day, that means you have a little over a thousand minutes awake. Imagine for one minute of that day, something bad happened. Your car wouldn’t start. You got into a fight with a friend. You felt pain in part of your body. Then after that minute, nothing bad happened. In fact, for every minute of the rest of that day, only great things happened. You were able to eat all your favorite foods. You spent your time with people you love. Everything worked the way it was supposed to.

At the end of this day, how would you describe it? When you thought back, what would you focus on? Would you think about that single bad minute? Probably not. Instead, you probably couldn’t stop talking about the other thousand minutes and all the great things that happened. In fact, maybe even that single bad minute wouldn’t seem so bad in light of everything else.

So far, 2020 doesn’t seem to be a great year for a lot of us. There may be some real problems you are working through and some sadness that you feel. God wants you to find hope in the certainty that these troubles are only momentary. He wants you to give it an eternal perspective. The temporary troubles of 2020 cannot compare with the never-ending years of perfect joy every follower of Jesus will experience in heaven.

Your troubles are real, but God reminds you that from a perspective of eternity, they are light and momentary. Your time with Jesus will be perfect and forever. Fix your eyes on that eternity.

Prayer:
Eternal God, help me to focus not on my earthly troubles but on the eternity I will have with you. Amen.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:12,13

No Surprise

Many things can surprise us in this life. An unexpected home or car repair bill may surprise us. The underdog coming back to win the game may surprise us. A phone call or message from a friend we have not spoken to in a very long time may surprise us.

One thing that should never surprise us, though, is that Christians will suffer in this life.

Many people don’t understand this. They think that Christians shouldn’t suffer if God is watching out for them. But, the Bible makes it clear that Christians will indeed suffer in this life.

Christians suffer because they participate with Christ. They belong to him and want to be like him. They follow where he goes and where Christ went, he found suffering. He was ridiculed, ostracized, tortured, and even killed.

However, this isn’t where Christ’s story ends. He rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and is with God the Father in perfection forever. And he promises the same to every one of his followers. So, just as Christians should not be surprised that they sometimes suffer in this life just as Christ suffered in this life, Christians shouldn’t be surprised that they will one day be glorified just as Christ’s glory will one day be revealed.

Do not be surprised when suffering comes your way, dear Christian. Take comfort and look forward to the day when you will experience the glory that will be yours through your Savior.

Prayer:
Holy Father, while I know suffering will come in this life, help me to see it as a participation in the life of Christ. Amen

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty).
Acts 1:15

God is on Your Side

On the day of his ascension into heaven, Jesus told the disciples they would be witnesses concerning him, and they were to do so in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

We learn from today’s Bible verse that right after Jesus’ ascension, the number of believers was 120. Wow! It sounds like an impossible task for the gospel to go so far with such a small group!

And yet, who is our God? Our God is the almighty One, the Maker of heaven and earth! Our God is the One who rules the winds and waves! Our God is the God who parted the Red Sea, who turned water into wine, who fed thousands with just a few loaves and fish. That’s who our God is!

How often we forget that, doubt that, or fail to appreciate that. We find ourselves fretting and worrying, getting stressed and anxious. Why so? Have we forgotten that our God is all-powerful? And even more importantly, have we forgotten that our God loves us?

Remember that the same powerful God who could do all those amazing things loved us enough to go to the cross and win forgiveness for us. Jesus, the true God, died for you! You’re forgiven! You’re loved! Loved and forgiven, by the all-powerful Ruler of all things!

And now it’s that all-powerful God, the God who can accomplish the impossible, who’s on your side.

And by the way, what did those 120 believers accomplish? Well, by the end of their lives, the Word had permeated Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and had been taken to Asia Minor, North Africa, and Europe. Was it impossible? Not with God on their side!

Prayer:
O Almighty God, remind me that you are the all-powerful One. Use your power in the way that’s best for me and all people. In Jesus’ saving name, I pray. Amen.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:10,11

One More Sight

The question seems ridiculous, doesn’t it? “Why are we standing here staring up into the sky? Are you kidding? Did you not see what we just saw? Of course, we’re going to be staring into the sky, because that was amazing!”

But then came the exciting announcement. “He’s coming back, you know. And he’s coming back in the same way you saw him go into heaven!”

And just how had they seen him go into heaven?

He had gone up as the powerful one, the one who could simply cause himself to lift off the earth and go up into the sky.

He had gone up with his hands raised in blessing. They could be sure that when he returned, he would not come in terror but to bless his people.

He had gone up showing them his nail-scarred hands, reminding them that their sins were forgiven. They could be sure that when he returned, those same nail-scarred hands would welcome them home to heaven.

The ascension was the last sight that Jesus’ disciples got of him. And in a way, it’s the last time we “see” him, too.

And maybe there’s one more reason that Jesus left us with this sight of him; so that we would hunger for his return! For us believers, Jesus’ return will be wonderful! Oh yes, he’s coming back powerfully, those hands are going to be up, blessing us! Because those hands bear the nail marks, the proof that you are forgiven, that your eternal home is in heaven. That’s what we will see!

Yeah, I guess I can kind of “get” why Jesus ascended the way he did. What a sight!

Wow! What a sight that will be!

Prayer:
O Savior, remind me of your ascension that I might eagerly await that day when you return to take me to heaven. Amen.

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, . . .
Acts 1:9

Power

I’ve tried and tried to illustrate Jesus’ rising up into the sky, but I can’t. No matter how hard I try to jump, I only get a couple of feet off the ground, and then I come hurtling directly back down. (Okay, I actually only get a few inches off the ground, but the result is the same; I very quickly end up back on the ground.)

To state the obvious, I can’t just cause myself to lift up off the ground and rise up into the sky. I can’t because I’m a mere mortal who doesn’t have the power to do that.

But Jesus could do that. And, Jesus did do that. And he did it in full view of his disciples. Can you imagine how their jaws must have dropped as they watched this take place? What power Jesus has!

And can you imagine how much that reminder would have helped them in the future? Oh so often, the disciples were going to face difficulty and trouble. Perhaps it often looked to them and others as if they were struggling, even “losing.” They were weak, sinful mortals, no different than you and me.

But not the Jesus whom they served. He could lift himself right off of the earth and go up into the sky! The Jesus they served was powerful. In fact, he was not only powerful but all-powerful. He’d shown them before, but he showed it to them yet again the last time they saw him.

And today he has once again “shown” that power to you.

Wow! What a sight!

Prayer:
O Savior, remind me that you are the all-powerful Savior, ruling all things for the good of your people, a people of whom I am a part! Amen.