Week of February 19 through February 25
Something to think about this week: Times when you had to swallow your pride for a greater purpose.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Jeremiah 29:8-14 – God’s Plan for Welfare and Hope.
Tue. – Colossians 1:13-20 – In Christ All Things Were Created.
Wed. – Philippians 1:3-11 – God Will Complete His Work.
Thu. – Romans 8:19-28 – God Works for Our Good.
Fri. – Proverbs 16:1-9 – God Plans Our Steps.
Sat. – Habakkuk 1:5-17 – God’s Consuming Judgment.
Sun. – Habakkuk 2:1-5 – Living by Faith.
My husband and I watch murder mysteries on TV. These shows are based on true accounts, some solved and some told as cold cases. As the TV stories unfold, the detectives always talk about motive. Why would the neighbor want to kill the deceased? What would be the motive for the husband to kill his wife?
Motive is very important, not only in solving murders, but in all of life. Why do we do what we do? Is it to bring honor to ourselves or our family? Is it to look good? Get wealthier? Or to humbly serve God, who has a purpose for each of us, if we choose to follow Him and not live for our own selfish purposes?
In this lesson we study Habakkuk, where God says, “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright” (Hab. 2:4). In the same verse God says, “But the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.”
In our competitive culture, it’s easy to want to do our best; and we should. Scripture tells us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Col. 3:23). It’s not sinful to want to be successful. It’s all about our motivation why do we do what we do? Is it for our glory? Or God’s?
“Lord, please forgive us when we make life about us and get haughty about our successes. Give us the strength to faithfully and humbly follow You. It’s all about You and Your glory, God. Amen.”
Lesson 13 – February 25 – Faith in God’s Purpose
Moving Away from Self-Focus
The essence of pride is to put ourselves and our interests first, above others and even above God. In effect, we make gods out of ourselves. Improving in this area of our lives involves learning to move the focus from ourselves to others.
A simple way we can start doing this is in our everyday conversations. Think about the last conversation you had. How much of it was about you, and how much was about the other person? Maybe to you it seemed 50/50. But were you really listening to what the other person was saying and following up with exploratory questions to help her express their thoughts and feelings more deeply? Or did you listen long enough to find something he said that related to your life, your thoughts, and feelings and then shift the subject to yourself?
Another example. When someone shares a problem with you, do you feel the need to solve it for that person? Why is that? Do you really want to help her; or do you want to find a quick solution, so you can get back to your own interests? If the help he needed was for you to listen, and only to listen, would you be willing to do that; or would you find it too frustrating?
In this week’s Scripture, Habakkuk listened until God told him what to say, then conveyed a message that was accurate and true, not only his own opinion. He didn’t use other people or God’s message as a way to make himself feel self-important. Can you and I say the same?
Pride is a problem that puts us at the center of attention, uses other people for our own needs, and pushes God off the throne of our lives. It is destructive not only to us, but to the church, as it deprives us of the opportunity to serve and minister to one another’s true needs. Worship, repentance, and intentionally putting others’ interests ahead of our own are some ways to combat pride and return to a more Christlike, humble state of mind.
We should take some time to consider what we might need to learn about humility and how to exercise humility at church and in daily, life, things such as confessing our sins regularly to remind us that we are all sinners.
Week of February 12 through February 18
Something to think about this week: A time in your life when you saw justice done.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Exodus 1:8-21 – Fear God, Not Pharaoh.
Tue. – Matthew 8:18-27 – Why Are You Afraid?
Wed. – John 14:1-11 – Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled.
Thu. – John 19:1-11 – Earthly and Heavenly Authority.
Fri. – 1 Peter 5 – God Cares for the Flock.
Sat. – Daniel 6:1-9 – A Law and a Trap.
Sun. – Daniel 6:10-11, 14, 16, 19-23, 26-27 – Delivered from the Lions.
Lesson 12 – February 18 – Faith in the Times of Trouble
Squeaky Clean
Today we share the account of Daniel and King Darius. Daniel was an exceptional worker for the king, so much so, that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. But there were nasty co-workers who were jealous and devised a plan to do away with him. They tried to find grounds for charges but could find no corruption in him. So, they attacked his faith in God and tricked the king into setting a trap for Daniel.
Does this sound familiar? This could be a scenario in any organization in today’s world. Diligent, responsible, hard-working people are often rewarded; and sometimes others are jealous and devise ways to make that employee look bad. There is indeed injustice in the world. But it doesn’t end in the workplace. There’s injustice everywhere: in society, in families, even in churches. Jesus said to his disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
We know who wins in The End. We’re on the winning team! We need to keep our focus on Christ, obey Him, and remain faithful like Daniel. We need to represent our Savior in all we do, even in times of injustice. He will give us the strength to do it. May others notice, as in Daniel’s story, and put their faith in our God.
Remember that God forgives us for past disobedience, and that every day is a new day to decide if we will walk in obedience toward Him, even when it may conflict with people we interact with. An act of obedience can be as simple as driving the speed limit even when a car behind is pressuring you to go faster. Rejoice in past examples of obedience and to use those as a springboard for greater acts of obedience.
Week of February 5 through February 11
Something to think about this week: When is disobedience to a government is warranted?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Week of February 5 through February 11
Mon. – Daniel 3:1-7 – Hear the Music and Bow Down.
Tues. – Daniel 3:8-18 – Defying an Immoral Command.
Wed. – John 10:24-38 – Works That Proclaim the Truth.
Thurs. – Acts 4:5-20 – When Faith Comes under Fire.
Fri. – Acts 5:17-29 – We Must Obey God Alone.
Sat. – Isaiah 43:1-7 – You Will Not Be Burned.
Sun. – Daniel 3:19-28a – Delivered from the Flames.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”: “One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws:”
Lesson 11 – February 11 – Faith in the Fiery Furnace
Faith in the Fiery Furnace
To get to know what something is, sometimes we must also determine what it’s not. Take faith, for instance. Faith is not trust in our belief. It isn’t something we can build up in such a great amount that we control how God decides and acts. Faith is not trust in a certain outcome. It isn’t counting on something to happen because we think it’s in God’s best interest to make it occur. Faith isn’t trust in our ability to discover God’s will. It isn’t knowing so much about God that we’re certain about the ways He’s going to operate. And faith is not trust in our prayers. It isn’t the belief that all our prayers will be answered in the way we’ve asked for them to be answered. These are fake ways of “exercising faith” that put us in control instead of God—which is why they’re not faith at all.
Faith is an expression of utmost confidence in God Himself—of trust in God alone. Edith Schaeffer wrote that “we must let God be God.” For that’s what true faith does. And that’s why the truest test of our faith is when God’s answer is no—when there’s no healing or deliverance, when we lose our job, when heaven remains silent to our lifelong prayers.
That was the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Theirs was a fireproof faith—a faith that had complete confidence in God’s power and was completely submissive to His will. “We know He can,” they said, “but we don’t know if He will.” Their faith was the same as Job’s, who said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15, KJV). In the end, God does not save them from the fire, but He does save them in the fire!
Whatever our trials may be, God is with us through it all.
Week of January 29 through February 4
Something to think about this week: The ways suffering somehow binds us together as people.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Ephesians 3:14-21 – Strengthened with Power through the Spirit.
Tues. – Psalm 89:1-13 – Sing of God’s Might.
Wed. – 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 – Rely on God.
Thurs. – Revelation 11:15-19 – God Reigns in Power.
Fri. – Romans 1:8-17 – The Power of God for Salvation.
Sat. – Ephesians 6:10-18 – Be Strong in the Lord.
Sun. – Isaiah 40:12-13, 25-31 – Wait on God. Who Gives Strength.
Lesson 10 – February 4 – Faith in the Power of God
‘Waiting’ on the Lord
Although the NIV translates the Hebrew word qavah in verse 31 as “hope,” many are more familiar with the KJV version: “wait.” Sadly, because of the more common English usages of “wait,” some think of “waiting on the Lord” as something passive—for God to do something only He can do, without any participation on our part. This idea, however, isn’t in line with the meaning of the original word.
The literal meaning of qavah is “to bind together,” which also carries the ideas of “hope,” “expect,” and “look for eagerly.” Consider another usage of the English word “wait”: When you’re at a restaurant, are the “waiters” or “waitresses” passive? No. They may be standing still; but they’re constantly attentive, looking for opportunities to serve, at just the right time. We should have such an attitude in our own “waiting”—not taking things into our own hands but expecting God to strengthen us for His use of us at any moment.
Isaiah chapter 40 ends with a promise of God’s renewing power. Isaiah again reminded the people that human strength no matter how impressive, will ultimately fail: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall” (vs. 30). However, those who placed their hope in God’s strength—those who “wait upon” Him, as the King James Version put it—would regain their own strength as well. Not only would such people survive, they would thrive: “They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (vs. 31). They would not only walk but would soar like eagles, and their strength would be as constant as that of God Himself.
Sometimes, our world can seem quite bleak. When we put our trust in anything that isn’t God—whether that be the government, a political party, celebrities, etc.—we will be disappointed. But Isaiah teaches us that God has the power to restore any situation and brings us light in the darkness. When we put our hope in Him, it will always be renewed.
Week of January 22 through January 28
Something to think about this week: Which parts of your body you need the most and which you could lose with no problems.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Ezekiel 11:17-21 – A New Spirit and Heart.
Tues. – John 9:17-25 – A Transforming Testimony.
Wed. – Leviticus 20:22-26 – Be Holy, for God Is Holy.
Thurs. – Psalm 51:1-15 – A Prayer for Transformation.
Fri. – Ezekiel 37:1-14 – God Breathes New Life.
Sat. – 1 John 3:14-24 – From Death to Life.
Sun. – Romans 12:3-8 – God Gives Different Gifts.
My friend started selling his own body parts to make money
First it was just one of his fingers to pay some bills off. When he realized how much he could make he sold even more body parts. There he was in his mansion, rich enough to afford not to work, he asked me what I thought about him selling even more body parts.
I told him, I think you should quit while you’re a head.
Lesson 09 – January 28 – Faith and Transformation
Every Christian is called to give, but some are gifted with the opportunity to give more resources than others. Yet verse 8 makes it clear that it is not the ability to give that ultimately matters, but the heart behind one’s giving. A good steward of the ability to give does so sacrificially and without fanfare.
Leaders are given a special charge, as well. Those gifted with leadership opportunities are called to be active in their roles, making decisions and setting examples with energy and enthusiasm. Faithful leaders see a vision through.
The final gift in this list is mercy, which involves the ability to help those in distress or in need. Showing mercy to others as they experience difficult things can sometimes be awkward, stressful, and time-consuming. Paul notes that faithful stewards go beyond simply gritting their teeth as they stoically offer help. Rather, they continue to provide help with a Christ-honoring joy, sustained by the truth that each one of us has received abundant mercy from the Lord.
Throughout this list, we can find a call to action no matter what our spiritual giftings may be. We are all parts of a living body, and living bodies move. Only dead ones lie still.
Spiritual Gifts for the Body
God’s Word declares that the Holy Spirit has given us each a gift(s) to be used for the good of the Body of Christ: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. . . .Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:4, 7). Our gifts are not for our own purpose, but for God’s work to be completed through us.
Week of January 15 through January 21
Something to think about this week: Your greatest fear about tomorrow in the areas of health or family.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 – Praise the God Who Comforts.
Tues. – Psalm 34:1-10 – God Delivers Me from My Fears.
Wed. – Psalm 34:11-22 – God’s Eyes Are on the Righteous.
Thurs. – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-15 – Encourage One Another.
Fri. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28 – Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks.
Sat. – 2 Chronicles 20:5-12 – Remember God’s Power and Might.
Sun. – 2 Chronicles 20:13-20 – Do Not Be Dismayed.
This world provides many opportunities for fear. We worry about our families, our parents, our spouse or our lack of a spouse, our jobs, our finances, our physical health, our death or the death of a loved one, and the future. That doesn’t even touch on political fear and the state of our nation and world. We may worry about climate change; or whether Alexa is spying on us; or if there will be Social Security money left when we retire.
There are many things that cause us fear. Yet, Scripture tells us again and again that we should be strong and courageous and fear not! The antidote for fear and worry is right there in God’s Word, but it seems we have a hard time applying it.
The familiar hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” says, “0 what peace we often forfeit, 0 what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” We often don’t have peace because we’re fearing what might happen or what might not happen.
We need to give our fears to God, lay them at His feet, and trust Him. We don’t need to fear tomorrow God is already there. He will give us peace if we trust. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Remind yourself often that God is always with you, strengthening you and giving you wisdom and peace, one day at a time.
Lesson 08 – January 21 – Faith and Encouragement
God Responds to the Faith of the Nation of Judah
When the people first gathered before the temple of God, they didn’t know how God would respond. Nevertheless, the people of Judah knew that their only hope was found in God alone. So, the reader can imagine how pleasantly surprised Judah was when God responded favorably. As soon as the people heard the voice of the Lord, their faith was shown in two further responses: worship and obedience.
First, their worship is demonstrated in the fact that “Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground” (vs. 18). All of Judah followed Jehoshaphat’s worshipful prostration as they also fell down in worship. All of Judah was in such awe and wonder that God would deliver them from such a dire and hopeless situation. Further, two clans of the Levites from Kohath and Korah led the people in praise and sang “with a very loud voice” (vs. 19).
Second, Judah was obedient to do exactly what God had commanded them to do. Consider how desperate the people of Judah were when they heard a great army was coming against them. Judah knew that they had no chance to fight a battle against this army in their own power. Their only hope was to put their faith in God. After God promised to fight their battle, Judah’s faith led them to obedience, for the next day they obeyed God’s command to go and “early in the morning they left” (vs. 20).
In earthly terms, Judah was on a death march that morning, heading toward a great army that was much more powerful than their own. Yet, Judah had faith in God, inspired by King Jehoshaphat, who cried out, “Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful” (vs. 20). It was the people’s faith in God that ultimately allowed them to triumph over their enemies.
In the battle itself, Judah took no part. All they did was sing praises to the Lord (vs. 21). God defeated the army by turning the Moabites and Ammonites on themselves and causing them to destroy one another (vs. 23). When the army of Judah arrived to fight, they found “only dead bodies lying on the ground” (vs. 24).
God did everything. The people of Judah didn’t even have to lift a sword.
No Fear
The phrase “Do not be afraid” or “Do not fear” appears in the Bible approximately 365 times. It could be said that there is one Scripture per day to remind us not to be afraid or fearful. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we are told that God did not give us a spirit of “fear.” Therefore, God desires us to trust Him, instead of being afraid/fearful.
Week of January 8 through January 14
Something to think about this week: A time when you followed God’s wisdom and were glad that you did.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Psalm 119:97-112 – God’s Word Lights My Path.
Tues. – Matthew 11:25-30 – Rest to the Weary.
Wed. – Psalm 56 – I Put My Trust in God.
Thurs. – Hebrews 13:5-16 – Trust in the Unchanging Lord.
Fri. – John 14:18-27 – I Will Not Leave You Orphaned.
Sat. – 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 – God’s Surpassing Wisdom.
Sun. – Proverbs 3:1-12 – Trust in the Lord.
You see it on wall hangings. You see it on stickers. You see it underlined and highlighted in millions of Bibles around the world. It was my best friend’s late husband’s “life verse.” It’s the favorite Bible passage of many, many people. It’s Proverbs 3:5-6, and it says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
It doesn’t get any clearer than that. The writer of Proverbs is telling us to simply trust God and do things His way. Why is that so hard?
It’s because of that sin nature we have—we want to do things our way, as if we know better than God. But Proverbs 14:12 reminds us, “There is a way which seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death” (NASB).
The bottom line is, He knows everything. He knows the past, present, and future and has purposes that we could never comprehend. We must simply love Him, trust Him, and obey Him. He’s promised to love us, always be with us, and give us strength, wisdom, and power.
We couldn’t be in better hands!
Lesson 08 – January 14 – Faith and Trust
God’s Ways and Thoughts Are Higher
It is difficult for educated people who have spent thousands of dollars on their education to not trust in only their own intelligence. Their confidence has been placed in their education and higher learning. It is also difficult for adults to surrender their rational and decision-making skills to another. Trusting God may be difficult, but we must remember who God is and His supreme intelligence: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’ ” (Isa. 55:8-9).
God wants our lives to be easy and light. God wants us to have full confidence in His wisdom. This wisdom is not to control us but to show us a more excellent way. To provide an easier and lighter pathway. God loves us and only wants what will bring us the best. This is all an act of love. This is an everyday process for every decision.
Week of January 1 through January 7
Something to think about this week: Consider what faith is and how to describe it.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Isaiah 33:15-22 – The Heavenly King Rewards the Righteous.
Tues. – Psalm 106:1-12 – Promises and Praises for Righteousness.
Wed. – Hebrews 11:20-29 – The Faith of Israel’s Ancestors.
Thurs. – Hebrews 11:32-40 – The Victory of Faith.
Fri. – Psalm 106:13, 26-27, 42-48 – Despite Sin, God’s Covenant Prevails.
Sat. – Romans 5:12-21 – Righteousness through Jesus Christ.
Sun. – Hebrews 11:1-4a, 7a, 8, 17-18, 20-23, 32, 39-40 – Assurance and Conviction through Faith.
Lesson 06 – January 7 – Faith and Righteousness
We tend to think all the incredible things happened a long time ago. We read in the Bible about people who accomplished amazing feats of faith and start to think that our faith must be weak. But is it really? The people then had astounding successes but also some great failures. They had ups and downs just like us; they had faith like we have.
Some lived fantastic lives of faith with fabulous stories of God’s direct intervention to go along with them. But we too experience similar victories when we step out in faith. It’s just that our victories are directly related to the specific role God has given us to play. In the end, our victories and theirs will both show the depth of our faith.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6, KJV). If you want to please God, you must have faith. You must believe in who He is and that He is a rewarder of those who search for Him. God loves a plan that takes faith, the plan that stretches your mind because it cannot be done without faith.
Hebrews 10 closes with the truth that the just, righteous person will live by faith (vs. 38a). God does not take pleasure in those who faithlessly withdraw from Him; but, thankfully, He will save the souls of all who come to Him in saving faith (vss. 38b-39). As our lesson’s Scripture verses in chapter 11 remind us, faith in the Lord is so important first and foremost for salvation from sin, but also for living in a manner that pleases Him.
Furthermore, it is not only faith in general that pleases God; rather, it must be faith that is placed directly in Him. People put their faith in many things, whether it is government, science, money, possessions, relationships, good works, etc.; but only faith in the God of the Bible and the work of His Son on the Cross can save sinners and provide what it takes to please our Lord.
Week of December 25 through December 31
Something to think about this week: Devices that give us directions.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Matthew 1:18-25 – Christ the Savior Is Born.
Tues. – Luke 1:46-55 – Mary’s Exultant Faith.
Wed. – Deuteronomy 18:9-14 – Reject Abhorrent Imitations of Faith.
Thurs. – Matthew 28:16-20 – Make Disciples in Faith.
Fri. – Isaiah 49:1-6 – God’s Salvation for All the Earth.
Sat. – Isaiah 60:1-6 – Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come.
Sun. – Matthew 2:1-12 – Worship the King of the Jews.
Spiritual GPS
It was a long journey—not an easy trip. But they had laser focus. The long-awaited Messiah had been born—and they must find Him and worship Him! The faith of the Magi was evident from the very beginning of. their journey. They saw His “star” and knew a king had been born, so they came to worship this baby.
When the star stopped, it had led them to this precious baby. They worshiped Him and presented gifts to Him as part of their worship. Then, they listened to God when they were warned in a dream to avoid Herod and return to their country in a different way.
They followed God every step of the way, and we must do the same. We are so blessed to have in our hands the Word of God that makes salvation through Christ, the Messiah, crystal clear. We are given the Holy Spirit the moment we put our trust in Christ as Savior. We are enabled, by God, to follow His call and journey in faith, literally, every step of our journey on this earth.
Lesson 05 – December 31 – The Faith of the Wise Men
Our Spiritual Journey
God’s calling isn’t for a select few; God’s calling is to everyone. Nor is God’s calling only at special times in a person’s life; God’s calling occurs throughout our lives. Of course, there are special callings that are momentous for an event or a person, but they are not the only times when God calls us to seek Jesus. Nor is God’s calling necessarily a miraculous occurrence like Moses at the burning bush or Paul on the road to Damascus. Often God’s voice is as peaceful as when He spoke to Elijah through a calm breeze.
Whatever or however is God’s call to us, if we are followers of Jesus, we need to draw closer to our Lord; and if we are not, we need to go to Him and receive Him as our Savior. Like the Magi, our purpose is to find Him, follow Him, and worship Him. Our excitement in finding Him should be like that of the Magi or the shepherds: “rejoicing with very great joy.”
“Here I am!” Jesus exclaims. “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Rev. 3:20). Jesus is always at our door, knocking and seeking to come into our lives and dine with us. Dining with another person can be a truly intimate occurrence, and that’s what the Lord Jesus desires to have with us.
Happy New Year!
As we approach tomorrow’s new year, let’s take a look back at some of the tracks we have been making lately. Like the wise men, are they heading in Jesus’ direction—into His presence, into a closer relationship with Him? Or are they leaving the path the Holy Spirit is laying out for us? Would they possibly reveal that we’re becoming less like Christ? If so, let’s get back on track today, heading toward Jesus.
Week of December 18 through December 24
Something to think about this week: The word joy and how it describes the Christmas season.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Philippians 4:10-19 – Contentment in Every Situation.
Tues. – Psalm 91 – God Is My Refuge.
Wed. – Joel 2:18-27 – The Lord Has Done Great Things!
Thurs. – Luke 1:5-17 – The Annunciation to Zechariah.
Fri. – Luke 1:18-25 – Zechariah Doubts but Elizabeth Rejoices.
Sat. – John 20:19, 24-29 – Believe!
Sun. – Luke 1:36-45, 56 – Mary and Elizabeth Express Faith.
Lesson 04 – December 24 – Expectant Mothers’ Faith
Be Joyful!
When Mary visited her relative Elizabeth, she was greeted with joy, particularly by Elizabeth’s still unborn son, who would later become John the Baptist. Elizabeth’s joyous greeting confirmed Mary’s hope in giving birth to the Christ child. Such hope and faith in Jesus we can also joyfully share with others, particularly this Christmas.
Christmas Joy!
Paul told the Roman believers to “be joyful in hope” (Rom. 12:12), and he told the Corinthian believers that “these three remain: faith, hope and love” (1 Cor. 13:13). Paul exhorted Christians everywhere to be true followers of Christ Jesus by reflecting the joy, the hope, and the faith that they have in their Lord and Savior Jesus, so the community of believers might radiate the love of Christ in a dark and fallen world.
Sharing the true joy of Christmas is evident when that joy comes from our hope and faith in Jesus. Therefore, celebrating the Lord’s birth with our fellow believers in Christ radiates the resplendent glory that emanates from God’s love for us by sending His Son to rescue us from sin, death, and evil. Indeed, such an act of love cannot help but cause us to rejoice!
One of the best ways to express our joy in Christ during Christmas is when Christians sing praises together to Jesus. “Faith is salted and peppered through everything at Christmas,” said Christian singer Amy Grant. “And I love at least one night by the Christmas tree to sing and feel the quiet holiness of that time that’s set apart to celebrate love, friendship, and God’s gift of the Christ child.” Truly, verbalizing our hope and faith in Jesus with Christmas songs and with other believers vitalizes the special joy our Lord has promised us (see John 15:11).
Moreover, when we gather in prayer to celebrate Christmas, such words of hope and faith help comfort, strengthen, and guide each of our souls. Therefore, at such moments we should rejoice with our sisters and brothers in Christ, for His Spirit dwells in us, binding us together with Him and one another.
Week of December 11 through December 17
Something to think about this week: What legacy you would like to leave?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Genesis 38:6-11, 13-18, 24-26 – Tamar’s Risk-taking Faith.
Tues. – Joshua 2:1-6, 8-16 – Rahab’s Faith.
Wed. – James 5:1-11 – Patient Faith.
Thurs. – 1 Timothy 1:12-17 – God’s Grace Overflowed.
Fri. – 2 Samuel 11:1-5, 26-12:1, 4-7a, 15-16, 24 – Bathsheba’s Challenged Faith.
Sat. – Psalm 9:1-14 – God, the Stronghold for the Oppressed.
Sun. – Matthew 1:1-17 – A Family Tree Characterized by Faith.
NOTICE!
There will not be any church service at Bethel next Sunday Dec 24 in order that we have plenty of time to spend with family and loved ones for Christmas.
Please pray for love, joy and peace to everyone for this Christmas and the coming new year.
Perhaps you have already arranged a trust for grandchildren when you pass or asked that certain funds be left to a charitable cause. You may also have a faith legacy of believing children and grandchildren or nieces and nephews.
This week’s lesson focuses on the legacy you have in being a follower of Christ Jesus.
Lesson 03 – December 17 – The Faith of Family
Surprised by Faith!
In the genealogy of Jesus, two giants of Israel’s history appear: Abraham and David. In many ways, Abraham demonstrated his deep faith in God, such as leaving his ancestral homeland at the command of God and honoring God’s request that he sacrifice his son Isaac. But at times, Abraham showed a lack of faith, most prominently when he yielded his wife, Sarah, to the Egyptian pharaoh out of fear for his life.
King David was not only beloved by his subjects but also by God. In many ways, he also trusted the Lord with his life, particularly when he was in grave danger. And yet, he, too, violated his faith, such as when he seduced Bathsheba and when he had her husband, Uriah, killed.
Unexpectedly, two non-Jewish women are also identified in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. Rahab was from pagan Jericho, and Ruth was a Moabite. Although Rahab was a harlot, God chose her to protect the two Hebrew spies because she believed that the God of Israel was truly God. And when Naomi told her daughter-in-law to remain in Moab after the death of Ruth’s husband and her father-in-law, Ruth declared that the God of Israel was her God. Thus, in both cases, not only did the Lord reward them by having them marry into His people, but He also placed them into Jesus’ lineage.
With imperfect “heroes” of the faith, such as Abraham and David in the list, along with unexpected women, such as Rahab and Ruth, we can see that God uses all people who will serve Him for His purposes. From their examples, we should not be discouraged either at our failings to always follow Him nor our social status. God’s grace uplifts us by His surprising faith in us.
People’s legacies can be good, evil, or even indifferent. They can be significant or meaningless. When a legacy glorifies the Lord, however, it is both good and significant.
Week of December 4 through December 10
Something to think about this week: What does the phrase “a David going against Goliath” mean when used in business or other areas of life.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Joshua 1:1-9 – Faith Expressed through Courage.
Tues. – Matthew 20:25-34 – David’s Son Came to Serve.
Wed. – Matthew 21:18-22 – Ask in Prayer with Faith.
Thurs. – Psalm 27 – Wait for the Lord.
Fri. – 2 Timothy 1:3-14 – Rekindle God’s Gift and Stand Firm.
Sat. – 1 Samuel 17:1-4, 8, 20-30 – Israel’s Wavering Faith.
Sun. – 1 Samuel 17:31-37, 45, 48-50 – Faith That God Will Act.
In today’s lesson, a young, skinny kid thinks he can take on a huge man many times his size. Top-notch, heavy-duty armor was provided for him; but it was too heavy for him to wear, so he went without it. He also brought his own weapon: a slingshot.
Talk about underdog.
David had faith in his God, the God of his people. Perhaps it could be called childlike faith, which is just the kind God wants all of us to have! It was simple faith without hesitation, and God honored it.
Lesson 02 – December 10 – The Faith of David
Understanding the Bible
Goliath was a Philistine, one of a seafaring people group most likely of Greek origin. They repeatedly agitated the people of God, especially during the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon, though references to them in Scripture date back to the time of Abraham (Gen. 21:22-34). While this people group was not prone to writing their own history, we can learn quite a bit about them from the histories of their neighboring nations and archaeology. They inhabited the coastline area that is now known as the Gaza Strip and often challenged the borders of neighboring countries. The Philistines essentially disappeared as a people group when their cities were destroyed by the Babylonians. Their heritage survives in the name “Palestine,” which comes from Philistia, the name for the area in ancient Greek sources.
The Faith of David
The shepherd boy is called in from the pasture and given the task of carrying provisions to his brothers’ unit of the army. Though he’s done it several times before, this time he arrives just as Goliath makes his challenge as he has done for forty days. All the Israelites could see was the giant’s strength; and all they could hear was his daunting, booming voice.
But David sees more. His first response, although it includes Goliath, is all about the Lord: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Neither the soldiers nor his brothers mention anything about Him, but David takes one step onto the stage and raises the subject of the living God. So, a subplot develops within the story. More than just David versus Goliath, it becomes God-focus versus giant-focus.
David makes two observations about Goliath: one to Saul about Goliath and one to Goliath’s face. But David makes nine references to the Lord in this chapter. Thus, his God-thoughts outnumber his Goliath-thoughts nine to two!
In God’s Strength
David placed his faith in God’s strength, not his own. He was not matched physically for Goliath—but God was. When we face the Goliaths in our lives, we need to remember that God is bigger than any problem we have. He will give us the strength, through the Holy Spirit, to forge ahead in faith to whatever He wants us to do, whatever Goliath that He wants us to overcome.
Week of November 27 through December 3
Something to think about this week: How easy or hard it is to be compassionate in practicing your faith.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Proverbs 17:17-22 – Faith-Based Friendship.
Tue. – Matthew 26:31-35 – Peter’s Test of Faith.
Wed. – Hebrews 3:7-19 – Hear God’s Voice.
Thu. – Leviticus 19:30-37 – Faith in Action.
Fri. – Acts 10:34-48 – God Honors Genuine Faith.
Sat. – Ruth 4:13-22 – Naomi Becomes a Grandmother.
Sun. – Ruth 1:6-18, 22 – Ruth’s Compassionate Faith.
8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”
10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”
11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
Lesson 01 – December 3 – The Faith of Ruth
Trust and Follow
In this lesson, we read the story of Ruth’s choice to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, on a faith-filled adventure. Although Judah was Naomi’s homeland, Ruth was from Moab. Ruth chose to do the right thing in staying with her otherwise destitute mother-in-law and committed herself to following the God of Israel despite the uncertainty of their shared future.
We’re not Ruth, and our adventure doesn’t have to be to another country; it can be across town or even next door. Our faith-filled adventure might not be as challenging as Ruth’s; but God is ahead of us if we will trust that He is leading us, whatever happens.
The beginning of Ruth’s adventure happened with a change in circumstances when her husband died, leaving her a widow. Widows were in a precarious situation in ancient times. Whether Ruth and Orpah chose to remain in Moab or leave with Naomi, their future was uncertain. It was less likely they would remarry if they followed Naomi to Judah, however.
Ruth chose to accept Naomi’s family, community, culture, and the God of Israel. In faithfulness to God, who cares for the widows, orphans, and strangers (Deut 10:17-18), she journeyed with Naomi to a foreign land. And God proved Himself faithful by blessing her and Naomi with family and home. She acted on that belief by journeying with Naomi to Bethlehem.
Faith is more than believing God exists; we must acknowledge and accept He is the sovereign Lord.
We seek God and His presence through prayer. Our trust in God then gives us confidence to step out even in uncertain circumstances. As the simple faith of a child brings joy to a parent, our faith in God pleases Him. Our simplest act of faith is to follow where He leads, even when we don’t know the outcome.
Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church 