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Two Stories and a Conclusion, by Eric Elder…

Part 1 of “How to Keep Trusting God, Even in the Face of Significant Loss”

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers and kindnesses since my sweet wife Lana passed away on November 15th.  It’s been four months now and I wanted to share some thoughts with you on Lana, healing, and God’s will.  I apologize in advance for the length of this message, but if you’ve been discouraged or having trouble trusting God, especially in the face of significant loss, I hope you’ll read this message.  This message is really just two stories, with some follow-up comments to help you bring them together and apply them to your lives.

I haven’t shared these stories publicly until this week, as they are so personal and intimate that I’ve just been treasuring them in my own heart.  But I feel they’re important to share as a way of testifying to what God is doing in my life, and hopefully encouraging you at the same time.

The first story started on the day of Lana’s funeral, on November 20th, 2012.  Before she died, Lana had asked me to preach at her funeral if it ever came to that.  She said I didn’t have to do it if I didn’t think I could, but if I could, she wanted me to be the one to do it.  I did get up and preach, but not without seriously considering backing out several times, even a few times during the service just before I was about to speak.  I just wasn’t sure if I could do it.

One of the reasons I felt so unsure, apart from the sadness I felt in my heart from already missing her, was that I felt like I had lost so much in the days leading up to her death.  I had not only lost my best friend, my encourager, my partner in ministry, and apart from Jesus, the greatest source of joy and delight in my life, but we had also depleted all of the money in our bank account during those final months of her battle with cancer.  On the morning of her funeral, we had $26.45 in the bank.  I felt like I had lost everything.  (I hadn’t, but I felt like it.)

The morning of the funeral, I prayed that God would give me the strength to do what I wanted to do and needed to do.  I also prayed, more as a wish than anything else, that God would give the kids some kind of inheritance from Lana from the gifts that came in.  I knew that no amount of money would make up to them for losing their mother, but I wished I had something I could give them as an inheritance from her.  $26.45 wasn’t going to go very far among the six kids.

So I prayed that God would provide enough from the memorial gifts to pay for the funeral and still have some left over for the kids.  From past funerals, I knew that the gifts that come in are sometimes just enough to pay for the funeral and that’s it, so I wasn’t expecting much.  But then in my heart, I prayed, “God, if there’s any way to give the kids $1,000 each as an inheritance, that would be great.”  But then from deeper still in my heart, I thought that what I would really like for them is if I could put $5,000 into each of their bank accounts.  I quickly did the math and $5,000 times 6 kids would be $30,000.  There’s no way, I thought.  With $26.45 in the bank, I knew it was an outlandish request.  But I laid it out before God anyway.  Later that day, I got up to preach at Lana’s funeral.  (If you haven’t watched it yet, I’d encourage you to watch it online on Lana’s blog.  It was like no other service I’ve been to before, and I think you’ll find it inspiring and helpful more than anything else, so please watch it if you can!)

Starting that day and the days that followed, people did begin sending in memorial gifts for our family in honor of Lana.  Some gave $5, some gave $15, and some gave $20 or $100.  A few gave $1,000 and some even gave $5,000.  By December 4th, just two weeks and a day after the funeral, we had received just over $30,000 from over 200 different people, none of whom knew about my private prayer to God!

Now keep that date and that astounding answer to prayer in mind as I tell you the second story.  For it was on December 4th, just one year earlier, that we had first found the lump in Lana’s breast, our first indicator that anything was even wrong at all.

It was on that day that we had heard a missionary talk about their work in Kenya teaching women how to do self-exams for breast cancer.  Later that night we checked and discovered the lump.  We thought it was probably nothing serious, as is often the case.  But over the next few weeks, after a mammogram and then an ultrasound and finally a biopsy, the doctors confirmed that the lump really was cancerous.  At that time, the doctors had no reason to think that the cancer had already spread.  They felt that with treatment, they could remove it and all would be fine.  We were shocked but felt this was beatable.

A few days later, Lana was listening to a podcast on her phone of a sermon that gave her some encouragement, so when she was done listening, she handed me her phone so that I could listen to it, too.  But as she handed it to me, I felt God speak to me as loud and clear as any time I’d ever heard Him speak in my life.  Although He didn’t speak in audible words, the effect of what He was saying was, “This is a good message, Eric.  But it’s not My message for you in this situation.  This time I have something else in mind.”

As I listened to the message, I realized it was all about praying “bold prayers,” that we shouldn’t just pray for a “C” on a test, but for an “A.”  That we shouldn’t just pray that we would survive a difficult marriage, but that it would thrive.  That we shouldn’t just pray for a sickness to go away, but for a long and healthy and abundant life instead.  It was the kind of message I would normally believe and receive and be encouraged to pray with all my heart for every difficult situation I faced.

But if God really had spoken to me, then what was He saying in regards to Lana’s healing?  With a great sadness in my heart, I felt He was saying, “Eric, I know you have the faith to ask for the moon and get it.  But not this time.  This time I have something else in mind.”  God brought to my mind Psalm 23, reminding me that He would be with me, even in the face of death:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me…” (Psalm 23:4).

I felt this was a little extreme.  This cancer was beatable.  It didn’t have to end in death.  Then why was God telling me this?  But the next week I found out why.

Just a few days later, Lana went in for a few more tests.  She had started to have some other symptoms, some unexplainable bleeding and intense lower back pain.  The tests showed that it was worse than the doctors initially thought.  The cancer had already spread to her lungs and liver and spine.  In addition, the cancer was in a special category called “triple negative,” which meant that it wouldn’t respond to normal treatments that worked for other breast cancers.  There was no cure, the doctors said.  The best they could do was to treat the symptoms and try to keep her as comfortable as possible for as long as possible, but that the cancer would eventually take her life.  Statistically, the doctors said she had about one 1 to 3 years to live, depending on how she responded to treatment.  The majority of women with Stage 4, triple negative breast cancer don’t make it past 5 years.  And only one in a hundred ever make it to 10 years.

We were devastated.  But having heard God speak to me the week before, even before the doctors told us what was going on, somehow gave me great faith.  Not faith that Lana would be healed, although I believed God could still heal her in an instant, too, but faith that He would be with us through it all.  This was no news to God.  He had already revealed it to me before we, or even the doctors, had an inkling what was coming.

Knowing that God was with us gave me great peace in my heart.  But as comforting as this was, I still didn’t know how to walk forward in a practical way, given what I felt God was saying to me.  If God had told me that Lana was going to be healed, and to walk in faith and stand on the promise of the word He had spoken to my heart, I knew how to walk that out:  read and reread the Scriptures, fast and pray, gather others to fast and pray, and look for answers from any doctor or person of faith who could help us beat this disease.  But if I had really heard right, and God was really saying, “I know you have the faith to ask for the moon and get it, Eric, but not this time,” how could I walk that out?  How could I stand on something that I didn’t want to believe and didn’t want to be true?

Was I supposed to just give up on the possibility of healing?  Not bother praying at all for her?  Not ask others to join us in fasting and prayer?  Not go to doctors to try to get whatever help we could?  I felt that taking any of those paths would be utterly wrong.  Lana wanted to live and I wanted her to live!  And who knows?  Maybe I heard wrong.  Maybe the doctors were wrong.  And even if I had heard right, and the doctors were right, maybe God would still heal her miraculously!  God’s default position on healing is that we should be healed, as evidenced by the many ways He has created our bodies to heal themselves, to automatically seal up cuts, fight off infections, and repair damaged tissue.  God has demonstrated His desire for our healing throughout the Bible, performing miraculous healings from cover to cover.  God loves healing and wants us to be healed!  There’s no doubt that God is a healing God!

So I tried to remember what others did in the Bible when they received a word from God that they didn’t want to believe either.

I thought of Hezekiah, who was sick and dying when God spoke to him through the prophet Isaiah saying that Hezekiah’s sickness would end in death.  Hezekiah wept bitterly and pleaded with God for a different outcome.

“Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in Your eyes” (2 Kings 20:3a).

God heard Hezekiah’s prayers, healed him, and gave him an extra 15 years of life.

I thought of King David, who got a word from God through Nathan the prophet saying that the child born to David and Bathsheba would die.  But David didn’t give up and didn’t give in.  He fasted and prayed and wept before God every night saying:

“Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live,” (2 Samuel 12:22).

In David’s case, however, his child died after seven days, but not without David pleading with God for a different outcome.

Then I thought of Jesus, who, when faced with his own imminent death, knelt down and prayed so earnestly that His sweat fell like drops of blood:

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Jesus knew what His Father was asking of Him, yet still He pleaded for another way, that the cup He was about to drink would somehow be taken from Him.  Yet Jesus yielded to His Father’s will, even over His own.

From these three stories of Hezekiah and David and Jesus, I felt I was in good company that even if I had heard right from God, I could still plead with Him, in fasting and prayer and tears, pouring out my heart to Him for what Lana and I both wanted: that she would be healed completely and gloriously, and continue to live a long, healthy and abundant life.

So we fasted and prayed and called others to join us in fasting and prayer.  We talked to doctors and nurses and researchers and nutritionists, both locally and globally, to see if God had an answer through them.  We called the elders of our church, and several of our former churches, to anoint us with oil and pray for Lana’s healing.  We held prayer meetings in our living room and drove and flew to get prayer from some of the most faith-filled men and women of God we knew.

But as time marched on, the tests continued to come back blacker and bleaker.  Either what God had spoken to me at the beginning was true, or God was preparing the way for one of the most miraculous turnarounds of all time.  Either way, we felt good about the steps we were taking, about doing everything we possibly could to bring about her healing, and about trusting in God completely whatever the outcome.

As much as Lana and I, and many of you, wished that the outcome had been different, I can say that when it came time to say our final goodbyes, we had no regrets.  We had done everything we could think of doing to keep her alive, and God kept His promise to be with us through it all.

Let me tie these two stories together for you by sharing my journal entries from December 4th, 2012, the first written early in the morning as I was remembering the one-year anniversary of finding the lump that took Lana’s life, and the second written at midnight that night, after we received the checks in the mail that put us over $30,000 in memorial gifts in her honor.

“12/4/12 – Father, thank You for revealing to me and Lana the lump in her right breast one year ago today…  Lord, any thoughts about this being the one-year anniversary of the day You revealed this lump?  ‘I’ve given you a great gift, Eric.  A chance to see into the future, and to make your plans accordingly.   I have not hidden what is to happen from My prophets.  I warned Abraham about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah before it happened, just as I told him and Sarah they would have a child in a year, and just as I told you, Eric, that your friends would have a child in a year.  Although I didn’t tell you an exact date [regarding Lana], I did tell you what the outcome would be, both by showing you the lump, and by confirming that while you could pray for healing, this wasn’t My will in this case.  I wanted you to know, Eric, because I wanted you to have time to plan, prepare, and say goodbye properly.  And you have done marvelously.  Your kids, your friends, your family, are all living testaments to that fact.  I also gave you test after test, and doctor after doctor, to confirm this to you, for you wanted the truth, and you knew the truth would set you free.  They were hard truths to hear, and hard to watch you hear, but they were necessary to help you absorb and understand what I was saying.  I’ve given you a gift Eric, both in what I revealed, and in the fact that I do reveal My knowledge to My children.  Lana wanted to live and not die, and she was right to do so, for that’s My will [He wants all of us to live forever!].  But I wanted you to know so you could plan, prepare, and say goodbye properly.  I wanted you to care for her and love her and be with her to the fullest extent possible, so when she passed through the veil, you would have no regrets, nothing left undone, nothing more you could have done, but love her thoroughly.  I did this for you, yes, but also for Me, for I wanted you to be able to care for her on earth as I cared for her from heaven.  You were, and still are, My hands and feet and voice to many on earth.  You will be sad, no doubt, for to lose the one you love, when you have loved so deeply, is sad.  But you will rejoice as well, for you have been given a great and wonderful gift.'”

“12 midnight – Father, thank You for helping us reach the $30,000 mark that I had asked You for, to give $5,000 to each of the kids as an inheritance from Lana.  Lord, we only had $26.45 in our bank account the day of the funeral.  It was an outlandish prayer, and within a few weeks, You’ve brought the full amount I extravagantly asked for.  ‘Open your mouth wide, Eric, and I will fill it.’  Thank You, Lord!  I love You.  By the way, the sunset looked delicious tonight, like rainbow sherbet, and I wanted to lick it.  ‘Thank You.’  Thank You, Lord.”

Yes, life can be extremely hard.  But it also offers sunsets that look like rainbow sherbet!  The trick is to not let the hardest parts of life overshadow the best parts about it.  God is at work in both.  The Bible says:

“Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner… So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust Him. He knows what He’s doing, and He’ll keep on doing it” (1 Peter 4:12-13, 19, The Message).

Friends, God loves you and has a unique calling and purpose for your life, just as He had a unique calling and purpose for Lana’s life.  Don’t be discouraged when life doesn’t work out the way you think it should. God is still on the job.  Keep putting your trust in Him.  He knows what He’s doing, and He’ll keep on doing it.

Thanks for reading these two stories, and thanks again for your prayers and kindnesses you’ve shown to me and my family, especially during this past year.  It means so much, and is yet one more reminder of all that’s good in life.  May God bless you and keep you as you keep putting your trust in Him!

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Jerry Bridges — From our limited vantage point…

From our limited vantage point, our lives are marked by an endless series of contingencies.  We frequently find ourselves, instead of acting as we planned, reacting to an unexpected turn of events.  We make plans but are often forced to change those plans.  But there are no contingencies with God.  Our unexpected, forced change of plans is a part of His plan.  God is never surprised; never caught off guard; never frustrated by unexpected developments.  God does as He pleases and that which pleases Him is always for His glory and our good.
Jerry Bridges

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Isaiah 58:7-9 The New Living Translation — “Share your food with the hungry…

“Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless.  Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.  Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal.  Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.  Then when you call, the LORD will answer.  ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.”
Isaiah 58:7-9  The New Living Translation

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Growing Through Your Fears, by LeRoy Redding…

Growing Through Your Fears

By LeRoy Redding

Matthew 14:26-33

 

I’ve come to believe that procrastination and fear are married emotions. A lot of fear is actually hidden.  You can hide fear in procrastination. It may look something like this: “I don’t really want to talk to this person, confront this person, so I’ll put it off. If I don’t talk to then about it maybe they’ll forget or the problem will just sort of disappear.”  So we put it off to deal with later…maybe.

If you’re like me, procrastination leads to fear.  You procrastinate for a long time and then all of a sudden when something is due you kind of get fearful that you’re going to get in trouble. Remember junior high or high school the day the science project was due? “Oh, no! It’s due today! I’ve had nine months to work on it and I did nothing.”  Some of you know what I’m talking about, right?

Procrastination and fear grips everybody to some degree or another. Everyone has fears. One author wrote this about fear: “All of us are born with this set of instinctive fears. The fear of falling. The fear of the dark. The fear of lobsters. The fear of falling on lobsters in the dark. And the fear of the words:  Some Assembly Required.”

We’re all afraid of something…of failure, of loss, of rejection, of the future. We all have them. We’re afraid of public speaking (#1 fear of most people).  Or we’re afraid of what people will say about us.

We all have fears. You have fears. I have fears.  You know what? God is not surprised by our fears.  The #1 instruction from God to humanity is: “Fear not!”  If you scour the Bible, that is the number one message 366 times it says it in the Bible: “Fear not!” One for every day + leap year! Isn’t that great? I would have thought it would have been something like: “Love one another.” But instead, it’s “Fear not!” God was very thoughtful there, wasn’t He? He wants us to get it.  God wants His people to not live in fear.  I love the challenge God gives to Joshua in Joshua 1:9 (NLT):  “I command you be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

It’s easy for us to read or hear “Do not be afraid or discouraged” but it’s tough to live out, isn’t it?  That’s what I want to talk about today –
…the fears that keep us from living life to its fullest.
…the fears that keep us from being fully alive.
…the fears that keep us from being the person God created us to be.

If we don’t deal with some of these fears, what happens?
They turn into phobias.

Did you know there’s a website called “phobialist.com”?  Turns out this website lists about 600 phobias. I had heard of some – acrophobia (the fear of spiders), claustrophobia (the fear of enclosed or small places). Did you know there is actually a phobia, phobia? It’s a fear of phobias!

There’s actually a fear of sermons – Homilophobia!

On this website this is what it said, “Please don’t ask me about curing phobias because I know nothing about them. My interest is in the names only.”

My interest is very different this morning  My interest is in helping those of us here today grow spiritually through our fears and because of our fears. I’ve identified a couple action steps I’ve found from a passage in the Bible that I want us to take a look at today…

Matthew 14:26-33 (Turn there please)

It’s really a fear passage. Jesus puts His disciples on a boat.  They had just fed thousands of people with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread. Jesus wanted to withdraw and be by Himself. He puts them on the boat.  Let’s pick it up at v. 22… [Read Matthew 14:22-33]
How do we grow spiritually as a result of our fears?  I want to talk about how you grow closer to God. How do you have a deeper relationship with the God of the universe?  I believe that one way to grow closer to God is to actually  “Grow Through our Fears.”

But, how do we do it? How DO we grow through our fears?

1. ADMIT YOUR FEARS (v. 26)

This is very basic. You have to admit your fears. I put an “s” there – it’s plural. Fears. Admitting fears is tough, isn’t it?  Any other men in here who would like to give an “amen” to that? A lot of us guys our natural response is not to say, “I’m afraid!” Our natural response is to lie. “Afraid? No, she is, but I’m not. I’m ok with that.” We want to conquer our fears, but when you admit it that’s where it all begins.

The disciples did this. It says in verse 26: When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.  Before we go any further let me ask you: What are you afraid of?  What are your fears?  What are the fears that are holding you back from living life the way God intended for it to be lived?  What are the fears that you have keeping you from being fully alive? What are your fears?  What are your fears about what God might be doing in your life and the life of this church?

 

What are your fears? What’s holding you back from going to deeper more intimate places in your relationship with God? What is that fear? Is it a fear about joining the church? You don’t want to belong to something. Maybe it’s a fear of getting involved in serving somewhere, getting involved in a ministry. Maybe your fear is about sharing with a friend or family member what God has done in your life. Is it a fear of rejection? Is it a fear of not being accepted? Maybe you fear that you might be fully known.  What are those fears?  Take some time to allow God to reveal them to you right now… Whatever they are when you admit them there is freedom in that. Did you hear me? There is freedom when you admit your fears!

 

So…how do we grow through our fears? We begin by admitting our fears..

The second thing you do is:

2. TAKE THE RISK (v. 29)

This is the classic step. Face your fears. But just like admitting you’re afraid isn’t natural, risk taking isn’t natural either. This just doesn’t come naturally to us, does it? Most of us in here didn’t have moms that when we were going away to school as a little kid say, “Have a risky day! I want you to embrace danger today, son! When you cross the street just look one way.” No! What do they say? “Be careful! It’s a dangerous world out there.”

Risk taking does not come naturally.  But spiritual growth involves risk.  And risk goes hand in hand with fear. Look at verse 29:  Matthew 14:29
29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  That was a big step. Can you imagine that? To get out of the boat and walk on water – do something you’ve never done before? That was a risky step!  But what did it lead to? It led to intimacy with the Jesus!

With Peter it wasn’t just any old risk. It was Jesus calling.  If you do something risky just to be risky that’s called dumb!  But if you do something that feels risky to you but you know that God is a part of it that’s called faith!

As I look back at my life there have been times when I’ve said, “God, I’m going to be obedient and I’m going to trust You and I’m going to get out of the boat. I don’t want to and I’m scared. But I’m going to go because You’re calling me and I believe that’s what You want me to do.”  And as I step back and as I look at the bumps in my spiritual journey, the times when I’ve gone to deeper, richer, more intimate places with God have been the times when I’ve had to take a risk. It doesn’t mean that the risk has always turned out the way I thought it would, though.

This may disappoint some of you when I tell you this, but my spiritual journey is not a straight line towards growth.  It’s not this steady walk up hill to a rose garden. It’s up and down. More of a roller coaster (and I don’t like roller coasters!) As I step back and look over the years that I’ve known Jesus and have walked with Him, the times when it’s got stagnant, when it’s got flat, when my spiritual journey has gotten stale what sent it to the next level is times of risk.  You’ve got to take a risk. You’ve got to get out of the boat!!!

A lot of times we look at people who do this and think they’re courageous. I wish I could stand before you and say, I’m a jumper! When Jesus says come, then I’m out on the water!  But that’s not me. I wish I could say I’m a jumper, a risk taker. “LeRoy, the risk taker!” Not! I don’t naturally take risks.  I like to play it safe. I am not naturally a courageous person. I look at other people who have courage and I hold that up as a character quality. And so do you, right?

But courage is not the absence of fear.  Courage is doing the right thing even when you’re afraid.  Courage is rejecting comfort & doing the very thing that you fear. And the problem gets worse with lack of action, because:

Lack of action adds fuel to the fear.

If you’re not taking a risk – and I suspect that there’s a lot of fear in this room – when you don’t take a risk with your fear what happens is…It just gets bigger!!!

All of a sudden that mountain seems so much harder to climb because you haven’t done anything with your fear.

Have you ever had a fear and you begin to think about it and you create the worst case scenarios of what could happen?  There’s a technical term for that – catastrophizing!  You create these catastrophes that never actually happen.

What is the risk that you’ve got to take? Admit it. “I’m scared.” And invite God to be a part of it. “God, I have a fear of the unknown.” Take the risk. Take the risk. Get out of the boat!!!

Some of you need to hear that message today. Today’s the day God is saying to you, “Get out of the boat. Don’t be safe in the boat. Life isn’t meant to be lived safe. Get out. Take a risk.” Every time I’ve ever heard this passage in Matthew 14 taught about Jesus inviting Peter to walk on the water, I’ve heard it taught like this: Most people say that Peter is a failure because when he got out of the boat he had his eyes on Jesus and when he took his eyes off Jesus fear entered and he sank. “Don’t take your eyes off Jesus!” That’s always the way we usually hear it preached, right?

But, you know what? I’m thinking Peter was not a failure here. Peter was the success. What about the guys that never got out of the boat? In my mind they are the failures.  At least Peter got out of the boat. At least he took a risk.  So, what do you do when you get out of the boat and take a risk?

 

Third, you…

3. EXPECT THE FEAR TO RETURN (v. 30)

I’d love to have kept this point out. I’d love to have just said, “Take a risk. Go for it!”  But the reality is the fear is going to return.  It did with Peter. He was afraid. Jesus says “Come!” So what does Peter do? He pops out of the boat and all of a sudden, bam!  Fear returns.  Look at verse 30:  Matthew 14:30 (NASB)  But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Fear is going to return.

You step out on faith and decide to help teach a Sunday School class. So you get the curriculum, you go to the class. And here you are in front of these 4 year olds and you begin thinking, “I’m not good enough. I don’t know the Bible enough. What if I drop the flannel graph?”

Fear is going to return. You can count on it.

Some of you want to have some courage and you want to invite a friend to coffee at Starbuck’s. You’re finally going to tell them about the change that God has done in your life.  You’re all excited. You’re ready to do it. You’re ready to share your story. You see your friend walking through the parking lot. And that fear returns and you just want to change the subject.  The fear is going to return.

The fear of rejection. The fear of failure will loom around.  Let’s say you fail. Not perceived failure but actual failure.  You take a risk and you fail. You tried working with 4-year-olds but every time they cried, you cried.

What do you do when you fail?

What’s the 4th step in growing through your fear? You…

4. EMBRACE THE PRESENCE OF GOD (v. 28, 31)

If you begin to sink like Peter did here’s the good news of the gospel. When you sink God doesn’t. Jesus proves this.  Look at verse 31… Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Notice the word “immediately.” Immediately! Instantly! Right then…you can embrace the presence of God when you’ve failed. when you fail God doesn’t!  Say this with me, “When I fail, God doesn’t!”  Let’s say it again together… What I know about God’s character through His word and through my own experience is this: God’s presence is available 24/7.  God doesn’t have a part-time role in the life of a believer.  But if you’re anything like me, you might have part-time memory. We have part-time memories when we focus on our fears and we really forget about God’s presence.

As I think about my fears, I realize that one of the battles that looms within me is the fear of rejection. It’s very real. It’s hard to admit, but it’s true. I’ve got fears that are real just like you. Here’s what I’ve found: When I focus on my fear, when I give it a lot of power by thinking about it all the time, I find I lose sight of the presence of God. I find I have a tough time seeing God.

Peter had a tough time, too. But whether it was dark or foggy out there on the water, it doesn’t really matter.  Look at what Peter says in verse 28:  Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Maybe today in the midst of your fear and the fog that surrounds you, when you’re fearful, it’s tough to see God.

It’s tough to see God when you’re fearful.

But I don’t want you to leave here today without hearing His promise. God’s promise is “I will never leave you.”  God’s promise is this:  “There’s nothing that you and I can’t do that we can’t do together. There’s nothing you and I can’t handle together.”

What I’ve learned in working with people is that when people get their arms around that truth, their lives are changed.  Radically changed.

One of the most powerful statements of this truth is made by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13…

In Philippians 4:13 he says “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  Some of you have been around the church and Christianity along time and you’ve heard this many, many times, right? You might have a bumper sticker; you might have it underlined in your Bible. You might even have a little needlepoint thing in our house –  “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  We’ve got a magnet on our refrigerator that has this verse on it.

The problem with this is a lot of us in here we’ve made this kind of a pithy, superficial platitude. What I want to do is give you the context in which he wrote this. As a matter of fact, I want you to transfer yourself into his context. Imagine this is you: You’ve lost your job. You’re isolated from your friends. You’re living in a strange country where you don’t know people. Jealous enemies have trashed your reputation. You’ve been arrested on false charges. You’ve been physically beaten, put in jail and you may be put to death tomorrow. What’s going on in your mind, in your heart? Anybody have fear? I would. And yet what does Paul write? “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Don’t you wonder: How can he write this – I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. How can he do this? He has experienced the presence of God. And he lives his life in the presence of God. This is the same Paul who wrote earlier in this letter to the Philippians in… Philippians 1:21:  “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  This is someone who is living with no fear. “No fear living.”  Try to imagine what your day might be like with that kind of attitude. Imagine if we really practiced the presence of God in our lives. Try to unfold your day with me for a second. You wake up in the morning and you face things – good things and you face bad things. All day long you’re breathing in and out – I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  That’s practicing the presence of God! That’s God’s will for us! Slowly what happens over time God takes your fear and He enhances your faith.

What does your prayer look like?  Maybe your prayer is something like this:

“God, I’ve been checking You out from a distance. I know I need You to invade my life and be the Lord of my life but I’m afraid. I’m afraid that if I do I’m going to miss out on something. But I’m going to trust Your presence.”

The Bible says that when you and I go to God’s presence He meets us there. When we recognize His presence He’s there. Ephesians 3:12 says “Because of Christ and our faith in Him [not our fear in Him but our faith in Him] we can now come fearlessly into God’s presence assured of His glad welcome.”

And when you and I do come into His presence and our fear diminishes and our faith increases then we see a 5th step to growing through our fears when we…

5. GIVE THE PRAISE TO GOD (vv. 32-33)

A lot of times when we conquer a fear we give the praise to a self-help book or a seminar or someone else. Those may be very wonderful and helpful things but what did the disciples do?

The disciples gave the praise to God. Look at verse 33…And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”  This whole fear event in Matthew 14 ends with worship!  It started with fear. It ends with worship. Isn’t that beautiful? When you worship, you don’t have time to worry!  When you worship, you focus on God!  When you worship, you don’t focus on your fears!

My challenge to all of us, myself included, is this:

Are we living a life of worship?  Are we building worship into our lives? Every day?  Every moment?

What I’m talking about is celebrating God’s presence in our lives!  Have you ever been alone and you’re scared and by yourself then all of a sudden a friend comes over and you see them and say, “Thank you that you’re here.” You know that feeling –  “Thank you Lord, I’m not alone.” That’s all I’m suggesting…  “Oh, thank You God that You’re here.”  And you focus on Him. You give praise to Him.  It starts with fear. It ends with worship.  Psalms 34:1-4 “I will boast only in the Lord. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness. Let us exalt His name together. I prayed to the Lord and He answered me freeing me from all my fears.”

So, let’s recap here. What do we do with our fears?  Fears that are very real, very personalize.  What do we do with them? We admit them. We identify them.

But our fears must move us to more faith!  And having more faith we draw closer to God. And drawing closer to God we worship Him. And worshipping Him we focus on Him and not on our fears.  It’s really a beautiful cycle, isn’t it?

Now, I’m not under any false assumption that after hearing a little  30-minute message that you’re walking out of here going,  “I’m going to conquer my fears. Now I have all the tools and gifts. Thank you, LeRoy. Now I can do it.”  I realize that many of our fears are a lot bigger than what I can offer you. But… I can offer you God’s Word.  I can offer you some help, some principles, some steps and a reminder that God is with you and wants to be with you in the midst of your fears to change you through your fears.  I believe with all my heart that the Bible teaches that overcoming fear is a joint venture. That you do your role and He does His role. If you’re serious about overcoming fear and you’re serious about being liberated from the choke hold that fear has on your life take a step, even just a little tiny baby step.  Say, “Where do I need to start?” And then start there.

Today, we have the privilege of being in a relationship with the Almighty God of the Universe! Imagine!  Listen to what God has to say to us in Isaiah 43:1: “Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have saved you. I have called you by name. You are Mine.”  It’s my prayer that for some of you today that you would hear those words, the words of Jesus saying, “Come to Me. It’s time. Come. You’ve been under the tyranny of fear way too long!  It’s time. It’s time for you to rise up and take the help God makes available to you. It’s time. It’s time to start doing what you’ve longed to do but you haven’t had the courage to do. It’s time to face the things that you’ve always wanted to face but you didn’t know how. It’s time.”

For some of you, the words you need to say to Christ go something like this:  “I don’t want to stand on the sideline any more. I want to get in the game. Lord, I admit I am a sinner. Jesus Christ, come into my life. I trust in you and you alone. Thank you for dying on the cross in my place, for my sins. Forgive me of my sins. Take over my life. Guide me. I want to be a member of Your family.”

I encourage you. I plead with you.  Take that step and become a member of God’s family!

Now, to those of us already in God’s family, sad to say, what many of us do is that we fear too much because we trust God too little.

Listen to me here: Within every great fear is a great opportunity for God to do something in your life and to enhance your faith.  I want to leave you with this challenge:  Give God your fears!  Allow God to work in your life! Allow God to help you grow through your fears!

Let’s pray…
As your eyes are closed I want you to hear these words from Psalm 27:
“The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Is He your Lord? Is He your Savior? Is He your light? Is He your salvation? Then who in the world to you have to fear? Is the Lord the stronghold of your life? Is He your rock? If so, who or what do you have to be afraid of?

If you’ve identified some fears this morning, let me encourage you to admit those fears to the Lord right now. Give them to Him.  Open yourself open to God and let Him take full control of your life.  Let this be the day you begin the step of growing through your fears.

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Ruth: A Loyal Love Story By Brian Bill…

Ruth: A Loyal Love Story   By Brian Bill   Ruth 1:1-4:22

I like looking at old scrapbooks. For most of us, our family picture albums are stored away in boxes somewhere. Whenever I pick up one of my mom’s old albums, the ancient black and white pictures start to fall out, and I get to relive the memories of my youth all over again. Pictures help us to keep the story alive.   We’ve pulled out a couple scrapbooks the past two weeks in order to keep God’s story of redemption alive in our own lives. By flipping through the pages of some of the “lifestyles of the not-so-famous” characters of the Old Testament, we’ve been reminded of their stories and challenged by their faith. We looked at Hannah as a model for motherhood and last week we learned more about trust from the life of Gideon. This morning we’re going to listen to a loyal love story from the Book of Ruth.    Many people have said that the Book of Ruth is the most beautiful short story ever written. It’s an account of anxiety, fear, love, and commitment that inflames the imagination and soothes the soul. It begins with despair and ends with delight.     When Benjamin Franklin was the Ambassador to France, he occasionally attended the Infidels Club — a group that spent most of its time searching for and reading literary masterpieces. On one occasion Franklin read the book of Ruth to the club, but changed the names in it so it would not be recognized as a book of the Bible. When he finished, the listeners were unanimous in their praise. They said it was one of the most beautiful short stories that they had ever heard, and demanded that he tell them where he had run across such a remarkable work of art. He loved telling them that it came from the Bible!    And, because this love story is in the Bible, it’s more than just a romance novel. Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Paul is referring here to the Old Testament, including the book of Ruth. That means we’ll be taught, we’ll be more able to endure tough times, and we’ll be encouraged as we learn together. In the process, we’ll grow in hope.    While the Book of Ruth is a super story of love and loyalty, we’re separated by thousands of miles and thousands of years from its setting. In my research this week, I went on the Internet and found the website for the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in New York City. I wanted to find out more about how the Book of Ruth is thought of in Jewish circles, since the Old Testament contains their sacred Scriptures.      I called them and was connected to Rabbi Pamela Wax, the assistant director of adult Jewish education. She told me that the Book of Ruth is very significant to Jewish people. In fact, about a week ago, they celebrated the festival of “Shavuot,” in which the entire book is sung or read out loud. She asked if I wanted it sung and I said sure. She then proceeded to sing Ruth 1:1 to me over the phone. I wish I could have recorded it because it was so beautiful. She also told me that on the Thursday night of the festival, many people stay up all night to study the Book of Ruth. It’s also customary to eat dairy foods throughout the festival because the Torah is likened to the sweetness of milk and honey. Rest assured, we’re not going to be here all day and night studying Ruth, I’m certainly not going to sing to you, and we’re not going to serve cheese and milk shakes (though my relatives from the “Dairy State” would love that).    There is both Old Testament and New Testament precedent for the reading of the Bible out loud before an assembly of worshipers. In Joshua 8:34-35, Joshua read all the words of the Law to the nation of Israel. In Nehemiah 8:3, “Ezra read aloud from daybreak until noon…and all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.” In 8:8, we learn that a group of Levites not only read from the Law, they “made it clear and gave the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.”    Most of the New Testament letters were to be read in their entirety to the young churches. Paul challenged the Thessalonians, “I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the churches.” And, in 1 Timothy 4:13, Paul tells Timothy to “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching.” I want to follow that model this morning, but I’m going to reverse the order. I’m going to begin with the teaching as we discuss some important background information. Then we’ll listen to the reading of God’s Word and finally conclude with some preaching as we look for ways to apply these loyal love lessons to our own lives.    Background Information If you have your Bibles, please open them to the Book of Ruth. This short book of just four chapters is found between Judges and 1 Samuel.      A lot of key information is found in Judges 1:1-5 (read).    1. Timing. The events take place during the time when the judges ruled in Israel. As we’ve already pointed out, this was a period in which God’s people would move from disobedience to defeat to deliverance. Because everyone did what was right in his or her own eyes, sin was rampant and God’s people had hardened hearts. Several commentators suggest that the storyline in Ruth took place during the time when Gideon served as one of the judges.     2. Setting. We read in verse 1 that because there was a bad famine in Bethlehem, a man took his wife and two sons to live in the country of Moab. The famine was a consequence of the deliberate disobedience of God’s people according to Deuteronomy 11:16-17: “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you.” When we left Gideon last week, the nation had been enticed to turn away and worship false gods.     3. Journey to Moab. Moab was a land of rich soil and adequate rainfall so this man traveled to a place where his crops wouldn’t fail. This family would have traveled north to Jerusalem and then crossed the Jordan River at the fords by Jericho. Depending on where they settled, the trip would have been about one hundred miles and would have taken about a week.     4. Relations with Moab. It’s important to know that Moab was an eternal enemy of Israel. It’s not going too far to say it’s a bit like Israel and the PLO today. In Numbers 25, we read that the Moabites led Israel into sexual immorality and pagan worship. Deuteronomy 23:3-6 lays out some pretty strong words: “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation. For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt…Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.” This man is trying to flee the judgment of God on Israel and is disobeying doubly by going to live among the Moabites.     5. Characters in the story. The Israelite man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. These two sons married Moabite women, one who was named Orpah, and the other Ruth. When we come to chapter two, we’re introduced to a man named Boaz, who was a relative of Elimelech.     6. Situation. During their stay in Moab, Naomi’s husband Elimelech died and then about ten years later, both Mahlon and Kilion also die. Naomi, Orpah and Ruth are now widows. Widows in the ancient world had no social status and no economic means to survive. This would especially be true for Naomi, since she was an Israelite living in a foreign country. There was no Social Security system and she had no male protector or provider. In such a situation, widows back then would equate to the homeless in our society today.     8. Gleaning. God has always made provision for the poor and destitute. Leviticus19:9-10: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” This helps explain what Ruth was doing in chapter 2 and it also reveals a little about the character of Boaz as a man who followed the Law and cared for the poor.     9. Kinsman redeemer. Since God had assigned each family of each tribe a section of land, this land was extremely important (and still is) to Israel. In order to make sure it stayed in the family, the kinsman redeemer law was instituted. If a man died and left a widow and no sons, his nearest relative would be given the opportunity to buy his land and marry his widow so that she could have sons to carry on the deceased’s name. This relative would be obligated, at his own expense, to buy back the property and give it back to the relative who had sold it. If the nearest relative refused, then the next closest kin would take on the role of the redeemer. There was a catch, however. The kinsman-redeemer couldn’t make the decision to redeem on his own. He had to be asked by the widow to buy back her husband’s land. That helps to explain what takes place in chapter 3.     10. Corner of covering. Chapter 3 will make you hold your breath and scratch your head. Ruth puts on perfume and dresses in her finest clothes and goes to the threshing floor to scope out sweaty Boaz. When Boaz falls asleep, Ruth takes the covers off his feet and lies down next to him! When Boaz turns over in the middle of the night, he discovers this woman lying at his feet and wants to know who she is. She identifies herself and then says in verse 9: “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” This same word is translated “wings” in 2:12, when Boaz says to Naomi, “May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully.” Ruth is asking Boaz to shelter her under his wing and to redeem her. In short, she is making a marriage proposal to him!     11. Town Gate. In Chapter 4, Boaz goes to the city gates and sits down to conduct business. The gate of a city was like a courthouse, where transactions took place, and where cases were heard. This was also the place where you most likely to run into someone, kind of like Wal-Mart.     12. Sandals. Sandals were the ordinary footwear of the time, but were also symbolic in the relationship between a widow and her legal guardian. The giving of a sandal was like a signed contract back then, especially in cases where land was in dispute. This originated because someone would walk off a field in their sandals in order to measure it.     Now, with that as background, let’s listen to this loyal love story. As you listen, in light of 2 Timothy 3:16, allow the Holy Spirit to use His living Word to “teach, rebuke, correct, and train you in righteousness so that we can be equipped for every good work.” I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation.    Reading of Ruth (After reading 1:1-18, a section from Francine Rivers’ book called, “Unshaken” was read as a dramatic presentation (pages 26-27)).    Love Lessons I want to conclude this morning by drawing three lessons, or applications, from this loyal love story.     1. Surrender to God’s Sovereignty. One of the overriding themes of the Book of Ruth is the providential sovereignty of God. He is seen everywhere, weaving His purposes through events and circumstances. He uses a famine to bring a Jewish man and his family to Moab, where one of his sons marries a Moabite woman. Through the unexpected widowhood of both Naomi and Ruth, they end up in the Promised Land because they hear that the famine has ended. Naomi teaches Ruth about the things of God and Ruth make a life-changing commitment.     Then, in Ruth 2:3, we read that Ruth “just happened” to find herself in a field that belonged to Boaz. This was no coincidence! God orchestrated the events in order to accomplish His purposes. God’s invisible hand steered her to that particular field on that particular day. Ruth had gone through some terrible things, but every difficulty, question, uncertainty, and broken heart became God’s way of doing something better than could have happened otherwise. We find the beginning of God’s grace when we come to the end of ourselves.     Friend, even when you are completely unaware of what is happening, or even why something is happening, God is guiding your decisions and actions. He is working everything together for your good and His ultimate glory. Our responsibility is to surrender to His sovereignty. The Heidelberg Catechism puts it this way: “I trust Him so much that I do not doubt He will provide whatever I need for body and soul and He will turn to my good whatever adversity He sends me in this sad world. He is able to do this because He is almighty God; He desires to do this because He is a faithful Father.”     Have you surrendered yourself to His sovereignty? Do you trust His purposes for your life, even when things look bleak? Have you discovered the glories of “God’s happenings” in your life? On this Memorial Day Weekend, when we remember what the men and women in our armed forces suffered for us, this truth is brought into focus ¬ God has brought good out of what our soldiers have suffered for our country. He has a way of working everything out.      The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He cried out to God to save him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but he only got depressed. He eventually was able to build a small hut and put his only possessions in it. But one day, after hunting for some food, he came back to his hut to find that it had gone up in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. He was devastated. Early the next day a ship drew near the island and rescued him. He couldn’t believe it. When he came on board he said to the crew, “How did you know I was here?” To which they replied, “We saw your smoke signal.”     2. Cultivate your character. Think about Naomi for a moment. She goes to Moab with her husband and sons, leaving her friends and her country behind. We don’t really know from the book whether she wanted to go or not, but we do know that she cultivated her character while she was there. She continued to walk with God, even when her two sons married Moabites. She worshiped the true God when the entire culture bowed to Baal. She made the most of her situation by teaching Ruth about God. She had the courage to return to her land and then boldly told Ruth to make a marriage proposal to Boaz. She launched her matchmaking plan but she also knew how to be patient and wait on the Lord as she said in 3:18, “Be patient, my daughter, until we see what happens.” She submitted to God’s sovereignty.    Ruth reveals a woman who was extremely loyal. She stayed with her mother-in-law when she didn’t have to. She put her faith in God through Naomi’s example and then helped Naomi trust God when she felt like giving up. She was extremely industrious, working hard to gather grain. She was respectful and yet bold, willing to put some risk into her faith.     Boaz was a man of integrity and was greatly respected by everyone. He was known for his kindness and as a boss knew how to treat his employees. He followed the law by making sure the poor were cared for. He was a man of purity, even when he had the opportunity to be otherwise. He urged a relative to do what was right even though he wanted Ruth all along.    In the end, each of them was rewarded for cultivating their character. Naomi is now cared for, and is found holding her grandson at the end of the story. Ruth gets married and has a son who will eventually appear in King David’s photo album and is in the family tree of the Messiah. Boaz gets married and has the joy of passing along his faith to future generations.    Are you cultivating your character? Don’t sell out, don’t cave in, and don’t bail on God.     3. Receive the Redeemer. Just as Ruth saw reality in Naomi’s religion, and wanted it for herself, some of you are ready to receive the redeemer into your life. Ruth and Orpah help us see the options. They both had the opportunity to turn their backs on what they were worshiping and follow the true God. Orpah had started out to follow Naomi but then bailed. Many people do that today. They start out but never make a commitment to Christ. You might see them in church for a couple times but then they vanish. God doesn’t want a half-hearted commitment. He’s looking for people today who will say, “Your God will be my God.” Are you ready to do that?    We all need a redeemer. The Bible says that we need someone to rescue us from the slippery slope of sin. You might think that you can’t possibly be forgiven for what you’ve done. That’s not true. God can forgive anyone. He forgave a Moabite and He can give you a fresh start as well. And, just as Ruth needed to ask for redemption, so too, you need to ask Jesus to redeem you. Are you ready to curl up at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to save you?    According to the rabbi I talked to this week, one of the reasons modern-day Jews love the Book of Ruth so much is that it pictures the marriage relationship that God has with His people. He is romancing you right now. He longs to have a relationship with you, but you need to make the proposal. He’s waiting for you to ask Him. Another reason why Ruth is revered is because she is the first “believer by choice” in the Bible. She put her faith in the God of Abraham voluntarily and she did so with a full-fledged commitment.    In the Old Testament, a redeemer must be related by blood, he must be able to redeem, and he must be willing. Jesus took on flesh and blood so that He could relate to us. He is able to redeem because He has paid the price for our redemption and He is more than willing. Are you?    The Book of Ruth concludes with a genealogy. Did you know there are 41 separate genealogies from Genesis to Revelation? Have you ever stopped to wonder why? These family trees are really “faith albums” of God’s promises to His people. When God made the promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 that all families would be blessed through him, we see that God has grafted in individuals like Rahab and Ruth in order to bring David into the world. Then, when we come to Matthew 1, we see that the lineage of Boaz and Ruth from Bethlehem ended up in David’s greater Son, born of a virgin in a stable in Bethlehem.    Friend, just as God plucked Ruth out of a rough world and adopted her into the family faith tree, maybe you will be the first family in your line to follow Jesus. Your spiritual scrapbook may be brand new. Or, maybe you’re continuing a long-established family tree of faithfulness. Whatever the case, you carry on a heritage that cannot afford to be squandered.  Are you ready to receive the redeemer? Do so right now.

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Watchman-Examiner —

Vital Christian experience comes from knowing Jesus as the living Saviour.  Two irreligious young men were discussing the resurrection, telling each other why it was impossible for them to accept the doctrine.  Then a deacon of a near-by church walked by, and in a joking way one of the young fellows called to him, “Say, Deacon, tell us why you believe that Jesus rose again.”  “Well,” he answered, “one reason is that I was talking with Him for half an hour this very morning.”  We may all experience proof of the resurrection of Christ in the acknowledging of His living presence in our lives.  No one who knows Jesus personally questions the resurrection.
Watchman-Examiner

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Junior King’s Business — A little girl whose baby brother had just died…

A little girl whose baby brother had just died asked her mother where baby had gone.  “To be with Jesus,” replied the mother.  A few days later, talking to a friend, the mother said, “I am so grieved to have lost my baby.”  The little girl heard her, and, remembering what her mother had told her, looked up into her face and asked, “Mother, is a thing lost when you know where it is?”  “No, of course not.”  “Well, then, how can baby be lost when he has gone to be with Jesus?”  Her mother never forgot this.  It was the truth.
Junior King’s Business

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Ephesians 1:7-10 The New International Version — In him we have redemption…

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
Ephesians 1:7-10  The New International Version

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This Week’s Sermon — It’s Hard to be Humble…

It’s Hard to be Humble   By Robert Leroe  Psalm 131:1-8

Introduction…some Country/Western theology I want to share a story I heard last week in our adult Sunday School class. We were discussing humility and I mentioned the song “It’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way.” A member of the class related how the year after Mac Davis had a hit with that song, he was a presenter at a Country Music Awards show…and he hadn’t been nominated for anything. He confessed, “It’s not so hard to be humble after all!” The Bible is clear that the proud will be humbled.     Charles Spurgeon calls Psalm 131 one of the shortest psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn. He says it’s “a short ladder yet one that rises to a great height.” When we face trials, we know that divine help is available, but we’re prone to tell God ‘not to bother’, that we’ll take care of our problems on our own.     A. Humility (verse one) The psalm begins, “Lord, my heart is not proud.” St. Augustine listed “the three greatest virtues of Christianity: humility, humility, and humility.” Being humble is a choice to credit God, not ourselves, for our abilities, and then to use those gifts in God’s service. Psalm 131 is a song of David, who was elevated as king of Israel, yet one who knew humility. Just as David compares himself to a sheep under the care of a Shepherd (Ps 23), he compares himself here to a child in his mother’s arms.      Why is it that nearly all our Presidents remark upon attaining this high office that it is a “humbling” experience? Particularly after a year of campaigning, selling their qualifications to the voting public, and hearing daily how “great” they are. Once elected, they realize that they are bringing their finite, limited abilities to this office. They’re no longer tuned into the flattering praise; they’re thinking of the responsibilities and challenges that lie ahead. As Shakespeare put it, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”     Humility is an exclusively Jewish virtue. The ancient philosophers admired self-reliance. Humility was decidedly not on their list of virtues. Things haven’t changed much; our modern culture also downplays humility. We’re in an age where might makes right, where power and control are most highly regarded. It’s hard to even recognize pride as a sin when it is rewarded as an achievement. We have to go back to the Garden of Eden to see pride as the basic sin, of taking things into your own hands, being your own god, improving yourself by whatever means you can to get ahead, regardless of the price. The sin of pride is revealed in self-sufficiency, self-importance, self-righteousness and self-indulgence.      We mistakenly assume that the opposite of pride means being timid and insecure, to be and to attempt nothing. Humility is not inferiority or poor self-esteem; it is seeing our strengths and weaknesses honestly, and not letting either keep us from accomplishing what we need to do. Some people let misguided humility keep them volunteering to help their church. Humility is recognizing that our strength comes from God. He doesn’t need us, but He wants to use us. Our reach can exceed our grasp, because of capabilities we owe to God. Humility is not pretending we do not have gifts and abilities we know we have. Humility is simply making a truthful, modest estimate of ourselves. Pride causes us to lie to ourselves.     Proud people are usually involved with what they regard as important and significant things; they wouldn’t lower themselves with things “beneath” them. In contrast, David admits “I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.” Deuteronomy reminds us, “the secret things belong to the Lord our God” (29:29). We shouldn’t trouble ourselves over imponderable things. Maturity means accepting things we can’t comprehend. Anselm, an 11th Century monk penned this prayer: “I do not seek, O Lord, to penetrate Thy depths. I by no means think my intellect equal to them; but I long to understand in some degree Thy truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe, that I may understand.” This is the mature expression of a seasoned saint.     A present day believer, singer Steven Curtis Chapman, sings of his struggles, admitting in song, “the pain fell like a curtain on the things I once called certain and I have to say the words I fear the most-‘I just don’t know’.” He goes on to accept uncertainty because “God is God and I am not.”     David opens this psalm by acknowledging his humility, but he is not proud of being humble. In a Peanuts cartoon Linus tells Charlie Brown, “Oh yeah? Well, I’m twice as humble as you!” A minister wanted to be humble so he walked into the sanctuary and started crying out “I am nothing. I am nothing.” The associate Pastor picked up on this and he too began crying out, “I am nothing.” The custodian was doing some work in the church and hearing the ministers, he also began to repeat, “I am nothing.” The two ministers stopped, and the senior minister said, “Now look who thinks he’s nothing.”     B. Contentment (verse two) In Bible times children were not fully weaned till they were two or three years old. The completion of the weaning was often celebrated with a feast. A “weaned” child is one who is content-not anxious or demanding, but filled and nourished, satisfied, resting quietly beside a nurturing mother. The process of weaning is not usually a smooth one-there is lots of crying and distress. It’s not easy to quiet one’s self, particularly when we’re being denied some things we want. But weaning is a necessary stage of growth.      Some Christians worry because they no longer ‘feel’ the euphoric way they did when they first came to Christ. They may wonder if they’ve lost their salvation. Fortunately, being a Christian has little to do with feeling. The reason we no longer feel the same is that the ‘newness’ of our faith is past, and we’ve been weaned. Growth is part of life. We’re no longer infantile. We’re growing up in our faith; we’re in a new stage of development. Weaning is necessary if we are to mature. We’re moving from milk to solid food, and learning to be content.     Pride kills contentment and thanksgiving. When we admit that God is the Source of every blessing, we turn in gratitude and give Him the credit. Proud people are seldom grateful, because they don’t think they’re getting as much as they deserve. This past Thursday some people enjoyed turkey dinners and football games but without a word of thanks. Humility produces thankfulness as a normal aspect of our daily living. We don’t need a designated day to be thankful; we’re grateful all the time. We don’t take our blessings for granted, and we certainly don’t think we’re the source of our prosperity.     Babies initially regard their mothers as means of satisfying their needs-for food, protection, warmth…and gradually they learn to love their mothers for their own sake. In the same way we learn to live with God and trust Him–He becomes a vital part of our life, and not simply because of what we can get from this relationship. We simply appreciate God for Who He is.      Contentment requires quiet contemplation, which takes time, a commodity in short supply in our hectic world. How can we “still” our souls when we’re constantly distracted by all sorts of urgent issues? I assume that one reason we’re here in church is because we recognize the need to slow down and reflect on who we are, to get connected to God. We find our quiet place where there are no cell phones, where projects are placed aside for awhile, so we can focus on things eternal.     C. Trust (verse 3) When soldiers return from long deployments, their children often cling to them, afraid that they’ll leave again. We aren’t clinging to God in anxious dependency and insecurity-we are trusting God out of the calm assurance that He will never leave us and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.    In order to “hope in the Lord” we have to recognize our dependence on God. To be “haughty” (vs 1) means to regard one’s self as elevated-haughty comes from the word “high”. The spirit of this world tells people to “get ahead” and strive for “upward mobility.” To keep from looking down on people we may need some “downward mobility”. Before we put our hope in the Lord we have to cease placing our hope in ourselves.     Our trust in God may have been shaken by the events of September 11th. A missionary to Africa had this to say about trust: “I can show you the graves of missionaries who died what we would call premature deaths. If my trust were in God’s protection, my trust would have crumbled long ago. My trust is in God, in the belief that He is in control and that whatever happens will happen for His glory.” We can mistakenly place our trust in God’s protection rather than God Himself. Such misplaced trust can lead to disillusionment. Trust means we accept whatever happens as from God-for our good and His glory. Trust and hope are not temporary attitudes-they are sustained forces at work in our lives-“both now and forevermore.”

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Max Lucado — Fear. His modus operandi…

Fear.  His modus operandi is to manipulate you with the mysterious, to taunt you with the unknown.  Fear of death, fear of failure, fear of God, fear of tomorrow- his arsenal is vast.  His goal?  To create cowardly, joyless Christians.  He doesn’t want you to make that journey to the mountain.  He figures if he can rattle you enough, you will take your eyes off the peaks and settle for a dull existence in the flat lands.
Max Lucado

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Soothe My Soul

Soothe your soul with the beautiful sounds of the grand piano. 100% Pure Piano Piano by Eric Elder and Marilyn Byrnes

Listen Here!

Credits

  1. Marilyn’s Theme, written and performed by Eric Elder
  2. My Sanctuary, written and performed by Eric Elder
  3. I Am Alive, written and performed by Eric Elder
  4. There’s Always Hope, written and performed by Eric Elder
  5. I Believe, written and performed by Eric Elder
  6. Pride And Prejudice (Mrs. Darcy’s Theme), written by Dario Marianelli and performed by Eric Elder
  7. Everything I Do, written by Bryan Adams, Robert John Lange and Michael Kamen and performed by Eric Elder
  8. River Flows In You, written by Yiruma and performed by Eric Elder
  9. You Raise Me Up, written by Brendan Graham and  Rolf Løvland and performed by Marilyn Byrnes
  10. Joy To The World, written by Isaac Watts, arranged by Jim Brickman, and performed by Marilyn Byrnes.
You’re listening to SOOTHE MY SOUL, featuring 100% Pure Piano with five original songs by Eric Elder and five new favorites, performed by Eric Elder and Marilyn Byrnes. Also available in CD and MP3 formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re listening to SOOTHE MY SOUL, featuring 100% Pure Piano with five original songs by Eric Elder and five new favorites, performed by Eric Elder and Marilyn Byrnes. Also available in CD and MP3 formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Soothe My Soul Piano Book

And if you like to play the piano, or know someone who does, you can click the link below to view and download the sheet music for the first five original songs on this CD in the Soothe My Soul Piano Book.  This book is also available in paperback and eBook formats from our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Soothe My Soul Piano Book, by Eric Elder

 

Credits

Copyright © & ℗ 2012 Eric Elder ~ All Rights Reserved. Produced and Designed by Eric Elder, IMR Publishing.

Songs performed by Marilyn Byrnes were mixed and mastered by Gil Stober, Peak Recording & Sound, Bozeman, MT.

All songs are streamed from The Ranch by permission of the artists. Other uses are not permitted without written permission from the copyright holders.

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Soothe My Soul

You’re listening to SOOTHE MY SOUL, featuring 100% Pure Piano with five original songs by Eric Elder and five new favorites, performed by Eric Elder and Marilyn Byrnes. Also available in CD and MP3 formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re listening to SOOTHE MY SOUL, featuring 100% Pure Piano with five original songs by Eric Elder and five new favorites, performed by Eric Elder and Marilyn Byrnes. Also available in CD and MP3 formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

A Word from Eric

“Soothe your soul with the beautiful tones of the grand piano.”

Listen Now!

Credits

  1. Marilyn’s Theme, written and performed by Eric Elder
  2. My Sanctuary, written and performed by Eric Elder
  3. I Am Alive, written and performed by Eric Elder
  4. There’s Always Hope, written and performed by Eric Elder
  5. I Believe, written and performed by Eric Elder
  6. Pride And Prejudice (Mrs. Darcy’s Theme), written by Dario Marianelli and performed by Eric Elder
  7. Everything I Do, written by Bryan Adams, Robert John Lange and Michael Kamen and performed by Eric Elder
  8. River Flows In You, written by Yiruma and performed by Eric Elder
  9. You Raise Me Up, written by Brendan Graham and  Rolf Løvland and performed by Marilyn Byrnes
  10. Joy To The World, written by Isaac Watts, arranged by Jim Brickman, and performed by Marilyn Byrnes.

Songs performed by Marilyn Byrnes were mixed and mastered by Gil Stober, Peak Recording & Sound, Bozeman, MT.

Copyright © & ℗ 2012 Eric Elder ~ All Rights Reserved. Produced and Designed by Eric Elder, IMR Publishing.

All songs streamed from The Ranch by permission of the artists and through ASCAP and BMI. Other uses are not permitted without written permission from the copyright holders.

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Appendix to Romans: Lessons In Renewing Your Mind

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

The following five messages were written midway through the writing of the this series on renewing your mind.  They are included to highlight the importance of keeping your mind focused on God’s perspective on your life at all times.

May God bless you as you read these additional messages and may God give you the desires of your heart as you keep putting your faith in Him!

(Use the “Menu for Romans” to find these 5 special messages in the Appendix)

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Conclusion: “Brain Washing” In The Best Possible Way!

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2

My son is came home from Bible college a few weeks ago and said some people in his town think that all the kids who go to his school are brainwashed.  My son said, “They’re right!  We are!”

Their brains are washed in the best possible way, washed by God Himself, cleansed by His Holy Spirit, and renewed to look more and more like the mind of Christ every day.

As we wrap up this study of Romans: Lessons In Renewing Your Mind, I wanted to give you some final thoughts on how to keep your “brain washed” in the best possible way, too.

First, I want to encourage you to keep reading the Word of God.

My wife has been going through chemotherapy the last few months and spending a lot of time reading and memorizing God’s Word.  Once in awhile she’ll read a newspaper or magazine article about cancer and its devastating effects.  It always reminds her how much more hope and joy she has whenever she reads the Bible!  So she picks up her Bible again and starts reading it instead.  We could all do more of that!

As God said to the Israelites:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-8).

Some people might think that reading the Bible all the time is like burying your head in the sand and ignoring the problems in your life.  But there’s a difference between burying your head in the sand and burying your head in God’s Word!  Sand leads to suffocation and death, whereas the Bible leads to fresh air and life!

If you want to keep your mind as fresh and clean as possible, keep reading God’s Word as much as possible, every day, many times a day.  A pastor was once asked which version of the Bible was the best.  His answer?  “The one you read the most.”  Amen!

Second, I want to encourage you to keep surrounding yourself with other Christ-minded believers so they can “re-mind” you of God’s Word, too.

I know that there may be times when you may not feel like going to church.  I know that you may not feel like going to Bible studies and getting to know complete strangers.  I know that once you’ve gotten to know those complete strangers, they may do things that annoy you, or irritate you, or make you wonder why you ever bothered going at all.

But for all the potential pitfalls of interacting with others, there’s nothing more powerful than having a Christian brother or sister encourage you in your faith and life.

As the writer of Ecclesiastes said:

“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

Renewing your mind is hard work, but God doesn’t want you to do it alone.  He wants you to rely on Him, and He wants you to rely on His people, the body of Christ, who all share the same head, Jesus Christ.

We got a package in the mail last week that made us cry.  It came from a church we used to attend about 20 years ago.  In the package were a stack of cards from the church members and a check from the church.  We were so overwhelmed by this expression of love and care that we couldn’t even open the stack of cards.

When we finally did open them, our tears began to flow again—tears of joy and thankfulness for their thoughts and prayers for us during this time in our lives.  It was such a reminder to us of how the body of Christ works to lift us up in our time of need.

While it can be hard at times to invest your time in getting to know other Christ-minded believers, it’s an investment that will pay dividends for you and for them for years to come… for all eternity, in fact!

So first, if you want to keep renewing your mind, keep reading God’s Word.  Second, keep surrounding yourself with other Christ-minded believers so they can remind you of God’s Word, too.  And third, always remember that God LOVES you, He is FOR you, and He can work ALL THINGS for good in your life!

When I started writing this study almost a year ago, I had no idea what the year might hold.  I had no idea how my life was about to change as my wife was diagnosed with cancer.  Yet, as I’ve been rereading the whole book of Romans again this week, and rereading each of my messages from this past year, I’ve been reminded again just how much God loves me, is for me, and can work all things for good in my life, too.

And I’m positive that God loves you, is for you, and can work all things for good in your life.  How can I be so sure?  You don’t take my word for it!  You can take His!  Here are just a few reminders again of what Paul said in his letter to the Romans:

“But God demonstrates HIS OWN LOVE FOR US in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:3).

“If God is FOR us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31b).

“And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

If you’ve read with me this far, I’m sure that you love God and are called according to His purpose, too, so these words apply to you just as much as they applied to the Romans to whom Paul was writing!  Let God’s Word sink deep into your mind today.  Let Him speak words of love, words of support, and words of encouragement to you every day.

If you need a good “brain washing,” I’d encourage you to take some time to read and reread the whole book of Romans again (then take some more time to read and reread the whole Bible again!)  There’s nothing better to help you renew your mind than to wash it with the Word of God.  Surround yourself with other Christ-minded believers who can speak God’s Word into your life as well.  And always remember that God LOVES you, is FOR you, and can work ALL THINGS for your good.

As I said at the beginning of this study, one of the most powerful forces in the world in an idea.  Revolutions of all kinds have been sparked by mere ideas and even the smallest ideas can grow to either define… or destroy you.  That’s why it’s so important to make sure your ideas are in line with God’s ideas.

As Paul encouraged the Romans, let me encourage you:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for speaking to us through this amazing book called Romans.  Thank You for Paul’s faithfulness to write down what he learned from You so he could share it with others.  Help us to be faithful with what we’ve learned so we can apply it to our own lives and to help others apply it to theirs as well.  Wash our minds, cleanse our hearts, and fill us with Your peace.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 12:1-2.  The term “brainwashing” is often used in a negative way, referring to someone who has been convinced of something that is untrue.  But in light of today’s study, how can “washing your brain” with God’s Word work in your favor?

2. Who are some people in your life who are so filled with God’s Word that it seems to flow out of them whenever they speak?  What could you do to spend more time learning from and growing together with them?

3. Read Romans 8:28-39.  What verses from this passage stick out in your mind that are particularly helpful to you in your life right now?

4. Skim through the book of Romans again, or take an hour or so to read the whole book again.  Write down any words or phrases that God may be wanting to speak to you.  Hold onto those words and let God use them in the days ahead to continually renew your mind.

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Lesson 38: Believing And Obeying God

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 16:21-27

Today we’ve reached the conclusion of the book of Romans, the final words of Paul’s letter that punctuate his goal for writing it.  These words also underscore the purpose for which God wants you to renew your mind:  so that you might believe and obey Him.  Here’s what Paul said:

“Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey Him—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Romans 16:25-27).

Paul often concluded his letters by giving praise to God, just as he did above in this letter to the Romans.  Sandwiched in between his words of praise, he also mentions the purpose for which the mystery of Jesus Christ has been revealed:  so that all nations might believe and obey Him.  This is God’s desire for all people in all nations, including you and me—that we would believe and obey Him.

As I’ve mentioned in some earlier lessons, there’s a difference between believing in God, and believing God.  You can believe in God, yet still not believe Him—still not be convinced about who He is and what He can do in and through your life.  God wants you to believe in Him, for sure.  But He also wants you to believe Him when He tells you something regarding your life.  Then He wants you to take action based on that belief.

Believing and obeying God is a major part of renewing your mind.  God wants you to renew your mind so that you can bring your thinking in line with His.  When you do this, you’ll be better able to believe and obey Him, regardless of whatever life may throw your way.

I’ve been praying quite a bit this week for my wife Lana, who, as I’ve mentioned before, was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer a few months ago.  Apart from a miracle, the doctors say that this type of cancer is incurable and will shorten her life considerably.  As you can imagine, our faith has been put to the test on a daily basis regarding what we believe about God and what He is doing through all of this.  Yet with all that’s going on, we continue to find God’s peace in the midst of it.

How?  Because God has spent considerable time and effort over the years filling our minds with His thoughts about us, that He is for us, not against us, and that He will work all things for good, even in this.

At the risk of being extra-vulnerable, I’d like to share one of my journal entries with you from earlier this week.  I often write down my questions for God in my journal, and then listen for what He might be saying in response.  While I’m not always sure if the thoughts I attribute to God are really mine or His, they do give me a starting point for helping me think through what He might be trying to say to me.  With that disclaimer, here’s what I felt God was saying to me earlier this week regarding His will for Lana and her healing, most of which are thoughts that are based firmly in what He’s already written in His Word:

“Eric, you know My will is that she be healed, that she have no more pain, and that she never be separated from you.  You also know that in this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world.  Peace I give you, peace I leave with you, not as the world gives, but My peace I give you.  I know you believe I could heal her in an instant.  But I also know that you believe I can work all things for good, ALL THINGS, no matter what happens.  Eric, I have prayed for you that your faith may not waver.  Yes, I do give, and yes, I do take away, but I know and I trust that you will still praise Me.  Your faith is, of course, more precious to Me than gold.  Yes, pray for her healing, but also pray for her heart to be at peace.  Pray that she will continue to know that I am walking through this with her every step of the way.”

At that point, I asked God for a verse that might help me express this dichotomy I feel inside me, that while I trust in God fully for Lana’s healing, I also trust Him whatever the outcome may be. The verse that came to mind was from the book of Job.

While I sometimes think it’s cliche to think of Job when things are going bad in life, I also realize there’s a reason why people turn to Job when things go awry:  because no matter what happened to Job, he still gave praise to God!

The Bible says that Job was the greatest man among all the people of the East.  He was blessed with seven sons and three daughters, seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a large number of servants.

He was upright and blameless in all he did, even praying for his sons and daughters on a regular basis, offering sacrifices on their behalf in the early morning, just in case they might have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.

Yet for all his faith and all the good that he had done, tragedy struck.  In a single day, he lost almost everything with which God had previously blessed him:  his sons and daughters, all of his livestock and almost all of his servants.  Overwhelmed with grief, Job tore his robe and shaved his head.

But what encourages me about this passage is that through it all, Job still trusted God.  After all these terrible things happened to Job, the Bible says:

“Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’

“In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:20-22).

Even when life turned against him, Job still gave glory to God.  I can see why people might lose their faith when tragedy strikes.  But I can also see, from this story of Job, that it doesn’t have to be that way.  Job had no guarantees of what the future held, but he knew who held his future and he trusted Him implicitly.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he didn’t know what his future held, either.  As we learn from the book of Acts, Paul’s future had a fair share of tragedy as well.  But through it all, Paul trusted God implicitly.   He knew that God was able to strengthen him through Jesus Christ for whatever he might face and that God would be glorified through it all, no matter what happened.  As Paul said in his closing words to the Romans:

“Now to Him who is able to establish you [to strengthen you] by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ… to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen”

I don’t know what you’re going through today, but whatever it is, don’t let fear and doubt overtake you.  Take it all to Christ instead.  As Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

“…take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b).

No matter what comes your way, take it to Christ.  No matter what people say, take it to Christ.  No matter what life throws at you, take it to Christ. Let Christ speak to you in all situations.  Let Him have the last word.  Let Him override anything that anyone might say to you that is contrary to His Word.

The truth is that God loves you very much.  He is for you.  And He will work all things for your good, when you love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Whenever a thought comes your way that goes against what God says in His Word, ask Him to strengthen you through Jesus Christ.  Ask Him to renew your mind and to fill your thoughts with His thoughts, giving you the faith to believe His Words, so you can walk in obedience to whatever He calls you to do.

In whatever you do, keep glorifying God and enjoying Him through it all, which, according to the historic Westminster Confession of Faith, is the chief end of man:

“To glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”

As Paul said to the Romans, let me say to you:

“Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ… so that all nations might believe and obey Him—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for being able to establish us in our faith and help us to be obedient to You.  Renew our minds again this week, and help us to take every thought captive that sets itself up against You.  Fill us with faith, help us to walk in obedience, and may your name be glorified through it all.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 16:25-27.  What is God’s goal for the nations, according to this passage of Scripture?

2. Why is it so important to God that we believe and obey Him?  What difference can it make to Him, to us, and to others?

3. In what areas of your life could you use some strengthening in your faith today?

4. Is there a particular act of obedience that God might be calling you to do this week?  Ask Him to give you the strength and faith to do it.

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Lesson 37: Being Wise And Innocent

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 16:1-20

Once you’ve worked hard to renew your mind, God wants you to keep it renewed.  And one of the best ways to keep it renewed is to be careful of the company you keep.

Believe it or not, there are people out there who don’t have your best interests in mind.  They’ll use smooth talk and flattery to try to lead you astray from the teaching you’ve learned—teaching that has helped you in many ways in your life.

In the final chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul warns about such people.  Paul says:

“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.  The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:17-19).

If you look at this paragraph closely, you’ll find some secrets for how to detect when people are trying to lead you astray for the wrong reasons.

First, Paul urged the Romans, “to watch out for those who those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.”

God had taken a great deal of time to teach the Christians in Rome good solid truths about Himself and the Bible, and Paul wanted them to hold onto those truths.  In the same way, God may have taken a great deal of time to teach you some good solid truths about Himself and the Bible and God wants you to hold onto those truths, too.

If someone comes along and tries to teach you about a “new” truth, or “higher” way of looking at God and the Bible, be wise about how you listen to them.  Take what they say back to God and the Bible to see what He says about it in His Word.  While there’s value in keeping an “open mind,” you don’t want to keep it so open that all the good teaching you’ve already learned falls out!

Be a good student of the Bible, like the people in the city of Berea, who took even what Paul said and examined it carefully according to what they had already learned.  The Bible says:

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

Second, Paul gave the Romans some simple advice about what to do when they came across people who were teaching them things that were contrary to what they had already learned:  “Keep away from them.”

Why?  Because the company you keep matters.  If you don’t choose your friends wisely, Satan will be glad to choose some for you.  Satan knows that one of the best ways to lead you astray is to put people in your life who will pull you over to his side.

Paul gave a similar warning in his letter to the Corinthians when he said:

“Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33b).

How can you know who’s “bad company”?  By studying not just what they’re teaching, but by studying their character as well.  Paul alludes to this when he talks about the motives of those who might try to lead the Romans astray.  Paul says:  “For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”

Although it’s not always apparent right away, a little study of the people around you can go a long way in determining their true motives, whether they’re doing what they’re doing to serve the Lord Christ, or to serve their own appetites.

It makes me think of a girl who falls in love with a boy just because he tells her, “You’re beautiful.  I love you.  And I want to do something special to make you happy.”  All his smooth talk and flattery may work in his favor, but it may not work in hers.  If the girl were wise, she would study not only the words that are being spoken, but the motives of the person who is speaking those words.

If you’re wise, you’ll do the same: anytime someone tries to speak something into your life that runs contrary to what you’ve already learned, it’s helpful to study not only the words that are being spoken, but the motives of the person who is speaking those words.

I think it’s interesting to note that leading up to his warning about those who might lead the Romans astray, Paul begins his chapter by listing some “good characters” and what made them noteworthy or admirable, people that Paul knew personally in Rome.  For instance, he says:

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe… for she has been a great help to many people, including me.

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them… 

“Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

“Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you” (Romans 16:1a,2b,5b,6).

The list goes on and on, as Paul commends to them person after person:

“Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

“Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.

“Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

“Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ… 

“Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord… 

“Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too” (Romans 16:7-10a,12a,13).

If you want to learn something about a person, a personal recommendation like this goes a long way.

In choosing an eye doctor one time, Lana and I talked with a friend who worked for an eye doctor.  Our friend told us that when her doctor needed a doctor, he chose a particular man in town, having seen his practice long enough and knowing his character was strong enough that he trusted this other doctor with his own eyes.  So when we needed an eye doctor, we were able to benefit from his very personal recommendation.

Contrast this with another eye doctor we went to visit a few weeks earlier who, with his smooth talk and flattery, almost convinced us to come to him.  But  when we went home and looked into his life and practice a little more, we found out that his credentials weren’t quite as good as what he made us believe, and the bad recommendations we read about him just sealed our resolve to search for another doctor.

This isn’t to say that we might not be led astray at times by personal recommendations, too.  But many times, if we’ll take the extra effort to study the person as well as what they’re trying to say to us, we can save ourselves from being led astray.

Third, Paul concludes his warning with these words: “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”

Paul was full of joy over the obedience of the Romans.  Everyone had heard about it, he said, and he didn’t want anyone to take that away from them.  “Be wise about what is good,” he said, “and innocent about what is evil.”

Again, these are similar to words he wrote in his letter to the Corinthians:

“In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults” (1 Corinthians 14:20b).

Paul wanted the Romans—and the Corinthians—to put their minds to work, being wise about what was good.  At the same time, he wanted them to be like children in regards to evil, having nothing to do with it and being as innocent as possible.

What’s the end result of all of this?  As Paul said at the end of his warning::

 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

With all the work that goes into renewing your mind, be sure to keep it renewed by being wise about what is good and innocent of evil.  Study the teaching of those around you—and the character of those teaching it—before allowing their teachings into your mind.  As you protect your mind, God will protect you, and keep Satan at bay.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us to stay true to what we’ve been taught about You and Your Word.  Help us to study deeply any ideas, and the people behind those ideas, that are presented to us that conflict with what we’ve already heard from You.  Help us be wise and innocent so we can keep our minds pure.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 16:1-20.  What are some of the words that Paul uses to describe those whom he trusts in Rome, compared to the words he uses to describe those who might be trying to deceive their minds?

2. Can you think of some times when you’ve been led astray by smooth talkers who’ve been serving their own selfish interests?

3. Can you think of other times when you’ve been blessed by the wisdom and personal recommendations of true friends?

4. What are some ways this week that you can “be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil”?

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Lesson 36: Enlisting Others To Pray For You

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:30-33

Are you struggling with something in your life today?  If so, I’d like to encourage you to do something special:  enlist others to pray for you.

If you think asking for prayer is a sign of weakness, think again!  Asking for prayer is one of the strongest things you could ever do—and one of the best ways to keep you strong.

The apostle Paul knew this secret and often called on others to pray for him, as he did near the end of his letter to the Romans.  Paul said:

“I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed” (Romans 15:30-32).

Paul asked for prayer with boldness.  He urged the Romans to pray for him, “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit.”  And he didn’t just ask for a blanket prayer to cover him in all ways at all times.  He asked them to pray for him in specific ways, particularly in those areas where he struggled the most.  He asked that he would be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that his service in Jerusalem would be acceptable to the saints there, and that he would be able to come to them in Rome with joy and together with them be refreshed.

The dangers that faced Paul on his trip to Jerusalem—and then on to Rome—were real and significant.  If you read about his trip in the book of Acts (chapters 21-28), you’ll see that Paul was captured, imprisoned and threatened with death on several occasions, not counting the shipwreck that obliterated his ship along the way.  Paul needed prayer and I have no doubt that the prayers of the Christians in Rome helped to sustain him all along the way.

But it’s not easy to ask others to pray for you.  I know.  Just last week I was celebrating my 23rd wedding anniversary in New York City with my superb wife, Lana.  We had an awesome time, filled with fun, romance and a wonderful walk through Central Park.  But on the last day of the trip, I got sick—and not just a little sick, but a violent, wrenching sickness like I haven’t experienced in a long time.

At one point, Lana asked if she should call a few people and ask them to pray for me.  I said, “No, I’ll be all right.”  I hoped it would just pass quickly, and I didn’t want anyone to worry, as they knew we were on our special anniversary trip.  But as the hours passed and I was just getting worse and not better, I finally agreed to have Lana made a few calls.

Although the sickness persisted throughout the night and on into the next few days, I felt different immediately just knowing that a few other people were praying for me and checking in on me from time to time.  I was also able to see the fact that I was sick in a new way, realizing that my body was doing just what it should do in trying to forcefully expel whatever had maliciously entered into it.

It turned out I had the flu and the healing process that God had begun on that first day finally prevailed.  Thankfully, I’m almost back to full strength again.  Unfortunately for Lana, she got what I had a few days later, so we had to enlist others once again to pray for her!

The reason I bring this up today is to let you know that I understand what it’s like to need prayer, but not want to ask for it—especially at those times when we feel the weakest.  But the truth is, without prayer, we’ll just get weaker and weaker.  With prayer, God can give us the strength we need to go on.

I also wanted to tell you this story because prayer not only changes things, it changes the way you look at things.  Even though I still had to walk through the rest of my sickness, I was able to realize that the very things that was making me feel sick—the expelling of whatever had made its way into my system— was the very thing that was bringing my healing.  By being able to look at what was happening to me differently, I was able to better endure the rest of the time that I had to go through it.

Prayer really can renew your mind, and by enlisting others to pray for you, you can renew your mind even faster.

If there’s an area in your life where you’re struggling today, I want to encourage you to do as Paul did and enlist others to join you in your struggle—through prayer.  As Paul said,

“I urge you… to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”

There are all kinds of struggles you might be facing right now:  whether they’re struggles with lust or secret sins, fear or doubts, real or imaginary dangers, hardships, relationships or bothersome thoughts.  The list is endless.  The beauty of prayer is that it can address every single struggle you could possibly face.

One of my friends and mentors says that everyone needs a prayer team.  You don’t have to be in full-time ministry, or going through a particular crisis, to ask people to pray for you on a regular basis.  You could be an expectant mother or a struggling student, a successful architect or an aspiring teacher.  You could be married or single, with kids or without.  You could be needing money or managing your money.  You could be traveling full-time or at home full-time.  Whatever you’re doing and whatever you’re going through, you can benefit by enlisting others to pray for you.

Not sure who to ask?  You might ask a friend, or a co-worker, or a neighbor.  You might ask a pastor or a priest.  You might even ask someone you don’t know, like Lana and I did last week in New York, when we were visiting some churched there.  At one church, I sensed the man sitting next to me was truly “a believer.”  I could tell from his “Amens” that he not only believed in God, but he believed in the power of God.  So after the service, I asked if he would pray for us.  He was not only glad to pray, but he invited us to dinner, which we unfortunately had to decline because of our schedule.

At another church, we were talking to a man outside the church before the service.  Afterward, we reconnected again.  We asked if we could pray for him and then he returned the favor and prayed for us.

For years now, we’ve been asking for and benefiting from the prayers of others.  We’ve asked for prayer from family and friends, small groups and Sunday School classes.  We asked for prayer when we were single, when we were dating, when we got married, and when we started having children.

When Lana was diagnosed with cancer this year, she set up a blog to keep others updated and let them know how they could pray for us.  The effects have been tremendous already, as the prayers of others have given us an abundance of strength, wisdom, healing and encouragement.

If you’re going through a struggle in your life, you don’t have to go through it alone.  Enlist others to join you in your struggle by praying to God for you.  If you’re not sure who to ask for prayer, or just want to get some additional prayers from believers who love to pray, we have a special prayer page at The Ranch website setup just for that.  Just visit www.theranch.org to find it.

By the way, the apostle Paul did eventually make it to Rome, just as he had asked the Romans to pray for him.

It may not have been exactly the way he expected, or the timing he expected, but he did get there, through God’s strength—and the prayers of others.  As Luke recorded in the last chapter of the book of Acts:

“When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him… For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:30-31).

God answers prayer, and He loves when we enlist others to pray with us.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for showing us the value of enlisting others to pray for us.  Help us to reach out to others when we’re struggling so that we won’t become weaker and weaker, but grow stronger and stronger each day through Your strength.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 15:30-33.  What are some reasons people might be hesitant to ask for prayer?

2. What difference could it make if you enlisted others to pray for you?

3. In what areas are you struggling right now where you could ask others to pray for you?

4. Who are some specific people that might be willing to pray for you?

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Lesson 35: Assisting Others On Their Journey

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:23-29

One of the things I love about the human heart is that it’s wired to help others when they’re in need.  I see this repeated over and over:  when a natural disaster strikes a town, or when a terrible wrong is committed against someone who’s done right, or when a beloved friend passes away.  When people see a need, they often respond with caring hearts.

But even though our hearts are wired to help others in need, sometimes we need a little prompting.  Sometimes we need to remind our minds of the blessings we’ve received from others, and then our minds can nudge our hearts to respond as we should.

The apostle Paul gives two such reminders in his letter to the Romans.  The first comes when he tells them that he’s planning to visit them in the future when he passes through Rome on his way to Spain, and he hopes they’ll help him on his journey there.  Paul says:

“But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while” (Romans 15:23-24).

While mentioning that he is looking forward to enjoying their company for a while, Paul also mentions that he hopes to have them assist him on his journey to Spain.  I don’t think Paul was trying to “guilt” the Romans into helping him on the next leg of his missionary journey.  From what I’ve read about Paul in his other writings, I believe he simply knew that their hearts would want to help him on his journey.  After all, his own heart was wired in the same way.

Then in the very next paragraph, Paul mentions that he’s on his way to deliver a gift to his Jewish brothers and sisters who were in need in Jerusalem, gifts which he had collected from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia.  Paul says:

“Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.  They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ” (Romans 15:25-29).

Paul understood this blessing of giving and receiving, that when someone blesses you in your life, it is good and right and appropriate to share your blessings with them at some point in return, freely and voluntarily.

On a personal level, I know that my heart is often moved to help others on their journey,  especially those who have been a blessing to me.

When I first became a Christian, I remember hearing about “tithes and offerings,” giving ten percent and more of your income to the work of God in the world.  I hadn’t tithed before, not because I was against it, but because I simply didn’t have this principle in my mind yet.  But once I understood this principle in my mind, my heart was glad to respond―thrilled to respond, in fact.

I remember some of the first “big” checks I wrote to support the work of God in the lives of missionary friends I knew (at least they were big checks to me, as I had never done this before).  I was thrilled to be able to help my friends in a significant way each month.  I didn’t feel obligated or guilted into it in any way.  I just knew the blessing of hearing about Christ in my own life, and I was glad to help my friends share about Christ with others.  It’s all part of this idea of giving and receiving―sharing with others the blessings that God has given to us.

Now that I’m in full-time ministry myself, I sometimes have to remind myself that when I share about a need that I have, that God is often prompting others to respond at the same time.  I have to remember that it’s not an obligation or a burden to others to hear about and respond to my needs.  It’s the way God has wired our hearts.  Knowing this has helped me to be more open about the needs in my own life and I’ve been thankful to see how people have responded to those needs.

In the past few months, I’ve been amazed again at the generosity of others, including many of you, who have stepped in and helped my wife and me as we walk through my wife’s journey with cancer.

I have been humbled and reminded frequently just how good and kind and caring the human heart really is.  Sometimes we miss this truth, especially when we are bombarded with such bad news about the wicked things that people have done in the world.

Of course there’s bad in the world.  Of course there’s wickedness, greed, evil, and depravity. But all of this stems from good hearts that have been corrupted by sin―usually related to some kind of selfishness.  But when our hearts are right with God, something else takes over―something called selflessness; doing to others what you would have them do to you and giving your life for the sake of others, just as Jesus gave His life for us.

Assisting others on their journey is not foreign to the human heart.  But sometimes it does take a little prompting from our minds—and the Holy Spirit—to get our hearts in gear.

This week, I heard about some friends who have been praying about buying a van and a mammogram machine so they can go back to their home villages in Kenya and do cancer screenings for the women there.  Perhaps it was because of my wife’s recent diagnosis that my ears were especially attentive to their request.  My heart wanted to respond. I didn’t know what I could do or how I could help, but I was willing to find out.

I called my friends and listened as they talked about their hopes and dreams and prayers for this project.  I’m still not sure what I can do yet, but now my heart and mind are both engaged and attuned to the need.  As my friends move forward with their plans, perhaps we can find a way to take part along the way.

At the same time, I was surprised this week by a note from one of our readers overseas who asked if there was anything special Lana and I needed at this time.  He had been blessed by our ministry and wanted to do something special in return.  Although I hesitated to share our personal needs with him, I eventually did share a few things about which we had been praying.  Within a few hours, he responded to say that he was sending a gift that would not only cover those needs that I had shared, but would double the amount of what I had shared!

To me, this was a living example of what Paul was talking about in his letter to the Romans, where those who had received spiritual blessings from someone responded by sending a gift of material blessings in return.

The human heart really is wired to respond to the needs of others.  Oftentimes the only thing holding us back is making our minds aware of the needs around us so our hearts can respond.

With this in mind, I’d like to encourage you to be on the lookout for ways that God might want to use you this week to bless others, especially those who have been a blessing to you.  Perhaps you have a friend or relative who has gone out of their way to spend some time with you.  Perhaps you have a spiritual leader or mentor or a particular ministry than has spoken into your life in a special way.  Perhaps you have a project or a school or an organization which has been a blessing to you and now you can be a blessing to them in return.

I’m sure your heart is good and eager to assist others on their journey, but sometimes it takes a little reminder like this to jog your memory and bring it to the forefront of your mind.

I pray that as God renews your mind in this way that the natural response of your heart will follow.  Don’t ignore the promptings that God puts there. Don’t put them off until the feelings “go away.” Lean into those promptings and see what God may have in mind for you―and for those He wants to bless through you.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for blessing us in various ways through the people around us.  Help us to be attentive to their needs as well so that we can be a blessing to them.  Refresh our minds again today about practical ways that we can help them, then nudge our hearts to follow through on those thoughts.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 15:23-29.  In what ways could the Christians in Rome have possibly assisted Paul on his journey to Spain?

2. Read Acts 28:7-10.  In what ways did the people of Malta respond to the blessings they received from Paul? 

3. Who are some people in your life who have been a blessing to you?  In what ways might you be able to bless them in return?

4. In what ways could you open your mind still further to the needs around you in order to meet those needs yourself?  Consider praying that God would renew your mind in this area, so He can work His blessings through you.

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Lesson 34: Instructing One Another

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:14-24

One way to renew your mind is to teach others what you’ve been learning.  It’s a way to both review what you’ve learned, and to bless others at the same time.  So today, I’d like to encourage you to consider taking some time to teach others what you’ve learned in life.

Sometimes we get caught up by the idea that we haven’t learned enough to be able to teach anyone else anything.  Sometimes we think we need more training, or that others may be more qualified to teach than we are… both of which may be true.  But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t others who could benefit from what we’ve learned so far!

For some time now I’ve been praying for a drum teacher for my two younger sons.  They’ve been wanting to play the drums and we have a drum set, but they didn’t have anyone to teach them.  A few months ago, I ran across a high schooler who played the drums for a worship team in town.  I asked if he happened to give drum lessons and he said he did.  He pulled out a business card with his name on it.  At the top, it said:

“Drum Lessons For Beginners”

That was just what I needed!  I signed the kids up and they’ve been learning and loving the drums ever since.  What I loved about this high schooler was that he told us up front exactly what he had to offer:  “Drum Lessons For Beginners.”  He made no claims that he was the best drummer in town, or that he’d be teaching them advanced music theory.   But he did have exactly what we needed:  a willingness to teach what he had learned so far.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he told them that he had wanted to come to them many times before, but had so far been hindered from doing so.  I’m sure Paul would have been a great teacher for them, and they could have learned a lot from his time with them.  But Paul pointed out that they already had people to teach them— they had each other!  Paul said:

“I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another” (Romans 15:14).

Paul was convinced that they were already filled with enough goodness, knowledge and competence to “instruct one another.”  What a boost that must have been to the Roman Christians!  They didn’t have to be like Paul or wait for Paul to benefit from godly teaching about the Lord.  They had what it took to instruct one another!

Paul knew the power of an encounter with Jesus.  He had taken his own advice from the beginning of his ministry.  The book of Acts tells that within days after Paul had his life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was already telling others what he had learned.  The Bible says:

“Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.  At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’ Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah” (Acts 9:19b-22).

Even as a brand new Christian, Paul had something to offer.  “Bible Lessons For Beginners,” so to speak.  Yes, he preached to anyone who would listen, including kings and the highest religious leaders in the land.  But his heart always beat for sharing the gospel with those who had never heard about Jesus before.  That is, in fact, why he was so often hindered from going to Rome, where there were already Christians capable of teaching one another.  Paul said:

“It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written: ‘Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.’ This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you” (Romans 15:20-22).

Several years ago, I was shopping for a new Bible.  I like to read the Bible over and over and sometimes like to read it in different versions, because I learn something new when I do.  But as I was looking for a new Bible, I felt God was saying to me something like this:  “You don’t need another Bible, Eric.  What you need is to be writing to others what you’ve learned from the Bible already.”

I had already begun writing devotional messages like the ones I send out now each week, like this one.  In each message, I simply share a passage from the Bible and share how God has used it to speak into my own life, encouraging others to read their Bibles and let God speak into their lives, too.

I don’t make any claims that I’m better at reading the Bible than anyone else, or that there aren’t other people who may be way more qualified to teach the Bible than I am.  But what I do have, I’m willing to offer to others.  What I’ve learned from God through the Bible has so affected my life that I want to share it with everyone who will listen.

Although it’s good to learn as much as you can before teaching others, and to get as much training as you can, and to check and recheck your theology and ideas so that you’re not leading people astray, the truth is that the best prerequisite for teaching others about Jesus is that you’ve spent time getting to know Jesus yourself.

This is just what the Bible says about the first disciples.  After Peter and John healed a man, they spoke to the people gathered there who then heard their message and put their faith in Christ.  The rulers and elders of the people were astonished.  The Bible says:

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Peter and John were ordinary and unschooled men, yet they had one thing that many of you reading these words today have:  they had been with Jesus.

If you’ve been with Jesus, spending time with Him, reading His words, praying and interacting and learning from Him, then it’s not surprising that He would want you to share what you’ve learned with others.  As Jesus told His first disciples:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

One of the characteristics of being a disciple is making disciples.  It simply goes with the package!

Don’t let your training—or lack of training—stand in the way of sharing what you’ve learned with others.

When I first graduated from college, I spent five months in Bangladesh teaching some people at a disease research center how to use a computer program for their work.  I didn’t know much about the computer program myself, but I had a book about it and was able to read enough as I went along to test out the program and teach them what I learned along the way.

I imagine they might have learned more if they had taken a class from a professor in computer programming, or someone who had worked with the software for years already.  But there weren’t any professors in computer programming around, nor anyone else who had worked with the software before either!  But I was willing to go anywhere and work with anyone, so somehow God sent me.  The people I taught were grateful and I was blessed to be able to use my skills, no matter how limited, to help others.

I’d like to encourage you to consider sharing with others whatever God may have shared with you, whether it’s drum lessons, Bible lessons, or even these lessons on renewing your mind.

If you’ve been with Jesus, through the Spirit and through the Word, and have benefited from your time with Him, you can be sure that others can benefit from what you’ve learned, too!  I am convinced, as Paul was convinced about the Christians in Rome, that you yourselves are “full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”

Take whatever you’ve learned and share it with others.  You’ll be blessed as you review what you’ve learned, just as you’ll be a blessing to those who may be learning it for the very first time.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for teaching us so much about who You are and how You want us to live our lives.  Help us to share what we’ve learned with others so that we can pass on the blessings that You’ve passed on to us.  Help us to overcome our fears of speaking and writing, teaching and preaching, so that we can be like Paul, boldly going where no man may have gone before and  proclaiming the good news about Christ to everyone who will listen.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 15:14-24.   What was the message that Paul said he had been preaching everywhere he went?  And to whom had he been preaching that message to?

2. With all of Paul’s learning, training and experience, why do you think he still loved preaching to those who were brand new to the message of Christ?  

3. What kinds of things has God taught you from which you have greatly benefited?

4. Can you imagine anyone else who might benefit from learning what you’ve learned?  And if so, would you be willing to be the one to teach them?

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Lesson 33: Overflowing With Hope

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:13

I’d like to pray for you today that the God of hope would fill you with joy and peace so that you may overflow with hope.  This is what the apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Rome, as recorded in the book of Romans, chapter 15:

“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” (Romans 15:13).

What a prayer! Paul wanted them to be so filled with joy and peace that they overflowed with hope!   If there’s any day on the calendar that could give you hope, it would be Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day, the day that Jesus overcame death itself.  Because Jesus died and rose again, we who have faith in Him can know that when we die, we’ll rise again as well.  This is what I love about Christianity:  even in the face of death, there’s always hope!

My wife Lana was filling up a glass for one of the kids this week, but she filled it up too far and the glass overflowed and ran all over the table!  That’s the kind of hope that God wants to fill you with, too.  He doesn’t just want to give you a drop of hope, or a glass that’s half-full of hope, or a glass that’s even full of hope.  God wants to give you a glass that overflows with hope!

If you remember back in Lesson 10 of this study, you might remember that I wrote about a picture my daughter had given me.  The picture showed a hand reflected in the side view mirror of a car.  The word “HOPE” was written on the palm of the hand.  Below the word “HOPE” were the words on the mirror that said:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

You might also remember that this picture filled me with hope at the time because Lana had just been praying for another car.  Ours was on its last legs and we had to get a new one.  But the car she was praying for was twice what we could afford.  So I told her that night that I’d pray for the car she wanted, and added, “The same God who takes care of me will take care of you!”  It was my way of saying, “Sorry, I can’t help you on this one.  God’s going to have to do it Himself!”

The very next morning, as I drove into a parking lot to go to a men’s meeting, a man pulled in right behind me driving the very  car that Lana had been praying for!  I’d never seen this man or his car ever before!

When I got out of my car, I introduced myself and casually asked if he ever thought about selling his car.  He said he had just been thinking about it!  He said I could take a look at the car, so I sat down inside it and looked out the window.  That’s when I saw the side view mirror with the reflection of the car in it, and these words in the mirror:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

I couldn’t believe it.  I took a picture of the mirror with my phone and confessed my unbelief to God, reminding myself that God could do anything, absolutely anything.

Over the next few months, I checked back with the man several times about the car.  He wasn’t quite ready to sell and I wasn’t quite ready to buy.  But I kept the picture on the background screen of my phone from the day I first saw that car, as a reminder to myself that with God, there’s always hope.

As the months went on, I began to give up on the idea of ever getting the car for Lana.  The picture on my phone began to be more discouraging than encouraging, so I changed the background picture on my phone to something else.  But a few days later, I decided to put the picture of the car back on my phone.  I needed the reminder that with God, there’s always hope.

Then one day, a few weeks ago, we got a tax refund in the mail.  I had already decided that I would put the money towards a new car, and even though it wasn’t enough to get Lana the car she was praying for, I was glad to finally be going shopping for any car, as we had been borrowing cars from others and even renting them at times to get where we needed to go.

As I shopped around, I was disappointed in the cars I saw.  I tried to think of any way I could get Lana the car she had been praying for.  With a bit of desperation, I called a friend to see if she had any ideas, because she had recently bought a car similar to the one Lana wanted.  It turned out that she happened to be at the car dealership where they sold this type of car, a place she had only been to once before!  She looked around the lot  and found a car that was exactly what we wanted.  Not only was it the perfect car, it was the perfect price, too!

I drove home, picked up Lana and drove a couple hours to the car dealership to see the car.  By the end of the day, Lana was driving home in the car that just a few months earlier, I thought we’d never be able to get!

Now I don’t have to look at the picture of the car to give me hope… I can look at the car itself!  God continually reminds me that He’s the God of hope, and that He wants us to overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit!

God cares about the details of our lives.  Now I want to tell you why this answer to prayer is especially meaningful to me at this particular point in my life.

A few months ago, Lana was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, meaning that the cancer has already spread to her lungs, liver and spine.  The doctors say it will shorten her lifespan considerably and give us very little hope she’ll survive.

But that doesn’t mean that we’re without hope.  If you know my wife, you’ll know that she’s overflowing with hope!  Why?  Because we serve the God of hope!  Even in the face of death, there’s always hope!  The Bible says:

“But as for me, I will always have hope;  I will praise You more and more” (Psalm 71:14).

We recently heard a pastor say that when Satan shoots his fiery darts at you, just say “Thanks for the ammunition!” and throw them right back at him by giving praise to God in the very area that’s being attacked.  So as for Lana and me, we will always have hope.  We’ll just keep praising God more and more.  By doing this, we’re holding up our shield of faith, which, as the Bible says,

“… can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16b).

How can you keep renewing your mind, in both the good days and the bad?  By putting your faith in Christ for everything in your life.  Keep putting your trust and hope in Him.  God really can to anything, absolutely anything.  Hope is just around the corner.  As it says on mirror of Lana’s car:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for raising Jesus from the dead on Easter Sunday, so many years ago and thank You for promising to raise us from the dead one day, too, if we’ll just put our faith in Your Son.  I pray for each one reading this message today that the God of hope will fill them with all joy and peace as they trust in Him, so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions For Reflection

If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and for the assurance that you’ll be with Him forever in heaven, I pray you’ll do it today.  As Jesus said:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).  

Every one of us will die some day.  The question is what will happen to you on that day?  Jesus said if you’ll put your faith in Him, you’ll have eternal life:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  

But if you don’t put your faith in Jesus, you’ll have to pay the price for your sins yourself, as Jesus went on to say:

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:17-18).  

Jesus didn’t come to condemn you to hell, but to save you from it.  He doesn’t want you to die.  He wants you to live an abundant life, both here on earth and in heaven forever.  Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins.  Invite Him into your life to become your Lord.  Then live your life like it’ll never end—because if you’ve put your faith in Him, you’ll live forever!

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Lesson 32: Being Fully Convinced In Your Own Mind

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 14:1-15:13

It’s amazing how different people can see things so differently, even when looking at the exact same thing.  I recently heard about a Brit, a Frenchman, and a Russian who all looked at the same painting of Adam and Eve frolicking in the Garden of Eden, but came to three different conclusions:

“Look at their reserve, their calm,” said the Brit. “They must be British.”

“Nonsense,” said the Frenchman. “They’re naked, and so beautiful. Clearly, they are French.”

“Look at them,” said the Russian.  “They have no clothes, no shelter, and only an apple to eat.  Yet they’re being told this is paradise. They must be Russian!”

The same thing can happen to each of us as Christians.  We can all look at the same exact passage of Scripture, yet come to vastly different conclusions.  How can we live in unity with each other, even in the midst of our differences?  Here are a few ideas that the Apostle Paul gave the Romans, and which we can apply to our lives today:

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord… 

“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.  As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died… 

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall… 

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 14:1-8,13-15,19-21,15:7).

I love reading these verses because they remind me that I don’t have the ultimate answer to every question regarding the Bible.  I’ve come to many conclusions over the years and I feel fully convinced in my own mind that those conclusions are right.  Yet I’m reminded by these verses that there are some things that are even more important than being “right.”  Like being loving, caring, considerate and pleasing to God and to others.

In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin said that he was incredibly tactless in his youth, arguing with others to the point where no one wanted to talk to him anymore.  Yet he eventually became known as one of the most diplomatic men who ever lived, even becoming the American Ambassador to France.

What changed?  Franklin said it was something an old Quaker friend said to him when he was young.  Dale Carnegie, in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, paraphrased what Ben’s Quaker friend said that day, saying it went something like this:

“Ben, you are impossible.  Your opinions have a slap in them for everyone who differs with you.  They have become so offensive that nobody cares for them.  Your friends find they enjoy themselves better when you are not around.  You know so much that no man can tell you anything.  In deed, no man is going to try, for the effort would lead only to discomfort and hard work.  So you are not likely ever to know any more than you do now, which is very little.”

Benjamin Franklin took these words to heart and decided to make a change in his life.  As Franklin says in his own autobiography:

“I made it a rule to forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiment of others, and all positive assertion of my own, I even forbade myself the use of every word or expression in the language that imported a fix’d opinion, such as ‘certainly,’ ‘undoubtedly,’ etc., and I adopted, instead of them, ‘I conceive,’ ‘I apprehend,’ or ‘I imagine’ a thing to be so or so, or ‘it so appears to me at present.’  When another asserted something that I thought an error, I deny’d myself the pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and of showing immediately some absurdity in his proposition: and in answering I began by observing that in certain cases or circumstances, his opinion would be right, but in the present case there appear’d or seem’d to me some difference, etc.  I soon found the advantage of this change in my manner; the conversations I engag’d in went on more pleasantly.  The modest way in which I propos’d my opinions procur’d them a readier reception and less contradiction; I had less mortification when I was found to be in the wrong, and I more easily prevaile’d with others to give up their mistakes and join with me when I happened to be right.

“And in this mode, which I at first put on with some violence to natural inclination, became at length so easy, and so habitual to me, that perhaps for these fifty years past no one has ever heard a dogmatical expression escape me.  And to this habit (after my character of integrity) I think it principally owing that I had earned so much weight with my fellow citizens when I proposed new institutions, or alterations in the old, and so much influence in public councils when I became a member; for I was but a bad speaker, never eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in language, and yet I generally carried my points.”

Benjamin Franklin realized that there were more important things than being right.  And by giving deference to the ideas and opinions of others, he did win more friends and influence more people.

We as Christians can do the same.  It’s important to discover your convictions and hold onto them strongly.  But there’s a difference between holding strongly to your convictions at the expense of others, and holding strongly to your convictions for the sake of others.  One strives to be right no matter what, the other strives to build others up no matter what.  Which are you trying to do?

I know for me, I still have a long way to go in how I present my beliefs to others and how I listen to others when they share their beliefs with me.  In the end, I want the love of Christ to prevail.

It’s good to be fully convinced about what you believe.  Yet it’s also good to give God enough leeway to allow Him to speak into other people’s lives, just as He’s spoken into yours.

As you work on renewing your mind this week, remember that God is working on the minds of others as well.  Give them the grace they need to let God do His work in their lives, just as He’s given you the grace you need as He works in yours.  As Paul concluded:

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for speaking to us and giving us clear direction for our lives.  Help us to remember that You are speaking to others and giving them clear directions for their lives, too.  Help us to be mindful of the ideas and opinions of others, allowing for the possibility that they may just be right.  In the end, help us to accept one another, just as You have accepted us, in order to bring praise to You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 14:1-15:13.  Why does Paul say we should not condemn others for what they’re doing, when they’re doing it in accordance with the measure of their faith?  

2. What are some of the benefits that could come from fully convinced of something in your own mind?

3. What are some of the negatives that could result from imposing those beliefs on others, even though you may be fully convinced of them yourself?

4. What motivation does Paul give us in Romans 15:7 for why we should “accept one another”?

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Lesson 31: Thinking About Sinful Desires

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 13:8-14

My kids and I were window shopping in downtown Chicago last week.  We were looking at all the cool things in the Apple store on Michigan Avenue when my wife came up after finishing a doctor’s appointment.  She said she had seen a man outside in a wheelchair who was asking for money.  He didn’t look like he was doing very good at all.

She didn’t have much to give him, but she gave him what she had:  a little pocket change and a prayer.  When she asked if she could pray for him, he said:

“Yes!  Pray that God will give me a girl.  I think about making love (he used another word for it) with a girl all day long and I can’t get the thoughts out of my mind.  I’m just so lonely and I can’t stop thinking about making love with someone.”

After getting her thoughts back together—and refraining from trying to immediately cast something evil out of him—she began to pray for him, asking God to give him what he needed, even if it wasn’t the thing that he was asking for.

When my wife told me about it later, it reminded me of the verse that we’re looking at today in the book of Romans.  The verse says:

“… do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:14b).

Paul knew that even just thinking about gratifying the desires of the sinful nature could lead to doing them eventually.  As the apostle James said in his book:

“… but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15).

Just as good thoughts can lead to good actions, sinful thoughts can lead to sinful actions.  And sinful actions, when pursued in full, can lead to all kinds of destruction, even death.

It doesn’t take much imagination to think about what could happen if this man in his wheelchair did get a girl and was able to do with her whatever he wanted.  But if we’re honest with ourselves, the thoughts he expressed may not be so far removed from the thoughts any one of us have from time to time.  And if we don’t keep them in check, all kinds of terrible things could happen if we were to follow-up on our thoughts as well.

I was talking to another man this week who said he was having similar thoughts—although he used more palatable words.  He said he was just standing there admiring the beautiful curves of a particular woman he had seen when he suddenly realized what he was doing.  Before he let those thoughts overtake him, he reminded himself that he had died to his old sinful nature when he was baptized into Christ.  He was lonely, too, just like the man in the wheelchair, and he longed for a lifetime companion.  But he also knew he couldn’t gratify the desires of his sinful nature in the way that he was imagining.  So he took control of his thoughts, brought them back under the authority of Christ, and was able to walk away with a victory in his mind instead of a defeat.  What a blessing that was for him and for others who were spared from the destruction that could have ensued.

What my friend was doing was “putting aside the deeds of darkness and putting on the armor of light” as Paul described in the rest of his thoughts to the Romans.  Paul said:

“So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:12b-14).

It really is possible to take control of your thoughts.  When you do, you’ll be blessed and so will those around you.

If you look back even further in this passage, you’ll see why Paul was so passionate about helping others get control over their thoughts:

“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here” (Romans 13:11-12a).

Paul wants us to wake up from our slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  For years, people have been saying that Jesus is coming soon, just as Jesus said Himself almost 2,000 years ago.  The truth is, His coming is closer now that it’s ever been!  As Paul said, “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here!”  What a great thought and what a great motivator to do what’s right!

Don’t let the darkness overtake you.  Don’t give in to dwelling on thoughts that could lead to your destruction.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that Jesus isn’t coming back soon, because He is.  As Jesus said to the apostle John:

“Yes, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20).  

Jesus wants you to live your life to the fullest and the best way to do that is to live your life in the light.  This isn’t to say that it’s easy to overcome temptation.  But it is possible, and more than that, God will help you to do it.  As Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians:

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

You may have tried various ways to overcome temptation.  But Paul mentions something in this passage that we’re looking at today that may give you some extra help as you try to break free.  If you look back just a little farther still, you’ll see that Paul says instead of focusing on our sinful desires, we should focus on how we can express God’s love to others:

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10).

There’s a big difference between lust and love.  Lust, at its core, is all about selfishness and doing whatever you want to others.  Love, at its core, is all about selflessness, and doing for others what you would want them to do for you.  Instead of thinking about how you can gratify your own sinful desires, Paul says you’re to put on the armor of light, and think about how you can express God’s love to others.

I’ve shared before about my aunt who got some great advice from her doctor when she was going through some days filled with dark depression:  he suggested that instead of thinking about herself, she try to think about ways she could help other people.  By focusing on blessing others instead of wallowing in her own thoughts of despair, she was able to pull herself out of the darkness by focusing on others.  She began to bake food for friends, bringing them cakes, cookies, pies, or anything she thought they might enjoy.  She was able to get out of the pit she was in and, to this day, she continues to bless those around her, now from a place of victory rather than defeat.

The same can happen for those who struggle with sinful desires, which can bring about the same kind of darkness.  When tempted to dwell on thoughts that are potentially destructive to yourself or to those around you, you can take those thoughts captive and replace them with other thoughts.  Reach out and put on God’s armor of light, and let the light of Christ shine through you instead.  Replace your selfish thoughts with selfless thoughts, and you’ll begin to see God turn around situations that you may have thought were hopeless.

Take a meal to a friend.  Write a letter to someone who needs encouragement.  Put a check in the mail to someone who could use a financial boost.  Call a parent or an aunt or an uncle or a brother or a cousin or a friend you may not have seen or talked to in a long time.  It may seem like hard work at first, but soon you’ll find that the darkness is fleeing and the light of Christ is flooding into your soul.

Clothe yourself with Christ today.  Let His light shine through you.  Let Him use your hands and your feet, your words and your actions, to those around you who could use a touch from Him.  Let your mind wander about ways you can love your neighbor as yourself, instead of ways that you can gratify the desires of your sinful nature.  If you need some extra encouragement, just remember the words of Paul, who said:

“And do this, understanding the present time.  The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now that when we first believed.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for promising that You will come for us soon.  Help us to keep that at the forefront of our minds as we consider how to bless those around us instead of how to gratify our own sinful desires. Help us to take our eyes off ourselves and to focus on those things that You want us to do in the world.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 13:8-14.  Why does Paul say we should let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another?

2.  How can loving others help us to overcome sinful thoughts and actions in our lives?

3.  What are some practical ways that you could show your love to others, instead of dwelling on how you could gratify the desires of your sinful nature?

4. What are some other ways that you might “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ”?

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Lesson 30: Doing What’s Right

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 13:1-7

As we continue to look at ways to renew your mind, I’d like to look with you today at the way you view those in authority over you, whether they’re a boss, a parent, or even a government authority.  If you view authority with contempt, distrust, and disrespect, you’ll often find that same contempt, distrust and disrespect coming back to you.  But if you view authority with God’s perspective, trusting that even ungodly authorities can have a place in God’s plan in the world, then you can have much more peace of mind in the midst of struggles.

I remember working for a boss for whom I didn’t have much respect.  He often asked me to do things that seemed pointless.  We were friendly towards each other, but neither of us had much trust or respect for the other.

One day he asked me to fill out a survey that the company said was to be voluntary and anonymous.  But my boss required that everyone that worked for him had to fill it out, and because I was working out of town at the time, I was going to have to fax my survey to him, making it obvious that it came from me.  When he said I had to fill out the survey, I reminded him that it was supposed to be voluntary and anonymous.  Still, he said he expected to see my survey on his desk by the next morning.  I was furious.  While it may not have seemed like a big deal to him—asking me to fill out what he thought was a harmless survey—I was afraid if I gave my honest responses, it could jeopardize my future standing in the company.  And if I didn’t answer honestly, I was afraid I would be compromising my own standards of integrity.  So I decided I was just going to refuse to turn it in.

But as the day went on, God began to work on my heart, bringing to my mind the biblical view of authority.

The apostle Paul wrote about this view to the Christians living in Rome.  And from what I know about the way the Romans treated Christians at the time, I’m sure the Roman Christians had way more problems with their bosses than being asked to fill out inane surveys!  They obviously had it much worse than me, and yet here’s what Paul said to them:

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:1-7).

Paul encouraged the Roman Christians to “do what’s right.”  He knew that if Christians could respect those in authority over them, the benefits would abound all around, both to those they serve and to themselves.

Any parent knows that when a child is obedient and respectful, that child can often ask for most anything and the parent is happy to oblige.  Yet when a child is disobedient and disrespectful, the parent is often unwilling to give in to any type of request, for fear that the child might abuse whatever is given to them.  When a child shows respect and honor to a parent, that same respect and honor often returns back to them.

Going back to my earlier story with my own boss, I remember finally coming to the conclusion that it was more important to respect and honor my boss—even though I disagreed with him—because God had called me to respect and honor those in authority over me.  My boss wasn’t asking me to do anything immoral or illegal.  I just disagreed with his approach.  After expressing my disagreement, and his insistence that he still wanted me to do it, then I knew what I had to do.

I filled out the survey as honestly as I could and faxed it to him by the next morning.  My heart felt at peace.  I knew I had done what was right, even if it might cost me something down the road. To my amazement, my relationship with my boss changed starting that very day. I don’t know if it was something that changed within me, or something that changed within him—or a combination of the two—but over the next few months, he became my biggest supporter and my strongest advocate for every project I took on.  He knew he could count on me to do what he asked me to do and because of this trust, he gave me greater leeway in how I carried out my projects than he had ever given me before.

Like a horse that was finally broken, I felt I could now be useful to him in all kinds of ways.

This doesn’t mean that those in authority over us are always right, just as any parent knows full well!  Any parent can and will make mistakes—and the same goes for bosses and governments.  But just because those in authority over us don’t always do the right thing doesn’t mean that we can’t do the right thing.  As Paul said, “he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

Even men in the Bible like Joseph, Nehemiah and Daniel found ways to serve those in authority over them even though the people over them were often ungodly and did the wrong things.

Joseph was sold as a slave in Egypt, yet he still treated his masters with respect and honor, doing what was right and earning a place of respect and honor in their households, their prisons, and eventually in service to the king himself, being placed second in command over all the land.

Nehemiah was captured and put into the service of an ungodly king, yet he became the king’s cupbearer, a trusted position to ensure that no one poisoned the king’s wine.  When Nehemiah needed some time and money to go rebuild the walls around Jerusalem, the king honored his request, because Nehemiah had honored the king.  Daniel was taken as a slave to Babylon, yet he served the king with integrity in his heart and his attitude, earning the king’s respect and becoming one of his top officials.

I’m sure each of these men wanted to rebel against the authorities God had put over them at many points in their lives.  And on some occasions, they did have to disobey the ungodly and immoral commands of those in authority over them, rightly claiming that God had a higher authority in those particular instances.

When Potiphar’s wife asked Joseph to go to bed with her, Joseph refused.  When Nebuchadnezzar’s officials asked Daniel and his friends to bow down and worship the king, they refused. In both cases, Joseph and Daniel paid a significant price for their insubordination, but they were willing to do so because they realized that in some cases, it was more important to submit to the authority of God than the authority of men.  So there seem to be times when submitting to God’s authority trumps submitting to earthly authorities.  But those times are much fewer than most of us might like to admit!

The principle remains:  when we submit to those in authority over us, whether it’s our authorities on earth, or our Authority in heaven, we’ll have peace of mind, because we’ll know we’ve done what’s right.

If you’re wrestling in your mind with something that someone in authority has asked you to do, bring it to God.  Ask Him to help you to know what to do, then do it.  You’ll avoid punishment and your mind will be clear.  As Paul concluded:

“…submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:4b-7).

Will you pray with me?

  

Father, thank You for reminding us of the importance of submitting to those in authority over us.  Lord, give us Your wisdom as we weigh how to do that to the best of our ability, not only to avoid punishment, but because of conscience.  Help us to renew our minds in the way we think about those in authority over us, changing our hearts and minds and even our relationships with others as we do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 13:1-7.  Why do you think Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to respect those in authority over them?  What possible benefits could result from this type of submission?

2.  In what areas of your life could you benefit from putting Paul’s words into action?

3.  How could changing the way you view those in authority over you bring you more peace of mind?

4. How could changing the way you interact with those in authority over you bring about a change in your relationships with them?

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Lesson 29: Thinking Of Others

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:9-21

The story’s told of two friends who were walking through a desert together when one of the friends slapped the other in the face.  The one who was slapped wrote a note in the sand saying:

“Today my best friend slapped me in the face.”

But as they walked further along, the one who had been slapped fell into a pool of water and began to drown.  This time, his best friend reached down and pulled him out of the water, saving his life.  This time, the friend who was rescued etched a note on a stone saying:

“Today my best friend saved my life.”

When asked why he wrote one note in the sand and the other note in stone, the one who had written both phrases replied:

“When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand, where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away.  But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone, where no wind can ever erase it.”

Too often, we get this backwards:  we write people’s offenses in stone rather than sand, perhaps because they’ve hurt us so much, or perhaps to protect ourselves from being hurt again.  Then we write the good deeds that people have done for us in sand, forgetting over time just how significant those good deeds have been in our lives.

But according to the Bible, true love keeps no record of people’s offenses at all.  As Paul said to the Corinthians:

“Love… keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5b).

In the last lesson, we looked at the importance of thinking of ourselves properly, without falling into the traps of either pride or low self-esteem.  In this lesson, we’re looking at the importance of thinking of others properly, without falling into the traps of either conceit or comparison.

When Paul wrote about love to the Romans, he wrote a simple yet profound statement:

“Love must be sincere” (Romans 12:9a).

While this may seem obvious—that if we love someone we should love them sincerely—it’s not so easy to do.  For some people, it’s easy to fake love.

I know a man who seemed like he was a friend to everyone, describing himself as having “great people skills.”  Yet in private conversations with him, I discovered that he viewed others with various degrees of disdain, resentment and frustration, often thinking of himself as better than those around him.  The love he showed to others was based on keeping up his image in public more so than having true esteem for those around him.

His attempts at love were just a shallow imitation of what real love looks like.  Real love is sincere.  In Latin, the word “sincere” literally means “without wax,” (sine meaning without, and cera meaning wax).  Apparently, if a craftsman carved a statue in stone and accidentally nicked or chipped the carving along the way, he would fill in those spots with wax.  On the surface, the statue would look pure and faultless.  But after a while in the hot sun, the wax would melt and the truth would be known:  that which appeared pure and faultless at first was in fact quite flawed.

When Paul said that love must be sincere, or “without wax,” he was saying that love shouldn’t be just for show, but for real.

In the past, I used to think that the word “Sincerely” was just a formal way of signing off on a business letter, as I learned in business school back in college.  But in recent years, and knowing the meaning of the word “Sincerely,” I find myself using it more and more often.

When I write a note from the depths of my heart, I sign it, “Sincerely, Eric Elder.”  To me, it’s no longer just a formal closing, but a heartfelt statement saying, “I really mean this from the depths of my heart.”  It’s much closer to meaning “Love, Eric Elder” than I ever would have thought.  And that’s just what Paul said:  Love must be sincere.

I find that it’s helpful for me to check how sincere I am in my love for others by substituting the words “true affection” for “love.”  I might be able to say that I love someone, but when I ask myself if I have true affection for them, then the flaws in my love for them are revealed.

When this happens, I have to regroup my thinking and try to see them as God sees them:  as beloved children of His who have been created for specific plans and purposes here on earth.  When I change my thinking, it changes how I view others, and subsequently how I love and interact with them.  It doesn’t always happen in an instant, but I recognize it much quicker now when I do the “true affection” test!

In Romans 12:9-21, Paul includes more than a dozen statements about what real love looks like when it’s sincere.  Here are a few of those statements:

  • Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 
  • Honor one another above yourselves.
  • Share with God’s people who are in need. 
  • Practice hospitality.
  • Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 
  • Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 
  • Live in harmony with one another. 
  • Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
  • Do not be conceited.
  • Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 
  • Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 
  • If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 
  • Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath
  • Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

If you reframe each of these thoughts as a question, you’ll get some good ideas for what you might do this week, this month, or this year to show more love to those around you.  For instance:

  • What can you do to show your devotion to another brother or sister in Christ?  
  • What can you do to honor someone else above yourself?  
  • What can you do to share with other Christians who are in need?  
  • What can you do to practice hospitality towards someone you know?
  • What can you do to bless someone who is persecuting you?  
  • What can you do to rejoice with someone as they rejoice, or to mourn with someone as they mourn?
  • What can you do to live in harmony with others, rather than provoking continual discord? 
  • What can you do to be humble instead of proud, and to associate with people of low position?
  • What can you do to avoid being conceited?
  • What can you do to refrain from repaying anyone evil for evil?
  • What can you do to do what is right in the eyes of everybody?
  • What can you do to live at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on you?
  • What can you do to not take revenge on someone else, but leave room for God’s wrath?
  • What can you do to avoid being overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good? 

I know that I want to keep my love for others sincere, without wax, as pure and flawless as possible.  I want to have true affection for others, whether they’re close friends and family or just casual acquaintances or strangers or even enemies.

I want to think of others as God thinks of them:  as children of His, created by Him for specific plans and purposes here on earth.

I don’t want to be the kind of person who etches in stone those things that others have done wrong.  I don’t even want to write them in the sand.  I want to be able to keep no record of wrongs, recalling instead only the good that others have done for me in my life.

But I know that to do all of this it will take more than what I can do on my own.  It will take the love of Christ, living in me and working through me, to think of others the way God wants me to think of them.  If you want that, too, I hope you’ll pray with me today.  Pray that God will help you to love others in ways you could never have done on your own.  With His help, you’ll be able to express love to others as the apostle Paul encouraged the Romans to do, saying:

“Love must be sincere.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for loving each one of us and giving each one of us a purpose and a plan for our lives.  Help us to think of others in the same way that You think of them.  And help us to treat them with the love and honor that is due them.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 12:9-21.  What would it look like for someone to be devoted to someone else in brotherly love?   

2.  How can you honor one another above yourself, truly honoring them for who they are and who God created them to be? 

3. What are some ways you could “share with God’s people who are in need,” or “practice hospitality” towards those around you?  How can doing these things express your love in ways that words alone may not express? 

4.  What are some reasons God wouldn’t want you to take revenge on someone, but to leave it in His hands instead?  What are some ways you can bless your enemies or those who may be persecuting you, and what might be the result when you do?

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Lesson 28: Thinking Of Yourself

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:3-8

The way you think of yourself is often affected by what others say about you.  One of my favorite stories that shows the power of other people’s words over us is a true story told by a woman named Eddie Ogan.

Eddie says that when she was young, the pastor at her church challenged everyone in the congregation to prepare for a special offering to be taken up at the end of the month for a poor family.  Eddie, her two sisters and their mother were so excited about what they might do to help that they went home that night and came up with a plan:  if they ate only potatoes, turned off the lights, didn’t listen to the radio, got odd jobs and sold what they could, they might be able to save enough to help out with this special offering.

It turned out to be one of the best months of their lives.  By the time the month was over, they donated all the money they had save to the special offering:  $70 in all, made up of three crisp twenties and a ten.  They  felt rich.

Later that afternoon, the pastor of the church stopped by their house for a visit.  He left an envelope with their mother.  Their hearts sank as they went back in and opened it.  Out fell three crisp twenties, a ten, and seventeen one dollar bills.   Suddenly they realized that they were the poor family in the church.  They had never thought of themselves as poor before, but at that moment, they felt they were and they felt that everyone else must see them that way, too.

The next week, they didn’t want to go back to church again, but their mother made them.  A missionary was speaking about needing $100 to put a roof on a church building in another country.  The pastor asked his congregation if they could take up an offering to help these poor people.  Eddie and her family smiled for the first time in a week.  They put the contents of their envelope back into the offering.  When the money was counted, it was just over $100.  The missionary was surprised and said that the church must have some rich people in it to take up such an offering!

When Eddie and her family realized they had put in $87 of that offering, they realized that they were the rich family in the church!  “Hadn’t the missionary said so?”

Eddie says that from that day on, she’s never been poor again.

The way you look at yourself can often be shaped by what others say about you… whether for good or bad.  But God wants you to look at yourself for who you truly are:  a child of His, created to fulfill His purposes here on earth.  He doesn’t want you to think of yourself any higher, or any lower, than you really are.  Pride can ensnare you, but low self-esteem can be also keep you from reaching your fullest potential.

How can you think of yourself properly?  The apostle Paul gives us some perspective in his letter to the Romans.  In chapter 12, Paul says:

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:3-8).

When you realize that God has created you for a specific purpose, you can better see how you fit into the scheme of things here on earth.  Albert Einstein is quoted as saying:

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” 

God doesn’t compare you to those around you.  He compares you to the potential that He has put within you.  And that potential is often defined by how you act, or don’t act, “in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

If God has created you to prophesy, then prophesy in proportion to your faith.  If God has created you to serve, then serve in accordance with the amount of faith God has given you.  If teaching, teach, if encouraging, encourage, if giving, give generously, if leading, govern diligently, if showing mercy, show it cheerfully.

By living your life in this way, it releases you from the trap of comparing yourself with others and from the pitfalls of both pride and low self-esteem.

But living this way is easier said than done.

I recently finished reading a series of books called The Hunger Games.  It’s a gripping story about a post-war America, in which the leaders of the country pit children against each another in a fight to the death for the entertainment of the rest of the country.  As these gruesome games go on year after year, one girl stands up to the games and finds herself at the center of a revolution.

But throughout the book, this one girl, Katniss Everdeen, thinks she’s not the right person for the job.  She doesn’t want to be the face of the revolution.  She doesn’t see how she could possibly lead the charge.  Yet everything about her screams out to those around her that she’s exactly the person who can spearhead this effort to make things right again.

At one point in the story, she struggles with a decision about a particular strategy they’re considering, so she asks a friend what he thinks.  He says:

“I think… you still have no idea.  The effect you can have.”

When I read that line, I was considering fasting and praying about some situations in my own life and the lives of some people close to me.  But I was wondering if it would make any difference anyway.  Just then, I felt God speaking to me and saying, “Eric, I think you still have no idea, either, the effect you can have.”

God was right.  I had no idea.  But I was willing to give it a try.  I stepped up in faith, began fasting and praying, and over the next few days watched as God unfolded the answers to those prayers.

I felt like Katniss Everdeen, the girl who had no idea the effect she had on those around her, yet who sparked a revolution to change the course of history.  I felt no pride, and I felt no lack of self-esteem.  I felt like I was simply acting “in accordance with the measure of faith God had given me.”

Sometimes we’re unable to see ourselves for who we really are and it takes others to point it out to us.  But we have to be careful whose judgments we take into account.  As Eddie Ogan found out, had she chosen to believe the words of the person who said her family was poor, she might have felt poor her whole life.  But she chose to believe the words of the man who said she was rich instead.  Either statement could have been true, depending on how she looked at it.  In the end, she chose to believe what God said about her:  that her family had acted in faith to help someone else in need, and in doing so, were considered rich.

Sometimes we have to let the words of others sink deep into our hearts so that we believe them.  Other times, we have to do as Solomon said in the book of Ecclesiastes and let them just pass on by:

“Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you—for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others” (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22).

Not every word someone says about you is true, nor is it the whole truth.  Only God has that perspective.  Don’t think you’re stupid if you can’t climb a tree if God has created you to swim!

Renew your mind today in the way you think of yourself.  Take what others say with a grain of salt, then take it to God for His perspective.  Let God tell you exactly what He thinks of you, without getting puffed up and without getting down on yourself, but with sober judgment.  Then do what God has created you to do, “in accordance with the measure of faith that He has given you.”

Who knows?  Perhaps you’re like Katniss Everdeen, too.  You have no idea…the effect you can have.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us a purpose for our lives and thank You for giving us gifts to carry out that purpose.  Help us to put the gifts You’ve given us to use this week to a degree that we may have never used them before—according to the measure of faith that You’ve given us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 12:3-8.  How have words spoken to you through others either boosted you up or pulled you down?  Take those words to God and ask Him to give you His perspective on them. 

2.  Looking through this short list of gifts in the book of Romans, are there any that stand out that you feel God might have given to you?  Is there a way you could step out in faith and use one or two of those gifts in your life this week, this month, or this year? 

3. Paul lists some specific adjectives to describe how we are to use our gifts:  generously, diligently, and cheerfully.  If you were to use those words to measure how well you’re doing in using your gifts, how are you doing?  

4.  How could changing the way you think about your gifts change your approach to using them?

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Lesson 27: Being Transformed ~ Part 2

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2

In the last lesson, week we looked at three ways to renew your mind by taking control of the amount and types of media that you consume, from TV and movies to books, magazines, newspapers and blogs.  This week, we’re going to look at three more ways to renew your mind.  All three have to do with increasing how much you consume of something else in your life:  God’s Word, the Bible.

If I could give you just one idea for how to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” that far surpasses any other, it would be this:  to get as much of God’s Word into your mind as you can, as often as you can, and with as much understanding as you can.

When you do this, your mind will be renewed and your life will be transformed, just as the apostle Paul encouraged the Romans to do in his day when he said:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a).

So today, I’d like to give you three ways to get more of God’s Word into your mind:  1) read God’s Word, 2) memorize God’s Word, and 3) study God’s Word.

First, I want to encourage you to read God’s Word, and read it often.

Whether you read just one verse a day, one chapter a day, or ten chapters a day, if you’ll keep filling your mind with God’s Word, you’ll find that your mind is renewed on a regular basis.

You need more than just physical food to keep you going.  As Jesus said:

“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

God wants you to have spiritual food as much as physical food—and a steady diet of it.  The good news is that if you’re on a diet of God’s Word, there’s no limit to how much you can eat!  You can feast on God’s Word as much as you want, as often as you want!  You can never have too much of God’s Word!

Yet some people are famished in their spiritual lives because it’s been so long since they’ve had any spiritual sustenance at all.  Don’t let this happen to you!  If you don’t have a copy of God’s Word in a language that’s easy for you to read and digest, then I’d encourage you to get one soon.  There are also many websites that contain the entire Bible online for free.  One that I often use is called “The Bible Gateway” at  www.biblegateway.com.  This website contains the entire Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.

I’d also encourage you to have a plan in mind for how you want to read the Bible, whether you start at the beginning and read the whole thing from cover to cover, or whether you pick a plan that includes selected readings from various books of the Bible.  One website that has several plans for reading the Bible is called YouVersion at www.youversion.com.  If you go to their home page, you’ll find a variety of reading plans to fit your interest.  You can print them off and check them yourself, or have the system highlight a passage or send it to you by email each day.

I’ve done many plans over the years, both online and on paper, and I’ve liked each of them for different reasons.  My first time through the Bible, I just read it straight through in a year, reading 3 or 4 chapters a day, starting with Genesis and finishing with Revelation.  At other times, I’ve alternated between reading something from the Old Testament and something from the new, plus a reading from the Psalms or Proverbs every day.  And at other times, I’ve taken my time to read each passage as thoroughly as possible, taking three years to read through the entire Bible.

Currently, I’m going through a plan that my daughter tried last year and loved which takes you through the entire Bible in 90 days, called a B90X.  Since it takes an average reader about 90 hours to read through the entire Bible, this plans gives you about an hours worth of reading each day for 90 days.  If you read half an hour a day, it’ll take 6 months.  If you read 15 minutes a day, it’ll take a year.  I’m actually doing this 90 day plan by listening to the Bible for an hour each day on on my phone, using an app from the YouVersion website.  While I’m not able to get through a full hour every day, I’m hopeful that at least I’ll finish sometime this year—if I just keep going!

But whatever way you do it, just be sure to do it.  Read God’s Word over and over, and you’ll find yourself transforming as you do.

Second, I want to encourage you to memorize God’s Word.

Don’t think that you can’t memorize it, because you can!  Here’s a surprisingly easy way to memorize even whole chapters at a time.  If you’ll read the same passage of the Bible out loud every day for thirty days, you’ll often find out that you’ve actually memorized it by the end of the month, if not before, without even trying to memorize it.

My wife has done this with our kids, for instance, reading Psalm 139 to them every day, sometimes once, or twice, or three times a day.  Amazingly, the kids all knew the whole chapter word for word within just two weeks, and all they did was listen to it being read to them.  And of course, my wife was able to pick it up at the same time, too.

You might also want to try writing out a verse or two on a small card and carrying it with you wherever you go.  Then you can pull out the card whenever you’re waiting in line, or taking a walk, or riding in a bus or train or car, reading it over and over until you’ve gotten it stored away in your mind.  You’ll be amazed at how God can speak to you through just one or two verses from the Bible even while you’re memorizing it, and how it will come back to your mind at a later time, especially when you particularly need it.  Some people try to memorize the chapter and verse numbers along with the passages so they can easily find them later, while other people just focus on the words themselves.  Either way, the important thing is to “hide God’s Word in your heart,” as the Bible says:

“I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

If you’d like a list of some great verses to memorize, I’ve posted a list on my website called “The Top 100 Verses in the Bible.”  This is a list that you can read, print out, or write on note cards for yourself.  It’s free, and you can get it from the link below:
http://streams.theranch.org/Top100Verses.pdf

So my second recommendation is to memorize the Bible, so you can recall it to your mind whenever it’s needed.

Third, I want to encourage you to study God’s Word.

While you can get so much from reading the Bible just as it’s written, you can get even more out of it when you study it in-depth, whether on your own or in a group with others.

Even people mentioned in the Bible have found it useful to have others help explain to them what it means.  When a man from Ethiopia was reading the book of Isaiah, Philip saw him and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  The man from Ethiopia replied:

“How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” (Acts 8:31).

So Philip stopped and explained the passage to the man.  The man was so moved by what he learned, he put his faith in Christ on the spot and asked Philip to baptize him in some water nearby (see Acts chapter 8).

There’s a reason we have pastors and teachers, authors and speakers.  They’ve often spent a fair amount of time studying the Bible themselves, plumbing it’s depths and testing it out in the face of the reality of life.  By learning from their wisdom, you’ll be able to see some of the precious jewels they’ve already discovered, and you’ll be better able to apply them to your life as well.  Or, as Isaac Newton said:

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

When you take the time to learn from others who have gone before you, you too can stand “on the shoulders of giants,” seeing what they’ve seen and then going further yourself.  I’d also recommend talking to others about what you’re reading in the Bible.  As God said to the Israelites when He gave them His commands:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-8).

There’s so much to learn from others that I hope you’ll make use of the wealth of knowledge that is contained within the books and people around you.  Spend some time at a local Christian bookstore, if you have one nearby, or browse for books that might be of interest on websites like www.christianbook.com.  I’ve written several devotional books myself to encourage people in their Bible reading, several of which include study questions at the end of each chapter that you can use for personal reflection or small group discussion, like the questions I’ve included at end of this message today.

If you’d like any of my books to help you get more out of your Bible reading, you can get them anytime from www.inspiringbooks.com.

The Bible is so important to helping you understand life, which is why every one of my devotional messages contains at least one, and usually several, passages of scripture from the Bible.  I know that the most important things I could ever tell you are already contained in the words of the Bible.  The rest of what I have to say simply highlights or underscores what can already be found in God’s Word.

In conclusion, I want to encourage you to read God’s Word, memorize God’s Word, and study God’s Word.

When you do these things, you’ll find that you’ll be renewing your mind as you do, transforming your life and discovering God’s will along the way.  As the apostle Paul said:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us Your Word, and for those who have preserved it and translated it and helped us to understand it throughout the generations.  Help us to read Your Word on a regular basis, to hide it in our heart when we can, and to study it on our own and with others so we can learn as much as possible.  Lord, help us to renew our minds so we can transform our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 12:1-2.  What are some ways that reading the Bible has helped you to renew your mind?  And in what ways has renewing your mind helped in transforming your life?

2.  Have you ever read the entire Bible from cover to cover?  If so, how has that helped you in your life?  If not, in what ways do you think it might help you?  Are there any goals you have in mind for reading God’s Word this year?

3. What advantage do you think there might be to memorizing verses or passages from the Bible, compared to just reading it?  Would you like to try to memorizing some more passages of Scripture again this year?  Remember, here’s a link to the Top 100 verses in the Bible if you’d like some ideas of where to start:
http://streams.theranch.org/Top100Verses.pdf

4. What value have you gotten from reading other books about the Bible?  What value have you gotten from talking to others about the Bible?  Are there any steps you’d like to take this year towards studying God’s Word more in depth, whether on your own or with others?

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Lesson 26: Being Transformed ~ Part 1

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2

The name of this study, “Romans: Lessons In Renewing Your Mind,” comes from the verse we’re looking at today from Romans chapter 12:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a).

This verse contains two distinct thoughts for how you can transform your life, like two sides of the same coin.  On one side of the coin, it says:  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world…”  On the other side it says:  “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  They’re two different thoughts, but with the same goal, helping you become more and more like Christ.

Today I’d like to focus on the first side of the coin, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world.”  Next week, we’ll look at the other side of the coin, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

When Paul talks about “the pattern of this world,” he’s talking about what might seem “normal” in the world around us.  But the truth is that what’s normal in the world around us are thoughts and ideas that pull us in the exact opposite direction that God wants for us.  This is why Paul didn’t want the Romans to conform to the world around them—and why God doesn’t want us to conform to the world around us.

But how do you break out of what may seem “normal”?  How do you break out of “the pattern of this world”?

Here are a few ideas that others have passed on to me over the years, and I’m glad to pass them onto you.  These aren’t meant to be legalistic “do’s and don’t’s” for your life, but they’re good ideas that I’ve tested out and found extremely helpful in my own life.  So in that light, here are three ideas that might help you to avoid being conformed to the world around you.  And all three have to do with the media that we consume:   the TV shows, movies, and other materials we expose ourself to.

I’m not a TV basher, but before my wife and I got married twenty-two years ago, we read a book that encouraged us not to have a TV in our house for the first year of our marriage.  The author suggested that having a TV in your house is like having a third partner in your marriage.  It’s always sitting there, always available for a bit of entertainment or distraction, and could take away significant time from simply enjoying each other’s company during the first year of your marriage.  The author noted that the first year of marriage sets the stage for patterns that can become habits for the rest of a couple’s life, making it important to start good habits early on.

So we gave it a try.  It was radical idea among the people we knew.  I remember a family that came over one night and one of their kids started running around the house in circles, looking for a TV.  When he couldn’t find one, he started shouting with a bit of desperation in his voice, saying, “This is a house with no TV!  This is a house with no TV!”

But for us, we were so excited about getting married and spending as much time as we could together that it didn’t seem like we were giving up that much.  It was great to just spend our hours talking to each other, cooking together, and even doing dishes together.

When we finally did get a TV again, we were shocked at how much the programming seemed to have changed in the time that we weren’t watching.  Looking back, it’s hard to know if the programming had gotten so much worse, or if we had just been away from it for long enough to realize that the shows on TV were no longer “normal” for us.  It was now easy for us to turn it off and keep it off.

Over the years, we’ve gone through various seasons where we’ve watched TV and others where we haven’t watched TV.  But in general, that first year of marriage set a pattern for us that has held for more than two decades.  We’ve recently moved into the country where we only get three or four channels at most, depending on the weather.  For the most part, neither my wife nor I, nor our six kids, seem to miss it too much!  Our family has always grown up with TV on the “side burner” of our lives, not at its center, an idea that started for us over twenty-two years ago, and has continued to help us avoid being conformed to the pattern of this world.

“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world,” Paul said.  And by intentionally limiting the amount and the type of TV shows that we’ve watched, we’ve been better able to keep God’s view of what’s “normal” in plain sight, rather than the world’s view of life.

The second type of media that often impacts our worldview are the types of movies that we watch.  Prior to becoming a Christian, I would watch all kinds of movies, regardless of their ratings.  Someone challenged me, however, that it would be wise to not watch any movie that was rated R or above—an idea that again seemed radical to me at the time.  I was over 17, after all, and why cut out what might be good movies, just because they contained more adult content?  But I respected the person who told me, and began to look more closely at the movies I watched.

I noticed that whenever I would watch an R-rated movie, the images that stayed in my head the longest seemed to be those images that gave the movie it’s R-rating.  There may have been other redeeming qualities to the movies, but those images that stuck with me the most were those that were most questionable, whether the violence, or the cursing, or the strong sensuality.    I began to realize that if the people in Hollywood, whose morals and values were often much more loose than my own, felt that a movie had questionable content for the general public, then perhaps there was a reason for me to stay away from it, too!

A friend of mine recently told me that he, too, used to watch R-rated movies all the time, not thinking anything about it.  He thought he could handle it, that it didn’t affect him, he said, to watch women in little or no clothing, or to watch gruesome violence, or to listen to people repeatedly take God’s name in vain.

But then he got married.  When he brought home a stack of movies to watch with his wife, he saw it through new eyes:  hers.  After trying to watch a few movies with his new wife, she began to say, “Why are you watching that?”  She began to wonder what kind of man she had married, who thought that these kinds of shows were normal.  Now he chooses his movies much more carefully, not just because of his wife, but because he realized that the movies he watched were affecting his view of life and what he considered to be “normal.”

“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world,” Paul said.  By intentionally putting limits on the types of movies that you watch, whether it’s going by the rating systems that Hollywood has put in place, or checking out movie reviews first by people that we trust, such as www.pluggedin.com, you’ll find yourself better able to focus on God’s pattern for your lives and less on the world’s.

The third type of media that I’ve had to take control over are the things I read—the newspapers and magazines, blogs and books.  Words have power, and a writer can steer a person’s emotions in ways that can affect us for a lifetime, whether for good or for bad.

I remember a national newspaper that I used to love to read.  The stories were always interesting and educational.  When I read those stories, I learned so much about topics I had never thought about before.  I felt like the paper was keeping me “up” with current events and helping me have the inside scoop on what was going on.  But over time, I realized that whenever the paper wrote about topics that I already knew something about in-depth, I found that the authors were surprisingly one-sided in their views, leaving out opposing views or slanting the articles towards conclusions that were the exact opposite of mine.

I continued reading the paper because I was learning so much about other topics, but I began to wonder:  If the paper could take such a one-sided view of the topics that I did know about in-depth, what other ideas were they skewing in my mind on topics that I knew much less about?  As much as I loved the paper—and my company at the time even paid for my subscription—I decided to cancel it.  I didn’t want my worldview to be shaped by an organization that held such different core beliefs from my own.

This has also carried over into the books I read and the blogs that I follow.  My goal isn’t just to surround myself with ideas that are only compatible with my own, but to consider carefully what I’m reading and why, rather than just consuming the material because it’s interesting or intriguing.  Books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs all come with their own slant, no matter how much they say they are trying to remain neutral.  The important thing is to find out whether that slant is in line with God’s Word or not, then choose what you read based on that.

“Don’t be conformed to the pattern of this world,” Paul said.  And by being careful about what you read, making sure it lines up with God’s view of life rather than than the world’s view of life, you’ll find it much easier to resist the pull of the world on your heart and soul.

In all three of these areas—whether it’s TV show you watch, the movies you buy or download or rent, or the newspapers or magazines or books or blogs that you read—God wants you to be careful about what you take into your life.  You don’t have to be a prude and you don’t have to be legalistic.  Each of these media can have good, useful and redeeming values.  But if you want to see your life transformed, you’ll find that the process is much easier when you take control over the media that you consume.  You’ll begin to get your life back, your time back, and be able to see the world with a fresh set of eyes.

“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world,” Paul said.  That’s not just good advice from a first-century apostle to the Romans of his day.  It’s good advice for you and me in regards to the world of our day, too.

In the next lesson, I’ll share more about the flip side of this coin, with some practical ideas for how to you can “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  In the mean time, I pray that God will use the ideas I’ve shared with you today to spark new ways that you can avoid being conformed to the pattern of this world.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for helping us realize that You don’t want us to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Help us to cut out or limit those things that are harmful to us, causing us to conform to the pattern of the world.  Give us ideas for how we can do this in practical ways in our lives and in our world.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 12:1-2.  What relationship is there between offering your body to God as a living sacrifice and not conforming to the pattern of this world?

2. What dangers can you see in your own life that might stem from conforming too much to the pattern of this world?

3. Are there any ideas from today’s message that you might want to put into practice in your own life, or has it sparked any other ideas that you might want to try?

4. At the end of verse 2, Paul say that if you don’t conform and be transformed you’ll be able to “test and approve” what God’s will is for your life.  What does Paul mean by this?

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Lesson 25: Correcting Misperceptions

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 11:1-32

The way we perceive things isn’t always the way they are.  Yet those misperceptions can persist for years, causing us to miss the truth of what God might be trying to say to us.  It doesn’t have to be that way, however. God has a way of bringing the truth into our lives, if we’re open to it, in a way that can renew our minds and change our perspective on everything.

I had an email from a woman who wondered if Jesus could possibly love her—not because of something she had done, but because of who she was:  a Jew.  She had always been told that Jesus doesn’t love Jews.  Yet after reading some of the stories on my website, she was confronted with a new truth and wondered:  Is it possible that Jesus might love a Jew?

I don’t want to betray her confidence, but I would like to share a portion of her heartfelt letter with you because I feel that her words express something that we all wonder about at times:  whether or not God really loves us, too.  Here’s part of what she said in her letter.

I was sent your site by accident, and have been reading the stories.  The more I read the more questions I have.  I’ve never seen Jesus portrayed as this site does.  I should tell you that I’m Jewish and I believe in the one true G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

I’ve read some the stories on your site and have to wonder how they could be true, but I can’t stop reading them either, something just feels right about them.  My heritage has ingrained in me that Jesus isn’t for my people.  I can’t explain why, but I find some of the stories making me cry and I’m not one that cries easily.  It doesn’t make sense.  I don’t even know why I’m writing.  I’m just really confused.  How can this G-d of yours, be the G-d I’ve grown up with?  Would Jesus love someone who hasn’t been faithfully reading the Torah for a long time? 

I’m sorry, I know this doesn’t make any sense, and I’ve always been told that Jesus doesn’t love Jews.  But after reading some of the stories I just don’t know what to believe.  Is it possible he might love a Jew?

How would you answer a letter like that?  Could you find enough evidence in the Bible to show that Jesus really did love this woman?  And even if you could, how could you convey it to her in a way that she would believe it?

As for me, I shared that I could understand why she might wonder if Jesus loved the Jews.  But the truth is that Jesus was a Jew.  The twelve disciples were Jewish.  And the whole New Testament—which talks about Jesus—was written by Jews.  In fact, Jesus never left the land of Israel to go to any other nation, except for the brief time as a child when His parents took Him to Egypt to avoid being killed by King Herod.

Does Jesus love the Jews?  Absolutely!  But sometimes it’s hard to see the truth through all of the misperceptions that we’ve been taught or believed for so many years.

The apostle Paul faced similar misperceptions among the people that he ministered to as well.  Some of them believed that God had finally given up on the Jews, because Paul and others were now taking the gospel to the Gentiles.

But nothing could have been further from the truth.  In Romans 11, Paul said:

“I ask then: Did God reject His people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace”
(Romans 11:1-5).

God’s heart still beat with love for the Jews, and the apostle Paul was one of many of them.  Paul  himself regularly preached and ministered in the Jewish synagogues first whenever he arrived at a new town, just as Jesus did (see Matthew 4:26, 9:35, 12:9, 13:54, Acts 14:1, 17:2, 18:4, 18:19, 19:8).

But Paul, like Jesus, faced a fair amount of opposition in the synagogues.  When they were thrown out of the synagogues, they took their message just as zealously to the Gentiles in those areas.  After several years of this, it seems that some of the Gentiles began to think of themselves more highly than the Jews around them.  But Paul gave them this warning:

“I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either” (Romans 11:13-21).

Paul wisely warns the Romans not to be arrogant about God’s love for them, but to remember that they were grafted into the root because of their faith and that God wants them to stand firm in that faith to the end.

We all have misperceptions at times.  Whether we’re Jewish and questioning God’s love for us, or whether we’re Gentiles and becoming arrogant about His love for us.  In either case, God wants to bring His truth into our lives and clear up any misperceptions we might have.  He wants us to know that He loves us deeply, and to respond to that love in faith.

I was talking recently to a father and his college-age son who felt a barrier had grown up between them.  The father seemed to feel the son wasn’t interested in a relationship with him because of some of the things that had passed between them.  The son, likewise, felt that his father was no longer interested in a relationship with him because of the distance that he felt.

During our talk, the father said that not a day went by when he didn’t think about his son, and the son said that he wished he could find ways to spend more meaningful time with his father.  Yet these thoughts had gone unspoken for so long that both of them felt the other no longer loved or cared about them.  It was only when the Holy Spirit brought out these deep truths through our conversation that they realized that they both eagerly wanted their relationship to be restored, but didn’t know how to express it.  Tears flowed as they prayed together, having come face to face with the truth.  I pray they’re on a new path in their relationship with one another.

I also pray for the Jewish woman who wrote to me, that God would continue to speak His truth into her life and help her to respond to that truth in faith.  I know He can do it, for He has done it for me and for many, many other people throughout history.  I believe He can do it for you, too.

At the end of Romans, chapter 11, Paul breaks out into one of the most beautiful doxologies in the Bible—an eruption of praise to God:

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom
and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable His judgments,
and His paths beyond tracing out! 

‘Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been His counselor?’

‘Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay Him?’

For from Him and through Him and to
Him are all things. 

To Him be the glory forever! Amen”
(Romans 11:33-36).

If you need some of God’s deep wisdom and knowledge in your life today, I’d encourage you to call out to Him.  Ask Him to reveal more of His truth to you.  Ask Him to correct any misperceptions you may have about Him, or about your relationships with those around you.  Ask Him to guide you and direct you and point you in the direction He wants you to go, trusting that He will always lead you along a path that is absolutely the best for you.

Then, as He reveals His wisdom to you, I pray you’ll respond to it in faith, taking the steps that He wants you to take.  When you do, I hope you’ll find yourself like Paul, erupting in praise and saying:

“Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  … To Him be the glory forever!  Amen.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that we don’t always have the fullness of Your truth, but that if we come to You, You can pour it out on us in abundance.  Lord, reveal Your truth to us this week so we can clear up any misperceptions we have about You and about those around us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 11:1-32.  In verses 13 and 14, what does Paul say is one of the benefits he hopes will result from his ministry to the Gentiles? 

2. What would you say to someone who’s Jewish who wonders if Jesus might possibly love them?

3. In verses 17-21, what reason does Paul give for why some branches were broken off, and why others were grafted in?

4. What misperceptions might you have, whether about God’s love for you or about your relationships with others, that God might want to correct?  Call out to Him today and ask Him to reveal His truth to you.

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Lesson 24: Hearing The Message

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:16-21

We’re getting ready for Christmas here in Illinois!  We’ve put the tree up this afternoon, and last night went to see our teenage daughter dance in a special Christmas show.

And as we get closer to Christmas, I’d like to encourage you to take this time to get closer to God.  Christmas is the time of year when we celebrate that God came so close that we could reach out and touch Him―in the form of Jesus.  And it’s a great time to remember that God is still very close to us―even closer than you might think.  As Paul said to the men of Athens:

“God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27).  

God has been trying to get His message out to people in as many ways as possible, even using the heavens and the skies.  When Paul talked about this in his letter to the Romans, he referred back to Psalm 19 which says:

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His
hands.  

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.  

There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.  

Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the end of the world”
(Psalm 19:1-4a).

Yet even with the heavens and the skies proclaiming the glories of God, there are still people who don’t listen to them.  In Romans chapter 10, Paul laments the fact that so many of his Jewish brothers and sisters had missed what God was trying to say to them.  At the end of the chapter, Paul quotes what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people” (Romans 10:21).

What a sad picture to imagine God the Father holding out His hands to His children continually, yet they are unwilling to take hold of it.

At the same time, I realize that it’s not always easy to reach out to God, especially when you feel like you’ve been hurt by Him.

In the Christmas show we saw last night, the main character was a man who had tried hard to push God out of his life.  He hadn’t always pushed God out, though.  At one time in his life, he had a wonderful relationship with God.  He had married the woman of his dreams, had a young boy with her, but then tragedy hit: his wife was killed in a car accident.

From that point on, the man kept God at arm’s length.  Even though God continued to try to talk to him, the man kept pushing God away.  He could no longer believe in a God who either would not or could not save his wife from death.  It was simply more than he could bear.

Sometimes we’re like the man in this play.  When life doesn’t go the way we think it should, we wonder if God really is who He says He is.  We wonder if He really loves us as we thought He did.  We wonder if He’s really as powerful as He says He is in the Bible.  The truth gets muddied in the midst of life.

But what can you do when you start to lose your faith?  What can you do to try to get―or get back―that love relationship with God that He says in His word that He wants with you?

Thankfully, Paul gives us the answer to that as well.  Paul says:

“Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Or as it says in the New King James Version:

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17, NKJV).

If you want to increase your faith, one of the best ways you can do it is to immerse yourself in the word of God.  When you do, you’ll hear the message that God wants you to hear―the message of Christ, the Savior who came into the world at Christmas to demonstrate God’s love for you in person.

While God speaks through the heavens and the skies, He has also spoken through many people, as recorded in the Bible.  As you read God’s words in the Bible.  You can hear what God said to people like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, or to Moses out in the desert, or to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob throughout their life-long journeys.

You can hear what God said to Sarah and Hannah and Mary and Elizabeth.  You can hear what God said to Peter and John and the woman at the well.  And as you hear God’s words as spoken to others in the Bible, it makes it easier to recognize His voice when He speaks to you as well.

I know as I hear the stories in the Bible, my faith comes alive.  I start to ask God how He might work in my life in the same ways.  Faith really does come from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I also want to encourage you to not just read these stories once and then be done.  The word “hearing” in this passage has the meaning of “hearing continually,” or in other words, “hearing and hearing and hearing.”  So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing—not just by having heard.  Read the Bible, and keep reading, then you’ll see your faith start to grow.  As D.L. Moody said:

“I prayed for faith and thought it would strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. One day I read, ‘Now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now began to study my Bible and faith has been growing ever since.”

If you’ve got a Bible nearby, I hope you’ll read it.  If you don’t have a Bible nearby, I hope you’ll get one.  There are so many great Bibles these days―and in so many languages of the world—that it would be sad if those who had access to God’s Word didn’t read it on a regular basis.  If you don’t have a Bible in print, you can also read it online in multiple languages and translations at places like www.biblegateway.com, or www.blueletterbible.org.

And if you’d like to hear how God is working in people’s lives today, I’ve put dozens of stories that you can read in the story section of The Ranch website at www.theranch.org. God is still speaking to people today, and I’d love for you to hear the stories of how God is using His Word to build people up in their faith.

In the show we watched last night, the man who had pushed God away finally reached the breaking point where he could no longer take it.  He realized he had to either give up on life, or give in to God.  He chose to give in to God, to surrender His life to God’s plan for it, and in so doing, he found that he was also finally able to hear God speaking to him.

As we get closer to Christmas this year, I hope you’ll use this time to get closer to God.  Take Paul’s words to the Romans as God’s words to you for building up your faith:

“So then faith comes by hearing [and hearing and hearing and hearing], and hearing by the word of God.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for speaking to us in so many ways and so much of the time.  Help us to hear Your message to us today, so we can respond to it in the way You want us to respond.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 10:16-21. Have you ever sensed God speaking to you through nature, as Paul implies when he quotes from Psalm 19?

2. Why do you think some people still don’t listen to God, even when He might seem to be speaking to them clearly?

3. Why do you think Paul is so sad for his fellow Israelites, based on the words he quotes from Isaiah in verse 21?

4. Based on verse 17, what are some steps you can take in your own life to increase your faith? Why not commit to taking them today?

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Lesson 23: Holding The Rope

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:13-21

When William Carey was raising funds in England to support his missionary work in India, he told people he felt as if there was a man drowning in a well and calling out for help.  Carey said he was willing to go down into the well to save the man, but he needed some people to hold the rope for him while he went.

Several men volunteered to help Carey in his work, “holding the rope” for him back home, raising funds and praying so he could do the part God had called him to do.

While the way people do missions has varied throughout the years, the idea of “goers” and “senders” has not.  God continues to call people to go and preach His message to people throughout the world, and He continues to call others to help send people on their way.

The apostle Paul talked about this idea in his letter to the Christians in Rome.  Paul said:

“…for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:13-15).

In the past, these verses have conjured up in my mind a vision of missionaries climbing over the top of a mountain in some remote jungle, bringing the good news of Christ to the people in the valley below.  As the villagers would hear this good news being proclaimed to them—news that was like music to their ears—they would exclaim, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

When I read that passage today a different vision comes to mind.  Why?  Because, in many ways, I’m now a missionary myself, writing to people all over the world to encourage them to put their faith in Christ for everything in their lives.  The scenery is different, but the principle is the same.

Instead of climbing a misty mountaintop, I’m sitting at my desk in my bedroom, looking out over miles and miles of wide open spaces.  I’m on the second floor of a two-story, traditional American farmhouse in the heart of the great midwest.  There are no mountains to block my view, and only a few other farmhouses dotting the ground in the distance.  The corn and soybean fields have been harvested for the year, so all that’s left is a clear view of the horizon in every direction.

Yet when I push the “send” button on my computer, I realize that this message I’m writing right now will make its way over the plains, across the country, under oceans, into the sky and back down to the earth again.

Within an a instant, this message will show up in places like Papua New Guinea, an island half-way around the world in the South Pacific, where someone just signed up to receive these messages on Monday, saying,

“I will be very much excited to receive the news & also pray to strengthen each others faith.”  

Almost simultaneously, this message will also show up in an inbox in Nigeria, a country in western Africa where someone wrote to me last week saying,

“I have been far from God.  Most times I start and end my day without praising or praying to God.  My bible is always beside me and most times I don’t open it. How do I strengthen my walk with God, how do I make him priority, and how do I become consistent with my maker????  Please advise me on what steps to take.”

At the same time, it will appear on someone’s cell phone in the UK, where a woman wrote to me this week saying,

“You are so right about thinking of Jesus as a saviour and sometimes not having Him as Lord of our lives too. Today’s reading made me take stock of what you said, and I recommitted and surrendered my life afresh and asked Jesus to be Lord of my life also as well as being my saviour.”

Missions is changing, but the message stays the same.  When Jesus told His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation,” (Mark 16:15) He didn’t put any limits on where to go, how to go, or to whom we should go.  He just said to, “Go!”  Jesus wanted His disciples to take the message as far as they could, starting in Jerusalem, spreading out to Judea and finally to the ends of the earth.

As we’ve been looking at the book of Romans for ways to renew our minds, I want to remind you that the goal of a renewed mind is not simply to renew your thinking but to renew your actions, too.  Jumping into God’s plan regarding missions is one of those actions that God wants you to take, whether it’s as a goer or a sender or both.  God wants you to be one of those people about whom it is said:  “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

For some of you, this may be a reminder of what God has already called you to do.  For others of you this may be a confirmation of what God has been stirring in your heart in recent weeks or months.  And for some of you, this may be a totally new thought—a totally new direction that God wants you to take in your life.  Whatever the case, I want to encourage each of you to get involved in whatever mission God has put in front of you.

I was privileged to see an evangelist this fall named Reinhard Bonnke while he was speaking at a youth conference in Chicago.  He’s ministered to millions on the African continent, with crowds so large that in just one meeting his team saw over 1 million people fill out decision cards to put their faith in Christ.

Yet, at age 71, he recently got onto FaceBook.  At first, he wasn’t sure if he was interested.  But when someone showed him a demonstration of how it worked, the way he could connect with people around the world, and the ease with which he could get a message out, he was sold.  He looked at the screen and said, “It’s a pulpit!”

Now he personally posts several short thoughts each day on Facebook.  Over 381,000 people have “liked” his page and several hundred people now comment and interact with him and his thoughts on a daily basis.  His mission is the same as it’s been his whole life, it’s just taken on a whole new dimension!

A few years ago I read a conversation between David Yongii Cho, the pastor of the largest church in the world—located in Seoul, South Korea—and Rick Warren, the pastor of one of the largest churches in America.  As they were talking about their next steps for future growth, they both pointed to the same thing:  the Internet.  Pastor Cho, who had over 750,000 members in his congregation at that time, said “we are so jammed that we have no way to keep growing except by going into cyberspace!”

Pastor Warren responded, saying, “No matter how much land you have it eventually fills up.  We were running over 10,000 in attendance before we built our first building. So we know how to grow and minister without buildings. But what we are trying to learn now is how to do it through the Internet into the homes.”

Now, several years later, both churches have strong and vibrant Internet ministries, providing spiritual support and encouragement to members in home groups around the world.

As the world grows, God wants to use every means possible to reach as many as possible before the end comes.  Considering that the world has added another billion people in the last twelve years, and is expected to add another billion in the next ten to twenty years, it’s no surprise that God is using all kinds of new technologies to reach more people in an instant than ever before.

Amazingly, you don’t have to be a famous evangelist or the pastor of a huge church to have an impact on people all over the globe.  I’m surprised some days to think of just how many people I reach from my little bedroom office here in central Illinois.  To put it in perspective, I read that Reinhard Bonnke once had a tent built for his crusades in Africa that could hold 34,000 people.  It was the largest tent ever built in the world.

Yet when I finish writing this message tonight and push the “send” button, God will take these words and send them out to more than 35,000 people in more than 160 countries who have signed up for these messages over the years—that’s more people than can fit in the world’s largest tent!  That’s amazing!

It’s more possible today than ever before to fulfill Jesus’ command to “Go into all world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  And if you’re a follower of Christ, God wants you to be part of the process.

Whether you’re a goer, a sender, or both, God wants you to be involved in His mission.  God doesn’t just want to renew your mind—He wants you to put what you’ve learned into action.  As the apostle James said:

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).

Let me encourage you to get involved with God’s mission, whether it’s going, or sending, or both.  Try starting a spiritual conversation with a friend on FaceBook.  Look into a missions trip with your church or with other groups who are taking the gospel to others.  Consider supporting a missionary, or two, or three, or more with your prayers and your financial gifts.

Without trying to sound self-serving, I’d love to have your help with our ministry as well!  We’ve been richly blessed over the years to have many people come alongside us and support our work so that we can do the part God has called us to do:  encouraging as many people as possible to put their faith in Christ for everything in their lives.  In many ways, I feel like William Carey as he was going off to India.  I’m willing to go down into the well to save as many as I can, but I need some rope-holders to help me as I go.

If you’d like to help “hold the rope” for us, you can learn more about our ministry and make a donation on our website at www.theranch.org.  I think you’ll enjoy seeing what God is doing through this ministry whether you decide to get involved in our work or not.

But whatever God puts on your heart to do, let me encourage you to do it.  As Paul said:

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?”

When you take part in God’s mission, people will be able to say of you:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for making it more possible than ever before to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  Show us how we can be involved in Your mission in the world today and in the days ahead and give us the faith to do what You’ve called us to do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 10:13-21.  In verses 13-15, what steps does Paul say are involved for someone to put their faith in Christ?

2.  If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, can you see how each of those steps might have been involved in your own decision-making?  If you haven’t yet put your faith in Christ, which step do you think might be needed next?

3. What steps could you take in your life right now to get more involved with God’s mission in the world?

4. Read Philippians 4:19.  Ask God to give you the faith, strength and resources to be involved in His global mission in ways that go beyond whatever you’ve done so far.

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Lesson 22: Believing In Your Heart

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:1-13

There were once five frogs on a log.  One of them decided to jump off.  How many frogs do you think were still on the log?  … Four?  … None?  … Nope.  All five.  One of them just decided to jump off.

There’s a difference between deciding to do something and doing it.  There’s a difference between believing in something in your mind and moving that belief deep down into your heart so that it can take root and spring into action.

Throughout this study of the book of Romans, we’ve been looking at ways to renew your mind and the difference that can make in your life.  But if all you do is focus on your mind and never move what you’ve learned down into your heart so those truths can be put into action, then all of this will just be an intellectual exercise.

God wants you to do both:  He wants you to renew your mind and believe what you’ve learned in your heart so that it can make a difference in your life.

In Romans chapter 10, Paul tells the Romans what it takes for someone to be saved.  He says:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”
(Romans 10:9).

This is one of the greatest statements of faith found in the whole Bible.  If you can say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you’re also declaring that no one else is Lord, not even yourself.  And when you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you’re saying that you believe in the resurrection—and that one day you’ll be raised from the dead, too, if you’ve put your faith in Christ.

This sums up two of the most important ideas of what it means to be a follower of Christ:  that Jesus is both your Lord and Savior.

Many people want a Savior—someone to save them from their sins.  But not everyone wants a Lord, someone who calls the shots in their lives.  But the truth is, it’s awesome to have Jesus as both Lord and Savior.  Why?  Because when He’s your Savior, he’ll save you from your sins.  And when He’s your Lord, He’ll put you on a path that keeps you from having to be saved from quite so much in the future!

When I saw at age 24 where I was headed in life, I realized that it would have been better if I had let Jesus call the shots instead of me.  I asked Jesus to be my Savior—to forgive me of my sins—and also to be my Lord—to take control of my life from that point on.  Now that I’m 48, I can say that this second half of my life has been significantly better than the first half (and I loved the first half, too!  I just didn’t realize how much trouble I was causing for myself and others along the way!)

Now I have a purpose for my life that propels me forward and I have Someone to go with me along the way, guiding and directing me so I can make the most of the time I have here on earth.

How does this apply to you?  Have you come to the place in your life where you’ve confessed with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead?  If so, that’s the best decision you could have ever made in your life and it’s the starting point for your life with Christ.  But it doesn’t end there.  God wants you to follow through on that decision and take a leap of faith, jumping off the log and jumping into His full-blown plan for your life.

I know of a young man who has put his faith in Christ and is theologically brilliant.  He’s well-versed in Scripture and has sound doctrine.  But he’s recently started dating a non-Christian girl, going against God’s stated desire for him in his life.  As it says in the Bible:

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Like King Solomon, he’s going to find out some day that all the wisdom in the world is worthless if you don’t put it into practice.  King Solomon was, as the Bible declares, the wisest man who has ever lived.  Yet he didn’t put that wisdom into practice when it came to his relationships, going against God’s clear warning to the Israelites about not taking wives from those that didn’t believe in Him.  God said:

“You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods” (1 Kings 11:2).

Yet that’s exactly what happened:  Solomon married women who didn’t believe in God and they led him astray.  Wisdom is only valuable if you move it from head knowledge to believing it deep down in your heart and putting it into practice.

Someone in this situation might think:  “But I could lead this person to Christ, and God wants me to lead people to Christ, doesn’t He?”  Yes, that’s right.  But if it means violating one of God’s other pieces of wisdom along the way, then it’s more likely to do harm than good.  God wants you to follow His plan for your life in all areas, not just the ones that appeal to you.

I know men who are in love with other men.  They compare their relationships to the close friendship that Jonathan had with David.  They say that God wants them to have close male friendships.  And on that point I agree:  God does want them to have close male friendships.  But then God draws a line—as He does with all relationships outside of a husband and wife committed for life—warning that if you become involved romantically and physically with anyone else, you’ll do more damage than good.  If God says something is destructive, no matter how good it may seem at the time, in the end, it will be destructive.

Jesus is glad to be your Savior, but as I said before, if you’ll let Him be your Lord, too, you won’t need saving from quite so much!

Maybe the area you need a Lord today is in your finances, helping you decide where and when to spend your money.  Look in the Bible and you’ll find your answers.  God has great wisdom regarding finances, whether it’s saving or spending or giving your money away, like this:

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

But you’ll have to put that wisdom into practice so that you can make good and godly decisions.

Maybe the area you need a Lord today is in your health, helping you to know what to eat and what to drink and how to take care of your body.  Again, look in the Bible and you’ll find your answers, like this:

“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive (1 Corinthians 10:23).

While you can justify almost anything, that doesn’t mean everything is equally good for you!  Look closely at God’s Word for your answers and then put what He says into practice.

Maybe the area you need a Lord today is in your relationships, helping you know how to act and react to those around you.  The Bible contains a wealth of wisdom on this topic, too, like this:

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).

Applying a verse like this to your life could bring more healing and wholeness to your relationships than you could ever achieve by any other approach.

I’m sure you’re getting the idea.  God loves you incredibly much.  And He’s glad to save you from those things that plague you in your life.  If you’ll let Him be your Lord, too, and not just your Savior, you won’t need saving from quite so much.

If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, I’d encourage you to do it today.  Confess with your mouth that, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and as this verse in Romans says, you will be saved.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, I’d encourage you to follow through on that decision.  Keep digging into God’s word to find out what He wants you to do with your life.  Then don’t just decide to do what He says.  Jump off the log and do it!  Keep believing in your heart that Jesus is both your Lord and Savior.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for being so interested in our lives that You’re willing to be both our Lord and Savior, saving us from our sins and guiding us into godly living.  Help us to make wise decisions so we can follow You in every area of our lives, then to follow-through on those decisions and put them into practice in our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 10:1-13.  What was Paul’s heart’s desire for the Israelites?  Why did he say in verses 2-4 that they were not able to receive it?

2. What can you do in your life to keep from being like the Israelites Paul mentioned?

3. Why does it seem to be important to both confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead?

4.  If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, are you ready to do it today?  And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, how are you doing at following through on that decision in your life?

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Lesson 21: Trusting In The Potter

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 9:1-33

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of the three trees, where each one had a glorious dream for their future.  One wanted to be crafted into a beautiful treasure chest, covered with gold and filled with precious jewels.  Another wanted to be turned into boards for a mighty sailing ship, carrying kings and queens across the sea.  The third didn’t want to be cut down at all, but wanted to grow as tall as possible, pointing people towards God as they looked up into its branches.

A day came, however, when each of the trees were cut down and taken away.  The first was turned into a feeding trough, not a treasure chest.  The second was too weak to be used for a mighty ship and was was used for a common fishing boat instead.  The third was deemed too worthless for much of anything, and was cut into pieces and thrown into the scrap pile.

Rather than seeing their dreams fulfilled, each of the trees felt abandoned and without hope.  It’s a tragic story and one that has been repeated many times, in many lives, over the years.  It may even be part of your story.

Maybe you’ve had dreams of getting married, raising a family, and serving God with your whole heart, only to see your dreams dashed by divorce, adultery, and kids who have all but lost their faith.  Maybe you’ve had dreams of being wildly successful in business, giving generously to the poor and needy, only to find yourself being poor and needy instead.  Maybe you’ve stepped out in faith to start a new ministry, or a new job, or a new life in a place where you really felt God had called you, only to find yourself far from home and wondering why you ever left in the first place.

Rather than seeing your dreams fulfilled, you may feel— like the trees in the story—abandoned and without hope.

If so, I want to encourage you today to keep putting your faith and trust in God.  Keep remembering that God is the Potter and you are the clay.  Keep trusting that He is molding and shaping you into exactly what He wants you to be.  As the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 9:

“But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why did You make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” (Romans 9:20-21).

Sometimes we bristle at the thought that we don’t fully control our own destiny.  None of us wants to be like a puppet on a string, pulled this way or that by some unseen puppet master.  Yet when you put your faith in God and let Him take control of your life, you can trust that He will guide you and direct you in ways that are better than you could have imagined.

I had a friend this week who was wondering if she had been shortchanged when God passed out the BLT’s—the Brains, the Looks and the Talents.  She wondered why others seemed to have gotten so much more in some of those areas.  But the truth is, she wasn’t shortchanged at all.  First of all, she had actually been given huge amounts of each, but couldn’t see it for herself.  Secondly, I assured her that God had, in fact, given her everything she needed to fulfill His plan for her life.  As Paul said to the Ephesians:

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

If God has prepared good works in advance for you to do, He will give you everything you need for the walk He’s called you to walk.  And He’ll continue to do so, even if it seems like you’re going in a direction than you had planned.  The key is to keep putting your faith and trust in the Potter, remembering that He is FOR you and will work all things together for your good.  When you put your faith in God, you put a smile on His face.  As the writer of Hebrews says:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

God is pleased when you put your faith in Him, and He will reward you when you earnestly seek Him.

This, after all, is what the whole book of Romans is about.  Paul is continually telling the Christians in Rome that it is their faith that matters most to God, not their righteous acts or their heritage—whether they were born Jewish or Gentile.  In chapter 9, Paul laments the fact that so many Jews have missed the fact that God wants them to come to Him by faith.  Paul begins by saying:

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen” (Romans 9:2-5).

Paul sees the noble heritage that the Jews had been given because of the faith of Abraham.  Yet Paul also says that just because someone is a descendant of Abraham doesn’t mean they are actually people of faith.

“For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’  In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring” (Romans 9:6b-8).

Paul then goes on to describe how God raised up various people for various purposes, whether it was Isaac or Jacob or Moses or Pharaoh.  Some were for noble purposes, and some for common use, but all were for His glory.

God wants you to keep putting your faith in Him.  And when you do, He’ll reward you!

Remember the story of the three trees?  It would have been tragic if their story had ended when all their dreams were dashed to pieces.  Thankfully, their story doesn’t end there.  Their dreams were eventually fulfilled—but in a way that went beyond all that they could have imagined.

The first tree didn’t get to become a treasure chest that it had hoped, covered with gold and filled with precious stones.  It became a feeding trough for animals instead.  But one day, it was covered with golden straw, and when the most precious treasure of all was laid inside it—the Son of God—the tree realized its dream had been fulfilled.

The second tree didn’t get to become the mighty sailing ship that it had hoped, carrying kings and queens across the sea.  Instead, it was used for a common fishing boat.  But one day, that boat carried a group of men who were caught in a fierce storm on a lake.  One of the men stood up and said to the wind and the waves, “Be still,” and they obeyed Him.  As soon as the tree realized what had been done, it realized that it was carrying no ordinary man, but the King of all kings, the One who had created the whole universe.

And the third tree, the one that didn’t want to be cut down at all, but point people to God whenever they looked up into its branches?  Eventually its boards were pulled from the scrap pile and used as the cross on which our Savior was crucified.  And when Jesus rose from the dead three days later, that tree realized that from then on, whenever anyone thought of the cross, their thoughts would be pointed towards God.

You may feel like your life isn’t working out the way you had dreamed.  You may feel like you’re not in the place that you had hoped to be.  But don’t give up on God—and don’t give up on your dreams.  God has a way of fulfilling them beyond what you could imagine.

I know of families who have weathered the storms of divorce and adultery and have come out on the other side praising God and helping many others along the way.  I know of people who have lost their businesses and homes and things of this world who are now giving away more than anyone else around them, because they’ve learned what it means to give everything to God.  I know of people who have struggled in faith and sometimes wondered if they were doing the right thing, but eventually discovered that God was in it every step of the way.

Don’t give up on your dreams, and don’t get upset if things aren’t working out the way that you had hoped.  Keep trusting in the Potter.  Whether He wants to use your life for noble purposes or common use, it’s all for His glory.  Your Father really does know best.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are in control, even when our lives seem out of control.  Thank You that You are the Potter and we are the clay.  Help us to be moldable and shapable by You today.  Help us to continue to trust in You, that You will reward us when we believe in You and earnestly seek You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 9:1-33.  How do you feel about letting God be the Potter, and trusting Him to mold you and shape you as He sees fit?  What might be appealing or unappealing about this idea?

2. What is it that Paul wished for his Jewish brothers and sisters in this passage?

3. Why does Paul say in verse 6 that “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel”?  What’s the difference?  Consider verses 30-32 in your response as well.

4. Read Hebrews 11:6.  What does God seem to want from you more than anything else right now, and what can you expect from Him as a result?

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Lesson 20: Knowing That God Is FOR You

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:31-39

I have a riddle for you today.  Can you answer all seven of the following questions with the same word?

1. The word has seven letters

2. Preceded God

3. Greater than God

4. More evil than the devil

5. All poor people have it

6. Wealthy people need it

7. If you eat it, you will die

I’ll give you the answer at the end of today’s message.  But for now, I’d like to talk to you about Romans chapter 8.

In the last lesson, I talked about how God can work ALL things together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.  In this lesson, I want share why God works all things for your good.  It comes because God is, ultimately, FOR you.  And if God is FOR you, who can be against you?  That’s the question the apostle Paul asks at the end of Romans chapter 8:

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all―how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is He that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died―more than that, who was raised to life―is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us”
(Romans 8:31-34).

It’s easy to wonder sometimes if God is really FOR you.  You lose your job and it makes you wonder what happened.  You get a horrible report from the doctor and you wonder what you did wrong.  You open an email from a friend to discover some news you wish you had never read and you wonder how God could be working in this, too.

Yet the truth is that God IS for you.  He loves you deeply and cares about your life more than you could possibly imagine.  He is as heartbroken about the things that break our hearts as we are, yet He has a perspective that is greater than ours.  He can see the good in situations that we can hardly grasp while we’re going through it.

Often it’s only through hindsight that we can see what God saw in foresight.  That job loss wasn’t the worst thing that happened to our career after all, but actually helped us leapfrog forward.  That bad report from the doctor turned out to deepen our faith rather than shatter it.  And that email from a friend brought situations to light that never could have been dealt with had they stayed in the dark.

If only we could have the foresight that God has, we would be able to weather the storms that come at us much better.  If we could see things as He sees them, our minds would be refreshed rather than distraught when seemingly bad news comes along.  Today, I’d like to give you a lens through which you can look at everything that comes your way, and to see it in foresight rather than waiting till it’s long past to see it in hindsight.

The lens of life comes through looking at everything through the cross of Christ.  Rather than be tossed to and fro by the storms of your life that come along, God has settled that matter once and for all when He sent Jesus to die for your sins.  He didn’t have to come along and rescue you, but He did.  God didn’t wait until you were cleaned up and doing good for Him to send Jesus to die, but, as Paul said in Romans 5:8:

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

If this question is settled, why then do we still wonder if God loves us when things go wrong in our lives?  Why do we wonder why funds seem to have dried up, or job opportunities seem limited, or our health or relationships seem to be falling apart?  It’s a natural feeling, I know, but it’s not the truth.  If God loved you when you were still in the muck and mire of sin, why would he then abandon you when you’re trying your hardest to follow Him?

My wife and I have felt this before.  After giving birth to three healthy children, my wife had a miscarriage.  It was a blow to us emotionally and personally.  Then she had a second miscarriage.  Then a third.  Then a fourth.  It was as if everything we were doing was falling apart.  Yet we felt like we were giving our all for the cause of Christ more than ever before.  It was natural to wonder what we were doing wrong.

Yet it was during a time of worship when my wife had a breakthrough.  She was listening to a worship CD by Don Moen about the healing power of Jesus when she finally surrendered to whatever God’s will was for her in this area of her life.

She wasn’t happy about the miscarriages, but she knew that all she could do was to trust Him completely.  She had asked herself all the important questions, trying to find out if there was anything she was doing to contribute to these miscarriages.  But finding nothing, there was no more she could do but to continue to trust in God.  She did, and God gave her the peace that passes understanding that somehow, in some way, He would work all things for her good.

Just after this, she became pregnant again and this time she was able to carry the child to full term, giving birth to our fourth child.  Then came a fifth, and eventually a sixth.  Whether the turnaround in her heart and mind had anything to do with the turnaround in the situation, we still don’t know.  But what we do know is that when she came to the end of herself and put her faith in Christ again, she regained the peace that God was indeed FOR her.  And regardless of what happened after that, she decided she was going to praise God.

I have felt the same at other time of my life.  When I’m praying to God for funding for a special project, or just for our daily needs as we minister to others, it sometimes feels like pulling teeth.  Like I’m begging God to do something for me that I know He doesn’t have to do, but that I wish He would do for our sake and the sake of those we’re trying to reach through our ministry.

Then I think about what God has already done for me through Christ, and it’s like I put on a whole new set of glasses.  I can finally see what God is wanting me to see.  Rather than wondering what I’m doing wrong, I start seeing things from God’s perspective.  I start seeing that there’s nothing that God would withhold from me, if He thought it was for my good.  As Paul said:

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all―how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).

I sometimes think I’m asking God for too much when I ask for money―whether it’s ten dollars, or a hundred, or a thousand.  But then I remember what He’s already done for me.  If someone were to give you ten dollars, or a hundred, or a thousand, they’d be giving up a lot for you.  What if they gave you ten thousand, or ten million, then they’d really be paying a price.

But what about someone who’s gone to war for you, and lost an arm or a leg for you, so you could be free?  If someone gave up their arm for you, that’s worth way more than ten million dollars.  Now imagine if they gave up their life for you.  What price could you put on that?  And then, to take it a step further, imagine that they were not only willing to give their life for you, but their most cherished possession in the world, their child, so that you could live?  Now we’re talking priceless to the n-th degree.  And that’s what God has done for us by sending Jesus to die for us.  And somehow we wonder if God still loves us if He doesn’t send us ten bucks, or a hundred, or a thousand?

The truth is, there’s nothing God wouldn’t do for you.  He loves you and He is overwhelmingly FOR you.  He wants to work all things for good in your life because He created you.  He has a purpose for your life.  And He wants to see you fulfill that purpose.

Don’t ever think that because you don’t get what you want, when you want it, that it means that God doesn’t love you.  It’s a lie.  There may be other reasons involved, and their may be things that God wants you to change, or redirect, or pray differently about.  But it’s not because He doesn’t love you.  He’s already settled that point beyond argument.  And when you look at what’s going on in your present situation through the lens of what He’s already done for you in the past, you’ll see it clearly too.  You’ll have the foresight that most people only get in hindsight.  Your mind will be fixed on the good that God is doing and wants to do through you, rather than the bad that may seem to be engulfing you.  This isn’t just positive thinking.  This is godly thinking.  This is looking at life as God sees it.

Once you see that God is for you, you’ll become convinced, like the apostle Paul was, that there is nothing else in life that can separate you from His love.  Nothing!  As Paul said in the conclusion of chapter 8:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

What can separate you from the love of God?  It’s the same answer as the answer to today’s riddle:  Nothing!

1. NOTHING has seven letters

2. NOTHING preceded God

3. NOTHING  is greater than God

4. NOTHING is more evil than the devil

5. Poor people have NOTHING

6. Wealthy people need NOTHING

7. And if you eat NOTHING,
you will die!

What can separate you from the love of God?  NOTHING!

God loves you and would do anything for you.  He’s already demonstrated that.  Now your role is to believe it and live it out in your life in spite of whatever you might be facing today.  Remember:  God is FOR you!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are FOR us.  Help us to look at life today through that lens, so that we can have your foresight into the situations we’re facing.  Help us to know that You are working for our good in ALL things, and that nothing can separate us from Your love.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 8:31-39.  Have you ever felt like God doesn’t love you because of something specific that happened in your life?  Do you still feel that way, in light of today’s lesson?

2. Why is Jesus’ death more valuable than anything else God could do for you?

3. What kinds of struggles did Paul go through, and how do you think those struggles may have helped him become convinced that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love?

4. If God is FOR you, who can be against you?

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Lesson 19: Knowing That In ALL Things God Works For Your Good

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:28

I want to encourage you today that God can work ALL things for your good in your life no matter what you’re facing.  He really is FOR you, even in those things that seem hardest to face, and you can trust that He can work for your good even in those things.

I’ve been reading the book, Pollyanna, this week to my kids.  The book was written back in 1913 about an eleven-year-old girl whose contagious optimism transformed an entire town.  If you’ve ever heard someone described as a “pollyanna,” it’s a term that came from this book.

But as I read the book this week again, I realized that for all her optimism, Pollyanna was in no way a naive little girl who was ignorant about the real pain that people face in life.  Her profound optimism wasn’t the result of ignorance, but it was the way she was able to keep sane and healthy in spite of severe losses in her life.  Born on the mission field, Pollyanna lost her mother when she was young, then lost her father when she was eleven.  She was sent to live with her stern and strict aunt on the East Coast, where she often had to fight back tears at the unfair treatment she received.

Yet with all the bad that was thrown at her, Pollyanna chose to train her mind to try to see the good in life, believing that there was always something she could be glad about.  It was something she learned from her father when she was on the mission field.  He called it the “glad game.”

In talking about the game to a woman named Nancy, Pollyanna said:

“We began it when some crutches came in a missionary barrel.  You see, I’d wanted a doll.  But when the barrel came the lady wrote that no dolls came in, just the little crutches.  So she sent ’em along.  The game was to find something about everything to be glad about, no matter what.  We began right then―on the crutches.”

Nancy said, “I can’t see anythin’ to be glad about gettin’ a pair of crutches when you wanted a doll.”

“There is―there is,” Pollyanna crowed.  “I couldn’t see it either at first.  Father had to tell it to me.  You just be glad because you don’t― need― ’em!  You see, it’s easy when you know how!  Only sometimes it’s almost too hard, like when your father goes to Heaven.”

Rather than being naive about life, it was Pollyanna’s disappointments in life that helped her to see things in a whole new light.  She went on playing the “glad game” in her new town, helping the people see that no matter what they faced in life, there was always something to be glad about.  Without giving away too much of the story, Pollyanna even found a way to be thankful when she did have to use crutches by the end of the book.

In a similar way, the apostle Paul is known for saying some of the most optimistic things in his letters in the New Testament.  For instance, in his letter to the Philippians he wrote:

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Some people might think, “Sure, that’s easy for Paul to say, as he was one of the most highly educated and influential leaders in the early church.”  But the truth is, Paul saw more suffering in his lifetime than most of us would ever see in ten or twelve lifetimes, if we were able to live that many.  Paul wrote:

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (2 Corinthians 11:23b-30).

Yet in spite of all this, Paul was still able to encourage people to “Rejoice in the Lord always.”  In his letter to the Romans, Paul explained why we can rejoice always.  He wrote:

“And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”
(Romans 8:28, emphasis added).

I have quoted this verse more often to myself and to others than perhaps any other verse in the Bible.  It’s a statement that I’ve tested for myself over and over again and continue to find to be true.  It’s not just a “pollyanna” way of looking at the world.  It’s a truth that God has given us to hold onto tightly, knowing that no matter how things look in the situations that we’re facing, we can trust Him to work in those situations for our good, if we’re willing to trust those situations to Him.

But like Pollyanna in the book, there are times when finding the good in a situation seems like a daunting task.  But rather than running away from such tasks, Pollyanna relished them.  At one point, a sick and bedridden woman challenged Pollyanna to find something in her situation that she could be glad about.  Pollyanna sprang to her feet and clapped her hands.  She said:

“Oh goody, that’ll be a hard one―won’t it?  I’ve got to go, now, but I’ll think and think all the way home.  Goodbye, I’ve had a lovely time!”  

Pollyanna did think and think and came up with several ideas, one of which was to encourage the woman to be glad she had her hands and arms.  That simple statement made the woman wonder why she didn’t do something with her hands and arms, so she began to knit little things for fairs and hospitals.  She became so glad to think she could do something with them.

I think people sometimes view me as being a little too “pollyanna-ish,” too, when I tell them to trust God completely in every situation that He can work it for our good.  But I’ve found that sometimes when I tell people stories of God’s faithfulness to me in my life, they often don’t realize, or don’t take seriously when I tell them, how desperately I’ve had to pray through the situations in which I’ve been.  They only hear the outcome of the stories, knowing that somehow God turned even awful situations into something good.

I think that’s the way we sometimes read the stories in the Bible, too.  Since we already know how they end, we can sometimes gloss over how dramatic the turnarounds really were.

For instance, when Moses and the Israelites were up against the Red Sea, with no where to turn and the chariots from Egypt pressing in, all of a sudden, God opened up the Red Sea so they could pass through on dry ground.  It was a near-death experience for them all, yet God delivered them through it.  But since it only takes a few paragraphs to read through the whole story, we don’t always get the sense of impending doom that the people must have felt.  I imagine Moses went through some serious questions for God about how God could possibly work this one out for good.  Yet God told Moses to stand firm, that Moses would indeed see God’s deliverance… and he did (see Exodus, chapter 14).

Or when Daniel spent the night in the lion’s den and came out alive the next day.  People may just think that Daniel found a safe place to hide or that the lion’s just weren’t hungry.  But if you read the story closely, you’ll see that as soon as Daniel was lifted out of the lion’s den, those who had falsely accused Daniel were thrown into the den themselves, and the text says:

“And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones” (Daniel 6:24b).

I imagine Daniel had some serious questions for God about how God could possibly work this one out for good.  Yet Daniel was extracted without even a wound on him (see Daniel, chapter 6).

When we hear stories of God’s faithfulness to others, we tend to minimize the adversity they faced, and maximize the possibility that God could bring them through it.  Yet when we experience our own life-dramas, we tend to maximize the adversity we’re facing, and minimize the possibility that God can bring us through it.

Today, I want to stir up your faith.  I want to help you see the truth that God can work all things for your good, too.  I want to encourage you to keep putting your faith in Christ.  Regarding the situations you’re facing in life today, ask yourself:

“What good might God be doing through this?  What good might come out of what I’m going through right now?  What might God be doing that I can hang onto in faith, and hope for, and pray towards?  What good might God be doing on my behalf right now?”

God wants to turn your thinking around today.  He wants you to see that He really can―and does―work all things for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.

This isn’t just a “glad game” from a children’s story.  This is a truth from God, recorded in His Word, in order to help you see your life the way He sees it, full of hope and promise and significance.

God loves you and really can work for your good in ALL things.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for showing us that there are different ways to look at the things we’re going through in life.  Help us to look at the things we’re facing and see them as You see them.  Help us to look for and see the good that You’re working in those situations so that we can face them with courage and faith.  Help us to overcome our weakness so that we can keep putting our trust in You for everything in lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 8:28 and 2 Corinthians 11:23b-30.  How might the trials Paul faced in life have helped him to come to the point of believing that God really could work for his good in ALL things? 

2. If faith is like a muscle that gets stronger and stronger the more we use it, what kinds of things might God put someone through to help them grow as strong in their faith as possible?

3. What good might God be doing in the situations you’re facing in life right now?

4. Like Pollyanna, what can you find to be glad about in those situations?

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Lesson 18: Receiving The Spirit Of Sonship

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:12-17

It’s only been ten days since Steve Jobs died and I’m still mourning the loss.  I’ve followed his life and career for the last 28 years, ever since I used one of his first computers, an Apple Lisa (the predecessor to the Mac), to write a poem (complete with text and graphics) to my college sweetheart at the time (now my wife of 22 years).

It was an experience that changed my view of computers, and my major in college, and my eventual career.  I no longer saw computers as cold, sterile, and unmerciful machines.  Instead, I began to see them as devices that could help me give expression to some of my innermost thoughts and feelings.

Today, 28 years later, I’m still using one of Steve Jobs’ computers to give expression to my innermost thoughts and feelings, now using them to encourage people all over the world to put their faith in Christ for everything in their lives.

I’ve written to Steve a couple of times in recent years to thank him for the impact he’s had on my life and, by extension, the lives of so many others, as I use his computers to reach out around the world.  I’ve also prayed for him and shared my faith in Christ with him in those letters, hoping to give to him the best blessing I can think of in return for the blessing he’s been to me.  I don’t know if he ever did put his faith in Christ or not, but my hope and prayer is that at some point he did.

Although Steve’s time of decision has come and gone, there’s still time for you to make yours.  If you haven’t yet put your faith in Christ for everything in your life, especially for the forgiveness of your sins, I’d encourage you to do it today.

Jesus told the story of a rich man and a beggar, both of whom died about the same time.  Jesus said:

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead’” (Luke 16:19-31).

There are times when I wish we could get into heaven based on all the good we’ve done in our lives.  But when I remember how much we’ve all sinned, I’m thankful that it’s not based on what we’ve done in life, for none of us have a perfect moral scorecard.  Instead, it’s based on our faith in the One who gave us life, and our acceptance of the sacrifice that has been made for our sins.  As Jesus said to Martha when her brother died:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

It has always been this way.  God has always required a sacrifice for our sins in order to escape the penalty that we would have received otherwise.  Even in the days when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God didn’t tell them to write their good deeds on the doorframes of their homes.  He told them to put the blood of a lamb on their doorframes, as a sign of their faith in Him.  Then, when He saw that sign, He would “pass over” their homes and not bring upon them the destruction that they would have received otherwise (see Exodus 12).

Why then do people not put their faith in Christ?  Sometimes people have an intellectual block that keeps them from doing it.  But other times there’s a more practical reason: they simply don’t have a good example of what a loving father looks like, which makes it hard for them to believe that there’s a loving Father in heaven who cares about them deeply, too.

I don’t know much about Steve Jobs’ personal life, but I do know that he was given up for adoption at birth.  His biological parents were unmarried college students at a time when abortion was still illegal in the U.S.  His biological mother left the University of Wisconsin and went to San Francisco to give birth, where Steve was adopted by his new parents.

When Steve eventually discovered who his biological parents were, he made contact with his mother and his biological sister, with whom he later became close friends.  But according to his biological father, Steve never did make contact with him, even up to Steve’s death.

I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve heard from some of my friends who have been adopted that they sometimes wrestle with feelings of abandonment and self-worth, wondering why their parents might have given them up for adoption.  In some cases, this sense of worthlessness can drive them to prove their worth in other ways.

I have no idea if this was a factor in Steve Jobs’ own personal drive, yet if it was, he went after it with gusto.  By this time last year, the company he helped to create had become worth more than any other technology company in the world, and just a few months ago, it became the most valuable company of any industry, based on the value of it’s stock.  More important than building a thriving company, Steve’s life has influenced millions of other lives around the world like a huge tidal wave, touching lives of people who didn’t even know who he was until this week.

But Steve Jobs life didn’t become more valuable as his stock price and market influence grew.  The truth is, his life was worth more than even he could have ever imagined even before he started his famous computer company in his garage. His Father in heaven had placed a value on him before anyone but God Himself even knew he was alive.

It’s the same for you.  God has loved you since before you were born.  Your life is worth more to Him than you can imagine, and has had immeasurable value since before you even had a chance to make your mark on the world.  God loves you so much He sent His Son to die for your sins so you wouldn’t have to, inviting you back into a personal relationship with Him if you’ll just put your faith in Christ.

This is perhaps the most important part of today’s message:  when you put your faith in Christ, God adopts you as His son or daughter.  When you put your faith in Christ, you become an heir of God, and a co-heir with Christ.  You receive from God the “Spirit of sonship,” which includes the full rights and privileges of a son or daughter, as well the ability to see God as the truly loving Father that He is.  The apostle Paul describes this Spirit of sonship like this:

“…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs―heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory” (Romans 8:12-17).

What difference does it make to be able to view God in your mind as the loving Father that He is?  All the difference in the world.  Paul uses the word “Abba” in his description of God, an Aramaic word that means “Daddy.”  It’s a term of endearment.  It describes a relationship that is not just a father and a son who are connected by birth, but who are connected by true affection for one another.

My younger kids will often call me “Daddy.”  It’s a truly affectionate term.  Every once in a while, even my teenagers will still call me “Daddy,” whether it’s my nineteen year old son writing an email to me from college, or my seventeen year old daughter using her most playful voice to tell me I’m doing something silly.  It always warms my heart when they do this, to think that they not only see me as their father, but also as their “Abba,” their “Daddy.”

That’s the kind of relationship God the Father wants to have with you.  He doesn’t want to be a distant and formal father, but a close and familiar one—a “Daddy”—a “Daddy” you can trust and run to and lean on whenever you need to.

Although God wants you to make the most of your life here on earth, and to use the gifts and abilities that He’s given you to their fullest, you don’t have to create a multi-billion dollar corporation to prove your worth to Him and to enter into that sweet relationship with Him.  You just have to believe in Him, putting your faith in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And when you do, you’ll be given the Spirit of sonship, and become adopted as His son or daughter, with all the rights and privileges that go along with it.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, you’ve already been adopted as His child. Your role now is to believe it and receive it, letting it’s truth sink deep into your life and heart today.  If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, I’d encourage you to do it today and receive God’s Spirit of sonship right now.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us Your Spirit of sonship when we put our faith in Christ.  We pray that You will help solidify what that means in our lives today, helping us to know that You really do care about us, that we have worth just by being one of Your children, and that You will strengthen us by that same Spirit in our lives today.  Thank You Daddy.  We love you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 8:12-17.  What images come to mind when you think of the word “Daddy”?  How would using the word “Daddy” to describe God change your relationship with Him, compared to other words you could use for Him?

2.  What are some of the benefits Paul lists in this passage of receiving the Spirit of sonship?

3.  What difference would it make to think of yourself as an heir of God, and a co-heir with Christ?

4.  If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, what benefits do you see of being adopted by God?  Why not put your faith in Christ today and receive from God His Spirit of sonship?

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Lesson 17: Knowing Who The Holy Spirit Is

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:9-11

I used to think that the Holy Spirit was like a light inside my heart.  But one day, God helped me to understand that the Holy Spirit is not a substance, but a person―a person who wanted to live and act and move in my life.  As Jesus said:

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever―the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. … All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. … I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 14:16-17, 25-26, and 16:12-13a).

The Holy Spirit really is a person, not just some spiritual substance that flows through your body.

I realized this most clearly when I was worshipping God in the middle of a large sanctuary with hundreds of other people.  As I was singing, I was thinking about the beauty of Jesus and how great it could be if I could really see Him with my own eyes.  Far away at the front of the sanctuary there was a stained glass window with a picture of Jesus on it.

While everyone else was still standing and singing, I just sat down in my seat and closed my eyes.  I began to picture what Jesus would look like in my mind―something like that far-away image of Him in the stained glass window.  But suddenly, with my eyes still closed, I pictured two eyes directly in front of mine!  They were so close that I couldn’t look at both eyes at the same time.  I had to look back and forth between them, as you might do when looking close into the eyes of someone you loved.

With my own eyes still closed, I felt that His eyes were coming closer and closer to mine―so close, in fact, that I had to back up in my seat.  But when they finally came as close as they possibly could without touching me, the two eyes disappeared.  I wondered where they had gone.  At the same time, I sensed that they hadn’t left me at all.  Instead, I realized they had somehow passed right through me and began to turn around inside my head.

I felt my own eyes refocusing, as if Jesus Himself wanted to look through my eyes.  I could picture His arm going down inside my arm as if He were putting my arm on like a sleeve.  His hand went down inside my hand as if putting on a glove.  I could imagine His feet going down into my legs, one at a time, like He was putting on a pair of jeans.  His feet slid down into my feet as if putting on a pair of shoes.

My mind began to be flooded with Scriptures about how the Spirit of God really does lives inside us, like the ones I mentioned earlier.  I began to understand that He wanted to take up residence within me, live inside me and carry out His will through me—at least to the extent that I allowed Him free reign to do so.  I invited Him in and asked Him to push all of me out, so that I could be filled with Him as full as possible, from head to toe and from fingertip to fingertip.

I felt like God was telling me that when I was ready to open my eyes again, He wanted to look through my eyes and help me see the world as He sees it.  He wanted to use my hands to do what He wanted them to do.  He wanted me to walk where He would walk.  He wanted me to hear my ears what He would hear, speak with my mouth what He would speak, and feel with my heart what He would feel with His.

When I finally did open my eyes, I did see the world differently.  I realized that the Spirit of God wasn’t just a light inside my heart.  He was a person―a person who had literally come to take up residence inside my mortal body, giving life to it, as well as power, wisdom and direction.  As Paul said in Romans chapter 8:

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 8:9-11).

These verses have incredible power if you’ll take them to heart.

I saw their power displayed most clearly when my wife Lana was pregnant with our second child.  Lana was having some abnormal bleeding early on in the pregnancy, so she went in for a test.  They drew her blood on two different days and checked the level of her hormones.  If the baby was OK, her hormones would be doubling every day.  But if the baby wasn’t OK, then her hormones wouldn’t be rising, but going down instead.  When we got the results, we found that her hormones were dropping rapidly.

The doctor told us this could only mean one of three things:  1) either the baby had died and was about to miscarry on its own, or 2) the baby had lodged in Lana’s fallopian tubes instead of her womb, and if the baby wasn’t removed, it would burst the tubes and die, possibly killing Lana at the same time.  The third option was that the test was wrong.

The only way the doctor would be able to tell for sure was to do an interior ultrasound, which we scheduled for the next day.  That night, before the ultrasound, Lana called a friend to pray for her.  The friend suggested she read Romans chapter 8.  As Lana read these ancient words of the apostle Paul, she was struck in a new way by verse 11:

“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

She realized that if the Spirit of God was living inside her, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead could raise this baby from the dead, too.  We both began to call upon God’s Spirit fervently, and asked others to do the same.

The next day, we went to the hospital for the interior ultrasound.  The nurse called Lana into the room and I sat in the waiting room outside.  After a long and emotional wait, the nurse called me in.  I saw Lana laying on the hospital bed.  She was crying.  The nurse took me over to the ultrasound machine and pointed to a black dot in the middle of it.  She said, “Do you see that dot on the screen?”

I could see it, the black dot that was our baby.  I was about to burst into tears myself when the nurse said, “Do you see how it’s beating?  That’s your baby’s heartbeat!”

Lana wasn’t crying because the baby had died!  She was crying because the baby was alive!  But that couldn’t be!  Lana’s hormones were dropping so rapidly.  I realized there weren’t just three options, but four, because the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead was now living inside Lana’s mortal body as well!  We felt like we had just witnessed the “dunamis” power of God, God’s dynamite that, when ignited by faith, causes miracles to happen!

Lana went on to carry the baby to full term and give birth to a completely healthy little boy―a little boy who is now nineteen years old and full of faith himself, believing that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead can do all kinds of miracles in the world today.

The Holy Spirit is not just some ethereal substance that flows in and out of your life.  He is a person, a person who carries with Him the power of God, and who has taken up residence within you, if you belong to Christ.  The Holy Spirit wants to work in your life in powerful ways, too.  He wants you to call upon Him  and His power by faith.

Whether you’re battling with life or death, or battling with a sin that’s overwhelming you, God’s Spirit can give you power to win those battles.  If you’re struggling with reading the word of God or struggling to understand how it applies to your life, God’s Spirit can help to guide you into all truth.  If you’re trying to mend a broken relationship, or wondering how to go on with life having lost someone who was precious to you, God’s Spirit, the Counselor and Comforter, can bring you a wisdom and a peace that passes all understanding.

If you want to renew your mind today, renew your thinking about the Holy Spirit.  When you see Him as a person, rather than a substance, it will change the way you talk with Him—and what you can expect of Him.

I know a pastor who says that he always gets super-excited when he sees God’s Spirit moving in even a small way in an audience where he is speaking and ministering.  He gets excited because He knows that since God’s Spirit is a person, that means that if part of Him shows up, then all of Him is there!

If you belong to Christ, then you don’t just have a little bit of the Holy Spirit living inside of you, but the whole of Him living inside of you―the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead.

Call on God’s Holy Spirit today and invite Him to do His powerful work in your life right now.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to live inside us when we belong to Christ.  We call upon Him now to bring life to our mortal bodies, both here on earth, and in heaven forever.  Raise to life those things in our lives which seem like they might be dead, so that we can be filled again with the abundant life that You have in store for us instead.  We pray this in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 8:9-11.  How have you pictured the Holy Spirit who lives in you, if you belong to Christ and He lives within you?  

2. What difference would it make in your life to picture Him as a person, rather than a substance?

3. Are there some particular areas of your life where you could really use the Spirit’s power right now?  Why not talk to Him right now and invite Him, by faith, to do His life-changing power in your life?

4. If you don’t belong to Christ, and don’t have the Spirit of God living within you, why not invite Him into your life today?  Turn away from any sin in your life and ask Jesus to forgive you, then invite His Holy Spirit to take up residence within you, giving you His power to do His work in your life.

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Lesson 16: Setting Your Mind On What The Spirit Desires

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 7:7-8:11

What is it about rules that makes us want to break them?  I was in a church one day when the pastor was talking about the benefits of a new diet he had started.  He was telling us how he ate a bowl of oatmeal every morning for breakfast, and how much of a change that was from the way he used to eat.  He said he previously used to sit down some nights and eat an entire 2-pound bag of peanut M&M’s in one sitting!

As surprised as I was to hear that, as soon as he said it, something sprang to life within me.  I began to imagine what it would be like to sit down and eat a whole bag of peanut M&M’s, all by myself, in one sitting.  It sounded crazy.  I’d never even thought about the idea before.  That’s a lot of M&M’s!  But it sounded really good, too.  (And for some of my international readers, peanut M&M’s are peanuts dipped in chocolate and covered by a hard candy shell).

The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it.  Although it seemed wrong, I still wanted to do it.  Somehow, his sermon on the benefits of his new diet just made me want to eat more.  The very thing he was telling me not to do was the very thing I wanted to do―and it was his sermon that sparked the idea in me to do it!

When one of my daughters asked me what I wanted for Christmas that year, only one thing came to mind:  a 2-pound bag of peanut M&M’s.

What was happening to me?  Why was I now desiring something that I had never thought of desiring until I was told that I shouldn’t desire it?  Wouldn’t it have been better if I had never heard that sermon at all?  And what could I do about it now that I had?

The apostle Paul described this dilemma in Romans chapter 7 (except for the part about the peanut M&M’s), which also includes one of the most tongue-twisting passages in all of Scripture:

“What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”  But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire.  For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

“Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

“We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do―this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

“So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:7-24).

I like the way Paul puts this.  He says that the law is good, but that sin is always present, too, ready to spring into life at any moment.  And when sin sees an opportunity, it seizes it, producing within us our covetous desires. The law is not the problem—sin is.  And sin seems already nearby and ready to seize upon such opportunities.

It seems like a dilemma that could cripple us for life.  But Paul doesn’t leave us there, and neither does God.  Paul asks: “Who will rescue me from this body of death?”  Then he continues this passage by answering that question, as well telling how you can win the battle over the sins and temptations that you face in life, too.  Paul says:

“Thanks be to God―through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.  And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 7:25-8:11).

Paul says it clearly:  the one who can rescue you from the battles you’re facing is Jesus Christ our Lord. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is living within you, if you’ve put your faith in Him.  And that same Spirit can bring you the same life-giving power and victory, if you’ll set your mind on what the Spirit desires.

Jesus has already fought the hardest battle on your behalf, dying for your sins so you don’t have to.  Now your job is to set your mind on what the Spirit desires, letting go of anything that is pulling you back into your sinful desires.

If you can win the battle in your mind, you’re well on your way to winning the battle in your flesh, too.

My sweet daughter bought me a 2-pound bag of peanut M&M’s for Christmas that year.  But when I got the bag and came face to face with the choice I was about to make, I did something I hadn’t expected.  I changed my mind.

Whereas before I had only imagined what it would be like to indulge my desires, I now thought through what that decision would mean down the road.  What if I really did eat the whole bag in one sitting?  How sick would I get?  How many pounds would I instantly be adding to my already increasing body fat?  In a matter of minutes, I had changed my mind.  I decided to just eat just a few.  I shared a few more.  Then I put the rest away in a cupboard, to be eaten only occasionally as a special treat, or to be served to friends who stopped by.

Instead of being controlled by my fleshly desires, I set my mind on what the Spirit desires instead.  And in so doing, I won the victory.

Believe me, I know there are bigger battles in life than facing a 2-pound bag of peanut M&M’s.  But I also know that God is bigger than any of those battles, too.  The choices you make in your mind will affect the choices you make with your body.  I want to encourage you today to make good choices―to set your mind on what the Spirit desires, and not on fleshly things.

When tempted to look at someone who’s attractive for longer than you should, just look away.  Leave them there.  And don’t look back.  When tempted to click on an inappropriate website, just let it go.  Don’t click that link.  Ask yourself, “What does the Spirit desire?”

When tempted to start a bad habit, remember that the best way to stop a bad habit is never to start in the first place.  Just don’t do it.  Don’t even get started.  When fighting a bad habit that you’ve already started, just drop it.  Let it go.  Find a way to redirect your time and energy into something more godly and healthy.

In every battle, call upon the Spirit of Christ who lives within you to help you do what He wants you to do.  Remember:

“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for doing the hardest work of all in our battle against sin.  Help us to do the hard work we have to do of setting our minds on what Your Spirit desires.  Help us in the battles we face today so we can drop whatever might threaten to harm us, and to take hold of that which will lead us to life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 7:7-8:11.  Have you ever experienced what Paul described in verse 9 where “sin sprang to life” after hearing about something you shouldn’t do?

2. What does Paul say is the cause such experiences?  Is the law at fault, or something else?

3. What encouragement do you take from the solution Paul puts forth, that if the Spirit of Christ lives in you―the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead―that He can give life to your mortal bodies as well?

4. Is there an area in your life where you could use the help of the Spirit of Christ right now to overcome a battle that you’re facing?  How could simply setting your mind on what the Spirit desires help you in this area?

 

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Lesson 15: Bearing Fruit To God

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 6:11-7:6

Is it OK to sin―at least a little bit every once in awhile?  After all, if we’ve already put our faith in Christ, He’s already forgiven us of our sins.  So He’ll forgive us again, won’t He?

While this is actually a reasonable idea on the surface―at least in terms of being forgiven of your sins by Christ―when you look at it at a deeper level, grasping what happens to your relationship with God and those around you every time you do sin, you’ll see that your best bet is to stay as far away from sin as you can, as often as you can, and for as much of your life as you can!

It’s like a kid saying, “My dad says not to run out in the road.  But I know he’ll still love me even if I do run out in the road, so what’s the big deal if I do it once in awhile?”  A kid like that would be missing the point entirely.  The point isn’t whether or not the dad would still love him just as much if he ran out in the road.  The point is that the dad doesn’t want him to get hit by a truck!

If the only reason you shouldn’t sin is because you think Jesus might be mad at you if you do, then you need to re-adjust your thinking!  It’s not that Jesus won’t love you just as much if you sin―it’s that He wants you to live!  He wants to protect you from engaging in things that could be dangerous to you and to those around you.  Sure, He’ll still love you.  But that’s the reason He doesn’t want you to sin… because He loves you.

The apostle Paul addressed this issue very clearly in his letter to the Romans, who, having been convinced that Jesus had forgiven them of all their sins, might have been tempted to fall back into sin again, thinking that it no longer mattered if they sinned, because they could still be assured of Christ’s love for them.  Paul said:

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?  By no means! … What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:15,21-23).

Sin leads to death, but Christ gives you life!  If the choice is to sin or to follow Christ, Paul says to follow Christ!

But there’s an even greater reason to drop your life of sin and follow Christ.  Paul says it’s because God wants you to bear fruit―good fruit.  When you follow sin, you bear fruit that leads to death.  But when you follow Christ you bear fruit for God.  Here’s how Paul said it in his letter to the Romans.

“So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (Romans 7:4-6).

God didn’t abandon His laws when Christ came.  His laws are still good and will protect you from sin.  What God did was to make an offering on your behalf to pay the penalty for your sins so you wouldn’t have to pay it yourself.  Now, when you put your faith in Christ, you receive forgiveness of your sins.  If you continue to sin, there will still be other consequences―for sin still always has consequences―but the good news is that you will no longer be separated from your relationship with Him because of your sin.

Whenever you sin, even if it’s “just a little,” it puts a wedge between you and God, as well as between yourself and those around you.  God doesn’t want that wedge, and neither do you.  He loves you too much for anything to come between Him and you.  And I believe, if you’ve read this far into the message already, that you love Him too much to put that wedge between the two of you, too.

I was once teaching a class of adults how to use computers.  One of the students had been using very colorful language throughout the class, not necessarily swearing, but still they were undoubtedly “off” color.  I had introduced myself as a technology expert, which, in my role as their teacher, I was.  But it wasn’t until later in the day that I mentioned that I was also a pastor.  Immediately, this man who had been so colorful with his words all day turned colorfully red in the face, too!  He quickly began to apologize for his language in front of me and the rest of the class.

In my attempt to be honest, for I really wasn’t bothered by it, I said something that made him turn even redder still.  I said, “That’s OK.  You don’t have to apologize to me.  I’m not the one who’s been watching over your every day anyway.”  The whole class turned to him with a look that said he was really in trouble now!

The truth is that his language really didn’t affect his relationship with me much at all.  But by his reaction, it seems like it may have affected his relationship with God quite a bit.  It may have seemed like a “little sin” to him, but the fact that he was embarrassed in front of me and the class gave me the impression that it may have been a much bigger deal in his relationship with God.

I didn’t say this to the man to make him feel more guilty than he already did for saying those things in front of me.  Just like I’m not saying these things to make you feel more guilty of the things you may be doing in your own life.  Believe me, I know how hard it is to keep from sinning, even though I’ve been trying to follow Christ with my whole heart for 24 years.  I’m still not, by any means, “sin-free.”  I wish I were, because I know that whenever I sin, it causes damage..  This, in turn, makes me want to stay away from it as much as humanly possible.

And in the bigger picture, I not only see the damage that sin causes, but I also see that it hinders my ability to bear fruit for God.  And that is perhaps the biggest damage of all.

God has created you to do good works.  He has things He wants you to do in this life.  When you sin, you hinder those good works, sometimes more than you can possibly imagine.  Believe me when I say that God has good works for you to do.  He has created you uniquely, with special gifts and abilities.  He’s poured unique talents into your life.  He’s trained you up to be an asset to Him.  He wants to use you to reach out into the world, both in large and small ways.

Don’t let Satan hinder you from accomplishing all that God has created you to do.  Don’t follow the path of sin that would keep you from the path God has lined out for you.  Don’t let yourself become a slave again to those things of which you’re now ashamed, things which bore fruit for death.  Serve God fully instead, bearing good fruit to Him.

How do you do that?  By keeping away from sin as much as possible, and by staying close to Jesus as much is possible.  As Jesus said:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples” (John 15:5-8).

God wants you to bear fruit―much fruit, as Jesus said.  Keep away from sin, even “little sins,” as much as possible.  Not because God will love you less if you do sin, but because He loves you so much He doesn’t want you to leave His side even for a minute.  When you stay close to Him, you will bear fruit for Him.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for loving us so much that You gave us rules for how to live the best possible lives here on earth.  Thank You for saving us from what we have earned because of our sins, and giving us the gift of eternal life instead, if we’ve put our faith in Christ.  Help us to stay as close as possible to Him so that we can bear as much fruit as possible for You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 6:11-7:6.  What does Paul say we should offer to God in verses 11-14?  How might offering these things to sin lead to death, whereas offering them to God leads to life?

2. In verses 15-18, Paul says that just because we’re free from the law, it doesn’t mean that we’re not still slaves to something else.  What is that other thing, and why is it so much better than being a slave to sin?

3. In chapter 7, verses 1-3, what illustration does Paul use to talk about being set free from the law?  What does being freed from the law allow us to do?

4. Is anything specific hindering you from bearing as much fruit as possible for God?  Is there an action step you can take this week to help you drop whatever is hindering you, and get any closer to Jesus?  Ask God, and perhaps a few trusted friends, to help you do it so that you can bear as much fruit for Him as possible.

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Lesson 14: Being Freed From Sin

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:12-21

One of the best depictions I’ve ever read of the tragedy that took place when sin entered the world was in a fictional book by Ted Dekker called Black.  Ted spent the majority of his book describing a world where no one had ever sinned.  The people knew there was a particular fruit that they were forbidden to eat located across a certain bridge, but no one went there to eat it.

Instead, they lived out their days doing incredible things with each other and with their God who created them.  They had children and built homes and gathered daily to enjoy the lives they had been given.  But one day, one of the men gave in to his temptations.  He crossed the bridge and ate the fruit.

The moment he did, evil was unleashed from the forrest beyond.  Huge black bats swarmed out of the forrest and covered the land in a dark cloud, devouring people and trees and everything in their path.  Only those who found shelter of some kind or another escaped the death and destruction that came upon their land.

Through one man’s sin, evil was unleashed upon everyone.

As I read about this horde of evil that covered their world, it was one of the saddest moments I’ve ever felt while reading a book.  I couldn’t believe it happened.  I couldn’t believe this guy ate the fruit.  I couldn’t believe how utterly tragic it was for everyone else and everything else on the planet.

Thankfully, the story didn’t end with that book, but I’ll have to let you read the series for yourself to find out what happens next.

It turns out that Ted’s story was a powerful retelling of another old, old story, one that the apostle Paul talked about in his letter to the Romans.  In chapter 5, Paul described what happened to the world when the first man, Adam, sinned.  He described how death entered into the world and reigned over it as a result.  But that story didn’t end there either.  Here’s what Paul said:

“… sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned… But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” (Romans 5:12,15).

I’m sharing this story with you today because I want to give you God’s perspective on the world around you.  While there was once a time when death reigned over the earth, you’re now living in a time when life reigns over the earth―life that has come through God’s abundant grace through Jesus Christ.  As Paul went on to say:

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

You now live in a colorful, life-filled, and joyous world―if you have the eyes to see it.  I know that it sometimes takes eyes of faith, but it’s the truth.  Life reigns because Christ has come.  If you’ve put your faith in Christ, death no longer has mastery over you.  You’re no longer a slave to sin, because God has sent you a new Master you can serve, Someone who loves you, cares for you, and has given His life for you―Jesus Christ.

I had a friend who died a few years ago, and when he did, a strange thought crossed my mind.  As sad as I was for his death, and the loss of his friendship here on earth, I was thankful for one thing.  I thought:  “You lucky guy.  You’re finally free from sin.”

You see, he had a tremendous ministry that touched the lives of many people.  But he also had a private battle with sin―one that he fought valiantly and victoriously, but still a battle nonetheless.  When he died, I knew his battle with sin was finally over.  It seemed like a strange thought to me, until I remembered that the apostle Paul talked about this very thing.

In Romans chapter 6, Paul said:

“… because anyone who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:7).

Paul wasn’t advocating that people should die in order to be freed from sin!  On the contrary, he was saying that people who had put their faith in Christ and were baptized in His name had already died with Him, in order to be raised to live a new life with Him, both here on earth and on into heaven one day.

You don’t have to die to be freed from sin.  You just have to put your faith in Christ, being baptized into His death, and rising again to live a new life―a new, colorful, joy-filled life.

When I thought about my friend’s death in these terms, I realized that He wasn’t freed from sin on the day he died physically.  He was freed from sin from the moment he put his faith in Christ and was baptized, which was many, many years earlier.  From that point on, he had a new view of life, and God had a new view of him.

Sure, he still had battles to face, but he faced them with confidence, knowing that Christ had already freed him from those sins.  Temptations would come, as always, but now he knew he could resist them because now he had the power of Christ.  He went on to make the most of the rest of his time here on earth, living victoriously and sharing Christ with many others, being a truly positive force in the world for good.

In your battle against sin, you may think a dark cloud surrounds you, a cloud of death and destruction that is constantly hanging over your head, like the swarm of bats from a Ted Dekker novel.

But that’s a lie.  The truth is, that cloud of darkness was pushed back when Christ died for you on the cross.  On that day, color was restored to the world.  Joy became available again.   Freedom from sin became a reality for everyone who would put their faith in Him.

God doesn’t want you to sin.  Sin separates you from Him and from those you love.  But if you’ve been baptized into Christ, you’ve been freed from sin.  Sure, you may still have to fight off temptations, but now you can do it from a position of strength, not from a position of defeat.

If you’ve never been baptized into Christ, I’d encourage you to do so as soon as possible.  Being baptized into His death will allow you to be raised with Him to a new life with Him.  Baptism can renew not only your mind, but your heart and soul as well.  It will change your outlook on life.  And it will help you to be freed from sin.  You may still have a battle to fight, but you’ll be fighting it with Christ, which makes all the difference in the world!

As further encouragement that you can be freed from sin, here and now, let me close with the words of the apostle Paul on the subject.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

“If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin―because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:1-10).

If you’ve put your faith in Christ, you can count yourselves as “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus,” too.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for setting us free from sin by dying for us.  Help us to see that death no longer reigns over us, but because of Christ, we can reign in life.  Help us to put our faith in You anew today, trusting that the world is gloriously new because of You.  Help us to see it the way You see it, so we can enjoy it as You intended us to enjoy it, living valiantly and victoriously while we’re here.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 5:12-6:10.  Why does Paul say “the gift is not like the trespass” in comparing the effects of Adam’s sin with the effects of Christ’s death and resurrection?

2. What can we do to “reign in life,” as Paul says in verse 17?

3. Have you ever thought of baptism as a way of dying to your old self, and being raised to new life?  What about this idea might be attractive to you?

4. Have you ever been baptized?  If so, what difference does being baptized make in how you view your battle with sin today?  If you haven’t been baptized, what difference might baptism make in your battle with sin?  If you need further encouragement to be baptized, here are a few more verses you might read:  Acts 2:38, Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, John 3:5, and Acts 8:35-38.

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Lesson 13: Rejoicing In Our Sufferings

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:2-4

I’d like to talk to you today about pain. While it may not sound like a very pleasant topic, when I shared this message with a group of men on Friday morning, one of them wrote to me later in the day and said:

“Thanks for your devotional this morning. I got there in a pretty lousy frame of mind and you had me full of joy before you were done.”  

It’s amazing how getting God’s perspective on a subject can give you a whole new attitude towards it—especially a subject like pain. I’d like to give you a new perspective on pain today so that you’ll never see it the same again.

Even though we may not like to think about pain, we sometimes like to talk about it. Like a good fish story, we often try to outdo one another with how much pain we’ve had to endure in life. One person starts talking about their pain and then another chimes in to say, “Aw, that’s nothing. You should have seen…”

I had this happen just a few weeks ago. Three of us were talking about what we’ve gone through to get some warts off the soles of our feet. One guy started by talking about the pain he felt when he dug a knife deep into his skin to get one out. The other guy started talking about the pain he felt when a doctor froze a wart off his foot.

I couldn’t resist. I had to add my story, not only because it seemed worse in my eyes than any of the pain that they had described (it was my own pain, after all, which always tends to seem worse, I’m sure), but also because it was such a strange method to me. My doctor, after trying various other painful treatments, finally used one that outdid them all: he applied some juice from something called a blister beetle from South America directly onto my wart. While I felt nothing whatsoever as he put it on, within a few hours, the skin on the bottom of my foot had blistered to the size of a silver dollar, pulling up what felt like every layer of skin that could possibly have been on the sole of my foot—and the wart along with it. The pain while that blister grew was more excruciating and intense than any other treatment I had received on that wart so far.

But as painful as it was, within a few weeks, the wart was gone. The wart that had plagued me for several years, causing me pain every time I walked, was finally gone.

As Daniel Defoe has said:

“God will often deliver us in a manner that seems initially to destroy us.”

How true that is about pain.

In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul describes pain in a surprising similar way, saying that pain—or “sufferings” in this case—is not just something we have to endure, but something that we can actually rejoice in:

“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:2b-4).

Paul says that the pain we experience in life is not without purpose. Rather, it can produce in us perseverance. Perseverance can then produce character. And character produces hope.

Some of the most hopeful people I know are not those who have a pollyanna, happy-go-lucky view of life who have never experienced deep pain. Instead, the people I know who are the most hopeful are those who have been through the wringer of life and have persevered through it. The pain they’ve endured has built up their character and given them hope—a hope that they can then pass on to others who need it.

Pain is not without purpose. In fact, pain has been designed by God to let us know that something in our life needs attention. It’s a sign that something is broken and either needs to be fixed before it gets worse, or, as in the case of the pain of losing a loved one, serves an indicator of the depth of our deep love for that person. When you can acknowledge that your pain serves a purpose, it can change your whole perspective on it.

I think my perspective began to change when I first read a book by Dr. Paul Brand called, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. In the book, Dr. Brand describes his work among modern-day lepers.

Leprosy is a disease that affects the nervous system. Those who have leprosy often don’t feel pain because their nerve endings don’t work properly. As a result, lepers’ bodies can often become disturbingly deformed, losing fingers or toes, or going blind in their eyes. It’s not the leprosy itself that causes these abnormalities. It’s the fact that lepers no longer have the benefits of pain.

They don’t know if a stove is hot or cold until they’ve left their hand on it too long, damaging their fingers beyond repair. They don’t know they’ve stubbed their toe on a rock until the bruises and swelling gives them a visual clue that they’ve hit something far too hard. Believe it or not, they don’t realize that they’re supposed to blink every few seconds, because they never feel what it’s like to have dry, sore eyes. As a result, they often go blind, unless someone teaches them how to blink on a regular basis to give their eyes the moisture they need. Imagine giving thanks for the ability to feel that your eyes are dry and sore!

Yet lepers often wish they had something most of the rest of us wish we didn’t have: pain. Lepers, perhaps more than the rest of us, seem to understand that pain—when used in the way for which God intended it—serves a terrific purpose. If lepers could feel pain, they would probably rejoice like the apostle Paul, saying “Praise God, I can feel the pain!” They know that without it, they’re in for bigger hurts down the road.

So far, I’ve been talking about physical pain. But if you’ll indulge me to go a little longer than usual with today’s message, I’d like to talk for a few minutes about a pain that can often go deeper and last longer than physical pain, and that’s the pain we feel in our hearts and minds when we get hurt by someone else.

I was reminded of this again this past month when I read a blog post by a friend. His post left me stunned. He had served with me in my ministry several years ago, encouraging me, mentoring me, giving me opportunities to use my gifts and talents in ways that went beyond what I could do for myself. Yet a day came when he took me out to lunch and said that he was going to have to step back from my ministry. He said his priorities had changed and he needed to refocus his time and attention on some other things.

I was hurt. A lot. I had enjoyed our friendship and our times together, our conversations, and our urging one another on in the Lord. His reasons for stepping back didn’t seem to line up. Something was wrong, but I didn’t know what.  The pain of not knowing, and the feelings of hurt and rejection, have surfaced in my heart from time to time for the last several years.

Yet when I read his blog post a few weeks ago, I finally understood. Something had gone wrong.

He had begun to make a shift in his thinking several years ago on a number of topics. He confessed that he lost his job a few years ago at a large ministry because his views and opinions had shifted so radically that they could no longer keep him on staff. As I read his message, my heart began to break for him. It also began to melt for him. I finally started to understand that his stepping back from my ministry was a blessing in disguise, for if he hadn’t done so then, it would have become a bigger problem for me and my ministry today than I could have imagined.

In talking with God about it after I read his blog post, I felt like God was saying to me:

“What looked like rejection was really protection—My protection.”

It still hurt, but it definitely made the hurt feel better. I’d like to share what I wrote in my journal after I finally knew the truth.  Here’s what I felt God was saying to me:

“Oh, no doubt about it, Eric, I know it hurt. But there’s also no doubt that I allowed that hurt to help you avoid a bigger one in the future. Pain is not without purpose. In fact, I’ve designed it precisely for that purpose—to make you aware that something is wrong so you can take action before things get worse. If you don’t respond to the initial pain, like a toothache, I’ve designed the pain to escalate in intensity so you will respond. If you don’t respond to even that, then, well, the consequences are your own. But the pain itself serves a very good purpose: to spare you from greater pain down the road. If you’ll believe that and take it to heart, you’ll never see pain as your enemy again. Pain is your friend, if you’ll respond to it in My ways.”

Again, these words are my paraphrase of what I felt God was saying to me that day.  They helped me to understand what Paul was talking about when he said that we could actually “rejoice in our sufferings,” for suffering does have a purpose. And these words helped me to understand that we have a choice to make regarding the pains that we experience in life.

There’s a story that’s told in The Westside Baptist, that illustrates this well. It goes like this:

There were two young boys who were raised in the home of an alcoholic father.  As young men, they each went their own way.  Years later, a psychologist who was analyzing what drunkenness does to children in the home searched out these two men.  One had turned out to be like his father, a hopeless alcoholic.  The other had turned out to be a teetotaler (someone who abstains from alcohol).  The counselor asked the first man, “Why did you become an alcoholic?”  And the second, “Why did you become a teetotaler?”

And they both gave the same identical answer in these words: “What else could you expect when you had a father like mine?” 

It’s not what happens to you in life but how you react to it that makes the difference.  Every human being in the same situation has the possibilities of choosing how he will react, either positively or negatively.

We all experience pain. Jesus wept. I’ve wept. I imagine you’ve wept, too. We would hardly be human if we didn’t. Yet pain is not without purpose, and depending on how you respond to it, it can define your future for years to come.

My kids were crying this week because one of our newly born kittens had died. It was only a few weeks old, but they had already become very attached to it. When they found it dead, they couldn’t help but cry.

As I talked to them about it, I told them that I was sorry for the kitten and for them, but I was thankful that they were able to cry. It showed me that they really cared. Their tears were an expression that something had gone wrong in the world. Their tears revealed to me that they had already begun to care for one of God’s creatures that was given to us for such a short amount of time. Their tears were response enough.

As Charles Robinson has said:

“Jesus wept once; possibly more than once. There are times when God asks nothing of His children except silence, patience, and tears.”

Pain has a purpose, whether it’s to reveal something that needs to be addressed, or to reveal a depth of love that we’ve felt for something or someone we once held close, but now have lost.

Pain hurts, but that doesn’t mean that pain has to be your enemy. As lepers have discovered, pain can be a blessing, sparing you from greater pain down the road. Pain can be a blessing if you’ll let God use it in your life to work His purposes, responding to it in ways that God wants you to respond.

When pain threatens to get you down, remind yourself (meaning “put it in your mind again”) that pain is not without purpose. Ask God to help you persevere through your pain. Ask Him to use it to build up your character. Then ask Him to fill your life with hope–hope for yourself, and hope that you can pour into the lives of others.

As Paul said,

“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:2b-4).

I pray that from this day forward you’ll never look at pain the same way again.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for Your words in the Bible that challenge our thinking on so many topics, including the topic of pain. Help us to see the purpose of pain from Your perspective, and help us to respond to it in ways that You would have us respond. Help us to understand the role of pain in our lives so we can not just endure it, but somehow, as Paul did, to truly rejoice in the midst of it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 5:3-5.  What are the three benefits that Paul says can come when we “rejoice in our sufferings”?

2. By calling us to rejoice in our sufferings, Paul implies that we have a choice in how we respond to pain.  What are some other choices―whether good or bad―that we might make instead?  Why do you think Paul encourages us to rejoice instead of some of those other options?

3. Have you ever seen God use a painful situation in your life, whether physical or emotional, for something good in the end?  

4. How might recalling how God has used what’s painful in the past encourage you in anything painful you might be experiencing right now?  If you’d like, why not ask God, and perhaps a few other trusted people in your life, to give you that strength to persevere through any pain that you’re facing right now in your life until you gain the character and hope that God has in store for you.

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Lesson 12: Having Peace With God

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-11

God wants to give you a lift today.  He wants to pick you up, brush you off, and give you a new start.  In particular, God wants to give you peace―His peace―a deep peace that will renew and restore you and give you the strength to go on.

How can you have the peace of God?  It starts by having peace with God, by coming to the place where you’re reconciled with Him, the place where you know that you are loved, forgiven, and walking in harmony with Him.  The apostle Paul tells us that this kind of peace is available to you when you put your faith in Christ:

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2a).

But this message today isn’t just for those who need to put their faith in Christ for the first time.  It’s for everyone who needs a reminder of the peace that God has in store for those who trust in Him.  As the Bible says:

“You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in You.”
(Isaiah 26:3)

God wants you to trust in Him.  He wants you to keep your mind steadfast, resolutely firm and unwavering.  And when you trust in Him, keeping your mind steadfast, He will keep you in peace―perfect peace.

Why is it so hard then to have God’s peace?  Sometimes it’s because we make it harder than it really is.  Dallas Willard gives a simple and practical definition of what it means to trust Christ:

“Trusting Christ means you want to be with Him as much as possible.”

When you trust someone, you’re happy to be with them.  And when you realize what Christ has done for you―and what He’s still capable of doing for you―it makes it easier to trust Him and to want to be with Him as much as possible.  As the apostle Paul continues his letter to the Romans, he gives us some reasons why we can trust Christ so fully―and why we would want to be with Him as much as possible, too.  Paul says:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Let me unpack for just a minute, because it will help you understand just how very much God loves you.  If you think about it, you’ll realize how very rare it is for one person to die for another, even if the person they’re dying for is “righteous.”  Yet in some cases, it’s possible that someone might die for someone else if the person they’re dying for is truly “good.”   But then think about what Christ has done.  He’s gone further still, not just dying for those who “deserve” it, but for those who don’t deserve it at all―which, as it turns out, happens to be every one of us.

You see, Christ loves you with an overwhelming love―a love that He wants to pour out on you―not just once when you first get saved, but continually for the rest of your life here on earth and on into eternity.

When you realize that Christ loves you this much―and wants to continue loving you this much―you’ll see why you can trust Him completely, and why you would want to be with Him as much as possible.

Trusting Christ brings you peace with God.  And when you have peace with God, this opens the possibility for you to have the peace of God in many other areas of your life as well.

I was sitting at a table last week with some men who were discussing how God has brought His peace into their lives.  Their stories were not only interesting, but interwoven.

One of the men had gotten out of jail about a year ago.  After having lived a life of self-destruction for years, he finally put his faith in Christ while in prison.  He found that the hours he spent there alone with God were some of the sweetest hours of his life.

But his greatest fear while he was in prison was what would happen when he finally got out.  What would happen when he came back into the reality of this world, facing those whom he had wronged so horribly?  What would happen when he had to face his wife and kids again, whom he had led into a destructive lifestyle?  What would happen when he had to face his in-laws again, whom he had pushed away over and over?

As it turned out, one of this man’s in-laws was seated at the table with us―the father-in-law who knew how much trouble this man had caused for his daughter―the father-in-law who was so upset with this guy that he even paid for a lawyer to help his daughter start divorce proceedings.

Yet when the son-in-law put his faith in Christ in prison, something changed.  The father-in-law realized that his son-in-law was now his “brother-in-Christ.”  Rather than condemning his son-in-law when he got out of prison, he found himself forgiving him instead.  He went to visit his son-in-law at home and offered his forgiveness instead of divorce papers.  He told his son-in-law that God wanted him to wipe the slate clean between them, and was offering them a new start in their relationship.

When God reconciled these two men to Himself through Christ, He also laid the foundation for them to reconcile with each other down the road.  Once they each discovered how they could have peace with God, they also discovered they could now have peace with one another.  Can you see how having peace with God can help you experience the peace of God in other areas of your life?  God wants you to have both.

God wants you to be at peace, and He says that you can have that peace by keeping your mind steadfast and trusting in Him.  If you want to renew your mind and experience God’s peace, I want to encourage you to do what Isaiah said to do:  keep your mind steadfast and continue to trust in God.  Remember:

“You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in You.”
(Isaiah 26:3)

Also remember that,

“Trusting Christ means you want to be with Him as much as possible.”

If you have areas in your own life where you feel unrest, or areas where Satan has tried to steal your peace, can I encourage you to bring those areas to Jesus again today?  He really does love you.  He is for you.  And He wants you to experience His peace, not just once in your lifetime, but throughout your lifetime, a peace that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

As you read your Bible this week, I want to encourage you to read it with three thoughts in mind.  First, read the text for what it says, filling your mind with God’s words.  But don’t just stop there.  Take time to meditate on the words that you’re reading, mulling them over in your mind, reflecting on what the words mean and what they might mean to your life today.  And third, be sure to pray while you’re reading, asking God to speak to you about the words on the page, realizing that His word really is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12).  This is one of the best ways to spend as much time with Him as possible.

Remember that the Bible is not just a textbook on living.  It’s a textbook that comes with a built-in teacher, the Holy Spirit.  It’s like taking a class in school and being taught by the author of the textbook himself.  While you can learn a lot by just reading the text, you can learn even more when you go to class with the Author, asking Him your questions, letting Him give you more insights into what He’s written, and letting Him correct your thinking in those cases where you’ve possibly misread the text or missed a crucial word here or there.  Don’t just read the text and miss spending time with the Author!  You’ll love your classes more, and He’ll love spending the extra time with you, too.

I pray this has given you a lift today, and I pray that as you put these words into practice, God will give you His perfect peace.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for offering Your peace to us through faith in Your Son Jesus Christ.  Help us to put our faith in Him again today, trusting Him with our salvation and everything else in our lives.  Help us to give over anything in our lives that is causing us unrest right now, and truly trust You in that area, too.  Forgive us of our sins, and lead us into the fullness of life that You offer to us, both here on earth and on into eternity.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 5:1-11.  How does Paul say we can gain access to the peace that God has to offer us?

2. According to verse 5, what means does God use to pour out His love into our hearts?  How might you invite God to pour out His love into your heart in a new way today?

3. How can Paul’s illustration of the different kinds of people that someone might possibly die for help you to understand better Christ’s love for you and what He has done for you?

4. If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, trusting that He died for your sins so that you could have peace with God, is there anything holding you back from doing it today?  If so, can you confess it to Him and let it go so you can put your faith fully in Him?  And if you’ve already put your faith in God, but are still struggling to experience His peace, is there anything holding you back from trusting Him more fully with every area of your life today?  If so, then ask God for His help with those areas, and ask Him to fill you with His peace―a peace that transcends all understanding

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Lesson 11: Calling Things That Are Not As Though They Were

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 4:16-25

As we’re looking at ways to renew your mind, I’d like to draw your attention to one more verse from Romans chapter 4 before moving on to chapter 5.  There’s a phrase in this verse that is not only extremely quotable and memorable, but can also be a powerful force for defining your future, if you’ll take it to heart.

In talking about God, Paul described Him as:

“…the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17b).

I love that phrase:  the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

If you can believe that God can give life to the dead, which He has proven over and over, and that He can call things into existence that have never existed before, which He has also proven over and over, then you can believe that God can do miracles in your own life that will outshine anything you’ve ever seen before.

Some people bristle at the idea of “name it and claim it” theology referring to the idea that we can have anything we want if we’ll just speak it forth, believe in it hard enough, and start walking in that direction.  While there’s incredible power in positive thinking—and it’s certainly much better than negative thinking—it can lead to problems if what we’re naming isn’t in line with what God wants us to claim.  Rather than being a blessing to us, what we’re wanting could actually harm us, as every parent knows who has given in to a poorly thought-out request by one of their children.

But when you get your thinking in line with God’s, and ask Him for things that He would love to give you, then it becomes a different story.  When God names it, He wants you to claim it!  When God puts a desire in your heart, He wants you to speak it forth, to believe in it fully, and to start walking in that direction.

This is exactly why God commended Abraham.  Abraham was sad and dejected that he had no heirs to whom he could pass on all the blessings he had received in  his life.  When he expressed that sadness to God, God spoke to Abraham, giving him a promise that seemed unbelievable.  God changed Abraham’s name from Abram―which means “exalted father”―to Abraham, which means “father of many,” saying:

“You will be the father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5).

Abraham’s first response was to fall down and laugh!  The Bible says:

“Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’” (Genesis 17:17).

But when God assured Abraham that what He had spoken would come to pass, Abraham believed God.  He acted on that belief, circumcising himself and his whole family, and God honored him for his faith and obedience.

Within a year of Abraham’s conversation with God, Abraham and Sarah had their promised son. They named him Isaac―which means “laughter”―as God had told them to name him.  And so began the promised inheritance to Abraham that has continued from one generation to the next until this very day.

Even though Abraham’s body was as good as dead, in terms of its ability to bring forth life, and his wife had been barren her whole life, God proved to them both that He is a God “who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”

God has been doing the same thing throughout eternity.

God spoke the world into existence with a word.  He called Gideon a “mighty warrior” when Gideon saw himself as the least in his family and the weakest family in his tribe.  He called David a “king” and a “man after My own heart” even though David was just a shepherd boy at the time and was told he had a wicked heart by his brother.

The Bible is full of stories of God giving life to the dead and calling things that are not as though they were, with the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection being chief among them!  But the stories of God calling things that are not as though they were didn’t end in biblical days.  They still continue today!

Let me tell you just one.

About ten years ago I was invited to attend a Billy Graham evangelism conference in Amsterdam.  My passport was about to expire, so I had to fill out an application for a new one.  On the application, it asked for my occupation.  I wasn’t sure exactly what to put in the blank, as the ministry I do on the Internet doesn’t seem to fit into a neatly defined category.

Yet at the time I was feeling more and more that one of God’s callings on my life was to be an author.  I loved writing and had written extensively for my own website, filling up hundreds of electronic pages with digital ink.  Yet I never considered myself an author, since the only book I had ever published was a devotional booklet I had written the year before, and photocopied at home for the people who asked for it.

That hardly seemed to qualify my as an author, yet I felt that’s what God was calling me to be.  So, as a statement of faith of God’s calling on my life, I filled in the “occupation” blank with just one word:  “Author.”

When I arrived at the airport in Amsterdam, the customs official took a look at my passport, then asked me what I did.  I said I was an author.  He asked,  “What kind of books do you write?”

I thought about my little devotional booklet and said, “Devotional books to encourage people in their faith.”

He asked where I was headed, and I told him about the Billy Graham conference.  He said, “With a last name like ‘Elder’ that fits.”  He smiled, stamped my passport, and waved me on through.

Something in my heart told me that being an author “fit,” too.  I realized that I wasn’t stretching the truth when I said I was an author.  I was believing the truth.  From that moment on, it changed both my outlook and my expectations for the future.

Since that time, I’ve written and published over a dozen books.  My weekly messages, like this one that you’re reading right now, are being sent by email to over 35,000 subscribers around the world.  I’m not sure what the official qualifications would be for someone to be declared an “author.”  But for me, I believe I became an author the moment I believed it myself, came into alignment with God’s plan for my life in that area, and started walking in obedience to that calling.

God has a way of seeing our potential before we do and then speaking it into existence.  How?  Because God can see an oak tree in an acorn.

If you’re willing to open your eyes to see things as God sees them, you’ll start seeing oak trees in acorns, too.  You’ll see the potential in yourself and in the lives of others that you may never have seen before.

I could tell you story after story of people who are alive today whose lives and situations have been changed dramatically because they put their faith in Christ.  I could tell you about marriages that have been dead for years and ended in divorce, but which God brought back to life when both people put their faith in Christ.  I could tell you about couples who have been declared infertile by doctors, but whom God has said would bear a child within a year―like Abraham and Sarah―and have!  I could tell you about people involved in lifestyles that could literally kill them, lifestyles which some people say are impossible to change, but which God has changed, giving them new lives instead.  As the angel told Mary:

“For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

When you get in line with God’s plans for your life, nothing will be impossible for you, either.

If God has spoken into your life about your future, believe Him.  Put your faith into action and start walking in the direction He’s told you to walk.  If you’re not sure what God has called you to do, keep seeking Him for His wisdom.  Read the Bible.  Pray.  Ask others what they think about your future.  Then when God gives you the next step to take, take it!

Don’t be discouraged if what God says about your future doesn’t line up with your present.

Remember that God called Abraham “a father of many nations” before he and Sarah had even conceived their first child together.  Remember that God called Gideon a “mighty warrior” back when Gideon felt like he was the weakest of the weak.  Remember that God called David “a man after My own heart” even when others were saying otherwise.  Remember that God sees an oak tree in an acorn.

Put your trust in God, and remember who He is.  He is:

“… the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us today of who You are and what You can do.  Give us the faith we need to see Your promises come to pass in our lives.  Fill us with Your wisdom, Your plans, Your purposes, and Your ways, so that we can take hold of them by faith and begin walking in obedience to Your calling on our lives, starting even today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 4:16-25.  What reasons might Abraham have had for why it could have seemed impossible for God to fulfill what He had promised to him?

2. What reasons might you have for why it could seem impossible for God to fulfill what He has promised to you?  How might Abraham have overcome His doubts?  How might you overcome yours?

3. Read Judges 7:1-7.  In reading this part of Gideon’s story, what reason does God give for why He sometimes does what seems impossible through us?  What hope does this give you for your situation?

4. If God has given you a promise about your calling or your future, what next steps could you take to put your faith into action and start walking in the direction of that future?  If you don’t feel that God has spoken to you about your future, what next steps could you take to begin learning more about it from Him?

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Lesson 10: Being Fully Persuaded

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Acts 10

I’d like to give you some hope today― hope that God has the power to do what He has promised.

My daughter showed me a great picture a few weeks ago with the word HOPE written on the palm of someone’s hand.  What was unique about the picture was that the word HOPE on the hand could be seen reflected in a side mirror of a car, with these words written in small print on the bottom of the mirror:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

I thought it was a great picture of the hope that God offers to each one of us.  When God promises to do something, you can take it to the bank.  You can trust that He will bring it to pass.  Even if the answers to your prayers might look like they are far off, those answers could really be much closer than you think!

After I saw this picture, my wife and daughter were looking for a new car on the Internet.  Our van had broken down and could no longer be repaired, so we’ve been looking for something to replace it.  My wife has had her eye on a particular little car that she’s really liked for several years.  It’s not like her to care much for cars at all, but this one seemed to be just right for her and my daughter.

As they looked, they found it:  the exact car they were looking for.  Everything was perfect about it:  the style, the color, even the design on the front.  The only thing wrong with it, from my perspective, was the price!  (It was the right price for the car, just the wrong price for us!)

A friend of mine told me that when he sent his daughter off to school he said he sent her off with only his prayers, because he couldn’t afford to send her to the school.  He told her:  “The same God who takes care of me will take care of you..”

Through prayer and hard work, his daughter was able to make it through that school.  God did take care of her.

So as I went to bed with my wife that night after looking at the cars, I told her about my friend’s words for his daughter.  Then I smiled and said, “You’ve got my prayers!  The same God who takes care of me will take care of you!”  We both laughed and went to bed.

The next morning, I went to a men’s breakfast at 6:00 a.m.  As I pulled into the parking lot, someone pulled in right behind me, someone who had never been to the group before.  He just happened to be driving the very same car my wife and daughter had been looking at on the Internet:  the exact style, color, and even the design painted on the front.

I couldn’t believe it!  It hadn’t even been 8 hours since I had prayed that prayer.  I got out and asked him how he liked his car.  He said he loved it.  I asked if he’d ever consider selling it.  He said, “Actually, I’m thinking about it.”  He said things had recently changed in his life, and he didn’t need this car anymore.

We talked some more, and after breakfast, I asked if I could take a look at the car.  I started taking a few pictures for my wife, then I got inside.  As I looked around, my eyes landed on the mirror on the right-hand side.  There reflected in the mirror, I could see the full length of the side of the car, with these words at the bottom:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

I almost cried.  I didn’t know if this particular car was God’s answer to our prayers or not, but I did see clearly that if God wanted to answer them, He could do it in an instant.  I took a picture of the car in the mirror, with the words displayed at the bottom, and I repented of my unbelief.  I told God that day that I was sorry for being so flippant the night before, saying to my wife, “The same God who takes care of me will take care of you.”  I know that God can do anything, absolutely anything.

Let me add that it’s been a few weeks now and we haven’t gotten the car yet.  The man’s not quite ready to sell and we’re not quite ready to buy.  We’re not even sure if this is even God’s answer or if He has another answer in the works.  But seeing the car gave me a boost in my faith, and was a vivid reminder of the hope we can have in God—even when it seems like the odds are against us.

That’s the kind of faith that Abraham had.  The Bible says:

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead―since he was about a hundred years old―and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised” (Romans 4:18-21).

I love the way that starts:  “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…”  And I love the way it ends:  “…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.”

Abraham was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.  And that’s the kind of faith that God wants you to have.  How can you do that?  How can you become fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised?

I’d like to give you two ideas today to help give you a boost in your faith.  By doing these two things, I believe that God will renew your mind and give you hope for your future, too.

The first is to take time to read the stories about how God has been faithful to people in the Bible.  Stories like Abraham’s in Genesis chapters 15 through 18.  Stories like Moses’ in Exodus chapter 1 through 4.  Stories like Joshua’s in the book of Joshua, or Esther’s in the book of Esther, or Ruth’s in the book of Ruth.  The Bible is filled with stories from cover to cover about how God has worked in the lives of ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  As you read these stories, you’ll be filled with faith that God can do similar things for you.

The second is to look at stories from people living today who have been touched by the hand of God.  The same God who worked in the lives of men and women thousands of years ago is still at work in the lives of men and women today.  I’ve posted many such stories on our website at www.theranch.org about people who are living today who have seen God work in their lives in astounding ways.  One of those stories is about a woman named Liesl Alexander, a woman who was locked in a mental institution for years, taking 36 medications a day, and was written off as one of the most hopeless cases in the institution.

Yet when a group of people from a local church came and began to pray for her, her life turned around completely.  By the power of Christ, she was set free to live the life that God had created her to live.  For the past 20 years, she’s been sharing her testimony about how Christ has changed her life, encouraging anyone who will listen to be fully persuaded that “God can do anything, absolutely anything.”

God wants you to be fully persuaded that He can do what He has promised to do.  Take some time this week to read the Bible and look for stories of how God has touched people’s lives in powerful ways, then look at our website or other Christian books to see how God has worked in other people’s lives today.  You’ll see that God really can do anything― absolutely anything.

Remember:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

HOPE is closer than you might think.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are always at work on our behalf, and that the answers to our prayers could be revealed in an instant. Help us to trust You fully―to be fully persuaded―that You can do anything, absolutely anything.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 4:13-25.  What does this passage say to you today about hope?

2. While Abraham and Sarah’s story might seem unbelievable, for they were old and past the age of child-bearing, how can their story give you hope for any situation that you’re praying about right now? 

3. What story does Paul refer to, in verses 23-25, to remind us about God’s ability to bring life out of death?

4. What are some steps you can take this week to help yourself become more “fully persuaded” that God can do what He has promised to do, whether they are steps suggested by this lesson, or other steps that might not have been mentioned?  Consider committing to doing one or two of those things..

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Lesson 9: Believing God

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 4:1-12

I’d like to talk to you today about believing God.  Not just believing in God.  But believing God― believing that He will do what He says He will do.  The reason I want to talk to you about believing God is because what you believe influences what you do.  Or, to put it another way, you do what you believe.

If you believe that people are going to hell if they don’t put their faith in Jesus, then you’ll do something about it.  If you’re not doing something about it, then perhaps you’re just giving intellectual assent to an idea, but you’re not really believing it.

I have a friend who went to the doctor for a checkup.  The doctor told him, “Your dad had a heart attack by the time he was forty-eight, and you’re going to have a heart attack by the time you’re forty-eight, unless you start making some changes in your life.”  My friend had known this was a possibility before, but it wasn’t until his doctor told him the truth so directly that my friend finally believed it.  That day, he began that day to change the way he ate, the way he exercised, and the way he lived his life.  And today, he’s still going strong.  Why?  Because he believed what his doctor said.

How much more so, when we hear what God says about our lives, should be believe Him and do what He says?

Abraham is an excellent example for all of us of someone who believed God, who heard what God said and took it to heart, and then backed up what he believed with his actions.

If you remember the story, God told Abraham that he would have so many descendants they would outnumber the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.  This was a pretty lofty idea considering that Abraham was old and childless.  But the Bible says:

“Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3).

Several years later, when God called Abraham to become circumcised as a way of sealing God’s covenant with him, Abraham did what God said that very day.  Within a year, he and his wife Sarah had their first child―the first of a long line of those promised descendants.

While Abraham’s obedience to be circumcised was important and necessary for the fulfillment of God’s plan for his life, the apostle Paul notes in his letter to the Romans that it wasn’t after Abraham was circumcised that he was declared righteous in God’s sight, but before.  In fact, Abraham was declared righteous several years before his circumcision.  He was declared righteous the moment he believed.  (You can read more about this part of Abraham’s story in Genesis chapters 15 through 18.)

Abraham’s circumcision was a natural outworking of the faith that Abraham had already expressed in his heart to God.  His actions were directly influenced by what he believed.

Dallas Willard is one of the spiritual giants of our generation.  When asked what he would advise someone to do who wanted to grow spiritually, he said:

“Do the next right thing you know you ought to do.”

You might have thought he could have said, “Read the Bible more,” or “Pray more,” or “Go to church more.”  But he didn’t.  He said that the best course of action was to do the next right thing you know you ought to do, because that’s likely the very thing that God wants you to do.  He said this may very well involve reading the Bible more so you can get clarity on what it is that God really wants you to do.  Or it may involve praying more because you’ll need God’s wisdom for how to do it.  Or it may involve going to church more because you’ll most likely need the help of others to do what God has put on your heart to do.  But in any case, you’ll grow tremendously when you do the next right thing you know you ought to do.

My question for you today is this:  what’s the next right thing you know you ought to do?

What is it that God has called you to do that He is wanting you to step out in faith and do next?  Maybe it’s something regarding your family, your job, your finances, or your health.  Maybe it’s something regarding your calling, your gifting, your relationships, or the way you use your time.  Maybe it’s something that is quiet and internal, or maybe it’s something that is “out loud” and vocal.  Maybe it’s something you need to start doing.  Or maybe it’s something you need to stop doing.

Although I don’t know what it might be that God is putting on your heart right now as you read these words, I imagine there are probably one or two things that have already started coming to your mind as “the next right thing you know you ought to do.” Whatever it is, I want to encourage you to do it.  Believe in your heart that God has called you to it, then step out in faith and let Him help you do it!

You may remember the story of the widow’s oil, back in the Old Testament.  This widow had lost her husband, and she and her two sons were struggling to live.  She was at a point of desperation because her husband’s creditors were coming to take away her boys as slaves.

She cried out to Elisha, a man of God, and asked him what to do.  Elisha asked what she had left in her house.  She said that she had nothing there at all, “except a little oil” (2 Kings 4:5).

So Elisha told her what to do next.  He told her to go around to all her neighbors and ask for their empty jars.  She and her sons did what Elisha said.

She went all over the neighborhood asking for empty jars and brought them home.  Elisha told her to fill them up with the little oil that she had.  By faith, she began pouring out the oil into the first jar, and it didn’t stop!  It just kept flowing and flowing as she poured it into jar after jar, until every jar she had collected was full.

Elisha told her:

“Go, sell the oil and pay your debts.  You and your sons can live on what is left” (2 Kings 4:7b).

I love this story for several reasons, but one that stands out to me today is the fact that the widow believed what God was telling her to do through the prophet Elisha, then she went out and acted on that belief.  She did the next right thing she knew she ought to do.

One way to renew your mind today is to believe God―not just believe in Him―but really believe Him, because what you believe influences what you do.

Abraham wasn’t credited with righteousness after he was circumcised, but before, when he first believed God.  It was only afterwards that he stepped out in faith and acted on what he believed.

The widow’s life didn’t start to turn around after she had sold all her jars of oil and got the money for them, but before, when she first believed what God told her to do through the prophet Elisha.  It was only afterwards that she stepped out in faith and acted on what she believed.

God wants you to believe Him, too.  He wants you believe what He says and then to act on that belief, to do the next right thing that you know you ought to do.  For some of you, this might mean picking up a project that you’ve been putting off for years.  You might think, “Not that, Lord!  It’s been on the back burner for so long, I don’t think I’ll ever get around to it.”  For others of you, this might mean acting on something you heard just yesterday.  You might think, “Not that, Lord!  I just heard about it yesterday, I need a few more days, or months, or years to think about it.”

We can all think of reasons not to do what we know we ought to do.  But I want to encourage you today to believe God, and then act on that belief.  Don’t let doubt and discouragement hold you back from doing “the next right thing” that God has called you to do.

Believe God today, and then act on that belief!  One day, like Abraham and Sarah, and like the widow and her sons, people will be telling the story of what happened to you when you believed God, too.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for creating each of us with special tasks to accomplish here on earth.  Help us to have the faith today to believe what You say when You speak to us, and then to act on that belief.  Help us today to step out in faith and do the next right thing we know we ought to do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 4:1-12.  Why do you think God credited Abraham with righteousness when he first believed God, rather than after he took his famous steps of obedience?

2. Read James 2:15-18.  What are some of the differences between believing God and believing in God, based on this passage?

3. What is the relationship between faith and works, as described by the passage in James?

4. What comes to your mind as “the next right thing you ought to do?”  What steps could you take to help clarify that those things really are from God, and then to step out in faith to begin doing them?

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Lesson 8: Being Redeemed By Jesus

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:21-31

The great evangelist D.L. Moody was once confronted by a woman who said she didn’t like his method of evangelism. D. L. Moody responded, “I don’t particularly like my method either. What’s yours?”

The woman said, “I don’t have one.”

To which D.L. Moody replied, “Then I like mine better!”

There are many methods for sharing your faith, such as “The Four Spiritual Laws” from Campus Crusade, “Steps to Peace with God” from Billy Graham, “The Two Questions” from Evangelism Explosion, or “The Ten Commandments” from The Way of the Master.  As someone has said, sharing your faith is like prayer:  there’s probably only one wrong way to do it, and that’s to not do it at all!

Still, I’d like to give you a method of sharing your faith today that I hope will make it easier for you to do it.  It’s called “The Roman Road,” and it begins with a Scripture that’s found in the passage we’re looking at today in the book of Romans, chapter 3.

But before I start, I’d like to remind you that sharing your faith is not about a method, but about a person, Jesus Christ.  Remember that it is not a method that saves people, but Jesus―and He would love to work through you to touch the lives of those around you.  When you remember this, it takes the pressure off of you and your method.  It’s Jesus who will save people!

I’d also like to remind you to pray for opportunities to share with others.  Sometimes we don’t share with others because we don’t spend time praying for opportunities to share.  But if you’ll pray for God to open doors for you to share your faith, He’ll open your eyes to those who need to hear His good news today.  Pray for opportunities to share, and trust that God will help you share as He opens up those opportunities to you!

And third, a practical way to get into a spiritual conversation with someone is to ask if you can pray for them, perhaps for their health or a situation in their life where they might need God’s intervention.  As they share with you their need, you can pray for that need specifically, and afterwards share how God may have helped you or someone you know with a similar need.  You can let them know that we can trust God for all of our needs because of what He has already done for us through Jesus.  This can lead naturally into a conversation about the needs we all have in life, and the way that Jesus can meet those needs.

Having said that, let’s take a look at “The Roman Road,” a way of walking people through a few passages in the book of Romans, like walking them down a road and pointing out highlights along the way.

While there are many Scriptures that are included in the various versions of “The Roman Road,” I’d like to give you just four to make it as easy as possible for you to remember.  Since we’re in this series on renewing your mind, I think it’s helpful to commit these verses to memory so you can have them at the forefront of your mind, for your own sake, as well as for the sake of those people that God brings your way.

The Roman Road starts with Romans, chapter 3, verse 23:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23).

We’ve all sinned.  None of us has a perfect moral scorecard.  Unfortunately, sin has consequences.  The consequences of sin are stated clearly in Romans chapter 6, verse 23:

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).

The wages, or what we’ve earned for our sins, is death.  Death is a natural outcome of what happens when we go against God’s will for our lives.  God wants us to have an abundant life, but when we go against His plan for us, we head in the opposite direction and head down a path that leads to death instead.

The good news is that Jesus came to put us back on track and to save us from the penalty of death, as described in Romans chapter 5, verse 8:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

God loves us so much that He doesn’t want us to die, so He made a way for us to be free from sin and free from facing an eternity of death and separation from Him.  When Christ died on the cross, He took our sins upon Him to pay the penalty for us with His own life.

Although God makes this offer available freely to anyone, He doesn’t force it on anyone.  He wants us to come to Him of our own free will, confessing with our mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead.  When we do that, God will save us, as described in Romans 10:9:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

When you put your faith in Christ, you’ll be saved and given a new life, both here on earth and on into heaven forever.

While there are many other passages from the book of Romans that you could use to share God’s good news with people, these four verses make up the core of the gospel:  addressing the fact that we’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23), that the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23), that God loved us so much that He made a way for us to be freed from our sins (Romans 5:8), and that by putting our faith in Jesus we can be saved from our sins and given eternal life (Romans 10:9).

While it may sound simple, don’t underestimate what God can do in someone’s life through a few verses from the book of Romans.

It was while reading the book of Romans that a man named Augustine put his faith in Christ, back in 386 A.D.  He was sitting in the garden of a friend, weeping as he thought about the wickedness of his life.  Some children nearby were singing “Tolle, lege.  Tolle, lege.” which means “Take up and read.  Take up and read.”  A scroll of the book of Romans was laying open next to Augustine, so he “took up and read”.  The first few verses he saw, in Romans 13:13-14, described the condition of his life―and what to do about it:

“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:13-14).

Augustine put his faith in Christ that day, and became one of the greatest theologians and leaders in the history of the church.

It was while reading the book of Romans that another man named Martin Luther put his faith in Christ, about 1,000 years after Saint Augustine.  Luther was an Augustinian monk who was burdened by the weight of trying to do enough good works to get into heaven.  But that burden was finally lifted when he read a verse from the book of Romans.  Romans 1:17 showed him that he wouldn’t be declared righteous by his good works, but by his faith in Christ:

“For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:17).

Martin Luther put his faith in Christ that day, and went on to lead a reformation that has impacted lives all over the world.

It was while listening to someone reading Luther’s notes on the book of Romans that John Wesley put his faith in Christ, several hundred years later.  As Wesley listened to Luther’s introductory comments about Romans, Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed,” as he described it, and he committed his life entirely to Christ.  John Wesley, and his brother Charles, went on to found the Methodist movement, also contributing many of the great hymns of the faith that we still sing today.

And Paul’s words to the Romans are still affecting people today, almost 2,000 years after they were written, as it was while reading the book of Romans that I put my faith in Christ, too.  As I was reading Romans 1:18-32, I realized that I was a sinner, too, and needed a Savior.  Now here I am today encouraging you from what I’ve learned from the book of Romans so you can share it with others.

These are just a few of the lives that have been touched by reading just a few verses from the book of Romans!  So don’t underestimate the power of a few verses from this book to change lives.  If you’ve been redeemed by Jesus, tell others about it, using the Roman Road if you want as a way to help them understand the good news of Christ.  And if you haven’t yet been redeemed by Jesus, I’d encourage you to keep reading the Bible so you can put your faith in Him today.

If you’re up for a challenge, I’d also encourage you to commit to memory these four simple verses from Romans: 3:23, 6:23, 5:8 and 10:9.  Memorizing scripture is a great way to renew your mind, and as you keep these particular verses at the forefront of your mind, they’ll also help you as you talk with others about how they can be redeemed by Jesus, too.

Perhaps you’re reading this today and you’re like Augustine, or Luther, or Wesley, or me, and these verses that I’ve been sharing from the book of Romans have somehow sparked your thinking and moved your heart in a way that you, too want to commit your life to Christ.  If so, put your faith in Him today for everything in your life.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and invite Him to be your Lord and Savior.  Do what Paul encouraged the Romans to do and you’ll be saved, too:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to redeem us from our sins.  Help us to share that life-changing message with those around us.  Open our eyes today to those who need to hear this message, and open their hearts to be receptive as we share it, so they can put their faith in You as well.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 3:21-31.  What do you think about Paul’s claim that “all have sinned” in verse 23?  What evidence do you see in your life or the lives of those around you that argue either for or against this claim?

2. How does Paul say we can be justified in God’s eyes and redeemed from this situation, as stated in verses 24-26?

3. What place does boasting have in the life of a Christian, according to verses 27-28?

4. Why not take some time today to write down the four verses mentioned in this message and commit them to memory as a way to keep them at the forefront of your mind?  The verses are:  Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, and Romans 10:9.  After you’ve memorized them, consider sharing these verses with a friend who has already put their faith in Christ as a way to practice what you’ve learned, then pray for God to give you opportunities with someone else who still needs to hear this good news!

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Lesson 7: Becoming Conscious Of Sin

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:1-20

Some people have no problem recognizing sin in their life.  In fact, they magnify their faults in their minds, whether real or imagined, thinking less of themselves than they ought to think.

Yet other people have the problem of not recognizing sin in their life.  They magnify their strengths instead, whether real or imagined, thinking better of themselves than they ought to think.

Most of us fall somewhere in between:  we magnify some weaknesses out of proportion, while minimizing others.

God wants us to have an honest and objective look.  For those of you who think you’re perfect, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news today.  And for those of you who don’t think you’re perfect, I don’t want you to magnify what I’m about to say and make you feel worse about yourselves.  But here’s the truth, according to what God says through Paul in his letter to the Romans:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.

All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,
not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).

The truth is, the gospel―or good news—of Jesus Christ is often bad news before it’s good news.  If you’re not aware of your sinfulness, you’ll never be aware of your need for a Savior.  And if you don’t recognize your need for a Savior, you’ll never find salvation.

God didn’t give you the laws of the Bible―the ten commandments and the six hundred and some additional laws that followed in the Old Testament―to crush you.  He gave them to help you and protect you.  And to the extent that you keep those laws, you’ll be blessed.  But when you fall short of being able to keep those laws, God sent Jesus to make up the difference―to fill the gap between the best that you can do and the best that God wants for you.

And since the Bible says that “there is no one righteous, not even one,” that means that God sent Jesus for each one of us.  If you want to renew your mind and get a new perspective on life, it’s important to see your sins as God sees them.  For when you see how short you’ve fallen compared to God’s righteousness, you can see what needs to happen to make up the difference:  put your faith in Christ!

This is not a message just for non-Christians to encourage them to put their faith in Christ.  This is just as much a message for Christians, who need God’s grace just as much after being saved as before.  As professor and philosopher Dallas Willard says:

“The sinner is not the one who uses a lot of grace.  The saint uses more grace.  The saint burns grace like a 747 burns fuel on takeoff, because everything they do is a manifestation of grace.  But we have to learn how to use it.  It means we no longer trust just our efforts to manage our lives.”

Throughout the book of Romans, Paul addressed the differences and similarities between Jews and Gentiles―the non-Jews.  What good is it being a Jew, some have asked, if both Jews and Gentiles both can be saved by grace?  Here’s what Paul said:

“What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?  Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God” (Romans 3:1-2).

God gave His words in the form of the Scriptures to the Jews, and to the extent that they heeded those words they were blessed.  But to the extent that they didn’t heed those words, there was a gap.

God gave them ways to fill that gap, through sacrifices of atonement that they and their leaders could make.  But as good as this was, it was never enough to completely fill the gap.  Paul said that it was only because of God’s forbearance―His patience, self-control, and restraint―that He never brought upon them the full punishment they deserved for their sins.  Paul said:

“Because in His forbearance, He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished” (Romans 3:25b).

But when the time was right, God provided a way to fill the gap completely, once and for all.  He filled it by offering His own Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins.  That’s the gospel, or good news of Jesus Christ.  Even though none of us are righteous on our own, we can become righteous by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.

If you feel like a sinner today, hallelujah!  When you become conscious of your sins, you’ve hit upon a truth of God.  That means you can also recognize your need for a Savior―someone who can save you from your sins!  And that means you can be saved, if you recognize Jesus as your Savior!  It really is great news!

Becoming conscious of sin is one of the main purposes of the laws that God gave us.  As Paul said:

“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20).

If you want to renew your mind today, ask God to help you become conscious of sin in your life.  Then, when you become aware of what needs changing in your life, invite Jesus in to do His work.  Remember, God’s grace is just as much available to you after you’ve become a Christian as before.

At the same time, as you ask God to help you to become conscious of sin in your life, don’t let Satan magnify your weaknesses out of proportion.

I had a friend this week who shared with me that she was struggling to hear from God.  She felt like God wasn’t answering her prayers and she wondered what she might be doing wrong.  At one point in our conversation, she confessed to me this that she felt God wasn’t answering her prayers because she had gone off a special diet she had started for her health.  She had eaten some candy bars.  She was squirming as she told me, and she said she hadn’t told anyone else what she was thinking.  But from the way she said it, I knew she was dead serious and completely distraught.  I looked at her and said:

“Satan is lying to you.  The truth is that God loves you so much that He has already paid the ultimate price for you―by sending Jesus to die for your sins.  There’s nothing He wouldn’t do for you if it’s in His will for your life.  There may be a good reason for you to be careful about what you eat for the sake of your health.  But that’s a different issue.  I don’t believe that God is holding anything back from you because you ate some candy bars.  If you believe that God wants for you what you’re praying for, then keep on praying for it!  Believe that God will answer your prayers and don’t let anything stop you from praying for it.”

My friend listened intently to what I was saying, and when I was finished, she asked if I could repeat it all for her one more time, which I did.  Sometimes it’s hard to get your mind around God’s grace.  And I admit that I fall into the same mental trap at times, too, and maybe you do as well.  Maybe you’ve had thoughts like these:

– “I don’t have enough money because I haven’t made enough contacts this week―God must not love me, or He thinks bad about me, and He’s not answering my prayers because of it.”  (Maybe there’s a connection between your contacts and your money, but maybe not.  Your work matters to God, but don’t let Satan lie to you that it’s because God doesn’t love you because you haven’t done enough.  If you fall short in what you can do, ask God for forgiveness and let Jesus fill the gap.)

– “My kids are a mess because of a sin I committed in high school and now they’re just following in my footsteps, even though I’ve repented a thousand times for it since then.” (No, don’t let Satan lie to you.  If you’ve confessed it, you’re forgiven.  God has wiped the slate clean and starts all over again with your kids on their own.)

– “I’ve been praying for a husband or wife, but no one will marry me.  It must be because of my ____.” (Fill in the blank:  nose, temper, scar, income, freckles, hair, lack of hair, etc.  No, don’t let Satan lie to you, either.  There are plenty of people who have gotten married in spite of having a multitude of traits that seem to be ignored, and even adored, by their devoted spouse.  While there may be qualities or characteristics about yourself that God does want you to work on, that’s likely a different issue.  Trust God that He is answering your prayers and working on your behalf, behind the scenes.  At the proper time, you will see the fruit of your prayers.)

If there’s a a gap between you and perfection, there’s good news for you―even as a Christian.  Jesus came to fill the gap!

God want to renew your mind.  He’s given you His law so you can become conscious of sin.  But once you’re aware of it, don’t wallow in it!  Put your faith in Christ, and let Him make things right again.  If you’ve confessed it, God has forgiven it.

As the Apostle John said:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for helping us to become conscious of our sins, so that we can see our need for a Savior, so that we can find salvation!  Thank you for the good news of Jesus Christ, who came to fill in the gap between the best that we can do and the best that God has in store for us.  We ask that You would fill the gaps in our lives today where we fall short, as we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 3:1-20.  Why does Paul say, in verse 20, that no one can become righteous by observing the law, but through the law we become conscious of sin?

2. Read 1 John 1:8-10.  How do John’s words compare with Paul’s?

3. In your own life, do you think you tend to magnify, or minimize, your sins?  How might God help you to get His perspective on them?

4. Have you ever experienced the good news of Jesus Christ for yourself, putting your faith in Him for the forgiveness of your sins? If not, why not ask Him to fill the gap for you today in prayer? And if so, why not ask Him for extra grace today to fill any other gaps in your life where you feel like you’re falling short?

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Lesson 6: Getting To The Heart

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 2:17-29

I have thought for some time now that someone should make a movie about two men engaged in an epic battle with each other.  In some ways, it would be like every other movie:  the hero and villain would be at war throughout the movie, with the hero having the upper hand at some points, and the villain gaining the upper hand at others.  Near the end, the hero would deliver the fatal blow that sends the villain to his doom forever.

But the difference in this movie would be that just before the closing credits begin to roll, the camera would back up from the final battle scene, revealing to the audience that the hero and the villain were one and the same person, fighting inside the brain of a man’s head.  Having achieved the victory in his mind, we would then see the man finally stand up and walk forward to do what’s right.  No longer bound by the thoughts that were raging within him, he would finally be free to live the life he was called to live.

An audience of such a movie might think that they had been tricked into thinking that the whole battle was “real” for the entire movie, when it was only being played out inside the man’s head.  But to those who saw what was taking place at a deeper level, they would realize that what took place inside the man’s head was no less real than what took place after he stood up at the end.

The victory in your mind is often just as critical as the victory in the physical world.  In fact, you often need to secure the victory in your mind first before you can secure the victory in the physical world.

There are, however, ways to cover up your true thoughts and feelings with words and actions that make it look like you’ve got it all together on the inside.  This kind of activity might deceive men, but it never deceives God.  God wants you to win the victory in your mind and in the physical world.  When there’s a disconnect between what’s going on inwardly and what’s going on outwardly, God wants you to get to the heart.

Paul addressed this disconnect in his letter to the Romans.  The Jews were priding themselves on the outward signs of their faith, like the fact that they were circumcised, whereas the Gentiles, or non-Jews, weren’t.  But Paul said:

“A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly, and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.  Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:28-29).

In some ways, the Jews could have seen circumcision as one of the symbols of their salvation.  It was a physical sign imprinted on their bodies that showed that they belonged to God, that they were children of a special covenant between God and His people.  But Paul said that if their circumcision was external only, then it would only merit praise from men, not from God.

God wanted their circumcision to be a “circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.”  Paul said that the Gentiles, who didn’t have the law of God written down for them, would be more honoring to God than the Jews if the Gentiles kept the requirements of the law by doing what’s right.  Paul said:

“If those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?  The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker” (Romans 2:26-27).

This isn’t to say that circumcision and the rest of the laws were of no value to the Jews, as we’ll find out next time in chapter 3 of Paul’s letter.  But it is to say that God wants our inward reality to match up with our outward reality.  And when we get to the heart first, the outward actions will flow much more naturally.

I got an email from a friend who has been struggling with pornography for years, thinking of himself as an addict.  He hasn’t been sure if he will ever break free.  Although I believe he can and will break free one day, it’s hard for him to believe it, because of the length and the strength of his battle.

Yet in his most recent email, he said he had just been to a counselor who asked him many in-depth questions about his struggle.  After reviewing the situation, the counselor said that he doesn’t think my friend has an addiction and gave him several reasons why.  This was news to my friend because he’s been feeling like an addict for years!  It changed my friend’s thinking about his situation.  He’s already had some small victories in his battle since then!

My friend’s actions are beginning to change because he has changed the way he thinks about his problem.  He now sees that there really is a possibility that he can be free from this battle that has dogged him for so long.

God cares about what’s going on inside your brain.  He cares about what’s going on inside your heart.  And He cares about what you do as a result of what’s going on inside your brain and heart.  What happens internally is just as important―and just as real―as what happens externally.

I remember a book in which the main character in the book has a dreamlike conversation with one of his mentors who had unfortunately died the previous year.  As their conversation comes to a close, the main character asks:

“Tell me one last thing.  Is this real?  Or has this been happening inside my head?

His mentor replies:

“Of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?”

Sometimes we think that the thoughts in our head are separate from, and unrelated to, the actions that we take in our lives.  We treat the two as different realities.  But the truth is that our thoughts influence our actions.  Both are real and God cares about both.

God wants you to have the victory on the inside so you can have the victory on the outside.

He doesn’t want you to be obedient just so you can say you have faith in Him.  He wants you to have faith in Him so that you can be obedient, for that’s the way you can live your life to the fullest potential.

While there can be value in just doing things because you know they’re right, even if you don’t feel like doing them, there’s much more value if what you do on the outside matches up with what you think and feel on the inside.  When they match up, you’ll feel better about what you’re doing, others will feel better about what you’re doing, and God will be honored by what you’re doing.

As God said to Samuel when Samuel was trying to discern who should be the next king of Israel:

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7-8).

Ask God to renew your heart and mind today.  Ask Him to reveal anything within you that is improperly motivated, or that seeks for anything other than the good of others and the glory of God.  Then, if God reveals anything to you that needs to be changed internally, ask Him for help to know how to change it.  Ask Him to remake you from the inside out.  Give Him permission to do that work inside you, whatever it takes.

Then, when God is done remaking you on the inside, you’ll be able to stand up, move forward, and do what’s right.  No longer bound by the thoughts that were raging inside you, you’ll finally be free to live the life you were called to live!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for caring about what goes on inside us―our thoughts and feelings―just as much as you care about what we do on the outside. Thank You for the reminder that both are real, and both are really important to You.  Fill our minds and hearts with Your will for our lives and help us to believe and act on Your will.  We pray that doing so will make an tremendous difference to us and to those around us in the weeks and months and years ahead.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 2:17-29.  What was the problem that Paul was addressing with the Jews in this passage?

2. What did Paul mean when he said that “circumcision is circumcision of the heart”?  How can someone be circumcised in their heart?

3. In what ways do your thoughts and feelings sometimes differ from your actions?  And in what ways are they related?

4. Are there any areas in your life where your thoughts and feelings are disconnected from your actions?  What might you do today to help them line up more closely?

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Lesson 5: Listening To Your Conscience

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 2:1-16

When Steve Jobs finished designing the first Macintosh computer, he did something special: he asked everyone who helped him design that first revolutionary machine to sign a large piece of paper.  He then took that paper and turned it into an engraving template.  When those first Macs finally rolled off the assembly line, the names of their creators were engraved inside every case.

You couldn’t see the signatures from the outside―and most people never even knew they existed on the inside because few people had any reason to open up a computer in those days.  But if you did open one up and looked deep inside, you’d see them―the signatures of their creators, including “steven jobs.”

But Steve Jobs wasn’t the first one to sign his creation on the inside.  God did it, too, when He created you.  He’s written His name deep inside you.  And if you take a closer look, you’ll find that it’s not just His name that’s written there, but also His laws―His words of instruction to help you live the fullest life possible.

As God said in the book of Hebrews:

“I will put My laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts. 

I will be their God,
and they will be My people”
(Hebrews 8:10b)

The Apostle Paul echoes these thoughts in his letter to the Romans, saying that your conscience “bears witness” to the fact that God has written the requirements of His laws upon your heart.

“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:14-15).

Your conscience has been implanted in your mind by God.  It helps you to consider your options and the outcomes of your actions.  It helps you to regulate your passions and desires, comparing them to God’s passions and desires for you.  When your passions and desires are different than God’s, your conscience kicks in to let you know that something is amiss and needs to be addressed.

But your conscience is a warning indicator only.  You can override it.  You can ignore it.  You still have free will.  But God has put your conscience within you to help you make decisions, if you’re willing to listen to it.  Your conscience is a warning indicator to let you know you’d better check something out before proceeding.

How do you check it out?  By comparing what you’re wanting to do with God’s Word.

Even though God has written His Word on your heart, sometimes you can’t read the writing so clearly.  Your vision gets blurred by your own thoughts and desires.

That’s why God has also given you His Word in black and white―on the pages of the Bible―so you can read it clearly.  That’s why He’s given you His Word in the flesh―in the form of His Son Jesus―so you can know exactly what He says about it.  That’s why He’s given you His Holy Spirit―which Jesus said He would send to His followers after He was gone―to remind you of all the things He has already spoken to you.

I can think of times in my own life―and maybe you can think of times in yours―when I’ve done some things that felt so “right” on one level, but on another level felt so “wrong.”   At those times when I’ve ignored the warning lights and overridden them, I’ve ended up in places that God never wanted me to go.

But at those times when I have taken notice of God’s warning lights and decided to check out what I was doing and compare it to what God wanted me to do according to His Word, I’ve found that it’s way better to do what’s right―even if it means laying down some things that I personally desire.  Whenever I’ve done what I’ve felt God wanted instead, I’ve found that His plans for me are so much better than the plans I had in mind, giving me peace of mind and life abundant.  As someone has wisely said:

A clear conscience makes a soft pillow.

If you’d like to sleep on a soft pillow tonight, I’d encourage you to listen to your conscience.  If there’s something on your heart or mind that has turned on the warning lights, check it out.

Take a look in God’s Word, as written on the pages of the Bible in black and white, and compare what you’re doing with what God wants you to do.  If they don’t match up, a change is in order.  Just thank God for His warning lights and do what’s right, whatever it takes.  As Paul said:

“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous” (Romans 2:13).

As I was thinking about the idea of Steve Jobs engraving his name inside his computers―and God engraving His Word upon our hearts―I was inspired to write a haiku.  A haiku is a short Japanese poem that doesn’t usually rhyme but is often made up of just 17 syllables―five in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.

So here’s my haiku, from God to you:

My name is written

upon your heart awaiting

… rediscovery

God loves you so much that He’s taken the time to write His name on your heart.  He’s written His instructions for you there, too, to help you live the fullest life possible.

If you’d like to renew your mind today, listen to your conscience.  Check out what your conscience is saying and compare it to God’s Word.  Listen to His Son.  Obey His Holy Spirit.  If you do these things, you’ll live!  If you don’t, you risk losing everything, even those things you love the most.

Listen to your conscience―and live!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for writing Your Words on our hearts, and thank You for giving us a conscience to help us know when what we’re doing is different from what You want us to do.  Help us to listen to You, to follow Your Words, and to live the life that You’ve created us to live.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit to help us to stop doing anything that doesn’t bring glory and honor to You, and to start doing those things that do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 2:1-16.  Can you remember a time when your conscience warned you that something you were doing was amiss?  What were the results when you either did or didn’t do what your conscience warned you about?

2. Read Hebrews 8:7-13.  While some people might think that their consciences are formed based solely on the conditions in which they were raised, what does this passage in Hebrews, and the above passage in Romans, suggest is the true basis for your conscience?

3. What reason does Paul give for God being so kind, tolerant and patient towards us in Romans 2:4?

4. After reflecting on today’s message, are there any changes you’d like to make in your own life, or any warning indicators that you need to check out according to God’s Word?

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Lesson 4: Asking God For His Truth

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:24-32

Of all the passages in the Bible, the one that has changed my thinking and the direction of my life more than any other is the one that we’re looking at today―a passage at the end of Romans chapter 1.

It’s a little hard for me to talk about, though, because what God spoke to me through this passage was very personal and specific to me.  While this passage may not speak to you as personally, the principle that I learned from reading it that day does apply to every one of us:  if you ask God for His Truth―and listen for His honest answer with an open heart and ears to hear―God will answer you!

What happened to me was that I had just been reading another passage in the Bible that puzzled me.  It said that all of us had sinned and that the penalty for sin was death.  Therefore, all of us would eventually die because of our sins (see Romans 3:23 and 6:23).

I thought this was a little strong because I felt I had been a pretty good kid all my life.  I hadn’t done anything that I felt I would even get put in jail for, let alone die from.  But the Bible seemed to say otherwise.  So I shared my question about these verses with the guys in my small group Bible study.  One of them suggested that I ask God what He thought about how good I had been.

I thought that was a fair question, so I went home that night and got ready to pray.  But before I did, I started to wonder:  What if it was true?  What if I really had done something that could possibly kill me?  I wondered if I really wanted to hear God’s answer to that question or not.

But as I thought through what He might say, I decided that what I wanted more than anything was God’s truth.  Either what the Bible said was true and what I thought was wrong, or what I thought was true, and the Bible was wrong.  Both couldn’t be true.  So I asked God to show me the truth.

Within two weeks, God answered my prayer.  He brought me to Romans chapter 1, where I read Paul’s words about what happened when people “exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:25a).  God had my attention, for that’s just what I was wondering, if I had ever exchanged God’s truth for a lie.  As I read the words that followed, I was amazed to see that Paul, writing almost 2,000 years ago, described the same path that I had taken in life a just few years earlier.  Paul said:

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator―who is forever praised. Amen.

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:25-32).

Even though I felt I had been pretty good all my life, there was one area that I had kept secret from most people.  When I went off to college, I became sexually involved in a series of relationships with other men on campus.  While on one level I felt that what I was doing was wrong, on another level it seemed so “right” because it seemed to fill a legitimate need that I had in my life for close male friends.

What I didn’t know was that I was trying to meet that need in a way that could have possibly killed me.  AIDS was just beginning to surface at the time, but it didn’t seem like that real of a threat to me.  I never even considered the possibility that I might die from what I was doing.

But as I read this passage in Romans, I began to see what I had been doing in a whole new light.  I began to see that not only did homosexuality go against the way that God had designed my reproductive organs to work―they would never produce life in this way―but it could have actually led to my death instead.  Instead of giving me abundant life, it could have lead to my imminent death.  And God didn’t want me to die.  He wanted me to live!  But because of the decisions that I had made, I was afraid I might already be carrying within me the seeds of my own destruction.

I didn’t want to die.  I wanted to live.  But I wondered how I could possibly undo what I had done.  I couldn’t take it back.  I also wondered how I could possibly change my thoughts and feelings and emotions regarding other guys.  I couldn’t think of any way to change them myself, and I didn’t see how anyone else could change me either―not my family, or my friends, or a counselor―no one.

But then I read another story in the Bible about Jesus and how two blind men came to Him for healing.  They called out to Jesus:  “Have mercy on us!”

Instead of just touching their eyes or telling them to dip in a particular pool of water, as He did when He healed others, this time Jesus asked the men a question.  He said:

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?”  (Matthew 9:28b)

It seemed as if Jesus was asking me the same question.  I didn’t want to live my life in a way that could possibly kill me, but I didn’t know how to change it either.  As I read this passage, I felt like Jesus was asking me:  “Eric, do you believe that I am able to do this, too?”

I thought about everything that I had ever heard about Jesus―how He healed the sick, walked on water, and raised the dead.  I thought to myself, If anyone can do this, Jesus can.

As I thought about this, I just put my hand up in the air and said, “Yes, Lord, I believe.”

And as soon as I said those words, Jesus reached out to me just like He did to the blind men.  He touched me.  He healed me.  He changed my life forever.

The next day I went to a church service where I heard about how Jesus came to die for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to.  For the first time in my life, I realized that I was a sinner and needed a Savior.  I went home that night and knelt down on my bed.  With my head on my pillow, I asked God to forgive me for everything I had done that had gone against Him and His plans for my life.  I put my faith in Him, and asked Him to fill me with His Holy Spirit so that I could live the life He wanted me to live.

I woke up the next morning with a whole new perspective on life.  Even though I got up and ate breakfast and went to work just the same as the day before, I knew that God had given me a new shot at life.  He picked me up off the path of death and put me on the path of life instead.

On this new path, God has given me a wife, six children of my own, and the promise of eternal life with Him forever.  I’m now on a path of life and life abundant!  It’s been twenty-four years since that day, and I’ve never looked back.

I took a risk when I asked God to reveal His Truth to me.  But it was the best risk I’ve ever taken in my life.  Because of that risk, I realized that God was right and I was wrong, that I had exchanged the truth of God for a lie.  I put my faith in Him and His Word from that day on.  It’s changed my life and the lives of my wife and kids—who wouldn’t be here otherwise—forever.

Maybe you have days when you feel like God is distant―that He doesn’t seem to care about you or what you’re going through―that He’s simply not interested in the details of your life or the direction that it takes.  But nothing could be further from the truth!  God loves you so much!  The truth is that God wants you to know His will for your life even more than you want to know it!  He’d love to reveal His Truth to you if you’re willing to ask Him.

I want to encourage you to ask God to renew your mind today.  Ask Him to reveal His Truth to you on those topics that are close to your heart.  Ask Him to pour His thoughts into your thoughts.  Ask Him to give you a new way of thinking about your life and the direction that you’re headed.  If you’re on course, God will tell you.  But if you’re not, God will tell you that, too―if you’ll listen for His voice with an open heart and ears to hear.

If you want to renew your mind, ask God your questions, open His Word, and listen for His answers.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for letting us come to You with our honest questions.  We pray that You would give us Your honest answers, too.  We do want to know Your Truth.  We do want to know how to live our lives in ways that we can have life abundant.  Open our ears so that we can hear You clearly, and open our hearts to Your Word that You’ve given to us on the pages of the Bible.  Help us to put our faith and trust in You for everything in our lives, including the forgiveness of our sins and the promise that we can live with You forever when we put our faith in Christ.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 1:24-32.  Looking at this passage, what are some ways that the people in Rome got off track when they “exchanged the truth of God for a lie”?

2. What are some ways they might get back on track if they wanted to?

3. Why is it sometimes hard for us to hear God’s Truth in our lives?

4. After reading this passage and hearing this story, is there any particular Truth from God that you’d like Him to reveal to you?

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Lesson 3: Giving Thanks

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-23 

One of the quickest ways to get a new perspective on life is by giving thanks―by taking a few minutes to thank God for the things in your life for which you are truly grateful.  But giving thanks doesn’t always come naturally.

You can sometimes get so caught up in the heat of the battles you’re facing that all of your thoughts, prayers and attention are focused on the battles only.  Then, when you get so consumed by the battles that you stop giving thanks for the good things that are happening in your life, you head down a path that can lead to destruction.

I’ve heard it said that “rebellion against God doesn’t begin with a clenched fist, but with a heart that refuses to give thanks.”

When you stop giving thanks for the things in your lives that are good and meaningful to you, you can oftentimes find yourself slipping into anger and frustration with the world—and with the God who created it.  Your fists may begin to clench and you may feeling like rebelling against anything else that God might want to say to you, or want you to do.

The Apostle Paul cited this refusal to give thanks as the beginning of the end for the citizens of Rome, as many people there were already engaging in all kinds of evil.  He said:

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness… For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:18, 21).

If it feels like your thinking has become futile and your heart seems to have darkened, perhaps it’s time to reverse that cycle by giving thanks.

In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells the story of a time when she and her sister were in a concentration camp in Germany during the Holocaust.  When they were thrown into a bunkhouse that was infected with fleas, her sister remembered that they needed to give thanks in all circumstances―even for the fleas.  But Corrie said it was too much.  She said, “There’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.”

But as the weeks went on, she discovered that the women in her barracks were being given an unusual amount of freedom.  They could read to each other from a Bible they had hidden, and they could  pray with one another.  One day they discovered why when Betsy overheard the guards say that they wouldn’t step foot into their barracks.  Why not?  “That place is crawling with fleas!” the guard said.  It was then that Corrie remembered her sister’s prayers of thanks even for the fleas.

The movie, Fireproof, also talks about the importance of giving thanks.  The story is about a fireman whose wife wants out of their marriage.  She’s fed up with him, and he’s equally fed up with her.  But as they head towards divorce, the fireman’s father steps in and challenges his son to try something he calls “The Love Dare” for forty days.  He hands his son a hand-written journal in which he’s written specific steps the son can take each day to try to repair his relationship with his wife.

After 20 frustrating days of trying to do it on his own, the fireman has a heartfelt conversation with his dad.  His dad encourages him to put His faith in Christ and ask Him for help, but the son refuses, saying he doesn’t need a crutch to get through life.  The dad responds by saying that Jesus is more than just a crutch―He’s the most significant part of his life.  The son still doesn’t get it, so the dad continues:

DAD:  “If I ask you why you’re so frustrated with Catherine, what would you say?”

SON:  “She’s stubborn.  She makes everything difficult for me.  She’s ungrateful.  She’s constantly griping about something.”

DAD:  “Has she thanked you the last 20 days?”

SON:  “No.  And you’d think after I washed the car, I’ve changed the oil, do the dishes, clean the house, that she would try to show me a little bit of gratitude.  Well, she doesn’t.  That is what really ticks me off.  Dad, for the last three weeks, I have bent over backwards for her.  I have tried to demonstrate that I still care about this relationship.  I bought her flowers, which she threw away.  I have taken her insults and her sarcasm, but last night was it.  I made dinner for her, I did everything I could to demonstrate that I care about her, to show value for her, and she spat in my face.  She does not deserve this, Dad.  I am not doing it anymore.  How am I supposed to show love to somebody over and over and over who constantly rejects me?”

DAD:  “That’s a good question.”

SON: (after a long pause) “Dad, that is not what I’m doing.”

DAD:  “Isn’t it?  Son, you just asked me: ‘How can someone show love over and over again when they’re constantly rejected?’  You can’t love her, because you can’t give her what you don’t have.”

You’ll have to see the movie to find out how it ends.  But the Dad made his point:  What does it feel like to God, when He shows His love to us over and over and over again, yet we refuse to, or forget to, or get so overwhelmed with life that we no longer want to give Him thanks?

For me, I’ve found it helpful to be intentional about giving thanks to God.  I keep a prayer journal handy and try to write in it at least every few days.  I used to begin by writing down all the prayers that were on my heart, which felt good to get them down on paper.  But I began to realize that I wasn’t taking as much time to stop and give thanks to God for all the prayers that He had already answered.

So I changed my approach several years ago and began starting every entry with these words, “Father, thank You…” and then listing something for which I am sincerely thankful, something specific that has happened in the past day or two, or even those things that were particularly hard or challenging, but that I was trying to view from God’s perspective to see how He might be using them for good.

I’ve found that as I start my prayer time with thanks, it changes the rest of my prayer time.  I now have more expectancy, more eagerness to see how God might answer my prayers, and more hope that God really can bring something good out of even the bad things that I might be facing.

Rather than waiting to see how things turn out before I thank God for them, I’ve found it much better to thank Him up front.

I remember eating an incredible fish dinner up in Boise, Idaho one time on a business trip.  Our hosts had taken us out to a fancy restaurant.  I’m sure it was the best fish I had ever eaten.  After the meal, when the waitress came to our table to ask how everything was, I could hardly contain myself in thanking her for the great meal.

But as I was thanking her, I realized that she didn’t cook the fish, she just brought it to the table, so I asked her to please give my thanks to the chef.  But as she walked away, I realized that the chef didn’t make the fish, he just prepared it.  The one I really needed to thank was God who created the fish!  So before I got up from the table, I said a heartfelt prayer of thanks, saying, “Thank You, Lord, for this food!”

Then it hit me.  Wasn’t that the same prayer I said before I ate it:  “Thank You Lord, for this food”?  But somehow it meant so much more to me now that I realized it really had come from Him!  I made a mental note that the next time I prayed before a meal, I’d try to make it just as heartfelt as I felt that day afterwards.

It reminded me of the prayer that Jesus prayed before His meal with over 5,000 people on the hillside in Galilee, when all He had was two loaves of bread and five pieces of fish.  The Bible says:

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (Matthew 14:19b-21).

Jesus could have waited till the end of the meal to give thanks for His Father’s incredible provision, but He didn’t.  He gave thanks up front, even though the meal in front of Him may have looked quite meager.  His Father in heaven took His prayer of thanks and super-sized their meal right in front of their eyes!

You don’t have to wait to give thanks to God till you see the answers to your prayers.  Give thanks to Him up front for what you have been given, and trust Him to take the next step.

The Romans, because of their refusal to give thanks to God, found that their thinking had become futile and their hearts were darkened.  If you want your thoughts to be more purposeful and your hearts to become brighter, do what Paul suggested:  begin by giving thanks to God.

Come to the Father today with your prayers.  Come to Him with thanksgiving in your heart.  Thank Him for those things in your life for which you’re truly grateful.  Thank Him for those things―even fleas―that may be hard to give thanks for right now, but which God can use in your life for good.  And thank Him for the answers to your prayers that haven’t even come yet, but by faith you believe will come in a way that goes beyond all you can ask or imagine.

Let God renew your mind today by giving thanks to Him.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for the answers to so many prayers that we have prayed in the past.  Thank You for those things which we’re struggling through today, for as hard as they may seem, we trust that You can work all things for good, for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.  Thank You in advance for the answers to prayer that are yet to come.  We trust that You can super-size those answers in just the right way and at just the right time.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 1:18-23.  What did Paul say happened to the thinking of those who refused to give glory and thanks to God?

2. Why do you think their refusal to give thanks caused them to fall into some of the sins listed in this passage?

3. According to verse 32, what is the ultimate outcome for those who head down this path?

4. What are some things in your life for which you can truly give thanks to God?

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Lesson 2: Encouraging One Another

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:8-17 

In our first lesson in this study on renewing your mind, we talked about the importance of belonging to Jesus―of finding your identity in Him.  He is our All in All and the ultimate source of our strength.  But God has also given us something to help us.  He’s given us one another.

One of the best ways to renew your mind is to fellowship with other believers, to encourage one another in your faith, so you can give each other a fresh perspective on your life and the situations that you face.

This is what the Apostle Paul longed to do with the Christians living in Rome when he wrote his letter to them in about 57 A.D.  If you know anything about this time period in Roman history, you’ll know that those were the days of the gladiators, the colosseums, and fights-to-the-death in huge arenas.

It was only seven years after Paul’s letter to the Romans―in 64 A.D.―that the mad Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for setting fire to Rome, a fire that many historians believed that Emperor Nero himself set so that he could rebuild the city more to his liking.  This newly emerging group of Christians was an easy scapegoat.  They were already looked down upon by the people because they chose to follow Christ rather than pay honor to the official Roman gods―one of which included Emperor Nero himself.

The Roman historian Tacitus―who lived in Rome at the time―says that after the fire, Nero arrested a vast number of Christians and had them tortured in the most heinous ways.  Tacitus writes:

“In their very deaths they were made the subjects of sport: for they were covered with the hides of wild beasts, and torn to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set on fire, and when the day waned, burned to serve for the evening lights. Nero offered his own gardens for that spectacle…”  (Tacitus, Annals 15.44, circa 100 A.D.)

Just in case you missed what Tacitus was saying in that last statement, he was saying that Christians were set on fire to serve as human torches to light Nero’s gardens after the sun had gone down.

It is into this setting, just seven years earlier, that the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans.  For quite some time, he had wanted to visit them in person so that they could encourage one another in their faith.  But being prevented from coming in person once again, Paul wrote them a letter instead, a letter that has survived to this day and still encourages Christians around the world.

Listen to Paul’s heartfelt love for his Christian brothers and sisters:

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong―that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.  I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles” (Romans 8:8-13).

Life is hard for all of us at times.  And it’s in those times that we need one another even more than ever.  We need one another’s perspectives on the situations that we face, just as Paul gave his perspective to the Roman Christians.  Although they were being ridiculed and persecuted―and they could have felt that God was treating them unfairly―Paul helped them to see their situation in another light.  He thanked God for them, because their faith was being reported throughout the world.

Rather than seeing their situation as lowly and humiliating, Paul saw that their stars of faith were shining brightly―stars that illuminated the darkness around them.

Amazingly, Paul was eager to join them in this dark place.  While Paul could have been hesitant for many reasons to go to Rome, he wasn’t.  As a natural-born citizen of Rome and one of the greatest intellectual thinkers of his day, he could have been embarrassed to align himself with those who followed Christ―a man who was mocked by the Roman leaders and crucified under the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

But Paul wasn’t ashamed.  He didn’t flinch at the possibility that he could be ridiculed, beaten, jailed, or killed for his faith.  Why?  Because Paul knew the life-changing power of the gospel that he preached―the “good news” of Christ.

Paul knew that the gospel had the power to save those who responded to it.  He was eager to go to Rome and to have a harvest among those who were yet to believe.  Paul said:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17).

We could all use a few more Pauls in our lives, people who believe so much in the power of the gospel that their faith rubs off on us.

If you need a new perspective on your life―and the situations you’re facing in it―can I encourage you to find some other believers and to be honest with them about the struggles you’re facing?  You can’t go it alone, and God doesn’t want you to.  Even though Jesus may be all you need, the reason He’s all you need is because He provides you with all you need―like believing friends who can help you through this life.

Let me encourage you to seek out and engage other Christians in heartfelt conversations.  It’s risky.  It’s hard.  But it’s so worth it.  Ask them to tell you if they see anything in your life that you might not be able to see on your own.  Ask them what God may be doing in and through the situations you’re facing.  Open up the Word of God with them to see how God has brought others through situations like the ones you’re facing.  And if you think your situation is so unique that God’s Word doesn’t address it, that’s most likely because you haven’t read enough of God’s Word!

God has so much to say to you, but sometimes it takes others to help you see it.  If you don’t have church home, find one that strongly believes that the Bible is God’s Word.  Get involved with a group of other Christians.  Join a chat room or an Internet forum where you can lift each other up with your prayers and concerns.

Or, if you want, ask another Christian to go through this study of the book of Romans with you, whether you get together in person or share with each other electronically, half-way around the world.

One of my own kids is in Sydney, Australia, right now and I’m thankful that we’re still able to encourage one another in our faith from literally half-way around the world!  He shares with me what he’s learning, and I share with him what I’m learning, and we both encourage one another with the new things we’re learning about life from God’s Word.  The same thing happens with my wife and our other kids here in the house, and with our church and small group that we attend regularly.  As iron sharpens iron, so one man or woman can sharpen another.

You may not be getting thrown to the lions, but you’ll still benefit from surrounding yourself with other believers.  Seek them out.  Share your story with them.  Ask them to give you a boost in your faith, and give them a boost in their faith while you’re at it.

And if you’re the one who’s feeling particularly strong right now, can I encourage you to take some time to write or call, email or text, or just stop by and visit someone who could use your perspective on their life today?  As Paul longed to be with the Romans so they could be “mutually encouraged by each other’s faith”―God wants you to do the same with those around you.  You’ll be glad you did.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that even though Jesus is all we need, that we still need each other, and that our fellowship with other believers is one of the great blessings that Jesus wants to give us.  Lord, for those who have such a fellowship, thank You.  For those who need such a fellowship, I pray that You would answer their prayers.  Help them to reach out to those around them and share honestly the struggles they’re going through in life.  Then provide them with the fresh perspective and practical help they need to help them through this time with a faith that shines brightly for You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 1:8-17.  Why was Paul thankful for the Romans?

2. Why did he long to see them?  And what was he praying for them constantly?

3. Do you have a group of Christians with whom you can enjoy the benefits of fellowship?  If so, what are some of the benefits of fellowship.  If not, where could you start to find such a group?

4. Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel?

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Lesson 1: Belonging To Jesus

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:1-7

One of the best places to start when renewing your mind is with how you identify yourself.  For how you look at yourself affects how you look at everything around you.

Let’s take a look at how Paul identified himself in the opening words of his letter to the Romans.  Paul introduced himself by saying:

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus…”  (Romans 1:1a).

It’s a simple, but powerful statement.  In the original Greek language―which Paul used to write this letter―the word servant is more like our word for slave.

We bristle at a word like that today.  No one wants to be a slave.  But it all depends on who your master is.  When you serve a master who loves you, cares for you, feeds you, clothes you, and would die for you, what better person to serve?

Some people might not like the idea of belonging to someone else, but Paul didn’t mind.  He was glad to be a servant of Christ Jesus.

The truth is, we all serve something or someone.  We’re either slaves to sin, slaves to work, slaves to others, or slaves to ourselves―who may be the worst master of all.  As for me, I’d rather serve Jesus!

Paul went on to say that not only did he belong to Jesus, but he wanted the Romans to belong to Jesus as well.  After introducing himself, Paul said:

“And you also are called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6).

I love the way Paul said this, that he wanted them “to belong to Jesus Christ.”  It makes me think about my own life, and how I identify myself.  As I read Paul’s words to the Romans, I felt like God was saying to me:

“Eric, from what do you get your identity?  Your family?  Your ministry?  Your website?  I don’t want you to get your identity from anything but Me.  Not that your family isn’t great…or your ministry…or your website.  But I don’t want you to draw your strength from them.  I want you to draw your strength from Me.  I want you to draw your life from Me.  I am your Source.  I am your Life.  I am your All in All.”

Hearing this made me want to stand up and shout:  “I belong to Jesus!”  He bought me.  He paid the price for me.  And I know that He’s willing to do whatever’s best for me―something that He’s already proven true by doing the most extreme thing that He could possibly do for me:  giving up His life.

It reminded me of the saying:

“Sometimes you don’t realize that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

Thankfully you don’t have to lose everything you’ve got in order to realize that Jesus is all you need.

I remember going to a training class several years ago to work with AIDS patients.  The teacher of the class tried to help us understand what life was like for a person who was dying of AIDS.

During one of the exercises, the teacher asked each of us to write down, on three slips of paper,  the three most important things in our lives―whether it was a person, a car, a house, a job, our health, our money, or whatever!

So we took a few minutes to write down those things that were most important to us.

A few minutes later, the teacher came around the room and took from each of us the paper on which we had written our third most important thing.  Then he asked:  “How does that feel?”

Well, it felt like a punch in the stomach.  On my paper, I had written down, “my family.”  And to have my family taken away gave me a horrible, sinking feeling.  He went on to say that this is what AIDS patients often feel when they lose those things that are most important to them.

Then he came around a second time and took away our second most important thing.  On my paper, I had written the name of my wife, “Lana.”  Again, when the paper was taken away, and again he asked:  “How does that feel?”  Again, I had that horrible, sinking feeling.  The whole room was silent as everyone considered what it would be like to lose this second most important thing in our lives.

Finally, he started to walk around the room the third time to take away our last piece of paper―the most important thing in our lives.  As he walked towards me, I began to smile.  I couldn’t help it.  I almost burst out laughing, I was so happy!

As the teacher walked up to me and asked for my paper, I didn’t know what to say.  All I could say was, “You can’t take it away!”

He said, “Yes, I can.  Give me the paper.”

I said, “Well, you can take away the paper, but you can’t take away what’s written on it!”

On my last piece of paper, I had written the name of the most important thing to me in life:  “Jesus.”

If your identity is in anything other than Jesus, it can all be taken away, whether it’s your spouse, your family, your job, your car, or anything else that’s important to you.  But if your identity is in Jesus Christ, His love for you can never be taken away!

As Paul says later in the book of Romans:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

When you belong to Jesus, nothing in all creation can separate you from His love!

My daughter, Karis, recently wrote a blog post about how finding her identity in Christ is helping her to live the fullest life possible, even during her single years.  Here’s an excerpt from what she wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was at school praying about what to major in, what I should be doing with my life and just what God would want me to do after I finish college.

Then as I was praying I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me, “What if you were single the rest of your life? What if all you had was Me? Would I be enough?”

Wait.

Pause.

What?

I know I’ve read stories of women who have had this happen to them, but never would I have thought that would be me. A life of singleness? Ha, not me.

But as I sat there, I realized… I could honestly answer, “Yes.” 

And as soon as I did, I had such peace.  I realized that all my ideas of what I was going to do with my life after I left school, how I pictured my life in ministry, everything, it was all with a husband, like I planned my life around him (and I don’t even have a boyfriend!). Which isn’t wrong at all, but I feel like I could use my single years so much better if I focused on God wholeheartedly, not holding anything back.

Sometimes a girl will completely wrap her identity around a guy that she likes and without him she doesn’t even know what to do. He is everything to her, she spends all her time with him, her identity is in him, her source of satisfaction, and contentment, and just everything. And in a human relationship that is not healthy. 

But towards God, our identity should be Him. A woman’s love for a guy should come from her love for Christ. And I want my identity to be found in Him. I definitely believe that if you’re not content with who you are, being in a relationship isn’t going to make it better.

When I decided I was just going to live totally in love with Jesus, being content with Him no matter what happens, and doing the things I want to do even if I don’t have a husband, it felt so perfect. I felt so free.

And it’s not that I still don’t want a husband, not at all!

But if I never do find a guy, I’ll be perfectly content with the love of Jesus.

As you can tell from just these two stories—my own and my daughter’s—how you identify yourself can make a huge difference in how you view everything else around you.  This is why finding your identity in Christ is such a great place to start if you’re wanting to renew your mind.

Paul could have identified himself as a tentmaker, because he did make tents for a living.  I’m sure making tents was a great thing to do and I’m sure it helped a lot of people.  But that’s not how he identified himself.  His identity was in Christ.

How about you?  How do you identify yourself―in your mind, at least, if not publicly?  Are you a mother, husband, doctor, lawyer, teacher, nurse, janitor, assistant, homemaker, pastor, president, king?  There’s no higher title than to say that you’re a servant of Jesus Christ, the King of all kings, the Giver of all good gifts, the Doer of all good things.

Jesus wants you to belong to Him.

If you already belong to Jesus, then draw your strength from Him.  Draw your life from Him.  He’s your Source.  He’s your Life.  He’s your All in All.

And if you don’t belong to Jesus, is there anything holding you back from giving your life fully to Him?  He really does love you and He really does want to make things right between you and God again.  Turn away from anything that’s holding you back from Him so you can put your full faith and trust in Him.

As Paul would tell you―and I would concur―there’s nothing better in life than belonging to Jesus!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for Paul’s reminder to us of the importance of belonging to Jesus.  Help us to remember that we do belong to Him.  Help us to find our identity in Him.  Help us to draw our strength from Him, realizing that He is our Source, He our Life, and He is our All in All.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 1:1-7.  How does Paul identify himself?

2. What was Paul called to do?

3. How do you identify yourself?

4. How might your life be different if you identified yourself―whether publicly or privately―as someone who “belonged to Jesus Christ”?

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Introduction: God Would Love To Renew Your Mind

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2

God would love to renew your mind.  He would love to replace any thoughts you have that are pulling you down with thoughts that will pull you up.  He would love to give you new thoughts, His thoughts, thoughts that will change the trajectory of the rest of your life.

How do I know?  Because God has given me new thoughts, His thoughts, and thoughts that have changed the trajectory of my life as I’ve read the book of Romans for the first time as an adult twenty-five years ago.

I wasn’t in the pit of despair.  I didn’t hate myself or my life.  I didn’t even know I was headed in the wrong direction with my life.  But as I began reading through the book of Romans, starting with chapter 1, God began answering questions that had been on my heart for a long time.  He began speaking to me through the words on the pages in such a clear and convincing way that I knew it was God who was speaking to me.

The things I read caused me to reevaluate my life, what I had been doing so far, and what I wanted to do in the future.  In the weeks that followed, God had so changed my thinking that I came to the point that I wanted to put my faith in Christ for everything in my life:  for the forgiveness of my sins, for the direction of my life, for my job, my body, my finances, my future.  Everything that was a part of me, I gave to Him.

Now, twenty-five years later, I am in a totally different place than I would have been had I stayed on the path I was on.  Even though I didn’t realize at the time the direction my life could have taken, God knew―and He wanted to spare me from it.  He picked me up, turned me around, and put me on a new path―a path that was headed toward an abundant and eternal life.

How did this life-change all get started?  It started with an idea.  A thought.  A thought that maybe God was right and I was wrong.  A thought that maybe if I were to truly follow God with my whole heart, that no matter where He led me, He would take me places that I could never have gone on my own.  A thought that if I trusted Him completely, that He really loved me, that He really cared for me deeply, and that He really knew what was best for me, then He would always lead me down a path that was in my best interest and His―even if I didn’t understand it at the time.

Ideas are powerful.  In the Academy Award-nominated movie, Inception, the main character asks an intriguing question:

“What is the most resilient parasite?  A bacteria?  A virus?  An intestinal worm?”  

Then he answers his own question with these words:

“An idea.  An idea is like a virus.  Resilient, highly contagious.  Once an idea has taken hold in the brain it’s almost impossible to eradicate.”  

Later on in the movie, he adds:

“And the smallest seed of an idea can grow.  It can grow to define…or destroy you.”  

Ideas have started revolutions of all kinds―both good and bad.  The United States was started with an idea back in 1776.  But so were the terrorist attacks that killed so many of our people on September 11th, 2001.

Some of the ideas that have been planted in our minds are great.  They should be be nourished and fed.  But other ideas have taken root that aren’t so great.  They should probably be rooted out and destroyed, before they destroy us.

I’ve been talking with some friends who grew up having had seeds of faith planted deep within them when they were younger―seeds which were watered regularly as they got older.  But somewhere along the way, other people have planted doubts in their minds, doubts that have cropped up and overshadowed their faith.  Doubts that have grown so large that you can hardly tell that they ever had a seed of faith at all.  Unfortunately, they have begun watering and nurturing these doubts―by the books they read, the shows they watch, and the people with which they have surrounded themselves.

And yet I know they once had seeds of faith.  I was there when some of those seeds were planted.  I was there as they were being watered.  I even did some of the watering myself.  I believe they are still there!

But sometimes things happen along the way, both things that happen to us and things that we do to ourselves, that cause those good seeds within us to get crowded out and wither, letting the bad seeds grow up wild and unhindered.

It might seem like there’s no way out once this cycle begins.  It might seem sometimes that people have gone too far down the wrong path―that they’ll never be able to change.  But that’s a lie!

The truth is, God can change people’s hearts and minds in an instant.  He can turn a life around on a dime.  He can restore the years that have been wasted and put people back on the right path―His path―the path that leads to an abundant and eternal life.

But how?  How can God do it?  How can He transform you into the person that He wants you to be― into the person that you truly want to be, too?

The apostle Paul gave us an idea in the book of Romans―several ideas, in fact!  Ideas that can turn your life around and help you look at everything that happens to you differently.  Paul wrote the book of Romans as letter to those who believed in Jesus Christ in the city of Rome, almost 2,000 years ago.  He wrote it about 25 years after Jesus died and rose again from the dead.  At one point in his letter, Paul said:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is―His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

God is saying the same thing to us today:  He doesn’t want us to be conformed to the pattern of this world―the worldly way in which things are done.  Instead, He wants us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Why?  Because then we’ll be able to know His will for our lives―His good, pleasing and perfect will—and to test it out and approve it for ourselves!  To know God’s will for our lives—how awesome would that be?

In the lessons ahead, I’ll be exploring with you several of Paul’s many ideas for how to renew your mind, from how you think about yourself, to how you think about God—and the people and situations that God has placed in your life.

For some of you, this will be a new and exciting venture into unexplored territory.  For others of you, this may be a new look at something you’ve tried to tackle before but haven’t yet found the secret of success.  In either case, take courage:  God is still in the life-changing business and He would love to change your life by renewing your mind!

I remember seeing some flowers that my friend and neighbor Mary Lou had planted in her front yard.  The flowers called impatiens, which grew into huge bushes, bursting with color.  My wife and I decided to plant some in our yard.  But even though we planted them in the perfect spot and watered them regularly, they hardly grew more than a few inches tall, while Mary Lou’s impatiens were flowing over and out of her planter boxes.

We couldn’t figure out what was wrong.  Then we asked her what her secret was.  It turns out it wasn’t a secret, she just used Miracle Grow (a type of fertilizer that helps plants grow to their fullest potential)!

My goal in this study is to give you a bit of Miracle Grow for your faith to help you grow to your fullest potential.

Sometimes we try doing things by ourselves.  We may be doing the exact same things that other people around us, but you would hardly know it by the results.  The difference may not be what we’re doing, but what we’re feeding on while we’re doing it.  My goal is to give you a key ingredient of faith!  Faith to believe that God can really do all that He says He can do in our lives!  As Jesus said, just a little bit of that stuff has the power to move mountains!

For some of you, moving a mountain may be just what you need right now.  So as we go through this study, I’ll be sharing some stories from my own life—as well as some stories from the Bible and from Christians throughout the ages—that I pray will boost your faith.  I pray they’ll give you the burst of life that you need to keep pressing forward and keep moving in the direction that God has in mind for you.

For today, let me encourage you to simply begin by seeking the Lord for His wisdom.  When you ask God for wisdom, He’s glad to give it to you, pouring His thoughts into your mind.  As He says in the book of Isaiah:

“Seek the LORD while He may be found;
call on Him while He is near. 

Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts. 

Let him turn to the LORD,
and He will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for He will freely pardon. 

“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. 

As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven, 

and do not return to it
without watering the earth 

and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower
and bread for the eater, 

so is My Word that goes out from
My mouth:
It will not return to Me empty, 

but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I
sent it.”
(Isaiah 55:6-11)

God would love to renew your mind.  He would love to pour out His wisdom upon you like rain from heaven, refreshing your soul as He does.  He would love to feed and nourish those ideas that will one day define you, and root out and destroy any ideas that could possibly destroy you.

In the lessons ahead, I pray that God will transform your life by renewing your mind.  I pray that God will use this time to renew your mind in powerful ways, transforming your life all along the way.  I’m looking forward to it myself, and I hope you are, too!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us ways to transform our lives by renewing our minds.  Thank You for the seeds of ideas that You’ve planted within us, those that are good and godly.  Help us to feed and nurture them so that we can grow to our fullest potential.  At the same time, we pray that You would help us root out any ideas that have been planted in our minds that are not from you, ideas that could be destroying us, even without our knowledge, so that we can live the life that You desire for us to live.  We pray this all in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 12:1-2.  What are some of the benefits of renewing your mind?

2. Read Isaiah 55:1-14.  What are some ways you could renew your mind, based on this passage?

3. Read Philippians 4:8.  What seeds have been planted in your life that God might want you to nourish?

4. Read Ephesians 5:1-20.  What seeds have been planted in your life that God might want you to root out?

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Romans: Lessons In Renewing Your Mind

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

How To Think Clearer, Live Better And Enjoy Life More Fully
by Eric Elder

Forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible.

ABOUT THIS BOOK

God has used the book of Romans to change many lives since it was written almost 2,000 years ago, including Saint Augustine’s back in the 4th century, Martin Luther’s in the 16th, John Wesley’s in the 18th—and mine in the 20th!  So I’ve written this study guide to help you reap the benefits from this life-changing book, too.

Each lesson in this study focuses on a different aspect of renewing your mind, based on different passages from the book of Romans.  Some days you’ll read just a verse or two, while other days you’ll read whole chapters.  But if you’ll keep reading through the suggested passages each day, by the end of this study you’ll have read through the entire book of Romans.

At the end of each chapter, I’ve included some “Questions for Reflection” that you can use for personal reflection or group discussion.  The study is divided into 40 lessons (counting the Introduction and Conclusion), so you can complete the study by doing one lesson a day for 40 days, or five lessons a week for eight weeks, or a lesson a week for 40 weeks, whichever suits you or your group best.

At the end of this book, I’ve included four additional devotionals that I wrote, plus one that my wife Lana wrote, after Lana’s diagnosis with Stage 4 cancer, which took place midway through writing this series.  I’ve included these special messages to highlight the importance of keeping your mind focused on God’s perspective on your life at all times.  May God bless you as you seek to renew your mind, day by day, and may your life be transformed in the process.

Eric Elder

by

Romans: Lessons In Renewing Your Mind

40 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible
by Eric Elder

Read it online below!

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

About This Book (Back to Table of Contents)

God has used the book of Romans to change many lives since it was written almost 2,000 years ago, including Saint Augustine’s back in the 4th century, Martin Luther’s in the 16th, John Wesley’s in the 18th–and mine in the 20th!  So I’ve written this study guide to help you reap the benefits from this life-changing book, too.

Each lesson in this study focuses on a different aspect of renewing your mind, based on different passages from the book of Romans.  Some days you’ll read just a verse or two, while other days you’ll read whole chapters.  But if you’ll keep reading through the suggested passages each day, by the end of this study you’ll have read through the entire book of Romans.

At the end of each chapter, I’ve included some “Questions for Reflection” that you can use for personal reflection or group discussion.  The study is divided into 40 lessons (counting the Introduction and Conclusion), so you can complete the study by doing one lesson a day for 40 days, or five lessons a week for eight weeks, or a lesson a week for 40 weeks, whichever suits you or your group best.

At the end of this book, I’ve included four additional devotionals that I wrote, plus one that my wife Lana wrote, after Lana’s diagnosis with Stage 4 cancer, which took place midway through writing this series.  I’ve included these special messages to highlight the importance of keeping your mind focused on God’s perspective on your life at all times.  May God bless you as you seek to renew your mind, day by day, and may your life be transformed in the process.

Eric Elder

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction: God Would Love To Renew Your Mind (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2

God would love to renew your mind.  He would love to replace any thoughts you have that are pulling you down with thoughts that will pull you up.  He would love to give you new thoughts, His thoughts, thoughts that will change the trajectory of the rest of your life.

How do I know?  Because God has given me new thoughts, His thoughts, and thoughts that have changed the trajectory of my life as I’ve read the book of Romans for the first time as an adult twenty-five years ago.

I wasn’t in the pit of despair.  I didn’t hate myself or my life.  I didn’t even know I was headed in the wrong direction with my life.  But as I began reading through the book of Romans, starting with chapter 1, God began answering questions that had been on my heart for a long time.  He began speaking to me through the words on the pages in such a clear and convincing way that I knew it was God who was speaking to me.

The things I read caused me to reevaluate my life, what I had been doing so far, and what I wanted to do in the future.  In the weeks that followed, God had so changed my thinking that I came to the point that I wanted to put my faith in Christ for everything in my life:  for the forgiveness of my sins, for the direction of my life, for my job, my body, my finances, my future.  Everything that was a part of me, I gave to Him.

Now, twenty-five years later, I am in a totally different place than I would have been had I stayed on the path I was on.  Even though I didn’t realize at the time the direction my life could have taken, God knew―and He wanted to spare me from it.  He picked me up, turned me around, and put me on a new path―a path that was headed toward an abundant and eternal life.

How did this life-change all get started?  It started with an idea.  A thought.  A thought that maybe God was right and I was wrong.  A thought that maybe if I were to truly follow God with my whole heart, that no matter where He led me, He would take me places that I could never have gone on my own.  A thought that if I trusted Him completely, that He really loved me, that He really cared for me deeply, and that He really knew what was best for me, then He would always lead me down a path that was in my best interest and His―even if I didn’t understand it at the time.

Ideas are powerful.  In the Academy Award-nominated movie, Inception, the main character asks an intriguing question:

“What is the most resilient parasite?  A bacteria?  A virus?  An intestinal worm?”  

Then he answers his own question with these words:

“An idea.  An idea is like a virus.  Resilient, highly contagious.  Once an idea has taken hold in the brain it’s almost impossible to eradicate.”  

Later on in the movie, he adds:

“And the smallest seed of an idea can grow.  It can grow to define…or destroy you.”  

Ideas have started revolutions of all kinds―both good and bad.  The United States was started with an idea back in 1776.  But so were the terrorist attacks that killed so many of our people on September 11th, 2001.

Some of the ideas that have been planted in our minds are great.  They should be be nourished and fed.  But other ideas have taken root that aren’t so great.  They should probably be rooted out and destroyed, before they destroy us.

I’ve been talking with some friends who grew up having had seeds of faith planted deep within them when they were younger―seeds which were watered regularly as they got older.  But somewhere along the way, other people have planted doubts in their minds, doubts that have cropped up and overshadowed their faith.  Doubts that have grown so large that you can hardly tell that they ever had a seed of faith at all.  Unfortunately, they have begun watering and nurturing these doubts―by the books they read, the shows they watch, and the people with which they have surrounded themselves.

And yet I know they once had seeds of faith.  I was there when some of those seeds were planted.  I was there as they were being watered.  I even did some of the watering myself.  I believe they are still there!

But sometimes things happen along the way, both things that happen to us and things that we do to ourselves, that cause those good seeds within us to get crowded out and wither, letting the bad seeds grow up wild and unhindered.

It might seem like there’s no way out once this cycle begins.  It might seem sometimes that people have gone too far down the wrong path―that they’ll never be able to change.  But that’s a lie!

The truth is, God can change people’s hearts and minds in an instant.  He can turn a life around on a dime.  He can restore the years that have been wasted and put people back on the right path―His path―the path that leads to an abundant and eternal life.

But how?  How can God do it?  How can He transform you into the person that He wants you to be― into the person that you truly want to be, too?

The apostle Paul gave us an idea in the book of Romans―several ideas, in fact!  Ideas that can turn your life around and help you look at everything that happens to you differently.  Paul wrote the book of Romans as letter to those who believed in Jesus Christ in the city of Rome, almost 2,000 years ago.  He wrote it about 25 years after Jesus died and rose again from the dead.  At one point in his letter, Paul said:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is―His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

God is saying the same thing to us today:  He doesn’t want us to be conformed to the pattern of this world―the worldly way in which things are done.  Instead, He wants us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Why?  Because then we’ll be able to know His will for our lives―His good, pleasing and perfect will–and to test it out and approve it for ourselves!  To know God’s will for our lives–how awesome would that be?

In the lessons ahead, I’ll be exploring with you several of Paul’s many ideas for how to renew your mind, from how you think about yourself, to how you think about God–and the people and situations that God has placed in your life.

For some of you, this will be a new and exciting venture into unexplored territory.  For others of you, this may be a new look at something you’ve tried to tackle before but haven’t yet found the secret of success.  In either case, take courage:  God is still in the life-changing business and He would love to change your life by renewing your mind!

I remember seeing some flowers that my friend and neighbor Mary Lou had planted in her front yard.  The flowers called impatiens, which grew into huge bushes, bursting with color.  My wife and I decided to plant some in our yard.  But even though we planted them in the perfect spot and watered them regularly, they hardly grew more than a few inches tall, while Mary Lou’s impatiens were flowing over and out of her planter boxes.

We couldn’t figure out what was wrong.  Then we asked her what her secret was.  It turns out it wasn’t a secret, she just used Miracle Grow (a type of fertilizer that helps plants grow to their fullest potential)!

My goal in this study is to give you a bit of Miracle Grow for your faith to help you grow to your fullest potential.

Sometimes we try doing things by ourselves.  We may be doing the exact same things that other people around us, but you would hardly know it by the results.  The difference may not be what we’re doing, but what we’re feeding on while we’re doing it.  My goal is to give you a key ingredient of faith!  Faith to believe that God can really do all that He says He can do in our lives!  As Jesus said, just a little bit of that stuff has the power to move mountains!

For some of you, moving a mountain may be just what you need right now.  So as we go through this study, I’ll be sharing some stories from my own life–as well as some stories from the Bible and from Christians throughout the ages–that I pray will boost your faith.  I pray they’ll give you the burst of life that you need to keep pressing forward and keep moving in the direction that God has in mind for you.

For today, let me encourage you to simply begin by seeking the Lord for His wisdom.  When you ask God for wisdom, He’s glad to give it to you, pouring His thoughts into your mind.  As He says in the book of Isaiah:

“Seek the LORD while He may be found;
call on Him while He is near. 

Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts. 

Let him turn to the LORD,
and He will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for He will freely pardon. 

“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. 

As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven, 

and do not return to it
without watering the earth 

and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower
and bread for the eater, 

so is My Word that goes out from
My mouth:
It will not return to Me empty, 

but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I
sent it.”
(Isaiah 55:6-11)

God would love to renew your mind.  He would love to pour out His wisdom upon you like rain from heaven, refreshing your soul as He does.  He would love to feed and nourish those ideas that will one day define you, and root out and destroy any ideas that could possibly destroy you.

In the lessons ahead, I pray that God will transform your life by renewing your mind.  I pray that God will use this time to renew your mind in powerful ways, transforming your life all along the way.  I’m looking forward to it myself, and I hope you are, too!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us ways to transform our lives by renewing our minds.  Thank You for the seeds of ideas that You’ve planted within us, those that are good and godly.  Help us to feed and nurture them so that we can grow to our fullest potential.  At the same time, we pray that You would help us root out any ideas that have been planted in our minds that are not from you, ideas that could be destroying us, even without our knowledge, so that we can live the life that You desire for us to live.  We pray this all in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 12:1-2.  What are some of the benefits of renewing your mind?

2. Read Isaiah 55:1-14.  What are some ways you could renew your mind, based on this passage?

3. Read Philippians 4:8.  What seeds have been planted in your life that God might want you to nourish?

4. Read Ephesians 5:1-20.  What seeds have been planted in your life that God might want you to root out?

Lesson 1: Belonging To Jesus (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:1-7

One of the best places to start when renewing your mind is with how you identify yourself.  For how you look at yourself affects how you look at everything around you.

Let’s take a look at how Paul identified himself in the opening words of his letter to the Romans.  Paul introduced himself by saying:

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus…”  (Romans 1:1a).

It’s a simple, but powerful statement.  In the original Greek language―which Paul used to write this letter―the word servant is more like our word for slave.

We bristle at a word like that today.  No one wants to be a slave.  But it all depends on who your master is.  When you serve a master who loves you, cares for you, feeds you, clothes you, and would die for you, what better person to serve?

Some people might not like the idea of belonging to someone else, but Paul didn’t mind.  He was glad to be a servant of Christ Jesus.

The truth is, we all serve something or someone.  We’re either slaves to sin, slaves to work, slaves to others, or slaves to ourselves―who may be the worst master of all.  As for me, I’d rather serve Jesus!

Paul went on to say that not only did he belong to Jesus, but he wanted the Romans to belong to Jesus as well.  After introducing himself, Paul said:

“And you also are called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6).

I love the way Paul said this, that he wanted them “to belong to Jesus Christ.”  It makes me think about my own life, and how I identify myself.  As I read Paul’s words to the Romans, I felt like God was saying to me:

“Eric, from what do you get your identity?  Your family?  Your ministry?  Your website?  I don’t want you to get your identity from anything but Me.  Not that your family isn’t great…or your ministry…or your website.  But I don’t want you to draw your strength from them.  I want you to draw your strength from Me.  I want you to draw your life from Me.  I am your Source.  I am your Life.  I am your All in All.”

Hearing this made me want to stand up and shout:  “I belong to Jesus!”  He bought me.  He paid the price for me.  And I know that He’s willing to do whatever’s best for me―something that He’s already proven true by doing the most extreme thing that He could possibly do for me:  giving up His life.

It reminded me of the saying:

“Sometimes you don’t realize that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

Thankfully you don’t have to lose everything you’ve got in order to realize that Jesus is all you need.

I remember going to a training class several years ago to work with AIDS patients.  The teacher of the class tried to help us understand what life was like for a person who was dying of AIDS.

During one of the exercises, the teacher asked each of us to write down, on three slips of paper,  the three most important things in our lives―whether it was a person, a car, a house, a job, our health, our money, or whatever!

So we took a few minutes to write down those things that were most important to us.

A few minutes later, the teacher came around the room and took from each of us the paper on which we had written our third most important thing.  Then he asked:  “How does that feel?”

Well, it felt like a punch in the stomach.  On my paper, I had written down, “my family.”  And to have my family taken away gave me a horrible, sinking feeling.  He went on to say that this is what AIDS patients often feel when they lose those things that are most important to them.

Then he came around a second time and took away our second most important thing.  On my paper, I had written the name of my wife, “Lana.”  Again, when the paper was taken away, and again he asked:  “How does that feel?”  Again, I had that horrible, sinking feeling.  The whole room was silent as everyone considered what it would be like to lose this second most important thing in our lives.

Finally, he started to walk around the room the third time to take away our last piece of paper―the most important thing in our lives.  As he walked towards me, I began to smile.  I couldn’t help it.  I almost burst out laughing, I was so happy!

As the teacher walked up to me and asked for my paper, I didn’t know what to say.  All I could say was, “You can’t take it away!”

He said, “Yes, I can.  Give me the paper.”

I said, “Well, you can take away the paper, but you can’t take away what’s written on it!”

On my last piece of paper, I had written the name of the most important thing to me in life:  “Jesus.”

If your identity is in anything other than Jesus, it can all be taken away, whether it’s your spouse, your family, your job, your car, or anything else that’s important to you.  But if your identity is in Jesus Christ, His love for you can never be taken away!

As Paul says later in the book of Romans:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

When you belong to Jesus, nothing in all creation can separate you from His love!

My daughter, Karis, recently wrote a blog post about how finding her identity in Christ is helping her to live the fullest life possible, even during her single years.  Here’s an excerpt from what she wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was at school praying about what to major in, what I should be doing with my life and just what God would want me to do after I finish college.

Then as I was praying I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me, “What if you were single the rest of your life? What if all you had was Me? Would I be enough?”

Wait.

Pause.

What?

I know I’ve read stories of women who have had this happen to them, but never would I have thought that would be me. A life of singleness? Ha, not me.

But as I sat there, I realized… I could honestly answer, “Yes.” 

And as soon as I did, I had such peace.  I realized that all my ideas of what I was going to do with my life after I left school, how I pictured my life in ministry, everything, it was all with a husband, like I planned my life around him (and I don’t even have a boyfriend!). Which isn’t wrong at all, but I feel like I could use my single years so much better if I focused on God wholeheartedly, not holding anything back.

Sometimes a girl will completely wrap her identity around a guy that she likes and without him she doesn’t even know what to do. He is everything to her, she spends all her time with him, her identity is in him, her source of satisfaction, and contentment, and just everything. And in a human relationship that is not healthy. 

But towards God, our identity should be Him. A woman’s love for a guy should come from her love for Christ. And I want my identity to be found in Him. I definitely believe that if you’re not content with who you are, being in a relationship isn’t going to make it better.

When I decided I was just going to live totally in love with Jesus, being content with Him no matter what happens, and doing the things I want to do even if I don’t have a husband, it felt so perfect. I felt so free.

And it’s not that I still don’t want a husband, not at all!

But if I never do find a guy, I’ll be perfectly content with the love of Jesus.

As you can tell from just these two stories–my own and my daughter’s–how you identify yourself can make a huge difference in how you view everything else around you.  This is why finding your identity in Christ is such a great place to start if you’re wanting to renew your mind.

Paul could have identified himself as a tentmaker, because he did make tents for a living.  I’m sure making tents was a great thing to do and I’m sure it helped a lot of people.  But that’s not how he identified himself.  His identity was in Christ.

How about you?  How do you identify yourself―in your mind, at least, if not publicly?  Are you a mother, husband, doctor, lawyer, teacher, nurse, janitor, assistant, homemaker, pastor, president, king?  There’s no higher title than to say that you’re a servant of Jesus Christ, the King of all kings, the Giver of all good gifts, the Doer of all good things.

Jesus wants you to belong to Him.

If you already belong to Jesus, then draw your strength from Him.  Draw your life from Him.  He’s your Source.  He’s your Life.  He’s your All in All.

And if you don’t belong to Jesus, is there anything holding you back from giving your life fully to Him?  He really does love you and He really does want to make things right between you and God again.  Turn away from anything that’s holding you back from Him so you can put your full faith and trust in Him.

As Paul would tell you―and I would concur―there’s nothing better in life than belonging to Jesus!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for Paul’s reminder to us of the importance of belonging to Jesus.  Help us to remember that we do belong to Him.  Help us to find our identity in Him.  Help us to draw our strength from Him, realizing that He is our Source, He our Life, and He is our All in All.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 1:1-7.  How does Paul identify himself?

2. What was Paul called to do?

3. How do you identify yourself?

4. How might your life be different if you identified yourself―whether publicly or privately―as someone who “belonged to Jesus Christ”?

Lesson 2: Encouraging One Another (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:8-17 

In our first lesson in this study on renewing your mind, we talked about the importance of belonging to Jesus―of finding your identity in Him.  He is our All in All and the ultimate source of our strength.  But God has also given us something to help us.  He’s given us one another.

One of the best ways to renew your mind is to fellowship with other believers, to encourage one another in your faith, so you can give each other a fresh perspective on your life and the situations that you face.

This is what the Apostle Paul longed to do with the Christians living in Rome when he wrote his letter to them in about 57 A.D.  If you know anything about this time period in Roman history, you’ll know that those were the days of the gladiators, the colosseums, and fights-to-the-death in huge arenas.

It was only seven years after Paul’s letter to the Romans―in 64 A.D.―that the mad Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for setting fire to Rome, a fire that many historians believed that Emperor Nero himself set so that he could rebuild the city more to his liking.  This newly emerging group of Christians was an easy scapegoat.  They were already looked down upon by the people because they chose to follow Christ rather than pay honor to the official Roman gods―one of which included Emperor Nero himself.

The Roman historian Tacitus―who lived in Rome at the time―says that after the fire, Nero arrested a vast number of Christians and had them tortured in the most heinous ways.  Tacitus writes:

“In their very deaths they were made the subjects of sport: for they were covered with the hides of wild beasts, and torn to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set on fire, and when the day waned, burned to serve for the evening lights. Nero offered his own gardens for that spectacle…”  (Tacitus, Annals 15.44, circa 100 A.D.)

Just in case you missed what Tacitus was saying in that last statement, he was saying that Christians were set on fire to serve as human torches to light Nero’s gardens after the sun had gone down.

It is into this setting, just seven years earlier, that the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans.  For quite some time, he had wanted to visit them in person so that they could encourage one another in their faith.  But being prevented from coming in person once again, Paul wrote them a letter instead, a letter that has survived to this day and still encourages Christians around the world.

Listen to Paul’s heartfelt love for his Christian brothers and sisters:

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong―that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.  I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles” (Romans 8:8-13).

Life is hard for all of us at times.  And it’s in those times that we need one another even more than ever.  We need one another’s perspectives on the situations that we face, just as Paul gave his perspective to the Roman Christians.  Although they were being ridiculed and persecuted―and they could have felt that God was treating them unfairly―Paul helped them to see their situation in another light.  He thanked God for them, because their faith was being reported throughout the world.

Rather than seeing their situation as lowly and humiliating, Paul saw that their stars of faith were shining brightly―stars that illuminated the darkness around them.

Amazingly, Paul was eager to join them in this dark place.  While Paul could have been hesitant for many reasons to go to Rome, he wasn’t.  As a natural-born citizen of Rome and one of the greatest intellectual thinkers of his day, he could have been embarrassed to align himself with those who followed Christ―a man who was mocked by the Roman leaders and crucified under the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

But Paul wasn’t ashamed.  He didn’t flinch at the possibility that he could be ridiculed, beaten, jailed, or killed for his faith.  Why?  Because Paul knew the life-changing power of the gospel that he preached―the “good news” of Christ.

Paul knew that the gospel had the power to save those who responded to it.  He was eager to go to Rome and to have a harvest among those who were yet to believe.  Paul said:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith'” (Romans 1:16-17).

We could all use a few more Pauls in our lives, people who believe so much in the power of the gospel that their faith rubs off on us.

If you need a new perspective on your life―and the situations you’re facing in it―can I encourage you to find some other believers and to be honest with them about the struggles you’re facing?  You can’t go it alone, and God doesn’t want you to.  Even though Jesus may be all you need, the reason He’s all you need is because He provides you with all you need―like believing friends who can help you through this life.

Let me encourage you to seek out and engage other Christians in heartfelt conversations.  It’s risky.  It’s hard.  But it’s so worth it.  Ask them to tell you if they see anything in your life that you might not be able to see on your own.  Ask them what God may be doing in and through the situations you’re facing.  Open up the Word of God with them to see how God has brought others through situations like the ones you’re facing.  And if you think your situation is so unique that God’s Word doesn’t address it, that’s most likely because you haven’t read enough of God’s Word!

God has so much to say to you, but sometimes it takes others to help you see it.  If you don’t have church home, find one that strongly believes that the Bible is God’s Word.  Get involved with a group of other Christians.  Join a chat room or an Internet forum where you can lift each other up with your prayers and concerns.

Or, if you want, ask another Christian to go through this study of the book of Romans with you, whether you get together in person or share with each other electronically, half-way around the world.

One of my own kids is in Sydney, Australia, right now and I’m thankful that we’re still able to encourage one another in our faith from literally half-way around the world!  He shares with me what he’s learning, and I share with him what I’m learning, and we both encourage one another with the new things we’re learning about life from God’s Word.  The same thing happens with my wife and our other kids here in the house, and with our church and small group that we attend regularly.  As iron sharpens iron, so one man or woman can sharpen another.

You may not be getting thrown to the lions, but you’ll still benefit from surrounding yourself with other believers.  Seek them out.  Share your story with them.  Ask them to give you a boost in your faith, and give them a boost in their faith while you’re at it.

And if you’re the one who’s feeling particularly strong right now, can I encourage you to take some time to write or call, email or text, or just stop by and visit someone who could use your perspective on their life today?  As Paul longed to be with the Romans so they could be “mutually encouraged by each other’s faith”―God wants you to do the same with those around you.  You’ll be glad you did.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that even though Jesus is all we need, that we still need each other, and that our fellowship with other believers is one of the great blessings that Jesus wants to give us.  Lord, for those who have such a fellowship, thank You.  For those who need such a fellowship, I pray that You would answer their prayers.  Help them to reach out to those around them and share honestly the struggles they’re going through in life.  Then provide them with the fresh perspective and practical help they need to help them through this time with a faith that shines brightly for You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 1:8-17.  Why was Paul thankful for the Romans?

2. Why did he long to see them?  And what was he praying for them constantly?

3. Do you have a group of Christians with whom you can enjoy the benefits of fellowship?  If so, what are some of the benefits of fellowship.  If not, where could you start to find such a group?

4. Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel?

Lesson 3: Giving Thanks (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-23 

One of the quickest ways to get a new perspective on life is by giving thanks―by taking a few minutes to thank God for the things in your life for which you are truly grateful.  But giving thanks doesn’t always come naturally.

You can sometimes get so caught up in the heat of the battles you’re facing that all of your thoughts, prayers and attention are focused on the battles only.  Then, when you get so consumed by the battles that you stop giving thanks for the good things that are happening in your life, you head down a path that can lead to destruction.

I’ve heard it said that “rebellion against God doesn’t begin with a clenched fist, but with a heart that refuses to give thanks.”

When you stop giving thanks for the things in your lives that are good and meaningful to you, you can oftentimes find yourself slipping into anger and frustration with the world–and with the God who created it.  Your fists may begin to clench and you may feel like rebelling against anything else that God might want to say to you, or want you to do.

The Apostle Paul cited this refusal to give thanks as the beginning of the end for the citizens of Rome, as many people there were already engaging in all kinds of evil.  He said:

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness… For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:18, 21).

If it feels like your thinking has become futile and your heart seems to have darkened, perhaps it’s time to reverse that cycle by giving thanks.

In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells the story of a time when she and her sister were in a concentration camp in Germany during the Holocaust.  When they were thrown into a bunkhouse that was infected with fleas, her sister remembered that they needed to give thanks in all circumstances―even for the fleas.  But Corrie said it was too much.  She said, “There’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.”

But as the weeks went on, she discovered that the women in her barracks were being given an unusual amount of freedom.  They could read to each other from a Bible they had hidden, and they could  pray with one another.  One day they discovered why when Betsy overheard the guards say that they wouldn’t step foot into their barracks.  Why not?  “That place is crawling with fleas!” the guard said.  It was then that Corrie remembered her sister’s prayers of thanks even for the fleas.

The movie, Fireproof, also talks about the importance of giving thanks.  The story is about a fireman whose wife wants out of their marriage.  She’s fed up with him, and he’s equally fed up with her.  But as they head towards divorce, the fireman’s father steps in and challenges his son to try something he calls “The Love Dare” for forty days.  He hands his son a hand-written journal in which he’s written specific steps the son can take each day to try to repair his relationship with his wife.

After 20 frustrating days of trying to do it on his own, the fireman has a heartfelt conversation with his dad.  His dad encourages him to put His faith in Christ and ask Him for help, but the son refuses, saying he doesn’t need a crutch to get through life.  The dad responds by saying that Jesus is more than just a crutch―He’s the most significant part of his life.  The son still doesn’t get it, so the dad continues:

DAD:  “If I ask you why you’re so frustrated with Catherine, what would you say?”

SON:  “She’s stubborn.  She makes everything difficult for me.  She’s ungrateful.  She’s constantly griping about something.”

DAD:  “Has she thanked you the last 20 days?”

SON:  “No.  And you’d think after I washed the car, I’ve changed the oil, do the dishes, clean the house, that she would try to show me a little bit of gratitude.  Well, she doesn’t.  That is what really ticks me off.  Dad, for the last three weeks, I have bent over backwards for her.  I have tried to demonstrate that I still care about this relationship.  I bought her flowers, which she threw away.  I have taken her insults and her sarcasm, but last night was it.  I made dinner for her, I did everything I could to demonstrate that I care about her, to show value for her, and she spat in my face.  She does not deserve this, Dad.  I am not doing it anymore.  How am I supposed to show love to somebody over and over and over who constantly rejects me?”

DAD:  “That’s a good question.”

SON: (after a long pause) “Dad, that is not what I’m doing.”

DAD:  “Isn’t it?  Son, you just asked me: ‘How can someone show love over and over again when they’re constantly rejected?’  You can’t love her, because you can’t give her what you don’t have.”

You’ll have to see the movie to find out how it ends.  But the Dad made his point:  What does it feel like to God, when He shows His love to us over and over and over again, yet we refuse to, or forget to, or get so overwhelmed with life that we no longer want to give Him thanks?

For me, I’ve found it helpful to be intentional about giving thanks to God.  I keep a prayer journal handy and try to write in it at least every few days.  I used to begin by writing down all the prayers that were on my heart, which felt good to get them down on paper.  But I began to realize that I wasn’t taking as much time to stop and give thanks to God for all the prayers that He had already answered.

So I changed my approach several years ago and began starting every entry with these words, “Father, thank You…” and then listing something for which I am sincerely thankful, something specific that has happened in the past day or two, or even those things that were particularly hard or challenging, but that I was trying to view from God’s perspective to see how He might be using them for good.

I’ve found that as I start my prayer time with thanks, it changes the rest of my prayer time.  I now have more expectancy, more eagerness to see how God might answer my prayers, and more hope that God really can bring something good out of even the bad things that I might be facing.

Rather than waiting to see how things turn out before I thank God for them, I’ve found it much better to thank Him up front.

I remember eating an incredible fish dinner up in Boise, Idaho one time on a business trip.  Our hosts had taken us out to a fancy restaurant.  I’m sure it was the best fish I had ever eaten.  After the meal, when the waitress came to our table to ask how everything was, I could hardly contain myself in thanking her for the great meal.

But as I was thanking her, I realized that she didn’t cook the fish, she just brought it to the table, so I asked her to please give my thanks to the chef.  But as she walked away, I realized that the chef didn’t make the fish, he just prepared it.  The one I really needed to thank was God who created the fish!  So before I got up from the table, I said a heartfelt prayer of thanks, saying, “Thank You, Lord, for this food!”

Then it hit me.  Wasn’t that the same prayer I said before I ate it:  “Thank You Lord, for this food”?  But somehow it meant so much more to me now that I realized it really had come from Him!  I made a mental note that the next time I prayed before a meal, I’d try to make it just as heartfelt as I felt that day afterwards.

It reminded me of the prayer that Jesus prayed before His meal with over 5,000 people on the hillside in Galilee, when all He had was two loaves of bread and five pieces of fish.  The Bible says:

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (Matthew 14:19b-21).

Jesus could have waited till the end of the meal to give thanks for His Father’s incredible provision, but He didn’t.  He gave thanks up front, even though the meal in front of Him may have looked quite meager.  His Father in heaven took His prayer of thanks and super-sized their meal right in front of their eyes!

You don’t have to wait to give thanks to God till you see the answers to your prayers.  Give thanks to Him up front for what you have been given, and trust Him to take the next step.

The Romans, because of their refusal to give thanks to God, found that their thinking had become futile and their hearts were darkened.  If you want your thoughts to be more purposeful and your hearts to become brighter, do what Paul suggested:  begin by giving thanks to God.

Come to the Father today with your prayers.  Come to Him with thanksgiving in your heart.  Thank Him for those things in your life for which you’re truly grateful.  Thank Him for those things―even fleas―that may be hard to give thanks for right now, but which God can use in your life for good.  And thank Him for the answers to your prayers that haven’t even come yet, but by faith you believe will come in a way that goes beyond all you can ask or imagine.

Let God renew your mind today by giving thanks to Him.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for the answers to so many prayers that we have prayed in the past.  Thank You for those things which we’re struggling through today, for as hard as they may seem, we trust that You can work all things for good, for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.  Thank You in advance for the answers to prayer that are yet to come.  We trust that You can super-size those answers in just the right way and at just the right time.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 1:18-23.  What did Paul say happened to the thinking of those who refused to give glory and thanks to God?

2. Why do you think their refusal to give thanks caused them to fall into some of the sins listed in this passage?

3. According to verse 32, what is the ultimate outcome for those who head down this path?

4. What are some things in your life for which you can truly give thanks to God?

Lesson 4: Asking God For His Truth (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:24-32

Of all the passages in the Bible, the one that has changed my thinking and the direction of my life more than any other is the one that we’re looking at today―a passage at the end of Romans chapter 1.

It’s a little hard for me to talk about, though, because what God spoke to me through this passage was very personal and specific to me.  While this passage may not speak to you as personally, the principle that I learned from reading it that day does apply to every one of us:  if you ask God for His Truth―and listen for His honest answer with an open heart and ears to hear―God will answer you!

What happened to me was that I had just been reading another passage in the Bible that puzzled me.  It said that all of us had sinned and that the penalty for sin was death.  Therefore, all of us would eventually die because of our sins (see Romans 3:23 and 6:23).

I thought this was a little strong because I felt I had been a pretty good kid all my life.  I hadn’t done anything that I felt I would even get put in jail for, let alone die from.  But the Bible seemed to say otherwise.  So I shared my question about these verses with the guys in my small group Bible study.  One of them suggested that I ask God what He thought about how good I had been.

I thought that was a fair question, so I went home that night and got ready to pray.  But before I did, I started to wonder:  What if it was true?  What if I really had done something that could possibly kill me?  I wondered if I really wanted to hear God’s answer to that question or not.

But as I thought through what He might say, I decided that what I wanted more than anything was God’s truth.  Either what the Bible said was true and what I thought was wrong, or what I thought was true, and the Bible was wrong.  Both couldn’t be true.  So I asked God to show me the truth.

Within two weeks, God answered my prayer.  He brought me to Romans chapter 1, where I read Paul’s words about what happened when people “exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:25a).  God had my attention, for that’s just what I was wondering, if I had ever exchanged God’s truth for a lie.  As I read the words that followed, I was amazed to see that Paul, writing almost 2,000 years ago, described the same path that I had taken in life a just few years earlier.  Paul said:

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator―who is forever praised. Amen.

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:25-32).

Even though I felt I had been pretty good all my life, there was one area that I had kept secret from most people.  When I went off to college, I became sexually involved in a series of relationships with other men on campus.  While on one level I felt that what I was doing was wrong, on another level it seemed so “right” because it seemed to fill a legitimate need that I had in my life for close male friends.

What I didn’t know was that I was trying to meet that need in a way that could have possibly killed me.  AIDS was just beginning to surface at the time, but it didn’t seem like that real of a threat to me.  I never even considered the possibility that I might die from what I was doing.

But as I read this passage in Romans, I began to see what I had been doing in a whole new light.  I began to see that not only did homosexuality go against the way that God had designed my reproductive organs to work―they would never produce life in this way―but it could have actually led to my death instead.  Instead of giving me abundant life, it could have lead to my imminent death.  And God didn’t want me to die.  He wanted me to live!  But because of the decisions that I had made, I was afraid I might already be carrying within me the seeds of my own destruction.

I didn’t want to die.  I wanted to live.  But I wondered how I could possibly undo what I had done.  I couldn’t take it back.  I also wondered how I could possibly change my thoughts and feelings and emotions regarding other guys.  I couldn’t think of any way to change them myself, and I didn’t see how anyone else could change me either―not my family, or my friends, or a counselor―no one.

But then I read another story in the Bible about Jesus and how two blind men came to Him for healing.  They called out to Jesus:  “Have mercy on us!”

Instead of just touching their eyes or telling them to dip in a particular pool of water, as He did when He healed others, this time Jesus asked the men a question.  He said:

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?”  (Matthew 9:28b)

It seemed as if Jesus was asking me the same question.  I didn’t want to live my life in a way that could possibly kill me, but I didn’t know how to change it either.  As I read this passage, I felt like Jesus was asking me:  “Eric, do you believe that I am able to do this, too?”

I thought about everything that I had ever heard about Jesus―how He healed the sick, walked on water, and raised the dead.  I thought to myself, If anyone can do this, Jesus can.

As I thought about this, I just put my hand up in the air and said, “Yes, Lord, I believe.”

And as soon as I said those words, Jesus reached out to me just like He did to the blind men.  He touched me.  He healed me.  He changed my life forever.

The next day I went to a church service where I heard about how Jesus came to die for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to.  For the first time in my life, I realized that I was a sinner and needed a Savior.  I went home that night and knelt down on my bed.  With my head on my pillow, I asked God to forgive me for everything I had done that had gone against Him and His plans for my life.  I put my faith in Him, and asked Him to fill me with His Holy Spirit so that I could live the life He wanted me to live.

I woke up the next morning with a whole new perspective on life.  Even though I got up and ate breakfast and went to work just the same as the day before, I knew that God had given me a new shot at life.  He picked me up off the path of death and put me on the path of life instead.

On this new path, God has given me a wife, six children of my own, and the promise of eternal life with Him forever.  I’m now on a path of life and life abundant!  It’s been twenty-four years since that day, and I’ve never looked back.

I took a risk when I asked God to reveal His Truth to me.  But it was the best risk I’ve ever taken in my life.  Because of that risk, I realized that God was right and I was wrong, that I had exchanged the truth of God for a lie.  I put my faith in Him and His Word from that day on.  It’s changed my life and the lives of my wife and kids–who wouldn’t be here otherwise–forever.

Maybe you have days when you feel like God is distant―that He doesn’t seem to care about you or what you’re going through―that He’s simply not interested in the details of your life or the direction that it takes.  But nothing could be further from the truth!  God loves you so much!  The truth is that God wants you to know His will for your life even more than you want to know it!  He’d love to reveal His Truth to you if you’re willing to ask Him.

I want to encourage you to ask God to renew your mind today.  Ask Him to reveal His Truth to you on those topics that are close to your heart.  Ask Him to pour His thoughts into your thoughts.  Ask Him to give you a new way of thinking about your life and the direction that you’re headed.  If you’re on course, God will tell you.  But if you’re not, God will tell you that, too―if you’ll listen for His voice with an open heart and ears to hear.

If you want to renew your mind, ask God your questions, open His Word, and listen for His answers.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for letting us come to You with our honest questions.  We pray that You would give us Your honest answers, too.  We do want to know Your Truth.  We do want to know how to live our lives in ways that we can have life abundant.  Open our ears so that we can hear You clearly, and open our hearts to Your Word that You’ve given to us on the pages of the Bible.  Help us to put our faith and trust in You for everything in our lives, including the forgiveness of our sins and the promise that we can live with You forever when we put our faith in Christ.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 1:24-32.  Looking at this passage, what are some ways that the people in Rome got off track when they “exchanged the truth of God for a lie”?

2. What are some ways they might get back on track if they wanted to?

3. Why is it sometimes hard for us to hear God’s Truth in our lives?

4. After reading this passage and hearing this story, is there any particular Truth from God that you’d like Him to reveal to you?

Lesson 5: Listening To Your Conscience (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 2:1-16

When Steve Jobs finished designing the first Macintosh computer, he did something special: he asked everyone who helped him design that first revolutionary machine to sign a large piece of paper.  He then took that paper and turned it into an engraving template.  When those first Macs finally rolled off the assembly line, the names of their creators were engraved inside every case.

You couldn’t see the signatures from the outside―and most people never even knew they existed on the inside because few people had any reason to open up a computer in those days.  But if you did open one up and looked deep inside, you’d see them―the signatures of their creators, including “steven jobs.”

But Steve Jobs wasn’t the first one to sign his creation on the inside.  God did it, too, when He created you.  He’s written His name deep inside you.  And if you take a closer look, you’ll find that it’s not just His name that’s written there, but also His laws―His words of instruction to help you live the fullest life possible.

As God said in the book of Hebrews:

“I will put My laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts. 

I will be their God,
and they will be My people”
(Hebrews 8:10b)

The Apostle Paul echoes these thoughts in his letter to the Romans, saying that your conscience “bears witness” to the fact that God has written the requirements of His laws upon your heart.

“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:14-15).

Your conscience has been implanted in your mind by God.  It helps you to consider your options and the outcomes of your actions.  It helps you to regulate your passions and desires, comparing them to God’s passions and desires for you.  When your passions and desires are different than God’s, your conscience kicks in to let you know that something is amiss and needs to be addressed.

But your conscience is a warning indicator only.  You can override it.  You can ignore it.  You still have free will.  But God has put your conscience within you to help you make decisions, if you’re willing to listen to it.  Your conscience is a warning indicator to let you know you’d better check something out before proceeding.

How do you check it out?  By comparing what you’re wanting to do with God’s Word.

Even though God has written His Word on your heart, sometimes you can’t read the writing so clearly.  Your vision gets blurred by your own thoughts and desires.

That’s why God has also given you His Word in black and white―on the pages of the Bible―so you can read it clearly.  That’s why He’s given you His Word in the flesh―in the form of His Son Jesus―so you can know exactly what He says about it.  That’s why He’s given you His Holy Spirit―which Jesus said He would send to His followers after He was gone―to remind you of all the things He has already spoken to you.

I can think of times in my own life―and maybe you can think of times in yours―when I’ve done some things that felt so “right” on one level, but on another level felt so “wrong.”   At those times when I’ve ignored the warning lights and overridden them, I’ve ended up in places that God never wanted me to go.

But at those times when I have taken notice of God’s warning lights and decided to check out what I was doing and compare it to what God wanted me to do according to His Word, I’ve found that it’s way better to do what’s right―even if it means laying down some things that I personally desire.  Whenever I’ve done what I’ve felt God wanted instead, I’ve found that His plans for me are so much better than the plans I had in mind, giving me peace of mind and life abundant.  As someone has wisely said:

A clear conscience makes a soft pillow.

If you’d like to sleep on a soft pillow tonight, I’d encourage you to listen to your conscience.  If there’s something on your heart or mind that has turned on the warning lights, check it out.

Take a look in God’s Word, as written on the pages of the Bible in black and white, and compare what you’re doing with what God wants you to do.  If they don’t match up, a change is in order.  Just thank God for His warning lights and do what’s right, whatever it takes.  As Paul said:

“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous” (Romans 2:13).

As I was thinking about the idea of Steve Jobs engraving his name inside his computers―and God engraving His Word upon our hearts―I was inspired to write a haiku.  A haiku is a short Japanese poem that doesn’t usually rhyme but is often made up of just 17 syllables―five in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.

So here’s my haiku, from God to you:

My name is written

upon your heart awaiting

… rediscovery

God loves you so much that He’s taken the time to write His name on your heart.  He’s written His instructions for you there, too, to help you live the fullest life possible.

If you’d like to renew your mind today, listen to your conscience.  Check out what your conscience is saying and compare it to God’s Word.  Listen to His Son.  Obey His Holy Spirit.  If you do these things, you’ll live!  If you don’t, you risk losing everything, even those things you love the most.

Listen to your conscience―and live!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for writing Your Words on our hearts, and thank You for giving us a conscience to help us know when what we’re doing is different from what You want us to do.  Help us to listen to You, to follow Your Words, and to live the life that You’ve created us to live.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit to help us to stop doing anything that doesn’t bring glory and honor to You, and to start doing those things that do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 2:1-16.  Can you remember a time when your conscience warned you that something you were doing was amiss?  What were the results when you either did or didn’t do what your conscience warned you about?

2. Read Hebrews 8:7-13.  While some people might think that their consciences are formed based solely on the conditions in which they were raised, what does this passage in Hebrews, and the above passage in Romans, suggest is the true basis for your conscience?

3. What reason does Paul give for God being so kind, tolerant and patient towards us in Romans 2:4?

4. After reflecting on today’s message, are there any changes you’d like to make in your own life, or any warning indicators that you need to check out according to God’s Word?

Lesson 6: Getting To The Heart (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 2:17-29

I have thought for some time now that someone should make a movie about two men engaged in an epic battle with each other.  In some ways, it would be like every other movie:  the hero and villain would be at war throughout the movie, with the hero having the upper hand at some points, and the villain gaining the upper hand at others.  Near the end, the hero would deliver the fatal blow that sends the villain to his doom forever.

But the difference in this movie would be that just before the closing credits begin to roll, the camera would back up from the final battle scene, revealing to the audience that the hero and the villain were one and the same person, fighting inside the brain of a man’s head.  Having achieved the victory in his mind, we would then see the man finally stand up and walk forward to do what’s right.  No longer bound by the thoughts that were raging within him, he would finally be free to live the life he was called to live.

An audience of such a movie might think that they had been tricked into thinking that the whole battle was “real” for the entire movie, when it was only being played out inside the man’s head.  But to those who saw what was taking place at a deeper level, they would realize that what took place inside the man’s head was no less real than what took place after he stood up at the end.

The victory in your mind is often just as critical as the victory in the physical world.  In fact, you often need to secure the victory in your mind first before you can secure the victory in the physical world.

There are, however, ways to cover up your true thoughts and feelings with words and actions that make it look like you’ve got it all together on the inside.  This kind of activity might deceive men, but it never deceives God.  God wants you to win the victory in your mind and in the physical world.  When there’s a disconnect between what’s going on inwardly and what’s going on outwardly, God wants you to get to the heart.

Paul addressed this disconnect in his letter to the Romans.  The Jews were priding themselves on the outward signs of their faith, like the fact that they were circumcised, whereas the Gentiles, or non-Jews, weren’t.  But Paul said:

“A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly, and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.  Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:28-29).

In some ways, the Jews could have seen circumcision as one of the symbols of their salvation.  It was a physical sign imprinted on their bodies that showed that they belonged to God, that they were children of a special covenant between God and His people.  But Paul said that if their circumcision was external only, then it would only merit praise from men, not from God.

God wanted their circumcision to be a “circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.”  Paul said that the Gentiles, who didn’t have the law of God written down for them, would be more honoring to God than the Jews if the Gentiles kept the requirements of the law by doing what’s right.  Paul said:

“If those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?  The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker” (Romans 2:26-27).

This isn’t to say that circumcision and the rest of the laws were of no value to the Jews, as we’ll find out next time in chapter 3 of Paul’s letter.  But it is to say that God wants our inward reality to match up with our outward reality.  And when we get to the heart first, the outward actions will flow much more naturally.

I got an email from a friend who has been struggling with pornography for years, thinking of himself as an addict.  He hasn’t been sure if he will ever break free.  Although I believe he can and will break free one day, it’s hard for him to believe it, because of the length and the strength of his battle.

Yet in his most recent email, he said he had just been to a counselor who asked him many in-depth questions about his struggle.  After reviewing the situation, the counselor said that he doesn’t think my friend has an addiction and gave him several reasons why.  This was news to my friend because he’s been feeling like an addict for years!  It changed my friend’s thinking about his situation.  He’s already had some small victories in his battle since then!

My friend’s actions are beginning to change because he has changed the way he thinks about his problem.  He now sees that there really is a possibility that he can be free from this battle that has dogged him for so long.

God cares about what’s going on inside your brain.  He cares about what’s going on inside your heart.  And He cares about what you do as a result of what’s going on inside your brain and heart.  What happens internally is just as important―and just as real―as what happens externally.

I remember a book in which the main character in the book has a dreamlike conversation with one of his mentors who had unfortunately died the previous year.  As their conversation comes to a close, the main character asks:

“Tell me one last thing.  Is this real?  Or has this been happening inside my head?

His mentor replies:

“Of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?”

Sometimes we think that the thoughts in our head are separate from, and unrelated to, the actions that we take in our lives.  We treat the two as different realities.  But the truth is that our thoughts influence our actions.  Both are real and God cares about both.

God wants you to have the victory on the inside so you can have the victory on the outside.

He doesn’t want you to be obedient just so you can say you have faith in Him.  He wants you to have faith in Him so that you can be obedient, for that’s the way you can live your life to the fullest potential.

While there can be value in just doing things because you know they’re right, even if you don’t feel like doing them, there’s much more value if what you do on the outside matches up with what you think and feel on the inside.  When they match up, you’ll feel better about what you’re doing, others will feel better about what you’re doing, and God will be honored by what you’re doing.

As God said to Samuel when Samuel was trying to discern who should be the next king of Israel:

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7-8).

Ask God to renew your heart and mind today.  Ask Him to reveal anything within you that is improperly motivated, or that seeks for anything other than the good of others and the glory of God.  Then, if God reveals anything to you that needs to be changed internally, ask Him for help to know how to change it.  Ask Him to remake you from the inside out.  Give Him permission to do that work inside you, whatever it takes.

Then, when God is done remaking you on the inside, you’ll be able to stand up, move forward, and do what’s right.  No longer bound by the thoughts that were raging inside you, you’ll finally be free to live the life you were called to live!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for caring about what goes on inside us―our thoughts and feelings―just as much as you care about what we do on the outside. Thank You for the reminder that both are real, and both are really important to You.  Fill our minds and hearts with Your will for our lives and help us to believe and act on Your will.  We pray that doing so will make an tremendous difference to us and to those around us in the weeks and months and years ahead.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 2:17-29.  What was the problem that Paul was addressing with the Jews in this passage?

2. What did Paul mean when he said that “circumcision is circumcision of the heart”?  How can someone be circumcised in their heart?

3. In what ways do your thoughts and feelings sometimes differ from your actions?  And in what ways are they related?

4. Are there any areas in your life where your thoughts and feelings are disconnected from your actions?  What might you do today to help them line up more closely?

Lesson 7: Becoming Conscious Of Sin (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:1-20

Some people have no problem recognizing sin in their life.  In fact, they magnify their faults in their minds, whether real or imagined, thinking less of themselves than they ought to think.

Yet other people have the problem of not recognizing sin in their life.  They magnify their strengths instead, whether real or imagined, thinking better of themselves than they ought to think.

Most of us fall somewhere in between:  we magnify some weaknesses out of proportion, while minimizing others.

God wants us to have an honest and objective look.  For those of you who think you’re perfect, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news today.  And for those of you who don’t think you’re perfect, I don’t want you to magnify what I’m about to say and make you feel worse about yourselves.  But here’s the truth, according to what God says through Paul in his letter to the Romans:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).

The truth is, the gospel―or good news–of Jesus Christ is often bad news before it’s good news.  If you’re not aware of your sinfulness, you’ll never be aware of your need for a Savior.  And if you don’t recognize your need for a Savior, you’ll never find salvation.

God didn’t give you the laws of the Bible―the ten commandments and the six hundred and some additional laws that followed in the Old Testament―to crush you.  He gave them to help you and protect you.  And to the extent that you keep those laws, you’ll be blessed.  But when you fall short of being able to keep those laws, God sent Jesus to make up the difference―to fill the gap between the best that you can do and the best that God wants for you.

And since the Bible says that “there is no one righteous, not even one,” that means that God sent Jesus for each one of us.  If you want to renew your mind and get a new perspective on life, it’s important to see your sins as God sees them.  For when you see how short you’ve fallen compared to God’s righteousness, you can see what needs to happen to make up the difference:  put your faith in Christ!

This is not a message just for non-Christians to encourage them to put their faith in Christ.  This is just as much a message for Christians, who need God’s grace just as much after being saved as before.  As professor and philosopher Dallas Willard says:

“The sinner is not the one who uses a lot of grace.  The saint uses more grace.  The saint burns grace like a 747 burns fuel on takeoff, because everything they do is a manifestation of grace.  But we have to learn how to use it.  It means we no longer trust just our efforts to manage our lives.”

Throughout the book of Romans, Paul addressed the differences and similarities between Jews and Gentiles―the non-Jews.  What good is it being a Jew, some have asked, if both Jews and Gentiles both can be saved by grace?  Here’s what Paul said:

“What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?  Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God” (Romans 3:1-2).

God gave His words in the form of the Scriptures to the Jews, and to the extent that they heeded those words they were blessed.  But to the extent that they didn’t heed those words, there was a gap.

God gave them ways to fill that gap, through sacrifices of atonement that they and their leaders could make.  But as good as this was, it was never enough to completely fill the gap.  Paul said that it was only because of God’s forbearance―His patience, self-control, and restraint―that He never brought upon them the full punishment they deserved for their sins.  Paul said:

“Because in His forbearance, He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished” (Romans 3:25b).

But when the time was right, God provided a way to fill the gap completely, once and for all.  He filled it by offering His own Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins.  That’s the gospel, or good news of Jesus Christ.  Even though none of us are righteous on our own, we can become righteous by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.

If you feel like a sinner today, hallelujah!  When you become conscious of your sins, you’ve hit upon a truth of God.  That means you can also recognize your need for a Savior―someone who can save you from your sins!  And that means you can be saved, if you recognize Jesus as your Savior!  It really is great news!

Becoming conscious of sin is one of the main purposes of the laws that God gave us.  As Paul said:

“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20).

If you want to renew your mind today, ask God to help you become conscious of sin in your life.  Then, when you become aware of what needs changing in your life, invite Jesus in to do His work.  Remember, God’s grace is just as much available to you after you’ve become a Christian as before.

At the same time, as you ask God to help you to become conscious of sin in your life, don’t let Satan magnify your weaknesses out of proportion.

I had a friend this week who shared with me that she was struggling to hear from God.  She felt like God wasn’t answering her prayers and she wondered what she might be doing wrong.  At one point in our conversation, she confessed to me this that she felt God wasn’t answering her prayers because she had gone off a special diet she had started for her health.  She had eaten some candy bars.  She was squirming as she told me, and she said she hadn’t told anyone else what she was thinking.  But from the way she said it, I knew she was dead serious and completely distraught.  I looked at her and said:

“Satan is lying to you.  The truth is that God loves you so much that He has already paid the ultimate price for you―by sending Jesus to die for your sins.  There’s nothing He wouldn’t do for you if it’s in His will for your life.  There may be a good reason for you to be careful about what you eat for the sake of your health.  But that’s a different issue.  I don’t believe that God is holding anything back from you because you ate some candy bars.  If you believe that God wants for you what you’re praying for, then keep on praying for it!  Believe that God will answer your prayers and don’t let anything stop you from praying for it.”

My friend listened intently to what I was saying, and when I was finished, she asked if I could repeat it all for her one more time, which I did.  Sometimes it’s hard to get your mind around God’s grace.  And I admit that I fall into the same mental trap at times, too, and maybe you do as well.  Maybe you’ve had thoughts like these:

– “I don’t have enough money because I haven’t made enough contacts this week―God must not love me, or He thinks bad about me, and He’s not answering my prayers because of it.”  (Maybe there’s a connection between your contacts and your money, but maybe not.  Your work matters to God, but don’t let Satan lie to you that it’s because God doesn’t love you because you haven’t done enough.  If you fall short in what you can do, ask God for forgiveness and let Jesus fill the gap.)

– “My kids are a mess because of a sin I committed in high school and now they’re just following in my footsteps, even though I’ve repented a thousand times for it since then.” (No, don’t let Satan lie to you.  If you’ve confessed it, you’re forgiven.  God has wiped the slate clean and starts all over again with your kids on their own.)

– “I’ve been praying for a husband or wife, but no one will marry me.  It must be because of my ____.” (Fill in the blank:  nose, temper, scar, income, freckles, hair, lack of hair, etc.  No, don’t let Satan lie to you, either.  There are plenty of people who have gotten married in spite of having a multitude of traits that seem to be ignored, and even adored, by their devoted spouse.  While there may be qualities or characteristics about yourself that God does want you to work on, that’s likely a different issue.  Trust God that He is answering your prayers and working on your behalf, behind the scenes.  At the proper time, you will see the fruit of your prayers.)

If there’s a a gap between you and perfection, there’s good news for you―even as a Christian.  Jesus came to fill the gap!

God want to renew your mind.  He’s given you His law so you can become conscious of sin.  But once you’re aware of it, don’t wallow in it!  Put your faith in Christ, and let Him make things right again.  If you’ve confessed it, God has forgiven it.

As the Apostle John said:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for helping us to become conscious of our sins, so that we can see our need for a Savior, so that we can find salvation!  Thank you for the good news of Jesus Christ, who came to fill in the gap between the best that we can do and the best that God has in store for us.  We ask that You would fill the gaps in our lives today where we fall short, as we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 3:1-20.  Why does Paul say, in verse 20, that no one can become righteous by observing the law, but through the law we become conscious of sin?

2. Read 1 John 1:8-10.  How do John’s words compare with Paul’s?

3. In your own life, do you think you tend to magnify, or minimize, your sins?  How might God help you to get His perspective on them?

4. Have you ever experienced the good news of Jesus Christ for yourself, putting your faith in Him for the forgiveness of your sins? If not, why not ask Him to fill the gap for you today in prayer? And if so, why not ask Him for extra grace today to fill any other gaps in your life where you feel like you’re falling short?

Lesson 8: Being Redeemed By Jesus (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:21-31

The great evangelist D.L. Moody was once confronted by a woman who said she didn’t like his method of evangelism. D. L. Moody responded, “I don’t particularly like my method either. What’s yours?”

The woman said, “I don’t have one.”

To which D.L. Moody replied, “Then I like mine better!”

There are many methods for sharing your faith, such as “The Four Spiritual Laws” from Campus Crusade, “Steps to Peace with God” from Billy Graham, “The Two Questions” from Evangelism Explosion, or “The Ten Commandments” from The Way of the Master.  As someone has said, sharing your faith is like prayer:  there’s probably only one wrong way to do it, and that’s to not do it at all!

Still, I’d like to give you a method of sharing your faith today that I hope will make it easier for you to do it.  It’s called “The Roman Road,” and it begins with a Scripture that’s found in the passage we’re looking at today in the book of Romans, chapter 3.

But before I start, I’d like to remind you that sharing your faith is not about a method, but about a person, Jesus Christ.  Remember that it is not a method that saves people, but Jesus―and He would love to work through you to touch the lives of those around you.  When you remember this, it takes the pressure off of you and your method.  It’s Jesus who will save people!

I’d also like to remind you to pray for opportunities to share with others.  Sometimes we don’t share with others because we don’t spend time praying for opportunities to share.  But if you’ll pray for God to open doors for you to share your faith, He’ll open your eyes to those who need to hear His good news today.  Pray for opportunities to share, and trust that God will help you share as He opens up those opportunities to you!

And third, a practical way to get into a spiritual conversation with someone is to ask if you can pray for them, perhaps for their health or a situation in their life where they might need God’s intervention.  As they share with you their need, you can pray for that need specifically, and afterwards share how God may have helped you or someone you know with a similar need.  You can let them know that we can trust God for all of our needs because of what He has already done for us through Jesus.  This can lead naturally into a conversation about the needs we all have in life, and the way that Jesus can meet those needs.

Having said that, let’s take a look at “The Roman Road,” a way of walking people through a few passages in the book of Romans, like walking them down a road and pointing out highlights along the way.

While there are many Scriptures that are included in the various versions of “The Roman Road,” I’d like to give you just four to make it as easy as possible for you to remember.  Since we’re in this series on renewing your mind, I think it’s helpful to commit these verses to memory so you can have them at the forefront of your mind, for your own sake, as well as for the sake of those people that God brings your way.

The Roman Road starts with Romans, chapter 3, verse 23:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23).

We’ve all sinned.  None of us has a perfect moral scorecard.  Unfortunately, sin has consequences.  The consequences of sin are stated clearly in Romans chapter 6, verse 23:

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).

The wages, or what we’ve earned for our sins, is death.  Death is a natural outcome of what happens when we go against God’s will for our lives.  God wants us to have an abundant life, but when we go against His plan for us, we head in the opposite direction and head down a path that leads to death instead.

The good news is that Jesus came to put us back on track and to save us from the penalty of death, as described in Romans chapter 5, verse 8:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

God loves us so much that He doesn’t want us to die, so He made a way for us to be free from sin and free from facing an eternity of death and separation from Him.  When Christ died on the cross, He took our sins upon Him to pay the penalty for us with His own life.

Although God makes this offer available freely to anyone, He doesn’t force it on anyone.  He wants us to come to Him of our own free will, confessing with our mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead.  When we do that, God will save us, as described in Romans 10:9:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

When you put your faith in Christ, you’ll be saved and given a new life, both here on earth and on into heaven forever.

While there are many other passages from the book of Romans that you could use to share God’s good news with people, these four verses make up the core of the gospel:  addressing the fact that we’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23), that the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23), that God loved us so much that He made a way for us to be freed from our sins (Romans 5:8), and that by putting our faith in Jesus we can be saved from our sins and given eternal life (Romans 10:9).

While it may sound simple, don’t underestimate what God can do in someone’s life through a few verses from the book of Romans.

It was while reading the book of Romans that a man named Augustine put his faith in Christ, back in 386 A.D.  He was sitting in the garden of a friend, weeping as he thought about the wickedness of his life.  Some children nearby were singing “Tolle, lege.  Tolle, lege.” which means “Take up and read.  Take up and read.”  A scroll of the book of Romans was laying open next to Augustine, so he “took up and read”.  The first few verses he saw, in Romans 13:13-14, described the condition of his life―and what to do about it:

“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:13-14).

Augustine put his faith in Christ that day, and became one of the greatest theologians and leaders in the history of the church.

It was while reading the book of Romans that another man named Martin Luther put his faith in Christ, about 1,000 years after Saint Augustine.  Luther was an Augustinian monk who was burdened by the weight of trying to do enough good works to get into heaven.  But that burden was finally lifted when he read a verse from the book of Romans.  Romans 1:17 showed him that he wouldn’t be declared righteous by his good works, but by his faith in Christ:

“For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith'” (Romans 1:17).

Martin Luther put his faith in Christ that day, and went on to lead a reformation that has impacted lives all over the world.

It was while listening to someone reading Luther’s notes on the book of Romans that John Wesley put his faith in Christ, several hundred years later.  As Wesley listened to Luther’s introductory comments about Romans, Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed,” as he described it, and he committed his life entirely to Christ.  John Wesley, and his brother Charles, went on to found the Methodist movement, also contributing many of the great hymns of the faith that we still sing today.

And Paul’s words to the Romans are still affecting people today, almost 2,000 years after they were written, as it was while reading the book of Romans that I put my faith in Christ, too.  As I was reading Romans 1:18-32, I realized that I was a sinner, too, and needed a Savior.  Now here I am today encouraging you from what I’ve learned from the book of Romans so you can share it with others.

These are just a few of the lives that have been touched by reading just a few verses from the book of Romans!  So don’t underestimate the power of a few verses from this book to change lives.  If you’ve been redeemed by Jesus, tell others about it, using the Roman Road if you want as a way to help them understand the good news of Christ.  And if you haven’t yet been redeemed by Jesus, I’d encourage you to keep reading the Bible so you can put your faith in Him today.

If you’re up for a challenge, I’d also encourage you to commit to memory these four simple verses from Romans: 3:23, 6:23, 5:8 and 10:9.  Memorizing scripture is a great way to renew your mind, and as you keep these particular verses at the forefront of your mind, they’ll also help you as you talk with others about how they can be redeemed by Jesus, too.

Perhaps you’re reading this today and you’re like Augustine, or Luther, or Wesley, or me, and these verses that I’ve been sharing from the book of Romans have somehow sparked your thinking and moved your heart in a way that you, too want to commit your life to Christ.  If so, put your faith in Him today for everything in your life.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and invite Him to be your Lord and Savior.  Do what Paul encouraged the Romans to do and you’ll be saved, too:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to redeem us from our sins.  Help us to share that life-changing message with those around us.  Open our eyes today to those who need to hear this message, and open their hearts to be receptive as we share it, so they can put their faith in You as well.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 3:21-31.  What do you think about Paul’s claim that “all have sinned” in verse 23?  What evidence do you see in your life or the lives of those around you that argue either for or against this claim?

2. How does Paul say we can be justified in God’s eyes and redeemed from this situation, as stated in verses 24-26?

3. What place does boasting have in the life of a Christian, according to verses 27-28?

4. Why not take some time today to write down the four verses mentioned in this message and commit them to memory as a way to keep them at the forefront of your mind?  The verses are:  Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, and Romans 10:9.  After you’ve memorized them, consider sharing these verses with a friend who has already put their faith in Christ as a way to practice what you’ve learned, then pray for God to give you opportunities with someone else who still needs to hear this good news!

Lesson 9: Believing God (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 4:1-12

I’d like to talk to you today about believing God.  Not just believing in God.  But believing God― believing that He will do what He says He will do.  The reason I want to talk to you about believing God is because what you believe influences what you do.  Or, to put it another way, you do what you believe.

If you believe that people are going to hell if they don’t put their faith in Jesus, then you’ll do something about it.  If you’re not doing something about it, then perhaps you’re just giving intellectual assent to an idea, but you’re not really believing it.

I have a friend who went to the doctor for a checkup.  The doctor told him, “Your dad had a heart attack by the time he was forty-eight, and you’re going to have a heart attack by the time you’re forty-eight, unless you start making some changes in your life.”  My friend had known this was a possibility before, but it wasn’t until his doctor told him the truth so directly that my friend finally believed it.  That day, he began that day to change the way he ate, the way he exercised, and the way he lived his life.  And today, he’s still going strong.  Why?  Because he believed what his doctor said.

How much more so, when we hear what God says about our lives, should be believe Him and do what He says?

Abraham is an excellent example for all of us of someone who believed God, who heard what God said and took it to heart, and then backed up what he believed with his actions.

If you remember the story, God told Abraham that he would have so many descendants they would outnumber the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.  This was a pretty lofty idea considering that Abraham was old and childless.  But the Bible says:

“Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3).

Several years later, when God called Abraham to become circumcised as a way of sealing God’s covenant with him, Abraham did what God said that very day.  Within a year, he and his wife Sarah had their first child―the first of a long line of those promised descendants.

While Abraham’s obedience to be circumcised was important and necessary for the fulfillment of God’s plan for his life, the apostle Paul notes in his letter to the Romans that it wasn’t after Abraham was circumcised that he was declared righteous in God’s sight, but before.  In fact, Abraham was declared righteous several years before his circumcision.  He was declared righteous the moment he believed.  (You can read more about this part of Abraham’s story in Genesis chapters 15 through 18.)

Abraham’s circumcision was a natural outworking of the faith that Abraham had already expressed in his heart to God.  His actions were directly influenced by what he believed.

Dallas Willard is one of the spiritual giants of our generation.  When asked what he would advise someone to do who wanted to grow spiritually, he said:

“Do the next right thing you know you ought to do.”

You might have thought he could have said, “Read the Bible more,” or “Pray more,” or “Go to church more.”  But he didn’t.  He said that the best course of action was to do the next right thing you know you ought to do, because that’s likely the very thing that God wants you to do.  He said this may very well involve reading the Bible more so you can get clarity on what it is that God really wants you to do.  Or it may involve praying more because you’ll need God’s wisdom for how to do it.  Or it may involve going to church more because you’ll most likely need the help of others to do what God has put on your heart to do.  But in any case, you’ll grow tremendously when you do the next right thing you know you ought to do.

My question for you today is this:  what’s the next right thing you know you ought to do?

What is it that God has called you to do that He is wanting you to step out in faith and do next?  Maybe it’s something regarding your family, your job, your finances, or your health.  Maybe it’s something regarding your calling, your gifting, your relationships, or the way you use your time.  Maybe it’s something that is quiet and internal, or maybe it’s something that is “out loud” and vocal.  Maybe it’s something you need to start doing.  Or maybe it’s something you need to stop doing.

Although I don’t know what it might be that God is putting on your heart right now as you read these words, I imagine there are probably one or two things that have already started coming to your mind as “the next right thing you know you ought to do.” Whatever it is, I want to encourage you to do it.  Believe in your heart that God has called you to it, then step out in faith and let Him help you do it!

You may remember the story of the widow’s oil, back in the Old Testament.  This widow had lost her husband, and she and her two sons were struggling to live.  She was at a point of desperation because her husband’s creditors were coming to take away her boys as slaves.

She cried out to Elisha, a man of God, and asked him what to do.  Elisha asked what she had left in her house.  She said that she had nothing there at all, “except a little oil” (2 Kings 4:5).

So Elisha told her what to do next.  He told her to go around to all her neighbors and ask for their empty jars.  She and her sons did what Elisha said.

She went all over the neighborhood asking for empty jars and brought them home.  Elisha told her to fill them up with the little oil that she had.  By faith, she began pouring out the oil into the first jar, and it didn’t stop!  It just kept flowing and flowing as she poured it into jar after jar, until every jar she had collected was full.

Elisha told her:

“Go, sell the oil and pay your debts.  You and your sons can live on what is left” (2 Kings 4:7b).

I love this story for several reasons, but one that stands out to me today is the fact that the widow believed what God was telling her to do through the prophet Elisha, then she went out and acted on that belief.  She did the next right thing she knew she ought to do.

One way to renew your mind today is to believe God―not just believe in Him―but really believe Him, because what you believe influences what you do.

Abraham wasn’t credited with righteousness after he was circumcised, but before, when he first believed God.  It was only afterwards that he stepped out in faith and acted on what he believed.

The widow’s life didn’t start to turn around after she had sold all her jars of oil and got the money for them, but before, when she first believed what God told her to do through the prophet Elisha.  It was only afterwards that she stepped out in faith and acted on what she believed.

God wants you to believe Him, too.  He wants you believe what He says and then to act on that belief, to do the next right thing that you know you ought to do.  For some of you, this might mean picking up a project that you’ve been putting off for years.  You might think, “Not that, Lord!  It’s been on the back burner for so long, I don’t think I’ll ever get around to it.”  For others of you, this might mean acting on something you heard just yesterday.  You might think, “Not that, Lord!  I just heard about it yesterday, I need a few more days, or months, or years to think about it.”

We can all think of reasons not to do what we know we ought to do.  But I want to encourage you today to believe God, and then act on that belief.  Don’t let doubt and discouragement hold you back from doing “the next right thing” that God has called you to do.

Believe God today, and then act on that belief!  One day, like Abraham and Sarah, and like the widow and her sons, people will be telling the story of what happened to you when you believed God, too.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for creating each of us with special tasks to accomplish here on earth.  Help us to have the faith today to believe what You say when You speak to us, and then to act on that belief.  Help us today to step out in faith and do the next right thing we know we ought to do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 4:1-12.  Why do you think God credited Abraham with righteousness when he first believed God, rather than after he took his famous steps of obedience?

2. Read James 2:15-18.  What are some of the differences between believing God and believing in God, based on this passage?

3. What is the relationship between faith and works, as described by the passage in James?

4. What comes to your mind as “the next right thing you ought to do?”  What steps could you take to help clarify that those things really are from God, and then to step out in faith to begin doing them?

Lesson 10: Being Fully Persuaded (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Acts 10

I’d like to give you some hope today― hope that God has the power to do what He has promised.

My daughter showed me a great picture a few weeks ago with the word HOPE written on the palm of someone’s hand.  What was unique about the picture was that the word HOPE on the hand could be seen reflected in a side mirror of a car, with these words written in small print on the bottom of the mirror:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

I thought it was a great picture of the hope that God offers to each one of us.  When God promises to do something, you can take it to the bank.  You can trust that He will bring it to pass.  Even if the answers to your prayers might look like they are far off, those answers could really be much closer than you think!

After I saw this picture, my wife and daughter were looking for a new car on the Internet.  Our van had broken down and could no longer be repaired, so we’ve been looking for something to replace it.  My wife has had her eye on a particular little car that she’s really liked for several years.  It’s not like her to care much for cars at all, but this one seemed to be just right for her and my daughter.

As they looked, they found it:  the exact car they were looking for.  Everything was perfect about it:  the style, the color, even the design on the front.  The only thing wrong with it, from my perspective, was the price!  (It was the right price for the car, just the wrong price for us!)

A friend of mine told me that when he sent his daughter off to school he said he sent her off with only his prayers, because he couldn’t afford to send her to the school.  He told her:  “The same God who takes care of me will take care of you..”

Through prayer and hard work, his daughter was able to make it through that school.  God did take care of her.

So as I went to bed with my wife that night after looking at the cars, I told her about my friend’s words for his daughter.  Then I smiled and said, “You’ve got my prayers!  The same God who takes care of me will take care of you!”  We both laughed and went to bed.

The next morning, I went to a men’s breakfast at 6:00 a.m.  As I pulled into the parking lot, someone pulled in right behind me, someone who had never been to the group before.  He just happened to be driving the very same car my wife and daughter had been looking at on the Internet:  the exact style, color, and even the design painted on the front.

I couldn’t believe it!  It hadn’t even been 8 hours since I had prayed that prayer.  I got out and asked him how he liked his car.  He said he loved it.  I asked if he’d ever consider selling it.  He said, “Actually, I’m thinking about it.”  He said things had recently changed in his life, and he didn’t need this car anymore.

We talked some more, and after breakfast, I asked if I could take a look at the car.  I started taking a few pictures for my wife, then I got inside.  As I looked around, my eyes landed on the mirror on the right-hand side.  There reflected in the mirror, I could see the full length of the side of the car, with these words at the bottom:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

I almost cried.  I didn’t know if this particular car was God’s answer to our prayers or not, but I did see clearly that if God wanted to answer them, He could do it in an instant.  I took a picture of the car in the mirror, with the words displayed at the bottom, and I repented of my unbelief.  I told God that day that I was sorry for being so flippant the night before, saying to my wife, “The same God who takes care of me will take care of you.”  I know that God can do anything, absolutely anything.

Let me add that it’s been a few weeks now and we haven’t gotten the car yet.  The man’s not quite ready to sell and we’re not quite ready to buy.  We’re not even sure if this is even God’s answer or if He has another answer in the works.  But seeing the car gave me a boost in my faith, and was a vivid reminder of the hope we can have in God–even when it seems like the odds are against us.

That’s the kind of faith that Abraham had.  The Bible says:

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead―since he was about a hundred years old―and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised” (Romans 4:18-21).

I love the way that starts:  “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…”  And I love the way it ends:  “…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.”

Abraham was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.  And that’s the kind of faith that God wants you to have.  How can you do that?  How can you become fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised?

I’d like to give you two ideas today to help give you a boost in your faith.  By doing these two things, I believe that God will renew your mind and give you hope for your future, too.

The first is to take time to read the stories about how God has been faithful to people in the Bible.  Stories like Abraham’s in Genesis chapters 15 through 18.  Stories like Moses’ in Exodus chapter 1 through 4.  Stories like Joshua’s in the book of Joshua, or Esther’s in the book of Esther, or Ruth’s in the book of Ruth.  The Bible is filled with stories from cover to cover about how God has worked in the lives of ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  As you read these stories, you’ll be filled with faith that God can do similar things for you.

The second is to look at stories from people living today who have been touched by the hand of God.  The same God who worked in the lives of men and women thousands of years ago is still at work in the lives of men and women today.  I’ve posted many such stories on our website at www.theranch.org about people who are living today who have seen God work in their lives in astounding ways.  One of those stories is about a woman named Liesl Alexander, a woman who was locked in a mental institution for years, taking 36 medications a day, and was written off as one of the most hopeless cases in the institution.

Yet when a group of people from a local church came and began to pray for her, her life turned around completely.  By the power of Christ, she was set free to live the life that God had created her to live.  For the past 20 years, she’s been sharing her testimony about how Christ has changed her life, encouraging anyone who will listen to be fully persuaded that “God can do anything, absolutely anything.”

God wants you to be fully persuaded that He can do what He has promised to do.  Take some time this week to read the Bible and look for stories of how God has touched people’s lives in powerful ways, then look at our website or other Christian books to see how God has worked in other people’s lives today.  You’ll see that God really can do anything― absolutely anything.

Remember:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

HOPE is closer than you might think.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are always at work on our behalf, and that the answers to our prayers could be revealed in an instant. Help us to trust You fully―to be fully persuaded―that You can do anything, absolutely anything.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 4:13-25.  What does this passage say to you today about hope?

2. While Abraham and Sarah’s story might seem unbelievable, for they were old and past the age of child-bearing, how can their story give you hope for any situation that you’re praying about right now? 

3. What story does Paul refer to, in verses 23-25, to remind us about God’s ability to bring life out of death?

4. What are some steps you can take this week to help yourself become more “fully persuaded” that God can do what He has promised to do, whether they are steps suggested by this lesson, or other steps that might not have been mentioned?  Consider committing to doing one or two of those things..

Lesson 11: Calling Things That Are Not As Though They Were (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 4:16-25

As we’re looking at ways to renew your mind, I’d like to draw your attention to one more verse from Romans chapter 4 before moving on to chapter 5.  There’s a phrase in this verse that is not only extremely quotable and memorable, but can also be a powerful force for defining your future, if you’ll take it to heart.

In talking about God, Paul described Him as:

“…the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17b).

I love that phrase:  the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

If you can believe that God can give life to the dead, which He has proven over and over, and that He can call things into existence that have never existed before, which He has also proven over and over, then you can believe that God can do miracles in your own life that will outshine anything you’ve ever seen before.

Some people bristle at the idea of “name it and claim it” theology referring to the idea that we can have anything we want if we’ll just speak it forth, believe in it hard enough, and start walking in that direction.  While there’s incredible power in positive thinking–and it’s certainly much better than negative thinking–it can lead to problems if what we’re naming isn’t in line with what God wants us to claim.  Rather than being a blessing to us, what we’re wanting could actually harm us, as every parent knows who has given in to a poorly thought-out request by one of their children.

But when you get your thinking in line with God’s, and ask Him for things that He would love to give you, then it becomes a different story.  When God names it, He wants you to claim it!  When God puts a desire in your heart, He wants you to speak it forth, to believe in it fully, and to start walking in that direction.

This is exactly why God commended Abraham.  Abraham was sad and dejected that he had no heirs to whom he could pass on all the blessings he had received in  his life.  When he expressed that sadness to God, God spoke to Abraham, giving him a promise that seemed unbelievable.  God changed Abraham’s name from Abram―which means “exalted father”―to Abraham, which means “father of many,” saying:

“You will be the father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5).

Abraham’s first response was to fall down and laugh!  The Bible says:

“Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?'” (Genesis 17:17).

But when God assured Abraham that what He had spoken would come to pass, Abraham believed God.  He acted on that belief, circumcising himself and his whole family, and God honored him for his faith and obedience.

Within a year of Abraham’s conversation with God, Abraham and Sarah had their promised son. They named him Isaac―which means “laughter”―as God had told them to name him.  And so began the promised inheritance to Abraham that has continued from one generation to the next until this very day.

Even though Abraham’s body was as good as dead, in terms of its ability to bring forth life, and his wife had been barren her whole life, God proved to them both that He is a God “who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”

God has been doing the same thing throughout eternity.

God spoke the world into existence with a word.  He called Gideon a “mighty warrior” when Gideon saw himself as the least in his family and the weakest family in his tribe.  He called David a “king” and a “man after My own heart” even though David was just a shepherd boy at the time and was told he had a wicked heart by his brother.

The Bible is full of stories of God giving life to the dead and calling things that are not as though they were, with the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection being chief among them!  But the stories of God calling things that are not as though they were didn’t end in biblical days.  They still continue today!

Let me tell you just one.

About ten years ago I was invited to attend a Billy Graham evangelism conference in Amsterdam.  My passport was about to expire, so I had to fill out an application for a new one.  On the application, it asked for my occupation.  I wasn’t sure exactly what to put in the blank, as the ministry I do on the Internet doesn’t seem to fit into a neatly defined category.

Yet at the time I was feeling more and more that one of God’s callings on my life was to be an author.  I loved writing and had written extensively for my own website, filling up hundreds of electronic pages with digital ink.  Yet I never considered myself an author, since the only book I had ever published was a devotional booklet I had written the year before, and photocopied at home for the people who asked for it.

That hardly seemed to qualify my as an author, yet I felt that’s what God was calling me to be.  So, as a statement of faith of God’s calling on my life, I filled in the “occupation” blank with just one word:  “Author.”

When I arrived at the airport in Amsterdam, the customs official took a look at my passport, then asked me what I did.  I said I was an author.  He asked,  “What kind of books do you write?”

I thought about my little devotional booklet and said, “Devotional books to encourage people in their faith.”

He asked where I was headed, and I told him about the Billy Graham conference.  He said, “With a last name like ‘Elder’ that fits.”  He smiled, stamped my passport, and waved me on through.

Something in my heart told me that being an author “fit,” too.  I realized that I wasn’t stretching the truth when I said I was an author.  I was believing the truth.  From that moment on, it changed both my outlook and my expectations for the future.

Since that time, I’ve written and published over a dozen books.  My weekly messages, like this one that you’re reading right now, are being sent by email to over 35,000 subscribers around the world.  I’m not sure what the official qualifications would be for someone to be declared an “author.”  But for me, I believe I became an author the moment I believed it myself, came into alignment with God’s plan for my life in that area, and started walking in obedience to that calling.

God has a way of seeing our potential before we do and then speaking it into existence.  How?  Because God can see an oak tree in an acorn.

If you’re willing to open your eyes to see things as God sees them, you’ll start seeing oak trees in acorns, too.  You’ll see the potential in yourself and in the lives of others that you may never have seen before.

I could tell you story after story of people who are alive today whose lives and situations have been changed dramatically because they put their faith in Christ.  I could tell you about marriages that have been dead for years and ended in divorce, but which God brought back to life when both people put their faith in Christ.  I could tell you about couples who have been declared infertile by doctors, but whom God has said would bear a child within a year―like Abraham and Sarah―and have!  I could tell you about people involved in lifestyles that could literally kill them, lifestyles which some people say are impossible to change, but which God has changed, giving them new lives instead.  As the angel told Mary:

“For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

When you get in line with God’s plans for your life, nothing will be impossible for you, either.

If God has spoken into your life about your future, believe Him.  Put your faith into action and start walking in the direction He’s told you to walk.  If you’re not sure what God has called you to do, keep seeking Him for His wisdom.  Read the Bible.  Pray.  Ask others what they think about your future.  Then when God gives you the next step to take, take it!

Don’t be discouraged if what God says about your future doesn’t line up with your present.

Remember that God called Abraham “a father of many nations” before he and Sarah had even conceived their first child together.  Remember that God called Gideon a “mighty warrior” back when Gideon felt like he was the weakest of the weak.  Remember that God called David “a man after My own heart” even when others were saying otherwise.  Remember that God sees an oak tree in an acorn.

Put your trust in God, and remember who He is.  He is:

“… the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us today of who You are and what You can do.  Give us the faith we need to see Your promises come to pass in our lives.  Fill us with Your wisdom, Your plans, Your purposes, and Your ways, so that we can take hold of them by faith and begin walking in obedience to Your calling on our lives, starting even today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 4:16-25.  What reasons might Abraham have had for why it could have seemed impossible for God to fulfill what He had promised to him?

2. What reasons might you have for why it could seem impossible for God to fulfill what He has promised to you?  How might Abraham have overcome His doubts?  How might you overcome yours?

3. Read Judges 7:1-7.  In reading this part of Gideon’s story, what reason does God give for why He sometimes does what seems impossible through us?  What hope does this give you for your situation?

4. If God has given you a promise about your calling or your future, what next steps could you take to put your faith into action and start walking in the direction of that future?  If you don’t feel that God has spoken to you about your future, what next steps could you take to begin learning more about it from Him?

Lesson 12: Having Peace With God (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-11

God wants to give you a lift today.  He wants to pick you up, brush you off, and give you a new start.  In particular, God wants to give you peace―His peace―a deep peace that will renew and restore you and give you the strength to go on.

How can you have the peace of God?  It starts by having peace with God, by coming to the place where you’re reconciled with Him, the place where you know that you are loved, forgiven, and walking in harmony with Him.  The apostle Paul tells us that this kind of peace is available to you when you put your faith in Christ:

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2a).

But this message today isn’t just for those who need to put their faith in Christ for the first time.  It’s for everyone who needs a reminder of the peace that God has in store for those who trust in Him.  As the Bible says:

“You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in You.”
(Isaiah 26:3)

God wants you to trust in Him.  He wants you to keep your mind steadfast, resolutely firm and unwavering.  And when you trust in Him, keeping your mind steadfast, He will keep you in peace―perfect peace.

Why is it so hard then to have God’s peace?  Sometimes it’s because we make it harder than it really is.  Dallas Willard gives a simple and practical definition of what it means to trust Christ:

“Trusting Christ means you want to be with Him as much as possible.”

When you trust someone, you’re happy to be with them.  And when you realize what Christ has done for you―and what He’s still capable of doing for you―it makes it easier to trust Him and to want to be with Him as much as possible.  As the apostle Paul continues his letter to the Romans, he gives us some reasons why we can trust Christ so fully―and why we would want to be with Him as much as possible, too.  Paul says:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Let me unpack for just a minute, because it will help you understand just how very much God loves you.  If you think about it, you’ll realize how very rare it is for one person to die for another, even if the person they’re dying for is “righteous.”  Yet in some cases, it’s possible that someone might die for someone else if the person they’re dying for is truly “good.”   But then think about what Christ has done.  He’s gone further still, not just dying for those who “deserve” it, but for those who don’t deserve it at all―which, as it turns out, happens to be every one of us.

You see, Christ loves you with an overwhelming love―a love that He wants to pour out on you―not just once when you first get saved, but continually for the rest of your life here on earth and on into eternity.

When you realize that Christ loves you this much―and wants to continue loving you this much―you’ll see why you can trust Him completely, and why you would want to be with Him as much as possible.

Trusting Christ brings you peace with God.  And when you have peace with God, this opens the possibility for you to have the peace of God in many other areas of your life as well.

I was sitting at a table last week with some men who were discussing how God has brought His peace into their lives.  Their stories were not only interesting, but interwoven.

One of the men had gotten out of jail about a year ago.  After having lived a life of self-destruction for years, he finally put his faith in Christ while in prison.  He found that the hours he spent there alone with God were some of the sweetest hours of his life.

But his greatest fear while he was in prison was what would happen when he finally got out.  What would happen when he came back into the reality of this world, facing those whom he had wronged so horribly?  What would happen when he had to face his wife and kids again, whom he had led into a destructive lifestyle?  What would happen when he had to face his in-laws again, whom he had pushed away over and over?

As it turned out, one of this man’s in-laws was seated at the table with us―the father-in-law who knew how much trouble this man had caused for his daughter―the father-in-law who was so upset with this guy that he even paid for a lawyer to help his daughter start divorce proceedings.

Yet when the son-in-law put his faith in Christ in prison, something changed.  The father-in-law realized that his son-in-law was now his “brother-in-Christ.”  Rather than condemning his son-in-law when he got out of prison, he found himself forgiving him instead.  He went to visit his son-in-law at home and offered his forgiveness instead of divorce papers.  He told his son-in-law that God wanted him to wipe the slate clean between them, and was offering them a new start in their relationship.

When God reconciled these two men to Himself through Christ, He also laid the foundation for them to reconcile with each other down the road.  Once they each discovered how they could have peace with God, they also discovered they could now have peace with one another.  Can you see how having peace with God can help you experience the peace of God in other areas of your life?  God wants you to have both.

God wants you to be at peace, and He says that you can have that peace by keeping your mind steadfast and trusting in Him.  If you want to renew your mind and experience God’s peace, I want to encourage you to do what Isaiah said to do:  keep your mind steadfast and continue to trust in God.  Remember:

“You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in You.”
(Isaiah 26:3)

Also remember that,

“Trusting Christ means you want to be with Him as much as possible.”

If you have areas in your own life where you feel unrest, or areas where Satan has tried to steal your peace, can I encourage you to bring those areas to Jesus again today?  He really does love you.  He is for you.  And He wants you to experience His peace, not just once in your lifetime, but throughout your lifetime, a peace that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

As you read your Bible this week, I want to encourage you to read it with three thoughts in mind.  First, read the text for what it says, filling your mind with God’s words.  But don’t just stop there.  Take time to meditate on the words that you’re reading, mulling them over in your mind, reflecting on what the words mean and what they might mean to your life today.  And third, be sure to pray while you’re reading, asking God to speak to you about the words on the page, realizing that His word really is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12).  This is one of the best ways to spend as much time with Him as possible.

Remember that the Bible is not just a textbook on living.  It’s a textbook that comes with a built-in teacher, the Holy Spirit.  It’s like taking a class in school and being taught by the author of the textbook himself.  While you can learn a lot by just reading the text, you can learn even more when you go to class with the Author, asking Him your questions, letting Him give you more insights into what He’s written, and letting Him correct your thinking in those cases where you’ve possibly misread the text or missed a crucial word here or there.  Don’t just read the text and miss spending time with the Author!  You’ll love your classes more, and He’ll love spending the extra time with you, too.

I pray this has given you a lift today, and I pray that as you put these words into practice, God will give you His perfect peace.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for offering Your peace to us through faith in Your Son Jesus Christ.  Help us to put our faith in Him again today, trusting Him with our salvation and everything else in our lives.  Help us to give over anything in our lives that is causing us unrest right now, and truly trust You in that area, too.  Forgive us of our sins, and lead us into the fullness of life that You offer to us, both here on earth and on into eternity.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 5:1-11.  How does Paul say we can gain access to the peace that God has to offer us?

2. According to verse 5, what means does God use to pour out His love into our hearts?  How might you invite God to pour out His love into your heart in a new way today?

3. How can Paul’s illustration of the different kinds of people that someone might possibly die for help you to understand better Christ’s love for you and what He has done for you?

4. If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, trusting that He died for your sins so that you could have peace with God, is there anything holding you back from doing it today?  If so, can you confess it to Him and let it go so you can put your faith fully in Him?  And if you’ve already put your faith in God, but are still struggling to experience His peace, is there anything holding you back from trusting Him more fully with every area of your life today?  If so, then ask God for His help with those areas, and ask Him to fill you with His peace―a peace that transcends all understanding

Lesson 13: Rejoicing In Our Sufferings (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:2-4

I’d like to talk to you today about pain. While it may not sound like a very pleasant topic, when I shared this message with a group of men on Friday morning, one of them wrote to me later in the day and said:

“Thanks for your devotional this morning. I got there in a pretty lousy frame of mind and you had me full of joy before you were done.”  

It’s amazing how getting God’s perspective on a subject can give you a whole new attitude towards it–especially a subject like pain. I’d like to give you a new perspective on pain today so that you’ll never see it the same again.

Even though we may not like to think about pain, we sometimes like to talk about it. Like a good fish story, we often try to outdo one another with how much pain we’ve had to endure in life. One person starts talking about their pain and then another chimes in to say, “Aw, that’s nothing. You should have seen…”

I had this happen just a few weeks ago. Three of us were talking about what we’ve gone through to get some warts off the soles of our feet. One guy started by talking about the pain he felt when he dug a knife deep into his skin to get one out. The other guy started talking about the pain he felt when a doctor froze a wart off his foot.

I couldn’t resist. I had to add my story, not only because it seemed worse in my eyes than any of the pain that they had described (it was my own pain, after all, which always tends to seem worse, I’m sure), but also because it was such a strange method to me. My doctor, after trying various other painful treatments, finally used one that outdid them all: he applied some juice from something called a blister beetle from South America directly onto my wart. While I felt nothing whatsoever as he put it on, within a few hours, the skin on the bottom of my foot had blistered to the size of a silver dollar, pulling up what felt like every layer of skin that could possibly have been on the sole of my foot–and the wart along with it. The pain while that blister grew was more excruciating and intense than any other treatment I had received on that wart so far.

But as painful as it was, within a few weeks, the wart was gone. The wart that had plagued me for several years, causing me pain every time I walked, was finally gone.

As Daniel Defoe has said:

“God will often deliver us in a manner that seems initially to destroy us.”

How true that is about pain.

In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul describes pain in a surprising similar way, saying that pain–or “sufferings” in this case–is not just something we have to endure, but something that we can actually rejoice in:

“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:2b-4).

Paul says that the pain we experience in life is not without purpose. Rather, it can produce in us perseverance. Perseverance can then produce character. And character produces hope.

Some of the most hopeful people I know are not those who have a pollyanna, happy-go-lucky view of life who have never experienced deep pain. Instead, the people I know who are the most hopeful are those who have been through the wringer of life and have persevered through it. The pain they’ve endured has built up their character and given them hope–a hope that they can then pass on to others who need it.

Pain is not without purpose. In fact, pain has been designed by God to let us know that something in our life needs attention. It’s a sign that something is broken and either needs to be fixed before it gets worse, or, as in the case of the pain of losing a loved one, serves an indicator of the depth of our deep love for that person. When you can acknowledge that your pain serves a purpose, it can change your whole perspective on it.

I think my perspective began to change when I first read a book by Dr. Paul Brand called, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. In the book, Dr. Brand describes his work among modern-day lepers.

Leprosy is a disease that affects the nervous system. Those who have leprosy often don’t feel pain because their nerve endings don’t work properly. As a result, lepers’ bodies can often become disturbingly deformed, losing fingers or toes, or going blind in their eyes. It’s not the leprosy itself that causes these abnormalities. It’s the fact that lepers no longer have the benefits of pain.

They don’t know if a stove is hot or cold until they’ve left their hand on it too long, damaging their fingers beyond repair. They don’t know they’ve stubbed their toe on a rock until the bruises and swelling gives them a visual clue that they’ve hit something far too hard. Believe it or not, they don’t realize that they’re supposed to blink every few seconds, because they never feel what it’s like to have dry, sore eyes. As a result, they often go blind, unless someone teaches them how to blink on a regular basis to give their eyes the moisture they need. Imagine giving thanks for the ability to feel that your eyes are dry and sore!

Yet lepers often wish they had something most of the rest of us wish we didn’t have: pain. Lepers, perhaps more than the rest of us, seem to understand that pain–when used in the way for which God intended it–serves a terrific purpose. If lepers could feel pain, they would probably rejoice like the apostle Paul, saying “Praise God, I can feel the pain!” They know that without it, they’re in for bigger hurts down the road.

So far, I’ve been talking about physical pain. But if you’ll indulge me to go a little longer than usual with today’s message, I’d like to talk for a few minutes about a pain that can often go deeper and last longer than physical pain, and that’s the pain we feel in our hearts and minds when we get hurt by someone else.

I was reminded of this again this past month when I read a blog post by a friend. His post left me stunned. He had served with me in my ministry several years ago, encouraging me, mentoring me, giving me opportunities to use my gifts and talents in ways that went beyond what I could do for myself. Yet a day came when he took me out to lunch and said that he was going to have to step back from my ministry. He said his priorities had changed and he needed to refocus his time and attention on some other things.

I was hurt. A lot. I had enjoyed our friendship and our times together, our conversations, and our urging one another on in the Lord. His reasons for stepping back didn’t seem to line up. Something was wrong, but I didn’t know what.  The pain of not knowing, and the feelings of hurt and rejection, have surfaced in my heart from time to time for the last several years.

Yet when I read his blog post a few weeks ago, I finally understood. Something had gone wrong.

He had begun to make a shift in his thinking several years ago on a number of topics. He confessed that he lost his job a few years ago at a large ministry because his views and opinions had shifted so radically that they could no longer keep him on staff. As I read his message, my heart began to break for him. It also began to melt for him. I finally started to understand that his stepping back from my ministry was a blessing in disguise, for if he hadn’t done so then, it would have become a bigger problem for me and my ministry today than I could have imagined.

In talking with God about it after I read his blog post, I felt like God was saying to me:

“What looked like rejection was really protection–My protection.”

It still hurt, but it definitely made the hurt feel better. I’d like to share what I wrote in my journal after I finally knew the truth.  Here’s what I felt God was saying to me:

“Oh, no doubt about it, Eric, I know it hurt. But there’s also no doubt that I allowed that hurt to help you avoid a bigger one in the future. Pain is not without purpose. In fact, I’ve designed it precisely for that purpose–to make you aware that something is wrong so you can take action before things get worse. If you don’t respond to the initial pain, like a toothache, I’ve designed the pain to escalate in intensity so you will respond. If you don’t respond to even that, then, well, the consequences are your own. But the pain itself serves a very good purpose: to spare you from greater pain down the road. If you’ll believe that and take it to heart, you’ll never see pain as your enemy again. Pain is your friend, if you’ll respond to it in My ways.”

Again, these words are my paraphrase of what I felt God was saying to me that day.  They helped me to understand what Paul was talking about when he said that we could actually “rejoice in our sufferings,” for suffering does have a purpose. And these words helped me to understand that we have a choice to make regarding the pains that we experience in life.

There’s a story that’s told in The Westside Baptist, that illustrates this well. It goes like this:

There were two young boys who were raised in the home of an alcoholic father.  As young men, they each went their own way.  Years later, a psychologist who was analyzing what drunkenness does to children in the home searched out these two men.  One had turned out to be like his father, a hopeless alcoholic.  The other had turned out to be a teetotaler (someone who abstains from alcohol).  The counselor asked the first man, “Why did you become an alcoholic?”  And the second, “Why did you become a teetotaler?”

And they both gave the same identical answer in these words: “What else could you expect when you had a father like mine?” 

It’s not what happens to you in life but how you react to it that makes the difference.  Every human being in the same situation has the possibilities of choosing how he will react, either positively or negatively.

We all experience pain. Jesus wept. I’ve wept. I imagine you’ve wept, too. We would hardly be human if we didn’t. Yet pain is not without purpose, and depending on how you respond to it, it can define your future for years to come.

My kids were crying this week because one of our newly born kittens had died. It was only a few weeks old, but they had already become very attached to it. When they found it dead, they couldn’t help but cry.

As I talked to them about it, I told them that I was sorry for the kitten and for them, but I was thankful that they were able to cry. It showed me that they really cared. Their tears were an expression that something had gone wrong in the world. Their tears revealed to me that they had already begun to care for one of God’s creatures that was given to us for such a short amount of time. Their tears were response enough.

As Charles Robinson has said:

“Jesus wept once; possibly more than once. There are times when God asks nothing of His children except silence, patience, and tears.”

Pain has a purpose, whether it’s to reveal something that needs to be addressed, or to reveal a depth of love that we’ve felt for something or someone we once held close, but now have lost.

Pain hurts, but that doesn’t mean that pain has to be your enemy. As lepers have discovered, pain can be a blessing, sparing you from greater pain down the road. Pain can be a blessing if you’ll let God use it in your life to work His purposes, responding to it in ways that God wants you to respond.

When pain threatens to get you down, remind yourself (meaning “put it in your mind again”) that pain is not without purpose. Ask God to help you persevere through your pain. Ask Him to use it to build up your character. Then ask Him to fill your life with hope–hope for yourself, and hope that you can pour into the lives of others.

As Paul said,

“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:2b-4).

I pray that from this day forward you’ll never look at pain the same way again.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for Your words in the Bible that challenge our thinking on so many topics, including the topic of pain. Help us to see the purpose of pain from Your perspective, and help us to respond to it in ways that You would have us respond. Help us to understand the role of pain in our lives so we can not just endure it, but somehow, as Paul did, to truly rejoice in the midst of it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 5:3-5.  What are the three benefits that Paul says can come when we “rejoice in our sufferings”?

2. By calling us to rejoice in our sufferings, Paul implies that we have a choice in how we respond to pain.  What are some other choices―whether good or bad―that we might make instead?  Why do you think Paul encourages us to rejoice instead of some of those other options?

3. Have you ever seen God use a painful situation in your life, whether physical or emotional, for something good in the end?  

4. How might recalling how God has used what’s painful in the past encourage you in anything painful you might be experiencing right now?  If you’d like, why not ask God, and perhaps a few other trusted people in your life, to give you that strength to persevere through any pain that you’re facing right now in your life until you gain the character and hope that God has in store for you.

Lesson 14: Being Freed From Sin (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:12-21

One of the best depictions I’ve ever read of the tragedy that took place when sin entered the world was in a fictional book by Ted Dekker called Black.  Ted spent the majority of his book describing a world where no one had ever sinned.  The people knew there was a particular fruit that they were forbidden to eat located across a certain bridge, but no one went there to eat it.

Instead, they lived out their days doing incredible things with each other and with their God who created them.  They had children and built homes and gathered daily to enjoy the lives they had been given.  But one day, one of the men gave in to his temptations.  He crossed the bridge and ate the fruit.

The moment he did, evil was unleashed from the forrest beyond.  Huge black bats swarmed out of the forrest and covered the land in a dark cloud, devouring people and trees and everything in their path.  Only those who found shelter of some kind or another escaped the death and destruction that came upon their land.

Through one man’s sin, evil was unleashed upon everyone.

As I read about this horde of evil that covered their world, it was one of the saddest moments I’ve ever felt while reading a book.  I couldn’t believe it happened.  I couldn’t believe this guy ate the fruit.  I couldn’t believe how utterly tragic it was for everyone else and everything else on the planet.

Thankfully, the story didn’t end with that book, but I’ll have to let you read the series for yourself to find out what happens next.

It turns out that Ted’s story was a powerful retelling of another old, old story, one that the apostle Paul talked about in his letter to the Romans.  In chapter 5, Paul described what happened to the world when the first man, Adam, sinned.  He described how death entered into the world and reigned over it as a result.  But that story didn’t end there either.  Here’s what Paul said:

“… sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned… But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” (Romans 5:12,15).

I’m sharing this story with you today because I want to give you God’s perspective on the world around you.  While there was once a time when death reigned over the earth, you’re now living in a time when life reigns over the earth―life that has come through God’s abundant grace through Jesus Christ.  As Paul went on to say:

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

You now live in a colorful, life-filled, and joyous world―if you have the eyes to see it.  I know that it sometimes takes eyes of faith, but it’s the truth.  Life reigns because Christ has come.  If you’ve put your faith in Christ, death no longer has mastery over you.  You’re no longer a slave to sin, because God has sent you a new Master you can serve, Someone who loves you, cares for you, and has given His life for you―Jesus Christ.

I had a friend who died a few years ago, and when he did, a strange thought crossed my mind.  As sad as I was for his death, and the loss of his friendship here on earth, I was thankful for one thing.  I thought:  “You lucky guy.  You’re finally free from sin.”

You see, he had a tremendous ministry that touched the lives of many people.  But he also had a private battle with sin―one that he fought valiantly and victoriously, but still a battle nonetheless.  When he died, I knew his battle with sin was finally over.  It seemed like a strange thought to me, until I remembered that the apostle Paul talked about this very thing.

In Romans chapter 6, Paul said:

“… because anyone who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:7).

Paul wasn’t advocating that people should die in order to be freed from sin!  On the contrary, he was saying that people who had put their faith in Christ and were baptized in His name had already died with Him, in order to be raised to live a new life with Him, both here on earth and on into heaven one day.

You don’t have to die to be freed from sin.  You just have to put your faith in Christ, being baptized into His death, and rising again to live a new life―a new, colorful, joy-filled life.

When I thought about my friend’s death in these terms, I realized that He wasn’t freed from sin on the day he died physically.  He was freed from sin from the moment he put his faith in Christ and was baptized, which was many, many years earlier.  From that point on, he had a new view of life, and God had a new view of him.

Sure, he still had battles to face, but he faced them with confidence, knowing that Christ had already freed him from those sins.  Temptations would come, as always, but now he knew he could resist them because now he had the power of Christ.  He went on to make the most of the rest of his time here on earth, living victoriously and sharing Christ with many others, being a truly positive force in the world for good.

In your battle against sin, you may think a dark cloud surrounds you, a cloud of death and destruction that is constantly hanging over your head, like the swarm of bats from a Ted Dekker novel.

But that’s a lie.  The truth is, that cloud of darkness was pushed back when Christ died for you on the cross.  On that day, color was restored to the world.  Joy became available again.   Freedom from sin became a reality for everyone who would put their faith in Him.

God doesn’t want you to sin.  Sin separates you from Him and from those you love.  But if you’ve been baptized into Christ, you’ve been freed from sin.  Sure, you may still have to fight off temptations, but now you can do it from a position of strength, not from a position of defeat.

If you’ve never been baptized into Christ, I’d encourage you to do so as soon as possible.  Being baptized into His death will allow you to be raised with Him to a new life with Him.  Baptism can renew not only your mind, but your heart and soul as well.  It will change your outlook on life.  And it will help you to be freed from sin.  You may still have a battle to fight, but you’ll be fighting it with Christ, which makes all the difference in the world!

As further encouragement that you can be freed from sin, here and now, let me close with the words of the apostle Paul on the subject.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

“If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin―because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:1-10).

If you’ve put your faith in Christ, you can count yourselves as “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus,” too.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for setting us free from sin by dying for us.  Help us to see that death no longer reigns over us, but because of Christ, we can reign in life.  Help us to put our faith in You anew today, trusting that the world is gloriously new because of You.  Help us to see it the way You see it, so we can enjoy it as You intended us to enjoy it, living valiantly and victoriously while we’re here.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 5:12-6:10.  Why does Paul say “the gift is not like the trespass” in comparing the effects of Adam’s sin with the effects of Christ’s death and resurrection?

2. What can we do to “reign in life,” as Paul says in verse 17?

3. Have you ever thought of baptism as a way of dying to your old self, and being raised to new life?  What about this idea might be attractive to you?

4. Have you ever been baptized?  If so, what difference does being baptized make in how you view your battle with sin today?  If you haven’t been baptized, what difference might baptism make in your battle with sin?  If you need further encouragement to be baptized, here are a few more verses you might read:  Acts 2:38, Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, John 3:5, and Acts 8:35-38.

Lesson 15: Bearing Fruit To God (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 6:11-7:6

Is it OK to sin―at least a little bit every once in awhile?  After all, if we’ve already put our faith in Christ, He’s already forgiven us of our sins.  So He’ll forgive us again, won’t He?

While this is actually a reasonable idea on the surface―at least in terms of being forgiven of your sins by Christ―when you look at it at a deeper level, grasping what happens to your relationship with God and those around you every time you do sin, you’ll see that your best bet is to stay as far away from sin as you can, as often as you can, and for as much of your life as you can!

It’s like a kid saying, “My dad says not to run out in the road.  But I know he’ll still love me even if I do run out in the road, so what’s the big deal if I do it once in awhile?”  A kid like that would be missing the point entirely.  The point isn’t whether or not the dad would still love him just as much if he ran out in the road.  The point is that the dad doesn’t want him to get hit by a truck!

If the only reason you shouldn’t sin is because you think Jesus might be mad at you if you do, then you need to re-adjust your thinking!  It’s not that Jesus won’t love you just as much if you sin―it’s that He wants you to live!  He wants to protect you from engaging in things that could be dangerous to you and to those around you.  Sure, He’ll still love you.  But that’s the reason He doesn’t want you to sin… because He loves you.

The apostle Paul addressed this issue very clearly in his letter to the Romans, who, having been convinced that Jesus had forgiven them of all their sins, might have been tempted to fall back into sin again, thinking that it no longer mattered if they sinned, because they could still be assured of Christ’s love for them.  Paul said:

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?  By no means! … What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:15,21-23).

Sin leads to death, but Christ gives you life!  If the choice is to sin or to follow Christ, Paul says to follow Christ!

But there’s an even greater reason to drop your life of sin and follow Christ.  Paul says it’s because God wants you to bear fruit―good fruit.  When you follow sin, you bear fruit that leads to death.  But when you follow Christ you bear fruit for God.  Here’s how Paul said it in his letter to the Romans.

“So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (Romans 7:4-6).

God didn’t abandon His laws when Christ came.  His laws are still good and will protect you from sin.  What God did was to make an offering on your behalf to pay the penalty for your sins so you wouldn’t have to pay it yourself.  Now, when you put your faith in Christ, you receive forgiveness of your sins.  If you continue to sin, there will still be other consequences―for sin still always has consequences―but the good news is that you will no longer be separated from your relationship with Him because of your sin.

Whenever you sin, even if it’s “just a little,” it puts a wedge between you and God, as well as between yourself and those around you.  God doesn’t want that wedge, and neither do you.  He loves you too much for anything to come between Him and you.  And I believe, if you’ve read this far into the message already, that you love Him too much to put that wedge between the two of you, too.

I was once teaching a class of adults how to use computers.  One of the students had been using very colorful language throughout the class, not necessarily swearing, but still they were undoubtedly “off” color.  I had introduced myself as a technology expert, which, in my role as their teacher, I was.  But it wasn’t until later in the day that I mentioned that I was also a pastor.  Immediately, this man who had been so colorful with his words all day turned colorfully red in the face, too!  He quickly began to apologize for his language in front of me and the rest of the class.

In my attempt to be honest, for I really wasn’t bothered by it, I said something that made him turn even redder still.  I said, “That’s OK.  You don’t have to apologize to me.  I’m not the one who’s been watching over you every day anyway.”  The whole class turned to him with a look that said he was really in trouble now!

The truth is that his language really didn’t affect his relationship with me much at all.  But by his reaction, it seems like it may have affected his relationship with God quite a bit.  It may have seemed like a “little sin” to him, but the fact that he was embarrassed in front of me and the class gave me the impression that it may have been a much bigger deal in his relationship with God.

I didn’t say this to the man to make him feel more guilty than he already did for saying those things in front of me.  Just like I’m not saying these things to make you feel more guilty of the things you may be doing in your own life.  Believe me, I know how hard it is to keep from sinning, even though I’ve been trying to follow Christ with my whole heart for 24 years.  I’m still not, by any means, “sin-free.”  I wish I were, because I know that whenever I sin, it causes damage..  This, in turn, makes me want to stay away from it as much as humanly possible.

And in the bigger picture, I not only see the damage that sin causes, but I also see that it hinders my ability to bear fruit for God.  And that is perhaps the biggest damage of all.

God has created you to do good works.  He has things He wants you to do in this life.  When you sin, you hinder those good works, sometimes more than you can possibly imagine.  Believe me when I say that God has good works for you to do.  He has created you uniquely, with special gifts and abilities.  He’s poured unique talents into your life.  He’s trained you up to be an asset to Him.  He wants to use you to reach out into the world, both in large and small ways.

Don’t let Satan hinder you from accomplishing all that God has created you to do.  Don’t follow the path of sin that would keep you from the path God has lined out for you.  Don’t let yourself become a slave again to those things of which you’re now ashamed, things which bore fruit for death.  Serve God fully instead, bearing good fruit to Him.

How do you do that?  By keeping away from sin as much as possible, and by staying close to Jesus as much is possible.  As Jesus said:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples” (John 15:5-8).

God wants you to bear fruit―much fruit, as Jesus said.  Keep away from sin, even “little sins,” as much as possible.  Not because God will love you less if you do sin, but because He loves you so much He doesn’t want you to leave His side even for a minute.  When you stay close to Him, you will bear fruit for Him.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for loving us so much that You gave us rules for how to live the best possible lives here on earth.  Thank You for saving us from what we have earned because of our sins, and giving us the gift of eternal life instead, if we’ve put our faith in Christ.  Help us to stay as close as possible to Him so that we can bear as much fruit as possible for You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 6:11-7:6.  What does Paul say we should offer to God in verses 11-14?  How might offering these things to sin lead to death, whereas offering them to God leads to life?

2. In verses 15-18, Paul says that just because we’re free from the law, it doesn’t mean that we’re not still slaves to something else.  What is that other thing, and why is it so much better than being a slave to sin?

3. In chapter 7, verses 1-3, what illustration does Paul use to talk about being set free from the law?  What does being freed from the law allow us to do?

4. Is anything specific hindering you from bearing as much fruit as possible for God?  Is there an action step you can take this week to help you drop whatever is hindering you, and get any closer to Jesus?  Ask God, and perhaps a few trusted friends, to help you do it so that you can bear as much fruit for Him as possible.

Lesson 16: Setting Your Mind On What The Spirit Desires (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 7:7-8:11

What is it about rules that makes us want to break them?  I was in a church one day when the pastor was talking about the benefits of a new diet he had started.  He was telling us how he ate a bowl of oatmeal every morning for breakfast, and how much of a change that was from the way he used to eat.  He said he previously used to sit down some nights and eat an entire 2-pound bag of peanut M&M’s in one sitting!

As surprised as I was to hear that, as soon as he said it, something sprang to life within me.  I began to imagine what it would be like to sit down and eat a whole bag of peanut M&M’s, all by myself, in one sitting.  It sounded crazy.  I’d never even thought about the idea before.  That’s a lot of M&M’s!  But it sounded really good, too.  (And for some of my international readers, peanut M&M’s are peanuts dipped in chocolate and covered by a hard candy shell).

The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it.  Although it seemed wrong, I still wanted to do it.  Somehow, his sermon on the benefits of his new diet just made me want to eat more.  The very thing he was telling me not to do was the very thing I wanted to do―and it was his sermon that sparked the idea in me to do it!

When one of my daughters asked me what I wanted for Christmas that year, only one thing came to mind:  a 2-pound bag of peanut M&M’s.

What was happening to me?  Why was I now desiring something that I had never thought of desiring until I was told that I shouldn’t desire it?  Wouldn’t it have been better if I had never heard that sermon at all?  And what could I do about it now that I had?

The apostle Paul described this dilemma in Romans chapter 7 (except for the part about the peanut M&M’s), which also includes one of the most tongue-twisting passages in all of Scripture:

“What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”  But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire.  For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

“Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

“We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do―this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

“So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:7-24).

I like the way Paul puts this.  He says that the law is good, but that sin is always present, too, ready to spring into life at any moment.  And when sin sees an opportunity, it seizes it, producing within us our covetous desires. The law is not the problem–sin is.  And sin seems already nearby and ready to seize upon such opportunities.

It seems like a dilemma that could cripple us for life.  But Paul doesn’t leave us there, and neither does God.  Paul asks: “Who will rescue me from this body of death?”  Then he continues this passage by answering that question, as well telling how you can win the battle over the sins and temptations that you face in life, too.  Paul says:

“Thanks be to God―through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.  And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 7:25-8:11).

Paul says it clearly:  the one who can rescue you from the battles you’re facing is Jesus Christ our Lord. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is living within you, if you’ve put your faith in Him.  And that same Spirit can bring you the same life-giving power and victory, if you’ll set your mind on what the Spirit desires.

Jesus has already fought the hardest battle on your behalf, dying for your sins so you don’t have to.  Now your job is to set your mind on what the Spirit desires, letting go of anything that is pulling you back into your sinful desires.

If you can win the battle in your mind, you’re well on your way to winning the battle in your flesh, too.

My sweet daughter bought me a 2-pound bag of peanut M&M’s for Christmas that year.  But when I got the bag and came face to face with the choice I was about to make, I did something I hadn’t expected.  I changed my mind.

Whereas before I had only imagined what it would be like to indulge my desires, I now thought through what that decision would mean down the road.  What if I really did eat the whole bag in one sitting?  How sick would I get?  How many pounds would I instantly be adding to my already increasing body fat?  In a matter of minutes, I had changed my mind.  I decided to just eat just a few.  I shared a few more.  Then I put the rest away in a cupboard, to be eaten only occasionally as a special treat, or to be served to friends who stopped by.

Instead of being controlled by my fleshly desires, I set my mind on what the Spirit desires instead.  And in so doing, I won the victory.

Believe me, I know there are bigger battles in life than facing a 2-pound bag of peanut M&M’s.  But I also know that God is bigger than any of those battles, too.  The choices you make in your mind will affect the choices you make with your body.  I want to encourage you today to make good choices―to set your mind on what the Spirit desires, and not on fleshly things.

When tempted to look at someone who’s attractive for longer than you should, just look away.  Leave them there.  And don’t look back.  When tempted to click on an inappropriate website, just let it go.  Don’t click that link.  Ask yourself, “What does the Spirit desire?”

When tempted to start a bad habit, remember that the best way to stop a bad habit is never to start in the first place.  Just don’t do it.  Don’t even get started.  When fighting a bad habit that you’ve already started, just drop it.  Let it go.  Find a way to redirect your time and energy into something more godly and healthy.

In every battle, call upon the Spirit of Christ who lives within you to help you do what He wants you to do.  Remember:

“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for doing the hardest work of all in our battle against sin.  Help us to do the hard work we have to do of setting our minds on what Your Spirit desires.  Help us in the battles we face today so we can drop whatever might threaten to harm us, and to take hold of that which will lead us to life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 7:7-8:11.  Have you ever experienced what Paul described in verse 9 where “sin sprang to life” after hearing about something you shouldn’t do?

2. What does Paul say is the cause such experiences?  Is the law at fault, or something else?

3. What encouragement do you take from the solution Paul puts forth, that if the Spirit of Christ lives in you―the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead―that He can give life to your mortal bodies as well?

4. Is there an area in your life where you could use the help of the Spirit of Christ right now to overcome a battle that you’re facing?  How could simply setting your mind on what the Spirit desires help you in this area?

Lesson 17: Knowing Who The Holy Spirit Is (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:9-11

I used to think that the Holy Spirit was like a light inside my heart.  But one day, God helped me to understand that the Holy Spirit is not a substance, but a person―a person who wanted to live and act and move in my life.  As Jesus said:

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever―the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. … All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. … I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 14:16-17, 25-26, and 16:12-13a).

The Holy Spirit really is a person, not just some spiritual substance that flows through your body.

I realized this most clearly when I was worshipping God in the middle of a large sanctuary with hundreds of other people.  As I was singing, I was thinking about the beauty of Jesus and how great it could be if I could really see Him with my own eyes.  Far away at the front of the sanctuary there was a stained glass window with a picture of Jesus on it.

While everyone else was still standing and singing, I just sat down in my seat and closed my eyes.  I began to picture what Jesus would look like in my mind―something like that far-away image of Him in the stained glass window.  But suddenly, with my eyes still closed, I pictured two eyes directly in front of mine!  They were so close that I couldn’t look at both eyes at the same time.  I had to look back and forth between them, as you might do when looking close into the eyes of someone you loved.

With my own eyes still closed, I felt that His eyes were coming closer and closer to mine―so close, in fact, that I had to back up in my seat.  But when they finally came as close as they possibly could without touching me, the two eyes disappeared.  I wondered where they had gone.  At the same time, I sensed that they hadn’t left me at all.  Instead, I realized they had somehow passed right through me and began to turn around inside my head.

I felt my own eyes refocusing, as if Jesus Himself wanted to look through my eyes.  I could picture His arm going down inside my arm as if He were putting my arm on like a sleeve.  His hand went down inside my hand as if putting on a glove.  I could imagine His feet going down into my legs, one at a time, like He was putting on a pair of jeans.  His feet slid down into my feet as if putting on a pair of shoes.

My mind began to be flooded with Scriptures about how the Spirit of God really does lives inside us, like the ones I mentioned earlier.  I began to understand that He wanted to take up residence within me, live inside me and carry out His will through me–at least to the extent that I allowed Him free reign to do so.  I invited Him in and asked Him to push all of me out, so that I could be filled with Him as full as possible, from head to toe and from fingertip to fingertip.

I felt like God was telling me that when I was ready to open my eyes again, He wanted to look through my eyes and help me see the world as He sees it.  He wanted to use my hands to do what He wanted them to do.  He wanted me to walk where He would walk.  He wanted me to hear my ears what He would hear, speak with my mouth what He would speak, and feel with my heart what He would feel with His.

When I finally did open my eyes, I did see the world differently.  I realized that the Spirit of God wasn’t just a light inside my heart.  He was a person―a person who had literally come to take up residence inside my mortal body, giving life to it, as well as power, wisdom and direction.  As Paul said in Romans chapter 8:

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 8:9-11).

These verses have incredible power if you’ll take them to heart.

I saw their power displayed most clearly when my wife Lana was pregnant with our second child.  Lana was having some abnormal bleeding early on in the pregnancy, so she went in for a test.  They drew her blood on two different days and checked the level of her hormones.  If the baby was OK, her hormones would be doubling every day.  But if the baby wasn’t OK, then her hormones wouldn’t be rising, but going down instead.  When we got the results, we found that her hormones were dropping rapidly.

The doctor told us this could only mean one of three things:  1) either the baby had died and was about to miscarry on its own, or 2) the baby had lodged in Lana’s fallopian tubes instead of her womb, and if the baby wasn’t removed, it would burst the tubes and die, possibly killing Lana at the same time.  The third option was that the test was wrong.

The only way the doctor would be able to tell for sure was to do an interior ultrasound, which we scheduled for the next day.  That night, before the ultrasound, Lana called a friend to pray for her.  The friend suggested she read Romans chapter 8.  As Lana read these ancient words of the apostle Paul, she was struck in a new way by verse 11:

“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

She realized that if the Spirit of God was living inside her, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead could raise this baby from the dead, too.  We both began to call upon God’s Spirit fervently, and asked others to do the same.

The next day, we went to the hospital for the interior ultrasound.  The nurse called Lana into the room and I sat in the waiting room outside.  After a long and emotional wait, the nurse called me in.  I saw Lana laying on the hospital bed.  She was crying.  The nurse took me over to the ultrasound machine and pointed to a black dot in the middle of it.  She said, “Do you see that dot on the screen?”

I could see it, the black dot that was our baby.  I was about to burst into tears myself when the nurse said, “Do you see how it’s beating?  That’s your baby’s heartbeat!”

Lana wasn’t crying because the baby had died!  She was crying because the baby was alive!  But that couldn’t be!  Lana’s hormones were dropping so rapidly.  I realized there weren’t just three options, but four, because the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead was now living inside Lana’s mortal body as well!  We felt like we had just witnessed the “dunamis” power of God, God’s dynamite that, when ignited by faith, causes miracles to happen!

Lana went on to carry the baby to full term and give birth to a completely healthy little boy―a little boy who is now nineteen years old and full of faith himself, believing that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead can do all kinds of miracles in the world today.

The Holy Spirit is not just some ethereal substance that flows in and out of your life.  He is a person, a person who carries with Him the power of God, and who has taken up residence within you, if you belong to Christ.  The Holy Spirit wants to work in your life in powerful ways, too.  He wants you to call upon Him  and His power by faith.

Whether you’re battling with life or death, or battling with a sin that’s overwhelming you, God’s Spirit can give you power to win those battles.  If you’re struggling with reading the word of God or struggling to understand how it applies to your life, God’s Spirit can help to guide you into all truth.  If you’re trying to mend a broken relationship, or wondering how to go on with life having lost someone who was precious to you, God’s Spirit, the Counselor and Comforter, can bring you a wisdom and a peace that passes all understanding.

If you want to renew your mind today, renew your thinking about the Holy Spirit.  When you see Him as a person, rather than a substance, it will change the way you talk with Him–and what you can expect of Him.

I know a pastor who says that he always gets super-excited when he sees God’s Spirit moving in even a small way in an audience where he is speaking and ministering.  He gets excited because He knows that since God’s Spirit is a person, that means that if part of Him shows up, then all of Him is there!

If you belong to Christ, then you don’t just have a little bit of the Holy Spirit living inside of you, but the whole of Him living inside of you―the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead.

Call on God’s Holy Spirit today and invite Him to do His powerful work in your life right now.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to live inside us when we belong to Christ.  We call upon Him now to bring life to our mortal bodies, both here on earth, and in heaven forever.  Raise to life those things in our lives which seem like they might be dead, so that we can be filled again with the abundant life that You have in store for us instead.  We pray this in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 8:9-11.  How have you pictured the Holy Spirit who lives in you, if you belong to Christ and He lives within you?  

2. What difference would it make in your life to picture Him as a person, rather than a substance?

3. Are there some particular areas of your life where you could really use the Spirit’s power right now?  Why not talk to Him right now and invite Him, by faith, to do His life-changing power in your life?

4. If you don’t belong to Christ, and don’t have the Spirit of God living within you, why not invite Him into your life today?  Turn away from any sin in your life and ask Jesus to forgive you, then invite His Holy Spirit to take up residence within you, giving you His power to do His work in your life.

Lesson 18: Receiving The Spirit Of Sonship (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:12-17

It’s only been ten days since Steve Jobs died and I’m still mourning the loss.  I’ve followed his life and career for the last 28 years, ever since I used one of his first computers, an Apple Lisa (the predecessor to the Mac), to write a poem (complete with text and graphics) to my college sweetheart at the time (now my wife of 22 years).

It was an experience that changed my view of computers, and my major in college, and my eventual career.  I no longer saw computers as cold, sterile, and unmerciful machines.  Instead, I began to see them as devices that could help me give expression to some of my innermost thoughts and feelings.

Today, 28 years later, I’m still using one of Steve Jobs’ computers to give expression to my innermost thoughts and feelings, now using them to encourage people all over the world to put their faith in Christ for everything in their lives.

I’ve written to Steve a couple of times in recent years to thank him for the impact he’s had on my life and, by extension, the lives of so many others, as I use his computers to reach out around the world.  I’ve also prayed for him and shared my faith in Christ with him in those letters, hoping to give to him the best blessing I can think of in return for the blessing he’s been to me.  I don’t know if he ever did put his faith in Christ or not, but my hope and prayer is that at some point he did.

Although Steve’s time of decision has come and gone, there’s still time for you to make yours.  If you haven’t yet put your faith in Christ for everything in your life, especially for the forgiveness of your sins, I’d encourage you to do it today.

Jesus told the story of a rich man and a beggar, both of whom died about the same time.  Jesus said:

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead'” (Luke 16:19-31).

There are times when I wish we could get into heaven based on all the good we’ve done in our lives.  But when I remember how much we’ve all sinned, I’m thankful that it’s not based on what we’ve done in life, for none of us have a perfect moral scorecard.  Instead, it’s based on our faith in the One who gave us life, and our acceptance of the sacrifice that has been made for our sins.  As Jesus said to Martha when her brother died:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

It has always been this way.  God has always required a sacrifice for our sins in order to escape the penalty that we would have received otherwise.  Even in the days when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God didn’t tell them to write their good deeds on the doorframes of their homes.  He told them to put the blood of a lamb on their doorframes, as a sign of their faith in Him.  Then, when He saw that sign, He would “pass over” their homes and not bring upon them the destruction that they would have received otherwise (see Exodus 12).

Why then do people not put their faith in Christ?  Sometimes people have an intellectual block that keeps them from doing it.  But other times there’s a more practical reason: they simply don’t have a good example of what a loving father looks like, which makes it hard for them to believe that there’s a loving Father in heaven who cares about them deeply, too.

I don’t know much about Steve Jobs’ personal life, but I do know that he was given up for adoption at birth.  His biological parents were unmarried college students at a time when abortion was still illegal in the U.S.  His biological mother left the University of Wisconsin and went to San Francisco to give birth, where Steve was adopted by his new parents.

When Steve eventually discovered who his biological parents were, he made contact with his mother and his biological sister, with whom he later became close friends.  But according to his biological father, Steve never did make contact with him, even up to Steve’s death.

I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve heard from some of my friends who have been adopted that they sometimes wrestle with feelings of abandonment and self-worth, wondering why their parents might have given them up for adoption.  In some cases, this sense of worthlessness can drive them to prove their worth in other ways.

I have no idea if this was a factor in Steve Jobs’ own personal drive, yet if it was, he went after it with gusto.  By this time last year, the company he helped to create had become worth more than any other technology company in the world, and just a few months ago, it became the most valuable company of any industry, based on the value of its stock.  More important than building a thriving company, Steve’s life has influenced millions of other lives around the world like a huge tidal wave, touching lives of people who didn’t even know who he was until this week.

But Steve Jobs life didn’t become more valuable as his stock price and market influence grew.  The truth is, his life was worth more than even he could have ever imagined even before he started his famous computer company in his garage. His Father in heaven had placed a value on him before anyone but God Himself even knew he was alive.

It’s the same for you.  God has loved you since before you were born.  Your life is worth more to Him than you can imagine, and has had immeasurable value since before you even had a chance to make your mark on the world.  God loves you so much He sent His Son to die for your sins so you wouldn’t have to, inviting you back into a personal relationship with Him if you’ll just put your faith in Christ.

This is perhaps the most important part of today’s message:  when you put your faith in Christ, God adopts you as His son or daughter.  When you put your faith in Christ, you become an heir of God, and a co-heir with Christ.  You receive from God the “Spirit of sonship,” which includes the full rights and privileges of a son or daughter, as well the ability to see God as the truly loving Father that He is.  The apostle Paul describes this Spirit of sonship like this:

“…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs―heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory” (Romans 8:12-17).

What difference does it make to be able to view God in your mind as the loving Father that He is?  All the difference in the world.  Paul uses the word “Abba” in his description of God, an Aramaic word that means “Daddy.”  It’s a term of endearment.  It describes a relationship that is not just a father and a son who are connected by birth, but who are connected by true affection for one another.

My younger kids will often call me “Daddy.”  It’s a truly affectionate term.  Every once in a while, even my teenagers will still call me “Daddy,” whether it’s my nineteen year old son writing an email to me from college, or my seventeen year old daughter using her most playful voice to tell me I’m doing something silly.  It always warms my heart when they do this, to think that they not only see me as their father, but also as their “Abba,” their “Daddy.”

That’s the kind of relationship God the Father wants to have with you.  He doesn’t want to be a distant and formal father, but a close and familiar one–a “Daddy”–a “Daddy” you can trust and run to and lean on whenever you need to.

Although God wants you to make the most of your life here on earth, and to use the gifts and abilities that He’s given you to their fullest, you don’t have to create a multi-billion dollar corporation to prove your worth to Him and to enter into that sweet relationship with Him.  You just have to believe in Him, putting your faith in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And when you do, you’ll be given the Spirit of sonship, and become adopted as His son or daughter, with all the rights and privileges that go along with it.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, you’ve already been adopted as His child. Your role now is to believe it and receive it, letting it’s truth sink deep into your life and heart today.  If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, I’d encourage you to do it today and receive God’s Spirit of sonship right now.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us Your Spirit of sonship when we put our faith in Christ.  We pray that You will help solidify what that means in our lives today, helping us to know that You really do care about us, that we have worth just by being one of Your children, and that You will strengthen us by that same Spirit in our lives today.  Thank You Daddy.  We love you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 8:12-17.  What images come to mind when you think of the word “Daddy”?  How would using the word “Daddy” to describe God change your relationship with Him, compared to other words you could use for Him?

2.  What are some of the benefits Paul lists in this passage of receiving the Spirit of sonship?

3.  What difference would it make to think of yourself as an heir of God, and a co-heir with Christ?

4.  If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, what benefits do you see of being adopted by God?  Why not put your faith in Christ today and receive from God His Spirit of sonship?

Lesson 19: Knowing That In ALL Things God Works For Your Good (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:28

I want to encourage you today that God can work ALL things for your good in your life no matter what you’re facing.  He really is FOR you, even in those things that seem hardest to face, and you can trust that He can work for your good even in those things.

I’ve been reading the book, Pollyanna, this week to my kids.  The book was written back in 1913 about an eleven-year-old girl whose contagious optimism transformed an entire town.  If you’ve ever heard someone described as a “pollyanna,” it’s a term that came from this book.

But as I read the book this week again, I realized that for all her optimism, Pollyanna was in no way a naive little girl who was ignorant about the real pain that people face in life.  Her profound optimism wasn’t the result of ignorance, but it was the way she was able to keep sane and healthy in spite of severe losses in her life.  Born on the mission field, Pollyanna lost her mother when she was young, then lost her father when she was eleven.  She was sent to live with her stern and strict aunt on the East Coast, where she often had to fight back tears at the unfair treatment she received.

Yet with all the bad that was thrown at her, Pollyanna chose to train her mind to try to see the good in life, believing that there was always something she could be glad about.  It was something she learned from her father when she was on the mission field.  He called it the “glad game.”

In talking about the game to a woman named Nancy, Pollyanna said:

“We began it when some crutches came in a missionary barrel.  You see, I’d wanted a doll.  But when the barrel came the lady wrote that no dolls came in, just the little crutches.  So she sent ’em along.  The game was to find something about everything to be glad about, no matter what.  We began right then―on the crutches.”

Nancy said, “I can’t see anythin’ to be glad about gettin’ a pair of crutches when you wanted a doll.”

“There is―there is,” Pollyanna crowed.  “I couldn’t see it either at first.  Father had to tell it to me.  You just be glad because you don’t― need― ’em!  You see, it’s easy when you know how!  Only sometimes it’s almost too hard, like when your father goes to Heaven.”

Rather than being naive about life, it was Pollyanna’s disappointments in life that helped her to see things in a whole new light.  She went on playing the “glad game” in her new town, helping the people see that no matter what they faced in life, there was always something to be glad about.  Without giving away too much of the story, Pollyanna even found a way to be thankful when she did have to use crutches by the end of the book.

In a similar way, the apostle Paul is known for saying some of the most optimistic things in his letters in the New Testament.  For instance, in his letter to the Philippians he wrote:

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Some people might think, “Sure, that’s easy for Paul to say, as he was one of the most highly educated and influential leaders in the early church.”  But the truth is, Paul saw more suffering in his lifetime than most of us would ever see in ten or twelve lifetimes, if we were able to live that many.  Paul wrote:

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (2 Corinthians 11:23b-30).

Yet in spite of all this, Paul was still able to encourage people to “Rejoice in the Lord always.”  In his letter to the Romans, Paul explained why we can rejoice always.  He wrote:

“And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”
(Romans 8:28, emphasis added).

I have quoted this verse more often to myself and to others than perhaps any other verse in the Bible.  It’s a statement that I’ve tested for myself over and over again and continue to find to be true.  It’s not just a “pollyanna” way of looking at the world.  It’s a truth that God has given us to hold onto tightly, knowing that no matter how things look in the situations that we’re facing, we can trust Him to work in those situations for our good, if we’re willing to trust those situations to Him.

But like Pollyanna in the book, there are times when finding the good in a situation seems like a daunting task.  But rather than running away from such tasks, Pollyanna relished them.  At one point, a sick and bedridden woman challenged Pollyanna to find something in her situation that she could be glad about.  Pollyanna sprang to her feet and clapped her hands.  She said:

“Oh goody, that’ll be a hard one―won’t it?  I’ve got to go, now, but I’ll think and think all the way home.  Goodbye, I’ve had a lovely time!”  

Pollyanna did think and think and came up with several ideas, one of which was to encourage the woman to be glad she had her hands and arms.  That simple statement made the woman wonder why she didn’t do something with her hands and arms, so she began to knit little things for fairs and hospitals.  She became so glad to think she could do something with them.

I think people sometimes view me as being a little too “pollyanna-ish,” too, when I tell them to trust God completely in every situation that He can work it for our good.  But I’ve found that sometimes when I tell people stories of God’s faithfulness to me in my life, they often don’t realize, or don’t take seriously when I tell them, how desperately I’ve had to pray through the situations in which I’ve been.  They only hear the outcome of the stories, knowing that somehow God turned even awful situations into something good.

I think that’s the way we sometimes read the stories in the Bible, too.  Since we already know how they end, we can sometimes gloss over how dramatic the turnarounds really were.

For instance, when Moses and the Israelites were up against the Red Sea, with no where to turn and the chariots from Egypt pressing in, all of a sudden, God opened up the Red Sea so they could pass through on dry ground.  It was a near-death experience for them all, yet God delivered them through it.  But since it only takes a few paragraphs to read through the whole story, we don’t always get the sense of impending doom that the people must have felt.  I imagine Moses went through some serious questions for God about how God could possibly work this one out for good.  Yet God told Moses to stand firm, that Moses would indeed see God’s deliverance… and he did (see Exodus, chapter 14).

Or when Daniel spent the night in the lion’s den and came out alive the next day.  People may just think that Daniel found a safe place to hide or that the lion’s just weren’t hungry.  But if you read the story closely, you’ll see that as soon as Daniel was lifted out of the lion’s den, those who had falsely accused Daniel were thrown into the den themselves, and the text says:

“And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones” (Daniel 6:24b).

I imagine Daniel had some serious questions for God about how God could possibly work this one out for good.  Yet Daniel was extracted without even a wound on him (see Daniel, chapter 6).

When we hear stories of God’s faithfulness to others, we tend to minimize the adversity they faced, and maximize the possibility that God could bring them through it.  Yet when we experience our own life-dramas, we tend to maximize the adversity we’re facing, and minimize the possibility that God can bring us through it.

Today, I want to stir up your faith.  I want to help you see the truth that God can work all things for your good, too.  I want to encourage you to keep putting your faith in Christ.  Regarding the situations you’re facing in life today, ask yourself:

“What good might God be doing through this?  What good might come out of what I’m going through right now?  What might God be doing that I can hang onto in faith, and hope for, and pray towards?  What good might God be doing on my behalf right now?”

God wants to turn your thinking around today.  He wants you to see that He really can―and does―work all things for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.

This isn’t just a “glad game” from a children’s story.  This is a truth from God, recorded in His Word, in order to help you see your life the way He sees it, full of hope and promise and significance.

God loves you and really can work for your good in ALL things.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for showing us that there are different ways to look at the things we’re going through in life.  Help us to look at the things we’re facing and see them as You see them.  Help us to look for and see the good that You’re working in those situations so that we can face them with courage and faith.  Help us to overcome our weakness so that we can keep putting our trust in You for everything in lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 8:28 and 2 Corinthians 11:23b-30.  How might the trials Paul faced in life have helped him to come to the point of believing that God really could work for his good in ALL things? 

2. If faith is like a muscle that gets stronger and stronger the more we use it, what kinds of things might God put someone through to help them grow as strong in their faith as possible?

3. What good might God be doing in the situations you’re facing in life right now?

4. Like Pollyanna, what can you find to be glad about in those situations?

Lesson 20: Knowing That God Is FOR You (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:31-39

I have a riddle for you today.  Can you answer all seven of the following questions with the same word?

1. The word has seven letters

2. Preceded God

3. Greater than God

4. More evil than the devil

5. All poor people have it

6. Wealthy people need it

7. If you eat it, you will die

I’ll give you the answer at the end of today’s message.  But for now, I’d like to talk to you about Romans chapter 8.

In the last lesson, I talked about how God can work ALL things together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.  In this lesson, I want share why God works all things for your good.  It comes because God is, ultimately, FOR you.  And if God is FOR you, who can be against you?  That’s the question the apostle Paul asks at the end of Romans chapter 8:

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all―how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is He that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died―more than that, who was raised to life―is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us”
(Romans 8:31-34).

It’s easy to wonder sometimes if God is really FOR you.  You lose your job and it makes you wonder what happened.  You get a horrible report from the doctor and you wonder what you did wrong.  You open an email from a friend to discover some news you wish you had never read and you wonder how God could be working in this, too.

Yet the truth is that God IS for you.  He loves you deeply and cares about your life more than you could possibly imagine.  He is as heartbroken about the things that break our hearts as we are, yet He has a perspective that is greater than ours.  He can see the good in situations that we can hardly grasp while we’re going through it.

Often it’s only through hindsight that we can see what God saw in foresight.  That job loss wasn’t the worst thing that happened to our career after all, but actually helped us leapfrog forward.  That bad report from the doctor turned out to deepen our faith rather than shatter it.  And that email from a friend brought situations to light that never could have been dealt with had they stayed in the dark.

If only we could have the foresight that God has, we would be able to weather the storms that come at us much better.  If we could see things as He sees them, our minds would be refreshed rather than distraught when seemingly bad news comes along.  Today, I’d like to give you a lens through which you can look at everything that comes your way, and to see it in foresight rather than waiting till it’s long past to see it in hindsight.

The lens of life comes through looking at everything through the cross of Christ.  Rather than be tossed to and fro by the storms of your life that come along, God has settled that matter once and for all when He sent Jesus to die for your sins.  He didn’t have to come along and rescue you, but He did.  God didn’t wait until you were cleaned up and doing good for Him to send Jesus to die, but, as Paul said in Romans 5:8:

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

If this question is settled, why then do we still wonder if God loves us when things go wrong in our lives?  Why do we wonder why funds seem to have dried up, or job opportunities seem limited, or our health or relationships seem to be falling apart?  It’s a natural feeling, I know, but it’s not the truth.  If God loved you when you were still in the muck and mire of sin, why would he then abandon you when you’re trying your hardest to follow Him?

My wife and I have felt this before.  After giving birth to three healthy children, my wife had a miscarriage.  It was a blow to us emotionally and personally.  Then she had a second miscarriage.  Then a third.  Then a fourth.  It was as if everything we were doing was falling apart.  Yet we felt like we were giving our all for the cause of Christ more than ever before.  It was natural to wonder what we were doing wrong.

Yet it was during a time of worship when my wife had a breakthrough.  She was listening to a worship CD by Don Moen about the healing power of Jesus when she finally surrendered to whatever God’s will was for her in this area of her life.

She wasn’t happy about the miscarriages, but she knew that all she could do was to trust Him completely.  She had asked herself all the important questions, trying to find out if there was anything she was doing to contribute to these miscarriages.  But finding nothing, there was no more she could do but to continue to trust in God.  She did, and God gave her the peace that passes understanding that somehow, in some way, He would work all things for her good.

Just after this, she became pregnant again and this time she was able to carry the child to full term, giving birth to our fourth child.  Then came a fifth, and eventually a sixth.  Whether the turnaround in her heart and mind had anything to do with the turnaround in the situation, we still don’t know.  But what we do know is that when she came to the end of herself and put her faith in Christ again, she regained the peace that God was indeed FOR her.  And regardless of what happened after that, she decided she was going to praise God.

I have felt the same at other time of my life.  When I’m praying to God for funding for a special project, or just for our daily needs as we minister to others, it sometimes feels like pulling teeth.  Like I’m begging God to do something for me that I know He doesn’t have to do, but that I wish He would do for our sake and the sake of those we’re trying to reach through our ministry.

Then I think about what God has already done for me through Christ, and it’s like I put on a whole new set of glasses.  I can finally see what God is wanting me to see.  Rather than wondering what I’m doing wrong, I start seeing things from God’s perspective.  I start seeing that there’s nothing that God would withhold from me, if He thought it was for my good.  As Paul said:

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all―how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).

I sometimes think I’m asking God for too much when I ask for money―whether it’s ten dollars, or a hundred, or a thousand.  But then I remember what He’s already done for me.  If someone were to give you ten dollars, or a hundred, or a thousand, they’d be giving up a lot for you.  What if they gave you ten thousand, or ten million, then they’d really be paying a price.

But what about someone who’s gone to war for you, and lost an arm or a leg for you, so you could be free?  If someone gave up their arm for you, that’s worth way more than ten million dollars.  Now imagine if they gave up their life for you.  What price could you put on that?  And then, to take it a step further, imagine that they were not only willing to give their life for you, but their most cherished possession in the world, their child, so that you could live?  Now we’re talking priceless to the n-th degree.  And that’s what God has done for us by sending Jesus to die for us.  And somehow we wonder if God still loves us if He doesn’t send us ten bucks, or a hundred, or a thousand?

The truth is, there’s nothing God wouldn’t do for you.  He loves you and He is overwhelmingly FOR you.  He wants to work all things for good in your life because He created you.  He has a purpose for your life.  And He wants to see you fulfill that purpose.

Don’t ever think that because you don’t get what you want, when you want it, that it means that God doesn’t love you.  It’s a lie.  There may be other reasons involved, and their may be things that God wants you to change, or redirect, or pray differently about.  But it’s not because He doesn’t love you.  He’s already settled that point beyond argument.  And when you look at what’s going on in your present situation through the lens of what He’s already done for you in the past, you’ll see it clearly too.  You’ll have the foresight that most people only get in hindsight.  Your mind will be fixed on the good that God is doing and wants to do through you, rather than the bad that may seem to be engulfing you.  This isn’t just positive thinking.  This is godly thinking.  This is looking at life as God sees it.

Once you see that God is for you, you’ll become convinced, like the apostle Paul was, that there is nothing else in life that can separate you from His love.  Nothing!  As Paul said in the conclusion of chapter 8:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

What can separate you from the love of God?  It’s the same answer as the answer to today’s riddle:  Nothing!

1. NOTHING has seven letters

2. NOTHING preceded God

3. NOTHING  is greater than God

4. NOTHING is more evil than the devil

5. Poor people have NOTHING

6. Wealthy people need NOTHING

7. And if you eat NOTHING,
you will die!

What can separate you from the love of God?  NOTHING!

God loves you and would do anything for you.  He’s already demonstrated that.  Now your role is to believe it and live it out in your life in spite of whatever you might be facing today.  Remember:  God is FOR you!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are FOR us.  Help us to look at life today through that lens, so that we can have your foresight into the situations we’re facing.  Help us to know that You are working for our good in ALL things, and that nothing can separate us from Your love.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 8:31-39.  Have you ever felt like God doesn’t love you because of something specific that happened in your life?  Do you still feel that way, in light of today’s lesson?

2. Why is Jesus’ death more valuable than anything else God could do for you?

3. What kinds of struggles did Paul go through, and how do you think those struggles may have helped him become convinced that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love?

4. If God is FOR you, who can be against you?

Lesson 21: Trusting In The Potter (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 9:1-33

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of the three trees, where each one had a glorious dream for their future.  One wanted to be crafted into a beautiful treasure chest, covered with gold and filled with precious jewels.  Another wanted to be turned into boards for a mighty sailing ship, carrying kings and queens across the sea.  The third didn’t want to be cut down at all, but wanted to grow as tall as possible, pointing people towards God as they looked up into its branches.

A day came, however, when each of the trees were cut down and taken away.  The first was turned into a feeding trough, not a treasure chest.  The second was too weak to be used for a mighty ship and was was used for a common fishing boat instead.  The third was deemed too worthless for much of anything, and was cut into pieces and thrown into the scrap pile.

Rather than seeing their dreams fulfilled, each of the trees felt abandoned and without hope.  It’s a tragic story and one that has been repeated many times, in many lives, over the years.  It may even be part of your story.

Maybe you’ve had dreams of getting married, raising a family, and serving God with your whole heart, only to see your dreams dashed by divorce, adultery, and kids who have all but lost their faith.  Maybe you’ve had dreams of being wildly successful in business, giving generously to the poor and needy, only to find yourself being poor and needy instead.  Maybe you’ve stepped out in faith to start a new ministry, or a new job, or a new life in a place where you really felt God had called you, only to find yourself far from home and wondering why you ever left in the first place.

Rather than seeing your dreams fulfilled, you may feel– like the trees in the story–abandoned and without hope.

If so, I want to encourage you today to keep putting your faith and trust in God.  Keep remembering that God is the Potter and you are the clay.  Keep trusting that He is molding and shaping you into exactly what He wants you to be.  As the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 9:

“But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why did You make me like this?'” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” (Romans 9:20-21).

Sometimes we bristle at the thought that we don’t fully control our own destiny.  None of us wants to be like a puppet on a string, pulled this way or that by some unseen puppet master.  Yet when you put your faith in God and let Him take control of your life, you can trust that He will guide you and direct you in ways that are better than you could have imagined.

I had a friend this week who was wondering if she had been shortchanged when God passed out the BLT’s–the Brains, the Looks and the Talents.  She wondered why others seemed to have gotten so much more in some of those areas.  But the truth is, she wasn’t shortchanged at all.  First of all, she had actually been given huge amounts of each, but couldn’t see it for herself.  Secondly, I assured her that God had, in fact, given her everything she needed to fulfill His plan for her life.  As Paul said to the Ephesians:

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

If God has prepared good works in advance for you to do, He will give you everything you need for the walk He’s called you to walk.  And He’ll continue to do so, even if it seems like you’re going in a direction than you had planned.  The key is to keep putting your faith and trust in the Potter, remembering that He is FOR you and will work all things together for your good.  When you put your faith in God, you put a smile on His face.  As the writer of Hebrews says:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

God is pleased when you put your faith in Him, and He will reward you when you earnestly seek Him.

This, after all, is what the whole book of Romans is about.  Paul is continually telling the Christians in Rome that it is their faith that matters most to God, not their righteous acts or their heritage–whether they were born Jewish or Gentile.  In chapter 9, Paul laments the fact that so many Jews have missed the fact that God wants them to come to Him by faith.  Paul begins by saying:

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen” (Romans 9:2-5).

Paul sees the noble heritage that the Jews had been given because of the faith of Abraham.  Yet Paul also says that just because someone is a descendant of Abraham doesn’t mean they are actually people of faith.

“For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’  In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring” (Romans 9:6b-8).

Paul then goes on to describe how God raised up various people for various purposes, whether it was Isaac or Jacob or Moses or Pharaoh.  Some were for noble purposes, and some for common use, but all were for His glory.

God wants you to keep putting your faith in Him.  And when you do, He’ll reward you!

Remember the story of the three trees?  It would have been tragic if their story had ended when all their dreams were dashed to pieces.  Thankfully, their story doesn’t end there.  Their dreams were eventually fulfilled–but in a way that went beyond all that they could have imagined.

The first tree didn’t get to become a treasure chest that it had hoped, covered with gold and filled with precious stones.  It became a feeding trough for animals instead.  But one day, it was covered with golden straw, and when the most precious treasure of all was laid inside it–the Son of God–the tree realized its dream had been fulfilled.

The second tree didn’t get to become the mighty sailing ship that it had hoped, carrying kings and queens across the sea.  Instead, it was used for a common fishing boat.  But one day, that boat carried a group of men who were caught in a fierce storm on a lake.  One of the men stood up and said to the wind and the waves, “Be still,” and they obeyed Him.  As soon as the tree realized what had been done, it realized that it was carrying no ordinary man, but the King of all kings, the One who had created the whole universe.

And the third tree, the one that didn’t want to be cut down at all, but point people to God whenever they looked up into its branches?  Eventually its boards were pulled from the scrap pile and used as the cross on which our Savior was crucified.  And when Jesus rose from the dead three days later, that tree realized that from then on, whenever anyone thought of the cross, their thoughts would be pointed towards God.

You may feel like your life isn’t working out the way you had dreamed.  You may feel like you’re not in the place that you had hoped to be.  But don’t give up on God–and don’t give up on your dreams.  God has a way of fulfilling them beyond what you could imagine.

I know of families who have weathered the storms of divorce and adultery and have come out on the other side praising God and helping many others along the way.  I know of people who have lost their businesses and homes and things of this world who are now giving away more than anyone else around them, because they’ve learned what it means to give everything to God.  I know of people who have struggled in faith and sometimes wondered if they were doing the right thing, but eventually discovered that God was in it every step of the way.

Don’t give up on your dreams, and don’t get upset if things aren’t working out the way that you had hoped.  Keep trusting in the Potter.  Whether He wants to use your life for noble purposes or common use, it’s all for His glory.  Your Father really does know best.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are in control, even when our lives seem out of control.  Thank You that You are the Potter and we are the clay.  Help us to be moldable and shapable by You today.  Help us to continue to trust in You, that You will reward us when we believe in You and earnestly seek You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 9:1-33.  How do you feel about letting God be the Potter, and trusting Him to mold you and shape you as He sees fit?  What might be appealing or unappealing about this idea?

2. What is it that Paul wished for his Jewish brothers and sisters in this passage?

3. Why does Paul say in verse 6 that “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel”?  What’s the difference?  Consider verses 30-32 in your response as well.

4. Read Hebrews 11:6.  What does God seem to want from you more than anything else right now, and what can you expect from Him as a result?

Lesson 22: Believing In Your Heart (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:1-13

There were once five frogs on a log.  One of them decided to jump off.  How many frogs do you think were still on the log?  … Four?  … None?  … Nope.  All five.  One of them just decided to jump off.

There’s a difference between deciding to do something and doing it.  There’s a difference between believing in something in your mind and moving that belief deep down into your heart so that it can take root and spring into action.

Throughout this study of the book of Romans, we’ve been looking at ways to renew your mind and the difference that can make in your life.  But if all you do is focus on your mind and never move what you’ve learned down into your heart so those truths can be put into action, then all of this will just be an intellectual exercise.

God wants you to do both:  He wants you to renew your mind and believe what you’ve learned in your heart so that it can make a difference in your life.

In Romans chapter 10, Paul tells the Romans what it takes for someone to be saved.  He says:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”
(Romans 10:9).

This is one of the greatest statements of faith found in the whole Bible.  If you can say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you’re also declaring that no one else is Lord, not even yourself.  And when you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you’re saying that you believe in the resurrection–and that one day you’ll be raised from the dead, too, if you’ve put your faith in Christ.

This sums up two of the most important ideas of what it means to be a follower of Christ:  that Jesus is both your Lord and Savior.

Many people want a Savior–someone to save them from their sins.  But not everyone wants a Lord, someone who calls the shots in their lives.  But the truth is, it’s awesome to have Jesus as both Lord and Savior.  Why?  Because when He’s your Savior, he’ll save you from your sins.  And when He’s your Lord, He’ll put you on a path that keeps you from having to be saved from quite so much in the future!

When I saw at age 24 where I was headed in life, I realized that it would have been better if I had let Jesus call the shots instead of me.  I asked Jesus to be my Savior–to forgive me of my sins–and also to be my Lord–to take control of my life from that point on.  Now that I’m 48, I can say that this second half of my life has been significantly better than the first half (and I loved the first half, too!  I just didn’t realize how much trouble I was causing for myself and others along the way!)

Now I have a purpose for my life that propels me forward and I have Someone to go with me along the way, guiding and directing me so I can make the most of the time I have here on earth.

How does this apply to you?  Have you come to the place in your life where you’ve confessed with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead?  If so, that’s the best decision you could have ever made in your life and it’s the starting point for your life with Christ.  But it doesn’t end there.  God wants you to follow through on that decision and take a leap of faith, jumping off the log and jumping into His full-blown plan for your life.

I know of a young man who has put his faith in Christ and is theologically brilliant.  He’s well-versed in Scripture and has sound doctrine.  But he’s recently started dating a non-Christian girl, going against God’s stated desire for him in his life.  As it says in the Bible:

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Like King Solomon, he’s going to find out some day that all the wisdom in the world is worthless if you don’t put it into practice.  King Solomon was, as the Bible declares, the wisest man who has ever lived.  Yet he didn’t put that wisdom into practice when it came to his relationships, going against God’s clear warning to the Israelites about not taking wives from those that didn’t believe in Him.  God said:

“You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods” (1 Kings 11:2).

Yet that’s exactly what happened:  Solomon married women who didn’t believe in God and they led him astray.  Wisdom is only valuable if you move it from head knowledge to believing it deep down in your heart and putting it into practice.

Someone in this situation might think:  “But I could lead this person to Christ, and God wants me to lead people to Christ, doesn’t He?”  Yes, that’s right.  But if it means violating one of God’s other pieces of wisdom along the way, then it’s more likely to do harm than good.  God wants you to follow His plan for your life in all areas, not just the ones that appeal to you.

I know men who are in love with other men.  They compare their relationships to the close friendship that Jonathan had with David.  They say that God wants them to have close male friendships.  And on that point I agree:  God does want them to have close male friendships.  But then God draws a line–as He does with all relationships outside of a husband and wife committed for life–warning that if you become involved romantically and physically with anyone else, you’ll do more damage than good.  If God says something is destructive, no matter how good it may seem at the time, in the end, it will be destructive.

Jesus is glad to be your Savior, but as I said before, if you’ll let Him be your Lord, too, you won’t need saving from quite so much!

Maybe the area you need a Lord today is in your finances, helping you decide where and when to spend your money.  Look in the Bible and you’ll find your answers.  God has great wisdom regarding finances, whether it’s saving or spending or giving your money away, like this:

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

But you’ll have to put that wisdom into practice so that you can make good and godly decisions.

Maybe the area you need a Lord today is in your health, helping you to know what to eat and what to drink and how to take care of your body.  Again, look in the Bible and you’ll find your answers, like this:

“Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive (1 Corinthians 10:23).

While you can justify almost anything, that doesn’t mean everything is equally good for you!  Look closely at God’s Word for your answers and then put what He says into practice.

Maybe the area you need a Lord today is in your relationships, helping you know how to act and react to those around you.  The Bible contains a wealth of wisdom on this topic, too, like this:

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).

Applying a verse like this to your life could bring more healing and wholeness to your relationships than you could ever achieve by any other approach.

I’m sure you’re getting the idea.  God loves you incredibly much.  And He’s glad to save you from those things that plague you in your life.  If you’ll let Him be your Lord, too, and not just your Savior, you won’t need saving from quite so much.

If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, I’d encourage you to do it today.  Confess with your mouth that, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and as this verse in Romans says, you will be saved.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, I’d encourage you to follow through on that decision.  Keep digging into God’s word to find out what He wants you to do with your life.  Then don’t just decide to do what He says.  Jump off the log and do it!  Keep believing in your heart that Jesus is both your Lord and Savior.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for being so interested in our lives that You’re willing to be both our Lord and Savior, saving us from our sins and guiding us into godly living.  Help us to make wise decisions so we can follow You in every area of our lives, then to follow-through on those decisions and put them into practice in our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 10:1-13.  What was Paul’s heart’s desire for the Israelites?  Why did he say in verses 2-4 that they were not able to receive it?

2. What can you do in your life to keep from being like the Israelites Paul mentioned?

3. Why does it seem to be important to both confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead?

4.  If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, are you ready to do it today?  And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, how are you doing at following through on that decision in your life?

Lesson 23: Holding The Rope (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:13-21

When William Carey was raising funds in England to support his missionary work in India, he told people he felt as if there was a man drowning in a well and calling out for help.  Carey said he was willing to go down into the well to save the man, but he needed some people to hold the rope for him while he went.

Several men volunteered to help Carey in his work, “holding the rope” for him back home, raising funds and praying so he could do the part God had called him to do.

While the way people do missions has varied throughout the years, the idea of “goers” and “senders” has not.  God continues to call people to go and preach His message to people throughout the world, and He continues to call others to help send people on their way.

The apostle Paul talked about this idea in his letter to the Christians in Rome.  Paul said:

“…for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'” (Romans 10:13-15).

In the past, these verses have conjured up in my mind a vision of missionaries climbing over the top of a mountain in some remote jungle, bringing the good news of Christ to the people in the valley below.  As the villagers would hear this good news being proclaimed to them–news that was like music to their ears–they would exclaim, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

When I read that passage today a different vision comes to mind.  Why?  Because, in many ways, I’m now a missionary myself, writing to people all over the world to encourage them to put their faith in Christ for everything in their lives.  The scenery is different, but the principle is the same.

Instead of climbing a misty mountaintop, I’m sitting at my desk in my bedroom, looking out over miles and miles of wide open spaces.  I’m on the second floor of a two-story, traditional American farmhouse in the heart of the great midwest.  There are no mountains to block my view, and only a few other farmhouses dotting the ground in the distance.  The corn and soybean fields have been harvested for the year, so all that’s left is a clear view of the horizon in every direction.

Yet when I push the “send” button on my computer, I realize that this message I’m writing right now will make its way over the plains, across the country, under oceans, into the sky and back down to the earth again.

Within an a instant, this message will show up in places like Papua New Guinea, an island half-way around the world in the South Pacific, where someone just signed up to receive these messages on Monday, saying,

“I will be very much excited to receive the news & also pray to strengthen each others faith.”  

Almost simultaneously, this message will also show up in an inbox in Nigeria, a country in western Africa where someone wrote to me last week saying,

“I have been far from God.  Most times I start and end my day without praising or praying to God.  My bible is always beside me and most times I don’t open it. How do I strengthen my walk with God, how do I make him priority, and how do I become consistent with my maker????  Please advise me on what steps to take.”

At the same time, it will appear on someone’s cell phone in the UK, where a woman wrote to me this week saying,

“You are so right about thinking of Jesus as a saviour and sometimes not having Him as Lord of our lives too. Today’s reading made me take stock of what you said, and I recommitted and surrendered my life afresh and asked Jesus to be Lord of my life also as well as being my saviour.”

Missions is changing, but the message stays the same.  When Jesus told His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation,” (Mark 16:15) He didn’t put any limits on where to go, how to go, or to whom we should go.  He just said to, “Go!”  Jesus wanted His disciples to take the message as far as they could, starting in Jerusalem, spreading out to Judea and finally to the ends of the earth.

As we’ve been looking at the book of Romans for ways to renew our minds, I want to remind you that the goal of a renewed mind is not simply to renew your thinking but to renew your actions, too.  Jumping into God’s plan regarding missions is one of those actions that God wants you to take, whether it’s as a goer or a sender or both.  God wants you to be one of those people about whom it is said:  “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

For some of you, this may be a reminder of what God has already called you to do.  For others of you this may be a confirmation of what God has been stirring in your heart in recent weeks or months.  And for some of you, this may be a totally new thought–a totally new direction that God wants you to take in your life.  Whatever the case, I want to encourage each of you to get involved in whatever mission God has put in front of you.

I was privileged to see an evangelist this fall named Reinhard Bonnke while he was speaking at a youth conference in Chicago.  He’s ministered to millions on the African continent, with crowds so large that in just one meeting his team saw over 1 million people fill out decision cards to put their faith in Christ.

Yet, at age 71, he recently got onto FaceBook.  At first, he wasn’t sure if he was interested.  But when someone showed him a demonstration of how it worked, the way he could connect with people around the world, and the ease with which he could get a message out, he was sold.  He looked at the screen and said, “It’s a pulpit!”

Now he personally posts several short thoughts each day on Facebook.  Over 381,000 people have “liked” his page and several hundred people now comment and interact with him and his thoughts on a daily basis.  His mission is the same as it’s been his whole life, it’s just taken on a whole new dimension!

A few years ago I read a conversation between David Yongii Cho, the pastor of the largest church in the world–located in Seoul, South Korea–and Rick Warren, the pastor of one of the largest churches in America.  As they were talking about their next steps for future growth, they both pointed to the same thing:  the Internet.  Pastor Cho, who had over 750,000 members in his congregation at that time, said “we are so jammed that we have no way to keep growing except by going into cyberspace!”

Pastor Warren responded, saying, “No matter how much land you have it eventually fills up.  We were running over 10,000 in attendance before we built our first building. So we know how to grow and minister without buildings. But what we are trying to learn now is how to do it through the Internet into the homes.”

Now, several years later, both churches have strong and vibrant Internet ministries, providing spiritual support and encouragement to members in home groups around the world.

As the world grows, God wants to use every means possible to reach as many as possible before the end comes.  Considering that the world has added another billion people in the last twelve years, and is expected to add another billion in the next ten to twenty years, it’s no surprise that God is using all kinds of new technologies to reach more people in an instant than ever before.

Amazingly, you don’t have to be a famous evangelist or the pastor of a huge church to have an impact on people all over the globe.  I’m surprised some days to think of just how many people I reach from my little bedroom office here in central Illinois.  To put it in perspective, I read that Reinhard Bonnke once had a tent built for his crusades in Africa that could hold 34,000 people.  It was the largest tent ever built in the world.

Yet when I finish writing this message tonight and push the “send” button, God will take these words and send them out to more than 35,000 people in more than 160 countries who have signed up for these messages over the years–that’s more people than can fit in the world’s largest tent!  That’s amazing!

It’s more possible today than ever before to fulfill Jesus’ command to “Go into all world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  And if you’re a follower of Christ, God wants you to be part of the process.

Whether you’re a goer, a sender, or both, God wants you to be involved in His mission.  God doesn’t just want to renew your mind–He wants you to put what you’ve learned into action.  As the apostle James said:

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).

Let me encourage you to get involved with God’s mission, whether it’s going, or sending, or both.  Try starting a spiritual conversation with a friend on FaceBook.  Look into a missions trip with your church or with other groups who are taking the gospel to others.  Consider supporting a missionary, or two, or three, or more with your prayers and your financial gifts.

Without trying to sound self-serving, I’d love to have your help with our ministry as well!  We’ve been richly blessed over the years to have many people come alongside us and support our work so that we can do the part God has called us to do:  encouraging as many people as possible to put their faith in Christ for everything in their lives.  In many ways, I feel like William Carey as he was going off to India.  I’m willing to go down into the well to save as many as I can, but I need some rope-holders to help me as I go.

If you’d like to help “hold the rope” for us, you can learn more about our ministry and make a donation on our website at www.theranch.org.  I think you’ll enjoy seeing what God is doing through this ministry whether you decide to get involved in our work or not.

But whatever God puts on your heart to do, let me encourage you to do it.  As Paul said:

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?”

When you take part in God’s mission, people will be able to say of you:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for making it more possible than ever before to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  Show us how we can be involved in Your mission in the world today and in the days ahead and give us the faith to do what You’ve called us to do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 10:13-21.  In verses 13-15, what steps does Paul say are involved for someone to put their faith in Christ?

2.  If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, can you see how each of those steps might have been involved in your own decision-making?  If you haven’t yet put your faith in Christ, which step do you think might be needed next?

3. What steps could you take in your life right now to get more involved with God’s mission in the world?

4. Read Philippians 4:19.  Ask God to give you the faith, strength and resources to be involved in His global mission in ways that go beyond whatever you’ve done so far.

Lesson 24: Hearing The Message (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:16-21

We’re getting ready for Christmas here in Illinois!  We’ve put the tree up this afternoon, and last night went to see our teenage daughter dance in a special Christmas show.

And as we get closer to Christmas, I’d like to encourage you to take this time to get closer to God.  Christmas is the time of year when we celebrate that God came so close that we could reach out and touch Him―in the form of Jesus.  And it’s a great time to remember that God is still very close to us―even closer than you might think.  As Paul said to the men of Athens:

“God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27).  

God has been trying to get His message out to people in as many ways as possible, even using the heavens and the skies.  When Paul talked about this in his letter to the Romans, he referred back to Psalm 19 which says:

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His
hands.  

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.  

There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.  

Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the end of the world”
(Psalm 19:1-4a).

Yet even with the heavens and the skies proclaiming the glories of God, there are still people who don’t listen to them.  In Romans chapter 10, Paul laments the fact that so many of his Jewish brothers and sisters had missed what God was trying to say to them.  At the end of the chapter, Paul quotes what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people” (Romans 10:21).

What a sad picture to imagine God the Father holding out His hands to His children continually, yet they are unwilling to take hold of it.

At the same time, I realize that it’s not always easy to reach out to God, especially when you feel like you’ve been hurt by Him.

In the Christmas show we saw last night, the main character was a man who had tried hard to push God out of his life.  He hadn’t always pushed God out, though.  At one time in his life, he had a wonderful relationship with God.  He had married the woman of his dreams, had a young boy with her, but then tragedy hit: his wife was killed in a car accident.

From that point on, the man kept God at arm’s length.  Even though God continued to try to talk to him, the man kept pushing God away.  He could no longer believe in a God who either would not or could not save his wife from death.  It was simply more than he could bear.

Sometimes we’re like the man in this play.  When life doesn’t go the way we think it should, we wonder if God really is who He says He is.  We wonder if He really loves us as we thought He did.  We wonder if He’s really as powerful as He says He is in the Bible.  The truth gets muddied in the midst of life.

But what can you do when you start to lose your faith?  What can you do to try to get―or get back―that love relationship with God that He says in His word that He wants with you?

Thankfully, Paul gives us the answer to that as well.  Paul says:

“Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Or as it says in the New King James Version:

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17, NKJV).

If you want to increase your faith, one of the best ways you can do it is to immerse yourself in the word of God.  When you do, you’ll hear the message that God wants you to hear―the message of Christ, the Savior who came into the world at Christmas to demonstrate God’s love for you in person.

While God speaks through the heavens and the skies, He has also spoken through many people, as recorded in the Bible.  As you read God’s words in the Bible.  You can hear what God said to people like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, or to Moses out in the desert, or to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob throughout their life-long journeys.

You can hear what God said to Sarah and Hannah and Mary and Elizabeth.  You can hear what God said to Peter and John and the woman at the well.  And as you hear God’s words as spoken to others in the Bible, it makes it easier to recognize His voice when He speaks to you as well.

I know as I hear the stories in the Bible, my faith comes alive.  I start to ask God how He might work in my life in the same ways.  Faith really does come from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I also want to encourage you to not just read these stories once and then be done.  The word “hearing” in this passage has the meaning of “hearing continually,” or in other words, “hearing and hearing and hearing.”  So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing–not just by having heard.  Read the Bible, and keep reading, then you’ll see your faith start to grow.  As D.L. Moody said:

“I prayed for faith and thought it would strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. One day I read, ‘Now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now began to study my Bible and faith has been growing ever since.”

If you’ve got a Bible nearby, I hope you’ll read it.  If you don’t have a Bible nearby, I hope you’ll get one.  There are so many great Bibles these days―and in so many languages of the world–that it would be sad if those who had access to God’s Word didn’t read it on a regular basis.  If you don’t have a Bible in print, you can also read it online in multiple languages and translations at places like www.biblegateway.com, or www.blueletterbible.org.

And if you’d like to hear how God is working in people’s lives today, I’ve put dozens of stories that you can read in the story section of The Ranch website at www.theranch.org. God is still speaking to people today, and I’d love for you to hear the stories of how God is using His Word to build people up in their faith.

In the show we watched last night, the man who had pushed God away finally reached the breaking point where he could no longer take it.  He realized he had to either give up on life, or give in to God.  He chose to give in to God, to surrender His life to God’s plan for it, and in so doing, he found that he was also finally able to hear God speaking to him.

As we get closer to Christmas this year, I hope you’ll use this time to get closer to God.  Take Paul’s words to the Romans as God’s words to you for building up your faith:

“So then faith comes by hearing [and hearing and hearing and hearing], and hearing by the word of God.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for speaking to us in so many ways and so much of the time.  Help us to hear Your message to us today, so we can respond to it in the way You want us to respond.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 10:16-21. Have you ever sensed God speaking to you through nature, as Paul implies when he quotes from Psalm 19?

2. Why do you think some people still don’t listen to God, even when He might seem to be speaking to them clearly?

3. Why do you think Paul is so sad for his fellow Israelites, based on the words he quotes from Isaiah in verse 21?

4. Based on verse 17, what are some steps you can take in your own life to increase your faith? Why not commit to taking them today?

Lesson 25: Correcting Misperceptions (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 11:1-32

The way we perceive things isn’t always the way they are.  Yet those misperceptions can persist for years, causing us to miss the truth of what God might be trying to say to us.  It doesn’t have to be that way, however. God has a way of bringing the truth into our lives, if we’re open to it, in a way that can renew our minds and change our perspective on everything.

I had an email from a woman who wondered if Jesus could possibly love her–not because of something she had done, but because of who she was:  a Jew.  She had always been told that Jesus doesn’t love Jews.  Yet after reading some of the stories on my website, she was confronted with a new truth and wondered:  Is it possible that Jesus might love a Jew?

I don’t want to betray her confidence, but I would like to share a portion of her heartfelt letter with you because I feel that her words express something that we all wonder about at times:  whether or not God really loves us, too.  Here’s part of what she said in her letter.

I was sent your site by accident, and have been reading the stories.  The more I read the more questions I have.  I’ve never seen Jesus portrayed as this site does.  I should tell you that I’m Jewish and I believe in the one true G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

I’ve read some the stories on your site and have to wonder how they could be true, but I can’t stop reading them either, something just feels right about them.  My heritage has ingrained in me that Jesus isn’t for my people.  I can’t explain why, but I find some of the stories making me cry and I’m not one that cries easily.  It doesn’t make sense.  I don’t even know why I’m writing.  I’m just really confused.  How can this G-d of yours, be the G-d I’ve grown up with?  Would Jesus love someone who hasn’t been faithfully reading the Torah for a long time? 

I’m sorry, I know this doesn’t make any sense, and I’ve always been told that Jesus doesn’t love Jews.  But after reading some of the stories I just don’t know what to believe.  Is it possible he might love a Jew?

How would you answer a letter like that?  Could you find enough evidence in the Bible to show that Jesus really did love this woman?  And even if you could, how could you convey it to her in a way that she would believe it?

As for me, I shared that I could understand why she might wonder if Jesus loved the Jews.  But the truth is that Jesus was a Jew.  The twelve disciples were Jewish.  And the whole New Testament–which talks about Jesus–was written by Jews.  In fact, Jesus never left the land of Israel to go to any other nation, except for the brief time as a child when His parents took Him to Egypt to avoid being killed by King Herod.

Does Jesus love the Jews?  Absolutely!  But sometimes it’s hard to see the truth through all of the misperceptions that we’ve been taught or believed for so many years.

The apostle Paul faced similar misperceptions among the people that he ministered to as well.  Some of them believed that God had finally given up on the Jews, because Paul and others were now taking the gospel to the Gentiles.

But nothing could have been further from the truth.  In Romans 11, Paul said:

“I ask then: Did God reject His people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah–how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace”
(Romans 11:1-5).

God’s heart still beat with love for the Jews, and the apostle Paul was one of many of them.  Paul  himself regularly preached and ministered in the Jewish synagogues first whenever he arrived at a new town, just as Jesus did (see Matthew 4:26, 9:35, 12:9, 13:54, Acts 14:1, 17:2, 18:4, 18:19, 19:8).

But Paul, like Jesus, faced a fair amount of opposition in the synagogues.  When they were thrown out of the synagogues, they took their message just as zealously to the Gentiles in those areas.  After several years of this, it seems that some of the Gentiles began to think of themselves more highly than the Jews around them.  But Paul gave them this warning:

“I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either” (Romans 11:13-21).

Paul wisely warns the Romans not to be arrogant about God’s love for them, but to remember that they were grafted into the root because of their faith and that God wants them to stand firm in that faith to the end.

We all have misperceptions at times.  Whether we’re Jewish and questioning God’s love for us, or whether we’re Gentiles and becoming arrogant about His love for us.  In either case, God wants to bring His truth into our lives and clear up any misperceptions we might have.  He wants us to know that He loves us deeply, and to respond to that love in faith.

I was talking recently to a father and his college-age son who felt a barrier had grown up between them.  The father seemed to feel the son wasn’t interested in a relationship with him because of some of the things that had passed between them.  The son, likewise, felt that his father was no longer interested in a relationship with him because of the distance that he felt.

During our talk, the father said that not a day went by when he didn’t think about his son, and the son said that he wished he could find ways to spend more meaningful time with his father.  Yet these thoughts had gone unspoken for so long that both of them felt the other no longer loved or cared about them.  It was only when the Holy Spirit brought out these deep truths through our conversation that they realized that they both eagerly wanted their relationship to be restored, but didn’t know how to express it.  Tears flowed as they prayed together, having come face to face with the truth.  I pray they’re on a new path in their relationship with one another.

I also pray for the Jewish woman who wrote to me, that God would continue to speak His truth into her life and help her to respond to that truth in faith.  I know He can do it, for He has done it for me and for many, many other people throughout history.  I believe He can do it for you, too.

At the end of Romans, chapter 11, Paul breaks out into one of the most beautiful doxologies in the Bible–an eruption of praise to God:

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom
and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable His judgments,
and His paths beyond tracing out! 

‘Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been His counselor?’

‘Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay Him?’

For from Him and through Him and to
Him are all things. 

To Him be the glory forever! Amen”
(Romans 11:33-36).

If you need some of God’s deep wisdom and knowledge in your life today, I’d encourage you to call out to Him.  Ask Him to reveal more of His truth to you.  Ask Him to correct any misperceptions you may have about Him, or about your relationships with those around you.  Ask Him to guide you and direct you and point you in the direction He wants you to go, trusting that He will always lead you along a path that is absolutely the best for you.

Then, as He reveals His wisdom to you, I pray you’ll respond to it in faith, taking the steps that He wants you to take.  When you do, I hope you’ll find yourself like Paul, erupting in praise and saying:

“Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  … To Him be the glory forever!  Amen.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that we don’t always have the fullness of Your truth, but that if we come to You, You can pour it out on us in abundance.  Lord, reveal Your truth to us this week so we can clear up any misperceptions we have about You and about those around us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 11:1-32.  In verses 13 and 14, what does Paul say is one of the benefits he hopes will result from his ministry to the Gentiles? 

2. What would you say to someone who’s Jewish who wonders if Jesus might possibly love them?

3. In verses 17-21, what reason does Paul give for why some branches were broken off, and why others were grafted in?

4. What misperceptions might you have, whether about God’s love for you or about your relationships with others, that God might want to correct?  Call out to Him today and ask Him to reveal His truth to you.

Lesson 26: Being Transformed ~ Part 1 (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2

The name of this study, “Romans: Lessons In Renewing Your Mind,” comes from the verse we’re looking at today from Romans chapter 12:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a).

This verse contains two distinct thoughts for how you can transform your life, like two sides of the same coin.  On one side of the coin, it says:  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world…”  On the other side it says:  “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  They’re two different thoughts, but with the same goal, helping you become more and more like Christ.

Today I’d like to focus on the first side of the coin, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world.”  Next week, we’ll look at the other side of the coin, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

When Paul talks about “the pattern of this world,” he’s talking about what might seem “normal” in the world around us.  But the truth is that what’s normal in the world around us are thoughts and ideas that pull us in the exact opposite direction that God wants for us.  This is why Paul didn’t want the Romans to conform to the world around them–and why God doesn’t want us to conform to the world around us.

But how do you break out of what may seem “normal”?  How do you break out of “the pattern of this world”?

Here are a few ideas that others have passed on to me over the years, and I’m glad to pass them onto you.  These aren’t meant to be legalistic “do’s and don’t’s” for your life, but they’re good ideas that I’ve tested out and found extremely helpful in my own life.  So in that light, here are three ideas that might help you to avoid being conformed to the world around you.  And all three have to do with the media that we consume:   the TV shows, movies, and other materials we expose ourself to.

I’m not a TV basher, but before my wife and I got married twenty-two years ago, we read a book that encouraged us not to have a TV in our house for the first year of our marriage.  The author suggested that having a TV in your house is like having a third partner in your marriage.  It’s always sitting there, always available for a bit of entertainment or distraction, and could take away significant time from simply enjoying each other’s company during the first year of your marriage.  The author noted that the first year of marriage sets the stage for patterns that can become habits for the rest of a couple’s life, making it important to start good habits early on.

So we gave it a try.  It was radical idea among the people we knew.  I remember a family that came over one night and one of their kids started running around the house in circles, looking for a TV.  When he couldn’t find one, he started shouting with a bit of desperation in his voice, saying, “This is a house with no TV!  This is a house with no TV!”

But for us, we were so excited about getting married and spending as much time as we could together that it didn’t seem like we were giving up that much.  It was great to just spend our hours talking to each other, cooking together, and even doing dishes together.

When we finally did get a TV again, we were shocked at how much the programming seemed to have changed in the time that we weren’t watching.  Looking back, it’s hard to know if the programming had gotten so much worse, or if we had just been away from it for long enough to realize that the shows on TV were no longer “normal” for us.  It was now easy for us to turn it off and keep it off.

Over the years, we’ve gone through various seasons where we’ve watched TV and others where we haven’t watched TV.  But in general, that first year of marriage set a pattern for us that has held for more than two decades.  We’ve recently moved into the country where we only get three or four channels at most, depending on the weather.  For the most part, neither my wife nor I, nor our six kids, seem to miss it too much!  Our family has always grown up with TV on the “side burner” of our lives, not at its center, an idea that started for us over twenty-two years ago, and has continued to help us avoid being conformed to the pattern of this world.

“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world,” Paul said.  And by intentionally limiting the amount and the type of TV shows that we’ve watched, we’ve been better able to keep God’s view of what’s “normal” in plain sight, rather than the world’s view of life.

The second type of media that often impacts our worldview are the types of movies that we watch.  Prior to becoming a Christian, I would watch all kinds of movies, regardless of their ratings.  Someone challenged me, however, that it would be wise to not watch any movie that was rated R or above–an idea that again seemed radical to me at the time.  I was over 17, after all, and why cut out what might be good movies, just because they contained more adult content?  But I respected the person who told me, and began to look more closely at the movies I watched.

I noticed that whenever I would watch an R-rated movie, the images that stayed in my head the longest seemed to be those images that gave the movie it’s R-rating.  There may have been other redeeming qualities to the movies, but those images that stuck with me the most were those that were most questionable, whether the violence, or the cursing, or the strong sensuality.    I began to realize that if the people in Hollywood, whose morals and values were often much more loose than my own, felt that a movie had questionable content for the general public, then perhaps there was a reason for me to stay away from it, too!

A friend of mine recently told me that he, too, used to watch R-rated movies all the time, not thinking anything about it.  He thought he could handle it, that it didn’t affect him, he said, to watch women in little or no clothing, or to watch gruesome violence, or to listen to people repeatedly take God’s name in vain.

But then he got married.  When he brought home a stack of movies to watch with his wife, he saw it through new eyes:  hers.  After trying to watch a few movies with his new wife, she began to say, “Why are you watching that?”  She began to wonder what kind of man she had married, who thought that these kinds of shows were normal.  Now he chooses his movies much more carefully, not just because of his wife, but because he realized that the movies he watched were affecting his view of life and what he considered to be “normal.”

“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world,” Paul said.  By intentionally putting limits on the types of movies that you watch, whether it’s going by the rating systems that Hollywood has put in place, or checking out movie reviews first by people that we trust, such as www.pluggedin.com, you’ll find yourself better able to focus on God’s pattern for your lives and less on the world’s.

The third type of media that I’ve had to take control over are the things I read–the newspapers and magazines, blogs and books.  Words have power, and a writer can steer a person’s emotions in ways that can affect us for a lifetime, whether for good or for bad.

I remember a national newspaper that I used to love to read.  The stories were always interesting and educational.  When I read those stories, I learned so much about topics I had never thought about before.  I felt like the paper was keeping me “up” with current events and helping me have the inside scoop on what was going on.  But over time, I realized that whenever the paper wrote about topics that I already knew something about in-depth, I found that the authors were surprisingly one-sided in their views, leaving out opposing views or slanting the articles towards conclusions that were the exact opposite of mine.

I continued reading the paper because I was learning so much about other topics, but I began to wonder:  If the paper could take such a one-sided view of the topics that I did know about in-depth, what other ideas were they skewing in my mind on topics that I knew much less about?  As much as I loved the paper–and my company at the time even paid for my subscription–I decided to cancel it.  I didn’t want my worldview to be shaped by an organization that held such different core beliefs from my own.

This has also carried over into the books I read and the blogs that I follow.  My goal isn’t just to surround myself with ideas that are only compatible with my own, but to consider carefully what I’m reading and why, rather than just consuming the material because it’s interesting or intriguing.  Books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs all come with their own slant, no matter how much they say they are trying to remain neutral.  The important thing is to find out whether that slant is in line with God’s Word or not, then choose what you read based on that.

“Don’t be conformed to the pattern of this world,” Paul said.  And by being careful about what you read, making sure it lines up with God’s view of life rather than than the world’s view of life, you’ll find it much easier to resist the pull of the world on your heart and soul.

In all three of these areas–whether it’s TV show you watch, the movies you buy or download or rent, or the newspapers or magazines or books or blogs that you read–God wants you to be careful about what you take into your life.  You don’t have to be a prude and you don’t have to be legalistic.  Each of these media can have good, useful and redeeming values.  But if you want to see your life transformed, you’ll find that the process is much easier when you take control over the media that you consume.  You’ll begin to get your life back, your time back, and be able to see the world with a fresh set of eyes.

“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world,” Paul said.  That’s not just good advice from a first-century apostle to the Romans of his day.  It’s good advice for you and me in regards to the world of our day, too.

In the next lesson, I’ll share more about the flip side of this coin, with some practical ideas for how to you can “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  In the mean time, I pray that God will use the ideas I’ve shared with you today to spark new ways that you can avoid being conformed to the pattern of this world.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for helping us realize that You don’t want us to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Help us to cut out or limit those things that are harmful to us, causing us to conform to the pattern of the world.  Give us ideas for how we can do this in practical ways in our lives and in our world.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 12:1-2.  What relationship is there between offering your body to God as a living sacrifice and not conforming to the pattern of this world?

2. What dangers can you see in your own life that might stem from conforming too much to the pattern of this world?

3. Are there any ideas from today’s message that you might want to put into practice in your own life, or has it sparked any other ideas that you might want to try?

4. At the end of verse 2, Paul say that if you don’t conform and be transformed you’ll be able to “test and approve” what God’s will is for your life.  What does Paul mean by this?

Lesson 27: Being Transformed ~ Part 2 (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2

In the last lesson, week we looked at three ways to renew your mind by taking control of the amount and types of media that you consume, from TV and movies to books, magazines, newspapers and blogs.  This week, we’re going to look at three more ways to renew your mind.  All three have to do with increasing how much you consume of something else in your life:  God’s Word, the Bible.

If I could give you just one idea for how to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” that far surpasses any other, it would be this:  to get as much of God’s Word into your mind as you can, as often as you can, and with as much understanding as you can.

When you do this, your mind will be renewed and your life will be transformed, just as the apostle Paul encouraged the Romans to do in his day when he said:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a).

So today, I’d like to give you three ways to get more of God’s Word into your mind:  1) read God’s Word, 2) memorize God’s Word, and 3) study God’s Word.

First, I want to encourage you to read God’s Word, and read it often.

Whether you read just one verse a day, one chapter a day, or ten chapters a day, if you’ll keep filling your mind with God’s Word, you’ll find that your mind is renewed on a regular basis.

You need more than just physical food to keep you going.  As Jesus said:

“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

God wants you to have spiritual food as much as physical food–and a steady diet of it.  The good news is that if you’re on a diet of God’s Word, there’s no limit to how much you can eat!  You can feast on God’s Word as much as you want, as often as you want!  You can never have too much of God’s Word!

Yet some people are famished in their spiritual lives because it’s been so long since they’ve had any spiritual sustenance at all.  Don’t let this happen to you!  If you don’t have a copy of God’s Word in a language that’s easy for you to read and digest, then I’d encourage you to get one soon.  There are also many websites that contain the entire Bible online for free.  One that I often use is called “The Bible Gateway” at  www.biblegateway.com.  This website contains the entire Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.

I’d also encourage you to have a plan in mind for how you want to read the Bible, whether you start at the beginning and read the whole thing from cover to cover, or whether you pick a plan that includes selected readings from various books of the Bible.  One website that has several plans for reading the Bible is called YouVersion at www.youversion.com.  If you go to their home page, you’ll find a variety of reading plans to fit your interest.  You can print them off and check them yourself, or have the system highlight a passage or send it to you by email each day.

I’ve done many plans over the years, both online and on paper, and I’ve liked each of them for different reasons.  My first time through the Bible, I just read it straight through in a year, reading 3 or 4 chapters a day, starting with Genesis and finishing with Revelation.  At other times, I’ve alternated between reading something from the Old Testament and something from the new, plus a reading from the Psalms or Proverbs every day.  And at other times, I’ve taken my time to read each passage as thoroughly as possible, taking three years to read through the entire Bible.

Currently, I’m going through a plan that my daughter tried last year and loved which takes you through the entire Bible in 90 days, called a B90X.  Since it takes an average reader about 90 hours to read through the entire Bible, this plans gives you about an hours worth of reading each day for 90 days.  If you read half an hour a day, it’ll take 6 months.  If you read 15 minutes a day, it’ll take a year.  I’m actually doing this 90 day plan by listening to the Bible for an hour each day on on my phone, using an app from the YouVersion website.  While I’m not able to get through a full hour every day, I’m hopeful that at least I’ll finish sometime this year–if I just keep going!

But whatever way you do it, just be sure to do it.  Read God’s Word over and over, and you’ll find yourself transforming as you do.

Second, I want to encourage you to memorize God’s Word.

Don’t think that you can’t memorize it, because you can!  Here’s a surprisingly easy way to memorize even whole chapters at a time.  If you’ll read the same passage of the Bible out loud every day for thirty days, you’ll often find out that you’ve actually memorized it by the end of the month, if not before, without even trying to memorize it.

My wife has done this with our kids, for instance, reading Psalm 139 to them every day, sometimes once, or twice, or three times a day.  Amazingly, the kids all knew the whole chapter word for word within just two weeks, and all they did was listen to it being read to them.  And of course, my wife was able to pick it up at the same time, too.

You might also want to try writing out a verse or two on a small card and carrying it with you wherever you go.  Then you can pull out the card whenever you’re waiting in line, or taking a walk, or riding in a bus or train or car, reading it over and over until you’ve gotten it stored away in your mind.  You’ll be amazed at how God can speak to you through just one or two verses from the Bible even while you’re memorizing it, and how it will come back to your mind at a later time, especially when you particularly need it.  Some people try to memorize the chapter and verse numbers along with the passages so they can easily find them later, while other people just focus on the words themselves.  Either way, the important thing is to “hide God’s Word in your heart,” as the Bible says:

“I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

If you’d like a list of some great verses to memorize, I’ve posted a list on my website called “The Top 100 Verses in the Bible.”  This is a list that you can read, print out, or write on note cards for yourself.  It’s free, and you can get it from the link below:
http://streams.theranch.org/Top100Verses.pdf

So my second recommendation is to memorize the Bible, so you can recall it to your mind whenever it’s needed.

Third, I want to encourage you to study God’s Word.

While you can get so much from reading the Bible just as it’s written, you can get even more out of it when you study it in-depth, whether on your own or in a group with others.

Even people mentioned in the Bible have found it useful to have others help explain to them what it means.  When a man from Ethiopia was reading the book of Isaiah, Philip saw him and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  The man from Ethiopia replied:

“How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” (Acts 8:31).

So Philip stopped and explained the passage to the man.  The man was so moved by what he learned, he put his faith in Christ on the spot and asked Philip to baptize him in some water nearby (see Acts chapter 8).

There’s a reason we have pastors and teachers, authors and speakers.  They’ve often spent a fair amount of time studying the Bible themselves, plumbing it’s depths and testing it out in the face of the reality of life.  By learning from their wisdom, you’ll be able to see some of the precious jewels they’ve already discovered, and you’ll be better able to apply them to your life as well.  Or, as Isaac Newton said:

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

When you take the time to learn from others who have gone before you, you too can stand “on the shoulders of giants,” seeing what they’ve seen and then going further yourself.  I’d also recommend talking to others about what you’re reading in the Bible.  As God said to the Israelites when He gave them His commands:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-8).

There’s so much to learn from others that I hope you’ll make use of the wealth of knowledge that is contained within the books and people around you.  Spend some time at a local Christian bookstore, if you have one nearby, or browse for books that might be of interest on websites like www.christianbook.com.  I’ve written several devotional books myself to encourage people in their Bible reading, several of which include study questions at the end of each chapter that you can use for personal reflection or small group discussion, like the questions I’ve included at end of this message today.

If you’d like any of my books to help you get more out of your Bible reading, you can get them anytime from www.inspiringbooks.com.

The Bible is so important to helping you understand life, which is why every one of my devotional messages contains at least one, and usually several, passages of scripture from the Bible.  I know that the most important things I could ever tell you are already contained in the words of the Bible.  The rest of what I have to say simply highlights or underscores what can already be found in God’s Word.

In conclusion, I want to encourage you to read God’s Word, memorize God’s Word, and study God’s Word.

When you do these things, you’ll find that you’ll be renewing your mind as you do, transforming your life and discovering God’s will along the way.  As the apostle Paul said:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us Your Word, and for those who have preserved it and translated it and helped us to understand it throughout the generations.  Help us to read Your Word on a regular basis, to hide it in our heart when we can, and to study it on our own and with others so we can learn as much as possible.  Lord, help us to renew our minds so we can transform our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 12:1-2.  What are some ways that reading the Bible has helped you to renew your mind?  And in what ways has renewing your mind helped in transforming your life?

2.  Have you ever read the entire Bible from cover to cover?  If so, how has that helped you in your life?  If not, in what ways do you think it might help you?  Are there any goals you have in mind for reading God’s Word this year?

3. What advantage do you think there might be to memorizing verses or passages from the Bible, compared to just reading it?  Would you like to try to memorizing some more passages of Scripture again this year?  Remember, here’s a link to the Top 100 verses in the Bible if you’d like some ideas of where to start:
http://streams.theranch.org/Top100Verses.pdf

4. What value have you gotten from reading other books about the Bible?  What value have you gotten from talking to others about the Bible?  Are there any steps you’d like to take this year towards studying God’s Word more in depth, whether on your own or with others?

Lesson 28: Thinking Of Yourself (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:3-8

The way you think of yourself is often affected by what others say about you.  One of my favorite stories that shows the power of other people’s words over us is a true story told by a woman named Eddie Ogan.

Eddie says that when she was young, the pastor at her church challenged everyone in the congregation to prepare for a special offering to be taken up at the end of the month for a poor family.  Eddie, her two sisters and their mother were so excited about what they might do to help that they went home that night and came up with a plan:  if they ate only potatoes, turned off the lights, didn’t listen to the radio, got odd jobs and sold what they could, they might be able to save enough to help out with this special offering.

It turned out to be one of the best months of their lives.  By the time the month was over, they donated all the money they had save to the special offering:  $70 in all, made up of three crisp twenties and a ten.  They felt rich.

Later that afternoon, the pastor of the church stopped by their house for a visit.  He left an envelope with their mother.  Their hearts sank as they went back in and opened it.  Out fell three crisp twenties, a ten, and seventeen one dollar bills.   Suddenly they realized that they were the poor family in the church.  They had never thought of themselves as poor before, but at that moment, they felt they were and they felt that everyone else must see them that way, too.

The next week, they didn’t want to go back to church again, but their mother made them.  A missionary was speaking about needing $100 to put a roof on a church building in another country.  The pastor asked his congregation if they could take up an offering to help these poor people.  Eddie and her family smiled for the first time in a week.  They put the contents of their envelope back into the offering.  When the money was counted, it was just over $100.  The missionary was surprised and said that the church must have some rich people in it to take up such an offering!

When Eddie and her family realized they had put in $87 of that offering, they realized that they were the rich family in the church!  “Hadn’t the missionary said so?”

Eddie says that from that day on, she’s never been poor again.

The way you look at yourself can often be shaped by what others say about you… whether for good or bad.  But God wants you to look at yourself for who you truly are:  a child of His, created to fulfill His purposes here on earth.  He doesn’t want you to think of yourself any higher, or any lower, than you really are.  Pride can ensnare you, but low self-esteem can be also keep you from reaching your fullest potential.

How can you think of yourself properly?  The apostle Paul gives us some perspective in his letter to the Romans.  In chapter 12, Paul says:

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:3-8).

When you realize that God has created you for a specific purpose, you can better see how you fit into the scheme of things here on earth.  Albert Einstein is quoted as saying:

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” 

God doesn’t compare you to those around you.  He compares you to the potential that He has put within you.  And that potential is often defined by how you act, or don’t act, “in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

If God has created you to prophesy, then prophesy in proportion to your faith.  If God has created you to serve, then serve in accordance with the amount of faith God has given you.  If teaching, teach, if encouraging, encourage, if giving, give generously, if leading, govern diligently, if showing mercy, show it cheerfully.

By living your life in this way, it releases you from the trap of comparing yourself with others and from the pitfalls of both pride and low self-esteem.

But living this way is easier said than done.

I recently finished reading a series of books called The Hunger Games.  It’s a gripping story about a post-war America, in which the leaders of the country pit children against each another in a fight to the death for the entertainment of the rest of the country.  As these gruesome games go on year after year, one girl stands up to the games and finds herself at the center of a revolution.

But throughout the book, this one girl, Katniss Everdeen, thinks she’s not the right person for the job.  She doesn’t want to be the face of the revolution.  She doesn’t see how she could possibly lead the charge.  Yet everything about her screams out to those around her that she’s exactly the person who can spearhead this effort to make things right again.

At one point in the story, she struggles with a decision about a particular strategy they’re considering, so she asks a friend what he thinks.  He says:

“I think… you still have no idea.  The effect you can have.”

When I read that line, I was considering fasting and praying about some situations in my own life and the lives of some people close to me.  But I was wondering if it would make any difference anyway.  Just then, I felt God speaking to me and saying, “Eric, I think you still have no idea, either, the effect you can have.”

God was right.  I had no idea.  But I was willing to give it a try.  I stepped up in faith, began fasting and praying, and over the next few days watched as God unfolded the answers to those prayers.

I felt like Katniss Everdeen, the girl who had no idea the effect she had on those around her, yet who sparked a revolution to change the course of history.  I felt no pride, and I felt no lack of self-esteem.  I felt like I was simply acting “in accordance with the measure of faith God had given me.”

Sometimes we’re unable to see ourselves for who we really are and it takes others to point it out to us.  But we have to be careful whose judgments we take into account.  As Eddie Ogan found out, had she chosen to believe the words of the person who said her family was poor, she might have felt poor her whole life.  But she chose to believe the words of the man who said she was rich instead.  Either statement could have been true, depending on how she looked at it.  In the end, she chose to believe what God said about her:  that her family had acted in faith to help someone else in need, and in doing so, were considered rich.

Sometimes we have to let the words of others sink deep into our hearts so that we believe them.  Other times, we have to do as Solomon said in the book of Ecclesiastes and let them just pass on by:

“Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you–for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others” (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22).

Not every word someone says about you is true, nor is it the whole truth.  Only God has that perspective.  Don’t think you’re stupid if you can’t climb a tree if God has created you to swim!

Renew your mind today in the way you think of yourself.  Take what others say with a grain of salt, then take it to God for His perspective.  Let God tell you exactly what He thinks of you, without getting puffed up and without getting down on yourself, but with sober judgment.  Then do what God has created you to do, “in accordance with the measure of faith that He has given you.”

Who knows?  Perhaps you’re like Katniss Everdeen, too.  You have no idea…the effect you can have.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us a purpose for our lives and thank You for giving us gifts to carry out that purpose.  Help us to put the gifts You’ve given us to use this week to a degree that we may have never used them before–according to the measure of faith that You’ve given us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 12:3-8.  How have words spoken to you through others either boosted you up or pulled you down?  Take those words to God and ask Him to give you His perspective on them. 

2.  Looking through this short list of gifts in the book of Romans, are there any that stand out that you feel God might have given to you?  Is there a way you could step out in faith and use one or two of those gifts in your life this week, this month, or this year? 

3. Paul lists some specific adjectives to describe how we are to use our gifts:  generously, diligently, and cheerfully.  If you were to use those words to measure how well you’re doing in using your gifts, how are you doing?  

4.  How could changing the way you think about your gifts change your approach to using them?

Lesson 29: Thinking Of Others (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:9-21

The story’s told of two friends who were walking through a desert together when one of the friends slapped the other in the face.  The one who was slapped wrote a note in the sand saying:

“Today my best friend slapped me in the face.”

But as they walked further along, the one who had been slapped fell into a pool of water and began to drown.  This time, his best friend reached down and pulled him out of the water, saving his life.  This time, the friend who was rescued etched a note on a stone saying:

“Today my best friend saved my life.”

When asked why he wrote one note in the sand and the other note in stone, the one who had written both phrases replied:

“When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand, where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away.  But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone, where no wind can ever erase it.”

Too often, we get this backwards:  we write people’s offenses in stone rather than sand, perhaps because they’ve hurt us so much, or perhaps to protect ourselves from being hurt again.  Then we write the good deeds that people have done for us in sand, forgetting over time just how significant those good deeds have been in our lives.

But according to the Bible, true love keeps no record of people’s offenses at all.  As Paul said to the Corinthians:

“Love… keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5b).

In the last lesson, we looked at the importance of thinking of ourselves properly, without falling into the traps of either pride or low self-esteem.  In this lesson, we’re looking at the importance of thinking of others properly, without falling into the traps of either conceit or comparison.

When Paul wrote about love to the Romans, he wrote a simple yet profound statement:

“Love must be sincere” (Romans 12:9a).

While this may seem obvious–that if we love someone we should love them sincerely–it’s not so easy to do.  For some people, it’s easy to fake love.

I know a man who seemed like he was a friend to everyone, describing himself as having “great people skills.”  Yet in private conversations with him, I discovered that he viewed others with various degrees of disdain, resentment and frustration, often thinking of himself as better than those around him.  The love he showed to others was based on keeping up his image in public more so than having true esteem for those around him.

His attempts at love were just a shallow imitation of what real love looks like.  Real love is sincere.  In Latin, the word “sincere” literally means “without wax,” (sine meaning without, and cera meaning wax).  Apparently, if a craftsman carved a statue in stone and accidentally nicked or chipped the carving along the way, he would fill in those spots with wax.  On the surface, the statue would look pure and faultless.  But after a while in the hot sun, the wax would melt and the truth would be known:  that which appeared pure and faultless at first was in fact quite flawed.

When Paul said that love must be sincere, or “without wax,” he was saying that love shouldn’t be just for show, but for real.

In the past, I used to think that the word “Sincerely” was just a formal way of signing off on a business letter, as I learned in business school back in college.  But in recent years, and knowing the meaning of the word “Sincerely,” I find myself using it more and more often.

When I write a note from the depths of my heart, I sign it, “Sincerely, Eric Elder.”  To me, it’s no longer just a formal closing, but a heartfelt statement saying, “I really mean this from the depths of my heart.”  It’s much closer to meaning “Love, Eric Elder” than I ever would have thought.  And that’s just what Paul said:  Love must be sincere.

I find that it’s helpful for me to check how sincere I am in my love for others by substituting the words “true affection” for “love.”  I might be able to say that I love someone, but when I ask myself if I have true affection for them, then the flaws in my love for them are revealed.

When this happens, I have to regroup my thinking and try to see them as God sees them:  as beloved children of His who have been created for specific plans and purposes here on earth.  When I change my thinking, it changes how I view others, and subsequently how I love and interact with them.  It doesn’t always happen in an instant, but I recognize it much quicker now when I do the “true affection” test!

In Romans 12:9-21, Paul includes more than a dozen statements about what real love looks like when it’s sincere.  Here are a few of those statements:

  • Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 
  • Honor one another above yourselves.
  • Share with God’s people who are in need. 
  • Practice hospitality.
  • Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 
  • Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 
  • Live in harmony with one another. 
  • Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
  • Do not be conceited.
  • Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 
  • Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 
  • If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 
  • Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath
  • Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

If you reframe each of these thoughts as a question, you’ll get some good ideas for what you might do this week, this month, or this year to show more love to those around you.  For instance:

  • What can you do to show your devotion to another brother or sister in Christ?  
  • What can you do to honor someone else above yourself?  
  • What can you do to share with other Christians who are in need?  
  • What can you do to practice hospitality towards someone you know?
  • What can you do to bless someone who is persecuting you?  
  • What can you do to rejoice with someone as they rejoice, or to mourn with someone as they mourn?
  • What can you do to live in harmony with others, rather than provoking continual discord? 
  • What can you do to be humble instead of proud, and to associate with people of low position?
  • What can you do to avoid being conceited?
  • What can you do to refrain from repaying anyone evil for evil?
  • What can you do to do what is right in the eyes of everybody?
  • What can you do to live at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on you?
  • What can you do to not take revenge on someone else, but leave room for God’s wrath?
  • What can you do to avoid being overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good? 

I know that I want to keep my love for others sincere, without wax, as pure and flawless as possible.  I want to have true affection for others, whether they’re close friends and family or just casual acquaintances or strangers or even enemies.

I want to think of others as God thinks of them:  as children of His, created by Him for specific plans and purposes here on earth.

I don’t want to be the kind of person who etches in stone those things that others have done wrong.  I don’t even want to write them in the sand.  I want to be able to keep no record of wrongs, recalling instead only the good that others have done for me in my life.

But I know that to do all of this it will take more than what I can do on my own.  It will take the love of Christ, living in me and working through me, to think of others the way God wants me to think of them.  If you want that, too, I hope you’ll pray with me today.  Pray that God will help you to love others in ways you could never have done on your own.  With His help, you’ll be able to express love to others as the apostle Paul encouraged the Romans to do, saying:

“Love must be sincere.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for loving each one of us and giving each one of us a purpose and a plan for our lives.  Help us to think of others in the same way that You think of them.  And help us to treat them with the love and honor that is due them.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 12:9-21.  What would it look like for someone to be devoted to someone else in brotherly love?   

2.  How can you honor one another above yourself, truly honoring them for who they are and who God created them to be? 

3. What are some ways you could “share with God’s people who are in need,” or “practice hospitality” towards those around you?  How can doing these things express your love in ways that words alone may not express? 

4.  What are some reasons God wouldn’t want you to take revenge on someone, but to leave it in His hands instead?  What are some ways you can bless your enemies or those who may be persecuting you, and what might be the result when you do?

Lesson 30: Doing What’s Right (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 13:1-7

As we continue to look at ways to renew your mind, I’d like to look with you today at the way you view those in authority over you, whether they’re a boss, a parent, or even a government authority.  If you view authority with contempt, distrust, and disrespect, you’ll often find that same contempt, distrust and disrespect coming back to you.  But if you view authority with God’s perspective, trusting that even ungodly authorities can have a place in God’s plan in the world, then you can have much more peace of mind in the midst of struggles.

I remember working for a boss for whom I didn’t have much respect.  He often asked me to do things that seemed pointless.  We were friendly towards each other, but neither of us had much trust or respect for the other.

One day he asked me to fill out a survey that the company said was to be voluntary and anonymous.  But my boss required that everyone that worked for him had to fill it out, and because I was working out of town at the time, I was going to have to fax my survey to him, making it obvious that it came from me.  When he said I had to fill out the survey, I reminded him that it was supposed to be voluntary and anonymous.  Still, he said he expected to see my survey on his desk by the next morning.  I was furious.  While it may not have seemed like a big deal to him–asking me to fill out what he thought was a harmless survey–I was afraid if I gave my honest responses, it could jeopardize my future standing in the company.  And if I didn’t answer honestly, I was afraid I would be compromising my own standards of integrity.  So I decided I was just going to refuse to turn it in.

But as the day went on, God began to work on my heart, bringing to my mind the biblical view of authority.

The apostle Paul wrote about this view to the Christians living in Rome.  And from what I know about the way the Romans treated Christians at the time, I’m sure the Roman Christians had way more problems with their bosses than being asked to fill out inane surveys!  They obviously had it much worse than me, and yet here’s what Paul said to them:

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:1-7).

Paul encouraged the Roman Christians to “do what’s right.”  He knew that if Christians could respect those in authority over them, the benefits would abound all around, both to those they serve and to themselves.

Any parent knows that when a child is obedient and respectful, that child can often ask for most anything and the parent is happy to oblige.  Yet when a child is disobedient and disrespectful, the parent is often unwilling to give in to any type of request, for fear that the child might abuse whatever is given to them.  When a child shows respect and honor to a parent, that same respect and honor often returns back to them.

Going back to my earlier story with my own boss, I remember finally coming to the conclusion that it was more important to respect and honor my boss–even though I disagreed with him–because God had called me to respect and honor those in authority over me.  My boss wasn’t asking me to do anything immoral or illegal.  I just disagreed with his approach.  After expressing my disagreement, and his insistence that he still wanted me to do it, then I knew what I had to do.

I filled out the survey as honestly as I could and faxed it to him by the next morning.  My heart felt at peace.  I knew I had done what was right, even if it might cost me something down the road. To my amazement, my relationship with my boss changed starting that very day. I don’t know if it was something that changed within me, or something that changed within him–or a combination of the two–but over the next few months, he became my biggest supporter and my strongest advocate for every project I took on.  He knew he could count on me to do what he asked me to do and because of this trust, he gave me greater leeway in how I carried out my projects than he had ever given me before.

Like a horse that was finally broken, I felt I could now be useful to him in all kinds of ways.

This doesn’t mean that those in authority over us are always right, just as any parent knows full well!  Any parent can and will make mistakes–and the same goes for bosses and governments.  But just because those in authority over us don’t always do the right thing doesn’t mean that we can’t do the right thing.  As Paul said, “he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

Even men in the Bible like Joseph, Nehemiah and Daniel found ways to serve those in authority over them even though the people over them were often ungodly and did the wrong things.

Joseph was sold as a slave in Egypt, yet he still treated his masters with respect and honor, doing what was right and earning a place of respect and honor in their households, their prisons, and eventually in service to the king himself, being placed second in command over all the land.

Nehemiah was captured and put into the service of an ungodly king, yet he became the king’s cupbearer, a trusted position to ensure that no one poisoned the king’s wine.  When Nehemiah needed some time and money to go rebuild the walls around Jerusalem, the king honored his request, because Nehemiah had honored the king.  Daniel was taken as a slave to Babylon, yet he served the king with integrity in his heart and his attitude, earning the king’s respect and becoming one of his top officials.

I’m sure each of these men wanted to rebel against the authorities God had put over them at many points in their lives.  And on some occasions, they did have to disobey the ungodly and immoral commands of those in authority over them, rightly claiming that God had a higher authority in those particular instances.

When Potiphar’s wife asked Joseph to go to bed with her, Joseph refused.  When Nebuchadnezzar’s officials asked Daniel and his friends to bow down and worship the king, they refused. In both cases, Joseph and Daniel paid a significant price for their insubordination, but they were willing to do so because they realized that in some cases, it was more important to submit to the authority of God than the authority of men.  So there seem to be times when submitting to God’s authority trumps submitting to earthly authorities.  But those times are much fewer than most of us might like to admit!

The principle remains:  when we submit to those in authority over us, whether it’s our authorities on earth, or our Authority in heaven, we’ll have peace of mind, because we’ll know we’ve done what’s right.

If you’re wrestling in your mind with something that someone in authority has asked you to do, bring it to God.  Ask Him to help you to know what to do, then do it.  You’ll avoid punishment and your mind will be clear.  As Paul concluded:

“…submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:4b-7).

Will you pray with me?

  

Father, thank You for reminding us of the importance of submitting to those in authority over us.  Lord, give us Your wisdom as we weigh how to do that to the best of our ability, not only to avoid punishment, but because of conscience.  Help us to renew our minds in the way we think about those in authority over us, changing our hearts and minds and even our relationships with others as we do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 13:1-7.  Why do you think Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to respect those in authority over them?  What possible benefits could result from this type of submission?

2.  In what areas of your life could you benefit from putting Paul’s words into action?

3.  How could changing the way you view those in authority over you bring you more peace of mind?

4. How could changing the way you interact with those in authority over you bring about a change in your relationships with them?

Lesson 31: Thinking About Sinful Desires (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 13:8-14

My kids and I were window shopping in downtown Chicago last week.  We were looking at all the cool things in the Apple store on Michigan Avenue when my wife came up after finishing a doctor’s appointment.  She said she had seen a man outside in a wheelchair who was asking for money.  He didn’t look like he was doing very good at all.

She didn’t have much to give him, but she gave him what she had:  a little pocket change and a prayer.  When she asked if she could pray for him, he said:

“Yes!  Pray that God will give me a girl.  I think about making love (he used another word for it) with a girl all day long and I can’t get the thoughts out of my mind.  I’m just so lonely and I can’t stop thinking about making love with someone.”

After getting her thoughts back together–and refraining from trying to immediately cast something evil out of him–she began to pray for him, asking God to give him what he needed, even if it wasn’t the thing that he was asking for.

When my wife told me about it later, it reminded me of the verse that we’re looking at today in the book of Romans.  The verse says:

“… do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:14b).

Paul knew that even just thinking about gratifying the desires of the sinful nature could lead to doing them eventually.  As the apostle James said in his book:

“… but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15).

Just as good thoughts can lead to good actions, sinful thoughts can lead to sinful actions.  And sinful actions, when pursued in full, can lead to all kinds of destruction, even death.

It doesn’t take much imagination to think about what could happen if this man in his wheelchair did get a girl and was able to do with her whatever he wanted.  But if we’re honest with ourselves, the thoughts he expressed may not be so far removed from the thoughts any one of us have from time to time.  And if we don’t keep them in check, all kinds of terrible things could happen if we were to follow-up on our thoughts as well.

I was talking to another man this week who said he was having similar thoughts–although he used more palatable words.  He said he was just standing there admiring the beautiful curves of a particular woman he had seen when he suddenly realized what he was doing.  Before he let those thoughts overtake him, he reminded himself that he had died to his old sinful nature when he was baptized into Christ.  He was lonely, too, just like the man in the wheelchair, and he longed for a lifetime companion.  But he also knew he couldn’t gratify the desires of his sinful nature in the way that he was imagining.  So he took control of his thoughts, brought them back under the authority of Christ, and was able to walk away with a victory in his mind instead of a defeat.  What a blessing that was for him and for others who were spared from the destruction that could have ensued.

What my friend was doing was “putting aside the deeds of darkness and putting on the armor of light” as Paul described in the rest of his thoughts to the Romans.  Paul said:

“So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:12b-14).

It really is possible to take control of your thoughts.  When you do, you’ll be blessed and so will those around you.

If you look back even further in this passage, you’ll see why Paul was so passionate about helping others get control over their thoughts:

“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here” (Romans 13:11-12a).

Paul wants us to wake up from our slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  For years, people have been saying that Jesus is coming soon, just as Jesus said Himself almost 2,000 years ago.  The truth is, His coming is closer now that it’s ever been!  As Paul said, “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here!”  What a great thought and what a great motivator to do what’s right!

Don’t let the darkness overtake you.  Don’t give in to dwelling on thoughts that could lead to your destruction.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that Jesus isn’t coming back soon, because He is.  As Jesus said to the apostle John:

“Yes, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20).  

Jesus wants you to live your life to the fullest and the best way to do that is to live your life in the light.  This isn’t to say that it’s easy to overcome temptation.  But it is possible, and more than that, God will help you to do it.  As Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians:

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

You may have tried various ways to overcome temptation.  But Paul mentions something in this passage that we’re looking at today that may give you some extra help as you try to break free.  If you look back just a little farther still, you’ll see that Paul says instead of focusing on our sinful desires, we should focus on how we can express God’s love to others:

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10).

There’s a big difference between lust and love.  Lust, at its core, is all about selfishness and doing whatever you want to others.  Love, at its core, is all about selflessness, and doing for others what you would want them to do for you.  Instead of thinking about how you can gratify your own sinful desires, Paul says you’re to put on the armor of light, and think about how you can express God’s love to others.

I’ve shared before about my aunt who got some great advice from her doctor when she was going through some days filled with dark depression:  he suggested that instead of thinking about herself, she try to think about ways she could help other people.  By focusing on blessing others instead of wallowing in her own thoughts of despair, she was able to pull herself out of the darkness by focusing on others.  She began to bake food for friends, bringing them cakes, cookies, pies, or anything she thought they might enjoy.  She was able to get out of the pit she was in and, to this day, she continues to bless those around her, now from a place of victory rather than defeat.

The same can happen for those who struggle with sinful desires, which can bring about the same kind of darkness.  When tempted to dwell on thoughts that are potentially destructive to yourself or to those around you, you can take those thoughts captive and replace them with other thoughts.  Reach out and put on God’s armor of light, and let the light of Christ shine through you instead.  Replace your selfish thoughts with selfless thoughts, and you’ll begin to see God turn around situations that you may have thought were hopeless.

Take a meal to a friend.  Write a letter to someone who needs encouragement.  Put a check in the mail to someone who could use a financial boost.  Call a parent or an aunt or an uncle or a brother or a cousin or a friend you may not have seen or talked to in a long time.  It may seem like hard work at first, but soon you’ll find that the darkness is fleeing and the light of Christ is flooding into your soul.

Clothe yourself with Christ today.  Let His light shine through you.  Let Him use your hands and your feet, your words and your actions, to those around you who could use a touch from Him.  Let your mind wander about ways you can love your neighbor as yourself, instead of ways that you can gratify the desires of your sinful nature.  If you need some extra encouragement, just remember the words of Paul, who said:

“And do this, understanding the present time.  The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now that when we first believed.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for promising that You will come for us soon.  Help us to keep that at the forefront of our minds as we consider how to bless those around us instead of how to gratify our own sinful desires. Help us to take our eyes off ourselves and to focus on those things that You want us to do in the world.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1.  Read Romans 13:8-14.  Why does Paul say we should let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another?

2.  How can loving others help us to overcome sinful thoughts and actions in our lives?

3.  What are some practical ways that you could show your love to others, instead of dwelling on how you could gratify the desires of your sinful nature?

4. What are some other ways that you might “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ”?

Lesson 32: Being Fully Convinced In Your Own Mind (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 14:1-15:13

It’s amazing how different people can see things so differently, even when looking at the exact same thing.  I recently heard about a Brit, a Frenchman, and a Russian who all looked at the same painting of Adam and Eve frolicking in the Garden of Eden, but came to three different conclusions:

“Look at their reserve, their calm,” said the Brit. “They must be British.”

“Nonsense,” said the Frenchman. “They’re naked, and so beautiful. Clearly, they are French.”

“Look at them,” said the Russian.  “They have no clothes, no shelter, and only an apple to eat.  Yet they’re being told this is paradise. They must be Russian!”

The same thing can happen to each of us as Christians.  We can all look at the same exact passage of Scripture, yet come to vastly different conclusions.  How can we live in unity with each other, even in the midst of our differences?  Here are a few ideas that the Apostle Paul gave the Romans, and which we can apply to our lives today:

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord… 

“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.  As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died… 

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall… 

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 14:1-8,13-15,19-21,15:7).

I love reading these verses because they remind me that I don’t have the ultimate answer to every question regarding the Bible.  I’ve come to many conclusions over the years and I feel fully convinced in my own mind that those conclusions are right.  Yet I’m reminded by these verses that there are some things that are even more important than being “right.”  Like being loving, caring, considerate and pleasing to God and to others.

In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin said that he was incredibly tactless in his youth, arguing with others to the point where no one wanted to talk to him anymore.  Yet he eventually became known as one of the most diplomatic men who ever lived, even becoming the American Ambassador to France.

What changed?  Franklin said it was something an old Quaker friend said to him when he was young.  Dale Carnegie, in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, paraphrased what Ben’s Quaker friend said that day, saying it went something like this:

“Ben, you are impossible.  Your opinions have a slap in them for everyone who differs with you.  They have become so offensive that nobody cares for them.  Your friends find they enjoy themselves better when you are not around.  You know so much that no man can tell you anything.  In deed, no man is going to try, for the effort would lead only to discomfort and hard work.  So you are not likely ever to know any more than you do now, which is very little.”

Benjamin Franklin took these words to heart and decided to make a change in his life.  As Franklin says in his own autobiography:

“I made it a rule to forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiment of others, and all positive assertion of my own, I even forbade myself the use of every word or expression in the language that imported a fix’d opinion, such as ‘certainly,’ ‘undoubtedly,’ etc., and I adopted, instead of them, ‘I conceive,’ ‘I apprehend,’ or ‘I imagine’ a thing to be so or so, or ‘it so appears to me at present.’  When another asserted something that I thought an error, I deny’d myself the pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and of showing immediately some absurdity in his proposition: and in answering I began by observing that in certain cases or circumstances, his opinion would be right, but in the present case there appear’d or seem’d to me some difference, etc.  I soon found the advantage of this change in my manner; the conversations I engag’d in went on more pleasantly.  The modest way in which I propos’d my opinions procur’d them a readier reception and less contradiction; I had less mortification when I was found to be in the wrong, and I more easily prevaile’d with others to give up their mistakes and join with me when I happened to be right.

“And in this mode, which I at first put on with some violence to natural inclination, became at length so easy, and so habitual to me, that perhaps for these fifty years past no one has ever heard a dogmatical expression escape me.  And to this habit (after my character of integrity) I think it principally owing that I had earned so much weight with my fellow citizens when I proposed new institutions, or alterations in the old, and so much influence in public councils when I became a member; for I was but a bad speaker, never eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in language, and yet I generally carried my points.”

Benjamin Franklin realized that there were more important things than being right.  And by giving deference to the ideas and opinions of others, he did win more friends and influence more people.

We as Christians can do the same.  It’s important to discover your convictions and hold onto them strongly.  But there’s a difference between holding strongly to your convictions at the expense of others, and holding strongly to your convictions for the sake of others.  One strives to be right no matter what, the other strives to build others up no matter what.  Which are you trying to do?

I know for me, I still have a long way to go in how I present my beliefs to others and how I listen to others when they share their beliefs with me.  In the end, I want the love of Christ to prevail.

It’s good to be fully convinced about what you believe.  Yet it’s also good to give God enough leeway to allow Him to speak into other people’s lives, just as He’s spoken into yours.

As you work on renewing your mind this week, remember that God is working on the minds of others as well.  Give them the grace they need to let God do His work in their lives, just as He’s given you the grace you need as He works in yours.  As Paul concluded:

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for speaking to us and giving us clear direction for our lives.  Help us to remember that You are speaking to others and giving them clear directions for their lives, too.  Help us to be mindful of the ideas and opinions of others, allowing for the possibility that they may just be right.  In the end, help us to accept one another, just as You have accepted us, in order to bring praise to You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 14:1-15:13.  Why does Paul say we should not condemn others for what they’re doing, when they’re doing it in accordance with the measure of their faith?  

2. What are some of the benefits that could come from fully convinced of something in your own mind?

3. What are some of the negatives that could result from imposing those beliefs on others, even though you may be fully convinced of them yourself?

4. What motivation does Paul give us in Romans 15:7 for why we should “accept one another”?

Lesson 33: Overflowing With Hope (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:13

I’d like to pray for you today that the God of hope would fill you with joy and peace so that you may overflow with hope.  This is what the apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Rome, as recorded in the book of Romans, chapter 15:

“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” (Romans 15:13).

What a prayer! Paul wanted them to be so filled with joy and peace that they overflowed with hope!   If there’s any day on the calendar that could give you hope, it would be Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day, the day that Jesus overcame death itself.  Because Jesus died and rose again, we who have faith in Him can know that when we die, we’ll rise again as well.  This is what I love about Christianity:  even in the face of death, there’s always hope!

My wife Lana was filling up a glass for one of the kids this week, but she filled it up too far and the glass overflowed and ran all over the table!  That’s the kind of hope that God wants to fill you with, too.  He doesn’t just want to give you a drop of hope, or a glass that’s half-full of hope, or a glass that’s even full of hope.  God wants to give you a glass that overflows with hope!

If you remember back in Lesson 10 of this study, you might remember that I wrote about a picture my daughter had given me.  The picture showed a hand reflected in the side view mirror of a car.  The word “HOPE” was written on the palm of the hand.  Below the word “HOPE” were the words on the mirror that said:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

You might also remember that this picture filled me with hope at the time because Lana had just been praying for another car.  Ours was on its last legs and we had to get a new one.  But the car she was praying for was twice what we could afford.  So I told her that night that I’d pray for the car she wanted, and added, “The same God who takes care of me will take care of you!”  It was my way of saying, “Sorry, I can’t help you on this one.  God’s going to have to do it Himself!”

The very next morning, as I drove into a parking lot to go to a men’s meeting, a man pulled in right behind me driving the very  car that Lana had been praying for!  I’d never seen this man or his car ever before!

When I got out of my car, I introduced myself and casually asked if he ever thought about selling his car.  He said he had just been thinking about it!  He said I could take a look at the car, so I sat down inside it and looked out the window.  That’s when I saw the side view mirror with the reflection of the car in it, and these words in the mirror:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

I couldn’t believe it.  I took a picture of the mirror with my phone and confessed my unbelief to God, reminding myself that God could do anything, absolutely anything.

Over the next few months, I checked back with the man several times about the car.  He wasn’t quite ready to sell and I wasn’t quite ready to buy.  But I kept the picture on the background screen of my phone from the day I first saw that car, as a reminder to myself that with God, there’s always hope.

As the months went on, I began to give up on the idea of ever getting the car for Lana.  The picture on my phone began to be more discouraging than encouraging, so I changed the background picture on my phone to something else.  But a few days later, I decided to put the picture of the car back on my phone.  I needed the reminder that with God, there’s always hope.

Then one day, a few weeks ago, we got a tax refund in the mail.  I had already decided that I would put the money towards a new car, and even though it wasn’t enough to get Lana the car she was praying for, I was glad to finally be going shopping for any car, as we had been borrowing cars from others and even renting them at times to get where we needed to go.

As I shopped around, I was disappointed in the cars I saw.  I tried to think of any way I could get Lana the car she had been praying for.  With a bit of desperation, I called a friend to see if she had any ideas, because she had recently bought a car similar to the one Lana wanted.  It turned out that she happened to be at the car dealership where they sold this type of car, a place she had only been to once before!  She looked around the lot  and found a car that was exactly what we wanted.  Not only was it the perfect car, it was the perfect price, too!

I drove home, picked up Lana and drove a couple hours to the car dealership to see the car.  By the end of the day, Lana was driving home in the car that just a few months earlier, I thought we’d never be able to get!

Now I don’t have to look at the picture of the car to give me hope… I can look at the car itself!  God continually reminds me that He’s the God of hope, and that He wants us to overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit!

God cares about the details of our lives.  Now I want to tell you why this answer to prayer is especially meaningful to me at this particular point in my life.

A few months ago, Lana was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, meaning that the cancer has already spread to her lungs, liver and spine.  The doctors say it will shorten her lifespan considerably and give us very little hope she’ll survive.

But that doesn’t mean that we’re without hope.  If you know my wife, you’ll know that she’s overflowing with hope!  Why?  Because we serve the God of hope!  Even in the face of death, there’s always hope!  The Bible says:

“But as for me, I will always have hope;  I will praise You more and more” (Psalm 71:14).

We recently heard a pastor say that when Satan shoots his fiery darts at you, just say “Thanks for the ammunition!” and throw them right back at him by giving praise to God in the very area that’s being attacked.  So as for Lana and me, we will always have hope.  We’ll just keep praising God more and more.  By doing this, we’re holding up our shield of faith, which, as the Bible says,

“… can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16b).

How can you keep renewing your mind, in both the good days and the bad?  By putting your faith in Christ for everything in your life.  Keep putting your trust and hope in Him.  God really can to anything, absolutely anything.  Hope is just around the corner.  As it says on mirror of Lana’s car:

“OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for raising Jesus from the dead on Easter Sunday, so many years ago and thank You for promising to raise us from the dead one day, too, if we’ll just put our faith in Your Son.  I pray for each one reading this message today that the God of hope will fill them with all joy and peace as they trust in Him, so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions For Reflection

If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and for the assurance that you’ll be with Him forever in heaven, I pray you’ll do it today.  As Jesus said:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).  

Every one of us will die some day.  The question is what will happen to you on that day?  Jesus said if you’ll put your faith in Him, you’ll have eternal life:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  

But if you don’t put your faith in Jesus, you’ll have to pay the price for your sins yourself, as Jesus went on to say:

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:17-18).  

Jesus didn’t come to condemn you to hell, but to save you from it.  He doesn’t want you to die.  He wants you to live an abundant life, both here on earth and in heaven forever.  Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins.  Invite Him into your life to become your Lord.  Then live your life like it’ll never end–because if you’ve put your faith in Him, you’ll live forever!

Lesson 34: Instructing One Another (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:14-24

One way to renew your mind is to teach others what you’ve been learning.  It’s a way to both review what you’ve learned, and to bless others at the same time.  So today, I’d like to encourage you to consider taking some time to teach others what you’ve learned in life.

Sometimes we get caught up by the idea that we haven’t learned enough to be able to teach anyone else anything.  Sometimes we think we need more training, or that others may be more qualified to teach than we are… both of which may be true.  But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t others who could benefit from what we’ve learned so far!

For some time now I’ve been praying for a drum teacher for my two younger sons.  They’ve been wanting to play the drums and we have a drum set, but they didn’t have anyone to teach them.  A few months ago, I ran across a high schooler who played the drums for a worship team in town.  I asked if he happened to give drum lessons and he said he did.  He pulled out a business card with his name on it.  At the top, it said:

“Drum Lessons For Beginners”

That was just what I needed!  I signed the kids up and they’ve been learning and loving the drums ever since.  What I loved about this high schooler was that he told us up front exactly what he had to offer:  “Drum Lessons For Beginners.”  He made no claims that he was the best drummer in town, or that he’d be teaching them advanced music theory.   But he did have exactly what we needed:  a willingness to teach what he had learned so far.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he told them that he had wanted to come to them many times before, but had so far been hindered from doing so.  I’m sure Paul would have been a great teacher for them, and they could have learned a lot from his time with them.  But Paul pointed out that they already had people to teach them– they had each other!  Paul said:

“I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another” (Romans 15:14).

Paul was convinced that they were already filled with enough goodness, knowledge and competence to “instruct one another.”  What a boost that must have been to the Roman Christians!  They didn’t have to be like Paul or wait for Paul to benefit from godly teaching about the Lord.  They had what it took to instruct one another!

Paul knew the power of an encounter with Jesus.  He had taken his own advice from the beginning of his ministry.  The book of Acts tells that within days after Paul had his life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was already telling others what he had learned.  The Bible says:

“Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.  At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’ Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah” (Acts 9:19b-22).

Even as a brand new Christian, Paul had something to offer.  “Bible Lessons For Beginners,” so to speak.  Yes, he preached to anyone who would listen, including kings and the highest religious leaders in the land.  But his heart always beat for sharing the gospel with those who had never heard about Jesus before.  That is, in fact, why he was so often hindered from going to Rome, where there were already Christians capable of teaching one another.  Paul said:

“It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written: ‘Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.’ This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you” (Romans 15:20-22).

Several years ago, I was shopping for a new Bible.  I like to read the Bible over and over and sometimes like to read it in different versions, because I learn something new when I do.  But as I was looking for a new Bible, I felt God was saying to me something like this:  “You don’t need another Bible, Eric.  What you need is to be writing to others what you’ve learned from the Bible already.”

I had already begun writing devotional messages like the ones I send out now each week, like this one.  In each message, I simply share a passage from the Bible and share how God has used it to speak into my own life, encouraging others to read their Bibles and let God speak into their lives, too.

I don’t make any claims that I’m better at reading the Bible than anyone else, or that there aren’t other people who may be way more qualified to teach the Bible than I am.  But what I do have, I’m willing to offer to others.  What I’ve learned from God through the Bible has so affected my life that I want to share it with everyone who will listen.

Although it’s good to learn as much as you can before teaching others, and to get as much training as you can, and to check and recheck your theology and ideas so that you’re not leading people astray, the truth is that the best prerequisite for teaching others about Jesus is that you’ve spent time getting to know Jesus yourself.

This is just what the Bible says about the first disciples.  After Peter and John healed a man, they spoke to the people gathered there who then heard their message and put their faith in Christ.  The rulers and elders of the people were astonished.  The Bible says:

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Peter and John were ordinary and unschooled men, yet they had one thing that many of you reading these words today have:  they had been with Jesus.

If you’ve been with Jesus, spending time with Him, reading His words, praying and interacting and learning from Him, then it’s not surprising that He would want you to share what you’ve learned with others.  As Jesus told His first disciples:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

One of the characteristics of being a disciple is making disciples.  It simply goes with the package!

Don’t let your training–or lack of training–stand in the way of sharing what you’ve learned with others.

When I first graduated from college, I spent five months in Bangladesh teaching some people at a disease research center how to use a computer program for their work.  I didn’t know much about the computer program myself, but I had a book about it and was able to read enough as I went along to test out the program and teach them what I learned along the way.

I imagine they might have learned more if they had taken a class from a professor in computer programming, or someone who had worked with the software for years already.  But there weren’t any professors in computer programming around, nor anyone else who had worked with the software before either!  But I was willing to go anywhere and work with anyone, so somehow God sent me.  The people I taught were grateful and I was blessed to be able to use my skills, no matter how limited, to help others.

I’d like to encourage you to consider sharing with others whatever God may have shared with you, whether it’s drum lessons, Bible lessons, or even these lessons on renewing your mind.

If you’ve been with Jesus, through the Spirit and through the Word, and have benefited from your time with Him, you can be sure that others can benefit from what you’ve learned, too!  I am convinced, as Paul was convinced about the Christians in Rome, that you yourselves are “full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”

Take whatever you’ve learned and share it with others.  You’ll be blessed as you review what you’ve learned, just as you’ll be a blessing to those who may be learning it for the very first time.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for teaching us so much about who You are and how You want us to live our lives.  Help us to share what we’ve learned with others so that we can pass on the blessings that You’ve passed on to us.  Help us to overcome our fears of speaking and writing, teaching and preaching, so that we can be like Paul, boldly going where no man may have gone before and  proclaiming the good news about Christ to everyone who will listen.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 15:14-24.   What was the message that Paul said he had been preaching everywhere he went?  And to whom had he been preaching that message to?

2. With all of Paul’s learning, training and experience, why do you think he still loved preaching to those who were brand new to the message of Christ?  

3. What kinds of things has God taught you from which you have greatly benefited?

4. Can you imagine anyone else who might benefit from learning what you’ve learned?  And if so, would you be willing to be the one to teach them?

Lesson 35: Assisting Others On Their Journey (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:23-29

One of the things I love about the human heart is that it’s wired to help others when they’re in need.  I see this repeated over and over:  when a natural disaster strikes a town, or when a terrible wrong is committed against someone who’s done right, or when a beloved friend passes away.  When people see a need, they often respond with caring hearts.

But even though our hearts are wired to help others in need, sometimes we need a little prompting.  Sometimes we need to remind our minds of the blessings we’ve received from others, and then our minds can nudge our hearts to respond as we should.

The apostle Paul gives two such reminders in his letter to the Romans.  The first comes when he tells them that he’s planning to visit them in the future when he passes through Rome on his way to Spain, and he hopes they’ll help him on his journey there.  Paul says:

“But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while” (Romans 15:23-24).

While mentioning that he is looking forward to enjoying their company for a while, Paul also mentions that he hopes to have them assist him on his journey to Spain.  I don’t think Paul was trying to “guilt” the Romans into helping him on the next leg of his missionary journey.  From what I’ve read about Paul in his other writings, I believe he simply knew that their hearts would want to help him on his journey.  After all, his own heart was wired in the same way.

Then in the very next paragraph, Paul mentions that he’s on his way to deliver a gift to his Jewish brothers and sisters who were in need in Jerusalem, gifts which he had collected from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia.  Paul says:

“Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.  They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ” (Romans 15:25-29).

Paul understood this blessing of giving and receiving, that when someone blesses you in your life, it is good and right and appropriate to share your blessings with them at some point in return, freely and voluntarily.

On a personal level, I know that my heart is often moved to help others on their journey,  especially those who have been a blessing to me.

When I first became a Christian, I remember hearing about “tithes and offerings,” giving ten percent and more of your income to the work of God in the world.  I hadn’t tithed before, not because I was against it, but because I simply didn’t have this principle in my mind yet.  But once I understood this principle in my mind, my heart was glad to respond―thrilled to respond, in fact.

I remember some of the first “big” checks I wrote to support the work of God in the lives of missionary friends I knew (at least they were big checks to me, as I had never done this before).  I was thrilled to be able to help my friends in a significant way each month.  I didn’t feel obligated or guilted into it in any way.  I just knew the blessing of hearing about Christ in my own life, and I was glad to help my friends share about Christ with others.  It’s all part of this idea of giving and receiving―sharing with others the blessings that God has given to us.

Now that I’m in full-time ministry myself, I sometimes have to remind myself that when I share about a need that I have, that God is often prompting others to respond at the same time.  I have to remember that it’s not an obligation or a burden to others to hear about and respond to my needs.  It’s the way God has wired our hearts.  Knowing this has helped me to be more open about the needs in my own life and I’ve been thankful to see how people have responded to those needs.

In the past few months, I’ve been amazed again at the generosity of others, including many of you, who have stepped in and helped my wife and me as we walk through my wife’s journey with cancer.

I have been humbled and reminded frequently just how good and kind and caring the human heart really is.  Sometimes we miss this truth, especially when we are bombarded with such bad news about the wicked things that people have done in the world.

Of course there’s bad in the world.  Of course there’s wickedness, greed, evil, and depravity. But all of this stems from good hearts that have been corrupted by sin―usually related to some kind of selfishness.  But when our hearts are right with God, something else takes over―something called selflessness; doing to others what you would have them do to you and giving your life for the sake of others, just as Jesus gave His life for us.

Assisting others on their journey is not foreign to the human heart.  But sometimes it does take a little prompting from our minds–and the Holy Spirit–to get our hearts in gear.

This week, I heard about some friends who have been praying about buying a van and a mammogram machine so they can go back to their home villages in Kenya and do cancer screenings for the women there.  Perhaps it was because of my wife’s recent diagnosis that my ears were especially attentive to their request.  My heart wanted to respond. I didn’t know what I could do or how I could help, but I was willing to find out.

I called my friends and listened as they talked about their hopes and dreams and prayers for this project.  I’m still not sure what I can do yet, but now my heart and mind are both engaged and attuned to the need.  As my friends move forward with their plans, perhaps we can find a way to take part along the way.

At the same time, I was surprised this week by a note from one of our readers overseas who asked if there was anything special Lana and I needed at this time.  He had been blessed by our ministry and wanted to do something special in return.  Although I hesitated to share our personal needs with him, I eventually did share a few things about which we had been praying.  Within a few hours, he responded to say that he was sending a gift that would not only cover those needs that I had shared, but would double the amount of what I had shared!

To me, this was a living example of what Paul was talking about in his letter to the Romans, where those who had received spiritual blessings from someone responded by sending a gift of material blessings in return.

The human heart really is wired to respond to the needs of others.  Oftentimes the only thing holding us back is making our minds aware of the needs around us so our hearts can respond.

With this in mind, I’d like to encourage you to be on the lookout for ways that God might want to use you this week to bless others, especially those who have been a blessing to you.  Perhaps you have a friend or relative who has gone out of their way to spend some time with you.  Perhaps you have a spiritual leader or mentor or a particular ministry than has spoken into your life in a special way.  Perhaps you have a project or a school or an organization which has been a blessing to you and now you can be a blessing to them in return.

I’m sure your heart is good and eager to assist others on their journey, but sometimes it takes a little reminder like this to jog your memory and bring it to the forefront of your mind.

I pray that as God renews your mind in this way that the natural response of your heart will follow.  Don’t ignore the promptings that God puts there. Don’t put them off until the feelings “go away.” Lean into those promptings and see what God may have in mind for you―and for those He wants to bless through you.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for blessing us in various ways through the people around us.  Help us to be attentive to their needs as well so that we can be a blessing to them.  Refresh our minds again today about practical ways that we can help them, then nudge our hearts to follow through on those thoughts.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 15:23-29.  In what ways could the Christians in Rome have possibly assisted Paul on his journey to Spain?

2. Read Acts 28:7-10.  In what ways did the people of Malta respond to the blessings they received from Paul? 

3. Who are some people in your life who have been a blessing to you?  In what ways might you be able to bless them in return?

4. In what ways could you open your mind still further to the needs around you in order to meet those needs yourself?  Consider praying that God would renew your mind in this area, so He can work His blessings through you.

Lesson 36: Enlisting Others To Pray For You (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:30-33

Are you struggling with something in your life today?  If so, I’d like to encourage you to do something special:  enlist others to pray for you.

If you think asking for prayer is a sign of weakness, think again!  Asking for prayer is one of the strongest things you could ever do–and one of the best ways to keep you strong.

The apostle Paul knew this secret and often called on others to pray for him, as he did near the end of his letter to the Romans.  Paul said:

“I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed” (Romans 15:30-32).

Paul asked for prayer with boldness.  He urged the Romans to pray for him, “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit.”  And he didn’t just ask for a blanket prayer to cover him in all ways at all times.  He asked them to pray for him in specific ways, particularly in those areas where he struggled the most.  He asked that he would be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that his service in Jerusalem would be acceptable to the saints there, and that he would be able to come to them in Rome with joy and together with them be refreshed.

The dangers that faced Paul on his trip to Jerusalem–and then on to Rome–were real and significant.  If you read about his trip in the book of Acts (chapters 21-28), you’ll see that Paul was captured, imprisoned and threatened with death on several occasions, not counting the shipwreck that obliterated his ship along the way.  Paul needed prayer and I have no doubt that the prayers of the Christians in Rome helped to sustain him all along the way.

But it’s not easy to ask others to pray for you.  I know.  Just last week I was celebrating my 23rd wedding anniversary in New York City with my superb wife, Lana.  We had an awesome time, filled with fun, romance and a wonderful walk through Central Park.  But on the last day of the trip, I got sick–and not just a little sick, but a violent, wrenching sickness like I haven’t experienced in a long time.

At one point, Lana asked if she should call a few people and ask them to pray for me.  I said, “No, I’ll be all right.”  I hoped it would just pass quickly, and I didn’t want anyone to worry, as they knew we were on our special anniversary trip.  But as the hours passed and I was just getting worse and not better, I finally agreed to have Lana made a few calls.

Although the sickness persisted throughout the night and on into the next few days, I felt different immediately just knowing that a few other people were praying for me and checking in on me from time to time.  I was also able to see the fact that I was sick in a new way, realizing that my body was doing just what it should do in trying to forcefully expel whatever had maliciously entered into it.

It turned out I had the flu and the healing process that God had begun on that first day finally prevailed.  Thankfully, I’m almost back to full strength again.  Unfortunately for Lana, she got what I had a few days later, so we had to enlist others once again to pray for her!

The reason I bring this up today is to let you know that I understand what it’s like to need prayer, but not want to ask for it–especially at those times when we feel the weakest.  But the truth is, without prayer, we’ll just get weaker and weaker.  With prayer, God can give us the strength we need to go on.

I also wanted to tell you this story because prayer not only changes things, it changes the way you look at things.  Even though I still had to walk through the rest of my sickness, I was able to realize that the very things that was making me feel sick–the expelling of whatever had made its way into my system– was the very thing that was bringing my healing.  By being able to look at what was happening to me differently, I was able to better endure the rest of the time that I had to go through it.

Prayer really can renew your mind, and by enlisting others to pray for you, you can renew your mind even faster.

If there’s an area in your life where you’re struggling today, I want to encourage you to do as Paul did and enlist others to join you in your struggle–through prayer.  As Paul said,

“I urge you… to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”

There are all kinds of struggles you might be facing right now:  whether they’re struggles with lust or secret sins, fear or doubts, real or imaginary dangers, hardships, relationships or bothersome thoughts.  The list is endless.  The beauty of prayer is that it can address every single struggle you could possibly face.

One of my friends and mentors says that everyone needs a prayer team.  You don’t have to be in full-time ministry, or going through a particular crisis, to ask people to pray for you on a regular basis.  You could be an expectant mother or a struggling student, a successful architect or an aspiring teacher.  You could be married or single, with kids or without.  You could be needing money or managing your money.  You could be traveling full-time or at home full-time.  Whatever you’re doing and whatever you’re going through, you can benefit by enlisting others to pray for you.

Not sure who to ask?  You might ask a friend, or a co-worker, or a neighbor.  You might ask a pastor or a priest.  You might even ask someone you don’t know, like Lana and I did last week in New York, when we were visiting some churched there.  At one church, I sensed the man sitting next to me was truly “a believer.”  I could tell from his “Amens” that he not only believed in God, but he believed in the power of God.  So after the service, I asked if he would pray for us.  He was not only glad to pray, but he invited us to dinner, which we unfortunately had to decline because of our schedule.

At another church, we were talking to a man outside the church before the service.  Afterward, we reconnected again.  We asked if we could pray for him and then he returned the favor and prayed for us.

For years now, we’ve been asking for and benefiting from the prayers of others.  We’ve asked for prayer from family and friends, small groups and Sunday School classes.  We asked for prayer when we were single, when we were dating, when we got married, and when we started having children.

When Lana was diagnosed with cancer this year, she set up a blog to keep others updated and let them know how they could pray for us.  The effects have been tremendous already, as the prayers of others have given us an abundance of strength, wisdom, healing and encouragement.

If you’re going through a struggle in your life, you don’t have to go through it alone.  Enlist others to join you in your struggle by praying to God for you.  If you’re not sure who to ask for prayer, or just want to get some additional prayers from believers who love to pray, we have a special prayer page at The Ranch website setup just for that.  Just visit www.theranch.org to find it.

By the way, the apostle Paul did eventually make it to Rome, just as he had asked the Romans to pray for him.

It may not have been exactly the way he expected, or the timing he expected, but he did get there, through God’s strength–and the prayers of others.  As Luke recorded in the last chapter of the book of Acts:

“When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him… For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:30-31).

God answers prayer, and He loves when we enlist others to pray with us.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for showing us the value of enlisting others to pray for us.  Help us to reach out to others when we’re struggling so that we won’t become weaker and weaker, but grow stronger and stronger each day through Your strength.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 15:30-33.  What are some reasons people might be hesitant to ask for prayer?

2. What difference could it make if you enlisted others to pray for you?

3. In what areas are you struggling right now where you could ask others to pray for you?

4. Who are some specific people that might be willing to pray for you?

Lesson 37: Being Wise And Innocent (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 16:1-20

Once you’ve worked hard to renew your mind, God wants you to keep it renewed.  And one of the best ways to keep it renewed is to be careful of the company you keep.

Believe it or not, there are people out there who don’t have your best interests in mind.  They’ll use smooth talk and flattery to try to lead you astray from the teaching you’ve learned–teaching that has helped you in many ways in your life.

In the final chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul warns about such people.  Paul says:

“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.  The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:17-19).

If you look at this paragraph closely, you’ll find some secrets for how to detect when people are trying to lead you astray for the wrong reasons.

First, Paul urged the Romans, “to watch out for those who those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.”

God had taken a great deal of time to teach the Christians in Rome good solid truths about Himself and the Bible, and Paul wanted them to hold onto those truths.  In the same way, God may have taken a great deal of time to teach you some good solid truths about Himself and the Bible and God wants you to hold onto those truths, too.

If someone comes along and tries to teach you about a “new” truth, or “higher” way of looking at God and the Bible, be wise about how you listen to them.  Take what they say back to God and the Bible to see what He says about it in His Word.  While there’s value in keeping an “open mind,” you don’t want to keep it so open that all the good teaching you’ve already learned falls out!

Be a good student of the Bible, like the people in the city of Berea, who took even what Paul said and examined it carefully according to what they had already learned.  The Bible says:

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

Second, Paul gave the Romans some simple advice about what to do when they came across people who were teaching them things that were contrary to what they had already learned:  “Keep away from them.”

Why?  Because the company you keep matters.  If you don’t choose your friends wisely, Satan will be glad to choose some for you.  Satan knows that one of the best ways to lead you astray is to put people in your life who will pull you over to his side.

Paul gave a similar warning in his letter to the Corinthians when he said:

“Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33b).

How can you know who’s “bad company”?  By studying not just what they’re teaching, but by studying their character as well.  Paul alludes to this when he talks about the motives of those who might try to lead the Romans astray.  Paul says:  “For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”

Although it’s not always apparent right away, a little study of the people around you can go a long way in determining their true motives, whether they’re doing what they’re doing to serve the Lord Christ, or to serve their own appetites.

It makes me think of a girl who falls in love with a boy just because he tells her, “You’re beautiful.  I love you.  And I want to do something special to make you happy.”  All his smooth talk and flattery may work in his favor, but it may not work in hers.  If the girl were wise, she would study not only the words that are being spoken, but the motives of the person who is speaking those words.

If you’re wise, you’ll do the same: anytime someone tries to speak something into your life that runs contrary to what you’ve already learned, it’s helpful to study not only the words that are being spoken, but the motives of the person who is speaking those words.

I think it’s interesting to note that leading up to his warning about those who might lead the Romans astray, Paul begins his chapter by listing some “good characters” and what made them noteworthy or admirable, people that Paul knew personally in Rome.  For instance, he says:

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe… for she has been a great help to many people, including me.

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them… 

“Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

“Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you” (Romans 16:1a,2b,5b,6).

The list goes on and on, as Paul commends to them person after person:

“Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

“Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.

“Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

“Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ… 

“Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord… 

“Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too” (Romans 16:7-10a,12a,13).

If you want to learn something about a person, a personal recommendation like this goes a long way.

In choosing an eye doctor one time, Lana and I talked with a friend who worked for an eye doctor.  Our friend told us that when her doctor needed a doctor, he chose a particular man in town, having seen his practice long enough and knowing his character was strong enough that he trusted this other doctor with his own eyes.  So when we needed an eye doctor, we were able to benefit from his very personal recommendation.

Contrast this with another eye doctor we went to visit a few weeks earlier who, with his smooth talk and flattery, almost convinced us to come to him.  But  when we went home and looked into his life and practice a little more, we found out that his credentials weren’t quite as good as what he made us believe, and the bad recommendations we read about him just sealed our resolve to search for another doctor.

This isn’t to say that we might not be led astray at times by personal recommendations, too.  But many times, if we’ll take the extra effort to study the person as well as what they’re trying to say to us, we can save ourselves from being led astray.

Third, Paul concludes his warning with these words: “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”

Paul was full of joy over the obedience of the Romans.  Everyone had heard about it, he said, and he didn’t want anyone to take that away from them.  “Be wise about what is good,” he said, “and innocent about what is evil.”

Again, these are similar to words he wrote in his letter to the Corinthians:

“In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults” (1 Corinthians 14:20b).

Paul wanted the Romans–and the Corinthians–to put their minds to work, being wise about what was good.  At the same time, he wanted them to be like children in regards to evil, having nothing to do with it and being as innocent as possible.

What’s the end result of all of this?  As Paul said at the end of his warning::

 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

With all the work that goes into renewing your mind, be sure to keep it renewed by being wise about what is good and innocent of evil.  Study the teaching of those around you–and the character of those teaching it–before allowing their teachings into your mind.  As you protect your mind, God will protect you, and keep Satan at bay.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us to stay true to what we’ve been taught about You and Your Word.  Help us to study deeply any ideas, and the people behind those ideas, that are presented to us that conflict with what we’ve already heard from You.  Help us be wise and innocent so we can keep our minds pure.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 16:1-20.  What are some of the words that Paul uses to describe those whom he trusts in Rome, compared to the words he uses to describe those who might be trying to deceive their minds?

2. Can you think of some times when you’ve been led astray by smooth talkers who’ve been serving their own selfish interests?

3. Can you think of other times when you’ve been blessed by the wisdom and personal recommendations of true friends?

4. What are some ways this week that you can “be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil”?

Lesson 38: Believing And Obeying God (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 16:21-27

Today we’ve reached the conclusion of the book of Romans, the final words of Paul’s letter that punctuate his goal for writing it.  These words also underscore the purpose for which God wants you to renew your mind:  so that you might believe and obey Him.  Here’s what Paul said:

“Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey Him–to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Romans 16:25-27).

Paul often concluded his letters by giving praise to God, just as he did above in this letter to the Romans.  Sandwiched in between his words of praise, he also mentions the purpose for which the mystery of Jesus Christ has been revealed:  so that all nations might believe and obey Him.  This is God’s desire for all people in all nations, including you and me–that we would believe and obey Him.

As I’ve mentioned in some earlier lessons, there’s a difference between believing in God, and believing God.  You can believe in God, yet still not believe Him–still not be convinced about who He is and what He can do in and through your life.  God wants you to believe in Him, for sure.  But He also wants you to believe Him when He tells you something regarding your life.  Then He wants you to take action based on that belief.

Believing and obeying God is a major part of renewing your mind.  God wants you to renew your mind so that you can bring your thinking in line with His.  When you do this, you’ll be better able to believe and obey Him, regardless of whatever life may throw your way.

I’ve been praying quite a bit this week for my wife Lana, who, as I’ve mentioned before, was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer a few months ago.  Apart from a miracle, the doctors say that this type of cancer is incurable and will shorten her life considerably.  As you can imagine, our faith has been put to the test on a daily basis regarding what we believe about God and what He is doing through all of this.  Yet with all that’s going on, we continue to find God’s peace in the midst of it.

How?  Because God has spent considerable time and effort over the years filling our minds with His thoughts about us, that He is for us, not against us, and that He will work all things for good, even in this.

At the risk of being extra-vulnerable, I’d like to share one of my journal entries with you from earlier this week.  I often write down my questions for God in my journal, and then listen for what He might be saying in response.  While I’m not always sure if the thoughts I attribute to God are really mine or His, they do give me a starting point for helping me think through what He might be trying to say to me.  With that disclaimer, here’s what I felt God was saying to me earlier this week regarding His will for Lana and her healing, most of which are thoughts that are based firmly in what He’s already written in His Word:

“Eric, you know My will is that she be healed, that she have no more pain, and that she never be separated from you.  You also know that in this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world.  Peace I give you, peace I leave with you, not as the world gives, but My peace I give you.  I know you believe I could heal her in an instant.  But I also know that you believe I can work all things for good, ALL THINGS, no matter what happens.  Eric, I have prayed for you that your faith may not waver.  Yes, I do give, and yes, I do take away, but I know and I trust that you will still praise Me.  Your faith is, of course, more precious to Me than gold.  Yes, pray for her healing, but also pray for her heart to be at peace.  Pray that she will continue to know that I am walking through this with her every step of the way.”

At that point, I asked God for a verse that might help me express this dichotomy I feel inside me, that while I trust in God fully for Lana’s healing, I also trust Him whatever the outcome may be. The verse that came to mind was from the book of Job.

While I sometimes think it’s cliche to think of Job when things are going bad in life, I also realize there’s a reason why people turn to Job when things go awry:  because no matter what happened to Job, he still gave praise to God!

The Bible says that Job was the greatest man among all the people of the East.  He was blessed with seven sons and three daughters, seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a large number of servants.

He was upright and blameless in all he did, even praying for his sons and daughters on a regular basis, offering sacrifices on their behalf in the early morning, just in case they might have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.

Yet for all his faith and all the good that he had done, tragedy struck.  In a single day, he lost almost everything with which God had previously blessed him:  his sons and daughters, all of his livestock and almost all of his servants.  Overwhelmed with grief, Job tore his robe and shaved his head.

But what encourages me about this passage is that through it all, Job still trusted God.  After all these terrible things happened to Job, the Bible says:

“Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’

“In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:20-22).

Even when life turned against him, Job still gave glory to God.  I can see why people might lose their faith when tragedy strikes.  But I can also see, from this story of Job, that it doesn’t have to be that way.  Job had no guarantees of what the future held, but he knew who held his future and he trusted Him implicitly.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he didn’t know what his future held, either.  As we learn from the book of Acts, Paul’s future had a fair share of tragedy as well.  But through it all, Paul trusted God implicitly.   He knew that God was able to strengthen him through Jesus Christ for whatever he might face and that God would be glorified through it all, no matter what happened.  As Paul said in his closing words to the Romans:

“Now to Him who is able to establish you [to strengthen you] by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ… to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen”

I don’t know what you’re going through today, but whatever it is, don’t let fear and doubt overtake you.  Take it all to Christ instead.  As Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

“…take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b).

No matter what comes your way, take it to Christ.  No matter what people say, take it to Christ.  No matter what life throws at you, take it to Christ. Let Christ speak to you in all situations.  Let Him have the last word.  Let Him override anything that anyone might say to you that is contrary to His Word.

The truth is that God loves you very much.  He is for you.  And He will work all things for your good, when you love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Whenever a thought comes your way that goes against what God says in His Word, ask Him to strengthen you through Jesus Christ.  Ask Him to renew your mind and to fill your thoughts with His thoughts, giving you the faith to believe His Words, so you can walk in obedience to whatever He calls you to do.

In whatever you do, keep glorifying God and enjoying Him through it all, which, according to the historic Westminster Confession of Faith, is the chief end of man:

“To glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”

As Paul said to the Romans, let me say to you:

“Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ… so that all nations might believe and obey Him–to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for being able to establish us in our faith and help us to be obedient to You.  Renew our minds again this week, and help us to take every thought captive that sets itself up against You.  Fill us with faith, help us to walk in obedience, and may your name be glorified through it all.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 16:25-27.  What is God’s goal for the nations, according to this passage of Scripture?

2. Why is it so important to God that we believe and obey Him?  What difference can it make to Him, to us, and to others?

3. In what areas of your life could you use some strengthening in your faith today?

4. Is there a particular act of obedience that God might be calling you to do this week?  Ask Him to give you the strength and faith to do it.

Conclusion: “Brain Washing” In The Best Possible Way! (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2

My son is came home from Bible college a few weeks ago and said some people in his town think that all the kids who go to his school are brainwashed.  My son said, “They’re right!  We are!”

Their brains are washed in the best possible way, washed by God Himself, cleansed by His Holy Spirit, and renewed to look more and more like the mind of Christ every day.

As we wrap up this study of Romans: Lessons In Renewing Your Mind, I wanted to give you some final thoughts on how to keep your “brain washed” in the best possible way, too.

First, I want to encourage you to keep reading the Word of God.

My wife has been going through chemotherapy the last few months and spending a lot of time reading and memorizing God’s Word.  Once in awhile she’ll read a newspaper or magazine article about cancer and its devastating effects.  It always reminds her how much more hope and joy she has whenever she reads the Bible!  So she picks up her Bible again and starts reading it instead.  We could all do more of that!

As God said to the Israelites:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-8).

Some people might think that reading the Bible all the time is like burying your head in the sand and ignoring the problems in your life.  But there’s a difference between burying your head in the sand and burying your head in God’s Word!  Sand leads to suffocation and death, whereas the Bible leads to fresh air and life!

If you want to keep your mind as fresh and clean as possible, keep reading God’s Word as much as possible, every day, many times a day.  A pastor was once asked which version of the Bible was the best.  His answer?  “The one you read the most.”  Amen!

Second, I want to encourage you to keep surrounding yourself with other Christ-minded believers so they can “re-mind” you of God’s Word, too.

I know that there may be times when you may not feel like going to church.  I know that you may not feel like going to Bible studies and getting to know complete strangers.  I know that once you’ve gotten to know those complete strangers, they may do things that annoy you, or irritate you, or make you wonder why you ever bothered going at all.

But for all the potential pitfalls of interacting with others, there’s nothing more powerful than having a Christian brother or sister encourage you in your faith and life.

As the writer of Ecclesiastes said:

“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

Renewing your mind is hard work, but God doesn’t want you to do it alone.  He wants you to rely on Him, and He wants you to rely on His people, the body of Christ, who all share the same head, Jesus Christ.

We got a package in the mail last week that made us cry.  It came from a church we used to attend about 20 years ago.  In the package were a stack of cards from the church members and a check from the church.  We were so overwhelmed by this expression of love and care that we couldn’t even open the stack of cards.

When we finally did open them, our tears began to flow again–tears of joy and thankfulness for their thoughts and prayers for us during this time in our lives.  It was such a reminder to us of how the body of Christ works to lift us up in our time of need.

While it can be hard at times to invest your time in getting to know other Christ-minded believers, it’s an investment that will pay dividends for you and for them for years to come… for all eternity, in fact!

So first, if you want to keep renewing your mind, keep reading God’s Word.  Second, keep surrounding yourself with other Christ-minded believers so they can remind you of God’s Word, too.  And third, always remember that God LOVES you, He is FOR you, and He can work ALL THINGS for good in your life!

When I started writing this study almost a year ago, I had no idea what the year might hold.  I had no idea how my life was about to change as my wife was diagnosed with cancer.  Yet, as I’ve been rereading the whole book of Romans again this week, and rereading each of my messages from this past year, I’ve been reminded again just how much God loves me, is for me, and can work all things for good in my life, too.

And I’m positive that God loves you, is for you, and can work all things for good in your life.  How can I be so sure?  You don’t take my word for it!  You can take His!  Here are just a few reminders again of what Paul said in his letter to the Romans:

“But God demonstrates HIS OWN LOVE FOR US in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:3).

“If God is FOR us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31b).

“And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

If you’ve read with me this far, I’m sure that you love God and are called according to His purpose, too, so these words apply to you just as much as they applied to the Romans to whom Paul was writing!  Let God’s Word sink deep into your mind today.  Let Him speak words of love, words of support, and words of encouragement to you every day.

If you need a good “brain washing,” I’d encourage you to take some time to read and reread the whole book of Romans again (then take some more time to read and reread the whole Bible again!)  There’s nothing better to help you renew your mind than to wash it with the Word of God.  Surround yourself with other Christ-minded believers who can speak God’s Word into your life as well.  And always remember that God LOVES you, is FOR you, and can work ALL THINGS for your good.

As I said at the beginning of this study, one of the most powerful forces in the world in an idea.  Revolutions of all kinds have been sparked by mere ideas and even the smallest ideas can grow to either define… or destroy you.  That’s why it’s so important to make sure your ideas are in line with God’s ideas.

As Paul encouraged the Romans, let me encourage you:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is –His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for speaking to us through this amazing book called Romans.  Thank You for Paul’s faithfulness to write down what he learned from You so he could share it with others.  Help us to be faithful with what we’ve learned so we can apply it to our own lives and to help others apply it to theirs as well.  Wash our minds, cleanse our hearts, and fill us with Your peace.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. Read Romans 12:1-2.  The term “brainwashing” is often used in a negative way, referring to someone who has been convinced of something that is untrue.  But in light of today’s study, how can “washing your brain” with God’s Word work in your favor?

2. Who are some people in your life who are so filled with God’s Word that it seems to flow out of them whenever they speak?  What could you do to spend more time learning from and growing together with them?

3. Read Romans 8:28-39.  What verses from this passage stick out in your mind that are particularly helpful to you in your life right now?

4. Skim through the book of Romans again, or take an hour or so to read the whole book again.  Write down any words or phrases that God may be wanting to speak to you.  Hold onto those words and let God use them in the days ahead to continually renew your mind.

Appendix to Romans: Lessons In Renewing Your Mind (Back to Table of Contents)

The following five messages were written midway through the writing of the this series on renewing your mind.  Even though the messages and the prayers shared within them are from a previous season of my life, I’ve included them here at the end of this series to highlight the importance of keeping your mind focused on God’s perspective at ALL times.

May God bless you as you read these additional messages and may God give you the desires of your heart as you keep putting your faith in Him!

Appendix ~ Message 1: Lana’s Health (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Eric Elder, February 19th, 2012

I normally use this space to write some words of encouragement to you, but this week I could use some encouragement myself.

A few weeks ago my wife and I received the surprising news that she has breast cancer.  Two days ago, we received the even more surprising news that it was not Stage 1 breast cancer with one lump in her breast, but that it is actually Stage 4 breast cancer, with multiple tumors that have already spread to her lungs, liver and spine.

If you know Lana, you know that she’s the picture of health… she’s at her ideal body weight, she eats well, she runs two to three miles every few days, and her bloodwork is perfect in every way.  She feels good and strong and healthy.  Other than the lump in her breast that we discovered in December, and some minor pain in her lower back that started soon after that, we wouldn’t have even thought to have her tested for anything that could possibly be going wrong inside her body.  Even when people do find lumps in their breasts, the majority of the time those lumps turn out to be harmless.  But not this time.

I’ve prayed with many people over the years with many types of cancer.  I’ve seen some people healed naturally, others supernaturally, and still others who haven’t been healed in the way that we had fervently hoped or prayed, including my own mother who died of breast cancer twenty-one years ago.  But even in those instances where God hasn’t healed people in the way that I had hoped, I have seen God use even those situations for good in the end.  As good and miraculous as healing is, I know that there is still more that Christ offers us than just the healing that we desire.  As the apostle Paul said:

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

I believe in healing.  I’ve seen people healed with my own eyes and through my own prayers numerous times.  God wants us to be healed and He has wired our bodies to heal themselves as much as possible, whether it’s the coagulating of blood to heal a scrape on our skin, or the multiplication of white blood cells to fight off a raging infection.

But there’s also an enemy at work whose main goal, according to Jesus, seems to be to steal, kill, and destroy.  As Jesus said:

“The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy; …” (John 10:10a).

But Jesus didn’t leave it there.  He went on to say:

“… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10b).

The healings and miracles of Jesus are so numerous that the pages of the Bible can’t even contain them all.  As the apostle John said:

“Jesus did many other things as well.  If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25).

And yet as miraculous and amazing and God-ordained as healing is, there are some things that are even more amazing… like forgiveness… and the peace that passes understanding… and eternal life.

When some men in the Bible brought their friend to Jesus to be healed, having pressed through the crowds and cutting through a roof to get their friend to Jesus, Jesus said to the sick man,

“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2b). 

The religious leaders were shocked that Jesus would make such a bold statement, knowing that only God Himself had the power to forgive sins.  But knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them:

“Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home” (Matthew 9:5-7).

To Jesus, the forgiveness of sins seems to be just as miraculous, if not more so, than healing.  And considering what Jesus had to go through in order to forgive us of our sins, it seems like forgiveness was quite possibly the more difficult of the two.

When Jesus Himself was headed for the cross, way too young and way too innocent, rather than fighting His death, He submitted to the will of His Father in heaven, knowing that His Father’s plans were even more glorious than anything anyone could have imagined.  Yet Jesus still prayed that if there was any way possible, that His Father would take the cup of death away from Him so that He wouldn’t have to drink it.  At the same time, He trusted His Father completely, regardless of the outcome, saying:

“… yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42b).

Jesus sought for the peace of His Father above all else, and He encouraged His disciples to do the same:  As Jesus told 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).

And ultimately, what could compare to the promise of eternal life?  As Lana told a friend this weekend:

“For me, it’s a win-win situation.  Either I go to be with Jesus, or I get to stay here and be with Eric and my family.”

As Paul said,

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body” (Philippians 1:20-24). 

Jesus came to give us life to the full, both here on earth and in heaven forever.  This is the hope that we have in Christ and this is the hope for which He gave up His life.

So with both of these hopes in mind, can I ask for your earnest prayers on our behalf?  We’re praying for healing and more–that God would heal Lana’s body completely and gloriously–and that through it all, God’s name would be glorified in ways that go beyond anything we could ask or imagine.  Thank you so much.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for revealing to us this cancer that is at work within Lana’s body so we can know what to do next.  Lord, we pray for healing and more, that You would heal her body completely and gloriously, and through it all, that Your name would be glorified in ways that go beyond anything we could ask or imagine.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Appendix ~ Message 2: Hit Your Knees! (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Eric Elder, February 26th, 2012

In my message last week, I shared that I could use some encouragement, and thanks to your prayers and God’s help, I got it!  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all your prayers and notes and words of encouragement.

In case you missed last week’s message, I shared that my wife Lana and I were surprised a few weeks ago to find out that she has breast cancer, and we were even more surprised to find it was not just one lump in her breast, but had already spread, with multiple tumors showing up on CT scans and MRI’s throughout her lungs, liver and spine.

This news was devastating, as you can imagine.  But within hours of sending out our note asking for your encouragement, prayers started coming in from all over the world–from places like Kenya and Ghana, Malaysia and the Bahamas, Qatar and Dubai and all over the U.S.  The prayers of the saints were spreading faster than any cancer ever could!

I heard from a chaplain of a prison in New Mexico who said that all of the inmates in his prison were going to be praying for my wife.  I heard from another man in Uganda who said:

“I bet you or your husband has never been to Uganda. Yet you have. This Day’s Thought has been the highlight of my inbox since 2007. I feel like I know you, the picture is more complete with the family photo. Am surely praying for you.”

As the week went on, God continued to speak to us, reminding us that Jesus already drank the cup of death for us and that He was holding out a cup of life to us instead!  We feel that Jesus wants us to drink from His cup of life, and drink deeply.  Whereas I wrote my message last week in part to comfort my own soul in the event that this cancer might take my wife’s life, this week I’m writing with full faith and confidence that God could heal her in a moment, completely and gloriously! And I’m thrilled to say that this miracle may have already begun!

The day after we sent our prayer request to you, Lana noticed that the tumor in her breast had shrunk suddenly and significantly.  And by 4 o’clock in the morning, she wasn’t sure if she could even find it at all!  We began to pray hard that this would be just an indicator of what is going on in the rest of her body, that the cancer is being driven out by the power of God and that what was once in the darkness must now flee in the light!

We’ve been praying toward that end for the rest of the week, and with that in mind, I’d like to ask you to consider praying and fasting along with me and hundreds of others who have already told us they’ll be praying with us during a special 24 hour prayer vigil for my wife.  You don’t have to go anywhere special, just pray wherever you are starting on morning Monday morning, February 27th at 7:00 a.m. Central Time (-6 GMT), through Tuesday morning, the 28th, at 7:00 a.m.  We’re going to be praying and fasting that God would spare Lana’s life, confessing that her life and ministry isn’t at the end, but that it’s just at the beginning in a whole new way!

We believe that even one prayer, offered in faith, has tremendous power!  As the Bible says:

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (James 5:13-16).

One prayer, offered in faith, can make the sick person well.  One prayer, offered in faith, can bring forgiveness.  One prayer, offered in faith, can close the heavens and open them again.

And one prayer, offered in faith, can lead us to eternal life.  As the apostle Paul said:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

We’re praying and believing for Lana’s healing, not just because we’re afraid she’ll die, but because we believe that it pleases the heart of God whenever we pray a prayer offered in faith.

Whereas last week I felt like I needed a cheerleader to keep me up in my spirits, this week I’m feeling like being the cheerleader, cheering you all to stand up and clap and shout and make some noise for the Lord.

I remember watching some cheerleaders at a college football game stand in front of one section of a stadium full of people.  The cheerleaders would raise their arms and shout to the people to do the same, calling on them to lift their hands, shout and clap, and stomp their feet for the victory that they were hoping would soon come.  Then the cheerleaders would move to the next section and call on those people to stand up on their feet and do the same.  Then they’d take off running around the stadium, going from section to section, until the people throughout the whole stadium were on their feet, clapping and shouting and stomping!

As this message goes around the world this week, I want to call upon all of you to stand to your feet in prayer and praise, shouting and clapping and making some noise for the Lord!  (You don’t have to do it out loud, but you can if you want!)

While it may seem selfish of me to call on so many of you to pray so intensely for my wife and my family and me, after reading your notes and letters this week, I know for sure that this is not just about saving her life for my sake or the sake of the kids, but for God’s sake and for all that He is wanting to do through this to bring glory to His name.  I pray that this is yet another testimony that will bring hope and healing and salvation to people all over the world.

So with that in mind, I want to encourage you to pray with us, and fast with us, for 24 hours this week, that Lana’s healing would be complete and glorious, and that God’s name would be glorified through it all!

There are times when fasting should be done in secret.  But there are other times in the Bible where fasting was done in the light, in full view of everyone, like when Esther was about to make a special request of the king to save her people, but which could have cost her her life. Esther said:

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Esther declared her fast, publicly and widely, because she knew that God could use those prayers for the salvation of many, many souls.  Esther was placed in a unique position to call this fast and I believe Lana has been placed in a similar position.  As Esther’s cousin said to her just before she declared her fast:

“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b).

If you’d like some ideas for how to fast and pray, I’ve included a link below that I’ve found helpful.
http://www.cru.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/7-steps-to-fasting/index.htm

If you’re thinking of joining us, I’d like to encourage you by sharing a note I received this week from a dear friend who had mistakenly, but thankfully, thought that our day of prayer and fasting was last Monday instead of this coming one.  As she set out to fast and pray for 24 hours, she wrote to us and said:

“This morning, I pledge a day of fasting and hourly prayer for Lana’s healing. I pray for her recovery and the Lord granting her 50 more years of ministry at Eric’s side. I pray for the possibility of unbelievers hearing of Lana’s healing and following their curiosity to the Gospel. I pledge to pray each hour for Lana’s healing not only for the benefit of her family and friends, but for the benefit of the Body of Christ. May God hear my pleas.”

Then, when her fast was nearly complete, she wrote:

“Lana and Eric, Soon – as in fifteen minutes – my day of fasting and prayer will be over, so I wanted you to know how much it meant to me carry you both in my heart and mind all day.  During the day and night, I remembered many moments of laughter and friendship, but I thought mostly about how you express your faith. It is inspiring, yes, but also challenging, because your faith makes me – and those who listen to me share about your work – question if we are doing as much, being as faithful. While I know comparison is not the answer, I can’t help but think that the Lord uses those moments to nudge me, and others, along. Lana, you are so dearly loved and I am in your debt for thousands – yes thousands – of little ways you have encouraged my faith. P.S. While praying about whether or not I should commit to doing the fast and prayer day, I went to check the dates so that my prayers could be added to others. I believed I saw 20-21. I was convinced, in fact, so I was shocked to read, this morning, that the prayer vigil is set for next week. So, it is my hope that the Lord directed me to this day for His purposes, but I will add my prayers to the others on the 27th as well. :)”

I am fully convinced that God directed our friend to pray for us that day and I would love for you to join us in prayer, too, whether it’s on the the 27th and 28th, or at any other time when you read this message.  I sure time zones and dates don’t mean nearly as much to an eternal God as they do to us here on earth!

But if you’d like to join us on this special day when hundreds of others will be praying, too, we’re starting at 7:00 a.m. Central Time (-6 GMT) on Monday, February 27th through 7:00 a.m. on the 28th.  You don’t have to go anywhere special to pray.  Just pray wherever you are.  And if you’d like to post your prayers on Lana’s blog, or read the prayers of others, you can do so anytime at lanaelder.wordpress.com.

And at some point during your prayers, can I encourage you to “hit your knees,” by kneeling on the ground?  As one of our friends said who is organizing this special day of fasting and prayer:

“Hit your knees when you pray, because we want Satan to feel the earth tremble as we pray for Lana.”

I know I’ll be hitting my knees several times tomorrow and I’d love for you to do the same.  If you need some words to pray for Lana throughout the day, here’s a Psalm I’ve been praying over her, line by line, for the past few days.  I pray it encourages you in making your own requests to God as well!

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
O LORD, save the king!
Answer us when we call!
(Psalm 20: 1-9)

Thanks again so much!  Your words and prayers are already glorifying God in ways that go beyond anything we could ask or imagine!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for what you are already doing in this situation with Lana, both in the healing we believe is taking place in her body, and the glorifying of your name that is taking place around the world.  Let this day of prayer and fasting be a testimony to Your power, Your might, and Your victory over darkness, once and for all.  We pray for healing and more, that You would heal Lana’s body, completely and gloriously, and through it all, that Your name would be glorified in ways that go beyond anything we could ask or imagine.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Appendix ~ Message 3: A Picture Of Healing (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Eric Elder, March 4th, 2012

The words “thank you” just don’t seem enough to convey to you how very much we appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers and words of encouragement over these past two weeks since I shared with you that my wife was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer.

How could we not cry and be touched when we got letters like this one from a man we’ve never met, but who is literally rallying the troops to pray for us from a naval ship in Japan…

“Hello Eric and Lana,

I just want to start this email off by thanking you for your “this days thoughts” messages. My Mom has been sending these to me daily and your messages have not only been helping me get closer to GOD but also helping keep in contact with my mom. You see I am currently stationed out in Japan and i can say that i do not get to go to services as much as i would like too but your messages help me out in major ways. It is very stressful out here sometimes but i can honestly say that within these last few week things have gotten a lot better for me and i have no doubt that it is because of your messages. So once again. Thank You.

When i read the message about how Lana has breast cancer i immediately stopped what i was doing and began to pray. I can only imagine how difficult it is to for you two to deal with that. I told your story to some of my fellow sailors and soldiers out here and asked them to also pray for you both. They agreed without thinking twice about it. We plan on sending your ministry some donations as well as a little care package for you two. Many times when we are out to sea or deployed we have had many churches and people send us care packages to help lift out spirits. Believe me when i say that it really does lift out spirits. So we decided that we would get some things together from here in japan to lift your spirits. Also i am currently getting the sizes of some people who want to wear the t-shirts(if any are left) and we are going to get a photo of it and send that to you too also.

You said that prayers came from Kenya, Ghana, Malaysia, the Bahamas, Qatar and Dubai. Well you now have prays from the troops in Japan too. We hope that our efforts encourage you to stay strong. GOD is going to take care of you. I, and the sailors and soldiers, will pray for you everyday just as you all pray for our safety day in and day out.  Once again thank you for your messages you send out daily! Take Care and God Bless You Both.”

Wow! What a perfect picture of the body of Christ in action… people lifting each other up in their time of need.

Here’s another one from a woman from South Wales who was praying for us while waiting for a flight in Hong Kong:

“I am sitting here in Hong Kong airport waiting for a flight to Bangkok and thought I would check your developments – Lana, your courage and faith take my breath away. I said my prayers for you on the plane yesterday and I keep praying although I am not as familiar with the bible as the other folks! When my holiday is over I am faced with some tests but you have helped me already by your strong commitment to God. As we say in the South Wales valleys (UK) ‘fight the good fight with all thy might’. God Bless and keep you safe.”

And here’s a short note from a man in South Africa whose three short lines spoke volumes to me on our day of prayer and fasting for my wife’s healing…

“Your wife will live. He is Jehovha rapha [the God who heals]! greetings from South Africa.”

My faith was so touched by these words that I wrote them down on a piece of paper and took them to bed with me that night.

Right below those lines on my piece of paper, I added these words from Psalm 21, which another friend here in Illinois had sent me later in the day.  She said she had been listening to Psalm 20 on her “Listener’s Bible,” praying through the words of this Psalm for Lana, as I had asked people to do.  She was praying that God would give Lana “the desire of her heart,” which is not just to live, but to live long.  She said she wasn’t paying attention and didn’t stop the Bible reading at the end of the chapter.  When she heard following verses from Psalm 21, the very next chapter, she shouted for joy.  The words record what God did for King David when he first prayed for long life almost 3,000 years ago…

“How great is his joy in the victories You give! You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. 

“He asked You for life, and You gave it to him–length of days, for ever and ever” (Psalm 21:1, 2, 4).

Then on Tuesday morning, when our 24 hours of prayer and fasting were just ending, I added one more word to my paper that I took to bed with me that night.  It was Merriam-Webster’s “Word of the Day” for Tuesday February 28th.  I’ve been getting these words of the day in my inbox every day for many years.  The words are fairly random each day, but the word for that morning was anything but random!  The word of the day that day happened to be:

“LIVELONG”

Praise God!  I’m holding onto each of these three thoughts as special reminders to me that my wife can live, that God can give her the desire of her heart, and that she can “live long.”

Some people might worry that I’m holding onto false hope.  But with God, there is no such thing as false hope.  With God, there is infinite hope!  As the Bible says:

“For nothing is impossible with God”
(Luke 1:37).

Believe me, I’m not naive enough to think that this cancer doesn’t have the power to kill my wife.  It does.  The first person I prayed for when I started this ministry seventeen years ago died of cancer three weeks later.  And twenty-two years ago today, on March 4th, 1990, my own mother died of breast cancer.  I know it’s a killer disease.  Believe me when I say that when I first heard the news, I cried for 24 hours straight

But believe me, too, when I say that God gave me a picture of healing last week that renewed my faith and hope in Him that He still could do the impossible in this situation.

When Lana and I first found out the lump in her breast was cancerous, we scheduled an appointment with a surgeon to meet with him and talk about doing surgery.  The appointment was three weeks away, as he was going to be out of town and his schedule was full.  So we prayed during those three weeks that by the time we met with him, the lump would be gone and Lana wouldn’t have to do the surgery at all.  Since the biopsy showed that the cancer was a solid mass in her breast, growing aggressively, the chances of the lump shrinking at all, let alone disappearing completely were little to none.

Every day, Lana could feel the lump in her breast, about the size of a marble.  And every few days, she would anoint it with oil and pray that God would take it away.  But every day, the lump was still there.  Then we got the report that the situation was worse than we thought:  the cancer had already spread from Lana’s breast to her lungs, liver and spine.  The oncologist said she was going to cancel our appointment with the surgeon for it was no longer necessary.  The tumors were now too numerous for surgery on just one lump to make any difference.  The news was devastating.

That’s when I sent out my note asking for prayer to all of you and you began to pray for us.  The next day, we went in for a bone biopsy and had another conversation with the oncologist.  She reconfirmed the diagnosis that she had told us before, reiterating that our appointment with the breast surgeon the next day was no longer necessary.

But later that night, just before going to bed, Lana went to pray for the lump in her breast as she had done all along.  But this time when she went to find the lump, it had shrunk to the size of a BB, smaller than a pea.  When she woke up again at 4 in the morning, she went to feel it again and couldn’t find it at all!  One day it was there, and the next it was gone, just as she had prayed it would be.  That was the day we were to meet with the surgeon, three weeks after she began praying that prayer!

Lana woke me up to check it out, and I couldn’t find it either!  Perhaps the words of the oncologist weren’t as dire as we had thought, but they were prophetic instead:  that our appointment with the breast surgeon really was no longer necessary!

I began to cry and praise God, saying that I wasn’t sure if I could even believe it or not.  I also didn’t know what that meant for the other tumors throughout her body.  But it gave me a picture of healing that matched the picture of healing I get from the Bible where the blind see, the lame walk, and the sickness is gone.  I began to pray for Lana’s whole body, that God would take away every lump from everywhere and that He would complete the incredible work that He was doing.

I also put my hand on my own forehead, where I had had a mild but constant headache for the previous three weeks.  I assumed it must be from the stress of the diagnosis, as I rarely get headaches, and if I do, they last for only a few hours at most.  But this headache had persisted day and night for three straight weeks.  It didn’t cause me severe pain, but it was enough to be noticeable and it always got worse whenever I leaned forward or put on my glasses.

After putting my hand on my head and praying for my headache, I returned to praising God with Lana.  Unsure if we could really believe that this had just happened, or if we might find the lump again in the morning, or what might be going on with all the other tumors in her body, we finally laid down again to try to get some sleep.

But as I laid down, I took out my Bible and put on my glasses to read for awhile.  When I put them on, I expected to feel the pain in my eye again.  But there was no pain.  I leaned forward in the bed, and there was still no pain.  I got out of bed, and leaned my head way down to my toes and there was still no pain.  None whatsoever.  The headache that I had felt for three straight weeks was gone, completely gone!

I began to cry again, not because of what God had done for my headache, but because it gave me yet another picture of healing and what that implied about the tumors in Lana’s body, too.  I finally fell asleep, praising God that no matter what, He had restored my faith that He really could do anything, absolutely anything.  I finally believed once again that with God, nothing is impossible, even the healing of my wife.

When we woke up the next morning, we felt for the lump again, and after some time searching, we thought we might have found it, although much, much smaller than it had been for almost two and a half months straight.  We contacted the doctor to ask if this was normal for the lump to shrink like this.  She said that it may have been due to some swelling that could have subsided from a biopsy done three weeks earlier.  When I heard those words, the pain in my head returned. I prayed:

“God, no matter what’s going on, I thank You for giving me a picture of healing, a picture of what it can be like when you heal someone, suddenly and miraculously.  I believe, Lord, that You can heal Lana in an instant, just as You’ve healed me in an instant of other things in the past and just as I’ve seen You heal others.  Thank You Lord for giving me a picture to hang onto no matter what happens next.”

Over the past week, my headache has come and gone, fading in and out, but no longer as continuous as it had been.  The lump in Lana’s breast has also seemed to come and go, where some days she can find it, although it’s still very small and other days she can’t seem to find it at all.  We’ve scheduled an ultrasound on the lump for tomorrow (Monday, March 5th) with the doctor who originally did the biopsy to see if the technology confirms what we are seeing:  that the tumor has indeed gotten smaller or gone away completely.  I, for one, can’t wait to see the results!

But I can also say that my faith this week has soared to the point where it doesn’t much matter what the doctor’s report says.  What matters most is that God has shown me that He can do anything, absolutely anything.  (Update: The following day, the radiologist said the lump in Lana’s breast was measuring 20% smaller than when he first measured it, measuring only 1.2 cm instead of 1.5 cm the month before, and before the biopsy that could have caused any inflammation, and that this was unusual. He said he had never seen a lump like this go away or shrink without treatment and that he “didn’t have a great explanation for why this is happening.”)

If you’ve been reading my messages for the past several months, you know that we’ve been studying the book of Romans and looking at the topic of “Renewing Your Mind.”  While I hope to return to our study of the book of Romans again soon, I must also say that this whole experience has been one intense crash course on the importance of getting our thinking in line with God’s.  Every time we get a doctor’s report, or read an article on the internet, or hear a story from someone else who’s died of cancer, we have to take our thoughts captive, asking God to replace our thoughts with His… that He is the only one who truly knows how this will turn out in the end.

It’s not like I need God to heal Lana for me to continue to believe in Him.  And it’s not like He has to keep doing miracles for me to continue to believe in Him.  I’m already in.  I’m fully committed.  I’ve signed on the dotted line and given my whole life to Jesus.  It’s not like I’m troubled of what will happen to Lana if she dies.  I know she loves Jesus with all of her heart, soul, mind and strength and that she’ll be with Him forever in heaven–and that I’ll be with her there someday myself.

But what God has done for me these past two weeks, thanks to His help and your prayers, has been to renew my mind and believe in Him again that He can do ALL THINGS–that truly nothing is impossible with God.  I know that God can work all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose and that God really can give Lana the desire of her heart, at any time and through any means, to live a long and full life here on earth and then on into heaven forever.

What do the coming weeks hold for us?  I can’t say for sure.  But I can say this:  I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead more than ever before, because I know I’ll be going through them with a God who loves me, and who loves Lana, and who loves you more than any of us could possibly imagine.

I pray this week that you would know this love of God as well, and if you haven’t put your faith in Christ, that you would do it now, for the forgiveness of your sins so you can live with Him forever, and for everything else in your life, so you can live the abundant life He’s called you to live here on earth.  Like the apostle Paul, I pray for you, that you would know God’s immeasurable love and His remarkable power.  As Paul said:

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:14-21).

I look forward to sharing another update again with you next week, then I hope to return to our study of Romans after that with renewed vigor, knowing  the importance of “renewing our minds.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for being Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, and for giving us a picture of healing that we can hang onto.  Lord, we pray that You would continue to heal Lana’s body, completely and gloriously, and through it all, that Your name would be glorified in ways that go beyond all we could ask or imagine.  We pray also that You would use this situation to spark our faith to believe once again that nothing is impossible with You, no matter how dire the circumstances and no matter how bleak the reports.  We trust and believe that Your report is always good, for You truly can work all things for good for those who love you and who are called according to Your purpose.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Appendix ~ Message 4: Living Like You’re Going To Live (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Eric Elder, March 11th, 2012

I’d like to give you one more update on my wife Lana this week, then we’ll return next week to our study of the book of Romans and the topic of “Renewing Your Mind.”

Although I know my messages these past few weeks have touched many hearts and lives as you’ve been watching Lana go through this, she’s never really liked being the center of attention, so she’s ready for me to go back to writing about you instead of her!

But I had one more thought I’d like to share with you before we return to our study of Romans and as I said last week, we’ve never been so aware of the importance of “renewing our minds” and keeping our thoughts focused on God’s thoughts than we have been during this whole experience.  It’s so much better that way!  Given that, here’s Lana’s most recent update, which she posted on her blog at lanaelder.wordpress.com.

I just wanted to follow up with everyone on my visit to my oncologist on Wednesday. She put together a treatment plan that would use chemotherapy to help shrink the tumors and would alleviate any symptoms from the cancer that I might have down the road. She also explained that treating Stage 4 cancer is like treating diabetes. You can manage the symptoms of diabetes with insulin but it is something that you will have the rest of your life. In the same way, the treatments I would have for any symptoms of my cancer would be something I would likely need for the rest of my life. She said I could take a break from the chemo for a couple of months from time to time, but that the tumors will most likely grow back and then I would be back on the chemo to shrink them.

However, currently, I feel very few symptoms and have a lot of hope from the prayers and nutritional changes I’ve been making.  She agreed to let me continue doing what I’ve been doing and check the status of my tumors in two months. I was so thankful and happy that she agreed to this. I could have kissed her! Thursday I met with a nutritional doctor to help me determine the best way to build up my immune system over the coming months. I have also read many books regarding nutritional approaches to treating cancer. I am currently taking more supplements than anyone I know but I feel very good about this approach and I’m so thankful to be able to treat the cancer this way. I’m praying my tumors will continue to shrink and disappear through prayer and nutrition.

On a funnier side note, as we the left nutritionist yesterday, walking out with a bag chock-full of supplements, Eric said he felt like he was in a scene from the movie “The Princess Bride” when two men take their friend Westley to see Miracle Max.  

Even though they thought Westley was dead, it turned out he was only “mostly” dead according to Miracle Max, so he made a special pill to bring him back to life.  As the two friends left with the pill in their hands and their friend Westley over their shoulders, Miracle Max and his wife Valerie are seen standing at the door waving. Valerie then leans into Miracle Max and says, “Think it’ll work?” to which Miracle Max says, “It would take a miracle!” and they just keep waving. (It’s a great movie if you haven’t seen it.) Apparently, that’s how Eric felt leaving the nutritionist yesterday with all these pills, smiling and waving and thinking “It would take a miracle!” Thankfully, he makes me laugh. I credit him for most of the wrinkles on my face! I told Eric I feel like some people think I am like Westley… that I’m “mostly” dead. But I just want you all to know I’m alive and well. I continue to eat very healthy and exercise (either walking, running, weights, or stretching). I also know it probably will take a miracle to cure me from this disease. But thanks to your prayers, I’m chock-full of faith, too!

So thank you for adding your prayers to mine! I do believe they make a difference. A psalm I read last night that encouraged me is Psalm 121.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip–He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you–the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm–He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

(Psalm 121:1-8)

I am very much aware that my help comes from the Lord. But I also know that God works through His people and I have seen Him working through many of you. Whether it’s a word of encouragement, a prayer, a card, or a gift, I sense God working through you all to encourage and strengthen me. You are being the hands, feet and body of Christ to me. So thank you again for everything. May God bless you back abundantly!!

As you can tell from Lana’s note, she’s planning on living!  And I, for one, am thrilled with that plan!

One of the gems that has emerged like a diamond for me through all of the high-intensity pressure of the past few weeks was a comment from a friend that captivated me when I first read it and still captivates me today.  At the end of her note she wrote:

“… and for everyone’s sake, LIVE like she’s going to LIVE!”

Wow!  That made me sit up in my chair and think long and hard about how I was going to live in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.  Was I going to live like my wife was dying?  Or was I going to live like she was going to live?  They seemed like two diametrically opposed paths.

But the truth is, we’re all on a path towards death, and have been ever since the day we were born.  And at the same time, we’re all on a path towards life, too.  The only difference in the situation that Lana and I are facing is that we truly believe we’ve been given a great gift:  the gift of seeing both the brevity and fullness of life, simultaneously.

We all have a choice to make each day.  We can either live like we’re dying, or we can live like we’re going to live.  Lana has chosen to live like she’s going to live, and with that attitude, the chances are good that she could outlive us all!  I know I want more of that attitude in my own life, too.  When people live like they’re going to live, it’s contagious.

So many of you have written to say that even though we’ve been asking for prayer for ourselves through all of this, that you’ve been blessed by praying for us through it all as well.  It’s an interesting phenomenon, one that is summed up in this thought by Marianne Williamson:

“And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Lana’s not afraid of dying.  She just wants to live!  And by choosing to do everything she can to stay healthy and alive as long as possible, she’s giving me and many others the inspiration to live our days to the fullest as well.

The truth is, none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.  But we can choose how we’re going to live today.  As the apostle James said:

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:13-17).

God has called us to do as much good as possible in the days He’s given us here on earth.  So while none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, the challenge–and the joy–is to live like we’re going to live, while at the same time being fully conscious that at any moment we could die.

Neither Lana nor I are trying to be heroic nor presumptuous about what God might have in store for either of us in the future.  But what we do want to do is to be faithful with every day that God gives to us here on earth.  Every day really is a gift from God, and as someone has wisely said, that’s why today is called “the present.”

I want to encourage you today:  don’t be afraid of dying, but live like you’re going to live.  As Jesus said,

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31).

God has created you to do many good things here on the earth, things which He has prepared in advance for you to do (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

So live like you’re going to live!  That’s what Lana is planning on doing, and that’s what I’m planning on doing, too.  We hope you’ll join us!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us another day of life today.  Thank You for reminding us of the importance of living every day to the fullest and living in such a way that our lives bring glory and honor to You and to those around us. We pray that Your light would shine through us, even in the darkest of times, so that people can see You more clearly, putting their faith and trust in You for everything in their lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Appendix ~ Message 5: The Difference Three Days Can Make (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Lana Elder, Palm Sunday, April 1st, 2012

As we approach Holy Week, I want to talk to you about the difference three days can make.

I heard a story recently of a seminary student who was struggling to keep going. He was tired, exhausted and ready to give up.  He fell asleep in class one day and didn’t wake up until everyone else had gone home–except his teacher.

His teacher gently woke him up and said:

“Go home, eat a good meal, get some sleep and don’t make any important decisions in the next three days.” 

The student followed his advice, regained his strength, and is now leading a worldwide ministry.  He said his teacher’s advice was some of the best he had ever received.

Three days can often mean the difference between victory and defeat.

I think of the story of King David in the book of 1 Samuel.  From almost the moment that David was anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel, King Saul, the current king, wanted David dead. If you read in 1 Samuel 17, you’ll see that shortly after Samuel anoints David to be the next king, David kills the giant Philistine, Goliath.  From then on, King Saul seems to have it in his heart to kill David. Throughout the rest of the chapters in 1 Samuel, Saul pursues David in an attempt to kill him.

Life has got to be difficult when your king wants to kill you.  Can you imagine if the President, or the King, or the Prime Minister of your country wanted you dead?  But every time King Saul tries to kill David, God continues to protect him.

One of the most devastating times in David’s life takes place when David escapes to the land of the Philistines to avoid being destroyed by Saul. While David was gone on one of his fighting expeditions, the Amalekites raided Ziklag, the town where David and his men and their families had settled.  The Bible says:

“David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

“When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured–Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:1-6).

I try to imagine what it must have been like to be David. God had anointed him to be the next king, but at first, his life was nothing like royalty. King Saul was constantly trying to kill him–and then this happens. Everything David owns is burned and his wives have been captured. David and his men weep until they have no strength left. His own followers were now talking of stoning him. All hope seemed lost.

I think I would have given up. Looking at the situation from my human perspective, I would have said, “That guy Samuel the prophet was wrong. I certainly have not been chosen by God to do anything. Everyone is against me. God is not for me. If He were for me, my life would not look like this. I am just going to go back to tending sheep.”

Thankfully I’m not David. Instead, the Bible says, “David found strength in the Lord his God.” David didn’t lose his faith in God through all of his trials. If he had, we would never have known about one of the greatest kings this world has ever had.

David persevered. He inquired of the Lord and chose to pursue his enemy. Amazingly, they found an abandoned slave of an Amalekite who was left for dead because he was ill. The slave was able to lead David and his men to their families. The Bible says:

“David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back” (1 Samuel 30:17-19).

Okay, now that’s why this guy is so famous! David was certainly known to be a fighter, and in this instance, he doesn’t disappoint us.

In the very next chapter, just three days after David’s most intense battle to save everything dear to him and to those around him, David gets the news:  King Saul has died.  The Bible says:

“After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.

“Where have you come from?” David asked him.

He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”

“What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”

He said, “The men fled from the battle. Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead” (2 Samuel 1:1-4).

In the next chapter, David becomes king of Judah and eventually he becomes king over all of Israel.  What’s significant to me is that his life really changed in a matter of days–three days to be exact. I think of how downcast David must have been up to that point, “greatly distressed” as the Bible says, when his belongings were burned and his people were captured.  Then just three short days later he had it all back again, and not only that, but the king who had been pursuing him was finally dead. Life certainly was looking better for David.

This, of course, reminds me of another story in the Bible when things didn’t look too good, but God turned things around in a miraculous way–in just three days. It’s the story of Jesus.

Jesus was a man who, much like his great ancestor David, was destined to reign as king.

As the angel told Mary in Luke 1:32-3:

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”

I wonder how His mother felt on that day the angel visited.  And then I wonder what she must have felt on the day she saw him crucified. Here was her beloved son, destined to be king, yet hanging dead on a cross. How could this be? All hope seemed lost.

But for God, time is relative.  Hope is eternal.

Jesus had a lifetime of doing incredible things here on earth.  He healed the sick.  He raised the dead.  He walked on water.  He encouraged people to forgive and to do what is right.

He told stories to encourage people to use their gifts and talents today, not worry about tomorrow, and not to judge others. He talked about what were the most important matters of the law, like justice, mercy and faithfulness.  He criticized hypocrisy.  And yet with all of His miracles and powerful teaching, there were still leaders who wanted Him dead. They pursued Him, much like King Saul pursued David, to try and kill him. And in Jesus’ case, they succeeded–or so it seemed.

But just like David, Jesus never gave up His faith in His heavenly Father. Jesus trusted His Father to do what was best, even as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before He died.  Jesus prayed:

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Just like David, Jesus “found strength in the Lord His God,” even spending His last night on earth in deep and earnest prayer.

And His Father did not disappoint Him.  Even though it may have looked hopeless, hope was never lost.  It never is.  Even after Jesus’ death on the cross, hope was just around the corner.  Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead!

Jesus’ death on the cross turned out to be part of God’s plan.  As Jesus Himself said:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

I wanted to tell you these stories to encourage you that hope is eternal.  Even when things may seem to be at their worst, God can turn them around in a matter of days, hours, or even a moment.

You may be a seminary student and ready to give up.  Don’t!  Go home, eat a good meal, get some sleep and don’t make any important decisions in the next three days!

You may have thought you were destined for great things in your lifetime, but now you’re hiding in caves.  Even the king seems out to get you.

You may think it would be better if you just gave up your dreams and gave in to despair.  Don’t!  Don’t lose hope now, as God’s most important miracle for your life may be just around the corner.

You may be facing an impossible situation, one that seems irreversible, incurable or unchangeable.

You may be ready to give up on God altogether, perhaps even considering turning away from Him for the rest of your life.  Don’t!  I can’t guarantee you what the outcome will be, but I can guarantee you that God will always be there for you, if you’ll keep putting your faith in Him.

Never give up on God.  As David said in the Psalms:

“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord” (Psalm 27:14, Amplified Bible).

Let’s pray…

Father, I thank you that we can always come to you even when all hope seems lost. You always have a plan and you know what’s best. Help us to trust you in all things.  Whether it’s three seconds, or three days, or three years or more, help us to trust You today and every day until we see what You have in store for us, just around the corner. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Back to Table of Contents)

Thanks for reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Thanks for reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

by

Appendix ~ Message 5: The Difference Three Days Can Make

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Lana Elder, Palm Sunday, April 1st, 2012

As we approach Holy Week, I want to talk to you about the difference three days can make.

I heard a story recently of a seminary student who was struggling to keep going. He was tired, exhausted and ready to give up.  He fell asleep in class one day and didn’t wake up until everyone else had gone home—except his teacher.

His teacher gently woke him up and said:

“Go home, eat a good meal, get some sleep and don’t make any important decisions in the next three days.” 

The student followed his advice, regained his strength, and is now leading a worldwide ministry.  He said his teacher’s advice was some of the best he had ever received.

Three days can often mean the difference between victory and defeat.

I think of the story of King David in the book of 1 Samuel.  From almost the moment that David was anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel, King Saul, the current king, wanted David dead. If you read in 1 Samuel 17, you’ll see that shortly after Samuel anoints David to be the next king, David kills the giant Philistine, Goliath.  From then on, King Saul seems to have it in his heart to kill David. Throughout the rest of the chapters in 1 Samuel, Saul pursues David in an attempt to kill him.

Life has got to be difficult when your king wants to kill you.  Can you imagine if the President, or the King, or the Prime Minister of your country wanted you dead?  But every time King Saul tries to kill David, God continues to protect him.

One of the most devastating times in David’s life takes place when David escapes to the land of the Philistines to avoid being destroyed by Saul. While David was gone on one of his fighting expeditions, the Amalekites raided Ziklag, the town where David and his men and their families had settled.  The Bible says:

“David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

“When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:1-6).

I try to imagine what it must have been like to be David. God had anointed him to be the next king, but at first, his life was nothing like royalty. King Saul was constantly trying to kill him—and then this happens. Everything David owns is burned and his wives have been captured. David and his men weep until they have no strength left. His own followers were now talking of stoning him. All hope seemed lost.

I think I would have given up. Looking at the situation from my human perspective, I would have said, “That guy Samuel the prophet was wrong. I certainly have not been chosen by God to do anything. Everyone is against me. God is not for me. If He were for me, my life would not look like this. I am just going to go back to tending sheep.”

Thankfully I’m not David. Instead, the Bible says, “David found strength in the Lord his God.” David didn’t lose his faith in God through all of his trials. If he had, we would never have known about one of the greatest kings this world has ever had.

David persevered. He inquired of the Lord and chose to pursue his enemy. Amazingly, they found an abandoned slave of an Amalekite who was left for dead because he was ill. The slave was able to lead David and his men to their families. The Bible says:

“David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back” (1 Samuel 30:17-19).

Okay, now that’s why this guy is so famous! David was certainly known to be a fighter, and in this instance, he doesn’t disappoint us.

In the very next chapter, just three days after David’s most intense battle to save everything dear to him and to those around him, David gets the news:  King Saul has died.  The Bible says:

“After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.

“Where have you come from?” David asked him.

He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”

“What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”

He said, “The men fled from the battle. Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead” (2 Samuel 1:1-4).

In the next chapter, David becomes king of Judah and eventually he becomes king over all of Israel.  What’s significant to me is that his life really changed in a matter of days—three days to be exact. I think of how downcast David must have been up to that point, “greatly distressed” as the Bible says, when his belongings were burned and his people were captured.  Then just three short days later he had it all back again, and not only that, but the king who had been pursuing him was finally dead. Life certainly was looking better for David.

This, of course, reminds me of another story in the Bible when things didn’t look too good, but God turned things around in a miraculous way—in just three days. It’s the story of Jesus.

Jesus was a man who, much like his great ancestor David, was destined to reign as king.

As the angel told Mary in Luke 1:32-3:

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”

I wonder how His mother felt on that day the angel visited.  And then I wonder what she must have felt on the day she saw him crucified. Here was her beloved son, destined to be king, yet hanging dead on a cross. How could this be? All hope seemed lost.

But for God, time is relative.  Hope is eternal.

Jesus had a lifetime of doing incredible things here on earth.  He healed the sick.  He raised the dead.  He walked on water.  He encouraged people to forgive and to do what is right.

He told stories to encourage people to use their gifts and talents today, not worry about tomorrow, and not to judge others. He talked about what were the most important matters of the law, like justice, mercy and faithfulness.  He criticized hypocrisy.  And yet with all of His miracles and powerful teaching, there were still leaders who wanted Him dead. They pursued Him, much like King Saul pursued David, to try and kill him. And in Jesus’ case, they succeeded—or so it seemed.

But just like David, Jesus never gave up His faith in His heavenly Father. Jesus trusted His Father to do what was best, even as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before He died.  Jesus prayed:

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Just like David, Jesus “found strength in the Lord His God,” even spending His last night on earth in deep and earnest prayer.

And His Father did not disappoint Him.  Even though it may have looked hopeless, hope was never lost.  It never is.  Even after Jesus’ death on the cross, hope was just around the corner.  Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead!

Jesus’ death on the cross turned out to be part of God’s plan.  As Jesus Himself said:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

I wanted to tell you these stories to encourage you that hope is eternal.  Even when things may seem to be at their worst, God can turn them around in a matter of days, hours, or even a moment.

You may be a seminary student and ready to give up.  Don’t!  Go home, eat a good meal, get some sleep and don’t make any important decisions in the next three days!

You may have thought you were destined for great things in your lifetime, but now you’re hiding in caves.  Even the king seems out to get you.

You may think it would be better if you just gave up your dreams and gave in to despair.  Don’t!  Don’t lose hope now, as God’s most important miracle for your life may be just around the corner.

You may be facing an impossible situation, one that seems irreversible, incurable or unchangeable.

You may be ready to give up on God altogether, perhaps even considering turning away from Him for the rest of your life.  Don’t!  I can’t guarantee you what the outcome will be, but I can guarantee you that God will always be there for you, if you’ll keep putting your faith in Him.

Never give up on God.  As David said in the Psalms:

“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord” (Psalm 27:14, Amplified Bible).

Let’s pray…

Father, I thank you that we can always come to you even when all hope seems lost. You always have a plan and you know what’s best. Help us to trust you in all things.  Whether it’s three seconds, or three days, or three years or more, help us to trust You today and every day until we see what You have in store for us, just around the corner. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Appendix ~ Message 4: Living Like You’re Going To Live

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Eric Elder, March 11th, 2012

I’d like to give you one more update on my wife Lana this week, then we’ll return next week to our study of the book of Romans and the topic of “Renewing Your Mind.”

Although I know my messages these past few weeks have touched many hearts and lives as you’ve been watching Lana go through this, she’s never really liked being the center of attention, so she’s ready for me to go back to writing about you instead of her!

But I had one more thought I’d like to share with you before we return to our study of Romans and as I said last week, we’ve never been so aware of the importance of “renewing our minds” and keeping our thoughts focused on God’s thoughts than we have been during this whole experience.  It’s so much better that way!  Given that, here’s Lana’s most recent update, which she posted on her blog at www.lanaelder.com.

I just wanted to follow up with everyone on my visit to my oncologist on Wednesday. She put together a treatment plan that would use chemotherapy to help shrink the tumors and would alleviate any symptoms from the cancer that I might have down the road. She also explained that treating Stage 4 cancer is like treating diabetes. You can manage the symptoms of diabetes with insulin but it is something that you will have the rest of your life. In the same way, the treatments I would have for any symptoms of my cancer would be something I would likely need for the rest of my life. She said I could take a break from the chemo for a couple of months from time to time, but that the tumors will most likely grow back and then I would be back on the chemo to shrink them.

However, currently, I feel very few symptoms and have a lot of hope from the prayers and nutritional changes I’ve been making.  She agreed to let me continue doing what I’ve been doing and check the status of my tumors in two months. I was so thankful and happy that she agreed to this. I could have kissed her! Thursday I met with a nutritional doctor to help me determine the best way to build up my immune system over the coming months. I have also read many books regarding nutritional approaches to treating cancer. I am currently taking more supplements than anyone I know but I feel very good about this approach and I’m so thankful to be able to treat the cancer this way. I’m praying my tumors will continue to shrink and disappear through prayer and nutrition.

On a funnier side note, as we the left nutritionist yesterday, walking out with a bag chock-full of supplements, Eric said he felt like he was in a scene from the movie “The Princess Bride” when two men take their friend Westley to see Miracle Max.  

Even though they thought Westley was dead, it turned out he was only “mostly” dead according to Miracle Max, so he made a special pill to bring him back to life.  As the two friends left with the pill in their hands and their friend Westley over their shoulders, Miracle Max and his wife Valerie are seen standing at the door waving. Valerie then leans into Miracle Max and says, “Think it’ll work?” to which Miracle Max says, “It would take a miracle!” and they just keep waving. (It’s a great movie if you haven’t seen it.) Apparently, that’s how Eric felt leaving the nutritionist yesterday with all these pills, smiling and waving and thinking “It would take a miracle!” Thankfully, he makes me laugh. I credit him for most of the wrinkles on my face! I told Eric I feel like some people think I am like Westley… that I’m “mostly” dead. But I just want you all to know I’m alive and well. I continue to eat very healthy and exercise (either walking, running, weights, or stretching). I also know it probably will take a miracle to cure me from this disease. But thanks to your prayers, I’m chock-full of faith, too!

So thank you for adding your prayers to mine! I do believe they make a difference. A psalm I read last night that encouraged me is Psalm 121.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

(Psalm 121:1-8)

I am very much aware that my help comes from the Lord. But I also know that God works through His people and I have seen Him working through many of you. Whether it’s a word of encouragement, a prayer, a card, or a gift, I sense God working through you all to encourage and strengthen me. You are being the hands, feet and body of Christ to me. So thank you again for everything. May God bless you back abundantly!!

As you can tell from Lana’s note, she’s planning on living!  And I, for one, am thrilled with that plan!

One of the gems that has emerged like a diamond for me through all of the high-intensity pressure of the past few weeks was a comment from a friend that captivated me when I first read it and still captivates me today.  At the end of her note she wrote:

“… and for everyone’s sake, LIVE like she’s going to LIVE!”

Wow!  That made me sit up in my chair and think long and hard about how I was going to live in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.  Was I going to live like my wife was dying?  Or was I going to live like she was going to live?  They seemed like two diametrically opposed paths.

But the truth is, we’re all on a path towards death, and have been ever since the day we were born.  And at the same time, we’re all on a path towards life, too.  The only difference in the situation that Lana and I are facing is that we truly believe we’ve been given a great gift:  the gift of seeing both the brevity and fullness of life, simultaneously.

We all have a choice to make each day.  We can either live like we’re dying, or we can live like we’re going to live.  Lana has chosen to live like she’s going to live, and with that attitude, the chances are good that she could outlive us all!  I know I want more of that attitude in my own life, too.  When people live like they’re going to live, it’s contagious.

So many of you have written to say that even though we’ve been asking for prayer for ourselves through all of this, that you’ve been blessed by praying for us through it all as well.  It’s an interesting phenomenon, one that is summed up in this thought by Marianne Williamson:

“And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Lana’s not afraid of dying.  She just wants to live!  And by choosing to do everything she can to stay healthy and alive as long as possible, she’s giving me and many others the inspiration to live our days to the fullest as well.

The truth is, none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.  But we can choose how we’re going to live today.  As the apostle James said:

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:13-17).

God has called us to do as much good as possible in the days He’s given us here on earth.  So while none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, the challenge—and the joy—is to live like we’re going to live, while at the same time being fully conscious that at any moment we could die.

Neither Lana nor I are trying to be heroic nor presumptuous about what God might have in store for either of us in the future.  But what we do want to do is to be faithful with every day that God gives to us here on earth.  Every day really is a gift from God, and as someone has wisely said, that’s why today is called “the present.”

I want to encourage you today:  don’t be afraid of dying, but live like you’re going to live.  As Jesus said,

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31).

God has created you to do many good things here on the earth, things which He has prepared in advance for you to do (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

So live like you’re going to live!  That’s what Lana is planning on doing, and that’s what I’m planning on doing, too.  We hope you’ll join us!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for giving us another day of life today.  Thank You for reminding us of the importance of living every day to the fullest and living in such a way that our lives bring glory and honor to You and to those around us. We pray that Your light would shine through us, even in the darkest of times, so that people can see You more clearly, putting their faith and trust in You for everything in their lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Appendix ~ Message 3: A Picture Of Healing

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Eric Elder, March 4th, 2012

The words “thank you” just don’t seem enough to convey to you how very much we appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers and words of encouragement over these past two weeks since I shared with you that my wife was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer.

How could we not cry and be touched when we got letters like this one from a man we’ve never met, but who is literally rallying the troops to pray for us from a naval ship in Japan…

“Hello Eric and Lana,

I just want to start this email off by thanking you for your “this days thoughts” messages. My Mom has been sending these to me daily and your messages have not only been helping me get closer to GOD but also helping keep in contact with my mom. You see I am currently stationed out in Japan and i can say that i do not get to go to services as much as i would like too but your messages help me out in major ways. It is very stressful out here sometimes but i can honestly say that within these last few week things have gotten a lot better for me and i have no doubt that it is because of your messages. So once again. Thank You.

When i read the message about how Lana has breast cancer i immediately stopped what i was doing and began to pray. I can only imagine how difficult it is to for you two to deal with that. I told your story to some of my fellow sailors and soldiers out here and asked them to also pray for you both. They agreed without thinking twice about it. We plan on sending your ministry some donations as well as a little care package for you two. Many times when we are out to sea or deployed we have had many churches and people send us care packages to help lift out spirits. Believe me when i say that it really does lift out spirits. So we decided that we would get some things together from here in japan to lift your spirits. Also i am currently getting the sizes of some people who want to wear the t-shirts(if any are left) and we are going to get a photo of it and send that to you too also.

You said that prayers came from Kenya, Ghana, Malaysia, the Bahamas, Qatar and Dubai. Well you now have prays from the troops in Japan too. We hope that our efforts encourage you to stay strong. GOD is going to take care of you. I, and the sailors and soldiers, will pray for you everyday just as you all pray for our safety day in and day out.  Once again thank you for your messages you send out daily! Take Care and God Bless You Both.”

Wow! What a perfect picture of the body of Christ in action… people lifting each other up in their time of need.

Here’s another one from a woman from South Wales who was praying for us while waiting for a flight in Hong Kong:

“I am sitting here in Hong Kong airport waiting for a flight to Bangkok and thought I would check your developments – Lana, your courage and faith take my breath away. I said my prayers for you on the plane yesterday and I keep praying although I am not as familiar with the bible as the other folks! When my holiday is over I am faced with some tests but you have helped me already by your strong commitment to God. As we say in the South Wales valleys (UK) ‘fight the good fight with all thy might’. God Bless and keep you safe.”

And here’s a short note from a man in South Africa whose three short lines spoke volumes to me on our day of prayer and fasting for my wife’s healing…

“Your wife will live. He is Jehovha rapha [the God who heals]! greetings from South Africa.”

My faith was so touched by these words that I wrote them down on a piece of paper and took them to bed with me that night.

Right below those lines on my piece of paper, I added these words from Psalm 21, which another friend here in Illinois had sent me later in the day.  She said she had been listening to Psalm 20 on her “Listener’s Bible,” praying through the words of this Psalm for Lana, as I had asked people to do.  She was praying that God would give Lana “the desire of her heart,” which is not just to live, but to live long.  She said she wasn’t paying attention and didn’t stop the Bible reading at the end of the chapter.  When she heard following verses from Psalm 21, the very next chapter, she shouted for joy.  The words record what God did for King David when he first prayed for long life almost 3,000 years ago…

“How great is his joy in the victories You give! You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. 

“He asked You for life, and You gave it to him—length of days, for ever and ever” (Psalm 21:1, 2, 4).

Then on Tuesday morning, when our 24 hours of prayer and fasting were just ending, I added one more word to my paper that I took to bed with me that night.  It was Merriam-Webster’s “Word of the Day” for Tuesday February 28th.  I’ve been getting these words of the day in my inbox every day for many years.  The words are fairly random each day, but the word for that morning was anything but random!  The word of the day that day happened to be:

“LIVELONG”

Praise God!  I’m holding onto each of these three thoughts as special reminders to me that my wife can live, that God can give her the desire of her heart, and that she can “live long.”

Some people might worry that I’m holding onto false hope.  But with God, there is no such thing as false hope.  With God, there is infinite hope!  As the Bible says:

“For nothing is impossible with God”
(Luke 1:37).

Believe me, I’m not naive enough to think that this cancer doesn’t have the power to kill my wife.  It does.  The first person I prayed for when I started this ministry seventeen years ago died of cancer three weeks later.  And twenty-two years ago today, on March 4th, 1990, my own mother died of breast cancer.  I know it’s a killer disease.  Believe me when I say that when I first heard the news, I cried for 24 hours straight

But believe me, too, when I say that God gave me a picture of healing last week that renewed my faith and hope in Him that He still could do the impossible in this situation.

When Lana and I first found out the lump in her breast was cancerous, we scheduled an appointment with a surgeon to meet with him and talk about doing surgery.  The appointment was three weeks away, as he was going to be out of town and his schedule was full.  So we prayed during those three weeks that by the time we met with him, the lump would be gone and Lana wouldn’t have to do the surgery at all.  Since the biopsy showed that the cancer was a solid mass in her breast, growing aggressively, the chances of the lump shrinking at all, let alone disappearing completely were little to none.

Every day, Lana could feel the lump in her breast, about the size of a marble.  And every few days, she would anoint it with oil and pray that God would take it away.  But every day, the lump was still there.  Then we got the report that the situation was worse than we thought:  the cancer had already spread from Lana’s breast to her lungs, liver and spine.  The oncologist said she was going to cancel our appointment with the surgeon for it was no longer necessary.  The tumors were now too numerous for surgery on just one lump to make any difference.  The news was devastating.

That’s when I sent out my note asking for prayer to all of you and you began to pray for us.  The next day, we went in for a bone biopsy and had another conversation with the oncologist.  She reconfirmed the diagnosis that she had told us before, reiterating that our appointment with the breast surgeon the next day was no longer necessary.

But later that night, just before going to bed, Lana went to pray for the lump in her breast as she had done all along.  But this time when she went to find the lump, it had shrunk to the size of a BB, smaller than a pea.  When she woke up again at 4 in the morning, she went to feel it again and couldn’t find it at all!  One day it was there, and the next it was gone, just as she had prayed it would be.  That was the day we were to meet with the surgeon, three weeks after she began praying that prayer!

Lana woke me up to check it out, and I couldn’t find it either!  Perhaps the words of the oncologist weren’t as dire as we had thought, but they were prophetic instead:  that our appointment with the breast surgeon really was no longer necessary!

I began to cry and praise God, saying that I wasn’t sure if I could even believe it or not.  I also didn’t know what that meant for the other tumors throughout her body.  But it gave me a picture of healing that matched the picture of healing I get from the Bible where the blind see, the lame walk, and the sickness is gone.  I began to pray for Lana’s whole body, that God would take away every lump from everywhere and that He would complete the incredible work that He was doing.

I also put my hand on my own forehead, where I had had a mild but constant headache for the previous three weeks.  I assumed it must be from the stress of the diagnosis, as I rarely get headaches, and if I do, they last for only a few hours at most.  But this headache had persisted day and night for three straight weeks.  It didn’t cause me severe pain, but it was enough to be noticeable and it always got worse whenever I leaned forward or put on my glasses.

After putting my hand on my head and praying for my headache, I returned to praising God with Lana.  Unsure if we could really believe that this had just happened, or if we might find the lump again in the morning, or what might be going on with all the other tumors in her body, we finally laid down again to try to get some sleep.

But as I laid down, I took out my Bible and put on my glasses to read for awhile.  When I put them on, I expected to feel the pain in my eye again.  But there was no pain.  I leaned forward in the bed, and there was still no pain.  I got out of bed, and leaned my head way down to my toes and there was still no pain.  None whatsoever.  The headache that I had felt for three straight weeks was gone, completely gone!

I began to cry again, not because of what God had done for my headache, but because it gave me yet another picture of healing and what that implied about the tumors in Lana’s body, too.  I finally fell asleep, praising God that no matter what, He had restored my faith that He really could do anything, absolutely anything.  I finally believed once again that with God, nothing is impossible, even the healing of my wife.

When we woke up the next morning, we felt for the lump again, and after some time searching, we thought we might have found it, although much, much smaller than it had been for almost two and a half months straight.  We contacted the doctor to ask if this was normal for the lump to shrink like this.  She said that it may have been due to some swelling that could have subsided from a biopsy done three weeks earlier.  When I heard those words, the pain in my head returned. I prayed:

“God, no matter what’s going on, I thank You for giving me a picture of healing, a picture of what it can be like when you heal someone, suddenly and miraculously.  I believe, Lord, that You can heal Lana in an instant, just as You’ve healed me in an instant of other things in the past and just as I’ve seen You heal others.  Thank You Lord for giving me a picture to hang onto no matter what happens next.”

Over the past week, my headache has come and gone, fading in and out, but no longer as continuous as it had been.  The lump in Lana’s breast has also seemed to come and go, where some days she can find it, although it’s still very small and other days she can’t seem to find it at all.  We’ve scheduled an ultrasound on the lump for tomorrow (Monday, March 5th) with the doctor who originally did the biopsy to see if the technology confirms what we are seeing:  that the tumor has indeed gotten smaller or gone away completely.  I, for one, can’t wait to see the results!

But I can also say that my faith this week has soared to the point where it doesn’t much matter what the doctor’s report says.  What matters most is that God has shown me that He can do anything, absolutely anything.  (Update: The following day, the radiologist said the lump in Lana’s breast was measuring 20% smaller than when he first measured it, measuring only 1.2 cm instead of 1.5 cm the month before, and before the biopsy that could have caused any inflammation, and that this was unusual. He said he had never seen a lump like this go away or shrink without treatment and that he “didn’t have a great explanation for why this is happening.”)

If you’ve been reading my messages for the past several months, you know that we’ve been studying the book of Romans and looking at the topic of “Renewing Your Mind.”  While I hope to return to our study of the book of Romans again soon, I must also say that this whole experience has been one intense crash course on the importance of getting our thinking in line with God’s.  Every time we get a doctor’s report, or read an article on the internet, or hear a story from someone else who’s died of cancer, we have to take our thoughts captive, asking God to replace our thoughts with His… that He is the only one who truly knows how this will turn out in the end.

It’s not like I need God to heal Lana for me to continue to believe in Him.  And it’s not like He has to keep doing miracles for me to continue to believe in Him.  I’m already in.  I’m fully committed.  I’ve signed on the dotted line and given my whole life to Jesus.  It’s not like I’m troubled of what will happen to Lana if she dies.  I know she loves Jesus with all of her heart, soul, mind and strength and that she’ll be with Him forever in heaven—and that I’ll be with her there someday myself.

But what God has done for me these past two weeks, thanks to His help and your prayers, has been to renew my mind and believe in Him again that He can do ALL THINGS—that truly nothing is impossible with God.  I know that God can work all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose and that God really can give Lana the desire of her heart, at any time and through any means, to live a long and full life here on earth and then on into heaven forever.

What do the coming weeks hold for us?  I can’t say for sure.  But I can say this:  I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead more than ever before, because I know I’ll be going through them with a God who loves me, and who loves Lana, and who loves you more than any of us could possibly imagine.

I pray this week that you would know this love of God as well, and if you haven’t put your faith in Christ, that you would do it now, for the forgiveness of your sins so you can live with Him forever, and for everything else in your life, so you can live the abundant life He’s called you to live here on earth.  Like the apostle Paul, I pray for you, that you would know God’s immeasurable love and His remarkable power.  As Paul said:

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:14-21).

I look forward to sharing another update again with you next week, then I hope to return to our study of Romans after that with renewed vigor, knowing  the importance of “renewing our minds.”

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for being Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, and for giving us a picture of healing that we can hang onto.  Lord, we pray that You would continue to heal Lana’s body, completely and gloriously, and through it all, that Your name would be glorified in ways that go beyond all we could ask or imagine.  We pray also that You would use this situation to spark our faith to believe once again that nothing is impossible with You, no matter how dire the circumstances and no matter how bleak the reports.  We trust and believe that Your report is always good, for You truly can work all things for good for those who love you and who are called according to Your purpose.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

by

Appendix ~ Message 2: Hit Your Knees!

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Eric Elder, February 26th, 2012

In my message last week, I shared that I could use some encouragement, and thanks to your prayers and God’s help, I got it!  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all your prayers and notes and words of encouragement.

In case you missed last week’s message, I shared that my wife Lana and I were surprised a few weeks ago to find out that she has breast cancer, and we were even more surprised to find it was not just one lump in her breast, but had already spread, with multiple tumors showing up on CT scans and MRI’s throughout her lungs, liver and spine.

This news was devastating, as you can imagine.  But within hours of sending out our note asking for your encouragement, prayers started coming in from all over the world—from places like Kenya and Ghana, Malaysia and the Bahamas, Qatar and Dubai and all over the U.S.  The prayers of the saints were spreading faster than any cancer ever could!

I heard from a chaplain of a prison in New Mexico who said that all of the inmates in his prison were going to be praying for my wife.  I heard from another man in Uganda who said:

“I bet you or your husband has never been to Uganda. Yet you have. This Day’s Thought has been the highlight of my inbox since 2007. I feel like I know you, the picture is more complete with the family photo. Am surely praying for you.”

As the week went on, God continued to speak to us, reminding us that Jesus already drank the cup of death for us and that He was holding out a cup of life to us instead!  We feel that Jesus wants us to drink from His cup of life, and drink deeply.  Whereas I wrote my message last week in part to comfort my own soul in the event that this cancer might take my wife’s life, this week I’m writing with full faith and confidence that God could heal her in a moment, completely and gloriously! And I’m thrilled to say that this miracle may have already begun!

The day after we sent our prayer request to you, Lana noticed that the tumor in her breast had shrunk suddenly and significantly.  And by 4 o’clock in the morning, she wasn’t sure if she could even find it at all!  We began to pray hard that this would be just an indicator of what is going on in the rest of her body, that the cancer is being driven out by the power of God and that what was once in the darkness must now flee in the light!

We’ve been praying toward that end for the rest of the week, and with that in mind, I’d like to ask you to consider praying and fasting along with me and hundreds of others who have already told us they’ll be praying with us during a special 24 hour prayer vigil for my wife.  You don’t have to go anywhere special, just pray wherever you are starting on morning Monday morning, February 27th at 7:00 a.m. Central Time (-6 GMT), through Tuesday morning, the 28th, at 7:00 a.m.  We’re going to be praying and fasting that God would spare Lana’s life, confessing that her life and ministry isn’t at the end, but that it’s just at the beginning in a whole new way!

We believe that even one prayer, offered in faith, has tremendous power!  As the Bible says:

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (James 5:13-16).

One prayer, offered in faith, can make the sick person well.  One prayer, offered in faith, can bring forgiveness.  One prayer, offered in faith, can close the heavens and open them again.

And one prayer, offered in faith, can lead us to eternal life.  As the apostle Paul said:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

We’re praying and believing for Lana’s healing, not just because we’re afraid she’ll die, but because we believe that it pleases the heart of God whenever we pray a prayer offered in faith.

Whereas last week I felt like I needed a cheerleader to keep me up in my spirits, this week I’m feeling like being the cheerleader, cheering you all to stand up and clap and shout and make some noise for the Lord.

I remember watching some cheerleaders at a college football game stand in front of one section of a stadium full of people.  The cheerleaders would raise their arms and shout to the people to do the same, calling on them to lift their hands, shout and clap, and stomp their feet for the victory that they were hoping would soon come.  Then the cheerleaders would move to the next section and call on those people to stand up on their feet and do the same.  Then they’d take off running around the stadium, going from section to section, until the people throughout the whole stadium were on their feet, clapping and shouting and stomping!

As this message goes around the world this week, I want to call upon all of you to stand to your feet in prayer and praise, shouting and clapping and making some noise for the Lord!  (You don’t have to do it out loud, but you can if you want!)

While it may seem selfish of me to call on so many of you to pray so intensely for my wife and my family and me, after reading your notes and letters this week, I know for sure that this is not just about saving her life for my sake or the sake of the kids, but for God’s sake and for all that He is wanting to do through this to bring glory to His name.  I pray that this is yet another testimony that will bring hope and healing and salvation to people all over the world.

So with that in mind, I want to encourage you to pray with us, and fast with us, for 24 hours this week, that Lana’s healing would be complete and glorious, and that God’s name would be glorified through it all!

There are times when fasting should be done in secret.  But there are other times in the Bible where fasting was done in the light, in full view of everyone, like when Esther was about to make a special request of the king to save her people, but which could have cost her her life. Esther said:

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Esther declared her fast, publicly and widely, because she knew that God could use those prayers for the salvation of many, many souls.  Esther was placed in a unique position to call this fast and I believe Lana has been placed in a similar position.  As Esther’s cousin said to her just before she declared her fast:

“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b).

If you’d like some ideas for how to fast and pray, I’ve included a link below that I’ve found helpful.
http://www.cru.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/7-steps-to-fasting/index.htm

If you’re thinking of joining us, I’d like to encourage you by sharing a note I received this week from a dear friend who had mistakenly, but thankfully, thought that our day of prayer and fasting was last Monday instead of this coming one.  As she set out to fast and pray for 24 hours, she wrote to us and said:

“This morning, I pledge a day of fasting and hourly prayer for Lana’s healing. I pray for her recovery and the Lord granting her 50 more years of ministry at Eric’s side. I pray for the possibility of unbelievers hearing of Lana’s healing and following their curiosity to the Gospel. I pledge to pray each hour for Lana’s healing not only for the benefit of her family and friends, but for the benefit of the Body of Christ. May God hear my pleas.”

Then, when her fast was nearly complete, she wrote:

“Lana and Eric, Soon – as in fifteen minutes – my day of fasting and prayer will be over, so I wanted you to know how much it meant to me carry you both in my heart and mind all day.  During the day and night, I remembered many moments of laughter and friendship, but I thought mostly about how you express your faith. It is inspiring, yes, but also challenging, because your faith makes me – and those who listen to me share about your work – question if we are doing as much, being as faithful. While I know comparison is not the answer, I can’t help but think that the Lord uses those moments to nudge me, and others, along. Lana, you are so dearly loved and I am in your debt for thousands – yes thousands – of little ways you have encouraged my faith. P.S. While praying about whether or not I should commit to doing the fast and prayer day, I went to check the dates so that my prayers could be added to others. I believed I saw 20-21. I was convinced, in fact, so I was shocked to read, this morning, that the prayer vigil is set for next week. So, it is my hope that the Lord directed me to this day for His purposes, but I will add my prayers to the others on the 27th as well. :)”

I am fully convinced that God directed our friend to pray for us that day and I would love for you to join us in prayer, too, whether it’s on the the 27th and 28th, or at any other time when you read this message.  I sure time zones and dates don’t mean nearly as much to an eternal God as they do to us here on earth!

But if you’d like to join us on this special day when hundreds of others will be praying, too, we’re starting at 7:00 a.m. Central Time (-6 GMT) on Monday, February 27th through 7:00 a.m. on the 28th.  You don’t have to go anywhere special to pray.  Just pray wherever you are.  And if you’d like to post your prayers on Lana’s blog, or read the prayers of others, you can do so anytime at www.lanaelder.com.

And at some point during your prayers, can I encourage you to “hit your knees,” by kneeling on the ground?  As one of our friends said who is organizing this special day of fasting and prayer:

“Hit your knees when you pray, because we want Satan to feel the earth tremble as we pray for Lana.”

I know I’ll be hitting my knees several times tomorrow and I’d love for you to do the same.  If you need some words to pray for Lana throughout the day, here’s a Psalm I’ve been praying over her, line by line, for the past few days.  I pray it encourages you in making your own requests to God as well!

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
O LORD, save the king!
Answer us when we call!
(Psalm 20: 1-9)

Thanks again so much!  Your words and prayers are already glorifying God in ways that go beyond anything we could ask or imagine!

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for what you are already doing in this situation with Lana, both in the healing we believe is taking place in her body, and the glorifying of your name that is taking place around the world.  Let this day of prayer and fasting be a testimony to Your power, Your might, and Your victory over darkness, once and for all.  We pray for healing and more, that You would heal Lana’s body, completely and gloriously, and through it all, that Your name would be glorified in ways that go beyond anything we could ask or imagine.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

by

Appendix ~ Message 1: Lana’s Health

You're reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ROMANS: LESSONS IN RENEWING YOUR MIND, by Eric Elder, featuring forty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most life-changing books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

By Eric Elder, February 19th, 2012

I normally use this space to write some words of encouragement to you, but this week I could use some encouragement myself.

A few weeks ago my wife and I received the surprising news that she has breast cancer.  Two days ago, we received the even more surprising news that it was not Stage 1 breast cancer with one lump in her breast, but that it is actually Stage 4 breast cancer, with multiple tumors that have already spread to her lungs, liver and spine.

If you know Lana, you know that she’s the picture of health… she’s at her ideal body weight, she eats well, she runs two to three miles every few days, and her bloodwork is perfect in every way.  She feels good and strong and healthy.  Other than the lump in her breast that we discovered in December, and some minor pain in her lower back that started soon after that, we wouldn’t have even thought to have her tested for anything that could possibly be going wrong inside her body.  Even when people do find lumps in their breasts, the majority of the time those lumps turn out to be harmless.  But not this time.

I’ve prayed with many people over the years with many types of cancer.  I’ve seen some people healed naturally, others supernaturally, and still others who haven’t been healed in the way that we had fervently hoped or prayed, including my own mother who died of breast cancer twenty-one years ago.  But even in those instances where God hasn’t healed people in the way that I had hoped, I have seen God use even those situations for good in the end.  As good and miraculous as healing is, I know that there is still more that Christ offers us than just the healing that we desire.  As the apostle Paul said:

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

I believe in healing.  I’ve seen people healed with my own eyes and through my own prayers numerous times.  God wants us to be healed and He has wired our bodies to heal themselves as much as possible, whether it’s the coagulating of blood to heal a scrape on our skin, or the multiplication of white blood cells to fight off a raging infection.

But there’s also an enemy at work whose main goal, according to Jesus, seems to be to steal, kill, and destroy.  As Jesus said:

“The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy; …” (John 10:10a).

But Jesus didn’t leave it there.  He went on to say:

“… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10b).

The healings and miracles of Jesus are so numerous that the pages of the Bible can’t even contain them all.  As the apostle John said:

“Jesus did many other things as well.  If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25).

And yet as miraculous and amazing and God-ordained as healing is, there are some things that are even more amazing… like forgiveness… and the peace that passes understanding… and eternal life.

When some men in the Bible brought their friend to Jesus to be healed, having pressed through the crowds and cutting through a roof to get their friend to Jesus, Jesus said to the sick man,

“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2b). 

The religious leaders were shocked that Jesus would make such a bold statement, knowing that only God Himself had the power to forgive sins.  But knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them:

“Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home” (Matthew 9:5-7).

To Jesus, the forgiveness of sins seems to be just as miraculous, if not more so, than healing.  And considering what Jesus had to go through in order to forgive us of our sins, it seems like forgiveness was quite possibly the more difficult of the two.

When Jesus Himself was headed for the cross, way too young and way too innocent, rather than fighting His death, He submitted to the will of His Father in heaven, knowing that His Father’s plans were even more glorious than anything anyone could have imagined.  Yet Jesus still prayed that if there was any way possible, that His Father would take the cup of death away from Him so that He wouldn’t have to drink it.  At the same time, He trusted His Father completely, regardless of the outcome, saying:

“… yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42b).

Jesus sought for the peace of His Father above all else, and He encouraged His disciples to do the same:  As Jesus told 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).

And ultimately, what could compare to the promise of eternal life?  As Lana told a friend this weekend:

“For me, it’s a win-win situation.  Either I go to be with Jesus, or I get to stay here and be with Eric and my family.”

As Paul said,

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body” (Philippians 1:20-24). 

Jesus came to give us life to the full, both here on earth and in heaven forever.  This is the hope that we have in Christ and this is the hope for which He gave up His life.

So with both of these hopes in mind, can I ask for your earnest prayers on our behalf?  We’re praying for healing and more—that God would heal Lana’s body completely and gloriously—and that through it all, God’s name would be glorified in ways that go beyond anything we could ask or imagine.  Thank you so much.

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for revealing to us this cancer that is at work within Lana’s body so we can know what to do next.  Lord, we pray for healing and more, that You would heal her body completely and gloriously, and through it all, that Your name would be glorified in ways that go beyond anything we could ask or imagine.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

by

Our Favorite Christian Quotations

Over 250 of our favorite Christian quotes to inspire you in your faith in Christ
compiled by Greg Potzer

Read it online below!

You’re reading OUR FAVORITE CHRISTIAN QUOTATIONS, complied by Greg Potzer, featuring over 250 inspirational quotes from the ministry of This Day’s Thought. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading OUR FAVORITE CHRISTIAN QUOTATIONS, complied by Greg Potzer, featuring over 250 inspirational quotes from the ministry of This Day’s Thought. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

ABOUT THIS COLLECTION

This collection contains over 250 of our favorite inspirational quotes that we featured during the first 13 years of our ministry, written by authors throughout the ages, including John Shedd, C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Corrie ten Boom, D.L. Moody, C.H. Spurgeon, Saint Augustine, Robert Lewis Stevenson, G.K. Chesteron, Phillips Brooks, Charles Dickens, Blaise Pascal, Matthew Henry, Abraham Lincoln, Francis of Assisi, Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, Victor Hugo, Leo Tolstoy, Oswald Chambers, and hundreds more!

To receive more quotes like these every weekday by email, just sign up using the subscription form on this page.  It’s FREE, without advertisements, and our subscription list is confidential.

Without further adieu, here are our favorites!

Our Favorite Inspirational Christian Quotations

A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
John Shedd

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
C. S. Lewis

Our little time of suffering is not worthy of our first night’s welcome home to Heaven.
Samuel Rutherford

That the Potter should die for His clay is a stupendous miracle.
Lynn Landrum

Loving relationships are a family’s best protection against the challenges of the world.
Bernie Wiebe

What other people think of me is becoming less and less important; what they think of Jesus because of me is critical.
Cliff Richard

We can never replace a friend. When a man is fortunate enough to have several, he finds they are all different. No one has a double in friendship.
Johann Von Schiller

The miracles of Jesus were the ordinary works of his Father, wrought small and swift that we might take them in.
George MacDonald

A religion that is small enough for our understanding would not be big enough for our needs.
Corrie ten Boom

I prayed for faith and thought it would strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. One day I read, “Now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now began to study my Bible and faith has been growing ever since.
Dwight L. Moody

A friend is one who sees through you and still enjoys the view.
Wilma Askinas

The early morning hours have gold in their mouth.
Dutch proverb

Others may argue your beliefs, but they can’t refuse your love.
Unknown

I looked at God and He looked at me, and we were one forever.
C. H. Spurgeon

How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.
Edward Benson

Make me a captive Lord, then I shall be truly free.
Augustine

Heaven is full of answers to prayers for which no one ever bothered to ask.
Billy Graham

God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
C.S. Lewis

I have more trouble with D. L. Moody than with any other man I ever met.
D. L. Moody

Peace is seeing a sunrise or a sunset and knowing whom to thank.
Unknown

There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.
Robert Alden

Most commit the same mistake with God that they do with their friends: they do all the talking.
Fulton J. Sheen

Just as there comes a warm sunbeam into every cottage window, so comes a love – born of God’s care for every separate need.
Unknown

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

If Jesus were born one thousand times in Bethlehem and not in me, then I would still be lost.
Corrie ten Boom

To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.
Unknown

Our real blessings often appear to us in the shapes of pains, losses, and disappointments; but let us have patience, and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.
Joseph Askinas

It’s not what you did, but what you could have done if you allowed the Lord to work His will in your life.
A. W. Tozer

We know that people we love are both good and bad, but we expect strangers to be one or the other.
Russell Banks

When Christ came into my life, I came about like a well-handled ship.
Robert Louis Stevenson

One of the most lasting pleasures you can experience is the feeling that comes over you when you genuinely forgive an enemy – whether he knows it or not.
O. A. Battista

When we come to the last moment of this lifetime, and we look back across it, the only thing that’s going to matter is “what was the quality of our love?”
Richard Bach

Feelings are everywhere – be gentle.
J. Masai

Afflictions are but the shadow of God’s wings.
George Macdonald

The ultimate test of a relationship is to disagree but to hold hands.
Unknown

Every tear from every eye becomes a babe in eternity.
William Blake

The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not to argue about it or to spend time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick along side it.
D. L. Moody

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts – and we are never, ever the same.
Unknown

It does not take great men to do great things; it only takes consecrated men.
Phillips Brooks

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.
G. K. Chesterton

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.
John Burroughs

Truth may walk through the world unarmed.
Bedouin

If you want to live twice as long, eat half as much, sleep twice as much, drink water three times as much, and laugh four times at much.
John H. Cable

Trust God for great things; with your five loaves and two fishes, he will show you a way to feed thousands.
Horace Bushnell

The Lord’s goodness surrounds us at every moment. I walk through it almost with difficulty, as through thick grass and flowers.
R. W. Barbour

Only when we are brought to the end of ourselves are we in a position to see more of God than we have seen.
Unknown

Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches but for wings.
Phillips Brooks

The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.
George Santayana

There is nothing that will not reveal its secrets if you love it enough.
George Washington Carver

A world without a Sabbath would be like a man without a smile, like a summer without flowers, and like a homestead without a garden. It is the most joyous day of the whole week.
Henry Ward Beecher

In the midst of winter, I finally learned there was within me an invincible summer.
Albert Camus

The army of Israel looked at Goliath through the eyes of man and said he’s too big to beat. David looked at him through the eyes of God and said he’s too big to miss.
Wally Carter

Imagine watching all that God might have done with your life if you had let him.
John Ortberg

I have had prayers answered – most strangely so sometimes – but I think our heavenly Father’s loving kindness has been even more evident in what He has refused me.
Lewis Carroll

Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the Book widens and deepens with our years.
Charles Spurgeon

You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.
Dale Carnegie

Truth is the most powerful force on earth because it cannot be changed.
Mike Murdock

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
Charles Dickens

We lie to God in prayer if we do not rely on him afterwards.
Robert Leighton

An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.
A. W. Tozer

We are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world.
Mother Teresa

Faith is putting all your eggs in God’s basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.
Ramona Carroll

Sometimes someone says something really small, and it just fits right into this empty place in your heart.
My So-Called Life

God’s Heart is especially tender toward the downtrodden and the defeated. He knows your name and He has seen every tear you have shed.
James Dobson

Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things – I am tempted to think – there are no little things.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The love of God is like the Amazon River flowing down to water one daisy.
Unknown

We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God.
D. L. Moody

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
Jim Elliot

Never lose sight of the fact that old age needs so little but needs that little so much.
Margaret Willour

Don’t try to deal with sin, for you are sure to lose. Deal with Christ; let him deal with your sin and you are sure to win.
Arthur Elfstrand

Preach the gospel everyday; if necessary, use words.
Francis of Assisi

Life itself, every bit of health that we enjoy, every hour of liberty and free enjoyment, the ability to see, to hear, to speak, to think, and to imagine- all this comes from the hand of God.  We show our gratitude by giving back to Him a part of that which He has given to us.
Billy Graham

Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence or learning.
Frederick Faber

There is no greater love than the love that holds on where there seems nothing left to hold on to.
G. W. C Thomas

Some people confess a sin a thousand times, I tell them to confess it once, then thank God a thousand times for forgiving them.
Maurice Horn

You can never speak to the wrong person about Christ.
Unknown

God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way.
Leighton Ford

To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.
David Viscott

A good conscience is a continual Christmas.
Benjamin Franklin

What’s true of biology is also true of faith: If it isn’t growing, it’s probably dead.
Unknown

How can you expect God to speak in that gentle and inward voice which melts the soul, when you are making so much noise with your rapid reflections? Be silent, and God will speak again.
Francois Fenelon

The Christian life is one of faith, where we find ourselves routinely overdriving our headlights but knowing it’s okay because God is in control and has a purpose behind it.
Bill Hybels

I believe Satan to exist for two reasons: first, the Bible says so, and second, I’ve done business with him.
Dwight L. Moody

Build your nest in no tree here…for the Lord of the forest has condemned the whole woods to be demolished.
Samuel Rutherford

I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
Edgar Guest

God has two dwellings – one in heaven and the other in a thankful heart.
Izaar Walton

Some prayers have a longer voyage than others, but they return with the richer lading at last, so that the praying soul is a gainer by waiting for an answer.
William Gurnall

The God of the infinite is the God of the infinitesimal.
Blaise Pascal

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
Victor Borge

One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.
Andre Gide

Father, strip away from me whatever is blocking people’s view of You in my life.
Tim Walter

Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so.
David Grayson

The Bible grows more beautiful, as we grow in our understanding of it.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

God always answers in the deeps, never in the shallows of our soul.
Unknown

High up in the North, in the land called Svithjod, there stands a rock.  It is 100 miles high and 100 miles wide.  Once every 1000 years a little bird comes to this rock to sharpen its beak.  When the rock has thus been worn away, then a single day of eternity will have gone by.
Hendrick Willem Van Loon

Silence is the first language of God; all else is a poor translation.  Thomas Merton

All this and heaven too.
Matthew Henry

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
Gerard Hopkins

The most important missionary journey a person can make is to walk next door.
Unknown

If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.
Chinese proverb

Every day that you attempt to see things as they are in truth is a supremely successful day.
Vernon Howard

What makes loneliness an anguish is not that I have no one to share my burden, but this: I have only my own burden to bear.
Dag Hammarskjold

God’s gifts put man’s best dreams to shame.
Unknown

Many a fellow is praying for rain with his tub the wrong side up.
Sam Jones

A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening.
Soren Kierkegaard

Life is deep and simple, and what our society gives us is shallow and complicated.
Fred Rogers

Let us be the first to give a friendly sign; to nod first, smile first, speak first, and- if such a thing is necessary- forgive first.
Unknown

Jesus, please teach me to appreciate what I have before time forces me to appreciate what I had.
Susan L. Lenzkes

God often gives in one brief moment that which he has for a long time denied.
Thomas Kempis

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.
Abraham Lincoln

My objective in life is not to have a spiritual life that is separate from the rest of my life.
Ed McCraken

We have found that marriage should be made up of two forgivers. We need to learn to say, “I was wrong, I’m sorry.” And we also need to say, “That’s all right, I love you.”
Billy Graham

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees, and flowers, and clouds, and stars.
Martin Luther

When we understand that He is Lord of our time, we realize that interruptions are of His planning. They become opportunities to serve rather than plagues to keep us from functioning.
Karen Mains

He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life.
William Law

The brook would lose its song if the rocks were removed.
Unknown

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
Francis of Assisi

The most fruitful and the most joy-filled Christians are the most pruned Christians.
Bruce Wilkinson

The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you’ll ever get to God.
Max Lucado

Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.
Unknown

I have so many things to do today, I dare not ignore my time with God.
Martin Luther

The older we get in the Lord, the simpler life becomes as we realize it’s all about Jesus.
Jon Courson

My weight is my love.
Augustine

If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.
Vance Havner

There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.
French proverb

I was always complaining about the ruts in the road until I realized the ruts are the road.
Unknown

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.
A. W. Tozer

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry on as if nothing happened.
Winston Churchill

It is love, not reason, that is stronger than death.
Thomas Mann

Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscle of Omnipotence.
J. Edwin Hartill

Every man carries the entire form of human condition.
Michel de Montaigne

Only as man brings his life into harmony with God does that life have balance and meaning. Then man finds that he is not simply a mass of dancing dirt, coming from nowhere and going nowhere.
Henry Schmidt

A lot of people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.
Unknown

We do not hug our miracles close. We put them hastily away, preferring the commonplace to live with.
Fulton Oursler

A God you understood would be less than yourself.
Flannery O’Connor

I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.
Martin Luther

Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
Unknown

In intercessory prayer, one seldom ends where one began.
Douglas Steere

Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow.
Norman Vincent Peale

The face of Christ does not indeed show us everything, but it shows us the one thing we need to know – the character of God. God is the God who sent Jesus.
P. Carnegie Simpson

Never dwell on the tomorrow; remember, that it’s God’s and not ours.
E. B. Pusey

God doesn’t call people who are qualified. He calls people who are willing, and then He qualifies them.
Richard Parker

If a bird is flying for pleasure, it flies with the wind, but if it meets danger it turns and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher.
Corrie ten Boom

Learn to hold loosely all that is not eternal.
A. Maude Royden

The bread that you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies on your chest belongs to the naked; and the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.
Basil of Caesarea

Jesus Christ came into my prison cell last night, and every stone flashed like a ruby.
Samuel Rutherford

I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.
Mother Teresa

The way to worry about nothing is to pray about everything.
Unknown

There is nothing but God’s grace. We walk upon it; we breathe it; we live and die by it; it makes the nails and axles of the universe.
Robert Louis Stevenson

A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time.
Samuel Johnson

God cares about details. If you comb out some hairs in the morning, the record in Heaven is changed.
John Rice

Joy is the serious business of heaven.
C. S. Lewis

Every Christian needs a half an hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy, then he needs an hour.
Francis de Sales

Every person I have known who has been truly happy, has learned how to serve others.
Albert Schweitzer

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and have patience for the small ones. Go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
Victor Hugo

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.
Anais Nin

I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.
Mother Teresa

Tell me how much you know of the sufferings of your fellow men and I will tell how much you have loved them.
Unknown

Some prayers are followed by silence because they are wrong, others because they are bigger than we can understand.
Oswald Chambers

“Come to the edge!” God said. “It’s dangerous there,” I answer. “Come to the edge!” God said. “But I might fall!” “Come to the edge!” God said. So I did. And He pushed me! And I flew!
Guillaume Apollinaire

God always answers our prayer. Either he changes the circumstances, or he supplies sufficient power to overcome them.
Unknown

There are two ways of spreading light – to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton

Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.
George Eliot

To take all that we are and have and hand it over to God may not be easy; but it can be done; and when it is done, the world has in it one less candidate for misery.
Paul Scherer

Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.
Will Rogers

There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it behooves all of us not to talk about the rest of us.
Robert Louis Stevenson

God didn’t want me to do more for Him.  He wanted me to be more with Him.
Bruce Wilkinson

Be careful how you live; you will be the only Bible some people ever read.
William Toms

The universe is one of God’s thoughts.
Johann Schiller

We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts.
A. W. Tozer

We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them.
Charles West

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.
Unknown

One kind word can warm three winter months.
Japanese proverb

If you have never heard the mountains singing; or seen the trees of the field clapping their hands, do not think because of that they don’t. Ask God to open your ears so you may hear it, and your eyes so you may see it, because, though few men ever know it, they do, my friend, they do.
McCandlish Phillips

No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.
George Washington Carver

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.  Love them anyway.
Mother Teresa

Apart from Christ we know neither what our life nor our death is; we do not know what God is nor what we ourselves are.
Blaise Pascal

A day without prayer is a boast against God.
Owen Carr

The surest mark of a Christian is not faith, or even love, but joy.
Samuel Shoemaker

Faith is simply taking God at his word.
Unknown

I try not to worry about life too much because I read the last page of THE book and it all turns out all right.
Billy Graham

Afflictions are the steps to heaven.
Elizabeth Seton

When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy.
Corrie Ten Boom

A smile takes but a moment, but its effects sometimes last forever.
J. E. Smith

When the devil tries to remind you of your past, just turn around and remind him of his future.
Anonymous

You are what you think about all day long.
Robert Schuller

The great secret of successful marriage is to treat all disasters as incidents and none of the incidents as disasters.
Harold Nicholson

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength. It does not enable us to escape evil. It makes us unfit to face evil when it comes. It is the interest you pay on trouble before it comes.
Corrie ten Boom

He preaches well who lives well. That’s all the divinity I know.
Miguel de Cervantes

In the name of God, stop a moment, close your work, and look around you.
Leo Tolstoy

One is given strength to bear what happens to one, but not the 100 and 1 different things that might happen.
C. S. Lewis

Know all and you will pardon all.
Thomas Kempis

I came from God, and I’m going back to God, and I won’t have any gaps of death in the middle of my life.
George Macdonald

Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of himself.
Mother Teresa

Marriage, and the process of coming to it, is not heaven!  It is the bonding together of two needy sinners in order to make a partnership which is substantially greater than either of them alone.  Sinclair Ferguson

Blessed is the man who has discovered that there is nothing permanent in life but change.
Unknown

We need old friends to help us grow old and new friends to help us stay young.
Letty Cottin Pogrebin

The saints are the sinners who keep on trying.
Robert Louis Stevenson

God’s in His Heaven – All’s right with the world.
Robert Browning

God is here. Wherever we are, God is here. There is no place, there can be no place, where He is not.
A. W. Tozer

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.
Oswald Chambers

Faith in God – life can never take you by surprise again.
James Dobson

Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only he can see.
Corrie ten Boom

We need Jesus every moment of every day. To say anything else is ludicrous.
Tommy Tenney

You are one of a kind – designed to glorify God as only you can.
Unknown

It is more effective to spend time talking to Christ about a man than talking to a man about Christ, because if you are talking to Christ about a man earnestly, trustingly, in the course of time you cannot help talking to the man effectively about Christ.
Robert Munger

I neglect God and his angels for the noise of a fly, for the rattling of a coach, for the whining of a door.
John Donne

Make a list of twenty-five things you want to experience before you die. Carry it in your wallet or purse and refer to it often.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Forgiveness is not an emotion, it’s a decision.
Randall Worley

What a man is on his knees before God, that he is – and nothing more.
Robert McCheyne

With God, even when nothing is happening – something is happening.
Reubin Welch

The supreme happiness of life is the conviction of being loved for yourself, or more correctly, being loved in spite of yourself.
Unknown

Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn’t stop to enjoy it.
William Feather

Hold everything you own with an open hand.
Terri Green

Love me when I least deserve it, because that’s when I really need it.
Swedish proverb

God is not a deceiver, that He should offer to support us, and then, when we lean upon Him, should slip away from us.
Augustine

There are certainly things in this life that God can reveal to us only in the midst of adversity. There are hidden places deep in our souls He can reach only through our suffering.
Mary Nelson

In obedience to discernment, more discernment will come. We need to be attentive and alert in order to hear and understand God’s call and then act, knowing that God blesses even our mistakes.
Unknown

Faith is to believe what you do not yet see, the reward for this faith is to see what you believe.
Augustine

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
Reinhold Niebuhr

Satan watcheth for those vessels that sail without a convoy.
George Swinnock

When God is about to do something great, he starts with a difficulty. When he is about to do something truly magnificent, he starts with an impossibility.
Armin Gesswein

I have always been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I slowly discovered that my interruptions were my work.
Henri Nouwen

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.
Unknown

You can’t tell what a man is like or what he is thinking when you are looking at him.  You must get around behind him and see what he has been looking at.
Will Rogers

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?
Stephen Levine

The truly happy person is the one who can enjoy the scenery even when he must take a detour.
Unknown

Do not free a camel of the burden of his hump; you may be freeing him from being a camel.
G. K. Chesterton

Life does not accommodate you, it shatters you. It is meant to, and couldn’t do it better. Every seed destroys its container or there would be no fruition.
F. Scott-Maxwell

Christianity must mean everything to us before it can mean anything to others.
Donald Soper

One with God is a majority.
Billy Graham

We judge others by their actions; we judge ourselves by our intentions.
Unknown

If Christ lives in us, controlling our personalities, we will leave glorious marks on the lives we touch. Not because of our lovely characters, but because of his.
Eugenia Price

The self-sufficient does not pray, the self-satisfied will not pray, the self-righteous cannot pray. No man is greater than his prayer life.
Leonard Ravenhill

In Christ Jesus heaven meets earth and earth ascends to heaven.
Henry Law

Faith is knowing that God is who He says He is, has what He says He has and will do what He says He will do and then putting ourselves in a position where our lives depend on it.
Graham Steele

Prayer is the very highest energy of which the mind is capable.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, I’ll try again tomorrow.
Unknown

The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.
Augustine

A dining room table with children’s eager, hungry faces around it, ceases to be a mere dining room table, and becomes an altar.
Simeon Strunsky

There is a wonderful law of nature that the three things we crave most – happiness, freedom, and peace of mind – are always attained by giving them to someone else.
Unknown

Save some before you spend, spend less than you earn, and honor the Lord by your tithing.
R. R. Ball

Wherever the Gospel is preached, no matter how crudely, there are bound to be results.
Billy Graham

When God wants to move a mountain, he does not take a bar of iron, but he takes a little worm. The fact is, we have too much strength. We are not weak enough. It is not our strength that we want. One drop of God’s strength is worth more than all the world.
D. L. Moody

Prayer is the mortar that holds our house together.
Mother Teresa

We do not exist for ourselves.
Thomas Merton

People who are in the habit of praying – and they include the mystics of the Christian tradition – know that when a prayer is answered, it is never answered in a way that you expect.
Kathleen Norris

Change your thoughts and you change your world.
Norman Vincent Peale

I set out to find a friend but couldn’t find one; I set out to be a friend, and friends were everywhere.
Unknown

One drop of Christ’s blood is worth more than heaven and earth.
Martin Luther

If nothing in this world satisfies me, perhaps it is because I was made for another world.
C. S. Lewis

We may not know the way God leads…but we know God leads! We do not know the way…but we know the Guide!
Richard Halverson

The best place any Christian can ever be in is to be totally destitute and totally dependent upon God, and know it.
Alan Redpath

For every step you take toward God, God takes two steps toward you; and if you come to God walking, God comes to you running.
James Martin

Anybody can become angry – that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not easy.
Aristotle

The truth is friendship is every bit as sacred and eternal as marriage.
Katherine Mansfield

When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light.
Oswald Chambers

If you have so much business to attend to that you have no time to pray, depend upon it, you have more business on hand than God ever intended you should have.
D. L. Moody

Joy is the echo of God’s life within us.
Joseph Marmion

Trust God for great things; with your five loaves and two fishes, he will show you a way to feed thousands.
Horace Bushnell

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.
Henry Ward Beecher

By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet.
Thomas Merton

Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.
Charles Spurgeon

Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed.
Robert Schuller

When I was young, I was sure of everything.  In a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before.  At present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to man.
John Wesley

If a man cannot be a Christian in the place where he is, he cannot be a Christian anywhere.
Henry Ward Beecher

The first of all beautiful things is the continual possession of God.
Gregory of Nazianzus

If you are a stranger to prayer, you are a stranger to the greatest source of power known to human beings.
Billy Sunday

The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.
Thomas Moore

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
Philo of Alexandria

We are pilgrims, not settlers; this earth is our inn, not our home.
J. H. Vincent

The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.
William Booth

Christ has turned all our sunsets into dawns.
Clement of Alexandria

Don’t worry about tomorrow. God is already there.
Unknown

Death for the Christian is a turning off the light because the dawn has come.
Leon Jaworski

Basis for happiness: something to do; something to love; something to look forward to.
Kanawha Reporter

Authentic religion is not a theology test. It’s a love test.
Oliver Thomas

To receive more quotes like this every weekday by email, be sure to sign up for our mailing list using the form on this page!

This list was compiled by Greg Potzer of the ministry of This Day’s Thought at www.thisdaysthought.org

Thanks for reading OUR FAVORITE CHRISTIAN QUOTATIONS, complied by Greg Potzer, featuring over 250 inspirational quotes from the ministry of This Day’s Thought. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Thanks for reading OUR FAVORITE CHRISTIAN QUOTATIONS, complied by Greg Potzer, featuring over 250 inspirational quotes from the ministry of This Day’s Thought. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

by

How to Self-Publish Your Books on Amazon (Including how to create paperbacks and ebooks on Createspace, iBooks, Nook and Kindle)

by Eric Elder
www.theranch.org

Don’t know how to publish that book that’s on your heart (or on your computer)?  This session is for you!  Now you can directly upload text you’ve written, or songs or videos you’ve recorded, to Amazon.com and they’ll publish them for you, handling all of the printing, shipping and billing, with no up-front costs to you.  This is a fast, cost-effective way to get God’s Word out without having to find a big publisher to back your project.  It’s also a great way to raise awareness for your cause and help support your ministry.  Read on, or watch the video below, to find out more.

1) Why would you want to self-publish your work on Amazon?

Just because your project may not attract a big publisher doesn’t mean God can’t use it mightily!  Whether it’s a Bible study in a niche language, a sermon series on a narrow but important topic, or a training session for local believers, you can use new print-on-demand services from companies like Amazon.com to publish it for you. (Other companies offer similar services, such as Lulu.com or Blurb.com, but this workshop focuses on Amazon.com just to keep it simple.)

It’s cost-effective:  There are no up-front fees, and the printing and handling costs are only deducted when a customer pays for an order, resulting in no cash outlay…just net profits.  Example costs:  If you want to order your own book, the cost for a 100 page book is $3.66 per book, and you can order as few as 1 copy.  (And if you sign up for the pro plan for a one-time cost of $39.99, you get each book for only $2.15 each, and you can order as few or as many as you like.)

It’s fast:  As soon as you’re finished writing or recording your work, you can upload it and make it available worldwide.  I write a weekly devotional and send it out by email to my readers.  As soon as I’m done writing a series (after 15, or 20, or 30 weeks), I copy and paste all of the articles into one long document, format and upload it to Amazon, and within a week after I’ve finished writing, I can hold a finished paperback book in my hands!

It’s always available:  There’s no need to stockpile books/CD’s/DVD’s and you never run out.  It used to be that you’d have to print 500 or 1,000 books to get anywhere close to $5 a copy (more like $15-$20 if you printed just one).  Then you have a closet full of books, and if you notice an error, you have a closet full of mistakes, too!

It’s hassle-free:  They take care of all shipping, handling and expediting of orders.  I’ve tried printing my own booklets, photocopying pages, or taking them to a copy shop.  Then each time someone wants one, it would take an hour or two just to find a mailer, get to the post office, and ship it out.  Now it’s all done transparently.

It’s easy to make changes:  If you want to change, add or delete something in your materials, just make the changes and upload a new file.  I used to proof read my books over and over, asking others to proof read it, too, taking months before I finally published it so that it would be just right.  Now I proof it once, upload it and if someone finds a mistake or has a suggestion, I revise it and the next copy that goes out contains the revision.

2) How do you get your materials to Amazon?

You just upload your content from your computer.  For publishing directly on Amazon, you’ll need to create a free account at www.createspace.com (CreateSpace is an Amazon company and handles the self-publishing for them).  Companies like Lulu.com also have arrangements with Amazon, so books and music you upload to Lulu can also be made available on Amazon.  To create a free account on Lulu or Blurb, just go to www.lulu.com or www.blurb.com.

Once logged into your account on CreateSpace, just click “Add New Title” to begin uploading your project, whether it’s a book, CD, or DVD (you can also make them available as downloadable ebooks, or MP3 or video downloads).

You’ll be asked for several pieces of information about the project, a description that will appear on Amazon’s website, the list price you want to set, the category that will help people find the item, etc.

You then be able to upload the content for your project, whether it’s a PDF file of the text within your book, or a JPG image of your cover art.  Some services also offer a cover creator where you can choose from a collection of pre-designed covers, and substitute your title and author information to appear on the front and back.

Once your project is uploaded, you can order a “proof” copy of your book or CD or DVD to make sure it prints exactly as you want it to print.  If you need to make changes, just upload them and order another proof.  When you’re satisfied with the way it looks, just log back in to your account and click the “approve proof” button.  You can now order as many copies of your project as you want, and your item will appear within a few days on Amazon.com so others can find it and order it, too.

3) How do you create your content? 

You can create your book, music or video using any word processor, or music or video editing software, then save it in a standard format, such as PDF for books, MP3 or AIFF for music, or a physical DVD for video.

You’ll need to check if your software can create the right final format.  If you find you don’t have the ability to create a PDF file from your word processor, there’s a free word processor you can download to do it, called OpenOffice, from www.openoffice.org (it’s similar to Microsoft Office with a word processor, graphics program, database, and  spreadsheet all in one, but for free!)

Here are some tips when setting up your pages for books:  format your entire document to be in the final “trim size” you want for your book (options vary from Amazon to Lulu to Blurb, such as 6”x9”, or 5.06”x7.81”, and so on; when setting up margins,  use “mirrored” margins and then set your inner margins a little wider than the outer margins to allow for the fold of the book, such as .75” for the inner margins and .5” for the outer margins;  to make it look like a “real” book, you can add headers and footers that run throughout the book, including the author name, title or chapter names at the top, and page numbers at the bottom.

For a professional look, find other books that look appealing and try to emulate them.  For instance, try a Garamond or Times New Roman font for the text rather than Arial or Helvetica to make it easier to read (the “serif” style fonts, with little feet along the bottoms of most of the letters, draw your eye across the page and make it easier to read…“san serif” fonts, those without little feet, work better for bold headlines, like the title and headings of this outline).

You can also use the advanced features of your software to create a polished look by using “small caps” (large initial letters for words in titles and smaller capital letters for the remainder of each word) for things like chapter headings, or “drop-caps” (a large initial letter) for the first paragraph of each chapter.  Adjust the final layout by checking your hyphenation settings if you find some words are breaking in the wrong places, or to specify how to handle things like widow & orphan lines, those lines that happen to be left all alone at the top or bottom of a page by themselves.  (Here’s a PDF CONVERTER ONLINE from ADOBE – https://www.acrobat.com/createpdf/ )

4) How do you create your cover art?

You can use any graphics program to create your cover artwork, then save it in a standard PDF or JPG format.  If you don’t have graphics software, you can download the OpenOffice software for free, which includes a drawing program.  Then you can import photographs, or draw shapes or create titles or subtitles right there.  Usually you create the entire front and back of artwork in one file.  After you upload the inside content of your book, you’ll be given the exact dimensions for this file, and even a template to help you create it.

When creating cover art, allow a margin around the outer edge for the graphic to “bleed” off the edge, as this will be trimmed off in the final printing and cutting process.  Usually .125”  bleed is suggested.

Some companies offer cover creation software for you so you don’t have to create the artwork yourself.  Just fill in the title and author information, and choose from their collection of graphics and pre-designed themes.

Here are some tips when creating your own artwork:  Focus on one dominant theme for your cover that draws the person’s eye to it, whether it’s a striking graphic, a bold type style, or a pleasing title placement; then choose complimentary colors that go with, or are also used within the graphic.

When choosing fonts, only use a few complimentary fonts, or vary one font style in only a few different ways, such as using italics, larger or smaller fonts, small caps, or expanded text (increasing the spacing between letters).  For the text along the side of the book (the spine), make sure the text is right-side-up by imagining the book laying on a table and still being able to read the spine text.

5) Questions? 

To see an example of how I’ve setup the book and CD ordering process on my website for my ministry, visit “The Bookstore at The Ranch” at http://www.theranch.org or “InspiringBooks.com” at www.inspiringbooks.com.

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.  (The Apostle John, on why he wrote his gospel, John 20:30-31).

Quotes on Writing and Perseverance 

Persistence – Ernest Hemingway often worked for hours to perfect one paragraph.

A poem is never finished, only abandoned. Paul Valery

Of the making of books there is no end.  King Solomon

If it takes a lot of words to say what you have in mind, give it more thought. Dennis Roch

I have made this letter longer than usual, because I lack the time to make it short.  Blaise Pascal

From my first experience of writing a screenplay, I had learned something about the process of revision. You can always make something better, and if you make it worse, you’ll know it. I had learned to have no fear of rewriting. All writers should be so lucky.  John Irving

You know that I write slowly. This is chiefly because I am never satisfied until I have said as much as possible in a few words, and writing briefly takes far more time than writing at length.  Carl Gauss

The story is told of an accomplished artist who was applying the finishing touches to a bronze sculpture. He kept filing, scraping, and polishing every little surface of his masterpiece. “When will it be done?” asked an observer. “Never,” came the reply. “I just keep working and working until they come and take it away.”

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.  Thomas Edison

If you knew how much work went into it, you wouldn’t call it genius.  Michelangelo

I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle.  I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.  Mother Teresa

All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.  Walt Disney

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.  Now put the foundations under them.  Henry David Thoreau

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.  Dr. Seuss

Quit now, you’ll never make it.  If you disregard this advice, you’ll be halfway there.  David Zucker

There are two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though every thing is a miracle.  Albert Einstein

Most of my friends who are novelists have told me that they never know the end of their novels when they start writing them; they find it peculiar that for my novels I need to know, and I need to know not just the ending, but every significant event in the main characters’ lives. When I finally write the first sentence, I want to know everything that happens, so that I am not inventing the story as I write it; rather, I am remembering a story that has already happened. The invention is over by the time I begin. All I want to be thinking of is the language- the sentence I am writing, and the sentence that follows it. Just the language.  John Irving

Do not write so that you can be understood, write so that you cannot be misunderstood. Epictetus

No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.  Robert Frost

Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.  Rudyard Kipling

When you sell a man a book, you don’t sell him 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue- you sell him a whole new life.  Christopher Morley

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Loving Thoughts

An inspiring collection of loving thoughts about God, heaven and the hope we have in Christ
compiled by Greg Potzer, with introduction by Eric Elder

Read it online below!

Loving Thoughts

You’re reading LOVING THOUGHTS, compiled by Greg Potzer, with introduction by Eric Elder, featuring inspirational thoughts for those who are passing from this life to the next… and those who love them.

INTRODUCTION

What can you say to someone who’s about to pass from this life to the next?  And what can you say to those who love them?

For me, perhaps the greatest words on the subject were spoken by Jesus Christ to His disciples in the days leading up to His own death and resurrection.  Here’s the essence of what He said to them―and what I believe God would want to say to you―as recorded in the Bible in the book of John, chapter 14:

1) God is real

2) Heaven is real

3) Jesus is the way

4) Don’t be afraid

Even if you already believe these things, I think they’re good reminders for all of us―especially when facing the very real possibility of entering heaven yourself.

Jesus started out by reminding His disciples that God is real:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me” (John 14:1).

It was like Jesus was saying to them, “I know this is going to be a hard time for you.  But don’t be troubled by it.  You can trust in God.  He alive, He’s real, and He really cares about you and everything that’s going on in your life.  Trust in Him, and trust in Me, too.”

Trusting in God is the essence of faith and it pleases Him immensely when we do.  In fact, without faith, it’s impossible to please God.  As the book of Hebrews says:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

God is real and He wants you to trust in Him―to believe that He exists―and to believe that He will reward you when you earnestly seek Him.

Jesus went on to tell His disciples that heaven is real, too:

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3). 

Throughout Jesus’ whole life and ministry, He preached about the reality of heaven. Even when others tried to challenge Him by saying that there is no resurrection of the dead, Jesus said:

“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). 

Heaven is real and it must be a really incredible place, too.  If God created the whole world in six days, imagine what heaven must be like:  Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us―and He’s been working on it for over 2,000 years!

Even though God hasn’t told us everything that awaits us in heaven, He has told us what won’t be there―and that alone is worth it!  There won’t be any more death or mourning or crying or pain.  There won’t be any more night, for God Himself will be our light (see Revelation 21:4, 23-25 and 22:5).

Just as God is real, heaven is real, too.

The third thing that Jesus wanted His disciples to know was how to get to heaven.  He didn’t want them―or any of us―to miss it.  Jesus said:

“You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:4-6).

It was like Jesus was saying, “If you believe in Me, put your faith in Me, and keep on following Me, then you’ll eventually end up in the same place that I’m going―and that’s heaven!  I am the way!”

Jesus wants you to keep putting your faith in Him for everything in your life, including your eternal life.  That’s why He came to earth:  to give you an abundant life here on earth as well as in heaven forever by dying on the cross for your sins.  When you put your faith in Him, He will forgive you of your sins and give you eternal life―starting right now!  As Jesus said:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

God is real, heaven is real, and Jesus is the way.

The fourth point that Jesus shared with them was this:  Don’t be afraid.  Jesus said:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27b). 

I’m sure Jesus said this because He knew that they were very likely to be afraid.  He knew that the possibility of facing life without Him might be even harder than facing their own deaths.

But if the first three points that Jesus made were true―that God is real, heaven is real, and He is the way―then this last point is certainly true as well:  you don’t have to be afraid.

God loves you very much.  He always has and He always will.  He cares about you today just as much as the day that you were born―and every day in between.  He cares about your every thought, your every feeling, and your every emotion―every detail of your life.

If you’ve trusted God this far with your life, then you can trust Him with your life in heaven, too.  Don’t let your heart be troubled and don’t be afraid.

Jesus spoke each of these words to comfort to His disciples and I pray that they bring comfort to you as well.  Remember…

1) God is real

2) Heaven is real

3) Jesus is the way

4) Don’t be afraid

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are real, heaven is real, Jesus is the way, and we don’t have to be afraid.  Help us to remember these truths, not only as we face our life in eternity, but also as we face the rest of our days here on earth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

LOVING THOUGHTS

The quotes on the following pages were drawn from the Bible and from Christians throughout the ages with the hope that they will encourage you in your faith and bring you peace.

——————

For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down―when we die and leave these bodies―we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore, made for us by God Himself, and not by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:1, The Living Bible

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Thomas Moore

I try not to worry about life too much because I read the last page of THE book and it all turns out all right.
Billy Graham

Death is not death if it kills no part of us, save that which hindered us from perfect life.
Death is not death if it raises us in a moment from darkness into light, from weakness into strength, from sinfulness into holiness.
Death is not death if it brings us nearer to Christ, who is the fount of life.
Death is not death if it perfects our faith by sight and lets us behold Him in whom we have believed.
Death is not death if it gives us to those whom we have loved and lost, for whom we have lived, for whom we long to live again.
Death is not death if it rids us of doubt and fear, of chance and change, of space and time, and all which space and time bring forth and then destroy.
Death is not death, for Christ has conquered Death for Himself and for those who trust in Him.
Charles Kingsley

Is death the last sleep?  No, it is the final awakening.
Walter Scott

If you love the good that you see in another, you make it your own.
Gregory The Great

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”
John 14:1-3, New International Version

All this and heaven too.
Matthew Henry

Every tear from every eye becomes a babe in eternity.
William Blake

This world is the land of the dying; the next is the land of the living.
Tryon Edwards

We are pilgrims, not settlers; this earth is our inn, not our home.
J. H. Vincent

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1 Corinthians 12:19, New International Version

Our little time of suffering is not worthy of our first night’s welcome home to Heaven.
Samuel Rutherford

Where there is sorrow, there is holy ground.
Oscar Wilde

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved―you and your household.”
Acts 16:30-31, New International Version

If we knew as much about heaven as God does, we would clap our hands every time a Christian dies.
George MacDonald

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4, New International Version

The best is perhaps what we understand the least.
C. S. Lewis

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,  And said, Where have ye laid him?  They said unto Him, Lord, come and see.  Jesus wept.  Then said the Jews, Behold how He loved him!
John 11:33-36, King James Version

Jesus wept once; possibly more than once.  There are times when God asks nothing of His children except silence, patience, and tears.
Charles Robinson

It is love, not reason, that is stronger than death.
Thomas Mann

God is here.  Wherever we are, God is here.  There is no place, there can be no place, where He is not.
A. W. Tozer

Old age is a blessed time. It gives us leisure to put off our earthly garments one by one and dress ourselves for heaven.
Ray Palmer

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26, New King James Version

The wheels of death’s chariot may rattle and make a noise, but they are to carry a believer to Christ.
Thomas Watson

I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God is now among men, and He will live with them and they will be His people; yes, God himself will be among them.  He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, no sorrow, nor crying, nor pain.  All of that has gone forever.”
Revelation 21:3-4, The Living Bible

A story is told about two children who were talking about the death of their mother.  The little girl asked her brother how their mother “went to God.” “Well,” said the boy, “it happened this way. First mother reached up as far as she could. Then God reached down. When their hands touched He took her.”
Morton Wallack

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9, New International Version

Mourning from Earth’s point of view.
Morning from Heaven’s point of view.
Unknown

Think-
Of stepping on shore and finding it Heaven;
Of taking hold of a hand and finding it God’s hand;
Of breathing a new air and finding it celestial air;
Of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality;
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm;
Of waking up, and finding it Home!
Robert E. Selle

It is not darkness you are going to, for God is Light. It is not lonely, for Christ is with you. It is not unknown country, for Christ is there.
Charles Kingsley

In the dark immensity of night
I stood upon a hill and watched the light
Of a star,
Soundless and beautiful and far.
A scientist standing there with me
Said, “It is not the star you see,
But a glow
That left the star light years ago.”
Men are like stars in a timeless sky:
The light of a good man’s life shines high,
Golden and splendid
Long after his brief earth years are ended.
Grace V. Watkins

Death for the Christian is a turning off the light because the dawn has come.
Leon Jaworski

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance…
Ecclesiastes 3, King James Version

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27, New International Version

The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Psalm 23, New International Version

*******************

Loving Thoughts contains a collection of quotations from This Day’s Thought, a Christian Internet ministry whose mission is to share a daily message offering encouragement and inspiration.  To sign up to receive our inspirational quotes, please visit: www.thisdaysthought.org

Loving Thoughts Copyright © 2011 Greg Potzer & Eric Elder.  All rights reserved.  Copyrights for individual quotations are held by their respective authors and publishers and are included in this compilation for nonprofit educational purposes.

Loving Thoughts is one of several inspirational resources produced by Eric Elder Ministries. For a boost in your faith anytime, please visit: www.theranch.org

Bible verses have been taken from:

The Holy Bible, New International Version.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.  All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible, King James Version. Originally written in 1611 and revised in 1769.  Public domain.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

by

Loving Thoughts

Loving Thoughts

You’re reading LOVING THOUGHTS, compiled by Greg Potzer, with introduction by Eric Elder, featuring inspirational thoughts for those who are passing from this life to the next… and those who love them.

INTRODUCTION

What can you say to someone who’s about to pass from this life to the next?  And what can you say to those who love them?

For me, perhaps the greatest words on the subject were spoken by Jesus Christ to His disciples in the days leading up to His own death and resurrection.  Here’s the essence of what He said to them―and what I believe God would want to say to you―as recorded in the Bible in the book of John, chapter 14:

1) God is real

2) Heaven is real

3) Jesus is the way

4) Don’t be afraid

Even if you already believe these things, I think they’re good reminders for all of us―especially when facing the very real possibility of entering heaven yourself.

Jesus started out by reminding His disciples that God is real:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me” (John 14:1).

It was like Jesus was saying to them, “I know this is going to be a hard time for you.  But don’t be troubled by it.  You can trust in God.  He alive, He’s real, and He really cares about you and everything that’s going on in your life.  Trust in Him, and trust in Me, too.”

Trusting in God is the essence of faith and it pleases Him immensely when we do.  In fact, without faith, it’s impossible to please God.  As the book of Hebrews says:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

God is real and He wants you to trust in Him―to believe that He exists―and to believe that He will reward you when you earnestly seek Him.

Jesus went on to tell His disciples that heaven is real, too:

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3). 

Throughout Jesus’ whole life and ministry, He preached about the reality of heaven. Even when others tried to challenge Him by saying that there is no resurrection of the dead, Jesus said:

“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). 

Heaven is real and it must be a really incredible place, too.  If God created the whole world in six days, imagine what heaven must be like:  Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us―and He’s been working on it for over 2,000 years!

Even though God hasn’t told us everything that awaits us in heaven, He has told us what won’t be there―and that alone is worth it!  There won’t be any more death or mourning or crying or pain.  There won’t be any more night, for God Himself will be our light (see Revelation 21:4, 23-25 and 22:5).

Just as God is real, heaven is real, too.

The third thing that Jesus wanted His disciples to know was how to get to heaven.  He didn’t want them―or any of us―to miss it.  Jesus said:

“You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:4-6).

It was like Jesus was saying, “If you believe in Me, put your faith in Me, and keep on following Me, then you’ll eventually end up in the same place that I’m going―and that’s heaven!  I am the way!”

Jesus wants you to keep putting your faith in Him for everything in your life, including your eternal life.  That’s why He came to earth:  to give you an abundant life here on earth as well as in heaven forever by dying on the cross for your sins.  When you put your faith in Him, He will forgive you of your sins and give you eternal life―starting right now!  As Jesus said:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

God is real, heaven is real, and Jesus is the way.

The fourth point that Jesus shared with them was this:  Don’t be afraid.  Jesus said:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27b). 

I’m sure Jesus said this because He knew that they were very likely to be afraid.  He knew that the possibility of facing life without Him might be even harder than facing their own deaths.

But if the first three points that Jesus made were true―that God is real, heaven is real, and He is the way―then this last point is certainly true as well:  you don’t have to be afraid.

God loves you very much.  He always has and He always will.  He cares about you today just as much as the day that you were born―and every day in between.  He cares about your every thought, your every feeling, and your every emotion―every detail of your life.

If you’ve trusted God this far with your life, then you can trust Him with your life in heaven, too.  Don’t let your heart be troubled and don’t be afraid.

Jesus spoke each of these words to comfort to His disciples and I pray that they bring comfort to you as well.  Remember…

1) God is real

2) Heaven is real

3) Jesus is the way

4) Don’t be afraid

Will you pray with me?

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are real, heaven is real, Jesus is the way, and we don’t have to be afraid.  Help us to remember these truths, not only as we face our life in eternity, but also as we face the rest of our days here on earth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

LOVING THOUGHTS

The quotes on the following pages were drawn from the Bible and from Christians throughout the ages with the hope that they will encourage you in your faith and bring you peace.

——————

For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down―when we die and leave these bodies―we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore, made for us by God Himself, and not by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:1, The Living Bible

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Thomas Moore

I try not to worry about life too much because I read the last page of THE book and it all turns out all right.
Billy Graham

Death is not death if it kills no part of us, save that which hindered us from perfect life.
Death is not death if it raises us in a moment from darkness into light, from weakness into strength, from sinfulness into holiness.
Death is not death if it brings us nearer to Christ, who is the fount of life.
Death is not death if it perfects our faith by sight and lets us behold Him in whom we have believed.
Death is not death if it gives us to those whom we have loved and lost, for whom we have lived, for whom we long to live again.
Death is not death if it rids us of doubt and fear, of chance and change, of space and time, and all which space and time bring forth and then destroy.
Death is not death, for Christ has conquered Death for Himself and for those who trust in Him.
Charles Kingsley

Is death the last sleep?  No, it is the final awakening.
Walter Scott

If you love the good that you see in another, you make it your own.
Gregory The Great

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”
John 14:1-3, New International Version

All this and heaven too.
Matthew Henry

Every tear from every eye becomes a babe in eternity.
William Blake

This world is the land of the dying; the next is the land of the living.
Tryon Edwards

We are pilgrims, not settlers; this earth is our inn, not our home.
J. H. Vincent

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1 Corinthians 12:19, New International Version

Our little time of suffering is not worthy of our first night’s welcome home to Heaven.
Samuel Rutherford

Where there is sorrow, there is holy ground.
Oscar Wilde

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved―you and your household.”
Acts 16:30-31, New International Version

If we knew as much about heaven as God does, we would clap our hands every time a Christian dies.
George MacDonald

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4, New International Version

The best is perhaps what we understand the least.
C. S. Lewis

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,  And said, Where have ye laid him?  They said unto Him, Lord, come and see.  Jesus wept.  Then said the Jews, Behold how He loved him!
John 11:33-36, King James Version

Jesus wept once; possibly more than once.  There are times when God asks nothing of His children except silence, patience, and tears.
Charles Robinson

It is love, not reason, that is stronger than death.
Thomas Mann

God is here.  Wherever we are, God is here.  There is no place, there can be no place, where He is not.
A. W. Tozer

Old age is a blessed time. It gives us leisure to put off our earthly garments one by one and dress ourselves for heaven.
Ray Palmer

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26, New King James Version

The wheels of death’s chariot may rattle and make a noise, but they are to carry a believer to Christ.
Thomas Watson

I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God is now among men, and He will live with them and they will be His people; yes, God himself will be among them.  He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, no sorrow, nor crying, nor pain.  All of that has gone forever.”
Revelation 21:3-4, The Living Bible

A story is told about two children who were talking about the death of their mother.  The little girl asked her brother how their mother “went to God.” “Well,” said the boy, “it happened this way. First mother reached up as far as she could. Then God reached down. When their hands touched He took her.”
Morton Wallack

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9, New International Version

Mourning from Earth’s point of view.
Morning from Heaven’s point of view.
Unknown

Think-
Of stepping on shore and finding it Heaven;
Of taking hold of a hand and finding it God’s hand;
Of breathing a new air and finding it celestial air;
Of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality;
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm;
Of waking up, and finding it Home!
Robert E. Selle

It is not darkness you are going to, for God is Light. It is not lonely, for Christ is with you. It is not unknown country, for Christ is there.
Charles Kingsley

In the dark immensity of night
I stood upon a hill and watched the light
Of a star,
Soundless and beautiful and far.
A scientist standing there with me
Said, “It is not the star you see,
But a glow
That left the star light years ago.”
Men are like stars in a timeless sky:
The light of a good man’s life shines high,
Golden and splendid
Long after his brief earth years are ended.
Grace V. Watkins

Death for the Christian is a turning off the light because the dawn has come.
Leon Jaworski

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance…
Ecclesiastes 3, King James Version

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27, New International Version

The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Psalm 23, New International Version

*******************

Loving Thoughts contains a collection of quotations from This Day’s Thought, a Christian Internet ministry whose mission is to share a daily message offering encouragement and inspiration.  To sign up to receive our inspirational quotes, please visit: www.thisdaysthought.org

Loving Thoughts Copyright © 2011 Greg Potzer & Eric Elder.  All rights reserved.  Copyrights for individual quotations are held by their respective authors and publishers and are included in this compilation for nonprofit educational purposes.

Loving Thoughts is one of several inspirational resources produced by Eric Elder Ministries. For a boost in your faith anytime, please visit: www.theranch.org

Bible verses have been taken from:

The Holy Bible, New International Version.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.  All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible, King James Version. Originally written in 1611 and revised in 1769.  Public domain.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

by

The Top 100 Verses In The Bible

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

The following list of Bible verses features some of the most famous and best-loved verses in all of Scripture.  Each one is excellent for meditation, memorization, or just plain inspiration.

This list was compiled using the actual search results from a popular website called BibleGateway.com, which features a searchable Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.  The results were based on over 25 million searches made during March and April, 2009, where visitors searched for just one verse at a time.  (The earlier portion of this book was based on the search results where visitors looked up larger passages or entire chapters at a time, which resulted in the list of the top 20 passages in the Bible.)

All verses quoted here are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984), as they originally appeared in BibleGateway.com’s search results.

  1. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”
  2. Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
  3. Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
  4. Philippians 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
  5. Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
  6. Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…
  7. Proverbs 3:6: …in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
  8. Romans 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is―his good, pleasing and perfect will.
  9. Philippians 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
  10. Matthew 28:19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
  11. Ephesians 2:8: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith―and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…
  12. Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…
  13. Romans 12:1: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God―this is your spiritual act of worship.
  14. John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
  15. Acts 18:10: For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
  16. Acts 18:9: One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.”
  17. Acts 18:11: So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
  18. Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
  19. 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
  20. Romans 3:23: …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
  21. John 14:6: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  22. Matthew 28:20: “…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
  23. Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
  24. Philippians 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable―if anything is excellent or praiseworthy―think about such things.
  25. Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
  26. Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
  27. Isaiah 40:31: …but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
  28. Ephesians 2:9: …not by works, so that no one can boast.
  29. Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  30. Galatians 5:23: …gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
  31. Isaiah 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
  32. 1 Peter 3:15: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…
  33. 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…
  34. Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
  35. Hebrews 12:2: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  36. 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
  37. Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
  38. 1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
  39. Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
  40. Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
  41. 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
  42. Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
  43. 2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
  44. Romans 10:9: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
  45. Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
  46. Genesis 1:26: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
  47. Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
  48. John 16:33: “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.”
  49. Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
  50. 2 Timothy 1:7: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
  51. Isaiah 53:4: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
  52. 2 Corinthians 5:21: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  53. Romans 15:13: 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.
  54. John 11:25: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…”
  55. Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
  56. John 5:24: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
  57. James 1:2: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…
  58. Isaiah 53:6: We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
  59. Acts 2:38: Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
  60. Ephesians 3:20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…
  61. Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
  62. Genesis 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
  63. Colossians 3:12: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
  64. Hebrews 12:1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
  65. James 5:16: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
  66. Acts 17:11: Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
  67. Philippians 4:19: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
  68. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  69. 1 Corinthians 6:19: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
  70. 1 John 3:16: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
  71. Psalm 133:1: How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
  72. John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
  73. Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
  74. John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
  75. Micah 6:8: He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
  76. Romans 10:17: Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
  77. John 1:12: Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…
  78. James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
  79. James 1:3: because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
  80. Romans 8:38: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers…
  81. Romans 8:39: …neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  82. Hebrews 10:25: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another―and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
  83. 2 Peter 1:4: Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
  84. Philippians 1:6: …being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
  85. Psalm 133:3: It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
  86. Hebrews 4:16: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
  87. Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
  88. John 3:17: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
  89. Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
  90. Isaiah 26:3: You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
  91. 1 Peter 2:24: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
  92. Joshua 1:8: Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
  93. Matt 28:18: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ”
  94. Colossians 3:23: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…
  95. Matthew 22:37: Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
  96. Psalm 133:2: It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
  97. Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
  98. Isaiah 55:8: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
  99. Hebrews 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are―yet was without sin.
  100. John 13:35: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
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Small Group Study Guide For The Top 20 Passages In The Bible

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

I’m excited to offer this study guide for groups who want to study this material together!  While studying God’s Word on your own can be extremely rewarding, studying it with others can be even more so.  I’ve learned from my own experience that the words of Solomon are true:  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

This study is divided into twenty lessons (not counting the Introduction and Conclusion), and the questions that follow can be used for personal reflection, group discussion, or a combination of both.

If your group wants to read and discuss each lesson together, they could meet once a week and complete this study in twenty weeks.  If your group wants to cover the material more quickly, group members could study several lessons on their own during the week, then discuss those lessons together with the group (covering, for example, five lessons per week for a period of four weeks).

However you choose to do it, I pray that God will speak to you through it!

Introduction – The Top 20 Passages In The Bible

The Bible is filled with passages that God can use to speak to you at any time, whether those passages are well-known or not.  But because the Bible is both “God-breathed,” and “living and active,” God can bring any passage to life right before your eyes, speaking directly to your heart and mind.

1.  Has the Bible ever spoken to you in a way that you felt that God Himself was speaking to you through the words on the pages?  What is one of your favorite Bible passages, and why?  

2.  What do you think makes the Bible the best-selling book of all time?  Even if the words on its pages weren’t attributed to God Himself, why might the Bible still be a best-seller?

Number 20 – The Christmas Story

Luke’s version of the birth of Christ contains many miracles―with angels everywhere, a tongue that is tied and then loosened again, and even a virgin birth.  Yet Luke’s account is one of the most detailed and well-researched of the four gospels, having been written by a medical doctor who personally travelled with the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys.

 1.  When you think of the Christmas story, what are some incidents that stand out in your mind as miraculous?  When you read Luke’s account of the events surrounding the birth of Christ, what details does he include that he might have gathered from eye-witnesses?

2.  Why might the angel Gabriel speak with such authority regarding the faithfulness of God in keeping His promises?  When Gabriel said to Elizabeth “For nothing is impossible with God,” what was he referring to specifically in her case?  How might that encourage you that there really is nothing else that is impossible with God either?

Number 19 – Making The Best Use Of The Time

Paul told the Ephesians to make the best use of their time, living as wise, not unwise people.  He spoke of specific things they should avoid doing, and specific things that they should begin doing, if they weren’t already.

1.  What are a few of the things Paul specifically urged the Ephesians not to do?  What are a few of the things he specifically urged them to do?

2.  What caused the change in Alfred Nobel’s life, even though he was near the end of it?  How can thinking through how you’ll be remembered in the future change the way you live your life now?  Are there specific changes you could make right now to keep from wasting time―and making the most of the time you still have left?

Number 18 – God’s Love For You

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he said that he got down on his knees to pray for them, that they would be able to know the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for them.  He knew how hard grasping God’s love and grace could be, yet he spends a great deal of time trying to help them grasp this life-giving truth.

1.  What are some things that happen to people that can make them question God’s love for them?  What are some things that have happened to you that have made you question His love?

2.  Other than prayer, how can you get a better picture of what God’s love for you looks like?  And through prayer, what specifically might you pray so that you could better grasp God’s love?

Number 17 – The Gospel In A Nutshell

The most famous quote in the Bible took place in a conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council who came to Jesus at night.  Jesus told him that for someone to enter the kingdom of God, they must be born again―that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.

1.  What other story did Jesus bring up in his conversation with Nicodemus to talk about God’s willingness to forgive and heal His people when they sinned?  How does this story relate to what Jesus was about to do on the cross?

2.  Why did Jesus describe entering the kingdom of God as being “born again”?  Do you feel like you’ve been “born again”?  And if not, do you want to be?

Number 16 – The Power Of God For Salvation

The Apostle Paul said that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it was the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.  In describing this gospel, Paul first explains the “bad news” regarding our sinfulness, then leads into the “good news” regarding our future if we’re willing to put our faith in Christ.

1.  Why is it helpful to understand the “bad news” of the gospel in order to understand why it is such “good news”?  What does the “wrath of God” look like, according to this passage?

2.  What are ways that people turn against God’s plans for their lives, according to Romans 1?  In what ways might God’s wrath manifest itself in the lives of people who do these things, without God even having to intervene?

3.  In Romans 1:32, Paul says “they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”  Why might giving approval to some of these things add to the damage that is already being done?  And what can someone do to be delivered from God’s wrath?

Number 15 – Walk In A Manner Worthy Of Your Calling

Even though Paul was imprisoned for his faith, he was able to treat those around him with the love that God had shown to him.  He encouraged the Ephesians to renew their minds so they could walk in a manner worthy of the calling they had receive from God.

1.  How does Dennis the Menace’s comment to his friend about Mrs. Wilson’s goodness to them relate to God’s goodness to us?  How is Paul able to draw on this truth to extend love to those who mistreated him?

2.  What does Paul tell us to “put off” in this passage, and why?  And what does he tell us to “put on” instead, and why?  How does he suggest we do that, particularly in regards to our minds?

Number 14 – God Knows You

King David wrote many beautiful songs, called Psalms, that are recorded for us in the Bible.  One of the most beloved among them is Psalm 139, which describes in detail just how intimately God knows each one of us, reminding us that there is no place in the world that we can go where He is not there with us.

1.  What are some of the details that God knows about you, as mentioned in Psalm 139?  Do any surprise you, or give you special comfort?

2.  What things come to mind that make you think you were “fearfully and wonderfully made”?  Do you think God has a plan for your life, based on the words in this Psalm?

Number 13 – Like A Tree Planted By Water

Sometimes we want to go and do something for God, but He wants us to be like a tree planted by the water, drawing life from His Word.  In this way, we can refresh ourselves,  provide shade and rest for those who are drawn to us, and like a strong and healthy tree, yield fruit at the proper time.

1.  What are some of the things this Psalm says that we should do―and not do―in order to grow and prosper in our lives?  How can we do those things in a practical way?

2.  What are some of the benefits of doing―and not doing―these things in our lives?  How did Thomas Merton describe the renewal he experienced when reading God’s Word?

Number 12 – Don’t Be Anxious

Writing from a prison cell, the Apostle Paul encouraged the believers in the city of Philippi not to be anxious about anything, but to give thanks to God, making their requests known to God.  He reminded them that the Lord was “at hand,” and urged them to dwell as much as possible on things that were good and godly.

1.  What did Paul mean when he said the Lord is “at hand”?  What difference can that knowledge make in your thoughts and attitudes towards what you’re facing?

2.  What are some of your favorite things, things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise?  How might dwelling on such thoughts keep your thoughts in perspective?

Number 11 – A Living Sacrifice

In Romans 12, Paul talks about being “a living sacrifice,” using your gifts to make an offering to God, at the same time blessing you and those around you.  Paul lists many of these gifts,  saying that each of us has been given different gifts by God and are to use them according to the grace God has given to us.

1.  How can identifying some of your passions in life help you to also identify the gifts God may have given you?  Based on the meaning of the word enthusiasm, how can our enthusiasm relate to our giftedness?

2.  What are some of the spiritual gifts, as listed in Romans 12, that you feel most passionate about?  If you could be the best at one particular skill, what would it be, and why?  How might your answers to these two questions be related.

Number 10 – The Reality Of Heaven

After telling the disciples He was going away, Jesus assured them that He would not leave them alone, sending the Holy Spirit to be with them while He was gone.  He also assured them that He was going to prepare a place for them and would return for them.

1.  Why did Jesus say to the disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled”?  What assurances did He give them so they wouldn’t have to worry about His going away, or their future?

2.  What did Jesus say they could do if they ever needed anything?  And what did He ask them to do if He ever needed them to do something?

3.  When Jesus said He was the way, the truth and the life, why did He add that no one could come to the Father except through Him?  Are you sure you’re going to heaven, and if not, are you ready yet to put your faith in Christ to get that assurance?

Number 9 – Need Wisdom? Ask God!

God loves to pour out His wisdom to those who ask Him for it, for He has a vested interest in the decisions we make.  But James reminds us that when we ask for wisdom, we are to ask for it in faith, believing that God will answer us, and that He has our best interests at heart.

1.  Why does James say we must ask for wisdom “in faith”?  What does he say will happen to the person who doesn’t believe what God tells them in response to their prayers?

2.  How hard is it for you to say, “Yes, Lord!” to God even before He’s given you His answer?  How would it change your prayers if you were to tell God you would do whatever He said, even before you knew His answer?

Number 8 – Will God Really Reward You?

Some people believe that the only rewards you’ll get in life are the ones you get here and now here on earth.  But Jesus says that there are all kinds of rewards awaiting us in heaven when we put our faith in Him, trusting Him to reward us for acts done in secret with rewards that won’t rust or rot away but will last forever.

1.  How does Jesus say we can store up rewards for ourselves in heaven?  Why does He say we should work towards those rewards instead of just rewards that we can get here on earth?

2.  What specific things might you change in your life if you were to really focus on storing up rewards for yourself in heaven?  How might focusing on heaven―seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness first and foremost―help you not to worry about things you need here on earth?

Number 7 – Where Should I Start?

Many people recommend to those who are new at reading the Bible to start in the book of John, for John gives a great overview of the life of Jesus, and focuses on Jesus’ great love for  each one of us.  John’s purpose of writing the book is recorded in chapter 20, saying that his hope is that those reading his words will put their faith in Jesus.

1.  In the opening words of John chapter 1, why does John describe Jesus as “the Word”? What does he mean when he says “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”? 

2.  If you look through the book of John, what are a few of the many verses that talk about God’s love for us?  Are some of these particularly meaningful to you at this time in your life?  

3.  If you’ve never read through the book of John, would you be interested in reading it now, reading, for instance, a chapter a day for the next 21 days?

Number 6 – The Best Sermon Ever

Jesus preached His famous “Sermon on the Mount” on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee.  In the sermon, Jesus addressed dozens of practical issues that people face in their lives, and ends with an encouragement to be like a person who built their house on solid rock, by putting the words He had spoken into practice.

1.  As you look through the “Sermon on the Mount,” what are some of the phrases that strike you as particularly famous?  What are some of the phrases that stand out as important to what you’re dealing with today?

2.  What does Jesus say a person will be like if they hear His words and put them into practice?  And what will a person be like who hears His words and doesn’t put them into practice?  How can you put Jesus’ words into practice in your life this week?

Number 5 – God’s Protection

In Psalm 92, Moses says that God’s protective hand will shelter those who put their faith in Him.  Moses knew this truth first-hand, having believed God when God called him to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Egyptians, following God’s commands and staying safe and secure under His protective wings.

1.  What are some of the benefits of staying close to God, as described in Psalm 91?   Which of these benefits are particularly appealing to you in your life right now?

2.  What’s the difference, in your own words, between just believing in God and believing God?  What could you do this week to demonstrate that you do both?  And what benefits could there be if you do?

Number 4 – God Works For Your Good

In Romans chapter 8, Paul reminds us that God works all things for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  He also reminds us that the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living inside us, and can give life to our mortal bodies as well.

1.  How can the karate concept of “borrowed force” be applied to our lives today, in light of what Paul says in Romans 8:28?  Have you ever seen God work things out for good which looked, at first, to be disastrous?

2.  Why does Paul say there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?  What are some of the things Paul lists at the end of Romans 8 that can’t separate us from the love of God?

Number 3 – From Cover To Cover

The Bible begins with Genesis chapter 1, which describes the creation of the world, and it’s a great place to start reading the Bible, and keep reading all the way through it all the way to the end.  Reading it like this from cover to cover, over and over again, is one of the best ways to grow in your faith, and in your ability to share that faith with others.

1.  What benefits might there be from reading the Bible all the way through, from cover to cover?  What benefits might there be from reading it from cover to cover, several times, especially at different stages of your life?

2.  Have you ever read through the entire Bible, from cover to cover?   If not, would you consider doing it?  If so, are you ready to do it again?

Number 2 – Savoring Every Word

Psalm 23 is the second most popular passage in the Bible, describing God as a shepherd who leads us beside His still waters.  Each word of this Psalm is precious, just as each word in the Bible is precious, and there are times when God wants us to savor every word.

1.  What are some of the benefits of having the Lord as your shepherd, as described in Psalm 23?  Have you ever felt like God was leading you to a place of rest, and what purpose did He seem to have for doing this?

2.  What are some of the benefits of reading big chunks of the Bible at one time?  And what are some of the benefits of taking your time and savoring just a few words or phrases at a time?

Number 1 – The Love Test

Paul’s famous passage on love is a reminder that God wants love to pervade everything you do, for without it, even if you had faith to move mountains or to give away everything you owned to the poor, you would gain nothing.  In the end, life is not about all that you do, but doing all that you do in love.

1.  How do Paul’s words about love, and the motivations behind what we do, put our good deeds into perspective?  Can a person do good deeds without love?  Can a person love without good deeds?

2.  How can Paul’s words about love―pure love―be used as a checklist to see how well we’re doing in our own relationships?  What does Paul mean when he says at the end of this passage, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love”?

Conclusion – The Ultimate Love Affair

There’s a danger when reading the Bible that we can be so focused on the words on the pages that we forget to focus on the One who is described by those words.  God wants us to do both, to learn more about Him from the stories and writings about Him in the Bible, and then to use those Scriptures to deepen our understanding of and relationship with Him.

 1.  Why did Jesus rebuke the religious leaders of His day in John 5:39-40, when they were obviously searching the Scriptures diligently, which would seem like a good thing?  What warning is there for us in these words today?

2.  What might you do differently as a result of reading this warning?  What added dimension might this bring to the way you read your Bible from now on?

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Conclusion: The Ultimate Love Affair

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading:  John 5:39-40

Some people wonder why Christians have such a love affair with the Bible.  The truth is that we’re not just in love with the words on the pages.  We’re in love with the One who is portrayed by those words.

It’s like carrying around a picture of your beloved in your purse or wallet.  When you take out that picture, looking fondly at the image, and maybe even brushing the picture up against your cheek, or giving it a kiss with your lips, it’s not that you’re in love with the picture on the paper.  You’re in love with the one whose image is displayed on the paper.

In the same way, those who love their Bibles aren’t just in love with the Bible.  They’re in love with the One who is displayed on its pages.

Yet as wonderful as this kind of love affair with the Bible can be, there’s a surprising danger in it.  There are times when you might fall so much in love with the words on the pages that you miss having a relationship with the Word Himself, Jesus Christ, who is described on those pages.  Even Jesus warned of this danger when He said to some of the religious leaders of His day:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). 

The Message translation of the Bible paraphrases these same words of Jesus like this:

“You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there…These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you” (John 5:39-40, MSG). 

Imagine holding a picture of your beloved in your hands, treasuring it, pulling it close to your heart, and even gazing at it longingly, all the while not even realizing or acknowledging that your beloved is standing right there next to you the whole time!

As much as I love the Bible―and it is my favorite book in the world―I have to remind myself from time to time that the Trinity is not made up of “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Scripture.”  But rather, the Trinity is made up of “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” three aspects of the same singular God who loves you and wants to be involved actively in your life today!

Keep reading your Bible, but don’t forget:  Jesus is STILL alive!  When His Holy Spirit prompts you to give, then give!  When you ask Him a question in prayer, then wait and listen for His answer!  When you’re feeling stressed  and start meditating on God’s Word, remember that God’s Word―Jesus Christ―is standing right there with you, too!

The words of the Bible are like love letters to you from your beloved, scented with the perfume of heaven, and sealed with a kiss from the Creator of the universe.  He loves you more than you could know, and He demonstrated that love by sending His Son Jesus to live and die and rise again from the dead, so you can live and die and rise again from the dead with Him one day, too.  If you’re going to have a love affair, make sure you have it not just with the words on the pages of the Bible, but have it with the One who is described by those words:  Jesus Christ!

Prayer

Father thank You for showing us who you are on the pages of the Bible.  Help us to read Your Word as love letters from You, and help us to remind ourselves that our relationship is with You―a real and living Person.  We invite you to speak into our lives again today, and continue to speak to us throughout our lives and on into heaven, when we will be with You forever.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40).

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Number 1: The Love Test

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

There’s a philosophy in ethics called “enlightened self-interest.”  It’s the intriguing idea that many of the “good deeds” we do are not motivated entirely for the benefit of others, but somehow serve our own self-interests as well.

Giving to charity, for instance, is a noble endeavor.  But if our giving is solely dependent on whether or not we get a tax-deduction for our gift, then our giving really falls in the category of enlightened self-interest.  We’re glad to give―as long as our giving benefits us back in some way.

Not that there’s anything wrong with enlightened self-interest in and of itself, as the idea of giving, and getting something in return, is the basis of economies all over the world.  It only becomes a problem when we mistake enlightened self-interest for selfless love, thinking that what we’re doing is truly loving, when in reality it could be simply selfishness masquerading as love.

Today we’re looking at a passage in the Bible that deals almost entirely with love.  Pure love.  A love that is selfless and unadulterated.  A love that gives without expecting anything in return.  It’s found in chapter 13 of the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the believers who were living in the city of Corinth.  Paul wrote the letter as a reminder to the Corinthians that no matter how important all of their gifts and abilities might be, they were meaningless without love.  Paul wrote:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). 

Paul knew that God wants love to be at the core of everything we do.  In the end, as Oliver Thomas said, “Authentic religion is not a theology test.  It’s a love test.”  As important as theology is―and moving mountains and giving sacrificially and every other good thing in which we engage―love must pervade them all, or else we’ve failed the test.

Paul continues his letter by writing one of the most beautiful definitions of love found in all of literature.  Because of this, 1 Corinthians 13 is frequently read at wedding ceremonies throughout the world.  Paul says:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). 

Paul’s words serve as a checklist of sorts to help us determine how truly loving we are towards those around us.  While many times we might think we’re acting in love, if we compare our love to the love described in this passage, we’ll get to the heart of what truly motivates us.  Is it pure love?  Or just some form of “enlightened self-interest,” giving to others with the hope that we might get some kind of benefit in return?

There are times when we buy cards or gifts, or do favors for people, which seem selfless on the surface.  But when we don’t get the desired response in return for our efforts, our selfishness is exposed.  Perhaps we weren’t being truly as loving or generous as we thought.  When thinking about some of the relationships in your own life, you can ask yourself these questions, based on 1 Corinthians 13:

Is my love for this person patient and kind?
Is it envious or boastful?
Is it arrogant or rude?
Does it insist on its own way?
Is it irritable or resentful?
Does it rejoice at wrongdoing?  Or does it rejoice with the truth?
Does it bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things?
Does my love for them never end? 

If you’re like me, just reading through this list can be convicting.  But Paul didn’t write these words to dash us to pieces.  He wrote them to lift us up, to encourage us to do what’s right, and to begin loving others for all the right reasons again.

Let love motivate everything you do―not selfishness, and not selfishness masquerading as love.  As you put these words into practice, you’ll see why Paul closes this famous chapter on love by saying that of all the incredible gifts, that God has given you,

“ … the greatest of these is love.” 

(1 Corinthians 13:13b)

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving us with a selfless love.  We pray that You would help us show that same kind of love to those around us.  Help us to be patient and kind, not envious or boastful.  Keep us from arrogance or rudeness, or insisting on our own way, or being irritable or resentful.  Help us to never rejoice at wrongdoing, but to always rejoice with the truth.  Thank You for Your never ending love for us, and help us to love others in the exact same way.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV).

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Number 2: Savoring Every Word

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23

Last time I talked about the value of reading the entire Bible from cover to cover. This time I’d like to focus on another approach to reading the Bible: savoring every word. For the goal of reading the Bible is not just to get all the way through it,  but to let it get all through you!

One way to do that is to go slowly and meditate on the words you’re reading―to think deeply about them and the implications they may have on your life.

For instance, let’s take a close look at just a few verses from Psalm 23, the second most popular passage in the Bible. Because Psalm 23 is such a popular passage, you might be tempted to read it so quickly that you miss the flavor and nutrients offered by each of its words. But by slowing down and meditating on every word, you can better digest what you’re reading.

Here’s what happened to me as I spent time meditating on the first few verses of Psalm 23 this week, which starts like this:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:1-2a). 

As I started with the words, “The Lord is my shepherd,” I thought about how God isn’t just “a” god or “one god out of many,” but that He is “THE God, THE Lord, THE One and Only Creator of the universe, THE Author and Sustainer of my life, with all of my life’s intricate complexities.

As I thought about the little word “is” in “The Lord is my shepherd,” I thought about the fact that the Lord IS my shepherd―not that He was my shepherd, or that He will be my shepherd, but that He IS my shepherd, taking care of me, protecting me, and nourishing me, right here and right now.

As I looked at the word “my,” in “The Lord is my shepherd,” I realized that the Lord is not just our shepherd, or the shepherd of the whole world, but that He’s also MY shepherd. He knows me by name (see John 10:3 and 11), and if I ever strayed away, I know He would leave the rest of the flock behind in safety in order to find me and rescue me from danger (see Matthew 18, 12-14).

With the Lord as my shepherd, it’s no wonder the verse continues with the words: “I shall not want.”

But it was when I read, “He makes me lie down in green pastures,” that God began to speak personally and specifically to me about a situation in my life that happened about a year ago, when we were considering launching out into a whole new aspect of our ministry.  At the last minute, God redirected our steps and moved us out to where we’re living now at Clover Ranch. As I read about the green pastures this week, I was watching my son mow the green grass in our front yard for the first time this year.

Although a year ago it seemed like God was pulling the rug out from under our feet in some ways, the truth was that He was “making us lie down in green pastures.” He was leading us beside His still waters. He was restoring our souls. I was reminded of the quote from Daniel Defoe, the author of Robinson Crusoe, who said,

“God will often deliver us in a manner that seems initially to destroy us.”

Oh, how thankful I was―and am―to have the Lord as my shepherd!

I didn’t make it through the rest of Psalm 23 that day, but what a sweet time I had with God by just meditating on a few of His words.

As much as I love encouraging people to read through their whole Bibles many times, I love it, too, when they can savor every word. I’d encourage you to read through the rest of Psalm 23 for yourself today, stopping and meditating on those words or phrases that seem to stand out to you. Let them sink deep into your heart and mind, and let God restore your soul.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the richness of Your Word, and for using it to speak into our hearts and lives. Help us to read it thoroughly, to think about it deeply, and to let it impact the way we live our lives here on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, ESV).

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Number 3: From Cover To Cover

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Genesis 1

A young preacher once invited an older preacher to his church to share a sermon with his congregation.  The sermon was powerful and many people were touched deeply by the message.  Afterwards, the younger preacher asked the older preacher the secret of his success.

The older preacher asked him, “How many times have you read the Bible, from cover to cover?”

The younger preacher said, “I’ve read a lot of it, but I’ve never read the whole thing all the way through even once yet.”

The older preacher then pointed at his Bible and said:  “When you’ve read this book twenty times, from cover to cover, then you’ll be able to preach like that.”

I know this is a true story, because the man who told it to me was that younger preacher, many years ago, and he went home and did exactly what the older preacher suggested.  By the time I heard him tell the story, he was quite old.  Although he didn’t tell me how many times he’d read the Bible from cover to cover since he first got that advice, if I were to judge from the message I heard him preach that day, I would say he well exceeded the suggested twenty!  He was a powerful preacher!

What’s good for powerful preaching is also good for powerful living.

The most pivotal time in my life came when I started reading the Bible from cover to cover for myself.  I had been in a Bible study for a few months with a small group of men from our church, and decided to go out and buy a good study Bible―with lots of footnotes included in it so I could understand better what I was reading.

I started at Genesis, Chapter 1.  As I began to read, I tried to immerse myself in the story, reading it not just as ancient history, but more like a newspaper, describing the events of the day as if they were actually taking place while I was reading them.  I found that when I read the Bible this way, the stories came alive, starting with the story of the creation of the world:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). 

As I read that passage, I began to picture what it must have been like for God to create something out of nothing.

When God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light, I tried to picture what it would have been like to be in total darkness, and then watch as God’s light burst onto the scene.  As I continued reading, I could see water flowing, waves crashing, plants growing, fish swimming, birds flying, animals moving, and then―as the climactic event―God creating the first two human beings in His own image.  I felt like Thomas Merton must have felt when he wrote:

“By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet.” 

After a few weeks of reading the Bible like this, I sensed God’s love for me in a new and deeper way.  I also began to see my need for a Savior.  I put my faith in Christ shortly thereafter and I’ve never looked back.  I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve read the Bible since then, either.  But I do know that as I’ve read and reread this precious book over the years, it has changed me, challenged me, comforted me, and most of all increased my faith in Him who spoke its words into existence.  As D.L. Moody said:

“I prayed for faith and thought it would strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. One day I read, ‘Now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now began to study my Bible and faith has been growing ever since.” 

If you’d like to increase your faith, I’d encourage you to read the Bible, from cover to cover, starting in Genesis chapter 1.  Make it a goal for yourself―not just to get through the whole Bible―but to let the whole Bible get through you.  You’ll be glad you did.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your words in the pages of the Bible.  Help us to read them and apply them to our lives daily so that we can grow closer and closer to You, and in the process, grow to look more and more like Your Son, Jesus Christ. It’s in His name we pray, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, ESV).

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Number 4: God Works For Your Good

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8

God is for you.  He loves you.  And He can work all things together for good, when you love Him and are called according to His purpose.  These concepts are found throughout the Bible.  But they’re also stated clearly and succinctly in Romans chapter 8.

Although the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the believers living in Rome, Italy, about the year 54 A.D., Paul’s words apply just as much to you today, wherever you happen to live in the world, if you, too, are a believer in Christ.  Here are a few of the things Paul said.

He wants you to be free from the guilt and shame that you might feel because of your sins:

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). 

He wants you to know that you aren’t alone in your struggle against sin, for the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit lives within you:

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). 

He wants you to know that if you are experiencing any suffering in this world, that it will hardly compare to the glory you will see one day:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). 

Or as Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish writer in the 1600’s, paraphrased it:  “Our little time of suffering is not worthy of our first night’s welcome home to Heaven.”

Paul wants you to know that even when you are at a loss as to how to pray for yourself, the Holy Spirit will pray for you:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). 

And in one of the most famous verses in the Bible, Paul wants you to know that God will work all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

I often quote this verse―both to myself and to others―because it’s a great reminder that God can bring good out of any difficulty that we face.

There’s a concept in karate called “borrowed force” that’s useful when someone throws a punch at you.  Instead of taking the hit and letting the punch knock you out, you can take hold of the punch with your hands, add your own strength to it, and throw your opponent to the ground behind you.  Instead of letting the punch defeat you, you can use it for good.

When life, or people, or your job, or the economy, throws a punch at you that could probably knock you out, God wants you to put your faith in Him.  When you do, He can help you to take hold of the punch that was meant for evil and turn it into something good something even better than you may have been able to do on your own.

If you remember the story of Joseph and his brothers, you’ll see how Joseph was able to see God’s hand at work, even after his brothers sold him as a slave into Egypt.  God one day raised Joseph up to be second in command in Egypt, giving him wisdom to store up food during years of plenty for an upcoming famine, resulting in saving many people in Egypt as well as his own brothers.  Joseph said:

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20). 

God is for you, too.  He loves you.  And if you’ll trust in Him with everything that you’re going through today, He really can and will work all things together for good.

I hope you’ll read the rest of Romans 8 today―especially the last section in verses 31-39.  They’re some of the most uplifting words in the whole Bible.  If God is for you, who can be against you!

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving us so fully, and for promising us that You will indeed work all things for good in our lives when we love you and are called according to Your purpose.  Help us to trust You and Your promises completely, as we face the challenges in our lives today. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV).

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Number 5: God’s Protection

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 91

There’s a difference between “believing in God” and “believing God.”  You can believe in God yet still keep Him at a distance.  But when you believe God―when you take Him at His Word and put what He says into practice in your life―you enter into a relationship with Him, a relationship that is up close and personal;  a relationship where every step you take is wise and purposeful because you’re keeping in step with Him.

Psalm 91 describes one of the great benefits of this kind of close relationship with God:  you enter into His divine protection.  Here are some of the things God will do for you when you dwell “in the shelter of the Most High”:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.’
For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you”
(Psalm 91:1-7). 

Moses, who many Jewish scholars believe authored this Psalm, saw his share of trouble.  He saw plagues of locusts and plagues of death, threats of famine and threats on his life.  But Moses also saw God’s divine hand of deliverance.

When the angel of death passed through the streets of Egypt, thousands fell, but Moses and his people were saved.  Not only did they believe in God but they also believed God.  They did what He told them to do, putting the blood of a lamb on the doorframes of their homes so the angel of death would “pass over” and spare the lives of those inside (see Exodus 12).

Jesus is our passover lamb, and when you put your faith in Him―staying close to Him and holding on tight―then He’s able to take you under His protective wings.  It’s hard for God to protect you, though, if you keep running back and forth to Him, coming to Him only after disaster strikes.  He wants you to be in a close relationship with Him at all times, dwelling with Him, living with Him, taking up residence in His protective refuge.  When you do, listen to a few more of the ways you’ll be blessed:

“Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place―
the Most High, who is my refuge―
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows My Name.
When he calls to Me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation”
(Psalm 91:9-10, 14-16). 

It’s good to believe in God, but it’s even better to believe God, drawing near to Him and dwelling in His shelter.  How do you do that?  By calling out to Him when you wake up each morning.  By reading His Word and listening to His Spirit so you can hear back from Him.  By holding on tight to Him throughout the day and taking care to do what He says, stepping where He says to step (and not stepping where He says not to step!).  And when the day is done, being sure to say goodnight again, entrusting Him to hold you tight throughout the night.

God loves you and wants to protect you, shield you, and deliver you.  Just be sure to stay under His protective wings.

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving us and offering us Your strong hand of protection.  Help us to come closer and closer to You so that we can see what Moses saw, and experience Your deliverance first-hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My Name” (Psalm 91:14, ESV).

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Number 6: The Best Sermon Ever

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5

I’ve just been reading what is perhaps the best sermon ever.  It was delivered by Jesus to a crowd of thousands on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee.  I’ve just been reading what is perhaps the best sermon ever.  It was delivered by Jesus to a crowd of thousands on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee.  Because of its location, this sermon is often called “The Sermon on the Mount.” It spans three chapters in the book of Matthew, starting in chapter 5.

When you read Jesus’ famous sermon, you’ll see why it’s so popular.  It’s like reading a Cliff’s Notes version of the entire Bible.  You’ll also probably recognize many of the famous quotes that come from this passage.  Here are just a few from chapter 5:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:3-5). 

“You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38-39). 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you … ” (Matthew 5:43-44). 

Reading through the Sermon on the Mount is like reading through the best-of-the-best quotes from Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations.  It even includes the Golden Rule and the Lord’s Prayer!

But I’d also like to point out that even the best sermons in the world are only fruitful if those who hear the words put them into practice.  As Jesus said at the end of His sermon:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27).

I wrote a book a few years ago called What God Says About Sex.  My purpose was to share what I had learned about this precious gift from God and to spare others from the heartache that often comes from misusing this gift.  Many people have read the book over the years, and I’ve been amazed at the results―some good, and some not so good.

Some people have read it eagerly, taking the words to heart, putting them into practice, and being blessed beyond measure.  Others have picked it up with interest at first, only to set it down later and ignore what they read, ending up with unplanned pregnancies, untreatable diseases, and unnecessary pain.  Then there are those who have gotten a copy of the book but didn’t crack it open―until it was too late.

I know of one man who had it sitting on his bedroom dresser―unopened and unread―when he got his girlfriend pregnant.  They broke up soon afterwards, but when their precious baby was born, they entered into a lengthy and heart-wrenching custody battle.

The man later said that he wished he had read my book before this all happened.

When I hear stories like these, I get a small glimpse into what God must feel when people read―or don’t read―His Book, and the various results that come when they put His Words into practice―or don’t.

I’d like to encourage you to take some time this week to read the “Sermon on the Mount” and see for yourself why it is perhaps “The Best Sermon Ever.”  You’ll find it in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7.  It only takes about 20-30 minutes to read, but if you put what you read into practice, you’ll be blessed for a lifetime!

My hope and my prayer is that you will take time to read these chapters and that you’ll be a light shining for Christ―and, as Jesus said, when others see your good works, they’ll “give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your wisdom in the words of the Bible.  Help us to read Your word daily, take it to heart, and put it into practice in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, ESV).

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Number 7: Where Should I Start?

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: John 1

If someone had never read the Bible before and they were to ask you where they should start, what would you tell them?  For many people, their answer would be to start with the book of John―and for good reason.

John is one of the most beloved books in the Bible.  It contains some of the Bible’s most famous verses, including John 3:16, and it focuses on God’s love for His children perhaps more than any other book.  It’s short enough that you can read a chapter a day and finish in just 21 days, but it’s long enough to give you a good look at the life of Christ―and why you should put your faith in Him.  In fact, John says that’s why he wrote the book, as he notes at the end of chapter 20:

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). 

John saw, with his own eyes, many of the stories that he recorded in his book.  While Jesus had many followers, He had twelve who spent three and a half years with Him eating, sleeping, praying, talking, and ministering.  And of those twelve, three were especially close to Jesus:  Peter, James, and John (see Mark 5:37, Mark 9:2, Mark 13:3, and Mark 14:33).  And of those three, John was perhaps the closest, referring to himself in his book as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (see John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, and 21:20).

Perhaps it was because of John’s close friendship with Jesus that John talks about the love of God so much, using the word “love” in his gospel more than any of the other gospel writers combined.  Here are just a few of those references, all direct quotes that John recorded Jesus as saying:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35) 

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). 

“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love” (John 15:9). 

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). 

If you need some encouragement that God really loves you, read the book of John.  If you need some encouragement that you can trust Christ with everything in your life, read the book of John.  If you’d like to read the Bible but don’t know where to start, read the book of John.  Or if you’d just like a fresh reminder of God’s love for you and all the things that are possible when you put your faith in Him, read the book of John.

Start in chapter 1, and you’ll find that salvation through Jesus wasn’t just an afterthought in the mind of God, but that Jesus was with God in the beginning.  John said, referring to Jesus as “the Word”:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us … ” (John 1:1-3, 14a). 

You’ll also find in chapter 1 that Jesus is “the Lamb of God,” who came to take away our sin:

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b). 

And lastly in chapter 1, you’ll find that Jesus calls you to follow Him, just as He called the first disciples to do, saying:

“Follow Me” (John 1:43b). 

Then keep on reading the rest of the book, whether it takes you a few hours, a few days, or 21 days, reading just a chapter a day.  Even if you’ve read it many times before, I pray that God will speak new things to you as you do.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the words of Your great love for us that You’ve recorded for us in the Bible, and Your desire for us to return that love to You and to share it with others.  Thank You for John’s life and for inspiring him to record these words for us so we can keep putting our faith in Jesus.  It’s in His name we pray, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1, ESV).

 

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Number 8: Will God Really Reward You?

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6

I got a letter in the mail one day from Isaac Asimov, the famous science fiction writer, back when he was still alive.  It wasn’t a personal letter, but rather a fund raising letter he had written for an atheistic organization. The letter began by saying:  “You’ll get your reward in heaven!”  Asimov then followed up that quote with his own words:  “We’ve all heard that empty promise before.”

Asimov didn’t believe in God, or heaven, or hell.  He went on to say in his letter that if you wanted to get anything out of life, you’d better get it here and now for, according to him, there was no hereafter.

But Jesus said something completely different.  And although Jesus never wrote a single book, his words have been recorded for us in a book that has sold more copies than any other book in the history of the world.  Let’s take a look at what Jesus said about God’s rewards in Matthew chapter 6:

In talking about giving, Jesus said:

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:3-4). 

In talking about praying, Jesus said:

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). 

In talking about fasting, Jesus said:

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18). 

Jesus followed this up by saying that the rewards God has in store for us don’t come just here on earth, but in heaven as well.  As Jesus continues in Matthew 6, He says:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). 

I know a pastor who could have made a tremendous amount of money from the conferences at which he has spoken and the books that he has written.  But instead, he and his wife have chosen to take only a minimal salary, living in an extremely humble house, and declining or giving away the rest of the millions he could have earned.

His friends have challenged him for the way he lives, claiming he has a poverty mentality.  But he counters their claims by saying that nothing could be further from the truth.  He wants to get rich more than anyone else he knows.  The difference is that he wants to store up his riches in heaven, where they will last forever, rather than cashing in on them here where they will rot or rust.

What about you?  What do you believe?  Will God really reward you for the things you do for Him, and for others, even those things you do in secret?   Jesus says He will, and I for one―along with millions of others―believe Him.  I pray that you do, too, for God knows it will affect everything you think and do here on earth, as well as what God does for you in eternity.

You can trust Jesus:  God really will reward you when you put Him first in your life.  As Jesus said at the end of Matthew 6:

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33). 

Put your trust in God.  He really will reward you!

Prayer

Father, thank You for promising to reward us when we seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness.  Help us to trust You, and not to worry about what we’ll eat or drink or wear, but to focus on Your kingdom, storing up our riches in heaven instead.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).

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Number 9: Need Wisdom? Ask God!

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: James 1

When people write to me asking for prayer about what to do in a particular situation, I’ll often include in my reply a quote from James chapter 1.  That’s because James states clearly and emphatically that God loves to pour out His wisdom on those who ask for it.

And because people are facing so many decisions in their lives―whether it’s in regards to their relationships, careers, health, finances, ministries, and so on―I find myself quoting James quite a bit.  Here’s what James says:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). 

This is a simple, yet beautiful verse.  It’s simple, because it contains a very basic message:  if you need wisdom, ask God.  It’s beautiful, because it gives you assurance that your prayers are not in vain, that God will give you His wisdom, generously and without reproach―meaning He will not rebuke you for asking.  He knows that your wisdom is limited, and that’s OK.

But believe it or not, as much as you might want to know God’s will for your life, God wants you to know it even more.  He has a vested interest in your decisions, and He is more than willing to help you make them―if you’re willing to ask.

James goes on to say that the way you ask for wisdom will help to ensure that you’ll receive it:  he says to ask for it in faith: 

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8). 

God wants you to come to Him in faith, believing that He will answer you, and believing that His answer is truly the best for you.  Some people come to God wanting to hear His thoughts on a matter first, then they decide whether or not they want to take His advice.  But God wants you to come to Him in faith, with your answer being, “Yes! I’ll do it!” even before He tells you what to do!  He wants to know that you trust Him, that you believe in your heart that He really does know what’s best for you.

What does faith like this look like in real life? If you keep reading in the book of James, you’ll find out:

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14-17). 

The best kind of faith is faith that is put into action, because faith like this demonstrates to God and to those around you that you really do believe what He says is true.

If you’re wrestling with a decision in your life, I want to encourage you to ask God for wisdom, whether it’s about who to marry, where to live, how to live, how not to live, or any other question that’s on your heart.  Come to God with an expectant heart.  He won’t rebuke you for asking for wisdom.  Instead, He’ll pour out His wisdom on you generously without finding fault.

I’d also encourage you to read through the rest of James chapter 1―and all 5 chapters of the book of James if you can―for his letter contains some of the best wisdom from God on topics like persevering through trials, dealing with temptation, caring for those in need, taming your tongue, praying for healing, and praying in faith.

It might even contain the specific answers to the questions on your heart.  If you need wisdom, ask God.  And when you ask, ask in faith!

Prayer

Father, thank You for assuring us that You love to pour out Your wisdom on us when we ask for it in faith.  Please answer the prayers on our hearts, and give us the wisdom we need to make the best decisions we can in the situations we face.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5, ESV).

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Number 10: The Reality Of Heaven

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: John 14

I’d like to share a conversation I had with a man on a small plane in the Philippines.  My wife and I were on a missions trip, flying between two of the islands, and an elderly man was seated next to us.  His wife, unfortunately, had recently passed away.

When he found out we were on a missions trip, he asked us a very heartfelt question.  He said that he missed his wife greatly, and wondered where she was now.  He wanted to know if she was OK.

I asked him, “Was she a Christian?  Did she believe in Jesus?”

He answered, “Yes, she was, and yes, she believed in Him very deeply.”

I said, “Then let’s take a look at what Jesus said about where she is now.”  Then I opened my Bible and read to him these words of Jesus from John chapter 14:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3). 

As I read Jesus’ words, the man began to weep.  Suddenly, he knew where his wife was.  He knew she was in heaven.  He knew she was with Jesus.

Jesus had many other things to say to His disciples in John chapter 14, just as He still has much to say to us today.

He assured them that even though He was going to heaven, He would still be able to hear their prayers.  More than that, He assured them that He would answer them, if they asked for anything in His name:

“Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). 

And then, as you would expect from any good relationship, Jesus said that He had things He wanted them to do as well:

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. … If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” (John 14:15). 

He also assured them that He wasn’t going to leave them alone, because the Father was going to send His Holy Spirit to them.  He said:

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:18-20, 25-27). 

There’s a note I’ve seen that summarizes the message of John 14 quite simply.  It says:

“Gone to My Father’s house to prepare a place for you.  Be back soon – Love, Jesus” 

You don’t get to heaven by plane or train, by car or bus, or even by rocket ship.  You get to heaven by putting your faith in Christ, and letting Him take you there Himself.  As Jesus told His disciples, when they asked Him how to get there, He said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). 

If you need assurance today that heaven is real, that Jesus hears your prayers (and will answer them!), and that He has not left you here alone, I’d encourage you to read the rest of John 14 for yourself.  Just as the man seated next to us on the plane in the Philippines found the answers to His questions in these words from Jesus, so can you.

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your reassuring words that You’ve already gone ahead of us into heaven, and that You’re preparing a place for us even now.  Help us to continue to put our trust in You that we will be in heaven with you forever, and continue to fill us with Your Holy Spirit, so that we can do all that You’ve called us to do here on earth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:1, ESV).

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Number 11: A Living Sacrifice

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12

What are some things that you feel passionate about―things that you like to do that bring joy to you and to those around you?  Chances are, God has gifted you in a special way to do those very things.  And when you do them, you bring joy to His heart as well.

A man named Eric Liddle loved God.  He also loved to run.  He wanted to spend his life as a missionary, but he also had a chance to run in the Olympic games.  Torn between running or being a missionary, he eventually did both.  As he told one of his friends:  “When God created me, He made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

God has created and gifted each one of us uniquely.  To some He has given the gift of teaching, to others, serving, to still others, the gifts of leading or healing or giving or showing mercy.  God wants you to use your gifts to the fullest.  In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul talks about how you can do just that:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. … Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:1, 6-8). 

The word sacrifice in this context comes from the Greek word “thusia,” which means “to make an offering.”  A living sacrifice, then, is someone who “makes an offering” of their life to God.  It’s also the basis for our English word “enthusiasm,” which means “infused with the Divine Spirit”―a passionate drive that has been given to us by God.

In the movie, Amazing Grace, you can see what this kind of passionate drive from God looks like in action.  The movie tells the true story of William Wilberforce, a British man who “found God” while he was serving as a member of parliament.  Wilberforce considered giving up his position in politics to go into pastoral ministry.  But he also had a passion to abolish the slave trade in England, a passion which few people shared at the time, for slavery was firmly entrenched in the economy and culture of many English outposts.

Upon hearing that Wilberforce was facing such a dilemma, his good friend and soon-to-be prime minister of England, William Pitt, arranged a meeting between Wilberforce and some of the other passionate abolitionists.  One of them, a pastor, said, “Mr. Wilberforce, we understand you’re having problems choosing whether to do the work of God or the work of a political activist.” Another added, quietly, “We humbly suggest that you can do both.”

Rather than leave politics, Wilberforce spent the next thirty years as a member of parliament, using his God-given gifts of eloquence, wisdom, and faith to help bring about the end of slavery throughout the entire British Empire.

What about you?  What kinds of gifts might God want you to use for Him?  By thinking about those things which you feel most passionate about, it can help you identify what gifts God may most want to use within you.

Someone recently asked me, “If you could be the best in the world at one particular skill, what would it be, and why?”  The first thing that came to my mind was “preaching,”  because I like the idea of being able interact and shape the lives of people God has brought into my life.  But the second thing that came to my mind was “writing,” because as much as I love personally interacting with people, I know that by writing down the thoughts and ideas that God is putting into my mind, I can influence people’s lives for generations to come.  Thinking about these two passions in my life has helped me to focus on those things that God has gifted me to do as well.

A Jesuit priest named John Powell talks of an old Christian tradition that says, “God sends every person into the world with a special message to deliver, with a special song to sing for others, and a special act of love to bestow.  No one else can speak your message, or sing your song, or offer your act of love. These are entrusted only to you.”

When you think about your own gifts, your own passions, your own special skills that you could use to “make an offering” to God, what comes to mind?  What do you feel passionate about?  How has God gifted or empowered you?  How has He infused His Divine Spirit within you in a particular way?

If you’re not sure what your spiritual gifts might be, read through some of the gifts God has poured out on his people as recorded in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 and try to identify some of those which you feel most passionate about.

If you put even one or two of these gifts into use in your own life this week, I think you’ll find out even more what it means to be “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us spiritual gifts, gifts that we can use to bless You and bless those around us.  We pray that You would help us to understand our gifts even better, so that we can live our lives in such a way that we are truly “living sacrifices,” holy and pleasing to You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1, ESV).

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Number 12: Don’t Be Anxious

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4

If you’re feeling anxious or worried about anything today, Philippians 4 is a good place to look for help.

I like this passage because the Apostle Paul, who wrote these God-inspired words, doesn’t just tell you not to be anxious, he tells you why you don’t need to be anxious;  he doesn’t just tell you not to dwell on your problems, but he tells you what to dwell on instead.

And I especially like this passage because Paul didn’t write these words while sitting on a grassy hillside at a mountaintop retreat.  He wrote them while being held in chains in a first century prison cell, having been beaten, flogged, and facing possible death at any moment.  If Paul could learn how to be free from anxiety in a situation like that, then we might be able to learn from him how to deal with our anxious thoughts as well.

Here’s what Paul said:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7). 

Twice he says to “rejoice in the Lord.”

Notice that he doesn’t say you have to rejoice about the difficult situation your facing, but to rejoice in the Lord.  Rather than trying to minimize what you’re facing, Paul is trying to maximize who you’re facing them with:  the Lord.

That’s also the reason why you don’t need to be anxious―because “The Lord is at hand.”  He’s not a God who has taken off to some distant land, but He’s actually very close at all times―“at hand”― within an arm’s reach.

A woman once told me about a time when she was laying in pain on a hospital bed when she looked up to see a cross on the wall.  It wasn’t an empty cross―which has a special significance of its own―but it was a cross depicting the agonizing crucifixion of Jesus.  While it might seem gruesome to look into the face of a man who is experiencing excruciating pain, for this woman it turned out to be one of the greatest comforts of her life.  She was suddenly filled with the realization that Jesus was right there with her―that He knew exactly what she was going through―and He brought her immediate comfort and peace.

Paul also told the Philippians what to focus on in the midst of their troubles:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me―practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9). 

It reminds me of the song that Julie Andrews sang in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music.  When the children were afraid of the thunder and lightning outside, she sang:  “When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so bad.”  For her, some of her favorite things were, “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.”

What about you?  What are some of your favorite things?  Or, as Paul asked, what are some things you can think about that are true?  Honorable?  Just?  Pure?  Lovely?  Commendable?  Excellent?  Worthy of praise?  Think about such things―not just as a technique to distract you from your situation, but as a practical way to put your situation into perspective.  For as hard as life can be, there are still things in life which are beautiful and glorious.

Paul learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether he had plenty or was in want.  How?  By continually rejoicing in the Lord, by remembering that God is at hand, and in everything, making his requests known to God.  In one of the most famous verses of the Bible―found at the end of this chapter in Philippians―Paul said:

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 

If you’re feeling anxious and worried today, read Philippians chapter 4.  Learn from Paul and put into practice what you learn.  As you do, may the God of peace be with you―and may His peace be yours.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us practical ways to face the things that cause us to be anxious.  Help us to remember that You are near, and to dwell on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, ESV).

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Number 13: Like A Tree Planted By Water

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 1

Several years ago I was praying about what I could do with my life for God.  I wanted to serve Him in some great way, and was willing to go wherever He wanted me to go and do whatever He wanted me to do.

One day a friend of mine was praying for me.  As he prayed, he said he saw me as if I were a tree, not necessarily going or doing anything at all, but standing still and growing tall.  He said that as I grew, people would come and rest under the shade of my branches.

It was a great picture, but it wasn’t quite what I had in mind.  I wanted to go and do something spectacular for God, but it sounded like God wanted me to stay where I was and keep growing in Him.  It reminded me in a way of the passage that we’re looking at today, Psalm 1.  It’s a passage that describes just such a man:

“He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.”
(Psalm 1:2) 

As I read that passage, all of a sudden, it didn’t sound so bad to me.  How awesome it would be to be like a tree planted by streams of water.  To dig my roots deep into the ground and soak up all I could of the life-giving water nearby.  To be able to yield fruit when it was time.  To know that my leaves would never wither. And to know that in all I did I would prosper.

I wanted to be like that tree, so I looked at the rest of Psalm 1 where it showed me how:

“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on His law he meditates day and night”
(Psalm 1:1-2)

Rather than entering into the ways of the wicked and sinners and scoffers, God wanted me to dig deep into His Word―to take delight in reading it and meditating on it day and night.  In the process, I would grow stronger and taller in my faith and in my life.  And as I grew, I would be blessed and so would those around me, as a natural byproduct of my own growth.

I felt both relief and exhilaration at the same time.  Instead of having to try to figure everything out right away, I could focus simply on meditating on God’s Word, letting God bring the fruit “in its season.”

There’s something spectacular about reading and meditating on God’s Word.  A monk named Thomas Merton said:

“By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet.” 

If you want to serve God in a powerful way, I encourage you to take the words of Psalm 1 to heart.  Don’t take the path of the wicked and sinners and scoffers.  Take the path instead of meditating on God’s Word day and night.  Send your roots deep into His life-giving words.  And as you and your faith grow, you will be blessed―and so will those around you.  You’ll have a new outlook on life, and others will gather around just to rest in the shade of your tree.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your Word so that we can read it, meditate on it, and grow in our faith and in our lives.  Help us to grow strong and tall as we read Your Word, so that we can bear fruit “in its season,” blessing others along the way.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1, ESV).

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Number 14: God Knows You

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139

If you’ve ever wondered if God knows what you’re going through―if “He can see into your heart and know what you’re thinking and feeling and experiencing in your life, then you’ll want to read Psalm 139.

The word “psalm” means “song,”―or a poem set to music―so the book of Psalms is the songbook of the Bible.  Although the tunes aren’t recorded for us, the words themselves sing of the wonders of God.  And in Psalm 139, they sing of just how deeply God knows each one of us―including you.

Even though this song was written by King David about 3,000 years ago, you can still hear God’s voice to you today as you read his opening words.  Listen to hear just how deeply God knows you and knows what you’re going through in your life.

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it. 

Where shall I go from Your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there Your hand shall lead me,
and Your right hand shall hold me.”
(Psalm 139:1-10)

These words are especially meaningful to me today as I’m headed to the airport as I write this.  I’m sending my son off to college in Sydney, Australia, and my daughter off to college in Lynchburg, Virginia.  What a joy and comfort to know that God will be going with both of them as they “take the wings of the morning” and fly so far from home, even dwelling in “the uttermost parts of the sea!”

Just as I know from Psalm 139 that God is with me and will be with my kids wherever they go, I also know that God is with you and will be with your loved ones wherever they go.  For there’s no place in the world that you can go where God is not there!

As David went on to say in Psalm 139:

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,’
even the darkness is not dark to You;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with You.”
(Psalm 139:11-12)

Even if it looks dark all around you, know that God is still right there with you.  The darkness doesn’t matter to Him.  In His eyes, “the night is as bright as the day.”  You’re not alone.  God loves you.  He sees you.  And He knows what you’re going through.

I can say this with confidence because no one knows you better than Him.  He created you. He saw what you looked like before anyone else did, while He was still forming you in your mother’s womb.  And even before you lived a single day of your life, God had a plan for every one of them.

As David sang:

“For You formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are Your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in Your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.”
(Psalm 139:13-16)

God knows you.  He loves you.  And He has an incredible purpose for your life, just as He loves and knows and has an incredible purpose for the lives of every one around you.  Read Psalm 139 sometime today, and let the truth of God’s words sink deep into your heart.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the reminder today of how great Your love is for each one of us.  Thank You that there’s nothing hidden from You and that there’s no place we can go where You aren’t there with us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse:

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:1, ESV).

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Number 15: Walk In A Manner Worthy Of Your Calling

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4

One of the benefits of reading the Bible is that it acts as a counselor of sorts, giving you advice on how to handle the situations you face in life. In fact, the Holy Spirit is often called the Counselor, and He does some of His best counseling work as you read through the pages of the Bible.

Ephesians 4 is one of those passages that can help you in various ways, including when you’re feeling frustrated or angry with those around you. God knows what you’re feeling, and so does the Apostle Paul, who wrote the letter to the Ephesians.

Having been unjustly imprisoned for his faith, Paul could have easily given in to the temptation to be bitter and angry with those around him. But instead he chose another path―and he encouraged the Ephesians to do the same:

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). 

How could Paul do it? How could he turn off the anger that might otherwise have boiled up within him―and perhaps even consumed him? To answer that question, I think we need to look closer at the little word he uses at the beginning of the chapter: “therefore.” Whenever you see a “therefore” in the Bible, it’s a good idea to read the words leading up to it so you’ll know what the “therefore” is there for!

If you look back at what Paul was writing prior to this chapter, you’ll see that he spent the entire first three chapters of the book trying to help the Ephesians understand just how much God really loved them.  He even got down on his knees and prayed for them to understand the depth of God’s love.  Paul knew that once they understood God’s unconditional love for them, then they would be able to extend that same love to those around them.

There’s a “Dennis the Menace” cartoon in which Dennis and his friend Joey are walking away from the Wilson’s house with their hands full of cookies. Joey asks, “I wonder what we did to deserve this?” Dennis tells his friend, “Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice.”

The same can be said of God. The reason He treats us with so much love and kindness is not necessarily because we’re good, but because He’s good.  That’s how Paul was able to treat others with kindness even though they were mistreating him, and that’s how we can treat others with kindness even though they may be mistreating us.  Paul was able to “be nice” to them because God had “been nice” to him.  As Paul renewed his mind with this reminder of God’s love, he was able to extend that love to others, regardless of how they treated him. Paul told the Ephesians:

“…put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24). 

If you’re struggling to love those around you with the love that God has expressed to you, I’d encourage you to read through all of Ephesians chapter 4 (and keep on reading, if you’d like, through chapters 5 and 6 as well!)  You’ll find some of the most practical words of advice from the best Counselor in the world. Here are just a few of His pieces of wisdom:

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). 

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). 

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). 

These aren’t generic platitudes; they’re life-changing attitudes―attitudes that will change how you act.

As a Christian, God has put a great calling on your life. Invite God to renew Your mind, and then do as Paul urged the Ephesians to do:

“…to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” 

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your incredible love for us. Help us to understand just how wide and long and high and deep it is, so that we can extend that love to those around us. Help us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling that You have put upon our lives, and may our walk impact those around us in powerful ways as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

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Number 16: The Power Of God For Salvation

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1

If I had to choose one passage from the Bible that God has used most to change my life, it would be Romans chapter 1.  It’s not my favorite passage in the Bible, because Romans 1 is not particularly cheery or uplifting.  In fact, it contains some of the worst news I’ve ever heard in my life!

But the truth is the gospel is often “bad news” before it’s “good news.”  There’s no reason to put your faith in a Savior unless you realize that there’s something in your life from which you need to be saved.  And that was the case with me:  I didn’t realize there was anything in my life I needed saving from until I read Romans chapter 1.  Then I realized that I, too, needed a Savior.

The book of Romans is actually a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers who lived in Rome.  Paul longed to see them so they could mutually encourage one another in their faith, and so he could reap a harvest among them, bringing still more people to faith in Christ.  He loved preaching about Christ, even though it had landed him in prison many times.  He said:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). 

Paul then began to describe the gospel that he loved to preach, starting with the “bad news” that God was revealing His wrath from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.

As I read through Paul’s words in chapter 1, I was struck by the fact that God’s wrath wasn’t so much that He was raining fire down from heaven, or causing calamity among the people.  His wrath was quite simply this:  giving people up to follow their own sinful desires and choices, and then letting the natural consequences of those choices overtake them.

Three times in Romans 1, Paul describes God’s wrath in similar terms:

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves…” (Romans 1:24). 

“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions…” (Romans 1:26a). 

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done…”  (Romans 1:28). 

As I read through this list of things people did to dishonor God, I realized that I had done many of them myself.  I  had, as Paul described it so eloquently, “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” (Romans 1:25).  And I, too, was “without excuse” (Romans 1:20b), for I knew in my heart that what I was doing was wrong, if only from the evidence of the natural order of God’s creation itself.

It was the worst news I had ever heard.  I had sinned against God and His wrath was now bearing down heavily upon me, a wrath that threatened to manifest itself in ways that were simply the natural result of the sinful choices I had made.

That’s when I finally realized the “good news” of the gospel:  that God already knew about my sins and had sent His Son to save me from them, if I would put my faith in Him.

Within 24 hours of reading Romans chapter 1, I decided to put my faith in Christ for everything in my life.  I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and to fill me with His Holy Spirit so I could live the life He wanted me to live.  He did exactly what He promised and I’m now on a new path, a path of life that  leads on into eternity.

The whole book of Romans is incredibly thought-provoking, and we’ll revisit some more passages from it later in this series.  I hope you’ll take a chance to read through all of Romans yourself, starting with chapter 1, inviting God to speak to you as you read.  It’s turned me into a believer, and it’s saved me―just as Paul said it would.  The gospel of Jesus Christ really is, “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving us enough to give us the free will to choose Your path or choose our own.  But Father, we pray that You would fill us with Your Spirit again today so that we will always choose to follow You in everything we do, avoiding the wrath that we would otherwise bring upon ourselves.  We put our faith in Christ again today for everything in our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, ESV)

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Number 17: The Gospel In A Nutshell

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: John 3

If you were to look at a list of the top 100 verses in the Bible, you’d find that a verse from John chapter 3 at the very top.  It’s the most quoted verse in the Bible, and the most quoted verse of Jesus.  Speaking of Himself, Jesus said:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

John 3:16 contains the gospel in a nutshell, the good news of Jesus in compact form:  that if anyone who wants to be free from the penalty of sin and death, they can do so by putting their faith in Jesus.

Jesus expanded on why this is such good news in the rest of John .  He did so in the context of a conversation that took place between Himself and Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, who came to Jesus one night to learn more from this controversial, but impressive, teacher.

Jesus told Nicodemus: “You must be born again,” to which Nicodemus responded:

“How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4). 

Jesus answered him:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). 

Nicodemus must have taken what Jesus said to heart, for after Jesus died on the cross, Nicodemus, along with Joseph of Arimathea, risked his life and position on the Jewish council by asking Pilate for Jesus’ body in order to give Jesus a proper burial (see John 19:38-40).  May God give us all that kind of boldness in our faith!

Jesus also mentioned in his conversation with Nicodemus something significant that had happened to the Israelites about 2,500 years earlier.  When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, they sinned.  As a result, God sent fiery serpents to attack them, and many Israelites died from the bites.  Those who were still alive repented of their sins and Moses prayed to God on their behalf.  God said to Moses:

“ ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live” (Numbers 21:8-9). 

God heard their prayers and saw their repentant hearts and provided a way for them to be saved.  Referring to this story, Jesus told Nicodemus:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). 

This story has become such a symbol of healing that today, the symbol of a snake wrapped around a pole is still displayed on many of our medical buildings, ambulances, and doctor’s insignias.

But it’s more than just a symbol of healing.  It’s a symbol of forgiveness, a symbol of a loving God who will go to the great lengths  to extend forgiveness to His people, if only they would turn from their sins and put their faith in Him.

It is in the context of this ancient story of God’s forgiveness and healing that Jesus said His most famous quote in John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

I bring this up because John 3:16 is not only the gospel in a nutshell, it’s the whole Bible in a nutshell!  God has always been wooing His people into a relationship with Him, and offering them forgiveness if they truly desire it, so that they can come back into a relationship with Him.  And that’s what God has offered to us, by sending His only Son to die for us so we can live.

God loves you, and He doesn’t want you or anyone else to be destroyed by sin.  He’s willing to go to the greatest lengths possible―and He already has―to see that you will be healed, forgiven, and brought back into a new life with Him.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, Hallelujah!  Let someone know about it who needs to hear this good news!  But if you’ve never put your faith in Christ―been “born again,” to use Jesus’ words―there’s no better time than right now!

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving me so much that You would send Your only Son to die for me so that I could live.  I want to live again.  I want to be born again spiritually so I can live with You forever.  Forgive me for my sins, for the wrong things I’ve done.  I am putting my faith in Christ right now.  Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can live the life You’ve called me to live, both here on earth, and on into heaven forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).

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Number 18: God’s Love For You

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1 

One of the most difficult things to do in the world is to grasp God’s love for you.  Your view of His love may be impaired because of difficult circumstances you’re facing, or particular sins―whether past or present, or because of poor examples of how a loving Father acts and behaves based on some faulty earthly models, or for a hundred other reasons.

If any of these are the case for you, I’d encourage you to take a close look at chapter 1 of Ephesians (and chapters 2 and 3 if you can), asking God as you read to open the eyes of your heart to His great love.

Paul felt so passionately about this topic that he spent the first half of his letter to the Ephesians telling them of God’s great love for them―and the grace that God was eager to extend to them in Christ.

In chapter 1, he prays  for them that God,

“…may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:17b-19a). 

In chapter 2, he says,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). 

And in chapter 3, he prays,

“…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17b-19). 

God loves you deeply, yet grasping it can be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do in your life.  But grasping it will also bring you more joy than you’ve ever known in your life.

Paul seems to have discovered what it meant―at the deepest level―to be “adopted” by God.  While some who are adopted find it hard to get over their feelings of abandonment, others realize that being adopted means that that they don’t belong to someone by chance, but by choice.  Paul clearly had this latter view, as he reminded the Ephesians:

“In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6). 

Mother Teresa, who took in and cared for thousands of children during her lifetime, seemed to capture the heart of God towards those who feel “unwanted” in a beautiful way when she said,

“There is no such thing as an unwanted child.  If you don’t want them, give them to me.  I want them.” 

God feels the same way about you.  Although you may feel like others have abandoned you, God never has.  He has always loved you, will always love you, and still loves you today as much as He ever has.  Why?  Because you are His beloved child.  You are made in His image.  You are His own precious creation.  He loves you deeply and wants more than anything in the world to have an intimate relationship with you.

If I could do one thing for you today, it would be to do what the Apostle Paul did for the Ephesians:  to get down on my knees and pray that God would open the eyes of your heart, and that you would be able to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for you in Christ.  And that’s just what I’m going to do, if you’d like to pray with me…

Prayer

Father, I pray that every person reading these words would be able to grasp Your incredible love for them in a deeper way than ever before.  Open the eyes of their heart, that they would be able to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for them in Christ.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6).

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Number 19: Making The Best Use Of The Time

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5 

How do you make the best use of the time God has given you here on earth?  That’s what we’re going to learn today as we look at Ephesians chapter 5―the 19th most frequently read of the top 20 passages in the Bible.

When Billy Graham was asked what surprised him most about life, he responded, “The brevity of it.”

Life is short, and God wants you to make the best use of the time that He’s given you here on earth.  He doesn’t want you to waste it on sinful activities that, while possibly providing some momentary pleasure, will eventually end up wasting―and even destroying―your life and the lives of others.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes:

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).  

There are a lot of ways you can spend your days, and Paul takes the rest of chapter 5 to compare and contrast several of them with practical examples.  Here are a few:

In talking about living a life of purity, Paul says:

“Be imitators of God.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us….” (Ephesians 5:1-2a).  

He goes on to say that we shouldn’t have even a hint of sexual immorality, impurity, or covetousness, and adds:

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3-4). 

In talking about drinking, Paul says:

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20a). 

In talking about relationships, Paul says not to abuse any authority God may have given you―whether it’s between husbands and wives, children and parents, or workers and bosses―but to submit to one another out of love, being willing to give up your life for those God has put in your care, as Christ laid down His life for us (see Ephesians 5:22-33 and 6:1-9).

What do you want to be remembered for in life?  And how might God want you to use your life to make a mark on this world for Him?

You may have heard of the famous Nobel Peace Prize, named after Alfred Nobel.  But you may not have heard that Alfred Nobel was one of the wealthiest arms and weapons manufacturers in the world.  When Alfred’s brother died, a French newspaper mistakenly printed an obituary of Alfred instead, with the heading, “The merchant of death is dead.” The paper went on to say that, “Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday.”

Alfred was so disturbed by this assessment of his life that he decided to change the way he lived it―and the way he would be remembered throughout history.  He donated the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel Prizes, given annually to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the world in the areas of physical science, chemistry, medical science, literature, and finally “peace.”  This man who might have been remembered as one of the most notorious “merchants of death” is now remembered as one of the most famous encouragers of peace.

Henry Manning, a priest back in 1884 wrote:

“Next to grace, time is the most precious gift of God. Yet how much of both we waste.”  

God doesn’t want you to waste the days He’s given you.  He wants you to make the best of them.  If you’re not sure how to do that, read Ephesians 5 and look for specific things that God might want you to start―or stop―doing in your life.  Then do what Paul encouraged the Ephesians to do:

“Look carefully then how you walk…making the best use of the time…” 

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us the time we have here on the earth.  Help us to make the best use of time that we can.  Keep us from destroying ourselves and others by the things we think and say and do, and help us to bless You and bless others instead.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV).

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Number 20: The Christmas Story

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Luke 1

We’re looking at the Top 20 passages in the Bible―those chapters that people turn to again and again for God’s wisdom―and we’re starting today with number 20, the beginning of the Christmas story from Luke chapter 1 (it continues in chapter 2).

When you read Luke 1, you can see that it is filled with all the wonders of Christmas―miracles, angels, signs, and wonders―yet it was written by a man who was well-grounded in reality.  Luke was a medical doctor, as noted by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 4:14, who set out to write an “orderly account” of the life of Christ for his friend Theophilus.  Luke wrote:

“It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:3-4).

Luke had carefully investigated these stories and had personally interviewed eyewitnesses of the accounts.  He had traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys, and later documented their travels in the book of Acts.

Yet with all of Luke’s detailed research and careful thought that he put into all of his writings, he still had room in his heart to try to convey―and not shy away from―the truly miraculous events that surrounded the birth of Christ and the events that followed throughout His life.

As a medical doctor, Luke―of all people―would have understood that it was nothing short of miraculous for Mary to give birth to a Son, even though she had never lain with a man.  Yet Luke, of the four writers of the life of Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), includes more details about Christ’s birth than any of the others.

Perhaps it was precisely because of his experience as a doctor that Luke includes the miraculous aspects of this story.  Having likely witnessed many births himself―as I have with my own six children―he would have known that every birth is a miracle from the hand of God.  So it would have been no stretch of the imagination for him to see that the miraculous events surrounding Christ’s birth were from the hand of God as well.

Luke 1 also contains one of the most encouraging verses in all of Scripture about the power of God.  It comes after the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she’s going to have a child.  When Mary asks how this will happen, Gabriel says,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:35-37). 

And Gabriel would know.  This is the same Gabriel who appeared to the prophet Daniel about 500 years earlier, revealing to him the exact timing of the Messiah’s birth (see Daniel 9:21-27).  And this is the same Gabriel who appeared to Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, telling him that his wife would soon become pregnant.  When Zechariah doubted, Gabriel said,

“I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news” (Luke 1:19).  

It’s as if Gabriel was saying, “Maybe you don’t realize who I am…but I’m Gabriel, and I stand in the presence of God.  Believe me when I say that when God makes a promise, He will fulfill it!”

Just as God fulfilled His promises to Zechariah and Elizabeth, to Joseph and Mary, to Daniel and a host of others in the Bible, God will fulfill His promises to you, too.  Whatever you’re facing, know that God can work miracles in your life.  Nothing is impossible with Him.  He can do anything!

He can restore your marriage, heal your sickness, bring you out of your financial troubles.  He can restore relationships that are troubled in your life, He can find a new job for you that fits your giftings, He can even bring that child into your life that you’ve been longing for.  Know that God will do whatever’s best for you in every situation, but never doubt His miraculous power.

Read Luke chapter 1 for yourself and realize that nothing is impossible with God.  Then put your faith in Him again today for everything in your life―even for those things which may seem impossible in your eyes.

Prayer

Father, thank You for inspiring Luke to take the time to carefully investigate and document the miraculous life of Christ so that we, too, would know the certainty of what we have been taught.  Lord, fill us with faith again today so that we can truly believe in our hearts that nothing is impossible with You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37)

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The Top 20 Passages In The Bible

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

The Twenty Most Popular Passages From The Best-Selling Book Of All Time
by Eric Elder

Twenty inspiring devotionals based on the top twenty passages in the Bible.

INTRODUCTION

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is the most quoted book in the world.  Why?  Maybe it’s because the Bible has been around so long.  Or maybe it’s because the Bible is so big.  But most likely it’s because the Bible contains wisdom that has touched the lives of so many people throughout the ages and throughout the world.

When I saw a list one day of the top 20 passages in the Bible―those passages in the Bible that people turn to again and again, more frequently than any others―I was intrigued.  I wondered, What makes these passages so special?  Are they words of comfort or words of conviction?  Words of encouragement or words of challenge?  Words of utter simplicity or words of profound depth?

As I’ve looked through these passages, I’ve seen that they contain elements of all of these things.  And I know from personal experience, having read each chapter many times over the years and at different stages of my life, that they contain some of the most inspiring, convicting, encouraging, and faith-building passages I’ve ever encountered.  I can see why they have bubbled up to the top 20 passages of the Bible.

In the weeks ahead, I’d like to explore each of these top 20 passages with you as well, starting with  number 20―the Christmas story from Luke chapter 1―and working our way to number 1, which just might surprise you!

Whether you’ve been an avid Bible reader for years, or you’re brand new to discovering the life-changing power of its words, I think you’ll truly enjoy this study―not just for the insights you’ll learn about the passages, but because I believe that each passage can speak directly to your heart.

To be honest, I believe any passage from the Bible could speak to you just as profoundly.  I couldn’t count how many times I’ve had something on my mind and opened the Bible, only to find that God had something to say to me about it on the words on the pages before me.

How does God do this?  I believe it’s because the Word of God is “living and active,” as it says in Hebrews 4:12.  God has inspired the words on the pages by instilling them with His Spirit, and it is that same Spirit that brings them to life for you.  All Scripture is literally “God-breathed,” as it says in 2 Timothy 3:16.

So whether you turn to a top 20 passage or to one of the less celebrated ones, know that God can speak to you through His Word, if your heart is open to hearing from Him.  No wonder the Bible is the best-selling, most translated, and most quoted book in the world!

I want to encourage you to pick up your Bible again today and read through it, praying as you go, and listening for God to speak.  There’s no doubt in my mind that the God who created you has things He’d love to speak to you, and things that you won’t want to wait to hear.

Then join me in the pages ahead as we look at the top 20 passages from the Bible that people turn to again and again.  I’m certain that God has things He wants you to know, things He wants you to do, and mysteries He wants to reveal.

P.S.  As we go through this series, I’ll also include a prayer and a memory verse from the passage we’re studying, to encourage you in your personal prayer time with God, and to have something to memorize as we go along. Hiding God’s Word in your heart is one of the best ways to recall it later when God wants to remind you of it.  Here’s today’s prayer and memory verse.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your words in the form of the Bible.  Speak to us as we read from it today and in the days ahead, just as You spoke to those who first recorded these words for us to hear.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory verse

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (1 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV).

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The Top 20 Passages In The Bible

20 inspiring devotionals based on the top 20 passages in the Bible
by Eric Elder

Read it online below!

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

INTRODUCTION (Back to Table of Contents)

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is the most quoted book in the world.  Why?  Maybe it’s because the Bible has been around so long.  Or maybe it’s because the Bible is so big.  But most likely it’s because the Bible contains wisdom that has touched the lives of so many people throughout the ages and throughout the world.

When I saw a list one day of the top 20 passages in the Bible―those passages in the Bible that people turn to again and again, more frequently than any others―I was intrigued.  I wondered, What makes these passages so special?  Are they words of comfort or words of conviction?  Words of encouragement or words of challenge?  Words of utter simplicity or words of profound depth?

As I’ve looked through these passages, I’ve seen that they contain elements of all of these things.  And I know from personal experience, having read each chapter many times over the years and at different stages of my life, that they contain some of the most inspiring, convicting, encouraging, and faith-building passages I’ve ever encountered.  I can see why they have bubbled up to the top 20 passages of the Bible.

In the weeks ahead, I’d like to explore each of these top 20 passages with you as well, starting with  number 20―the Christmas story from Luke chapter 1―and working our way to number 1, which just might surprise you!

Whether you’ve been an avid Bible reader for years, or you’re brand new to discovering the life-changing power of its words, I think you’ll truly enjoy this study―not just for the insights you’ll learn about the passages, but because I believe that each passage can speak directly to your heart.

To be honest, I believe any passage from the Bible could speak to you just as profoundly.  I couldn’t count how many times I’ve had something on my mind and opened the Bible, only to find that God had something to say to me about it on the words on the pages before me.

How does God do this?  I believe it’s because the Word of God is “living and active,” as it says in Hebrews 4:12.  God has inspired the words on the pages by instilling them with His Spirit, and it is that same Spirit that brings them to life for you.  All Scripture is literally “God-breathed,” as it says in 2 Timothy 3:16.

So whether you turn to a top 20 passage or to one of the less celebrated ones, know that God can speak to you through His Word, if your heart is open to hearing from Him.  No wonder the Bible is the best-selling, most translated, and most quoted book in the world!

I want to encourage you to pick up your Bible again today and read through it, praying as you go, and listening for God to speak.  There’s no doubt in my mind that the God who created you has things He’d love to speak to you, and things that you won’t want to wait to hear.

Then join me in the pages ahead as we look at the top 20 passages from the Bible that people turn to again and again.  I’m certain that God has things He wants you to know, things He wants you to do, and mysteries He wants to reveal.

P.S.  As we go through this series, I’ll also include a prayer and a memory verse from the passage we’re studying, to encourage you in your personal prayer time with God, and to have something to memorize as we go along. Hiding God’s Word in your heart is one of the best ways to recall it later when God wants to remind you of it.  Here’s today’s prayer and memory verse.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your words in the form of the Bible.  Speak to us as we read from it today and in the days ahead, just as You spoke to those who first recorded these words for us to hear.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory verse

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NUMBER 20: THE CHRISTMAS STORY (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Luke 1

We’re looking at the Top 20 passages in the Bible―those chapters that people turn to again and again for God’s wisdom―and we’re starting today with number 20, the beginning of the Christmas story from Luke chapter 1 (it continues in chapter 2).

When you read Luke 1, you can see that it is filled with all the wonders of Christmas―miracles, angels, signs, and wonders―yet it was written by a man who was well-grounded in reality.  Luke was a medical doctor, as noted by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 4:14, who set out to write an “orderly account” of the life of Christ for his friend Theophilus.  Luke wrote:

“It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:3-4).

Luke had carefully investigated these stories and had personally interviewed eyewitnesses of the accounts.  He had traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys, and later documented their travels in the book of Acts.

Yet with all of Luke’s detailed research and careful thought that he put into all of his writings, he still had room in his heart to try to convey―and not shy away from―the truly miraculous events that surrounded the birth of Christ and the events that followed throughout His life.

As a medical doctor, Luke―of all people―would have understood that it was nothing short of miraculous for Mary to give birth to a Son, even though she had never lain with a man.  Yet Luke, of the four writers of the life of Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), includes more details about Christ’s birth than any of the others.

Perhaps it was precisely because of his experience as a doctor that Luke includes the miraculous aspects of this story.  Having likely witnessed many births himself―as I have with my own six children―he would have known that every birth is a miracle from the hand of God.  So it would have been no stretch of the imagination for him to see that the miraculous events surrounding Christ’s birth were from the hand of God as well.

Luke 1 also contains one of the most encouraging verses in all of Scripture about the power of God.  It comes after the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she’s going to have a child.  When Mary asks how this will happen, Gabriel says,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:35-37). 

And Gabriel would know.  This is the same Gabriel who appeared to the prophet Daniel about 500 years earlier, revealing to him the exact timing of the Messiah’s birth (see Daniel 9:21-27).  And this is the same Gabriel who appeared to Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, telling him that his wife would soon become pregnant.  When Zechariah doubted, Gabriel said,

“I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news” (Luke 1:19).  

It’s as if Gabriel was saying, “Maybe you don’t realize who I am…but I’m Gabriel, and I stand in the presence of God.  Believe me when I say that when God makes a promise, He will fulfill it!”

Just as God fulfilled His promises to Zechariah and Elizabeth, to Joseph and Mary, to Daniel and a host of others in the Bible, God will fulfill His promises to you, too.  Whatever you’re facing, know that God can work miracles in your life.  Nothing is impossible with Him.  He can do anything!

He can restore your marriage, heal your sickness, bring you out of your financial troubles.  He can restore relationships that are troubled in your life, He can find a new job for you that fits your giftings, He can even bring that child into your life that you’ve been longing for.  Know that God will do whatever’s best for you in every situation, but never doubt His miraculous power.

Read Luke chapter 1 for yourself and realize that nothing is impossible with God.  Then put your faith in Him again today for everything in your life―even for those things which may seem impossible in your eyes.

Prayer

Father, thank You for inspiring Luke to take the time to carefully investigate and document the miraculous life of Christ so that we, too, would know the certainty of what we have been taught.  Lord, fill us with faith again today so that we can truly believe in our hearts that nothing is impossible with You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37)

NUMBER 19: MAKING THE BEST USE OF THE TIME (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5 

How do you make the best use of the time God has given you here on earth?  That’s what we’re going to learn today as we look at Ephesians chapter 5―the 19th most frequently read of the top 20 passages in the Bible.

When Billy Graham was asked what surprised him most about life, he responded, “The brevity of it.”

Life is short, and God wants you to make the best use of the time that He’s given you here on earth.  He doesn’t want you to waste it on sinful activities that, while possibly providing some momentary pleasure, will eventually end up wasting―and even destroying―your life and the lives of others.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes:

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).  

There are a lot of ways you can spend your days, and Paul takes the rest of chapter 5 to compare and contrast several of them with practical examples.  Here are a few:

In talking about living a life of purity, Paul says:

“Be imitators of God.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us….” (Ephesians 5:1-2a).  

He goes on to say that we shouldn’t have even a hint of sexual immorality, impurity, or covetousness, and adds:

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3-4). 

In talking about drinking, Paul says:

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20a). 

In talking about relationships, Paul says not to abuse any authority God may have given you―whether it’s between husbands and wives, children and parents, or workers and bosses―but to submit to one another out of love, being willing to give up your life for those God has put in your care, as Christ laid down His life for us (see Ephesians 5:22-33 and 6:1-9).

What do you want to be remembered for in life?  And how might God want you to use your life to make a mark on this world for Him?

You may have heard of the famous Nobel Peace Prize, named after Alfred Nobel.  But you may not have heard that Alfred Nobel was one of the wealthiest arms and weapons manufacturers in the world.  When Alfred’s brother died, a French newspaper mistakenly printed an obituary of Alfred instead, with the heading, “The merchant of death is dead.” The paper went on to say that, “Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday.”

Alfred was so disturbed by this assessment of his life that he decided to change the way he lived it―and the way he would be remembered throughout history.  He donated the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel Prizes, given annually to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the world in the areas of physical science, chemistry, medical science, literature, and finally “peace.”  This man who might have been remembered as one of the most notorious “merchants of death” is now remembered as one of the most famous encouragers of peace.

Henry Manning, a priest back in 1884 wrote:

“Next to grace, time is the most precious gift of God. Yet how much of both we waste.”  

God doesn’t want you to waste the days He’s given you.  He wants you to make the best of them.  If you’re not sure how to do that, read Ephesians 5 and look for specific things that God might want you to start―or stop―doing in your life.  Then do what Paul encouraged the Ephesians to do:

“Look carefully then how you walk…making the best use of the time…” 

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us the time we have here on the earth.  Help us to make the best use of time that we can.  Keep us from destroying ourselves and others by the things we think and say and do, and help us to bless You and bless others instead.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV).

NUMBER 18: GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1 

One of the most difficult things to do in the world is to grasp God’s love for you.  Your view of His love may be impaired because of difficult circumstances you’re facing, or particular sins―whether past or present, or because of poor examples of how a loving Father acts and behaves based on some faulty earthly models, or for a hundred other reasons.

If any of these are the case for you, I’d encourage you to take a close look at chapter 1 of Ephesians (and chapters 2 and 3 if you can), asking God as you read to open the eyes of your heart to His great love.

Paul felt so passionately about this topic that he spent the first half of his letter to the Ephesians telling them of God’s great love for them―and the grace that God was eager to extend to them in Christ.

In chapter 1, he prays  for them that God,

“…may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:17b-19a). 

In chapter 2, he says,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). 

And in chapter 3, he prays,

“…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17b-19). 

God loves you deeply, yet grasping it can be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do in your life.  But grasping it will also bring you more joy than you’ve ever known in your life.

Paul seems to have discovered what it meant―at the deepest level―to be “adopted” by God.  While some who are adopted find it hard to get over their feelings of abandonment, others realize that being adopted means that that they don’t belong to someone by chance, but by choice.  Paul clearly had this latter view, as he reminded the Ephesians:

“In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6). 

Mother Teresa, who took in and cared for thousands of children during her lifetime, seemed to capture the heart of God towards those who feel “unwanted” in a beautiful way when she said,

“There is no such thing as an unwanted child.  If you don’t want them, give them to me.  I want them.” 

God feels the same way about you.  Although you may feel like others have abandoned you, God never has.  He has always loved you, will always love you, and still loves you today as much as He ever has.  Why?  Because you are His beloved child.  You are made in His image.  You are His own precious creation.  He loves you deeply and wants more than anything in the world to have an intimate relationship with you.

If I could do one thing for you today, it would be to do what the Apostle Paul did for the Ephesians:  to get down on my knees and pray that God would open the eyes of your heart, and that you would be able to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for you in Christ.  And that’s just what I’m going to do, if you’d like to pray with me…

Prayer

Father, I pray that every person reading these words would be able to grasp Your incredible love for them in a deeper way than ever before.  Open the eyes of their heart, that they would be able to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for them in Christ.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6).

NUMBER 17: THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: John 3

If you were to look at a list of the top 100 verses in the Bible, you’d find that a verse from John chapter 3 at the very top.  It’s the most quoted verse in the Bible, and the most quoted verse of Jesus.  Speaking of Himself, Jesus said:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

John 3:16 contains the gospel in a nutshell, the good news of Jesus in compact form:  that if anyone who wants to be free from the penalty of sin and death, they can do so by putting their faith in Jesus.

Jesus expanded on why this is such good news in the rest of John .  He did so in the context of a conversation that took place between Himself and Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, who came to Jesus one night to learn more from this controversial, but impressive, teacher.

Jesus told Nicodemus: “You must be born again,” to which Nicodemus responded:

“How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4). 

Jesus answered him:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). 

Nicodemus must have taken what Jesus said to heart, for after Jesus died on the cross, Nicodemus, along with Joseph of Arimathea, risked his life and position on the Jewish council by asking Pilate for Jesus’ body in order to give Jesus a proper burial (see John 19:38-40).  May God give us all that kind of boldness in our faith!

Jesus also mentioned in his conversation with Nicodemus something significant that had happened to the Israelites about 2,500 years earlier.  When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, they sinned.  As a result, God sent fiery serpents to attack them, and many Israelites died from the bites.  Those who were still alive repented of their sins and Moses prayed to God on their behalf.  God said to Moses:

“ ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live” (Numbers 21:8-9). 

God heard their prayers and saw their repentant hearts and provided a way for them to be saved.  Referring to this story, Jesus told Nicodemus:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). 

This story has become such a symbol of healing that today, the symbol of a snake wrapped around a pole is still displayed on many of our medical buildings, ambulances, and doctor’s insignias.

But it’s more than just a symbol of healing.  It’s a symbol of forgiveness, a symbol of a loving God who will go to the great lengths  to extend forgiveness to His people, if only they would turn from their sins and put their faith in Him.

It is in the context of this ancient story of God’s forgiveness and healing that Jesus said His most famous quote in John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

I bring this up because John 3:16 is not only the gospel in a nutshell, it’s the whole Bible in a nutshell!  God has always been wooing His people into a relationship with Him, and offering them forgiveness if they truly desire it, so that they can come back into a relationship with Him.  And that’s what God has offered to us, by sending His only Son to die for us so we can live.

God loves you, and He doesn’t want you or anyone else to be destroyed by sin.  He’s willing to go to the greatest lengths possible―and He already has―to see that you will be healed, forgiven, and brought back into a new life with Him.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, Hallelujah!  Let someone know about it who needs to hear this good news!  But if you’ve never put your faith in Christ―been “born again,” to use Jesus’ words―there’s no better time than right now!

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving me so much that You would send Your only Son to die for me so that I could live.  I want to live again.  I want to be born again spiritually so I can live with You forever.  Forgive me for my sins, for the wrong things I’ve done.  I am putting my faith in Christ right now.  Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can live the life You’ve called me to live, both here on earth, and on into heaven forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).

NUMBER 16: THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 1

If I had to choose one passage from the Bible that God has used most to change my life, it would be Romans chapter 1.  It’s not my favorite passage in the Bible, because Romans 1 is not particularly cheery or uplifting.  In fact, it contains some of the worst news I’ve ever heard in my life!

But the truth is the gospel is often “bad news” before it’s “good news.”  There’s no reason to put your faith in a Savior unless you realize that there’s something in your life from which you need to be saved.  And that was the case with me:  I didn’t realize there was anything in my life I needed saving from until I read Romans chapter 1.  Then I realized that I, too, needed a Savior.

The book of Romans is actually a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers who lived in Rome.  Paul longed to see them so they could mutually encourage one another in their faith, and so he could reap a harvest among them, bringing still more people to faith in Christ.  He loved preaching about Christ, even though it had landed him in prison many times.  He said:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). 

Paul then began to describe the gospel that he loved to preach, starting with the “bad news” that God was revealing His wrath from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.

As I read through Paul’s words in chapter 1, I was struck by the fact that God’s wrath wasn’t so much that He was raining fire down from heaven, or causing calamity among the people.  His wrath was quite simply this:  giving people up to follow their own sinful desires and choices, and then letting the natural consequences of those choices overtake them.

Three times in Romans 1, Paul describes God’s wrath in similar terms:

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves…” (Romans 1:24). 

“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions…” (Romans 1:26a). 

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done…”  (Romans 1:28). 

As I read through this list of things people did to dishonor God, I realized that I had done many of them myself.  I  had, as Paul described it so eloquently, “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” (Romans 1:25).  And I, too, was “without excuse” (Romans 1:20b), for I knew in my heart that what I was doing was wrong, if only from the evidence of the natural order of God’s creation itself.

It was the worst news I had ever heard.  I had sinned against God and His wrath was now bearing down heavily upon me, a wrath that threatened to manifest itself in ways that were simply the natural result of the sinful choices I had made.

That’s when I finally realized the “good news” of the gospel:  that God already knew about my sins and had sent His Son to save me from them, if I would put my faith in Him.

Within 24 hours of reading Romans chapter 1, I decided to put my faith in Christ for everything in my life.  I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and to fill me with His Holy Spirit so I could live the life He wanted me to live.  He did exactly what He promised and I’m now on a new path, a path of life that  leads on into eternity.

The whole book of Romans is incredibly thought-provoking, and we’ll revisit some more passages from it later in this series.  I hope you’ll take a chance to read through all of Romans yourself, starting with chapter 1, inviting God to speak to you as you read.  It’s turned me into a believer, and it’s saved me―just as Paul said it would.  The gospel of Jesus Christ really is, “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving us enough to give us the free will to choose Your path or choose our own.  But Father, we pray that You would fill us with Your Spirit again today so that we will always choose to follow You in everything we do, avoiding the wrath that we would otherwise bring upon ourselves.  We put our faith in Christ again today for everything in our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, ESV)

NUMBER 15: WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4

One of the benefits of reading the Bible is that it acts as a counselor of sorts, giving you advice on how to handle the situations you face in life. In fact, the Holy Spirit is often called the Counselor, and He does some of His best counseling work as you read through the pages of the Bible.

Ephesians 4 is one of those passages that can help you in various ways, including when you’re feeling frustrated or angry with those around you. God knows what you’re feeling, and so does the Apostle Paul, who wrote the letter to the Ephesians.

Having been unjustly imprisoned for his faith, Paul could have easily given in to the temptation to be bitter and angry with those around him. But instead he chose another path―and he encouraged the Ephesians to do the same:

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). 

How could Paul do it? How could he turn off the anger that might otherwise have boiled up within him―and perhaps even consumed him? To answer that question, I think we need to look closer at the little word he uses at the beginning of the chapter: “therefore.” Whenever you see a “therefore” in the Bible, it’s a good idea to read the words leading up to it so you’ll know what the “therefore” is there for!

If you look back at what Paul was writing prior to this chapter, you’ll see that he spent the entire first three chapters of the book trying to help the Ephesians understand just how much God really loved them.  He even got down on his knees and prayed for them to understand the depth of God’s love.  Paul knew that once they understood God’s unconditional love for them, then they would be able to extend that same love to those around them.

There’s a “Dennis the Menace” cartoon in which Dennis and his friend Joey are walking away from the Wilson’s house with their hands full of cookies. Joey asks, “I wonder what we did to deserve this?” Dennis tells his friend, “Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice.”

The same can be said of God. The reason He treats us with so much love and kindness is not necessarily because we’re good, but because He’s good.  That’s how Paul was able to treat others with kindness even though they were mistreating him, and that’s how we can treat others with kindness even though they may be mistreating us.  Paul was able to “be nice” to them because God had “been nice” to him.  As Paul renewed his mind with this reminder of God’s love, he was able to extend that love to others, regardless of how they treated him. Paul told the Ephesians:

“…put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24). 

If you’re struggling to love those around you with the love that God has expressed to you, I’d encourage you to read through all of Ephesians chapter 4 (and keep on reading, if you’d like, through chapters 5 and 6 as well!)  You’ll find some of the most practical words of advice from the best Counselor in the world. Here are just a few of His pieces of wisdom:

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). 

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). 

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). 

These aren’t generic platitudes; they’re life-changing attitudes―attitudes that will change how you act.

As a Christian, God has put a great calling on your life. Invite God to renew Your mind, and then do as Paul urged the Ephesians to do:

“…to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” 

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your incredible love for us. Help us to understand just how wide and long and high and deep it is, so that we can extend that love to those around us. Help us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling that You have put upon our lives, and may our walk impact those around us in powerful ways as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

NUMBER 14: GOD KNOWS YOU (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139

If you’ve ever wondered if God knows what you’re going through―if “He can see into your heart and know what you’re thinking and feeling and experiencing in your life, then you’ll want to read Psalm 139.

The word “psalm” means “song,”―or a poem set to music―so the book of Psalms is the songbook of the Bible.  Although the tunes aren’t recorded for us, the words themselves sing of the wonders of God.  And in Psalm 139, they sing of just how deeply God knows each one of us―including you.

Even though this song was written by King David about 3,000 years ago, you can still hear God’s voice to you today as you read his opening words.  Listen to hear just how deeply God knows you and knows what you’re going through in your life.

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it. 

Where shall I go from Your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there Your hand shall lead me,
and Your right hand shall hold me.”
(Psalm 139:1-10)

These words are especially meaningful to me today as I’m headed to the airport as I write this.  I’m sending my son off to college in Sydney, Australia, and my daughter off to college in Lynchburg, Virginia.  What a joy and comfort to know that God will be going with both of them as they “take the wings of the morning” and fly so far from home, even dwelling in “the uttermost parts of the sea!”

Just as I know from Psalm 139 that God is with me and will be with my kids wherever they go, I also know that God is with you and will be with your loved ones wherever they go.  For there’s no place in the world that you can go where God is not there!

As David went on to say in Psalm 139:

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,’
even the darkness is not dark to You;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with You.”
(Psalm 139:11-12)

Even if it looks dark all around you, know that God is still right there with you.  The darkness doesn’t matter to Him.  In His eyes, “the night is as bright as the day.”  You’re not alone.  God loves you.  He sees you.  And He knows what you’re going through.

I can say this with confidence because no one knows you better than Him.  He created you. He saw what you looked like before anyone else did, while He was still forming you in your mother’s womb.  And even before you lived a single day of your life, God had a plan for every one of them.

As David sang:

“For You formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are Your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in Your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.”
(Psalm 139:13-16)

God knows you.  He loves you.  And He has an incredible purpose for your life, just as He loves and knows and has an incredible purpose for the lives of every one around you.  Read Psalm 139 sometime today, and let the truth of God’s words sink deep into your heart.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the reminder today of how great Your love is for each one of us.  Thank You that there’s nothing hidden from You and that there’s no place we can go where You aren’t there with us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse:

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:1, ESV).

NUMBER 13: LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY WATER (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 1

Several years ago I was praying about what I could do with my life for God.  I wanted to serve Him in some great way, and was willing to go wherever He wanted me to go and do whatever He wanted me to do.

One day a friend of mine was praying for me.  As he prayed, he said he saw me as if I were a tree, not necessarily going or doing anything at all, but standing still and growing tall.  He said that as I grew, people would come and rest under the shade of my branches.

It was a great picture, but it wasn’t quite what I had in mind.  I wanted to go and do something spectacular for God, but it sounded like God wanted me to stay where I was and keep growing in Him.  It reminded me in a way of the passage that we’re looking at today, Psalm 1.  It’s a passage that describes just such a man:

“He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.”
(Psalm 1:2) 

As I read that passage, all of a sudden, it didn’t sound so bad to me.  How awesome it would be to be like a tree planted by streams of water.  To dig my roots deep into the ground and soak up all I could of the life-giving water nearby.  To be able to yield fruit when it was time.  To know that my leaves would never wither. And to know that in all I did I would prosper.

I wanted to be like that tree, so I looked at the rest of Psalm 1 where it showed me how:

“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on His law he meditates day and night”
(Psalm 1:1-2)

Rather than entering into the ways of the wicked and sinners and scoffers, God wanted me to dig deep into His Word―to take delight in reading it and meditating on it day and night.  In the process, I would grow stronger and taller in my faith and in my life.  And as I grew, I would be blessed and so would those around me, as a natural byproduct of my own growth.

I felt both relief and exhilaration at the same time.  Instead of having to try to figure everything out right away, I could focus simply on meditating on God’s Word, letting God bring the fruit “in its season.”

There’s something spectacular about reading and meditating on God’s Word.  A monk named Thomas Merton said:

“By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet.” 

If you want to serve God in a powerful way, I encourage you to take the words of Psalm 1 to heart.  Don’t take the path of the wicked and sinners and scoffers.  Take the path instead of meditating on God’s Word day and night.  Send your roots deep into His life-giving words.  And as you and your faith grow, you will be blessed―and so will those around you.  You’ll have a new outlook on life, and others will gather around just to rest in the shade of your tree.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your Word so that we can read it, meditate on it, and grow in our faith and in our lives.  Help us to grow strong and tall as we read Your Word, so that we can bear fruit “in its season,” blessing others along the way.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1, ESV).

NUMBER 12: DON’T BE ANXIOUS (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4

If you’re feeling anxious or worried about anything today, Philippians 4 is a good place to look for help.

I like this passage because the Apostle Paul, who wrote these God-inspired words, doesn’t just tell you not to be anxious, he tells you why you don’t need to be anxious;  he doesn’t just tell you not to dwell on your problems, but he tells you what to dwell on instead.

And I especially like this passage because Paul didn’t write these words while sitting on a grassy hillside at a mountaintop retreat.  He wrote them while being held in chains in a first century prison cell, having been beaten, flogged, and facing possible death at any moment.  If Paul could learn how to be free from anxiety in a situation like that, then we might be able to learn from him how to deal with our anxious thoughts as well.

Here’s what Paul said:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7). 

Twice he says to “rejoice in the Lord.”

Notice that he doesn’t say you have to rejoice about the difficult situation your facing, but to rejoice in the Lord.  Rather than trying to minimize what you’re facing, Paul is trying to maximize who you’re facing them with:  the Lord.

That’s also the reason why you don’t need to be anxious―because “The Lord is at hand.”  He’s not a God who has taken off to some distant land, but He’s actually very close at all times―“at hand”― within an arm’s reach.

A woman once told me about a time when she was laying in pain on a hospital bed when she looked up to see a cross on the wall.  It wasn’t an empty cross―which has a special significance of its own―but it was a cross depicting the agonizing crucifixion of Jesus.  While it might seem gruesome to look into the face of a man who is experiencing excruciating pain, for this woman it turned out to be one of the greatest comforts of her life.  She was suddenly filled with the realization that Jesus was right there with her―that He knew exactly what she was going through―and He brought her immediate comfort and peace.

Paul also told the Philippians what to focus on in the midst of their troubles:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me―practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9). 

It reminds me of the song that Julie Andrews sang in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music.  When the children were afraid of the thunder and lightning outside, she sang:  “When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so bad.”  For her, some of her favorite things were, “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.”

What about you?  What are some of your favorite things?  Or, as Paul asked, what are some things you can think about that are true?  Honorable?  Just?  Pure?  Lovely?  Commendable?  Excellent?  Worthy of praise?  Think about such things―not just as a technique to distract you from your situation, but as a practical way to put your situation into perspective.  For as hard as life can be, there are still things in life which are beautiful and glorious.

Paul learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether he had plenty or was in want.  How?  By continually rejoicing in the Lord, by remembering that God is at hand, and in everything, making his requests known to God.  In one of the most famous verses of the Bible―found at the end of this chapter in Philippians―Paul said:

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 

If you’re feeling anxious and worried today, read Philippians chapter 4.  Learn from Paul and put into practice what you learn.  As you do, may the God of peace be with you―and may His peace be yours.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us practical ways to face the things that cause us to be anxious.  Help us to remember that You are near, and to dwell on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, ESV).

NUMBER 11: A LIVING SACRIFICE (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 12

What are some things that you feel passionate about―things that you like to do that bring joy to you and to those around you?  Chances are, God has gifted you in a special way to do those very things.  And when you do them, you bring joy to His heart as well.

A man named Eric Liddle loved God.  He also loved to run.  He wanted to spend his life as a missionary, but he also had a chance to run in the Olympic games.  Torn between running or being a missionary, he eventually did both.  As he told one of his friends:  “When God created me, He made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

God has created and gifted each one of us uniquely.  To some He has given the gift of teaching, to others, serving, to still others, the gifts of leading or healing or giving or showing mercy.  God wants you to use your gifts to the fullest.  In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul talks about how you can do just that:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. … Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:1, 6-8). 

The word sacrifice in this context comes from the Greek word “thusia,” which means “to make an offering.”  A living sacrifice, then, is someone who “makes an offering” of their life to God.  It’s also the basis for our English word “enthusiasm,” which means “infused with the Divine Spirit”―a passionate drive that has been given to us by God.

In the movie, Amazing Grace, you can see what this kind of passionate drive from God looks like in action.  The movie tells the true story of William Wilberforce, a British man who “found God” while he was serving as a member of parliament.  Wilberforce considered giving up his position in politics to go into pastoral ministry.  But he also had a passion to abolish the slave trade in England, a passion which few people shared at the time, for slavery was firmly entrenched in the economy and culture of many English outposts.

Upon hearing that Wilberforce was facing such a dilemma, his good friend and soon-to-be prime minister of England, William Pitt, arranged a meeting between Wilberforce and some of the other passionate abolitionists.  One of them, a pastor, said, “Mr. Wilberforce, we understand you’re having problems choosing whether to do the work of God or the work of a political activist.” Another added, quietly, “We humbly suggest that you can do both.”

Rather than leave politics, Wilberforce spent the next thirty years as a member of parliament, using his God-given gifts of eloquence, wisdom, and faith to help bring about the end of slavery throughout the entire British Empire.

What about you?  What kinds of gifts might God want you to use for Him?  By thinking about those things which you feel most passionate about, it can help you identify what gifts God may most want to use within you.

Someone recently asked me, “If you could be the best in the world at one particular skill, what would it be, and why?”  The first thing that came to my mind was “preaching,”  because I like the idea of being able interact and shape the lives of people God has brought into my life.  But the second thing that came to my mind was “writing,” because as much as I love personally interacting with people, I know that by writing down the thoughts and ideas that God is putting into my mind, I can influence people’s lives for generations to come.  Thinking about these two passions in my life has helped me to focus on those things that God has gifted me to do as well.

A Jesuit priest named John Powell talks of an old Christian tradition that says, “God sends every person into the world with a special message to deliver, with a special song to sing for others, and a special act of love to bestow.  No one else can speak your message, or sing your song, or offer your act of love. These are entrusted only to you.”

When you think about your own gifts, your own passions, your own special skills that you could use to “make an offering” to God, what comes to mind?  What do you feel passionate about?  How has God gifted or empowered you?  How has He infused His Divine Spirit within you in a particular way?

If you’re not sure what your spiritual gifts might be, read through some of the gifts God has poured out on his people as recorded in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 and try to identify some of those which you feel most passionate about.

If you put even one or two of these gifts into use in your own life this week, I think you’ll find out even more what it means to be “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us spiritual gifts, gifts that we can use to bless You and bless those around us.  We pray that You would help us to understand our gifts even better, so that we can live our lives in such a way that we are truly “living sacrifices,” holy and pleasing to You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1, ESV).

NUMBER 10: THE REALITY OF HEAVEN (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: John 14

I’d like to share a conversation I had with a man on a small plane in the Philippines.  My wife and I were on a missions trip, flying between two of the islands, and an elderly man was seated next to us.  His wife, unfortunately, had recently passed away.

When he found out we were on a missions trip, he asked us a very heartfelt question.  He said that he missed his wife greatly, and wondered where she was now.  He wanted to know if she was OK.

I asked him, “Was she a Christian?  Did she believe in Jesus?”

He answered, “Yes, she was, and yes, she believed in Him very deeply.”

I said, “Then let’s take a look at what Jesus said about where she is now.”  Then I opened my Bible and read to him these words of Jesus from John chapter 14:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3). 

As I read Jesus’ words, the man began to weep.  Suddenly, he knew where his wife was.  He knew she was in heaven.  He knew she was with Jesus.

Jesus had many other things to say to His disciples in John chapter 14, just as He still has much to say to us today.

He assured them that even though He was going to heaven, He would still be able to hear their prayers.  More than that, He assured them that He would answer them, if they asked for anything in His name:

“Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). 

And then, as you would expect from any good relationship, Jesus said that He had things He wanted them to do as well:

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. … If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” (John 14:15). 

He also assured them that He wasn’t going to leave them alone, because the Father was going to send His Holy Spirit to them.  He said:

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:18-20, 25-27). 

There’s a note I’ve seen that summarizes the message of John 14 quite simply.  It says:

“Gone to My Father’s house to prepare a place for you.  Be back soon – Love, Jesus” 

You don’t get to heaven by plane or train, by car or bus, or even by rocket ship.  You get to heaven by putting your faith in Christ, and letting Him take you there Himself.  As Jesus told His disciples, when they asked Him how to get there, He said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). 

If you need assurance today that heaven is real, that Jesus hears your prayers (and will answer them!), and that He has not left you here alone, I’d encourage you to read the rest of John 14 for yourself.  Just as the man seated next to us on the plane in the Philippines found the answers to His questions in these words from Jesus, so can you.

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your reassuring words that You’ve already gone ahead of us into heaven, and that You’re preparing a place for us even now.  Help us to continue to put our trust in You that we will be in heaven with you forever, and continue to fill us with Your Holy Spirit, so that we can do all that You’ve called us to do here on earth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:1, ESV).

NUMBER 9: NEED WISDOM? ASK GOD! (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: James 1

When people write to me asking for prayer about what to do in a particular situation, I’ll often include in my reply a quote from James chapter 1.  That’s because James states clearly and emphatically that God loves to pour out His wisdom on those who ask for it.

And because people are facing so many decisions in their lives―whether it’s in regards to their relationships, careers, health, finances, ministries, and so on―I find myself quoting James quite a bit.  Here’s what James says:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). 

This is a simple, yet beautiful verse.  It’s simple, because it contains a very basic message:  if you need wisdom, ask God.  It’s beautiful, because it gives you assurance that your prayers are not in vain, that God will give you His wisdom, generously and without reproach―meaning He will not rebuke you for asking.  He knows that your wisdom is limited, and that’s OK.

But believe it or not, as much as you might want to know God’s will for your life, God wants you to know it even more.  He has a vested interest in your decisions, and He is more than willing to help you make them―if you’re willing to ask.

James goes on to say that the way you ask for wisdom will help to ensure that you’ll receive it:  he says to ask for it in faith: 

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8). 

God wants you to come to Him in faith, believing that He will answer you, and believing that His answer is truly the best for you.  Some people come to God wanting to hear His thoughts on a matter first, then they decide whether or not they want to take His advice.  But God wants you to come to Him in faith, with your answer being, “Yes! I’ll do it!” even before He tells you what to do!  He wants to know that you trust Him, that you believe in your heart that He really does know what’s best for you.

What does faith like this look like in real life? If you keep reading in the book of James, you’ll find out:

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14-17). 

The best kind of faith is faith that is put into action, because faith like this demonstrates to God and to those around you that you really do believe what He says is true.

If you’re wrestling with a decision in your life, I want to encourage you to ask God for wisdom, whether it’s about who to marry, where to live, how to live, how not to live, or any other question that’s on your heart.  Come to God with an expectant heart.  He won’t rebuke you for asking for wisdom.  Instead, He’ll pour out His wisdom on you generously without finding fault.

I’d also encourage you to read through the rest of James chapter 1―and all 5 chapters of the book of James if you can―for his letter contains some of the best wisdom from God on topics like persevering through trials, dealing with temptation, caring for those in need, taming your tongue, praying for healing, and praying in faith.

It might even contain the specific answers to the questions on your heart.  If you need wisdom, ask God.  And when you ask, ask in faith!

Prayer

Father, thank You for assuring us that You love to pour out Your wisdom on us when we ask for it in faith.  Please answer the prayers on our hearts, and give us the wisdom we need to make the best decisions we can in the situations we face.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5, ESV).

NUMBER 8: WILL GOD REALLY REWARD YOU? (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6

I got a letter in the mail one day from Isaac Asimov, the famous science fiction writer, back when he was still alive.  It wasn’t a personal letter, but rather a fund raising letter he had written for an atheistic organization. The letter began by saying:  “You’ll get your reward in heaven!”  Asimov then followed up that quote with his own words:  “We’ve all heard that empty promise before.”

Asimov didn’t believe in God, or heaven, or hell.  He went on to say in his letter that if you wanted to get anything out of life, you’d better get it here and now for, according to him, there was no hereafter.

But Jesus said something completely different.  And although Jesus never wrote a single book, his words have been recorded for us in a book that has sold more copies than any other book in the history of the world.  Let’s take a look at what Jesus said about God’s rewards in Matthew chapter 6:

In talking about giving, Jesus said:

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:3-4). 

In talking about praying, Jesus said:

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). 

In talking about fasting, Jesus said:

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18). 

Jesus followed this up by saying that the rewards God has in store for us don’t come just here on earth, but in heaven as well.  As Jesus continues in Matthew 6, He says:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). 

I know a pastor who could have made a tremendous amount of money from the conferences at which he has spoken and the books that he has written.  But instead, he and his wife have chosen to take only a minimal salary, living in an extremely humble house, and declining or giving away the rest of the millions he could have earned.

His friends have challenged him for the way he lives, claiming he has a poverty mentality.  But he counters their claims by saying that nothing could be further from the truth.  He wants to get rich more than anyone else he knows.  The difference is that he wants to store up his riches in heaven, where they will last forever, rather than cashing in on them here where they will rot or rust.

What about you?  What do you believe?  Will God really reward you for the things you do for Him, and for others, even those things you do in secret?   Jesus says He will, and I for one―along with millions of others―believe Him.  I pray that you do, too, for God knows it will affect everything you think and do here on earth, as well as what God does for you in eternity.

You can trust Jesus:  God really will reward you when you put Him first in your life.  As Jesus said at the end of Matthew 6:

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33). 

Put your trust in God.  He really will reward you!

Prayer

Father, thank You for promising to reward us when we seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness.  Help us to trust You, and not to worry about what we’ll eat or drink or wear, but to focus on Your kingdom, storing up our riches in heaven instead.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).

NUMBER 7: WHERE SHOULD I START? (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: John 1

If someone had never read the Bible before and they were to ask you where they should start, what would you tell them?  For many people, their answer would be to start with the book of John―and for good reason.

John is one of the most beloved books in the Bible.  It contains some of the Bible’s most famous verses, including John 3:16, and it focuses on God’s love for His children perhaps more than any other book.  It’s short enough that you can read a chapter a day and finish in just 21 days, but it’s long enough to give you a good look at the life of Christ―and why you should put your faith in Him.  In fact, John says that’s why he wrote the book, as he notes at the end of chapter 20:

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). 

John saw, with his own eyes, many of the stories that he recorded in his book.  While Jesus had many followers, He had twelve who spent three and a half years with Him eating, sleeping, praying, talking, and ministering.  And of those twelve, three were especially close to Jesus:  Peter, James, and John (see Mark 5:37, Mark 9:2, Mark 13:3, and Mark 14:33).  And of those three, John was perhaps the closest, referring to himself in his book as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (see John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, and 21:20).

Perhaps it was because of John’s close friendship with Jesus that John talks about the love of God so much, using the word “love” in his gospel more than any of the other gospel writers combined.  Here are just a few of those references, all direct quotes that John recorded Jesus as saying:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35) 

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). 

“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love” (John 15:9). 

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). 

If you need some encouragement that God really loves you, read the book of John.  If you need some encouragement that you can trust Christ with everything in your life, read the book of John.  If you’d like to read the Bible but don’t know where to start, read the book of John.  Or if you’d just like a fresh reminder of God’s love for you and all the things that are possible when you put your faith in Him, read the book of John.

Start in chapter 1, and you’ll find that salvation through Jesus wasn’t just an afterthought in the mind of God, but that Jesus was with God in the beginning.  John said, referring to Jesus as “the Word”:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us … ” (John 1:1-3, 14a). 

You’ll also find in chapter 1 that Jesus is “the Lamb of God,” who came to take away our sin:

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b). 

And lastly in chapter 1, you’ll find that Jesus calls you to follow Him, just as He called the first disciples to do, saying:

“Follow Me” (John 1:43b). 

Then keep on reading the rest of the book, whether it takes you a few hours, a few days, or 21 days, reading just a chapter a day.  Even if you’ve read it many times before, I pray that God will speak new things to you as you do.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the words of Your great love for us that You’ve recorded for us in the Bible, and Your desire for us to return that love to You and to share it with others.  Thank You for John’s life and for inspiring him to record these words for us so we can keep putting our faith in Jesus.  It’s in His name we pray, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1, ESV).

 

NUMBER 6: THE BEST SERMON EVER (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5

I’ve just been reading what is perhaps the best sermon ever.  It was delivered by Jesus to a crowd of thousands on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee.  Because of its location, this sermon is often called “The Sermon on the Mount.” It spans three chapters in the book of Matthew, starting in chapter 5.

When you read Jesus’ famous sermon, you’ll see why it’s so popular.  It’s like reading a Cliff’s Notes version of the entire Bible.  You’ll also probably recognize many of the famous quotes that come from this passage.  Here are just a few from chapter 5:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:3-5). 

“You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38-39). 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you … ” (Matthew 5:43-44). 

Reading through the Sermon on the Mount is like reading through the best-of-the-best quotes from Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations.  It even includes the Golden Rule and the Lord’s Prayer!

But I’d also like to point out that even the best sermons in the world are only fruitful if those who hear the words put them into practice.  As Jesus said at the end of His sermon:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27).

I wrote a book a few years ago called What God Says About Sex.  My purpose was to share what I had learned about this precious gift from God and to spare others from the heartache that often comes from misusing this gift.  Many people have read the book over the years, and I’ve been amazed at the results―some good, and some not so good.

Some people have read it eagerly, taking the words to heart, putting them into practice, and being blessed beyond measure.  Others have picked it up with interest at first, only to set it down later and ignore what they read, ending up with unplanned pregnancies, untreatable diseases, and unnecessary pain.  Then there are those who have gotten a copy of the book but didn’t crack it open―until it was too late.

I know of one man who had it sitting on his bedroom dresser―unopened and unread―when he got his girlfriend pregnant.  They broke up soon afterwards, but when their precious baby was born, they entered into a lengthy and heart-wrenching custody battle.

The man later said that he wished he had read my book before this all happened.

When I hear stories like these, I get a small glimpse into what God must feel when people read―or don’t read―His Book, and the various results that come when they put His Words into practice―or don’t.

I’d like to encourage you to take some time this week to read the “Sermon on the Mount” and see for yourself why it is perhaps “The Best Sermon Ever.”  You’ll find it in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7.  It only takes about 20-30 minutes to read, but if you put what you read into practice, you’ll be blessed for a lifetime!

My hope and my prayer is that you will take time to read these chapters and that you’ll be a light shining for Christ―and, as Jesus said, when others see your good works, they’ll “give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your wisdom in the words of the Bible.  Help us to read Your word daily, take it to heart, and put it into practice in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, ESV).

NUMBER 5: GOD’S PROTECTION (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 91

There’s a difference between “believing in God” and “believing God.”  You can believe in God yet still keep Him at a distance.  But when you believe God―when you take Him at His Word and put what He says into practice in your life―you enter into a relationship with Him, a relationship that is up close and personal;  a relationship where every step you take is wise and purposeful because you’re keeping in step with Him.

Psalm 91 describes one of the great benefits of this kind of close relationship with God:  you enter into His divine protection.  Here are some of the things God will do for you when you dwell “in the shelter of the Most High”:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.’
For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you”
(Psalm 91:1-7). 

Moses, who many Jewish scholars believe authored this Psalm, saw his share of trouble.  He saw plagues of locusts and plagues of death, threats of famine and threats on his life.  But Moses also saw God’s divine hand of deliverance.

When the angel of death passed through the streets of Egypt, thousands fell, but Moses and his people were saved.  Not only did they believe in God but they also believed God.  They did what He told them to do, putting the blood of a lamb on the doorframes of their homes so the angel of death would “pass over” and spare the lives of those inside (see Exodus 12).

Jesus is our passover lamb, and when you put your faith in Him―staying close to Him and holding on tight―then He’s able to take you under His protective wings.  It’s hard for God to protect you, though, if you keep running back and forth to Him, coming to Him only after disaster strikes.  He wants you to be in a close relationship with Him at all times, dwelling with Him, living with Him, taking up residence in His protective refuge.  When you do, listen to a few more of the ways you’ll be blessed:

“Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place―
the Most High, who is my refuge―
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows My Name.
When he calls to Me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him My salvation”
(Psalm 91:9-10, 14-16). 

It’s good to believe in God, but it’s even better to believe God, drawing near to Him and dwelling in His shelter.  How do you do that?  By calling out to Him when you wake up each morning.  By reading His Word and listening to His Spirit so you can hear back from Him.  By holding on tight to Him throughout the day and taking care to do what He says, stepping where He says to step (and not stepping where He says not to step!).  And when the day is done, being sure to say goodnight again, entrusting Him to hold you tight throughout the night.

God loves you and wants to protect you, shield you, and deliver you.  Just be sure to stay under His protective wings.

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving us and offering us Your strong hand of protection.  Help us to come closer and closer to You so that we can see what Moses saw, and experience Your deliverance first-hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My Name” (Psalm 91:14, ESV).

NUMBER 4: GOD WORKS FOR YOUR GOOD (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Romans 8

God is for you.  He loves you.  And He can work all things together for good, when you love Him and are called according to His purpose.  These concepts are found throughout the Bible.  But they’re also stated clearly and succinctly in Romans chapter 8.

Although the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the believers living in Rome, Italy, about the year 54 A.D., Paul’s words apply just as much to you today, wherever you happen to live in the world, if you, too, are a believer in Christ.  Here are a few of the things Paul said.

He wants you to be free from the guilt and shame that you might feel because of your sins:

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). 

He wants you to know that you aren’t alone in your struggle against sin, for the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit lives within you:

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). 

He wants you to know that if you are experiencing any suffering in this world, that it will hardly compare to the glory you will see one day:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). 

Or as Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish writer in the 1600’s, paraphrased it:  “Our little time of suffering is not worthy of our first night’s welcome home to Heaven.”

Paul wants you to know that even when you are at a loss as to how to pray for yourself, the Holy Spirit will pray for you:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). 

And in one of the most famous verses in the Bible, Paul wants you to know that God will work all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

I often quote this verse―both to myself and to others―because it’s a great reminder that God can bring good out of any difficulty that we face.

There’s a concept in karate called “borrowed force” that’s useful when someone throws a punch at you.  Instead of taking the hit and letting the punch knock you out, you can take hold of the punch with your hands, add your own strength to it, and throw your opponent to the ground behind you.  Instead of letting the punch defeat you, you can use it for good.

When life, or people, or your job, or the economy, throws a punch at you that could probably knock you out, God wants you to put your faith in Him.  When you do, He can help you to take hold of the punch that was meant for evil and turn it into something good something even better than you may have been able to do on your own.

If you remember the story of Joseph and his brothers, you’ll see how Joseph was able to see God’s hand at work, even after his brothers sold him as a slave into Egypt.  God one day raised Joseph up to be second in command in Egypt, giving him wisdom to store up food during years of plenty for an upcoming famine, resulting in saving many people in Egypt as well as his own brothers.  Joseph said:

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20). 

God is for you, too.  He loves you.  And if you’ll trust in Him with everything that you’re going through today, He really can and will work all things together for good.

I hope you’ll read the rest of Romans 8 today―especially the last section in verses 31-39.  They’re some of the most uplifting words in the whole Bible.  If God is for you, who can be against you!

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving us so fully, and for promising us that You will indeed work all things for good in our lives when we love you and are called according to Your purpose.  Help us to trust You and Your promises completely, as we face the challenges in our lives today. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV).

NUMBER 3: FROM COVER TO COVER (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Genesis 1

A young preacher once invited an older preacher to his church to share a sermon with his congregation.  The sermon was powerful and many people were touched deeply by the message.  Afterwards, the younger preacher asked the older preacher the secret of his success.

The older preacher asked him, “How many times have you read the Bible, from cover to cover?”

The younger preacher said, “I’ve read a lot of it, but I’ve never read the whole thing all the way through even once yet.”

The older preacher then pointed at his Bible and said:  “When you’ve read this book twenty times, from cover to cover, then you’ll be able to preach like that.”

I know this is a true story, because the man who told it to me was that younger preacher, many years ago, and he went home and did exactly what the older preacher suggested.  By the time I heard him tell the story, he was quite old.  Although he didn’t tell me how many times he’d read the Bible from cover to cover since he first got that advice, if I were to judge from the message I heard him preach that day, I would say he well exceeded the suggested twenty!  He was a powerful preacher!

What’s good for powerful preaching is also good for powerful living.

The most pivotal time in my life came when I started reading the Bible from cover to cover for myself.  I had been in a Bible study for a few months with a small group of men from our church, and decided to go out and buy a good study Bible―with lots of footnotes included in it so I could understand better what I was reading.

I started at Genesis, Chapter 1.  As I began to read, I tried to immerse myself in the story, reading it not just as ancient history, but more like a newspaper, describing the events of the day as if they were actually taking place while I was reading them.  I found that when I read the Bible this way, the stories came alive, starting with the story of the creation of the world:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). 

As I read that passage, I began to picture what it must have been like for God to create something out of nothing.

When God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light, I tried to picture what it would have been like to be in total darkness, and then watch as God’s light burst onto the scene.  As I continued reading, I could see water flowing, waves crashing, plants growing, fish swimming, birds flying, animals moving, and then―as the climactic event―God creating the first two human beings in His own image.  I felt like Thomas Merton must have felt when he wrote:

“By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet.” 

After a few weeks of reading the Bible like this, I sensed God’s love for me in a new and deeper way.  I also began to see my need for a Savior.  I put my faith in Christ shortly thereafter and I’ve never looked back.  I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve read the Bible since then, either.  But I do know that as I’ve read and reread this precious book over the years, it has changed me, challenged me, comforted me, and most of all increased my faith in Him who spoke its words into existence.  As D.L. Moody said:

“I prayed for faith and thought it would strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. One day I read, ‘Now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now began to study my Bible and faith has been growing ever since.” 

If you’d like to increase your faith, I’d encourage you to read the Bible, from cover to cover, starting in Genesis chapter 1.  Make it a goal for yourself―not just to get through the whole Bible―but to let the whole Bible get through you.  You’ll be glad you did.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your words in the pages of the Bible.  Help us to read them and apply them to our lives daily so that we can grow closer and closer to You, and in the process, grow to look more and more like Your Son, Jesus Christ. It’s in His name we pray, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, ESV).

NUMBER 2: SAVORING EVERY WORD (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23

Last time I talked about the value of reading the entire Bible from cover to cover. This time I’d like to focus on another approach to reading the Bible: savoring every word. For the goal of reading the Bible is not just to get all the way through it,  but to let it get all through you!

One way to do that is to go slowly and meditate on the words you’re reading―to think deeply about them and the implications they may have on your life.

For instance, let’s take a close look at just a few verses from Psalm 23, the second most popular passage in the Bible. Because Psalm 23 is such a popular passage, you might be tempted to read it so quickly that you miss the flavor and nutrients offered by each of its words. But by slowing down and meditating on every word, you can better digest what you’re reading.

Here’s what happened to me as I spent time meditating on the first few verses of Psalm 23 this week, which starts like this:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:1-2a). 

As I started with the words, “The Lord is my shepherd,” I thought about how God isn’t just “a” god or “one god out of many,” but that He is “THE God, THE Lord, THE One and Only Creator of the universe, THE Author and Sustainer of my life, with all of my life’s intricate complexities.

As I thought about the little word “is” in “The Lord is my shepherd,” I thought about the fact that the Lord IS my shepherd―not that He was my shepherd, or that He will be my shepherd, but that He IS my shepherd, taking care of me, protecting me, and nourishing me, right here and right now.

As I looked at the word “my,” in “The Lord is my shepherd,” I realized that the Lord is not just our shepherd, or the shepherd of the whole world, but that He’s also MY shepherd. He knows me by name (see John 10:3 and 11), and if I ever strayed away, I know He would leave the rest of the flock behind in safety in order to find me and rescue me from danger (see Matthew 18, 12-14).

With the Lord as my shepherd, it’s no wonder the verse continues with the words: “I shall not want.”

But it was when I read, “He makes me lie down in green pastures,” that God began to speak personally and specifically to me about a situation in my life that happened about a year ago, when we were considering launching out into a whole new aspect of our ministry.  At the last minute, God redirected our steps and moved us out to where we’re living now at Clover Ranch. As I read about the green pastures this week, I was watching my son mow the green grass in our front yard for the first time this year.

Although a year ago it seemed like God was pulling the rug out from under our feet in some ways, the truth was that He was “making us lie down in green pastures.” He was leading us beside His still waters. He was restoring our souls. I was reminded of the quote from Daniel Defoe, the author of Robinson Crusoe, who said,

“God will often deliver us in a manner that seems initially to destroy us.”

Oh, how thankful I was―and am―to have the Lord as my shepherd!

I didn’t make it through the rest of Psalm 23 that day, but what a sweet time I had with God by just meditating on a few of His words.

As much as I love encouraging people to read through their whole Bibles many times, I love it, too, when they can savor every word. I’d encourage you to read through the rest of Psalm 23 for yourself today, stopping and meditating on those words or phrases that seem to stand out to you. Let them sink deep into your heart and mind, and let God restore your soul.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the richness of Your Word, and for using it to speak into our hearts and lives. Help us to read it thoroughly, to think about it deeply, and to let it impact the way we live our lives here on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, ESV).

NUMBER 1: THE LOVE TEST (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

There’s a philosophy in ethics called “enlightened self-interest.”  It’s the intriguing idea that many of the “good deeds” we do are not motivated entirely for the benefit of others, but somehow serve our own self-interests as well.

Giving to charity, for instance, is a noble endeavor.  But if our giving is solely dependent on whether or not we get a tax-deduction for our gift, then our giving really falls in the category of enlightened self-interest.  We’re glad to give―as long as our giving benefits us back in some way.

Not that there’s anything wrong with enlightened self-interest in and of itself, as the idea of giving, and getting something in return, is the basis of economies all over the world.  It only becomes a problem when we mistake enlightened self-interest for selfless love, thinking that what we’re doing is truly loving, when in reality it could be simply selfishness masquerading as love.

Today we’re looking at a passage in the Bible that deals almost entirely with love.  Pure love.  A love that is selfless and unadulterated.  A love that gives without expecting anything in return.  It’s found in chapter 13 of the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the believers who were living in the city of Corinth.  Paul wrote the letter as a reminder to the Corinthians that no matter how important all of their gifts and abilities might be, they were meaningless without love.  Paul wrote:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). 

Paul knew that God wants love to be at the core of everything we do.  In the end, as Oliver Thomas said, “Authentic religion is not a theology test.  It’s a love test.”  As important as theology is―and moving mountains and giving sacrificially and every other good thing in which we engage―love must pervade them all, or else we’ve failed the test.

Paul continues his letter by writing one of the most beautiful definitions of love found in all of literature.  Because of this, 1 Corinthians 13 is frequently read at wedding ceremonies throughout the world.  Paul says:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). 

Paul’s words serve as a checklist of sorts to help us determine how truly loving we are towards those around us.  While many times we might think we’re acting in love, if we compare our love to the love described in this passage, we’ll get to the heart of what truly motivates us.  Is it pure love?  Or just some form of “enlightened self-interest,” giving to others with the hope that we might get some kind of benefit in return?

There are times when we buy cards or gifts, or do favors for people, which seem selfless on the surface.  But when we don’t get the desired response in return for our efforts, our selfishness is exposed.  Perhaps we weren’t being truly as loving or generous as we thought.  When thinking about some of the relationships in your own life, you can ask yourself these questions, based on 1 Corinthians 13:

Is my love for this person patient and kind?
Is it envious or boastful?
Is it arrogant or rude?
Does it insist on its own way?
Is it irritable or resentful?
Does it rejoice at wrongdoing?  Or does it rejoice with the truth?
Does it bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things?
Does my love for them never end? 

If you’re like me, just reading through this list can be convicting.  But Paul didn’t write these words to dash us to pieces.  He wrote them to lift us up, to encourage us to do what’s right, and to begin loving others for all the right reasons again.

Let love motivate everything you do―not selfishness, and not selfishness masquerading as love.  As you put these words into practice, you’ll see why Paul closes this famous chapter on love by saying that of all the incredible gifts, that God has given you,

“ … the greatest of these is love.” 

(1 Corinthians 13:13b)

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving us with a selfless love.  We pray that You would help us show that same kind of love to those around us.  Help us to be patient and kind, not envious or boastful.  Keep us from arrogance or rudeness, or insisting on our own way, or being irritable or resentful.  Help us to never rejoice at wrongdoing, but to always rejoice with the truth.  Thank You for Your never ending love for us, and help us to love others in the exact same way.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV).

CONCLUSION: THE ULTIMATE LOVE AFFAIR

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading:  John 5:39-40

Some people wonder why Christians have such a love affair with the Bible.  The truth is that we’re not just in love with the words on the pages.  We’re in love with the One who is portrayed by those words.

It’s like carrying around a picture of your beloved in your purse or wallet.  When you take out that picture, looking fondly at the image, and maybe even brushing the picture up against your cheek, or giving it a kiss with your lips, it’s not that you’re in love with the picture on the paper.  You’re in love with the one whose image is displayed on the paper.

In the same way, those who love their Bibles aren’t just in love with the Bible.  They’re in love with the One who is displayed on its pages.

Yet as wonderful as this kind of love affair with the Bible can be, there’s a surprising danger in it.  There are times when you might fall so much in love with the words on the pages that you miss having a relationship with the Word Himself, Jesus Christ, who is described on those pages.  Even Jesus warned of this danger when He said to some of the religious leaders of His day:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). 

The Message translation of the Bible paraphrases these same words of Jesus like this:

“You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there…These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you” (John 5:39-40, MSG). 

Imagine holding a picture of your beloved in your hands, treasuring it, pulling it close to your heart, and even gazing at it longingly, all the while not even realizing or acknowledging that your beloved is standing right there next to you the whole time!

As much as I love the Bible―and it is my favorite book in the world―I have to remind myself from time to time that the Trinity is not made up of “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Scripture.”  But rather, the Trinity is made up of “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” three aspects of the same singular God who loves you and wants to be involved actively in your life today!

Keep reading your Bible, but don’t forget:  Jesus is STILL alive!  When His Holy Spirit prompts you to give, then give!  When you ask Him a question in prayer, then wait and listen for His answer!  When you’re feeling stressed  and start meditating on God’s Word, remember that God’s Word―Jesus Christ―is standing right there with you, too!

The words of the Bible are like love letters to you from your beloved, scented with the perfume of heaven, and sealed with a kiss from the Creator of the universe.  He loves you more than you could know, and He demonstrated that love by sending His Son Jesus to live and die and rise again from the dead, so you can live and die and rise again from the dead with Him one day, too.  If you’re going to have a love affair, make sure you have it not just with the words on the pages of the Bible, but have it with the One who is described by those words:  Jesus Christ!

Prayer

Father thank You for showing us who you are on the pages of the Bible.  Help us to read Your Word as love letters from You, and help us to remind ourselves that our relationship is with You―a real and living Person.  We invite you to speak into our lives again today, and continue to speak to us throughout our lives and on into heaven, when we will be with You forever.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40).

SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE FOR THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

I’m excited to offer this study guide for groups who want to study this material together!  While studying God’s Word on your own can be extremely rewarding, studying it with others can be even more so.  I’ve learned from my own experience that the words of Solomon are true:  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

This study is divided into twenty lessons (not counting the Introduction and Conclusion), and the questions that follow can be used for personal reflection, group discussion, or a combination of both.

If your group wants to read and discuss each lesson together, they could meet once a week and complete this study in twenty weeks.  If your group wants to cover the material more quickly, group members could study several lessons on their own during the week, then discuss those lessons together with the group (covering, for example, five lessons per week for a period of four weeks).

However you choose to do it, I pray that God will speak to you through it!

Introduction – The Top 20 Passages In The Bible

The Bible is filled with passages that God can use to speak to you at any time, whether those passages are well-known or not.  But because the Bible is both “God-breathed,” and “living and active,” God can bring any passage to life right before your eyes, speaking directly to your heart and mind.

1.  Has the Bible ever spoken to you in a way that you felt that God Himself was speaking to you through the words on the pages?  What is one of your favorite Bible passages, and why?  

2.  What do you think makes the Bible the best-selling book of all time?  Even if the words on its pages weren’t attributed to God Himself, why might the Bible still be a best-seller?

Number 20 – The Christmas Story

Luke’s version of the birth of Christ contains many miracles―with angels everywhere, a tongue that is tied and then loosened again, and even a virgin birth.  Yet Luke’s account is one of the most detailed and well-researched of the four gospels, having been written by a medical doctor who personally travelled with the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys.

 1.  When you think of the Christmas story, what are some incidents that stand out in your mind as miraculous?  When you read Luke’s account of the events surrounding the birth of Christ, what details does he include that he might have gathered from eye-witnesses?

2.  Why might the angel Gabriel speak with such authority regarding the faithfulness of God in keeping His promises?  When Gabriel said to Elizabeth “For nothing is impossible with God,” what was he referring to specifically in her case?  How might that encourage you that there really is nothing else that is impossible with God either?

Number 19 – Making The Best Use Of The Time

Paul told the Ephesians to make the best use of their time, living as wise, not unwise people.  He spoke of specific things they should avoid doing, and specific things that they should begin doing, if they weren’t already.

1.  What are a few of the things Paul specifically urged the Ephesians not to do?  What are a few of the things he specifically urged them to do?

2.  What caused the change in Alfred Nobel’s life, even though he was near the end of it?  How can thinking through how you’ll be remembered in the future change the way you live your life now?  Are there specific changes you could make right now to keep from wasting time―and making the most of the time you still have left?

Number 18 – God’s Love For You

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he said that he got down on his knees to pray for them, that they would be able to know the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for them.  He knew how hard grasping God’s love and grace could be, yet he spends a great deal of time trying to help them grasp this life-giving truth.

1.  What are some things that happen to people that can make them question God’s love for them?  What are some things that have happened to you that have made you question His love?

2.  Other than prayer, how can you get a better picture of what God’s love for you looks like?  And through prayer, what specifically might you pray so that you could better grasp God’s love?

Number 17 – The Gospel In A Nutshell

The most famous quote in the Bible took place in a conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council who came to Jesus at night.  Jesus told him that for someone to enter the kingdom of God, they must be born again―that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.

1.  What other story did Jesus bring up in his conversation with Nicodemus to talk about God’s willingness to forgive and heal His people when they sinned?  How does this story relate to what Jesus was about to do on the cross?

2.  Why did Jesus describe entering the kingdom of God as being “born again”?  Do you feel like you’ve been “born again”?  And if not, do you want to be?

Number 16 – The Power Of God For Salvation

The Apostle Paul said that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it was the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.  In describing this gospel, Paul first explains the “bad news” regarding our sinfulness, then leads into the “good news” regarding our future if we’re willing to put our faith in Christ.

1.  Why is it helpful to understand the “bad news” of the gospel in order to understand why it is such “good news”?  What does the “wrath of God” look like, according to this passage?

2.  What are ways that people turn against God’s plans for their lives, according to Romans 1?  In what ways might God’s wrath manifest itself in the lives of people who do these things, without God even having to intervene?

3.  In Romans 1:32, Paul says “they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”  Why might giving approval to some of these things add to the damage that is already being done?  And what can someone do to be delivered from God’s wrath?

Number 15 – Walk In A Manner Worthy Of Your Calling

Even though Paul was imprisoned for his faith, he was able to treat those around him with the love that God had shown to him.  He encouraged the Ephesians to renew their minds so they could walk in a manner worthy of the calling they had receive from God.

1.  How does Dennis the Menace’s comment to his friend about Mrs. Wilson’s goodness to them relate to God’s goodness to us?  How is Paul able to draw on this truth to extend love to those who mistreated him?

2.  What does Paul tell us to “put off” in this passage, and why?  And what does he tell us to “put on” instead, and why?  How does he suggest we do that, particularly in regards to our minds?

Number 14 – God Knows You

King David wrote many beautiful songs, called Psalms, that are recorded for us in the Bible.  One of the most beloved among them is Psalm 139, which describes in detail just how intimately God knows each one of us, reminding us that there is no place in the world that we can go where He is not there with us.

1.  What are some of the details that God knows about you, as mentioned in Psalm 139?  Do any surprise you, or give you special comfort?

2.  What things come to mind that make you think you were “fearfully and wonderfully made”?  Do you think God has a plan for your life, based on the words in this Psalm?

Number 13 – Like A Tree Planted By Water

Sometimes we want to go and do something for God, but He wants us to be like a tree planted by the water, drawing life from His Word.  In this way, we can refresh ourselves,  provide shade and rest for those who are drawn to us, and like a strong and healthy tree, yield fruit at the proper time.

1.  What are some of the things this Psalm says that we should do―and not do―in order to grow and prosper in our lives?  How can we do those things in a practical way?

2.  What are some of the benefits of doing―and not doing―these things in our lives?  How did Thomas Merton describe the renewal he experienced when reading God’s Word?

Number 12 – Don’t Be Anxious

Writing from a prison cell, the Apostle Paul encouraged the believers in the city of Philippi not to be anxious about anything, but to give thanks to God, making their requests known to God.  He reminded them that the Lord was “at hand,” and urged them to dwell as much as possible on things that were good and godly.

1.  What did Paul mean when he said the Lord is “at hand”?  What difference can that knowledge make in your thoughts and attitudes towards what you’re facing?

2.  What are some of your favorite things, things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise?  How might dwelling on such thoughts keep your thoughts in perspective?

Number 11 – A Living Sacrifice

In Romans 12, Paul talks about being “a living sacrifice,” using your gifts to make an offering to God, at the same time blessing you and those around you.  Paul lists many of these gifts,  saying that each of us has been given different gifts by God and are to use them according to the grace God has given to us.

1.  How can identifying some of your passions in life help you to also identify the gifts God may have given you?  Based on the meaning of the word enthusiasm, how can our enthusiasm relate to our giftedness?

2.  What are some of the spiritual gifts, as listed in Romans 12, that you feel most passionate about?  If you could be the best at one particular skill, what would it be, and why?  How might your answers to these two questions be related.

Number 10 – The Reality Of Heaven

After telling the disciples He was going away, Jesus assured them that He would not leave them alone, sending the Holy Spirit to be with them while He was gone.  He also assured them that He was going to prepare a place for them and would return for them.

1.  Why did Jesus say to the disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled”?  What assurances did He give them so they wouldn’t have to worry about His going away, or their future?

2.  What did Jesus say they could do if they ever needed anything?  And what did He ask them to do if He ever needed them to do something?

3.  When Jesus said He was the way, the truth and the life, why did He add that no one could come to the Father except through Him?  Are you sure you’re going to heaven, and if not, are you ready yet to put your faith in Christ to get that assurance?

Number 9 – Need Wisdom? Ask God!

God loves to pour out His wisdom to those who ask Him for it, for He has a vested interest in the decisions we make.  But James reminds us that when we ask for wisdom, we are to ask for it in faith, believing that God will answer us, and that He has our best interests at heart.

1.  Why does James say we must ask for wisdom “in faith”?  What does he say will happen to the person who doesn’t believe what God tells them in response to their prayers?

2.  How hard is it for you to say, “Yes, Lord!” to God even before He’s given you His answer?  How would it change your prayers if you were to tell God you would do whatever He said, even before you knew His answer?

Number 8 – Will God Really Reward You?

Some people believe that the only rewards you’ll get in life are the ones you get here and now here on earth.  But Jesus says that there are all kinds of rewards awaiting us in heaven when we put our faith in Him, trusting Him to reward us for acts done in secret with rewards that won’t rust or rot away but will last forever.

1.  How does Jesus say we can store up rewards for ourselves in heaven?  Why does He say we should work towards those rewards instead of just rewards that we can get here on earth?

2.  What specific things might you change in your life if you were to really focus on storing up rewards for yourself in heaven?  How might focusing on heaven―seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness first and foremost―help you not to worry about things you need here on earth?

Number 7 – Where Should I Start?

Many people recommend to those who are new at reading the Bible to start in the book of John, for John gives a great overview of the life of Jesus, and focuses on Jesus’ great love for  each one of us.  John’s purpose of writing the book is recorded in chapter 20, saying that his hope is that those reading his words will put their faith in Jesus.

1.  In the opening words of John chapter 1, why does John describe Jesus as “the Word”? What does he mean when he says “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”? 

2.  If you look through the book of John, what are a few of the many verses that talk about God’s love for us?  Are some of these particularly meaningful to you at this time in your life?  

3.  If you’ve never read through the book of John, would you be interested in reading it now, reading, for instance, a chapter a day for the next 21 days?

Number 6 – The Best Sermon Ever

Jesus preached His famous “Sermon on the Mount” on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee.  In the sermon, Jesus addressed dozens of practical issues that people face in their lives, and ends with an encouragement to be like a person who built their house on solid rock, by putting the words He had spoken into practice.

1.  As you look through the “Sermon on the Mount,” what are some of the phrases that strike you as particularly famous?  What are some of the phrases that stand out as important to what you’re dealing with today?

2.  What does Jesus say a person will be like if they hear His words and put them into practice?  And what will a person be like who hears His words and doesn’t put them into practice?  How can you put Jesus’ words into practice in your life this week?

Number 5 – God’s Protection

In Psalm 92, Moses says that God’s protective hand will shelter those who put their faith in Him.  Moses knew this truth first-hand, having believed God when God called him to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Egyptians, following God’s commands and staying safe and secure under His protective wings.

1.  What are some of the benefits of staying close to God, as described in Psalm 91?   Which of these benefits are particularly appealing to you in your life right now?

2.  What’s the difference, in your own words, between just believing in God and believing God?  What could you do this week to demonstrate that you do both?  And what benefits could there be if you do?

Number 4 – God Works For Your Good

In Romans chapter 8, Paul reminds us that God works all things for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  He also reminds us that the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living inside us, and can give life to our mortal bodies as well.

1.  How can the karate concept of “borrowed force” be applied to our lives today, in light of what Paul says in Romans 8:28?  Have you ever seen God work things out for good which looked, at first, to be disastrous?

2.  Why does Paul say there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?  What are some of the things Paul lists at the end of Romans 8 that can’t separate us from the love of God?

Number 3 – From Cover To Cover

The Bible begins with Genesis chapter 1, which describes the creation of the world, and it’s a great place to start reading the Bible, and keep reading all the way through it all the way to the end.  Reading it like this from cover to cover, over and over again, is one of the best ways to grow in your faith, and in your ability to share that faith with others.

1.  What benefits might there be from reading the Bible all the way through, from cover to cover?  What benefits might there be from reading it from cover to cover, several times, especially at different stages of your life?

2.  Have you ever read through the entire Bible, from cover to cover?   If not, would you consider doing it?  If so, are you ready to do it again?

Number 2 – Savoring Every Word

Psalm 23 is the second most popular passage in the Bible, describing God as a shepherd who leads us beside His still waters.  Each word of this Psalm is precious, just as each word in the Bible is precious, and there are times when God wants us to savor every word.

1.  What are some of the benefits of having the Lord as your shepherd, as described in Psalm 23?  Have you ever felt like God was leading you to a place of rest, and what purpose did He seem to have for doing this?

2.  What are some of the benefits of reading big chunks of the Bible at one time?  And what are some of the benefits of taking your time and savoring just a few words or phrases at a time?

Number 1 – The Love Test

Paul’s famous passage on love is a reminder that God wants love to pervade everything you do, for without it, even if you had faith to move mountains or to give away everything you owned to the poor, you would gain nothing.  In the end, life is not about all that you do, but doing all that you do in love.

1.  How do Paul’s words about love, and the motivations behind what we do, put our good deeds into perspective?  Can a person do good deeds without love?  Can a person love without good deeds?

2.  How can Paul’s words about love―pure love―be used as a checklist to see how well we’re doing in our own relationships?  What does Paul mean when he says at the end of this passage, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love”?

Conclusion – The Ultimate Love Affair

There’s a danger when reading the Bible that we can be so focused on the words on the pages that we forget to focus on the One who is described by those words.  God wants us to do both, to learn more about Him from the stories and writings about Him in the Bible, and then to use those Scriptures to deepen our understanding of and relationship with Him.

 1.  Why did Jesus rebuke the religious leaders of His day in John 5:39-40, when they were obviously searching the Scriptures diligently, which would seem like a good thing?  What warning is there for us in these words today?

2.  What might you do differently as a result of reading this warning?  What added dimension might this bring to the way you read your Bible from now on?

THE TOP 100 VERSES IN THE BIBLE

You're reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

The following list of Bible verses features some of the most famous and best-loved verses in all of Scripture.  Each one is excellent for meditation, memorization, or just plain inspiration.

This list was compiled using the actual search results from a popular website called BibleGateway.com, which features a searchable Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.  The results were based on over 25 million searches made during March and April, 2009, where visitors searched for just one verse at a time.  (The earlier portion of this book was based on the search results where visitors looked up larger passages or entire chapters at a time, which resulted in the list of the top 20 passages in the Bible.)

All verses quoted here are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984), as they originally appeared in BibleGateway.com’s search results.

  1. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”
  2. Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
  3. Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
  4. Philippians 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
  5. Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
  6. Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…
  7. Proverbs 3:6: …in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
  8. Romans 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is―his good, pleasing and perfect will.
  9. Philippians 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
  10. Matthew 28:19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
  11. Ephesians 2:8: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith―and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…
  12. Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…
  13. Romans 12:1: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God―this is your spiritual act of worship.
  14. John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
  15. Acts 18:10: For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
  16. Acts 18:9: One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.”
  17. Acts 18:11: So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
  18. Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
  19. 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
  20. Romans 3:23: …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
  21. John 14:6: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  22. Matthew 28:20: “…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
  23. Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
  24. Philippians 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable―if anything is excellent or praiseworthy―think about such things.
  25. Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
  26. Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
  27. Isaiah 40:31: …but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
  28. Ephesians 2:9: …not by works, so that no one can boast.
  29. Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  30. Galatians 5:23: …gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
  31. Isaiah 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
  32. 1 Peter 3:15: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…
  33. 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…
  34. Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
  35. Hebrews 12:2: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  36. 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
  37. Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
  38. 1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
  39. Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
  40. Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
  41. 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
  42. Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
  43. 2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
  44. Romans 10:9: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
  45. Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
  46. Genesis 1:26: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
  47. Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
  48. John 16:33: “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.”
  49. Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
  50. 2 Timothy 1:7: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
  51. Isaiah 53:4: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
  52. 2 Corinthians 5:21: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  53. Romans 15:13: 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.
  54. John 11:25: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…”
  55. Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
  56. John 5:24: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
  57. James 1:2: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…
  58. Isaiah 53:6: We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
  59. Acts 2:38: Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
  60. Ephesians 3:20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…
  61. Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
  62. Genesis 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
  63. Colossians 3:12: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
  64. Hebrews 12:1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
  65. James 5:16: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
  66. Acts 17:11: Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
  67. Philippians 4:19: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
  68. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  69. 1 Corinthians 6:19: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
  70. 1 John 3:16: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
  71. Psalm 133:1: How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
  72. John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
  73. Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
  74. John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
  75. Micah 6:8: He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
  76. Romans 10:17: Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
  77. John 1:12: Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…
  78. James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
  79. James 1:3: because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
  80. Romans 8:38: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers…
  81. Romans 8:39: …neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  82. Hebrews 10:25: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another―and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
  83. 2 Peter 1:4: Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
  84. Philippians 1:6: …being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
  85. Psalm 133:3: It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
  86. Hebrews 4:16: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
  87. Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
  88. John 3:17: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
  89. Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
  90. Isaiah 26:3: You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
  91. 1 Peter 2:24: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
  92. Joshua 1:8: Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
  93. Matt 28:18: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ”
  94. Colossians 3:23: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…
  95. Matthew 22:37: Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
  96. Psalm 133:2: It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
  97. Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
  98. Isaiah 55:8: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
  99. Hebrews 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are―yet was without sin.
  100. John 13:35: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Thanks for reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Thanks for reading THE TOP 20 PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE, by Eric Elder, featuring 20 inspiring devotionals based on the 20 most popular passages in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Notes of Thanks – 2010

A few thank you notes from The Ranch visitors…

1/2/2010 – Thank you for your lessons on Nehemiah and Clearing Your Mind. Vanessa
1/8/2010 – I am an international student from Nepal just finishend my bible college from Hillsong college. I would love to read the newsletter and I hope it will bless me and I could bless others by its contents. thanks, Gopal – AUSTRALIA
1/14/2010 – Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I’ve tremendously being blessed by your contributions to the body of Christ through the ranch. Please I wish to know how i can make donation to the project at the ranch from Nigeria. Thanks. Oyebade – NIGERIA
1/15/2020 – I thank God that He is using you and your family and this beautiful ministry to minister to a world of hurting people. You are in my prayers! Beth – ILLINOIS
1/15/2010 – Dear Eric, thank you for all of your help it really has given me different views of how things work and for for all of the bible verses this talk has really helped! thank u for praying with me i always feel better after a prayer with someone. Meghan – ILLINOIS
1/21/2010 – We are enjoying your devotional book that you wrote. With Love and May God Bless, Bonnie – ILLINOIS
1/22/2010 – I want to get close to God this year! To know Him fully, to serve Him obediently. Am seeing this site will help me and the ministry of reaching children that am involved will help me further. Thank you. Kenneth – KENYA
1/22/2010 – I enjoy your preachings a lot as I do Bible study on them. Benita – SOUTH AFRICA
1/25/2010 – I just wanted to thank you for the CD you sent me. I really appreciated that you even thought of me and took the time and expense to send it to me. It was a powerful message for me and really touched my heart. Thank you. I’ve also listened to your talk on CD and read your book and they have helped a great deal as well. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate you and Lana and your ministry. … I just wanted to thank you for your kindness and generosity. I will keep your family in my prayers. Sincerely, Jan – ILLINOIS
1/26/2010 – Glory to God for all that He continues to do through your ministry! May He forever bless you, your family and your ministry! Halleluyah!Blessings, Dwan – TENNESSEE
1/26/2010 – I actually thought your website was not real. I thank you for your prayers. I am staying by Him all the way. Just to know that you were praying for me helps me alot. Thank you so much. Lea.
1/26/2010 – I can’t explain how happy I am that I came across this site. I was very near an emotional breakdown about an hour ago, and even simply sitting here and spending time on this site has helped. It’s put some things in check for me. Mainly that God knows what He’s doing, and whatever happens only happens because it’s supposed to, and things are going to turn out exactly how He intends. And even though things are very hard for me right now, I know I can get through it with God’s help, and any help I can find along the way will just make it that much easier. I also apologize for the small novel written above. Lots of pain translated to lots of words. Thank you for taking time out of your day to listen to a broken nineteen-year-old’s rambling. And thank you in advance for any and all prayers that may be said on my behalf. They are greatly appreciated. God bless.
1/27/2010 – Thank you so much for praying for my situation. …You have no idea how big of a part your website was in helping me grow in my faith and my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
1/28/2010 – Thanks so much for the emails over the last couple of days. About 10 minutes ago and I was thinking to myself, “I really have the urge to get back into old habits.” Then I saw your short note and was greatly encouraged.
1/29/2010 – First of all, thank you so much. I’m not entirely sure you understand how much the response means to me. Even if you personally respond to all prayers sent to the Ranch, it still means a lot to me. And I appreciate any and all prayers that have been said on my behalf. I’m completely amazed at what you’re willing to do for people. Sometimes just knowing that someone cares that much for anyone and everyone can make a huge difference. Thank you so much, Daniel – OHIO
1/29/2010 – Many, many thanks for your prayers and for your email. I was really touched. Thank you. God bless you, and thank you. Malcolm – SWEDEN
1/29/2010 – Thank you for your prayers,may God bless you make his face shine upon you lift up his countenance upon you and grant you peace.I am really encouraged and strengthened by your prayers and I know that the Lord is drawing me and speaking to me and I FEEL CLOSER TO HIM. THANK YOU GOD BLESS. Kuldip.
1/30/2010 – Hi Eric, I can’t believe you emailed me! I discovered The Ranch awhile back and I LOVE VISITING! Your email has been so encouraging…Thank you for praying for me. I will continue to pray for you and your family. Heather
1/30/2010 – Dear Eric, Thanks for your valuable prayers and your kind emails. I trust in God. He will difinitely will show me the ways to come out. Especially with the prayers of Godly people like you. Thanking you, With Prayers, Abraham – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
2/2/2010 – Eric: Thank you so much. So many times I feel as if no one is praying for me and I suppose that sounds selfish. To know that you took the time to pray for me touches me deeply. Thank you. I pray God blesses you and all at The Ranch. Francine.
2/9/2010 – I came across you website http://www.theranch.org for the first time and loved it. I appreciated your summarized statement of faith and I found very startling your disposition to “provide copies of our current financial statements upon request”. Can you send me one financial statement? Yours, Jobson
2/12/2010 – GOD BLESS IN ALL YOU DO. Janepher – UGANDA
2/16/2010 – Eric, Thank you so much dear friend. :) I began feeling God’s peace come in last night and it is just increasing as friends like you pray. Laura
2/17/2010 – Thank you very much, Eric! Take care and keep up running your great site. Alexander – RUSSIA
3/4/2010 – Greetings in the Name of our Lord, Eric. I have received the Lesson: “Bring your friend to Jesus”, thanks a lot. Please do send me these lesson because they help me teaching the Church of the Lord. God Bless you Eric, Buti – SOUTH AFRICA
3/15/2010 – nica site for our child to play (kidsranch.org), Nice games , nice view ….succes to ranch Taufik – INDONESIA
3/31/2010 – What a wonderful retreat. I have been praying for 2 days because I was so lonely with a loneliness that other people can’t fill~searching for connections. But today I stumbled onto the ranch. Thank you. Veronica – NEW HAMPSHIRE
3/31/2010 – many thanks. El Kafa – MOROCCO
3/31/2010 – God has really blessed my heart through the Ranch and I thank you so much for how you allow Him to use you. Keep it up!!! Beverly – GEORGIA
4/1/2010 – I’m so happy to hear of your move to Clover Ranch and looking forward to reading your devotionals. I am really interested in coming out to the ranch for worship and prayer when its ready. Please keep me posted. Thank you so much for being such and inspiration in my life. God Bless you and your family. Debbie – ILLINOIS
4/1/2010 – Dear Eric… I read your email . I hope you are very well and “The Ranch” is doing well too. As always, forget my English and remember that I am traying my best. I pray for you and I hope you will be doing the same for me and my country. We need it . Really. My best to you, my love and my thanks for writing me …. Mela – ARGENTINA
4/1/2010 – So nice to hear from you. God bless! Mitsuyasu – JAPAN
4/2/2010 – I’d lyk to know more about God n i also thnk u fr the wonderful messages that u offer n may God b with u. Mukundamago – SOUTH AFRICA
4/4/2010 – Great message… thanks for reminding us that new beginnings are there for us. i’m lifting my eyes right now…i lift my eyes to the hills that’s where my help comes from… Al – CALIFORNIA
4/5/2010 – AWESOME…very cool! The YouTube clip was great! I love this because it brings a visual experience to learning instead of just reading it and not really having a full perspective on what the area looked like. Thank you for this experience…Chad, TENNESSEE
4/5/2010 – Thanks Eric. Your prayer brought tears. A wave of them. Lynn
4/6/2010 – I find your site really inspirational and captivating. Bravo! Josephine – KENYA
4/9/2010 – A FRIEND FORWARDED TO ME ONE OF YOUR NEWSLETTER.. I FEEL IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING AND SPIRITUALLY COMFORTING TO READ. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU REACH TO THE MILLIONS… THAT GOD’S RETURN WILL BE HASTEN. JOVITA – MALAYSIA
4/21/2010 – Dear Eric, At the very outset, thank you so much for your prayers – they worked. … Thank you again for your support through some very difficult days. It meant a lot to me. God bless your ministry, Eric. Sincerely, Amar – INDIA
4/23/2010 – CHE BELLO!!!!! Annalisa – ITALIA
4/29/2010 – I received an email from a friend and discover the encouraging messages. I am very interested to be in connect with this ministry. Please make me a member. Thanks. James – INDIA
4/30/2010 – I believe that the Lord led me here to The Ranch. Vicky – OHIO
5/2/2010 – Good and Sound Biblical writing with credible theological view of the teachings of Christ & His Apostles on the Doctrine of Christ and His Gospel. Keep up the godly work to the praise and glory to His Name! Amen. Shalom. Timothy – MALAYSIA
5/11/2010 – I really enjoy your Sunday messages which are inspiring & are an assistance as a lay preacher! Peter – SOUTH AFRICA
5/15/2010 – Thisdaysthought & weekly sermons have together helped to improve my spiritual life. Keep up the good work. Benjamin – UK
5/15/2010 – Thank you so much for a touching and very meaningful sermon. You input is, as always, inspiring. Eddie
5/18/2010 – I am blessed by your ministry. God bless you. Nyaradzo – ZIMBABWE
5/23/2010 – I am very encouraged by your family and the work you are doing for the Lord. I would like to learn more and be encouraged daily by hearing from all of you. God Bless. Kaur – MALAYSIA
5/25/2010 – I was sent your site by accident, and have been reading the stories and the one about Capernaum has me confused even more. The more I read the more questions I have. I’ve never seen Jesus portrayed as this site does. I should tell you that I’m Jewish and I believe in the one true G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I’ve read some the stories on your site and have to wonder how they could be true, but I can’t stop reading them either, something just feels right about them. My heritage has ingrained in me that Jesus isn’t for my people. I can’t explain why, but I find some of the stories making me cry and I’m not one that cries easily. It doesn’t make sense. I don’t even know why I’m writing. I’m just really confused. How can this G-d of yours, be the G-d I’ve grown up with? Would Jesus love someone who hasn’t been faithfully reading the Torah for a long time? I’m sorry, I know this doesn’t make any sense, and I’ve always been told that Jesus doesn’t love Jews. But after reading some of the stories I just don’t know what to believe. Is it possible he might love a Jew?
5/30/2010 – God Bles u. Masabata – SOUTH AFRICA
5/31/2010 – Good day,thanks so much for the inspiration words!! Regards, Masande – SOUTH AFRICA
6/2/2010 – good messages. Edwin – MALAWI
6/4/2010 – Hi Eric, Thanks for your kind email. Do keep up the good work – it provides great inspiration for me and doubtless many others too. God bless, Russell
6/12/2010 – your messages so so soooooooooooooooooooo move me……i pray that Christ will bless you with this ministry of yours. Bishalt
6/20/2010 – Hey, Eric. This was great, as always. I have learned so many things from you. My trust is in the Lord. Love, Sue – ILLINOIS
6/28/2010 – Eric, This was a great article – very inspiring and motivating! Just what I needed also. Kent – MISSOURI
6/28/2010 – Bless you Eric and thank you. I have tears in my eyes from praying those beautiful words you have written which I will keep. God is and will continue to bless your work. Thank you again and please stay in touch. Philip – UK
6/29/2010 – hello , im very impressed. thank you very much .God bless you.and i will also teach what i learnt. i am from ethiopia,now there is strong revival here.please pray for us. Yonatan – ETHIOPIA
7/7/2010 – Eric: I have so enjoyed reading the weekly sermons and all about the trip to Israel. Your weekly sermons are very meaningful. You have wonderful insight and your love for God is a blessing to all who receive “the ranch” material. You have enriched my life very much and I look forward to spending more time with God through your devotional. I ordered 2 because – I am going to send one to my niece. I am very proud of her walk with Christ and I think she will also enjoy spending more devotional time with God. Peace to you my friend: Carol
7/7/2010 – Looking forward to reading the book and as always your Sunday devotionals are amazing! I thank the Lord for bringing you and Lana and The Ranch into my life. Debbie
8/17/2010 – Your story of how God has helped your situation is very encouraging, I’ve been going through depression also; pray for me. Konti – NORTH CAROLINA
8/21/2010 – Hi Eric. Through this last while I have had an on and off relationship with god, and in the last while come across your website. While I was looking through it, I found a lesson on Nehemiah and rebuilding. I have decided to make this, and hopefully more of your lessons a part of my life, and hopefully a part of others. I would like to thank you for making these free,and I hope that god blesses you and your online ministry. I really can’t tell you in words how thankful I am for this. Nick – CANADA
8/22/2010 – Hi, I really enjoy reading and listening to the Israel series. One day maybe I might make the trip myself. God bless, Sarah
8/23/2010 – Hi Eric! I love the website. Hope I get to meet your family some day! Blessings, Naomi – CALIFORNIA
8/23/2010 – I watched your broadcast tonight and would like to thank you and Lucas for bringing the broadcast to me and everyone else who watches. I really appreciate your service to the Lord and thanks for the song Lucas! You did a great job! I have tried to picture in my mind the Holy Land and your videos bring it all to life and make it so much more real. Harriet – ILLINOIS
9/7/2010 – I really thank God for the good things He is using your team at ‘The Ranch’. May God continue to strengthen you as you spread the gospel all over the earth. God bless, Fagbohun – NIGERIA
9/11/2010 – Its great i got the ranch. Greg – NIGERIA
9/12/2010 – Hi, Eric! Wanted to let you know that a young woman you ministered to awhile back accepted the Lord and was baptized today. Please keep her in prayer, she has a lot to deal with. Nancy – ILLINOIS
9/21/2010 – This is one of my special sites. Betty – GEORGIA
9/29/2010 – I love hearing about Jesus and knowing what he can do and what to do to make him perfect all things. Prince – NIGERIA
10/12/2010 – Hey Eric, Once again your words and timing were just what I needed. I’m continuously amazed how God gives us just what we need when we need it. Thank you for letting Him use you as an instrument. Thank you again for your prayers and words of wisdom. B.
10/15/2010 – Eric, I’ve been meaning to write you and tell you what a blessing this idea of 1 min. utubes and teaching from the different sights from your trip to Israel! This is definitely a God idea!!! Jeri – CALIFORNIA
10/26/2010 – I am the child of God and was so blessed to read your testimony regarding your trip to Jerusalem. Joyce – SOUTH AFRICA
11/10/2010 – GOD BLESS YOU. Rajasekaran – INDIA
11/10/2010 – Dear Elder Eric, Greetings in the sweetest JESUS name!Your present format is easily loaded by poor impoverisshed dial up lines.Thanks your have not discarded the under-privileged.GOD bless you,your family & Ministry.AMEN. John – PAKISTAN
11/14/2010 – Saw your newsletter & was impress by the message & the stories i read. would like to receive your newsletter thru my email. Thank you Mary – SINGAPORE
11/15/2010 – I really find these material inspiring and leading one to God´s Love and surrender one to God´s wonderful ways. May many be inspired. Manoj – GERMANY
11/16/2010 – I just want you to know that I came across your sight this evening while looking for something on prayer closets. and I have found it to be like streams in the desert. I have been so very thirsty for the fellowship of Christ and His words as you teach and explain Him. Your Ranch is so very relaxing. I love your music! I’m coming back every day to read…God Bless You and your family. Susie – TEXAS
11/17/2010 – May God Bless you richly. Engida – ETHIOPIA
11/21/2010 – Thank you and God bless you! Vilma – PHILIPPINES
11/21/2010 – Love to read your devotions and thoughts. Wendy – ILLINOIS
11/23/2010 – I really like to be in your virtual ranch to experience His presence at the point of my needs. Fe – PHILIPPINES
11/25/2010 – El-Shandei-Almight God richly Bless you for the great work you are doing for His Kingdom. Amen. Wamongo – UGANDA
11/25/2010 – I love God,so I want to be connected to your site. Dan – MALAWI
11/27/2010 – I love the way how you people explain in the messages…!!! Tarango – INDIA
12/6/2010 – Thank you very much for the book on Israel. It arrived at a very opportune time. The courier came – just at the beginning of a Bible study I lead. The
others could tell by my reaction that I was very excited to receive it. But I refused to open it until the Bible study was over. You can be sure they reminded me;so I was able to share the book with them over a cup of tea! Helen – AUSTRALIA
12/7/2010 – I’ve been visiting you site for a few days and just love it, very inspirational! Great Job! Jeannie – OKLAHOMA
12/11/2010 – thanks for devoting your time and resource to the things of the lord, i pray that he will reward you richly.amen! Oluwasey – NIGERIA
12/12/2010 – Hi Eric, In just a day or two I will be going to Israel! I have read your stories and messages from Israel and I’m so much more excited now that I know the meaningful things about these places. In particular, Nehemiah’s lessons on rebuilding – I intend to go and see the wall, or at least the site if possible, because the lessons you put up apply to me very deeply. When I go to Jerusalem I will pray for your ministry as a lot of your lessons have really helped me and they have come at crucial points in my life, and it’s so obvious to me that God has given me direction through your lessons. God Bless, Jude – UK
12/16/2010 – really enjoy the web site. very very encouraging. bless this web site in Jesus Name. Mallory
12/16/2010 – May the Lord richly bless you till we meet Him in the air. Jeff – MISSISSIPPI
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Israel For Kids! Lessons From The Holy Land

You're reading ISRAEL FOR KIDS! LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder and Family, featuring over 90 photgraphs and 30 devotional lessons for kids, including fun activities such as word searches, crosswords, pictures to color, word scrambles, sudokus, coded phrases, mazes and more! Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL FOR KIDS! LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder and Family, featuring over 90 photgraphs and 30 devotional lessons for kids, including fun activities such as word searches, crosswords, pictures to color, word scrambles, sudokus, coded phrases, mazes and more! Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Thirty stories and activities about the land where Jesus walked!
by Eric Elder and Family

PREFACE

Did you know that most of the stories in the Bible took place in Israel?  In this book, you’ll find 30 questions and answers about some of the most interesting things that have happened there.

You’ll also find lots of awesome activities to do along the way, from word searches, mazes, and coloring pages, to word scrambles, connect-the-dots, and coded phrases.

We had fun making this book for you and we hope you have fun going through it!

Love,
The Eric Elder Family

Eric Elder and Family, Christmas 2009

Eric Elder and Family, Christmas 2009. Eric is second from the left and Lana is second from the right.

Click here to open the book (in a PDF file-14Meg) in a new window!

You're reading ISRAEL FOR KIDS! LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder and Family, featuring over 90 photgraphs and 30 devotional lessons for kids, including fun activities such as word searches, crosswords, pictures to color, word scrambles, sudokus, coded phrases, mazes and more! Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Conclusion: Making A Chance

Thanks for joining us on this devotional tour of the Holy Land. To see a few highlights of our trip together, take a look at this short video below, as our worship leaders from the trip, Lucas Elder and Gary Marini, lead us in a closing song.  Then read on to hear a touching story of God’s faithfulness to those who put their faith in Him.

I was telling a group one time that they should try to go to Israel if they ever got a chance.  My son Lucas added:  “Don’t just wait till you get a chance.  Make a chance!  Do whatever you can do to get there.  It’s worth it!”  He’s right.

So I’d like to tell you just one more story as we close, a story about “making a chance.”  While I usually try to shorten stories to make them as concise as possible, I think this one is best told with all the details in tact.  I believe God has several things He might want to speak to you through this story, so I pray that you’ll be blessed as you read it.

As we began talking about going on this trip to Israel, a woman from Malawi named Esther had written to me, saying that she wondered if I thought God would ever make a way for her to visit Israel someday.  She said she simply began crying every time she read the word “Israel” in some of the devotionals I had written and shared over the Internet.  Knowing that she lived in Malawi, and knowing the situation for many who live there, I wasn’t sure what to say.  I began to pray about how to respond to her email, thinking that I’d say, “I believe that God can make a way, but I’m sorry I can’t help you myself.”  As soon as I said those words in my mind, however, I felt God say, “Yes, you can help her.”  I said, “No, I can’t.”  He said, “Yes you can.”  I said, “No, I can’t!”

I had been planning this trip to Israel for the past 3 years, and our whole family had been working and saving money so that my wife and I and our four oldest kids could go with us.  We barely had enough money at that time for just one of us to go, let alone six.  So when God said I could help Esther get there, too, I really didn’t know what to do.  So I wrote back to her and said simply that I believed God could make a way, and I’d be praying along with her.

As the summer went on, I kept reading the words of Jesus to His disciples  from Matthew 14:13-21, when 5,000 people were gathered together on a hillside at dinnertime.  Jesus told His disciples: “You give them something to eat.”  I could imagine what the disciples must have felt. They said that not even eight months wages would give everyone even one bite, so how could they feed them?  All they had was five loaves of bread and two fish from a boy’s lunch.

Yet I was puzzled why Jesus would ask them to do something impossible if He didn’t think they could do it. didn’t think they could possibly do. Unless, of course, they could do it, and they just didn’t know how.  I kept asking God, “How?  How did Jesus do it?  And how can we do it when You ask us to do something that seems impossible to us?”

So I studied that passage over and over, trying to see how Jesus did it.  He simply gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and had the disciples start passing it out.  Somehow there was enough food for all 5,000 to eat till they were satisfied and still have twelve baskets full left over.

As I shared this dilemma one week with a youth group, some of them came up to me afterwards and said they’d like to help with Esther’s ticket.  I tried to decline their money, because I didn’t want them to think I was telling them the story in order for them to give money for the trip.  I was just sharing with them the puzzle of how to do what God asks us to do when we think it is impossible. Several of them insisted, however, saying that they felt God really wanted them to give the money to help with Esther’s trip.  By the end of that week, I had received just over $300—enough to make the deposit on the trip for Esther to come with us.  But I still needed more than 10 times that amount to pay for her whole trip, plus I still had to pay for my own family to go.  I didn’t tell Esther about the money yet, nor the deposit.  I just told her that I was still praying for her, and asked if she could get her passport information to me in case God were to make a way for her to come with us.

As the trip got closer, I just couldn’t let go of the idea that God wanted me to help Esther get to Israel, but I still didn’t know how.  So I sent out a note to some others who also read my weekly devotionals on the Internet, letting them know about the situation.  We received about a third of the total needed for her trip from that appeal.  Another man donated about a third of the cost to  cover her airfare from Malawi, and Lana and I put in the final third, as God was also working at the same time to help the six of us going from our family to pay for our trips, too.  I told Esther the good news, that God had made a way for her to join us.  By the time we left, everyone’s ticket was completely paid for! This was astounding!

But then we got to Israel.  We were supposed to meet Esther at the airport, as she was to arrive on a flight about twelve hours earlier.  But when we got there, we couldn’t find her.  We paged her several times over the airport intercom, we checked for phone messages and email messages, looked in all the waiting areas, but couldn’t find anything about where she might be, or if she even made it on her flights.  We finally had to leave the airport, knowing that I had at least sent her the names of the hotels where we’d be staying at before we left, and hoped that she would catch up with us.

But she didn’t. She called us the next day from an airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Although she had made it all the way to the airport in Israel, they had denied her entry into Israel, saying that it was too questionable about how she came to know us through our Internet ministry, and why the rest of the group wasn’t there to meet her in Israel when she arrived.  Although she tried to explain it to them several times, and she was even still in the airport when our flight finally landed twelve hours later, she wasn’t allowed to call or email or make any contact with us.  (To the credit of the airport security in Israel, they run a very tight ship and for very good reasons.  We appreciate that they take their job so seriously or otherwise no one would be able to travel in and around Israel at all.)  But since Esther did not travel together with us into the country with the group, she was questioned more strictly and finally put on a plane, headed back to her home.

I couldn’t believe it when she told me the story over the phone and I began trying to think of anything else I could do.  We had come too far in getting her to this point that I didn’t want to give up on it, even though she was already headed on her flights back home, now waiting in Ethiopia to change planes back to Malawi.  I called the immigration office at the Addis Ababa airport to ask if she could be put back on the plane to Israel, that we would meet her at the airport when she arrived and try to provide whatever documents they needed to verify that she was on our tour, but they said there was nothing they could do for her.  She had been officially deported, and they were to put her on a flight back to Malawi the next morning.  After several calls to several different people at the immigration office, I couldn’t get any farther.  I went to bed that night wondering why God had brought her so far, only to have her turned back in the end.  It was 4 in the morning by this time, and I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so I finally slept.

When I woke up a few hours later, I updated my wife Lana on the situation, and asked if she could think of anything else we could do.  She remembered that a friend of ours had a daughter who had just come home from serving a year in Ethiopia as a missionary, and maybe she would have a contact who could help us out.  I didn’t know what they could even do, but I felt I had to pursue any possible option that was still open to us, as I felt it was the Lord who had put it on my heart to try to get her there in the first place.  So we texted our friend’s daughter back in Chicago, who texted us back with the phone number of a pastor she knew in Addis Ababa.  I was astounded that we knew someone who knew someone who lived in Addis Ababa at all!

And I couldn’t believe it when we called him and he immediately said that he would do whatever we needed him to do, just let him know.  It was such a surprise that my wife and I both cried at the thought that someone would take a call from complete strangers and would be willing to drop everything and go to the airport right away.  He was a busy man with a large congregation and they had just gotten out of some special weekday services they were holding.  It was beyond what we could have imagined someone doing for us in this situation.  It still makes me cry to think of it—a brother in Christ willing to help out another brother, simply because we have the same Father. So he went to the airport that night, along with a pilot friend from his congregation.  Unfortunately they weren’t able to find Esther there.  We were all disappointed, but we didn’t know what else to do.

In the mean time, I had also talked to the tour company who helped us arrange the whole trip, and they said they could try to fax a letter to immigration in Addis Ababa, saying that Esther was indeed part of our tour, and that she was an invited guest as part of our group.  I called the immigration office again, saying that we’d try to get a letter to them if they could just let Esther stay at the airport another 5-6  hours, as it was the middle of the night back in the States, and the tour offices wouldn’t be open yet for another several hours.  They granted our request and didn’t make her get on the next-scheduled flight to Malawi.

So we got their fax number and the tour company tried several times to fax the letter—but the fax wouldn’t go through.  As the day went on, the rest of our group in Israel continued on with our tour, now sitting in a garden in the city of Capernaum, a site where Jesus had done some incredible miracles.  I updated the group on Esther’s situation, and we all prayed that someone would be able to get that letter through to the immigration office.  I didn’t have the heart to call the pastor in Addis Ababa again, but Lana did, so she tried to call him.  None of her calls would go through.  We sat down again and prayed.  Our time was running out.

At the very moment that we sat down to pray, my phone rang.  It was the pastor from Addis Ababa!  He said he had just been to the airport again to try one more time to find Esther, taking some of his church members with him, this time one who worked at the airport.  They had found Esther!  They were calling us to see if there was any possibility we could fax him a letter from the tour company saying that she was with our trip!  It was the very thing we were trying to do, but he didn’t know it, and I didn’t know he had gone back to the airport again! I called the tour company who found a way to finally email to the pastor, who printed it out and took it back to the immigration office at the airport.  I also instructed the tour company that if they needed to buy another ticket for Esther to get back to Israel, to go ahead and buy it and charge it to my account, up to $1,000, withhout having to try to call me.  We didn’t have time to wait for any more calls.  I just wanted the ticket waiting for her at the airport if she needed it.  I didn’t have $1,000 to spend on her ticket, but that’s the number that came into my mind while I was on the phone, and what I felt I should say.

The pastor was able to get the documents to Esther, and the immigration office said she could get on a plane back to Israel.  The tour company agency found the cheapest ticket they could—it was $992, just $8 under the limit I had given them, so they bought it and had it waiting for her at the airline counter.

As I went to bed that night, exhausted not only from the recent days’ activities, but also from the months leading up to this moment, I went to lay down and felt God said, “You passed the test.  Enjoy the rest of the trip.”  I wasn’t sure exactly what test I had passed, but I was thankful that it was all working out.  Even though Esther wasn’t yet back in Israel, I felt like I had done the utmost of what I could possibly do to get her to Israel, as God had called me to do.

The next morning, our first stop on our tour “just happened” to be the site where Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish to feed the 5,000—the place where Jesus had told the disciples to give the people something to eat, and the passage which had so inspired me all along.  There we were standing on the same hill where that miracle from God took place.  As I was looked up the passage again to read to our group that morning, I saw that it was told in several of the gospels, so I looked at each version to see which one to read.  When I read John’s version of the story, I couldn’t believe it!  In his version, when Jesus asked Philip where they could get food for all these people to eat, John added:

“He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what He was going to do” (John 6:6).

It was a test!  And just as Jesus had tested the disciples by asking them to give the people something to eat,—when it seemed utterly impossible—God had tested me to help someone else in need when it seemed impossible, too.  And God had told me the night before that I had passed the test.  Hallelujah!  And now He had brought me to the hillside where Jesus had given the disciples their test!  God couldn’t have spoken more clearly to me if He had appeared in front of my eyes!

Later that afternoon, Esther arrived again at the airport in Israel, and this time she was allowed to enter the country.  (The security people at the airport had asked her, “Why have you come back again when someone who is deported isn’t allowed to attempt to come back into the country again for five years, and now you’re trying to come back after only three days later!”  Had I known that, I don’t know that I would have even tried to get her back in.  Only God could have opened that door for her to return!)  She met us at the hotel for dinner that night.

Over dinner with our group, Esther and I shared with each other all that God had been doing to make this moment possible.  And that’s when the real clincher came.

Esther told me that from the very first day that I responded to her email, saying that I felt God could make a way for her to visit Israel someday, she said God spoke to her and told her she’d be coming this year, with us.  Even when she was being turned away at the airport, she said she was praising God, that those had been the best few days of her life so far.  Her mom had even called me during all of this to say that she wasn’t discouraged, that they were just going to thank God in all things in order to shame the devil.  Esther said that from the very beginning, when she first started thinking about the trip, she wanted to pray that God would make a way for her to go, but that God had stopped her from praying.  She said that God told her not to pray for the trip, but to simply give thanks for it.  She was puzzled, but did what God said.  In fact, as time went on she was tempted to ask others to start praying for her to be able to go on the trip, too, but that God had stopped her from telling even one person about the trip or to pray for her, but simply to continue to give thanks for it.  She said she didn’t feel she was supposed to tell anyone about the trip until it was set.  When she got my email asking for her passport information, and before I had even told her that people had begun to give money for her to come, she said she knew on that day that everything was set, and she could finally begin telling others about it.

I was stunned by what she said.  Wasn’t that exactly what Jesus did on the hillside when He multiplied the loaves and the fish?  He simply gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and asked the disciples pass it out.  He didn’t plead for it, He just gave thanks for it!  I looked at Esther and thanked her for being obedient to what God had told her to do.  It had spoken volumes to me, answering a question that had been on my heart for months as I studied that passage trying to see what Jesus had done.  I told her what God said to me about passing the test, and that I felt that she had passed her test, too ,because of her obedience.  We both knew that while God would still use the rest of the trip to speak to us in many ways, that He had already done His greatest work in us already, that of increasing our faith in Him.

As if to confirm all that had just happened that day, when I got back to my hotel room that night and having shared all of this with Esther—even the part about authorizing the purchase of her second ticket for anything up to $1,000 when I didn’t know how I’d be able to pay for it—I checked my email before heading for bed.  In my inbox was a note saying that a friend of ours back in the States had unexpectedly made an online donation of $1,000 to our ministry while we were at dinner that night!  It was as if God were putting the icing on the cake, covering even the final detail of her trip.

I still don’t know how to interpret it all.  On the one hand, it seems it wouldn’t have happened had we not prayed fervently and worked feverishly towards the goal, even day and night near the end.  But on the other hand, God wanted to teach us something through what He called Esther to do:  to simply give thanks for what He was going to give her.  Or as my wife said while we were going through the whole ordeal, she felt that we were like the workers who helped to dig Hezekiah’s tunnel to bring water into the City of David.  One team started digging from one side, and the other team started digging from the other side, and miraculously both teams were able to meet in the middle to complete the tunnel!

In any case, I hope that God will speak to you through at least some portion of this story.  And for some reason, I don’t think this is the end of the story.  It could very well be the beginning of some new ones!  Thanks again for joining us on this incredible trip to the Holy Land!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for all the remarkable things we’ve learned from this trip to the Holy Land, and all the remarkable things you still want us to learn in the future.  Give us the faith to step out and trust you completely for everything in our lives, giving You thanks, even in advance, for Your love and faithfulness to us.  Thank You for sending Your Son to lead us in Your ways, and keep giving us the faith we need to follow Him every day, until one day He leads us on into heaven.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 28: What Happened At The Upper Room?

The Upper Room is perhaps best known as the location of Jesus’ last supper with His disciples.  But something else happened in the Upper Room just fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, something Jesus told them to expect and to wait for.  To find out what happened, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out what God wants you to do with all the things that you’ve learned about Him!

So what happened at the Upper Room?  That’s where the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.  God’s Spirit flowed into the people gathered there, causing them to praise God in all kinds of languages.  As a result of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, over 3,000 people put their faith in Christ.

It wasn’t something that Peter and the other disciples could have done on their own, but God used their voices to reach out to people, who came from all over the world at the time, so that they could hear all that Christ had done for them.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared again to the disciples and over five hundred others throughout Jerusalem for a period of forty days.  On one of these occasions, Jesus said:

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. … You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4-5, 8).

So when Jesus went up into heaven, the disciples went back to the room where they were staying.  Luke called it an “upper room” (Acts 1:13, KJV), just as he had done when describing the place where they had eaten their last supper (see Luke 22:12).  It was here, apparently, that:

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14).

About ten days later, on the fiftieth day since Jesus rose from the dead (and the day of Pentecost, which comes from the Greek word for “fifty”), God sent His Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised:

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1).

As they spoke, others began to hear them praising God in their own languages, people from all different parts of the world who had come to Jerusalem for the festivals.  Some were amazed, but others thought they had just been drinking too much wine.

Peter, who had denied Jesus just a few weeks earlier, stood up with the other disciples, and spoke to the crowd:

“Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.  These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!” (Acts 2:14-15).

He went on to say that this was the work of the Holy Spirit, whom the prophet Joel said would be poured out on the people in the last days.

Peter spoke about Jesus and how, even though Jesus had done many signs and wonders and miracles in their presence, they still handed Him over to be crucified.  After telling them at length from the Scriptures who Jesus was and what they had done to Him, they were all cut to the heart.  They cried out to Peter and the other apostles:

“Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:37-41).

It’s a powerful story on many fronts:

  • What Jesus said would happen did happen,
  • The same Peter who denied Jesus earlier now proclaimed His name to thousands,
  • The Spirit came in a way that was both astounding and perplexing to those who saw it,
  • About 3,000 put their faith in Christ and were baptized in a single day.

And that was just the beginning.  In the days that followed, the disciples continued to do more wonders and miraculous signs:

“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b).

Soon, those who followed Christ were taking the gospel beyond Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth, just as Jesus said they would.

What does this all mean to you?  Well, if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, do it today, just like those who heard the message on the day of Pentecost did!  And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, tell others about it so they can put their faith in Christ, too!

When we were in Israel, we had a local Israeli guide who took us from place to place and taught us many things about the places that we were seeing.  On the final day, our guide said, “Today, my job is finished.  Tomorrow, yours begins.  Your job is to go back and tell others what you have learned.”

Isn’t that the way God loves to work?  God could, if He wanted to, put some kind of cosmic loud speakers in the sky, telling everyone that He exists, that He loves them, and that He wants them to leave their sins and come back into a relationship with Him.  (And in many ways, He has already done this—see Psalm 19:1-4 or Romans 1:18-20.)

But God’s preferred method is to use the voices of people—yours and mine—to tell others about His love for them, and to share with them everything they have heard and learned and known to be true.

As we near the end of this devotional tour of Israel, I wanted to remind you of why God wanted to teach you all that you’ve learned about Him so far.  First of all, it’s for you, so that You will know Him better and fall in love with Him more deeply.  But secondly, it’s for you to share with others, so they may know Him better and fall in love with Him more deeply, too.

As our Israeli guide said to us, I want to say to you:  “Today, my job ends.  Tomorrow, yours begins!” If you’re not sure how to share what you’ve learned with others, here are a few ideas.

1) Ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit upon you in ways that you may have never known before, so that You can proclaim His name to those around you.  How can this help?  The same way it helped Peter, who went from being afraid to even tell anyone that He knew Christ to being able to proclaim His name before thousands.

2) Study your Bible deeply, every day, so that you may know with confidence the truth of what you believe.  Find a good study Bible, with footnotes and commentary if possible, to help you grow in the knowledge of all that God wants to say to you.  Remember, too, that it’s not just a time to study, but a time to spend with the One who created you, who knows you best, and who loves you more than anyone else in the world.

3) Start sharing what you’ve learned so far about Christ.  Whether it’s sharing a simple comment or two on someone’s Facebook page about God’s love for them, or taking an evangelism class at a local church so that you can sharpen what and how you share with others, look for and take the opportunities God gives you to let others know about your own relationship with Him so that they can grow in their relationship with Him.

4) Share the messages in this book with others!  Point them to our website at http://www.theranch.org, or give them copies of this book!  These resources were created to help bring the Bible to life for as many as people as possible.

While I loved going to Israel so that I could learn more about Christ for myself,   I also loved going to Israel so that I could share more about Christ with others.  My prayer is that you will do the same.

Whether you go to Israel in person, or experience it through the Bible and books like these, I pray that you will be filled with God’s Holy Spirit to the point of overflowing, so that whatever God pours out onto you will be flow out onto to others, bringing joy and life to you, to them, and to the God who created us all.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for pouring out Your Holy Spirit on those who gathered together for prayer in Jerusalem.  We pray that You will pour out Your Holy Spirit on us again today so that we may lead others into a deeper relationship with You as well.  Give us the wisdom to do it, the courage to do it, and the way to do it.  Then help us take the steps of faith we need to take to proclaim Your name throughout the earth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 27: What Happened At Golgotha?

Golgotha means “the place of the skull.”  It’s not a very happy-sounding name, and what took place here was most likely even more gruesome than the name suggests.  But on the other hand, what took place here at Golgotha is what has made it the holiest site in all of Christendom.  To find out what happened here, and why it matters to so many people, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out how God can use the sadness of what happened at Golgotha to bring incredible joy to your life today.

So what happened at Golgotha?  That’s where Jesus died, was buried, and rose again again from the dead.

When Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death, He and those who were to be executed with Him walked through the streets of Jerusalem, carrying their crosses when they could, and having others carry their crosses for them when they couldn’t.  Eventually they came to the execution site.  The Bible says:

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots.  And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there (Matthew 26:33-36).

Golgotha was undoubtedly a horrific place, just outside the walls of the city at the time of Christ.  It seems to have gotten its name either because of all the crucifixions that took place there, or because the hill itself actually resembled a skull.  Either way, the hill called Golgotha was a picture of death.

But the day that Christ died there, something changed.  When Christ died on the cross, Golgotha became a picture of life, filled with the beauty of sacrificial love.

There’s a song that explains how Golgotha—and the cross of Christ—could come to represent such an unusual mixture of death and life.  George Bennard said it this way in his song, The Old Rugged Cross:

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;

and I love that old cross where the dearest
and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see,
for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.

This is why crosses are so prevalent in jewelry, churches, and other holy places.  It’s not because Christians have some perverse fascination with death, like wearing little guillotines around their necks on a chain.  Jesus didn’t express His love to us by dying on a guillotine.  He expressed it by dying on a cross.  And it’s the love that Christ expressed for us when He died on the cross that we celebrate as Christians, and that’s why we make so much of His cross.

It is both an “emblem of suffering and shame,” and also a “wondrous beauty” to behold, all at the same time.

There are two spots in Jerusalem that are considered potential locations of Christ’s crucifixion.  One is the Garden Tomb, which was discovered in 1848 and which I highlighted in the introduction of this book.  The other is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (“sepulchre” means “tomb” in Latin), and has been the traditional site of the crucifixion since the 1st and 2nd century.  Today I’d like to focus on the the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

For those interested, the church itself was first built and dedicated in 335 A.D. by Helena, the mother of Constantine, after she had been shown this site by the believers in Jerusalem at that time.  The church has undergone many changes over the years, but the location has remained the same.

When I walked into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the first time, and up the stairs to the right that led to the top of the small hill called Golgotha over which the church was built, I was overcome with emotion.  It wasn’t because of anything I saw there—for it was filled with candles and tourists and objects that glittered with gold.  I was overcome with emotion because of what had happened there.

I dropped to my knees.  I thanked God for all He had done for me there.  And I cried.

I knew that Jesus wasn’t the One who should have died on the cross that day.  He was totally innocent.  It should have been me.  It was me who had sinned, and it was me who should have had to pay the price for those sins.  But Jesus did it for me, of His own free will, as a demonstration of His love for me.

He could have called twelve legions of angels to rescue Him if He had wanted, as He told Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Matthew 26:53).  But He didn’t.

The fact that Jesus stepped in to pay for my sins with His life has been, and still is, the greatest expression of love I have ever felt in my life.  While others have loved me dearly, like my family and friends, Jesus is the only one who could have stepped in and did for me what He did: fully forgiving me of my sins.

When I got back up from my knees, I walked downstairs again and to the other side of the massive church, to the spot where they believe Jesus was buried in a tomb nearby.  The walls and ceiling of the tomb have been destroyed over the years, as the church has changed hands and been ransacked many times since then.  Only a plain slab of rock remains of the place where they believe He was lain, and that is housed in a small chapel under the great dome of the church.

While there’s little to see there, of course, for neither Christ nor much of the tomb are there, the site is vivid enough in the memories of those who are familiar with the story to recreate in their minds the scene of what happened there.  As it says in the Bible:

“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.” (John 19:38-42).

And then, a few days later:

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you” (Matthew 28:1-7).

So you can see why this place has become such a sacred spot to those who claim Jesus as their Lord.  While the ravages of time, battles, earthquakes, and fires have taken their toll on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the events that made this place so holy are no less compelling today than they were when they first took place.

It is not the church itself that has brought millions of people like me here to visit it.  It is the realization that what happened here was real, and that God really did love us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for us so that we could put our faith in Him and live forever.

As incredible it is to be able to be able to go to Jerusalem and touch the ground where Jesus died and rose again, if there was one thing that I could encourage you to do in your lifetime, it wouldn’t be to go to Jerusalem.  It would be to go to Jesus, to put your faith in Him who died on the cross for your sins, rose again from the dead, and who now calls you to live your life for Him, following Him here on earth and on into heaven.

If there’s sin in your life, drop it now at the foot of His cross.  If you’re involved in lying or stealing, gossiping or cheating, pre-marital or extra-marital or any other kind of sinful sex, turn away from it today and turn back again.  If you’re burying your gifts in the sand, saving them for no one and nothing in particular, dig them out and put them to work for the kingdom of God.  You’ll be blessed when you do and so will those around you.

Most of all, you’ll be able to express your love back to Christ , the One who expressed His love for you—and for all to see—there on the hill called Golgotha.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sins, and for giving us the chance to be forgiven when we put our faith in Him.  Thank You for filling us with Your Holy Spirit, to enable us to do the work here on earth that You’ve called us to do.  And thank You for promising to take us to be with You in heaven when our life on earth is over, where we can live with You forever.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 26: What Happened On The Via Dolorosa?

The Via Dolorosa is a path that winds its way through the streets of Jerusalem, and upon which millions have walked over the years.  Why?  Because another Man walked this path one day—the most painful day of His life.  To see what the path looks like today, and find out why it’s called the Via Dolorosa, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out how God can give you the strength to get through the painful days in your life as well.

So what happened on the Via Dolorosa?  That’s the path that Jesus took as He carried His cross to His crucifixion.

The words “via dolorosa” are Latin for “the way of suffering.”  And while the Via Dolorosa is a path that many people have taken over the years, not many people ever really want to take the “way of suffering” in life.  Suffering goes against human nature, and pain is usually a God-given indicator to let you know that something is wrong and needs to be fixed.

But there are times when God may call you to take a path that leads directly into pain—not because He wants you to suffer, but because He has something better in mind for you on the other side of the pain.

Examples abound:

– Like a pregnant woman who has to endure nine months of labor and the pain of childbirth in order to experience the joy of holding her newborn baby in her arms,

– Or like a teenage girl who has to break up with her boyfriend because she wants to remain pure for her future husband,

– Or like a man with a gash in his arm who has to endure the cleansing and stitching of the wound so that his flesh can eventually be healed.

Jesus showed us the key to making it through times of suffering like these:  by keeping your eyes on the prize.  As the Bible says:

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

It was for the joy set before Jesus that He was able to endure the cross.  If there was any other way, Jesus would have taken it.  He said as much in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He had to walk down the Via Dolorosa.  He prayed:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 25:42).

While none of us wants to enter into pain and suffering voluntarily—not even Jesus—He showed us how to do it when the time comes for us to enter into it.

He kept His eyes on the prize.  When the guards came to take Him away, He went.  When they asked Him to carry His cross, He carried it.  And when He could carry it no longer by Himself, God sent someone else to carry it for Him:

“Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)”. (John 19:17).  “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross” (Matthew 27:32).

You can still see the place marked on the Via Dolorosa where Simon of Cyrene may have taken up Jesus’ cross for Him.  It’s one of fourteen “stations of the cross” that are marked out along the path, stations that are replicated in many churches throughout the world.  If people want to remember all that Jesus did for them in those last few hours of His life, they can walk around the perimeter of the church and stop to meditate at any of these fourteen stations, just as they can on the real Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.

Walking along the Via Dolorosa is a reminder not only of the suffering that Jesus endured for us, but also of the suffering that He sometimes calls us to endure for Him.  As Jesus told His disciples:

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

Although no one ever wants to suffer, Jesus’ words are a reminder that some things are worth suffering for, that there is a prize awaiting those who endure it to the end, and that God wants you to have it.

The best way to go through suffering is to make sure you set your eyes on the prize.  But it’s also important to make sure you’re setting your eyes on the right prize.  There’s nothing worse than enduring pain and suffering, only to find that what you’ve been waiting for all along has been lost in the process.

If your hope is set on having the perfect family, and then something happens to destroy that perfection, you’ll be disappointed.  If you’re working your hardest to get a promotion, then the promotion doesn’t come, you’ll be upset.  If you give up your dreams in order to help someone else fulfill theirs, but then they blow it and waste all that you’ve given up for them, you might wonder if it was worth it.

Sometimes these disappointments come because our eyes weren’t on the right prize in the first place.  Even Peter, who may have expected Jesus to ride into Jerusalem, overthrow the Romans and setup His new kingdom, was willing to die for Jesus as He ascended to His throne.  But when Peter found out that Jesus had been arrested, and was likely going to be sentenced to death, his disappointment was evident.  Instead of standing up for Jesus anymore, he denied that he even knew him.  Perhaps it was because his eyes were on the wrong prize for the moment.

But God honored Peter still, just like He honors all those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.  He eventually showed Peter that Jesus reigned in a kingdom whose authority went beyond Jerusalem, beyond the Romans, and extended over the entire earth.  It was better than Peter could have ever expected.  We’re told that Peter eventually did give up his life for Jesus, being crucified on a cross upside-down.  But this time he had his eyes on the right prize, and he was willing to walk down the path of suffering to get it.

As much as God wants to relieve you of much of the suffering you’ll face in life,  He also wants you to know that some things are achieved only by going through it.

God wants you to trust Him.  He wants you to trust that He is able to do “immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20a).  Keep your eyes on the prize, and if you can’t see the prize, then keep your eyes on Jesus.  In the end, it will all be worth it.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for Jesus’ example, that we can follow in His steps.  Help us to trust that the suffering in our life is worth it, when we entrust our lives completely to You.  Help us to take up our cross daily and be willing to die for you, so that we can find the life that You’ve wanted us to have all along.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 25: What Happened At The House Of Caiaphas?

Caiaphas was the high priest at the time when Jesus was betrayed, and it was to Caiaphas’ house that Jesus was brought and accused of blasphemy against God.  To see the dungeon of this house, and the adjoining pit where prisoners were lowered into by a rope to prevent them from escaping, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out what else happened that night at Caiaphas’ house, and how God can restore, redeem, and forgive you, too, if you’ve ever felt that you’ve done something against Him.

So what happened at the House of Caiaphas?  That’s where Peter denied Jesus three times.

After Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, the guards brought Jesus to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest.  Jesus was taken inside and tried for blasphemy, while Peter waited in the courtyard outside to find out what was going to happen.

But while Peter was waiting, some people in the crowd recognized him as having been with Jesus.  Apparently overcome by fear, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus, not just once or twice, but three times.  The Bible says:

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee” she said.

But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”

Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:69-74).

This was, perhaps, the worst night in Jesus’ life.  But it was also probably the worst night in Peter’s life as well.  When Peter realized what he had done, the Bible says, “he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Looking back on the situation, we can forgive Peter for what he did that night—for under the same circumstances, who knows what any of us might have done?  And yet I think it would have been harder for Peter to forgive himself.  For it was Peter who, just a few hours earlier, at the Passover dinner, said to Jesus:

“Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will…. Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You” (Matthew 26: 33, 35).

But Jesus knew what Peter was going to do, and mercifully He told Peter ahead of time, speaking words of restoration to Peter even before he sinned.  What a gracious Friend and Lord.

Here’s what Jesus said to Peter, also known as Simon, earlier in the night:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31, 32).

Jesus knew that all the disciples would fall away from Him that night, including Peter.  But Jesus came to Peter specifically to let him know that He was praying for Him that his faith wouldn’t fail.  Then He encouraged Peter to strengthen his brothers when he did turn back.

A church has now been built over the House of Caiaphas.  It has been named in honor of Saint Peter and is called “The Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu”—although I’m not sure that Peter would prefer the honor, since “gallicantu” means “cock-crow” in Latin, a reminder of the words Jesus spoke to Peter earlier that night:

“I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times” (Matthew 26:34).

But then again, Peter may truly appreciate the honor, for even though it showed his weakness, it also showed Christ’s strength:  to restore those who have fallen far, far from their faith.  Jesus’ restoration of Peter continued a short time later on the beach at the Sea of Galilee when, after Jesus died and rose again from the dead, He appeared yet again to the disciples.

Taking Peter aside for a very personal conversation, Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him.  The Bible says:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” 

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love You.” 

Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” 

He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” 

Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”

The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” 

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17).

It’s as if Jesus was giving Peter a chance to redeem himself, saying that He loved Jesus three times, perhaps to counteract the three times had Peter denied Him.  And the restoration took hold, for Peter went on to feed Jesus’ sheep in a powerful way, leading the church in Jerusalem for the rest of his life, proclaiming Jesus’ name everywhere he went, and facing threats of death without fear from those who opposed his message.

Perhaps you’ve felt like Peter before on the night that he denied Jesus.  Perhaps you’ve felt you’ve done something so horrible, at least in your mind, that you believe Jesus could never forgive you.  Maybe you’ve cheated or lied or stolen.  Maybe you’ve had an affair or betrayed your family or friends.  Maybe you’ve denied Christ in ways that only you and He could fully comprehend.

If so, you might wonder if Jesus could ever forgive you, restore you, and use you ever again.

If that’s the case, I want to remind you today that Jesus knew about Peter’s sins even before he committed them.  And He knows about yours and mine.  And still, He was willing to die for Peter and you and me, even while we were still involved in our sins.  That’s the way that the Bible says God demonstrates His love for us:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

If you’re wrestling with the idea of forgiveness, and whether or not God can or will forgive you of your sins, I pray today that God will show you His unsurpassing love.  I pray that these words from the Bible will wash over you.  And I pray that you’ll know that if you ask God for forgiveness, and put your faith in Christ, that He will indeed forgive you, removing your sins from you as far as the east is from the west, and remembering them no more.

As the Bible says:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“…as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

While the House of Caiaphas may stand as a reminder of Peter’s worst possible sin in his life, it also stands as a beacon of hope for all those need a reminder that Christ can restore, redeem, and forgive them, too.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for making a way for us to come back to You when we’ve sinned.  Give us the boldness to come back to You again today, leaving our past behind, and walking ahead in the calling that You have on each one of our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 24: What Happened At The Garden Of Gethsemane?

The Garden of Gethsemane is made up of a grove of olive trees found at the foot of the Mount of Olives.  The word “gethsemane” means “oil press,” and this garden likely served as the location of an ancient olive press, a device used to squeeze the oil out of olives.  But another kind of pressing took place on the night before Jesus died.  It was, perhaps, His most difficult trial on earth.  To find out what happened that night, and how He faced it, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out how God can give you the strength to pass the trials you face as well.

So what happened at the Garden of Gethsemane?  This is where Jesus went to pray the night He was betrayed.

If you remember the story, the trial He faced that night was so difficult that He told His disciples He was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:34a).

When Jesus tried to get His disciples to stay awake with Him during the night, they couldn’t do it.  This was a trial He was going to have to face without them.

But He didn’t have to face it alone.  He faced it together with God His Father in prayer.  The words Jesus prayed that night are an encouragement to me, as they have been to people for thousands of years, people who have faced trials of many kinds.  Jesus said:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 25:42).

You may have heard these words so many times that they’ve lost their freshness, but I’d like to remind you today of the power contained within them.  They are words that can bring you peace and restore life to your soul once again no matter what kind of situation you might be facing.

First, know that when you face a trial of any kind, you’re not facing it alone. When you get to that point where you feel so alone that even your closest friends seem unable to walk with you through it any further, know that God is still there to walk through it with you.

When Jesus prayed that night, He went to His Father not just once or twice, but three times.  Before each time of prayer, He asked His disciples to stay awake and keep watch for Him.  But the fact that they couldn’t do it didn’t mean that His friends didn’t love Him, or that they didn’t want to help Him.  They wanted to do whatever He asked, but in the end they simply couldn’t do it.  Jesus knew their hearts were still with Him nonetheless, and He said:

“The spirit is willing, but the body is weak”
(Matthew 26:41).

But even though Jesus’ disciples fell asleep, God never did.  The Bible says that God never slumbers nor sleeps (see Psalm 121:4). Each time Jesus found the disciples sleeping, He returned to God in prayer.

Second, know that it’s not unspiritual to plead with God for that which you think is best.  Three times, Jesus said:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me.”  

Jesus didn’t want to face what lay ahead of Him.  He pleaded with God to take it away, to change His course, or to show Him another path.  It wasn’t that Jesus wanted to disobey His Father’s will, but neither did He hide the fact that He’d rather do it another way if possible!

The anguish that Jesus faced that night was intense, so intense that Luke says:

“His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

The pressure of it all, the squeezing that He felt must have been nearly unbearable. The pain and twisting he felt may have been mirrored in the gnarled and twisted olive trees found in the Garden of Gethsemane itself, some of which are over 1,000 years old—and some could have even been alive at the time of Christ, as olives tree can, remarkably, live several thousand years.

Jesus knew that the pain ahead could be severe, and He didn’t hesitate to pray that His Father would make another way.  If it wasn’t “unspiritual” for Jesus to pray this way, then I wouldn’t think it would be unspiritual for you to ask for it either.

But third, know that whatever happens in the end, you can trust God to work all things for good, when you truly commit your will to His.  Madame Guyon was a Christian who suffered much during her lifetime in France in the 1700’s. Yet through it all she was able to find the peace of God by surrendering her will to God’s.  She wrote:

“All your concerns go into the hand of God. You forget yourself, and from that moment on you think only of Him.  By continuing to do this over a long period of time, your heart will remain unattached; your heart will be free and at peace!  How do you practice abandonment? You practice it daily, hourly and by the moment. Abandonment is practiced by continually losing your own will in the will of God—by plunging your will into the depths of His will, there to be lost forever!” (Madame Guyon, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ).

While it is important to remember that God has given us free will—the will or desire do that which we want—it’s also important to remember that God has a will, too.  While God wants to give you the desires of your heart, He also has desires on His heart, desires which often go way beyond ours!

I am a firm believer that God wants to bless you, to prosper you, and to make you healthy and wealthy and wise.  The Scriptures are full of stories of how God has come through for His people, blessing them with healing and prosperity, both physically and spiritually, and pouring out His wisdom upon them.  But I am also a firm believer that God’s blessings can often exceed our own, but sometimes we can only see them as blessings when we look at them through eyes of faith.

I once heard a long-time and well-respected Christian leader say that when he looked back on his life, it turned out that the times he thought were his mountaintop turned out to be the valleys, and the times he thought he was going through the valleys turned out to be the mountaintops.  God has a way of bringing good from every situation, when we trust Him to do His will in all things.

Know that God wants to bless you, that He wants to bless others through you, and that you can trust Him in all things, at all times, to work His will, in His ways. Know that when He calls you to face your own Garden of Gethsemane, you won’t face it alone.  You’ll be in good company, the likes of which includes Jesus Christ Himself, the One who trusted His Father inherently and said with His whole heart:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

I pray that you’ll be able to do the same.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for never leaving us alone, thank You for giving us our own free will, and thank You for giving us the confidence that Your will always is always better than our own.  Help us to come to You with complete abandonment so that we can experience the fullness of Your peace, Your joy, and Your life that will come to us when we do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 23: What’s Going To Happen On The Mount Of Olives?

The Mount of Olives is only a short walk from the Temple Mount, and from there you can get a beautiful view of the city of Jerusalem. Jesus spent His nights there during the last week of His life, praying, sleeping, and teaching His disciples.  But something else is going to happen on the Mount of Olives one day. To find out what, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out what you can do today to prepare for what’s going to happen there in the future.

So what’s going to happen on the Mount of Olives? That’s where Jesus will return.

Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives with His disciples when He was in Jerusalem, perhaps because it was so close to the Temple.  It is just across the valley from the Temple Mount, and only a Sabbath’s day’s walk from the city (just over half-a mile away, the maximum distance that Jews were allowed to walk on the Sabbath).

It was a convenient spot for Jesus and His disciples to retreat to after teaching at the Temple during the day. The Bible says:

“Each day Jesus was teaching at the Temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives…” (Luke 21:36-38).

But Jesus’ affinity for the Mount of Olives may not have been simply because of its proximity to the Temple. The Mount of Olives is also the site where the prophet Zechariah said the Lord would appear one day, redeeming those who honored Him and destroying those who didn’t:

“On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south” (Zechariah 14:4).

And it was from the Mount of Olives that Jesus eventually ascended into heaven after His death and resurrection here on earth.  As He rose into the sky, two angels appeared to the disciples and said:

“Men of Galilee, 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.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city (Acts 1:11-12).

So the Mount of Olives has become famous as the place where the Messiah will first appear, and over 150,000 people have been buried there on that hill—including the prophet Zechariah—in order to be on hand the moment the Messiah arrives.

But you won’t have to be on the Mount of Olives to know that Jesus has come back.  Jesus taught His disciples what that day would be like, the signs that would precede it, and what they could do now to prepare for it.

Listen to the words of Jesus that He spoke while still here on the earth, words that He spoke, in fact, right there on the Mount of Olives just a few days before His death:

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come….

“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.

“So if anyone tells you, ‘There He is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man….

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him” (Matthew 24:1-14, 23-27, 36-44).

When I was young, I remember hearing a lot of stories about Jesus. But for some reason, I missed the fact that one day He was going to come back again! When I realized that He was really coming back, my heart leapt! Wow! The same Jesus who had done so many miraculous things was going to be coming again! What a day that would be!

But this wasn’t going to be “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” (not that He was ever was that way when He first came either, but that was my impression as a child). This Jesus was going to be coming in power and might, redeeming those who loved Him and destroying those who didn’t.

There will be no question on that day about whether Jesus is the Christ or not. His re-appearance will be visible simultaneously and instantaneously all around the world. As Jesus said, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” You won’t have to be on the Mount of Olives to know that Jesus is back. You’ll know it—no matter where you are in the world!

And when that day comes, Christ wants you to be ready. After teaching His disciples to look for the signs of His coming, Jesus then told three parables, stories that describe what will happen to those who are prepared for His return, and what will happen to those who aren’t. If you haven’t read them lately, you might want to read them again this week.  You can find them in Matthew chapter 25:  the parables about the ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep and the goats.

Jesus summarized them like this:

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:45-51).

When Jesus returns, He wants to find you with your hearts firmly committed to Him, ready and eagerly desiring His coming, as a bride eagerly desires the coming of her groom.

He wants to find you using the talents He has given you, not squandering away the resources and abilities He has given you, but using them to make a good return on His investment.

He wants to find you doing the things that He’s called all of us to do, both spiritually and physically:  giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, inviting in strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting those in prison.

I want to encourage you today to get ready for His return. If your heart’s not fully committed to Jesus, make that commitment today. If you know someone whose heart’s not fully committed to Jesus, send this message to them and encourage them to make that commitment today.

And if your heart is fully committed to Jesus, get ready for His return! Look forward to it! Look forward to the day when He stands again on the Mount of Olives, in the fullness of His glory, coming back to take you to be with Him forever! Fill your hearts with faith today, make a good return on the gifts He has given you, and serve one another wholeheartedly. Remember, as Jesus said, “…he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for the reminder that Jesus is coming back again, and that He will one day take us to be with Him forever. Lord, fill our hearts with faith again today, faith that Jesus will indeed come back for us, and faith that will inspire us to keep doing Your work here on earth right up until that day comes. We put our faith, hope and trust in You again today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 22: What Happened At The Pools Of Bethesda?

The Pools of Bethesda, just outside the Temple in Jerusalem, were said to have healing powers. But one day, when a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years went to the pools for healing, he discovered the Source of all true healing. To find out what happened that day, take a look at this short video below, shot on location at the remains of the pools themselves. Then read on for encouragement that God still heals today.

So what happened at the Pools of Bethesda? That’s where Jesus healed a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years.

The man had apparently come to the Pools of Bethesda looking to be healed by the waters there. According to local tradition, there were times when an angel of the Lord would stir up the waters in the pools, and the first one into the water after such a disturbance would be healed. As a result, the Bible says,

“Here a great number of disabled people used to lie: the blind, the lame, the paralyzed” (John 5:3).

On one of Jesus’ visits to Jerusalem, He went to the pools and saw this man lying there who had been sick for thirty-eight years.  Jesus asked:

“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6b).

The man must not have know who was asking him this question, for he simply replied that he had no one to help him into the pool when the water was stirred. Little did he know that he was talking to the One who is the Source of all healing! But he was about to find out. In the next moment, Jesus did for him the miracle that he had waited so long to receive:

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked” (John 5:8).

Jesus is known for many things, but His ability to heal ranks right at the top. The Bible says,

“And wherever He went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Him to let them touch even the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed” (Mark 6:56).

As the “Author of Life,” as Peter called Him, Jesus is the One who knows best how to heal a life. When God designed our bodies, He designed them with healing in mind, knowing that we wouldn’t go through life unscathed. When doctors stitch up a wound or administer an antibiotic, they are often using techniques that simply tap into the body’s God-given ability to heal itself, helping to stimulate, accelerate, or otherwise facilitate the body’s built-in healing processes.

That’s why God said to Moses:

“…for I am the Lord who heals you”
(Exodus 15:26).

And God is a healing God not just of our bodies, but of our hearts, minds, and souls as well. After healing the man at the pools, Jesus later found him again at the Temple and said to him:

“See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14).

Jesus wanted the man to be fully healed, not just in part, but the whole; not just in body, but in heart, mind, and soul.

Jesus’ healing power extends to all aspects of our lives. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he talks about people in the church there who had, in the past, suffered from all kinds of problems: sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, thievery, greediness, drunkenness, slandering and swindling. But Paul goes on to say,

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

They were changed, healed, renewed, restored.  How? In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. All healing—whether physical, mental, spiritual or emotional—comes from God, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and through His Holy Spirit.

Even those healings performed by doctors or nurses, psychologists or psychiatrists, mothers or fathers, or friends or family, ultimately come from the God who designed our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies.

If you need a healing in your life today, or know someone who does, I want to encourage you, and for you to encourage them, to come to Jesus, the Author and Sustainer of life itself.

Remember the man who was healed at the pools of Bethesda. Jesus touched him and said, “‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked” (John 5:8).

Remember the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, who had run out of money and doctors and all other options. She came to Jesus and said, “If I just touch His clothes, I will get well.” Then she touched His cloak, her bleeding stopped, and Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 5:28, 34).

Remember King David, who suffered much at the hands of other men—and from his own sins, yet he wrote in the Psalms, “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…” (Psalm 103:2-3).

Remember James, the brother of Jesus, who called on those who were sick to come to Jesus in prayer for their healing: “Is any one of you sick? He should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well” (James 5:14-15a).

Remember Peter, who healed a crippled man who was begging for money outside the Temple by saying, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6). Then taking the man by the hand, he helped him up to his feet, which became strong again, and the man went walking and leaping and praising God.

Peter knew that it wasn’t his own power or strength that healed the man. He knew that he was just a conduit who reached out to the One True Source of healing:  Jesus.

After the healing, Peter said,

“Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? … You killed the Author of Life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see” (Acts 3:12,16).

If you’re sick, come to Jesus. If you’re worn out, come to Jesus. If you’ve run out of money and doctors and all other options, come to Jesus.

If you’re wrestling with unhealthy thoughts, words, or deeds, come to Jesus. If you’re worried sick and your emotions are shot, come to Jesus.

As Peter said,

“It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this COMPLETE healing to him, as you can all see.”

Do you want to get well? Come to Jesus. Let Him do His healing work in your life.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for being a God who heals. Thank You for wanting to make us whole and complete. Thank You for designing our bodies to heal themselves when possible, for giving us wisdom to facilitate that healing power when not, and for sending us Jesus, whom we believe can heal us supernaturally at any moment―even if we’ll been lame for thirty-eight years. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 21: What Happened At The Southern Steps?

Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, yet he said that walking on the southern steps of the Temple Mount was even more exciting.  Why?  To find out, take a look at this short video below, then read on to learn how you can have exciting moments like this every day.

So what happened at the southern steps?  That’s where Jesus walked.

When Neil Armstrong visited Israel in 1994, he asked his host if there was a place where Jesus would have walked—without a doubt—2,000 years ago.  His host, Archaeologist Meir Ben Dov and the excavator of the Temple Mount and southern walls in Jerusalem,  answered that the southern steps were, for sure, the steps that Jesus would have used when He walked up to the Temple.

Mr. Armstrong bent down and kissed the ground, saying that this was an even more exciting moment for him than walking on the moon.  If you were to go to Israel today and wanted to walk where you knew Jesus would have walked, you would go to the southern steps.

That’s because the southern steps, which have been excavated in recent years, served as the main entrance to the entire Temple Mount complex.  And we know from Scripture that Jesus went to the Temple several times throughout His life.  The Temple itself has since been destroyed, and the Temple Courts are buried under years of civilization and rebuilding.  But the southern steps can still be walked upon today.

The Bible says that Jesus first visited the Temple as a child, when Mary and Joseph brought Him here to be consecrated to the Lord (see Luke 2:21-40). The family then came back to Jerusalem year after year, as was their custom, for the yearly Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41).

It was on one of these trips that Mary and Joseph lost Jesus as they were traveling back home, thinking that He was traveling back with relatives or friends.  After searching for Him for three days, they finally found Him, back in Jerusalem in the Temple Courts.  He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions.  Upon hearing that His parents had been anxiously searching for Him, Jesus replied:

“Why were you searching for me?  Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).

Then as an adult, Jesus often taught crowds of people there at the Temple Courts.  The Bible says that during the final week of His life:

“Each day Jesus was teaching at the Temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the Temple.” (Luke 21:37-38).

If just walking where Jesus walked sounds exciting—like it was to Neil Armstrong—imagine what it would have been like to hear Him speak!  Imagine being there in person, back in 33 A.D., and listening to the words that Jesus spoke, coming from His own mouth!

Imagine hearing Jesus tell some of His parables for the very first time, right there in the Temple Courts:  the parable of the two sons, or of the ungrateful tenants, or of the wedding banquet of a king.

Imagine Jesus answering people’s questions, whether honest and practical questions, or those that were asked by people in order to trap Him, with words that astonished all who heard them and silenced His critics.

Imagine hearing Jesus answer the question about whether or not it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, and then hearing Jesus ask you to take out a coin with Caesar’s image on it and saying:

“Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21).

Or imagine Him answering the question about the resurrection of the dead, and whether or not people would really live again after they died, and hearing Jesus say:

“Have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Matthew 22:31b-32).

Or imagine Jesus being asked what He thought was the greatest commandment in the law, and hearing Jesus say for the first time:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ “ (Matthew 22:37-38).

Or imagine watching, along with Jesus, as a poor widow passed in front of you and put two very small coins into the Temple offering, and hearing Jesus say:

“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on”  (Luke 21:2-4).

All of these things took place at the Temple Courts.  No wonder the Bible says that all those who heard Jesus speak there—even when He was just twelve—were “…amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:47).

No wonder the Bible says that the crowds who heard Jesus speak at the Temple Courts as an adult were “…astonished at His teaching” (Matthew 22:33b).

No wonder the Bible says that when He spoke during the feast that “…all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the Temple” (Luke 21:38).

Maybe you wish you could have been one of those people who got up early in the morning to hear the wisdom of Jesus.  The truth is, you can be one of those people!

If you’d like to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him speak His words to you, words that are practical and words that answer the honest questions on your heart, you can still do it today.  You can pick up a copy of the Bible and read the words of Jesus, as recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, recorded by people who heard Him speak those words in person—Matthew, Mark and John—and Luke, who personally and thoroughly researched the stories by asking eyewitnesses who heard Jesus speak to verify their authenticity, people who were still living at the time he wrote his book.  Some of you may even have “red-letter Bibles,” where the words of Jesus are highlighted in red so that you can find them easier, underscoring the words of this master teacher that were spoken 2,000 years ago.

Thankfully, the words that Jesus spoke back then are just as applicable to our lives today.  Jesus isn’t a teacher who is now dead and silent.  He’s just as alive and eager to speak to you today as He was back then.  As the Bible says:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

What a blessing it is to be able to walk where Jesus walked, as Neil Armstrong did, and what a blessing it would have been to hear Him teach in person at the Temple Courts.  But what a blessing it is that we can still come to Him every day, whether early in the morning, throughout the day, or late in the day, and hear the wisdom of God as spoken through Jesus Christ Himself.

Come to Christ again today—and every day—and let Him speak His words of life  to you.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to speak to the crowds at the Temple, and thank You for those who recorded His words so we can continue to hear Him speak to us today.  Open our hearts to hear those words as we come to You again today and every day.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 20: What Happened At The North Gate?

I’d like to tell you a very personal story today.  It’s about what happened to me at the North Gate of the Temple Mount.  But before I tell you my story, I’d like to tell you Ezekiel’s story, and what he saw, in a vision from God, at the North Gate of the Temple Mount.  It’s a beautiful picture of what it will be like when Jesus returns.  Take a look at the short video below to see where the northern gates of the Temple once stood.

So what happened at the North Gate?  That’s where Ezekiel saw a vision of a river of life flowing out from the Temple, bringing life to all that it touched.  It was a vision for him, but it will be a reality for us one day, when Jesus returns.  You may remember some of Ezekiel’s story from when we talked about the Dead Sea, when God showed Ezekiel this river flowing from the Temple and said:

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12).

But that wasn’t the only vision Ezekiel had of what would happen at the Temple.  God had brought him there many times over his years as a prophet to show him what would happen, ranging from bringing judgment on those who had forgotten God, to bringing blessings to those who continued to wait on Him.

God used one of Ezekiel’s visions to speak to me one day.  I’d like to share that story with you to encourage you that God still speaks today as He did in the days of Ezekiel.

It happened just shortly after I quit my secular job to go into full-time ministry.  I felt God was calling me to do something full-time for Him, but I didn’t know what.  It was only a week or so after I had quit when I felt God calling me to the Holy Land for the first time.  As I prayed about the trip, I felt there were two places I should visit in particular:  the place where the Temple used to be and the place where Jesus died.  I asked God why He wanted me to go to these two places, and I felt He said: “I will reveal Myself to you there.”

So I had just finished writing these things down in my journal, which I was using during my prayer time with God, and was about to stand up to go on with my day, when I felt God say He wasn’t done yet.  “Open your Bible,” He seemed to say.  So I opened it up and began to read the words I saw on the page.  It was a passage from Ezekiel, chapter 8:

“In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came upon me there. I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal. He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain” (Ezekiel 8:1-4).

There I was, thinking about going to the place where the Temple used to be in Jerusalem, and I felt like God was giving me very specific instructions about where to go on the Temple Mount.  In Ezekiel’s vision, he was picked up and transported to Jerusalem, between earth and heaven (by the hair of his head, no less!), and dropped him off at the entrance to the north gate of the inner court of the temple. It was there that God revealed His glory to Ezekiel.

I pictured my own upcoming flight to Israel, where I would be transported to Jerusalem, between earth and heaven (by plane, thankfully!) and heading to the Temple Mount as well.  I felt like God was telling me for some reason to go specifically to the place where the north gate of the inner court of the temple would have been.  Although the temple itself no longer exists, the location of the the north gate of the inner court was quite likely just to the north of the rock of Abraham, inside the Dome of the Rock, and where the Holy of Holies would have been located.

I stood up with renewed interest in whatever God wanted to reveal to me on this trip, and on that spot in particular.  I went home and told my wife about what I felt God was saying, and that if she needed to find me in Israel, to look for me at the north gate on the Temple Mount!

You can imagine my frustration when I finally got to Jerusalem to find out that the Temple Mount was closed.  It was the Muslims holy month of Ramadan, and I was told that the Temple Mount was closed off to non-Muslims. Each day of my trip, I went into Jerusalem and tried to get in, but each day I was turned away.

As I sat outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem one day, I read in my Bible about people who were anointed with oil when they went into service for God.  I began to wonder if God could somehow anoint me with oil as I was going into service for Him as well.  But where could I find someone who would anoint me with oil?  I couldn’t just walk up to someone on the streets of Jerusalem and ask if they’d do it!

The next morning, however, as I was talking to a shopkeeper about my desire to see the Temple Mount, but my frustration that I kept getting turned away, he told me that if I went to a certain door before 9 a.m., I could get in, for tourists could get in for a few hours that morning if they went before 9.  It was just before 9 a.m. when he told me, so I took off running for the door he had described.  After a quick search of my backpack, the men watching that door let me in.  I had made it onto the Temple Mount!

I headed for the Dome of the Rock and ran into a group of tourists who were going inside.  One woman was staying behind to watch their pile of backpacks, shoes, and cameras, as none of those things could be brought into the Dome. She said she would watch my things, too, and I stepped inside the Dome.

I went to the north side of the wide rock inside, where Abraham was supposed to sacrifice Isaac, and I stood and thanked God for bringing me there.  I asked Him to reveal anything that He wanted to reveal to me.  I was ready to hear it. I noticed a man to my right who had climbed up on the short base of a pillar inside the door to get a better view of the rock from above.  I continued my conversation with God, and after waiting a bit longer for anything He might say, but hearing nothing more, I went back outside.

I returned to the woman who was watching our pile of things, and she started to ask me a series of questions:  why I had come, what I was doing there, what kind of church did I go to.  I tried to politely answer her questions, but I was in a bit of a hurry to go and explore more of the Temple Mount.  I was, after all, waiting for God to show up!

But she kept asking questions, and finally said, “My husband’s a pastor, and he would love to hear all of this, but he’s still inside the Dome.  Could you wait till he comes out and tell him what you’re doing?”  So I waited.

When her husband came out, I saw that he was the same man I had seen inside the Dome on the north side of the rock of Abraham.  I shared with him why I had come to Israel, and about some of my recent experiences, such as praying for the healing of a woman who had cancer.  He asked, “When you pray for people, do you anoint them with oil?”  He said he found it helpful to anoint people with oil when he prayed for them, as it says to do in the book of James.

I was stunned.  I had just been praying the day before that God would send someone to anoint me with oil as I began my ministry, and here stood someone who just might do it, right at the place where the north gate of where the inner courts of the Temple would have been! I told them about my prayer, and asked if they might pray for me and anoint me with oil for my service to God.  They said they’d be glad to, and although they didn’t have any with them, they said we could buy some at one of the shops nearby.  Then, when their group took their next break from their tour, they’d pray for me.

I followed them as they left the Temple Mount, walking through the actual northern gates of the Temple Mount that are there today.  We walked along the Via Dolorosa, the path through the streets that Jesus was said to have taken when He carried His cross to His death.  We ended up at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional spot where Jesus was said to have been crucified.  Then their group took a break.

We went to a nearby shop and bought a small bottle of “Anointing Oil from the Holy Land,” and went back inside the church to pray.  It was there, at the place where Jesus died, that they—and God—anointed me with oil for the service I had recently begun for Him.

It was a holy moment, as I realized what God had done:  He had brought me to the two places He put on my heart to come: the place where the Temple used to be and the place where Jesus died.  And it was in those two spots where God revealed Himself to me in a very personal way, showing me how clearly He speaks, and how clearly He answers prayers.  And it was in that moment that God ordained me for the ministry that I’ve now been doing for the past fifteen years.

As I flew home the next day, I thanked God again for speaking so clearly and personally to me, just as He has spoken to people throughout the ages.  What an awesome God we serve!

I want to encourage you today to listen carefully for God’s voice.  He still speaks today, not just about “big” things, but about the every day things as well.  But it takes time to hear Him clearly, and it takes faith to believe that what He says to you is true.  Know, however, that God loves those who seek Him, and when you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you generously.  As it says in the Bible:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6).

Take some time to listen to God today.  Quiet your heart, open your Bibles, and ask Him your questions.  Then get ready to receive whatever He has to say.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for speaking to Ezekiel centuries ago, and thank You for speaking to us still today, through Your Word and by Your Holy Spirit.  We pray that You would again answer the questions that are on our hearts today, and that we would have the faith to believe You when the answers come.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 19: What’s Happening At The Western Wall?

The Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall, is one of the most famous places on earth, but not because of all that has happened there.  The Wall is famous because of how close it is to something else.  To find out what it’s near, and what goes on there every day and why, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out how you can do the same thing they’re doing at the Western Wall every day, wherever you are on the face of the planet.

So what’s happening at the Western Wall?  People are praying.  They come here to pray from all over Jerusalem, from all over Israel, and from all over the world.

I was visiting a friend in New York before my first trip to Israel who said, “When you get to the Western Wall, will you say a prayer for me?”  I said I would, even though I knew I could pray for him just as well right there in New York, which I did.

But I also knew why he wanted me to pray for him there, in that spot:  because the Western Wall is the closest spot to the Holy of Holies, the place where God chose—out of all the earth—as a dwelling place for His name.

You may have heard this famous quote from the Bible before:

“…if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

But you may not remember the context in which those words were spoken.  The context was just after Solomon had finished building the Temple in Jerusalem as a place for God’s name to dwell.  Here’s what God said to Solomon when the temple was completed:

“When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people,  if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there’ “ (2 Chronicles 7:11-16).

So it’s easy to see why people would want to go to the Temple Mount to pray still today.  God promised that His eyes would be open and His ears attentive to the prayers offered in this special place.

And it’s easy to see why the Temple Mount is still such a sought after property in the world:  people want to be as close to God as they can get.  They want Him to hear their prayers.  They want Him to pay attention to their needs.  People want God to answer their prayers, so they still try to get as close to the Temple Mount as they can to pray.

And that brings us to why the Western Wall is so important.  The Temple Mount has changed hands many times over the years.  Solomon’s Temple was destroyed and rebuilt again, only to be destroyed again in 70 A.D.    The domed building that now stands above the rock of Abraham was at one time a Christian church, with a cross atop the dome.  There was also a time when an Israeli flag flew upon the Temple Mount.  The dome is now adorned with a golden moon, the symbol of the Muslims who control the Temple Mount today.  And as the third holiest site in Islam, it is forbidden for Jews or Christians to pray anywhere upon it—and if they are seen to be praying, they are asked to leave.

So today, the closest spot to the place where the Holy of Holies once was, and where Jews can pray, and Christians as well, for that matter, is the Western Wall, a 187 foot expanse of the wall that can be seen on the southwestern edge of the Temple Mount (the walls of the Temple Mount are not to be confused with the city walls that encircle the entire old city of Jerusalem, which Nehemiah rebuilt, and which are are further out).

But what many people don’t realize is that the Western Wall extends along the full length of the Temple Mount, and can be visited today in its entirety by descending into the rabbinical tunnels, an extensive network of tunnels that are said to extend underneath the entire Temple Mount as well.  The tunnels along the Western Wall have been excavated in recent years, and you can go down underground and walk along the entire length of the Western Wall, down to what would have been the street level during the time of Jesus!

It is spectacular to walk along this massive wall at its base, with its huge foundation stones, and there is one spot along the wall that garners particular attention: the spot that is said to be directly across from where the Holy of Holies once stood, the place where the Ark of the Covenant was located (and is shown in the picture at the right, and in video above).  It is remarkable to stand there and imagine that this is the closest we can get to the place where God chose for His name to dwell.

Having said all of that, there is a closer spot still where God has since chosen for His name to dwell:  within the hearts of all those who have put their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  As the apostle Paul told the Ephesians:

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16-17).

If you’ve put your faith in Christ, God’s Spirit lives within you, just as Jesus told the disciples He would:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-16).

We all long to be close to God.  We want to be with Him and know that He is close enough to hear our prayers.  A new worship song by Dennis Jernigan, called “Breathe,” expresses this strong desire for intimacy with God by saying:

“Lean so close that I feel You breathe 

Lean so close You quench this thirst in me 

Lean so close You loose these chains in me 

Set me free… So I can breathe…”

Imagine, leaning so close to God that you could feel Him breathe!  The good news is that if you want to be this close to God, to talk to Him and to be sure that His eyes are upon you and His ears are attentive to your prayers, all you need to do is to put your faith in Christ.  If you’ve already done that, you need look no further than within your own heart to find the place where the Spirit of God Himself now dwells.

Lean close to God today.  Feel his breath on your cheek.  Let Him whisper the words He longs to tell you, and the words you’re probably longing to hear from Him as well:  “My child, I love you.”  Then respond to that love with a few words of your own.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for coming to dwell among us, both at the Holy of Holies and now within the temple of our own hearts.  Lean so close to us so we can hear You, see You, feel You, touch You, and thank You for being there so we can lean upon You as well.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 18: What Happened On Mount Moriah?

Mount Moriah sits on what is perhaps the most valuable piece of real estate in the world. If it were for sale, I’m sure the price would be higher than anyone could pay. On some maps, it is marked as the center of the world, out of which everything else emanates. And in some ways, that’s probably true. For it was here on Mount Moriah that some of the most important events of history took place—and will take place again in the future. To find out what happened here, take a look at the short video below. Then read on to see how what happened here can make a difference in what can happen in your life as well.

So what happened on Mount Moriah? This is where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac.

It’s one of the first stories recorded in the Bible where someone expressed their great faith in God, even in the face of great obstacles.

God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the sand on the seashore and as the stars in the sky. But there was one problem. Abraham didn’t have any children. Not even one. And he and his wife believed that all hope was gone. At least until God spoke to them.

But how could God fulfill a promise like this? Yet Abraham believed Him, and God began to deliver on His promise by giving Abraham and Sarah a son from their own bodies.

But then, the tide seemed to turn. After believing God, and seeing the fulfillment of His promise begin, it seemed like God was about to go back on his promise. God told Abraham:

“Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about” (Genesis 22:2).

It must have seemed ridiculous. If Abraham did what God said, not only was Abraham’s son going to be dead, but so was God’s promise. But if Abraham felt any of that, the Bible doesn’t record it. It simply says that early the next morning, Abraham saddled his donkey, cut some wood to make the offering, took two servants and his son Isaac, and set off for the place God had told him to go.

As he reached the spot, he built an altar, bound his son and put him on it. He took the knife in his hand, and just as he was about to slay his son, an angel of the Lord called out:

“Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me” (Genesis 22:11b-18).

Abraham had proved himself faithful. And so did God. When all hope seemed to be gone, Abraham still believed God could fulfill His promise, somehow, someway, sometime. And because of Abraham’s faith, and God’s faithfulness, Abraham’s descendants are now counted in the millions, including those living today, and those who have lived over the past 4,000 years since this dramatic event on Mount Moriah.

The Dome of the Rock now stands on Mount Moriah over the massive rock rock where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.

It wasn’t the only event that took place there. About a thousand years later, King David bought the threshing floor on Mount Moriah to build an altar and stop a plague that God had sent upon the people. When God saw David’s faith, He proved Himself faithful again by stopping the plague after three days, just as He said He would.

About a thousand years after that, Jesus walked up to the steps of the temple to teach the multitudes, a temple that was built over this very place where Abraham and David had expressed their faith. He, too, eventually expressed his faith here, by willingly being sentenced to death in the chambers of the Antonia Fortress at the base of the Temple Mount, and carrying His cross from there to the hill where He died for all of our sins.

And it was there that Jesus picked up his cross, and carried it to his death, the ultimate sacrifice that stopped the ultimate plague called “sin.”

So you can see how this spot has been the site of many acts of faith, from Abraham 4,000 years ago, to David 3,000 years ago, and to Jesus 2,000 years ago. And you can see why this spot has also become priceless to millions, whether their heritage is Jewish, Muslim or Christian.

One day, the Bible says that a river of life will spring up from this spot.  It will bring life to all that it touches, even the Dead Sea twenty miles away.

While Mount Moriah may not have been a very peaceful spot over the years, it has been a spot where many acts of faith have played out, and where God has proven Himself to be faithful—over and over again, and where He will one day prove Himself to be faithful yet again.

How does this all relate to you?  God loves it when people put their trust in Him, people whose hearts are fully committed to Him, in spite of how things might look around them.

Here’s what the Bible says about Abraham:

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned’” (Hebrews 11:17-18).

Here’s what the Bible says about David:

“I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22).

Here’s what the Bible says about Jesus:

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

And here’s what the Bible says about me and you, as written in Hebrews 11:6:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

God wants you to have faith in Him, even when everything you see might tell you otherwise. God wants you to believe in Him, to trust in Him, to keep putting your faith in Him, no matter what, at all times, in all situations, believing that He exists, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Keep putting your faith in God, and He’ll prove Himself faithful to you, just like He proved Himself faithful to Abraham, David, and Jesus, right there on Mount Moriah.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for showing your faithfulness to those who showed their faithfulness to You. Help us to be faithful to You today as well, believing that You exist, and that You will reward those who earnestly seek You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 17: What’s The Capital Of Israel?

We’ve been traveling all around the country of Israel during this study, but now we’re going to focus on just one city for the remaining lessons: the capital city of Israel. To take a look this incredible place, and to see what the future holds for it, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to learn what happened there in the past and why what’s going to happen there in the future is so important to us all.

So what’s the capital of Israel? Jerusalem.  Jerusalem became the capital of Israel in the year 993 B.C.—about 3,000 years ago—when King David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. The Bible says:

“David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years” (2 Samuel 5:4-5).

Jerusalem also became the spiritual capital of Israel at that time, for soon after King David arrived, he had the Ark of the Covenant brought into the city as well. If you remember from the book of Exodus, the Ark of the Covenant was an ornate wooden box covered with gold which contained the “covenant” between God and the Israelites in the form of the Ten Commandments, inscribed on two stone tablets by the finger of God Himself. God told the Israelites that He would make a dwelling for His name there above the ark, and that from there He would meet with them and speak with them (see Exodus 25:10-22).

So even though God certainly isn’t confined to any one location, there was something special about this ark. When David’s son, Solomon, built the temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant, Solomon said:

“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built!  Yet give attention to Your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying in Your presence this day. May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive” (1 Kings 8:27-30).

Throughout the Bible, God said that He would choose a place for His Name, a place where His presence would rest, and that people should seek Him in that place and worship Him there. For instance, in Deuteronomy 12, God told the Israelites:

“You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put His Name there for His dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you” (Deuteronomy 12:4-7).

So when Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, people came to worship there from all over, and continued to come for the next thousand years until the time of Christ.

But when Jesus came, things changed. Jesus was, of course, Emmanuel, which means, “God with us.” God, through His Son Jesus Christ, came to dwell among His people in real live flesh and blood. As the apostle John said so eloquently:

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14a).

And God’s plan to dwell among His people didn’t stop there. He said that He would continue to dwell among His people wherever they lived, even after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus talked about these coming changes in a conversation with a woman from Samaria. The woman said:

“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem” (John 4:20).

Jesus responded:

“Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24).

Less than forty years after Jesus said these words, in the year 70 A.D., Jerusalem was attacked by the Romans and the temple was completely destroyed, never to be rebuilt again.

Jesus foresaw this coming destruction of Jerusalem, and when He did, He wept over the city. The Bible says:

“As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace―but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you’” (Luke 19:41-44).

Although the city was destroyed as Jesus foretold, and the temple along with it, God was not done making His dwelling among men. God said that He would send His Holy Spirit to live within all those who put their faith in Christ. And so it is that now through God’s Holy Spirit He makes His dwelling among us. Now all of us can worship Him “in spirit and in truth,” just as Jesus said, from anywhere in the world. As the apostle Paul said, now we are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit lives within each of us (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

But back to Jerusalem, there is no doubt that God still has a special place in His heart for this Holy City, and that He has special plans for it still to come. God showed the apostle John what’s to come in the future. John wrote:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).

It seems that God’s greatest desire is to dwell among His people, to live with them, talk with them, walk with them, and make His home with them.

From the beginning of its days as the capital of Israel, Jerusalem has a long history of being the place where God dwelt among His people. And according to the Bible, the New Jerusalem will be a place where God will continue to dwell among His people—for the rest of eternity!

Here in the mean time, praise God that, through His Holy Spirit, He can still dwell among us anywhere, anytime, at any moment, day or night, when we put our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, and invited His Holy Spirit to come and live within you, I want to encourage you to make the most of it. Worship God in spirit and in truth. Walk with Him. Talk with Him. Meet with Him every day and throughout your day. Recognize that God is with you right now and at all times. Remember that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and treat it with the utmost honor and respect. Then let God’s Holy Spirit flow freely through your life into the lives of others, letting God use your hands, feet, eyes, ears, and heart as His to those around you. God loves you and He loves the fact that you would let Him come in and make His dwelling within you. Make the most of it!

And if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, do it today! God wants to make His dwelling within you, as well and give you access to His unlimited love and joy, peace and wisdom, from this day forward. Put your faith in Christ today. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Then invite His Holy Spirit to live within you starting today and on into eternity.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for wanting to come and live with us. It’s overwhelming to think that You would want to do that, yet we know that is Your greatest desire. Please, Lord, continue to make Your presence real to us again today, and know that we look forward to living with You forever one day in the New Jerusalem. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

 

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Lesson 16: What Happened At Bethlehem?

Today we’re headed to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.  If you’d like to go with me into the Church of the Nativity and see for yourself the place underneath the altar of the church that has marked for centuries where they believe Jesus was born, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to learn why God might have chosen this place for the birth of His Son, and why having a heart like God’s can bear fruit even hundreds—if not thousands—of years later.

So what happened at Bethlehem? That’s where Jesus was born.

The Church of the Nativity has marked the spot ever since 327 A.D., when the church was built at the request of Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Helena was shown this spot on her visit to the Holy Land as the birthplace of her Savior, and she had a church built there to commemorate it. The spot had already been noted as the birthplace of Jesus for hundreds of years before that time by locals and historians alike, such as Justin Martyr in the 2nd century, and Origen of Alexandria in the 3rd.

It’s amazing to think that Jesus was born on this spot, but it’s even more amazing to think that Jesus was ever born at all. To think that God, the Father, would love us so much that He would send His Son into the world to live among us, to tell us of His love, and to demonstrate that love by giving up His life for us so we could live with God forever, that’s what’s really amazing.

As Jesus said so succinctly:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

But why Bethlehem? Why did God want His Son to be born there? As with most things God does, God didn’t pick the city of Bethlehem out of a hat of possible locations at the last minute. He had foretold it, hundreds of years earlier, through the prophet Micah:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).

But why? What was it about Bethlehem that made it so special that God would honor it in this way? I don’t know for sure, but I do know that there was another man born in Bethlehem about a thousand years earlier about whom God had said:

“I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22b).

God honors those whose hearts are after His own heart:  people who love God so much that they will do whatever He wants them to do, whenever He wants them to do it and however God wants them to do it.

And look what God did for David as a result:

“From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised” (Acts 13:23).

I don’t think it was haphazard that God chose Bethlehem as the birthplace of His Son. It seems to me that because David had honored God with his life, God honored David with the life of His Son, even so many generations later.

Because of David’s love for God, God seemed to move heaven and earth, and even the Roman Emperor, to orchestrate things so that this descendant of David’s would be born back in David’s hometown. As Luke records:

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. …And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1,3-7).

Even the angels made the connection between Jesus’ birthplace and David’s, as one of them told the shepherds on the hills of Bethlehem that night:

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10b-11).

David was a man after God’s own heart, and God honored his heart even a thousand years later. I pray you’ll commit today to being a man or woman after God’s own heart. You’ll be blessed—and so will future generations who will be blessed through your faith.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to us here on earth, to live and die for us so that we could live with You forever. Help us commit to being men and women after Your own heart, so that we can bless Your heart, and the hearts of those in generations to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 15: What Happened At En Gedi?

In the midst of the barren hills that surround the Dead Sea, there’s a surprising oasis of life. It’s called En Gedi, where a fresh water spring pours over steep crevices in the rock, creating a series of beautiful waterfalls and pools as the spring winds its way from the top to the bottom. To find out how God used this oasis to protect and provide for one of the most famous characters in the Bible, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to learn how God can help you when you feel you are being treated unjustly.

So what happened at En Gedi? This is where David came to hide from King Saul when Saul was trying to kill David. But Saul wasn’t always angry with David. In fact, David was one of Saul’s favorites. David was called to come and live at the palace to play the harp for Saul, bringing great relief to the king every time David played.

But when David’s fame began to grow as one of the best warriors in Saul’s army, Saul became jealous. Fearing that the people would like David more than him, Saul tried to kill David by pinning him to a wall with his spear.

David tried to talk things out with Saul, reminding the king that David had never done anything wrong against him, but the conversations appeased Saul for only a short time. Then Saul was back to trying to kill David again because of Saul’s burning jealousy. It soon became apparent that David would die if he stayed in the palace any longer.

So David fled. He went from place to place as Saul and his men tried to hunt him down. One of the places that God provided for David was En Gedi. The book of 1 Samuel says:

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats (1 Samuel 24:1-2).

If you were to visit En Gedi today, you would see why David fled there. It featured an oasis of fresh spring water in the middle of the barren hills that surround the Dead Sea, with many caves in the hills where he could hide. It’s an ideal spot to hide and be refreshed at the same time, and wild goats still climb the steep cliffs today, probably descendants from the wild goats for which the area was named back in David’s time.

It was in one of these caves that Saul stopped for a bathroom break. In God’s timing, it happened to be the very cave in which David and his men were hiding. The Bible says:

He [Saul] came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “Today the LORD is saying, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe (1 Samuel 24:3-4).

But after cutting off the corner of Saul’s robe, David was conscience-stricken that he should not do anything to harm the one that God had chosen as king, nor would he let any of his men attack Saul. When Saul left the cave, David followed after him and called out to Saul:

“My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May He consider my cause and uphold it; may He vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”

David did three things at En Gedi that I think are worth learning from when we feel we are being treated unjustly

First, he fled from a bad situation. While God may sometimes call you to stay in a bad situation to do all you can to work things out, there are still those times when it’s truly OK to flee from it. David did his best to try to talk things out with Saul, but when it became apparent that his very life was in danger if he stayed any longer, he fled. Jesus did the same thing at times, escaping quickly from people and places where people wanted to harm or kill Him, such as escaping from a crowd that wanted to throw Him over the cliff, or fleeing from those who tried to stone Him at the temple, or when He escaped the grasp of those who tried to kill Him as He walked through Solomon’s Colonnade (see Luke 4:28-30, John 8:59, and John 10:39).

Second, David trusted God to protect and provide for him. Sometimes you may not want to flee from a bad situation because of the fear that something worse will happen to you. But if God is in it, He can protect and provide for you as well. God can provide a place for you like He provided En Gedi for David. It may not be like the place from which you came, but if it’s God’s provision, it can be just what you need, and a remarkable place in its own right. God protected and provided for the Israelites in the desert after they fled from their captors in Egypt, giving them manna and meat to eat for forty years. And He did the same for Elijah when Elijah fled from King Ahab, sending bread and meat to Elijah every morning and evening by way of birds who were directed by God to do so (see Exodus 16:35, Numbers 11:31-32, and 1 Kings 17:4-6).

Third, David trusted God to administer justice. Even though you may have a chance to administer justice yourself to those who wrongfully accuse or harm you, you may benefit by taking this lesson from David. He could have killed Saul himself, but then he would have had to face 3,000 angry troops next. By trusting the matter into God’s hands, Saul was eventually punished for his wrongdoings, losing his life in battle, and David was brought back to live at the palace, this time as king. Even Jesus, for as many times as He escaped from the hands of His captors, trust God to administer the ultimate justice when God told Him to lay down His life for those who sinned against Him. Because of this, the Bible says:

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

Jesus trusted God to make things right in the end—and make things right He did—just like David trusted God, and just like you and I can do when we feel like others are treating us unjustly.

There are many other things you can do in situations like these, such as forgiving those who mistreat you (see Matthew 18:21-35) or calling for help from others who can step in and help with the situation (see Matthew 18:15-17).

Whether you flee or whether you stay, whether the situation improves or gets worse, know that God can protect and provide for you in the midst of it, and that He can work all things for good in the end. Remember David at En Gedi, and remember what the Bible says:

“… that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for giving us the example of David and Saul, so we can learn from them to see just how much You can do for those who love You. And Lord, help us to to keep putting our trust in You that You will always work all things for good in Your way and in Your timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 14: What Happened At The Qumran Caves?

The Qumran Caves are the site of what has been called “the greatest archaeological discovery of modern time.” To find out what was discovered there, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to see how this tremendous discovery can affect your life in profound ways today, too.

So what happened at the Qumran Caves? That’s where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. And the scrolls found at Qumran aren’t just any old scrolls. They contain the oldest hand-written manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament, that have ever been found.

Because the scrolls were made of animal skins and parchment, both of which are easily carbon-dated, the ages of these scrolls have been reliably dated as having been written between the years of 200 BC and 68 AD.C and 68 AD. It was quite a find for the shepherd boy who discovered the caves and the scrolls back in 1947, and for the many scholars and archaeologists who have found more caves and more scrolls in the Qumran area since that time.

Among the thousands of scrolls and scroll fragments that have been found, at least a portion of every book of the Old Testament has been discovered to date, with the exception of the book of Esther. Multiple copies of some of the scrolls have been found, such as the books of Psalms, Genesis, and Deuteronomy, and some of the books have been found in their entirety, such as the book of Isaiah.

What makes this discovery so exciting to researchers is that the books are so very old. For instance, the Isaiah scroll is 1,000 years older than any previously discovered copy of Isaiah. And even more exciting is the high level of accuracy of today’s translations of the Bible when compared to these scrolls from the time of Christ.

Archaeological finds like those at the Qumran Caves continue to shed light and credibility on the Scriptures that we use today. In the words of the book of Isaiah itself:

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

When you look out at the barren mountains that surround Qumran, and see how the grass has withered, the flowers have fallen, and even the people who lived there have faded away, it’s an awesome thought to think that the Word of God still stands.

The fact that God’s Word has remained true for all this time confirms to me that the same words He spoke to the people back then, God wants to speak to you today.

When God says in the book of Jeremiah,

“I have loved you with an everlasting love,” (Jeremiah 31:3). 

He meant it then, and He means it today.

When God says in the book of Joshua,

“I will never leave you nor forsake you,” (Joshua 1:5), 

He meant it then, and He means it today.

When God said in the book of Isaiah,

“…those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

He meant it then, and He means it today.

God loves you, He will never leave you nor forsake you, and He will give you the strength you need to fulfill the purpose for which He created you, if you’ll continue to put your hope and faith in Him.

Even though the grass withers and the flowers fade away, the Word of God will stand forever, as evidenced once again by the ancient scrolls that were found in the caves at Qumran. God is faithful and true, and His Word is powerful and reliable.

Keep reading God’s Word. Keep hiding it in your heart and memorizing it regularly. Keep meditating on it day and night, as God told Joshua to do in Joshua 1:8. Don’t let this ancient treasure that has been preserved for so long be wasted. Keep opening up your Bible again and again, and let God’s Living Word breathe life into your daily walk with Him.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for preserving these ancient manuscripts of Your Word for all of these years. Thank You for confirming to us that Your Word is reliable and true, and for giving us the inspiration we need to keep reading it, memorizing it and meditating on it day and night, so that we may experience the fullness of the life for which we were created. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 13: What Happened At Masada?

In America, the “Fourth of July” is not just a date on the calendar, but to us is a phrase that is synonymous with the word “Freedom!” In Israel, there’s a place called Masada that symbolizes for many Jews the fight for freedom as well, a fight that took place there back in 73 A.D.

To find out what happened and take a look at the mountain of Masada yourself, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out how taking a stand for freedom can inspire and impact those around you as well.

So what happened at Masada? This is the place where almost 1,000 Jews committed suicide. As gruesome as it may sound, the truth is that these people were so committed to the idea of staying free that they preferred to die free than to live as slaves.

Although the story of Masada doesn’t appear in the Bible, and the suicidal aspects of the story go against traditional Jewish beliefs, what happened at Masada still makes a profound statement about the lengths people are willing to go for freedom. In some ways, it reminds me of Patrick Henry’s famous words at the beginning of the American Revolution:  “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

But while Patrick’s Henry’s speech was a call to fight for the freedom in which they believed, for the 960 Jewish rebels who had been holed up in the mountain of Masada as a fortress from which they launched their attacks on the Roman Empire, fighting was no longer an option. The Romans had sent thousands of troops to Masada to take back this fortress that King Herod and others had developed over the years. (The word “masada” means “fortress.”)

Because of the steep cliffs that protected Masada from its enemies, the Romans could not simply rush into the fortress to take it back. Instead, they moved tons of sand and dirt over the period of three years to build a siege ramp from the base of the mountain to its top. The ramp, as well as the remains of the Roman camps that were built in those days to house the armies for those three years, can still be seen clearly today.

It was a massive undertaking by the Roman government that finally culminated in the year 73 A.D., within a generation after the time when Jesus Christ had lived and died.

But when the Romans finally reached the top of Masada and broke through the gates, they found that the battle for which they had prepared for so long would not have to take place. The 960 rebels had, days earlier, realized that a fight would not be profitable. And rather than giving up their freedom to worship God in the way they believed, they gave up their lives, dying free, rather than living as slaves under Roman rule.

The story of their faith and how they came to their final end was documented by those who lived inside Masada. Interestingly, as a way to avoid committing wholesale suicide which was against their own teachings, each man drew lots and took turns taking the lives of their own families and friends, until finally only one man remained who alone killed himself.

While there’s nothing scriptural to justify suicide, this story serves as a reminder of just how precious freedom really is, and to what lengths people will go to get it, rather than to live in slavery any longer.

It was the same sort of commitment the men who signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence made when they wrote:

“…we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor” (from the final sentence of the Declaration of Independence).

And many of those who signed the Declaration of Independence did give up their lives and fortunes because of that pledge of sacred honor to one another.

Christ calls us to do the same.

Jesus frequently invited people to “come and see” what the kingdom of heaven was all about, then challenged them to go deeper and to “come and die” for that kingdom of heaven.

Here are a few of the things that Jesus said about the cost of freedom that could come to those who follow Him:

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35).

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).

Jesus wants us to be as committed to Him and to the freedom that He offers as were those who were committed to freedom at Masada, as were those who were committed to freedom in America.

There’s a price to pay for freedom that Christ offers. But when you’re following Christ, any price is worth it. And once you’re willing to die for Jesus, you’ll find it’s so much easier to live for Him as well.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for dying for us to set us free, and help us to be willing to die to set others free as well. And Lord, help us realize that being willing to die for You will free to us to live for You even more.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 12: What Happened At Sodom And Gomorrah?

I’m not usually a “fire and brimstone” type of preacher.  But if there was ever a time to preach a message on fire and brimstone, it’s today, because today we’re going to look at the time when God rained fire and brimstone down from heaven on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because their wickedness had become so great. To find out what happened there, take a look at this short video below, then read on below to learn how powerful God really is, and how God can use that power in your life today.

So what happened at Sodom and Gomorrah? God destroyed them completely. The destruction that took place at Sodom and Gomorrah was so complete that nothing has grown again in that region for thousands of years.

Compare that to the most powerful destruction men have invented, such as the atomic bombs which destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the war with Japan, and you’ll see just how powerful God really is.

When the bombs were dropped on those cities, they were almost completely wiped out within seven seconds. But if you visited those cities just forty years later, although you would have found those cities had changed, you would have also found that they were teeming with life again. Buildings, trees, and people had grown up all around them. I’m told that except for the monuments that were erected to remind people of the horrific destruction that took place there years ago, visitors may not even realize the cities were once destroyed.

Sodom and Gomorrah, on the other hand, have never come back to life, and it’s not been just forty years, or four hundred years, but more than four thousand years.

While the cities themselves no longer exist, the memory of what happened there is often repeated. Abraham talked about Sodom and Gomorrah, as did Isaiah, Paul, Peter, John, and even Jesus. As for the condition of the land beforehand, we’re told that it wasn’t always a barren wasteland, but it was at one time “well-watered, like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). It was such a desirable land that Lot chose to live there when Abraham gave him his choice of where to live.

But as desirable as the land may have been, the people of the land left much to be desired. Their wickedness had become so great that God sent two angels—in the form of men—down to Sodom to destroy it.

Although God’s patience is longer than ours, even His patience runs out. And that time had come for Sodom. God didn’t want to have to destroy it. He even told Abraham He would spare the entire city if He could find even ten righteous people living there. But when the angels arrived and went to spend the night with Lot and his family, the men of the city showed how far their wickedness had gone. The Bible says:

Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them” (Genesis 19:4-5).

Lot pleaded with them not to do this to his guests, but the men of Sodom persisted, saying:

“Get out of our way. This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door (Genesis 19:9).

No matter what you might think about the topic of homosexuality, the idea of men forcibly having sex with other men goes against God’s beautiful design for sex.

Through a miraculous intervention of the two angels, God whisked away Lot and his family, and finally did what He hoped He wouldn’t have to do. Genesis 19:23-26 says:

“Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:24-26).

Although Lot and his two daughters escaped, Lot’s wife looked back, against the clear instruction of the angels who helped them to escape. Perhaps she hesitated and looked back to take one last look at the city where she had spent so much of her life.  Or maybe she was just curious and wanted to see for herself just how what such destruction might look like.  But whatever the reason, her looking back caused her to suffer the same fate as those who had also so deliberately gone against God’s commands—commands that were not designed to restrict or limit them, but commands that would help them to live, and live abundantly.

When Jesus talked about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, He warned people:

“Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:32).

I want to encourage you today to do the same: Remember Lot’s wife!

I know that some of you are playing with fire. You’re doing things that you know are against God’s will for your life. Whether you’re doing them because you’ve always done them, or whether you’re just curious and want to see what it’s like, you’re still playing with fire. And God’s fire can burn you seriously—and for eternity.

God may have been patient with you this far and not yet brought the complete destruction upon you that He could bring at any moment. But don’t mistake God’s patience as His approval of what you’re doing. The purpose of His patience is to give you time to turn from your sin so that you can save yourself from the destruction that’s coming upon you if you don’t.

Remember Lot’s wife! Turn from the coming destruction while you still have a chance. Do it today. Don’t hesitate. Don’t look back. Don’t let curiosity kill you. If you’ve been looking at pornography, stop it today. If you’ve been considering, or engaged in, and adulterous relationship, end it today. If you’ve been abusing drugs or alcohol, stop it today. If you’ve been using God’s gift of sex in ways that are selfish instead of ways that lead to an abundant life, stop it today. Remember Lot’s wife, and live!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for reminding us of Your incredible power and Your incredible patience with us. Lord, help us to throw off everything that hinders us from beautiful relationship with You and with those around us. Fill us with Your power to do all that You’ve called us to do today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 11: What Will Happen At The Dead Sea?

The Dead Sea was one of my favorite stops on our trip to Israel. Maybe it was because we had some extra time to relax there because of a change in our schedule. Or maybe it was because the land and the water were so unusually beautiful. But I think the main reason I liked it so much is because of what will happen there in the future. To see what it looks like yourself, and to find out what God is going to do there one day, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out what God could do in your life in unexpected ways as well.

So what will happen at the Dead Sea? Everything will come back to life! To understand how dramatic this change will be, you have to understand how dead the Dead Sea really is.

The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on earth at almost 1,400 hundred feet below sea level. It’s also the saltiest body of water on earth, with a salinity of 30-33%, which is about six to seven times saltier than the oceans. Because of this, and whatever other reasons God has chosen, nothing is able to live in the Dead Sea whatsoever. There are no fish in the water, so there are no birds in the air. There’s no grass along the shoreline, and no algae growing along its edges. The Dead Sea really is dead!

For some reason, I used to picture the Dead Sea as some kind of smelly swamp filled with dead things. But actually there’s nothing “dead” in it. There are no dead fish on the shore and the water is as clear as crystal, giving a clear view of millions of shimmering crystals of salt that cover the bottom of the sea itself. In the Bible, it’s not called the Dead Sea, but rather the “Sea of Salt,” which is perhaps is a bit more descriptive. It’s also referred to as the Eastern Sea, as it is on the East side of Israel, and just southeast of Jerusalem.

Given this background of just how desolate the sea is, it’s even more remarkable to read about what God is going to do there one day. You can read about it in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 47. God gave Ezekiel a vision of the future, showing him the new temple that would one day be in Jerusalem. And out from beneath this temple, a river would flow—a river of life, all the way to the Dead Sea. Ezekiel says:

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea [the Dead Sea]. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea [the Mediterranean]. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:6b-12).

The prophet Zechariah also makes reference to this event, saying:

On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea [the Dead Sea] and half to the western sea [the Mediterranean], in summer and in winter (Zechariah 14:8).

When you’re standing at the edge of the Dead Sea, it’s awesome to consider that one day it will be teeming with life—that one day, living water will pour out from underneath the temple in Jerusalem to bring life to all the water touches, even filling this great basin of the Dead Sea with enough fresh water to bring this barren spot back to life.

Having read through many of the other prophecies in the Bible and visited the spots where they’ve already been fulfilled—such as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah that God foretold to Abraham and took place near here, or the birth of the Savior that God told Micah would take place in Bethlehem hundreds of years before Jesus was born—I’m reassured that what has been foretold about the Dead Sea, and its coming back to life again, will take place just as certainly.

And it shouldn’t be surprising that God can bring things that have been dead back to life again. I’ve seen Him do it in my own life, giving me a new birth over twenty years ago when I thought I was headed for death, then giving me an abundant life instead. And I’ve seen God do the same thing in the lives of countless others as well, breathing new life into marriages that were officially dead, or bringing forth new life from wombs that doctors had declared physically dead.

I think of ministries and churches and corporations that have been on the brink of bankruptcy, without a hope in the world, but through hope in God have come back to life more fully and fruitfully than ever.

God specializes in bringing the dead back to life! This isn’t to say that God wants everything to live, for there are some things that should die in our lives, and other things that have run their course and need to pass on so that something fresh and new can be birthed. But there’s no doubt that God can breathe life into anything that He intends to bring back to life!

Maybe there’s something in your life right now that feels like it is dead or dying and you see no way in the world for it to come back to life. But don’t put your hope in the world. Put your hope in the Lord God Almighty, the Author and Sustainer of life itself!

Before you give up on that which may look dead today, consider Him who gives life and breath to every living thing that you see around you today. Be encouraged that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead can give life to your mortal bodies as well. Be encouraged that the same God who breathed life into Adam, who was made out of the dust of the ground, can breathe new life into your family, your business, your marriage, your ministry. Be encouraged that the river of life that will flow into the Dead Sea will bring life to all that it touches.

God loves to bring that which is dead back to life! Let His river of life flow into your life today!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for showing us how you can breathe life into the most desolate places on earth, and encourage us that Your river of life can touch our lives as well. Lord, help us to have the faith that You can and You will bring new life back into everything that You have said should come back to life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 10: What Happened At The Jordan River?

For today’s message, I’d like to take you to one of the world’s most famous rivers, the Jordan River in Israel. The waters of this river flow about 200 miles from the north of Israel to the south, passing through the Sea of Galilee in the north, then continuing its final destination at the Dead Sea in the south. To find out some of the things that took place on this historic river, take a look at the short video below that I shot on the banks of the river itself, then read on to hear about how very much God loves you—and how you can express your love back to Him.

(I’ve also included in the video an actual baptism at the Jordan River, this one of my son Josiah. You’ll note as you watch that there are some overly friendly fish in the river who love nibbling at people’s toes! The fish are harmless, but they do make the baptism all the more… uhmm… exciting!)

So what happened at the Jordan River? This is where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. This is also where John the Baptist baptized thousands of people, as did Jesus’ disciples.

The Jordan River has also been the site of many other events over several thousand years of history, such as:

  • when Joshua and the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground as they entered into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-17),
  • when Naaman was healed of leprosy in the Jordan (2 Kings 5:8-14),
  • when Elisha made an ax head float on top of the water (2 Kings 6:1-7),
  • and when Elijah was taken up into heaven after crossing the Jordan with Elijah (2 Kings 2:6-12).

But of all the events that took place in the Jordan, perhaps the most famous is the baptism of Jesus. And what makes that event so special to me is not just what Jesus did there, but what God the Father said to Jesus when Jesus was baptized there. Here’s the story, as recorded in Matthew chapter 3:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13-17).

I love the fact that God, the Father, told Jesus, His Son, how very much He loved Him—even before Jesus did one miracle, before He healed anyone of any disease, before He preached any sermon, walked on the water, or raised anyone from the dead.

God, the Father, loved Jesus, not because of all that Jesus had done for Him, but because Jesus was His Son.

And the truth is, God loves you for the same reason, not because of all you’ve done for Him, but simply because you’re His son or daughter, made in His image, and created for a loving relationship with Him from the moment He conceived you (which, by the way, could have been long before the time that your parents conceived you…see Jeremiah 1:5, for example). God loves you. He adores you. He created you. And He has so much in store for you and your life.

The good news is you don’t have to go to the Jordan River to let God love on you. He’s glad to soak you in His love wherever you may be. How can you feel God’s love more in your life? One way is to just take a few minutes to sit and meditate on the truth that He does indeed love you. Read the passage of Jesus’ baptism again from Matthew chapter 3 and remember that He loves you just as He loved Jesus, even before Jesus began His ministry.

Remember that you’re His child, His little one, His beloved. Remember that He sent Jesus to die for the sins in your life, the messes that you’ve made, so that you won’t have to pay the price for those sins yourself. Remember that His love extends for generations to those who love Him. And remember that you really are special, a wonderful creation of the most loving Father in the world.

And while you’re considering this passage on Jesus’ baptism, can I also encourage you that if you’ve never been baptized to consider being baptized soon? There’s something special that comes from being obedient to the Lord’s command in this area. Jesus’ words about baptism were so important that He included them in His final instructions to His disciples before going into heaven. Jesus said:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19).

I’ve studied the topic of baptism for many years, yet I can honestly say that I still don’t understand it fully. But what I do understand is that something powerful takes place when a person is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen baptism can touch people in so many ways, from realizing that they truly are saved and going to heaven, to feeling like their sins are dripping off of them as they come out of the water, to receiving new giftings from God to help them make the most of their new lives in Christ.

As a follower of Christ, baptism is one of those steps that demonstrate you are willing to follow in His footsteps, being baptized as He was baptized and then living the rest of your life as He lived His.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for loving us even before we ever did anything for You, and regardless of anything that we’ve done against You. We pray that You would pour out Your love on us again today in a way that we can hear it, see it, feel it, or otherwise sense it. Lord, we also pray that You would show us ways that we can express our love back to You, whether it is by being baptized ourselves, or in some other way, for our desire is to pour out our love on You as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 9: What Happened At Caesarea Philippi?

Caesarea Philippi is on the northern edge of Israel in a beautiful region known as Dan. But the things that took place there weren’t always so beautiful. To find out more, watch the short video below, then read on to find out how God can do beautiful things for you even if you’re in a very dark place.

So what happened at Caesarea Philippi? This is where God revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Caesarea Philippi was also home to a cultic temple carved into the side of a massive rock that was called at that time “the gates of hell.” It was so named because of the infant sacrifices that took place there in the years leading up to the time of Christ.

With this background in mind, the words that Jesus spoke on this spot are even more meaningful. Here’s what happened, as recorded in the book of Matthew:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-19).

I never realized until I went to Israel what a dark place Caesarea Philippi must have been in the days when Jesus was speaking.

The Temple of Pan had been built there a few hundred years earlier, and when people came to worship Pan, they would bring with them an infant child to be offered as a sacrifice. The child was thrown into the water that flowed from the rock on the side of the cliff. If the child went under the water and disappeared, that meant Pan had accepted their sacrifice. If instead, the child’s was dashed apart under water and its blood flowed into the river below, Pan had rejected their sacrifice. Either way, the child’s life was over.

Not only was this area known for this pagan temple, but the Israelites had also rejected God in this region hundreds of years before that. Way back in the days of King Jeroboam, Jeroboam ruled Israel from this area.  But for fear that the people would want to leave his kingdom and side with the breakaway kingdom of Judah, he erected two altars in this area instead. He made two golden calves and said to the people:

“It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there (1 Kings 12:28b-29).

So this region of Dan, at the northernmost border of Israel, which is so beautiful and hilly and rich on the outside, had been a place of great darkness spiritually. In Jesus’ day, with the Temple of Pan located there, it was an even darker place. Yet this is where God chose to reveal to Peter and the other disciples that Jesus was the Christ. The darkness wasn’t a problem for Him, for He was, as He called Himself, “the light of the world.” Jesus said:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Perhaps you’re in a dark time or a dark place in your life today. Or perhaps you have family or friends who are surrounded by darkness. If so, I want to encourage you to take heart: Jesus can reveal Himself even in the darkest of times and places. In fact, based on the time and place where He made this revelation to Peter, Jesus seems to delight in doing just that.

I also want to encourage you to make sure your faith in Christ is profoundly personal. By that I mean, don’t just take someone else’s word for it that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Make sure that this is something that you believe deeply yourself. If you look at Jesus’ questions in the passage above, you’ll see that He started by asking His disciples what others said about Him. “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples replied:

“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

It’s sometimes safe and easy to talk about Jesus in terms of what others believe about Him. If asked who He is, some people might say, “Well, my grandmother thinks He’s God, “ or “My parents believe He’s the Messiah,” or “My friends say that He’s their Savior.” But after Jesus asked the disciples what others said about Him, He turned to them directly and asked who they thought He was.

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”

There comes a point in life when you can no longer rely solely on the faith of others to get you through the trials you’re facing. You can no longer waver between what others say about Christ. My prayer is that you’ll be able to say, like Peter said:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

“The Christ” (Greek) and “the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean the same thing: “the Anointed One.”

If you’ve never put your faith in Jesus, trusting and believing that He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One who came to die for your sins and bring light into your world, I encourage you to do it today. And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, know that He is a Savior who delights in revealing Himself even in the darkest of places. Keep on praying that He will reveal Himself again and again to you, to your family and friends, and to the rest of the world.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for revealing that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior of all who put their faith in Him. Help us to see that revelation for ourselves in a fresh way today, and help others see Him that way as well, no matter how dark it may seem all around them right now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 8: What Happened On The Mount Of Beatitudes?

The Mount of Beatitudes is one of the many hills that rise up around the Sea of Galilee. It was here that Jesus preached His famous “Sermon on the Mount,” blessing thousands of people who had gathered to hear Him speak. But why is it called the Mount of “Beatitudes,” and what else did Jesus do on this hill for those who gathered here? Take a look at the short video below to hear more and to get a view of the mountain itself.  Then read on to see how Jesus can bless you today—and how you can be a blessing to Him!

So what happened on the Mount of Beatitudes? “Beatitude” means “blessing,” and this is where Jesus spoke about the many blessings that God offers to those who believe in Him, such as:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled…” (Matthew 5:3-6).

This is also where Jesus demonstrated His blessings to the crowd by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish into a feast that fed five thousand. The Bible says:

“Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand” (Mark 6:39-44).

It’s a remarkable story, and Jesus still does similar things today. I’ve written about one such story that happened to me recently on our trip to Israel—and even culminated for me at the very spot where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes. (I’ve included this story at the end of this book, in the concluding chapter called “Making A Chance.”)

But as practical as Jesus’ teachings are, and as remarkable as His ability to multiply loaves and fish is, Jesus doesn’t stop there. He goes a step farther and offers us more: an abundant life in Him. But sometimes we’re the ones who shortchange what Jesus has to offer us.

I heard a story about a boy who went to his uncle’s farm every summer for a few days. When the boy would arrive, his uncle would greet him with pockets full of nickels jingling at his sides. After a few minutes of talking with each other, the uncle reached into his pocket and handed his nephew a nickel.

Throughout the next few days, the uncle did the same thing over and over, spending a few minutes talking with the boy, then handing him a nickel; doing a chore or two, then handing the boy a nickel; taking a walk down the road together then handing the boy a nickel. By the end of those few days, the uncle’s pockets were empty and the boy’s pockets were full.

The next summer, the same thing happened. The uncle began with his pockets jangling with nickels and at the end of their time together, the boy’s pockets were full of nickels.

After a few summers, the boy got an idea. The next time he visited his uncle at the farm, he was again greeted by his uncle with his pockets full of nickels. The boy said: “Every summer by the end of my time with you, you always give me all the nickels in your pocket. So I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you just give me all the nickels right now, then I can go do what I want, and you can go do what you want without me around to bother you!”

Although the boy’s idea had merit at one level, it missed the point entirely at another. The reason the uncle gave the boy the nickels in the first place was because he loved spending as much time with the boy as he could. The uncle wanted to be with his nephew, and their time together always turned out to be precious to them both.

You can almost see this boy’s idea start to crop up in the hearts of the people who followed Jesus. The day after Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes, more boats arrived at the place where the miracle had occurred, but Jesus was no longer there. The Bible says:

Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (John 6:24-27a).

Jesus went on to remind them that God is eager to provide for their daily needs just as He provided bread from heaven—in the form of manna—every day for forty years while the Israelites wandered through the desert. But then Jesus added:

“I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:48-51a).

While Jesus is glad to give you practical advice for living, like He did in the Sermon on the Mount, He wants to give you more. And while He’s glad to meet your daily needs, as He did for those who ate the feast on the hillside, He wants to give you more.

Jesus wants to give you a relationship with Him, the living bread that came down from heaven. He doesn’t want to just give you money for the trip, He wants to be your companion along the journey. He doesn’t want to just give you a roadmap to where you’re going, He wants to go with you and guide you there Himself. Your relationship with Jesus takes precedence over everything He could ever teach you, or give you, in a lifetime.

I want to encourage you today: come to Jesus for His teachings, for they can change your life; and come to Him for your daily bread, for He’s still a God who can provide for all your needs with baskets full left over.

But don’t stop there. Don’t shortchange all that God wants to do for you today. Come to Him for life, and life abundant. Come to Him for a feast that never ends—eternal life with Him, a life that starts here on earth and goes on forever. As Jesus told those on the hillside:

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty….If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:35,51b).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for blessing us with Your life and Your words. Help us to look to You for our daily bread, but not to stop there. Help us to look to You for bread that will last forever, bread that comes only through an ongoing relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

 

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Lesson 7: What Happened In Capernaum?

I was surprised when I visited the city of Capernaum to learn about all the things that Jesus did there. It shouldn’t have been surprising, however, for Capernaum served as the home base for most of Jesus’ ministry, having moved there when He left His boyhood home of Nazareth. To hear about some of the things that Jesus did in Capernaum, take a look at the forty-second video below. Then read on to see how Jesus is still working today in the same ways that He did in Capernaum.

So what happened in Capernaum? This is where Jesus healed many people. Here’s a sampling of the healings that took place there:

  • He healed the centurion’s servant
  • He healed the paralytic and forgave him of his sins
  • He healed the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years
  • He healed Jairus’ daughter, raising her from the dead
  • and He healed two blind men.

The common thread running through each of these stories is that the people were healed by faith in Christ.

In the story of the centurion’s servant, Jesus commends his faith, saying:

“I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith…” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour (Matthew 8:10b,13).

In the story of the paralytic, Jesus took note of his friends’ faith:

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,

“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” … Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home. (Matthew 9:2b,6b-7).

In the story of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, Jesus said:

“Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment (Matthew 9:22b).

In the story of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus said:

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” … He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’ ). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around… (Mark 5:36b, 41-42a).

And in the story of the two blind men, before Jesus healed them, He asked them a question:

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored (Matthew 9:28b-30a).

It was this last story that surprised me the most when I read that it took place in Capernaum, for it was this story that inspired me to put my faith in Christ 23 years ago. I had no idea that it took place there in Capernaum until I was preparing for this trip to Israel. It was a detail I had overlooked at the time.

When I had read the story 23 years ago, I was walking along a road in Houston, Texas. I was about 7,000 miles away from Capernaum and it was about 2,000 years later. I was asking God for a healing in my own life. I felt like Jesus was asking me the same question: “Eric, do you believe I am able to do this, too?”

I thought about everything Jesus had ever done—how He healed the sick, walked on water and raised the dead. I thought if anyone could do it, Jesus could. So I put my hand up in the air, and for the first time in my life, I truly put my faith in Christ. Like the blind men, I said, “Yes, Lord.” And like the blind men, I was healed in that moment.

By the next day I had put my faith in Christ for everything in my life. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and trusted Him to take me to live with Him forever when I died. (If you’d like to read more of this story, you can read it on my website at http://www.theranch.org.)

The course of my life changed that day, and it was all based on a story that took place in Capernaum. To stand there when we visited Israel and think about what happened then and how it had affected me now was astounding. What a blessing that these stories have been recorded for us and can touch our lives in such life-changing ways.

Faith in Christ is a powerful thing. But you don’t have to take my word for it—you can take His word for it! According to His word, it was by faith that the centurion’s servant was healed; by faith, the paralytic was forgiven of his sins and healed of his paralysis; by faith, the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years was healed; by faith, Jairus’ daughter was raised from the dead; and by faith, the sight of the blind men had restored.

If you need God to do something in your life that you can’t seem to do on your own, I’d like to encourage you to put your faith in Christ, and keep putting your faith in Him for everything in Your life. You’ll be glad you did.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for the inspiring stories of faith that took place in Capernaum. I pray that You would reach out to us in the same way today, doing the impossible for those who are willing to put their faith in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 6: What Happened On The Sea Of Galilee?

Today, we’re visiting the Sea of Galilee.  If you’d like to see—and hear—what the water looks like at the Sea of Galilee today, take a look at the short video below. It’s a beautiful spot in the land of Israel and the site of some of Jesus’ most memorable miracles. Then read on to see how putting your faith in Christ can help you through some of the toughest situations in your life.

So what happened on the Sea of Galilee?  This is where Jesus spent much of His time after He left His boyhood home of Nazareth.  In the coming weeks, I’ll be talking about several of the miracles that took place here that touched people’s hearts and lives.

But today I’d like to focus on two that took place out on the sea itself: when Jesus walked on water and when He calmed the storm that threatened the lives of His disciples.

Jesus is an expert at walking through storms. The miracle that He did on the Sea of Galilee wasn’t the first time He displayed His giftedness for this. Just before coming to the Sea of Galilee, Jesus walked unscathed through another storm that threatened to take His own life.

Maybe you remember that when Jesus lived in Nazareth, He went to the synagogue one day and read from the scroll of Isaiah. At first, all the people spoke well of Him, being amazed at “the gracious words that came from His lips.” But after quoting from the words of Isaiah—referring to the Messiah that was to come—Jesus added:

“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21b).

Imagine growing up in the same city with Jesus—the guy down the block who did carpentry with His dad—then He gets up and says that He’s the Messiah, the One about whom the prophet Isaiah had written about some 700 years earlier. You’d think that Jesus was either a lunatic or a liar. He couldn’t possibly be telling the truth, could He?

So the crowd turned on Him. The Bible says:

“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and took Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way” (Luke 4:28-30).

The crowd went from calm to stormy in a matter of seconds. They went from praising Jesus to taking Him to the edge of a cliff to throw Him off within a matter of minutes. But Jesus wasn’t phased by their words of praise nor their acts of violence. He simply said what He had to say, then “walked right through the crowd and went on His way.”

So when the storm came up on His disciples on the Sea of Galilee some time later, Jesus wasn’t phased by it either. He and His disciples had just finished a long day of ministering to thousands, having heard earlier in the day that John the Baptist had just been beheaded. Jesus headed off to a mountainside to pray, telling His disciples to get into the boat and head to the other side.

The story picks up here:

When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

That’s when Jesus famously called Peter to come out to Him and walk on the water and which Peter did until he saw the wind and the waves and started to sink again. So Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter’s and pulled him back up.

The story finishes by saying:

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:23b-33).

There are two things that I’d like to mention about this storm. The first is that Jesus is the one who sent them into it. And the second is that Jesus is the one who brought them out of it.

Just like in Nazareth, Jesus didn’t worry about the wind and the waves.  In the case of the angry crowd, Jesus had nothing to fear.  It was the crowd who was fearful by what Jesus was saying and acted wrongfully because of it. Jesus did what was right and when He was done He simply walked through the crowd and went on His way.

In the same way, when Jesus needed to get to the other side of the lake, He wasn’t phased by the fact that strong waves lay ahead. He sent His disciples into the waves and He went into them Himself afterward. Jesus wasn’t afraid of the storm. Jesus just kept doing what He needed to do and His disciples did what He told them to.

There are times when I’ve felt like I was being thrown into a storm—and it seemed like it was Jesus who was throwing me into it! I’ve learned that the best thing to do in those times is to hold onto Jesus as tight as I can. I know that Jesus knows best how to walk through them, whether I’m facing an angry crowd or some wind and some waves.

You may find yourself in the middle of a storm right now, too. The circumstances of your life may be buffeting against you. You may be facing things that are threatening your health, your family, your relationships, your job, your career, your finances or your friends. The threats may be very real and the prospects ahead may look very grim.

I want to encourage you to hold onto Jesus as tight as you can. Keep walking through the wind and the waves. Keep walking towards Jesus, the Messiah, the Author and Sustainer of your life. And even if you start to sink, know that Jesus is right beside you to take hold of your hands and pull you in close. Hold on tight and never let Him go. He’s the One who knows best how to walk through a storm. Let Him speak to you the words He spoke to His disciples that night on the Sea of Galilee:

“Take courage, it is I! Don’t be afraid.”

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to help us through the storms we face. Thank You for reminding us that it’s sometimes even Jesus who sends us into the storms in the first place. Lord, help us to have the faith to trust in Him, no matter what, and to trust that whether it’s Him who sent us into the storm or not, that He’s the One who can bring us through it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 5: What Happened In Nazareth?

Our next stop on this devotional tour of the Holy Land is a city that wasn’t known as one of the hot spots of Israel. In fact, the Bible quotes Nathanael as saying,

“Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46).

But something good did come from there. To hear what happened there, take a look at this short video that I shot while at the Nazareth Village in Israel, a re-creation of what the city might have looked like back in Jesus’ day.  Then read on below to find out how God can work in your life through even the most difficult situations to accomplish His plans.

So what happened in Nazareth? This is where Jesus grew up. It was also the hometown of Mary and Joseph and the place where the angel Gabriel came to Mary and said:

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31).

But Jesus wasn’t born in Nazareth. In fact, His route to ending up here seemed rather circuitous.

Because of the Roman census, Mary and Joseph had to return to Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. Then after Jesus’ birth, Herod found out that a new “King of the Jews” may have been born in Bethlehem and began a killing spree of all the newborn boys there, so Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt. After Herod died, Mary and Joseph returned again to Israel and went back to their hometown of Nazareth.

It may have seemed like Jesus and his parents were being yanked around by governments and kings, making their lives difficult at critical times. I try to imagine Mary being nine months pregnant, having to ride on a donkey to Bethlehem, then finding no place to stay and give birth to her child. I try to imagine their having to flee that city because a crazed king wanted to kill their young Son. I try to imagine their having to move to a foreign country when Jesus was small, with all the changes such a move from family and friends must have entailed.

Yet I’m encouraged to think that each stop along the way was not random. Each move was part of God’s divine plan for both Jesus and His parents. Hundreds of years earlier each stop along the way had already been foretold.

Getting to Bethlehem was the first stop in fulfilling the prophecies concerning the Messiah. When the chief priests and teachers of the law were asked where the Messiah was to be born, they replied:

“In Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel’ “ (Matthew 2:5-6).

The trip to Egypt fulfilled the next stop. As Matthew said:

“And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’ “ (Matthew 2:15).

And the return to Nazareth fulfilled the third stop. As Matthew said about His return:

“So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:23).

So rather than a seemingly random chain of events moving Jesus from place to place, God had a plan and a way to use all of those events to bring about His will.

How does all this relate to you and me? I take encouragement from the fact that even when it looks like our lives are being pushed and pulled in various directions by people, governments, or difficult situations, that it may actually be God doing the pushing and pulling to fulfill His plans for our lives! And if it’s not God doing the actual pushing and pulling, at least it’s no surprise to Him what we’re going through. If God was able to foretell and use all of the events and situations that would surround the birth and life of His Son, then He is able to foretell and use all of the events and situations that we’ll face in our lives as well.

Rather than being upset at others who sometimes seem to be in control of our lives—whether it’s a boss or a job, a government official or a family member, a friend or an enemy—we can trust that God is the one who controls them all. And even if He doesn’t control them directly, for He has given each of us free will as well, God does know the hearts of men and women and He can work all things together for good.

Although Nazareth wasn’t a hot spot in the Holy Land in Jesus’ day, God wasn’t bothered by its reputation. It was here where God chose to raise His Son and it was here where the Bible says,

“Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).

Your life is not random and the places where you live and work and eat and sleep are not arbitrary, regardless of the reputation they may or may not have. God has a plan for you, for your life, and for the situations that you’re facing even right now. He wants you to trust Him fully with that plan and follow Him wherever He leads—whether that’s staying where He wants you to stay or going where He wants you to go.

Trust Him with every aspect of your life and let Him take control of the direction it takes. It’s good to make plans for our lives, but it’s also good to let God take control of those plans when He has a better one. As it says in the book of Proverbs:

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for taking the random events of our lives and giving them purpose and meaning in ways that go beyond what we could think or imagine. Lord, we commit to trusting You again today, giving You full control over the course of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 4: What’s Going To Happen At Megiddo?

You may have never heard of Megiddo before, but it’s more than likely you’ve heard about what is going to happen there one day. And with a little help from the Hebrew language, you may realize that you have heard of Megiddo before in just a slightly different form. Take a look at the short video below to see this historical place with an important future. Then keep reading below to see how it can affect your life today.

So what’s going to happen at Megiddo? That’s where Christ will return for the final battle of all the nations of the world.

The book of Revelation prophecies about this coming battle, saying that the spirits of demons will go out to the kings of the whole world:

“…to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. … Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” (Revelation 16:14b, 16).

Armageddon comes to us from the Hebrew words “Har” meaning hill, and Megiddo, referring to the city found there. So Har Megiddo means the hill of Megiddo, which translates for us into “Armageddon.”

It’s an unusual sight to look out and see the cars and trucks and buses going back and forth about their business at the base of the hill, knowing that one day all the nations of the world will gather here for that final epic battle, the one which has been depicted in so many apocalyptic books and movies.

But perhaps more sobering to me is the fact that since God has fulfilled so many prophecies found in the Bible already, it just follows reason that He will one day fulfill the rest as well, including the prophecies about this cataclysmic battle.

And from history, we know that this location has served as a battlefield for many battles before. King Josiah died here about 600 years before Christ in a battle with Pharaoh Neco of Egypt (2 Kings 23:29) and Sir Edmund Allenby of Britain launched a massive attack here during the first World War, to name a few.

The role of Megiddo as a military battlefield was summed up by Napoleon, one of the foremost military leaders of all time when he saw Megiddo in the early 1800’s. He is quoted as saying:

“All the armies of the world could maneuver their forces on this vast plain … There is no place in the whole world more suited for war than this … It is the most natural battleground on the whole earth.” (The Battles of Armageddon, pg. 142).

And Megiddo is situated in a primary trade route at the north of Israel, a location from which you can see the hills of neighboring countries who are even now poised and ready to do battle here. The inspiring thing about standing on the hill of Megiddo is that it makes me want to do right before God and men.

While God is certainly more forgiving and patient than I or anyone else I know has ever been or would ever be, there is still a limit to His patience. At some point, He must deal with sin, or He wouldn’t be a very good judge at all.

As much as I’d rather not think about it, there comes a time when justice must be done and we will all have to face judgment for what we’ve done. This day is often referred to in the Bible as the “Day of the Lord.” It’s a day that is referred to over twenty-five times in the Bible, including both the Old and New Testaments.

Several weeks before writing this message I had a dream in which I got an invitation in the mail. It was an invitation to an “end of the world party” to be held on June 6-7, just a few weeks from then. I don’t put much stock in the dream as anything prophetic, as even Jesus Himself said that no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36). But the dream did help me to think a little more clearly that day when I woke up!

I wondered: What would I do differently if I knew that the world was really going to end in just a few weeks? How would I spend my time? Who do I still need to talk to and what would I say? How can I help more people come into a relationship with Christ so that when the final battle does come they’re on the winning side?

And today I wonder: How would it affect your life if you knew that the end were just a few weeks away? It reminds me of a quote from Stephen Levine:

“If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?”

God wants more than anything else to have a relationship with each one of us, including you and those around you. He knows how sin affects our lives in ways that we could never even understand. And He wants us to be freed from those sins.

That’s why He sent Jesus to earth, to die for our sins, so that all who put their faith in Him will be forgiven of their sins and spend eternity with Him in heaven.

If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, I encourage you to do it today. Don’t wait any longer, for no one knows the day or hour when He will return. And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, share that faith with someone today.

Give them a call. Write them a letter. Send them a text, an email, or a link to this video and devotional. Remind them that:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for fulfilling so many of the prophecies of the Bible already and we trust that You will fulfill the rest in due time. Lord, help us to live our lives in such a way that they become shining testimonies to You and help us to encourage those around us to put their faith in Christ so they can be on the winning side in the final battle as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 3: What Happened On Mount Carmel?

As we continue our devotional tour of the Holy Land, we’re heading further north along the Mediterranean coast, this time to the top of Mount Carmel. It’s a beautiful spot where a powerful story took place about 3,000 years ago.

To hear a summary of the story in under two minutes, including how it applies to your life today, click the link to the video below.  Then continue reading the rest of the message below that to learn how God can answer your prayers in extraordinary ways, even though you may feel like just an “ordinary person.”

So what happened on Mount Carmel? That’s where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and Asherah to a dramatic showdown. Many of the Israelites had strayed from God, worshiping Baal and Asherah instead. The situation had gotten so bad that God told Elijah to go to the Israelite king, Ahab, and tell him:

“…there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1b).

So Elijah told this to Ahab and the rain stopped. All of Israel began to suffer. But neither Ahab nor the people turned back to God. After three and a half years, God told Elijah to go back to Ahab and tell him that the rain was about to come again.

Elijah went to Ahab and told him to meet him on Mount Carmel, where the dramatic showdown took place, and where God would answer Elijah’s prayers in a way that convinced the Israelites to turn their hearts back to God. It was after this that Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, bent down to the ground to pray, and by the end of the day, the rain poured down.

It’s one of the coolest stories in the Old Testament, and if you haven’t read it yet, or haven’t read it in awhile, I’d like to encourage you to read the whole thing sometime this week. You’ll find it in the book of 1 Kings, chapters 17-19.

While there are tons of helpful and encouraging lessons from these chapters—ranging from how God can provide for your needs even during a famine to how God can give you the courage you need to do some very difficult things—the lesson I’d like to focus on today deals with the question of why God sometimes answers your prayers and other times doesn’t—or at least not in the way you expected.

Sometimes God can knock your socks off with His answers to your prayers, like He did with Elijah’s prayers on Mount Carmel. The book of James even holds up Elijah’s story as an example of just how powerful prayer can be. James says:

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops” (James 5:16b-18).

So Elijah was human, just like us, and God heard and answered his prayers in a powerful way. Yet did you know that not long after this event, Elijah prayed another prayer—one that he seems to have prayed as earnestly as the one before—yet God didn’t do what Elijah asked?

This other prayer took place after the showdown at Mount Carmel, when Elijah had to run for his life because Ahab’s wife had vowed to hunt Elijah down until he was dead. So Elijah ran as far as he could until he he was thoroughly exhausted. The Bible says,

“He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors’” (1 Kings 19:4b). 

Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.

But God didn’t answer this prayer, at least in the way that Elijah wanted Him to answer it. God didn’t take his life. God wanted Elijah to live, for God still had more for Elijah to do with his life.

So God sent Elijah an angel. The angel woke him up and gave him something warm to eat. After eating two of these angel-cooked meals, Elijah gained enough strength to travel another forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. And it was there on Mount Horeb that God Himself appeared to Elijah in a very personal way,

“…in a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12b).

God didn’t give Elijah what he wanted, but He gave him something much better: an angel of encouragement, strength for the journey, and a one-on-one visit with Elijah himself.

I want to encourage you today that God can answer your prayers as dramatically and powerfully as He answered Elijah’s prayers for rain. But God can also answer your prayers like He answered Elijah’s second prayer, not necessarily giving you what you want or expect, but giving you something truly better.

God loves you. He cares about your life. And He has things that He truly wants to do in and through your life. Keep praying earnestly that God’s will would be done here on earth, through you, just as God’s will was done through Elijah’s prayers at Mount Carmel.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for Elijah’s example of what it means to pray earnestly for Your will to be done. Give us Your wisdom and insight into the situations in our lives today so that we can pray for Your will to be done in them as well. We love You and thank You for hearing our prayers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 2: What Happened In Caesarea?

Today we’re headed up the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the city of Caesarea.  Why Caesarea? Because something remarkable happened there about 2,000 years ago. To see what happened, take a look at the short video clip below, then read on to see how this story can apply to your life today.

So what happened in Caesarea? This is where Peter preached the good news about Jesus to Cornelius. And what makes it so remarkable? Because this is where God made it crystal clear that Jesus didn’t come just as a Savior for the Jews, but for anyone who would believe in Him.

The other thing that’s remarkable about this story is the way God spoke to Peter and Cornelius. God spoke in a way that was very specific, helping each of them know exactly what God wanted them to do next in their lives. Wouldn’t all of us love to have God do that for us! The truth is, He can, and often does, and if we read the story carefully, we can see some clues as to why God spoke to these two so clearly.

Here’s how God spoke to Cornelius:

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea” (Acts 10:1-6).

And here’s how God spoke to Peter:

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” (Acts 10:9-20).

Did you catch why God spoke the way He did to Cornelius? And why God might have spoken to Peter the way He did?

In Cornelius’ case, the Bible says, “He [Cornelius] and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” The angel then says very specifically: “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Then the angel proceeds to share with him what to do next.

And as for Peter’s case, his story begins with the words, “Peter went up on the roof to pray.” It was during that time of prayer that God spoke to Peter and revealed to him what he needed to do next, too.

Prayer in its most basic form is having a conversation with God. Sometimes it may feel like it’s only a one-way conversation, but I’ve found that the more I pray, and the more that I wait for and listen for and expect Him to answer, the more I actually hear God speak to me in return! It’s not rocket-science, but it does take is faith. And in Cornelius’ example, he didn’t rely on his faith alone, but he was continually demonstrating his faith in God by his good deeds. He was putting his money where his mouth was, so to speak. Or, as Jesus said it: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:22).

The beauty of this story is that God was not only moved by the prayers and gifts of these men, but God answered their prayers in a way that went beyond either of their expectations. For Cornelius, it opened up a whole new understanding of who God was and what He could do next to come into a more full and right relationship with Him. And for Peter, this opened a whole new door of ministry that he would have never realized even needed to be opened without his prayers and God’s response, that God wanted him to proclaim the good news about Jesus even to the Gentiles, meaning anyone who was not Jewish.

These are great lessons for any of us who want to experience more of God in our lives, and for anyone who wants to serve Him more fully.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, today’s a good day to thank God for what happened in Caesarea! And if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, today’s a good day to do that, too! Let God’s Spirit fall upon you as it fell upon all who heard Peter’s message that day when he said:

“All the prophets testify about Him [Jesus] that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:34-36,43).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for speaking to people so specifically about events that were about to change their lives so dramatically. We pray that You would speak to us again today, so that we may hear from You and do all that is on Your heart for us to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Lesson 1: Where Did Israel Get Its Name?

On the pages ahead, I’d like to take you on a “devotional tour” of the Holy Land.  In each lesson, I’ll be asking (and answering) a question about Israel and some of the major events that have taken place there.  My goal is to give you both a history lesson and a faith lesson: a history lesson about this land that is so precious to God, and a faith lesson that you can apply to your own life today.

I’d like to start with a foundational question: “Where did Israel get its name?”

To check your answer, keep reading on, or take a look at the short video clip at the link below that I recorded on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at the western edge of Israel.

So where did Israel get its name? Israel was named after Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, whom God later renamed “Israel.”

Jacob got this new name after an all-night wrestling match with an opponent whom Jacob comes to believe is God Himself. At the end of the struggle, Jacob’s opponent declares, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome” (Genesis 32:28). “Israel” means struggles, or strives, with God.

So the land of Israel was named after the man who lived there. His twelve sons and their families became the twelve “tribes” of Israel and spread out to live throughout the land. The Bible says that the borders of Israel at that time extended from the desert in the south to Lebanon in the north, and from the Euphrates River on the east to the western sea, or Mediterranean, on the west (see Deuteronomy 11:24 and Joshua 3:1-4).

The land of Israel was actually promised to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, years earlier, which is why the land of Israel is often referred to as the “promised land.”

What I love about reading these passages in the Bible is that they are continual reminders to me that God keeps His promises, whether they are to all of humanity, as in the case of God’s promise to Noah that God would never again destroy the earth with a flood, or to a particular nation, as in this case of God’s promise to the Israelites that He would bring them into this land, and then bring them back again if they were ever taken away. When God makes a promise, He keeps it!

Here’s the original promise that God made to Abraham way back in the twelfth chapter of the Bible, about 4,000 years ago. God said to Abraham:

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3).

So Abraham obeyed and went. And when Abraham got there, God gave him this promise:

“Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you” (Genesis 13:14-17).

God also forewarned Abraham that his descendants one day would be strangers in another country and enslaved for four hundred years, but afterward they would return to the promised land. This took place when a famine came upon Israel, and Israel’s sons moved to Egypt to get food. As the sons’ families grew in number, they were enslaved by the Egyptians for fear that they would become too powerful.

Four hundred years later, God sent Moses to set the Israelites free and return them to their homeland. God reminded the Israelites of His promise,saying to them as they approached the promised land:

“Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the western sea” (Deuteronomy 11:24, and again in Joshua 1:3-4).

Almost a thousand years later, the Israelites were taken captive again, this time to Babylon. But again, God promised that one day they would return to their land. God told the prophet Jeremiah to buy a field in Israel, even though they were about to be taken away, to let the people know that one day they would return again and that,

“Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” (Jeremiah 32:15).

They did return about seventy years later. Another five hundred or so years later, Jesus was born in Israel. Except for a few years when Jesus was young, when his parents took Him to Egypt to protect Him from King Herod, Jesus spent His entire life and ministry in the land of Israel.

And when Jesus comes back again, He’ll return to the land of His birth, to Israel.

God keeps His promises!

From Genesis to Revelation, God talks about His promises regarding both the land and the people of Israel. It is a land that is truly precious to God. The Bible says,

“It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end” (Deuteronomy 11:12).

And it’s a land that reminds us that God keeps His promises, whether they’re made to all of humanity, or to particular nations, or to individual people like you and like me.

God loves you, He cares about your life, and He wants to see you accomplish all that He has prepared in advance for you to do. If God has made you a promise, hold onto it! God keeps His promises.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for the promises that You have made throughout history, and the promises that You have made to us in our lifetime. Lord, help us to remember Your promises, and to hold onto them tightly, knowing that You will always keep them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Introduction: Turning Sad Endings To New Beginnings

There’s a spot in Jerusalem where you can walk inside a tomb from the time of Christ. As you walk in, you can imagine what it must have been like for those who walked into Jesus’ tomb on that first Easter morning, when the angels greeted them with these words:

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:6).

If you’d like to take a minute (well, about a minute-and-ten seconds), you can walk into the tomb with me and see it for yourself. Then read on to see why the story of what happened that first Easter morning is perhaps the most significant event that’s ever taken place in the entire history of Israel.

What I love about the Easter story is that just when it looked like all hope was lost, God showed up and showed the disciples that the death of Jesus wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning of something even better.

In a matter of days, the disciples went from thinking that their hopes and plans and dreams for the future had been dashed forever, to seeing that God had bigger hopes and plans and dreams for them than they could have ever imagined!

You can almost see their faces light up as God opens their eyes to the truth. Watch what happens as Jesus reveals Himself to two of the disciples as they walk along the road:

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” He asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see” (Luke 24:13-24).

Take a look at the disciples’ faces when Jesus first walks up and starts talking to them.  The Bible says, “They stood still, their faces downcast.” I don’t know how exactly Jesus was able to hide His true identity from them, but I do know that it’s hard to see when our faces are downcast. But look at what happens as the story continues.

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.

When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”  Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread (Luke 24:25 -35).

The disciples went from downcast to delighted, and as they did, their hearts began to burn within them. They were eager to learn everything they possibly could from this Man who was walking with them, so much so that they “urged Him strongly” to stay with them.  Then, when Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them, their eyes were opened to the Truth. Even though Jesus disappeared in that moment, their excitement about what they felt didn’t disappear. They got up at once and ran to tell the others the good news: This wasn’t the end at all, but just the beginning of something new!

There are times when you may feel like God, or people, or life itself has pulled the rug out from under you. It may seem like all your hopes and plans and dreams are crashing down around you. You might wonder how you’ll ever be able to get back up again. But I want to encourage you to do what the disciples did as they walked along the road. They stopped looking down and they started looking up.  They looked up to the One who held their life in His hands—the same One who holds your life in His hands—the One who gives each one of us “life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25b).

What may look like an ending to something in your life may in fact be just the beginning of something entirely new, something even bigger and better and more remarkable than you ever could have imagined. And if you think that’s just wishful thinking, just remember the Easter story, and remember the God who specializes in turning sad endings into new beginnings!

Let’s pray…

Father, thank You for the reminder that You can take the sad endings in our lives and turn them into new beginnings. Open my eyes that I may see just what you have in store for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Israel: Lessons From The Holy Land

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

A Thirty Day Devotional Tour Of The Land Where Jesus Walked
Devotionals by Eric Elder
Photography by Karis & Makari Elder

Thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked.

WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

On the pages ahead, I’d like to take you on a “devotional tour” of the Holy Land. My goal is to help bring the Bible to life in a way that you may have never experienced before. We’re going to look at the places where Jesus walked and taught and ministered, as well as the places where many other famous stories from the Bible took place. I pray that these devotionals will not only give you a deeper appreciation for this land that “the Lord your God cares for” (Deuteronomy 11:12), but that it will help you to grow closer to Christ—and stronger in your faith in Him.

Eric Elder

We loved touring Israel and we loved capturing it in pictures so you could enjoy it, too. We hope that these pictures will show you not only sites of Israel, but also the heart of this wonderful country. While going to Israel in person is great, we hope that this book is the next best thing to being there!

Karis & Makari Elder

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Israel: Lessons From The Holy Land

30 inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked
by Eric Elder, with photography by Karis & Makari Elder

Read it online below!

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

WELCOME TO ISRAEL! (Back to Table of Contents)

On the pages ahead (and in the videos embedded within them), I’d like to take you on a “devotional tour” of the Holy Land. My goal is to help bring the Bible to life in a way that you may have never experienced before. We’re going to look at the places where Jesus walked and taught and ministered, as well as the places where many other famous stories from the Bible took place. I pray that these devotionals will not only give you a deeper appreciation for this land that “the Lord your God cares for” (Deuteronomy 11:12), but that it will help you to grow closer to Christ—and stronger in your faith in Him.

Eric Elder

We loved touring Israel and we loved capturing it in pictures so you could enjoy it, too. We hope that these pictures will show you not only sites of Israel, but also the heart of this wonderful country. While going to Israel in person is great, we hope that this book is the next best thing to being there!

Karis & Makari Elder

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION: TURNING SAD ENDINGS INTO NEW BEGINNINGS (Back to Table of Contents)

There’s a spot in Jerusalem where you can walk inside a tomb from the time of Christ. As you walk in, you can imagine what it must have been like for those who walked into Jesus’ tomb on that first Easter morning, when the angels greeted them with these words:

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:6).

If you’d like to take a minute (well, about a minute-and-ten seconds), you can walk into the tomb with me and see it for yourself. Then read on to see why the story of what happened that first Easter morning is perhaps the most significant event that’s ever taken place in the entire history of Israel.

Watch “What Happened At the Garden Tomb?”

What I love about the Easter story is that just when it looked like all hope was lost, God showed up and showed the disciples that the death of Jesus wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning of something even better.

In a matter of days, the disciples went from thinking that their hopes and plans and dreams for the future had been dashed forever, to seeing that God had bigger hopes and plans and dreams for them than they could have ever imagined!

You can almost see their faces light up as God opens their eyes to the truth. Watch what happens as Jesus reveals Himself to two of the disciples as they walk along the road:

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” He asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see” (Luke 24:13-24).

Take a look at the disciples’ faces when Jesus first walks up and starts talking to them.  The Bible says, “They stood still, their faces downcast.” I don’t know how exactly Jesus was able to hide His true identity from them, but I do know that it’s hard to see when our faces are downcast. But look at what happens as the story continues.

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.

When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”  Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread (Luke 24:25 -35).

The disciples went from downcast to delighted, and as they did, their hearts began to burn within them. They were eager to learn everything they possibly could from this Man who was walking with them, so much so that they “urged Him strongly” to stay with them.  Then, when Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them, their eyes were opened to the Truth. Even though Jesus disappeared in that moment, their excitement about what they felt didn’t disappear. They got up at once and ran to tell the others the good news: This wasn’t the end at all, but just the beginning of something new!

There are times when you may feel like God, or people, or life itself has pulled the rug out from under you. It may seem like all your hopes and plans and dreams are crashing down around you. You might wonder how you’ll ever be able to get back up again. But I want to encourage you to do what the disciples did as they walked along the road. They stopped looking down and they started looking up.  They looked up to the One who held their life in His hands—the same One who holds your life in His hands—the One who gives each one of us “life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25b).

What may look like an ending to something in your life may in fact be just the beginning of something entirely new, something even bigger and better and more remarkable than you ever could have imagined. And if you think that’s just wishful thinking, just remember the Easter story, and remember the God who specializes in turning sad endings into new beginnings!

Let’s pray…

Father, thank You for the reminder that You can take the sad endings in our lives and turn them into new beginnings. Open my eyes that I may see just what you have in store for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 1: WHERE DID ISRAEL GET ITS NAME? (Back to Table of Contents)

On the pages ahead, I’d like to take you on a “devotional tour” of the Holy Land.  In each lesson, I’ll be asking (and answering) a question about Israel and some of the major events that have taken place there.  My goal is to give you both a history lesson and a faith lesson: a history lesson about this land that is so precious to God, and a faith lesson that you can apply to your own life today.

I’d like to start with a foundational question: “Where did Israel get its name?”

To check your answer, keep reading on, or take a look at the short video clip at the link below that I recorded on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at the western edge of Israel.

Watch “Where Did Israel Get Its Name?”

So where did Israel get its name? Israel was named after Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, whom God later renamed “Israel.”

Jacob got this new name after an all-night wrestling match with an opponent whom Jacob comes to believe is God Himself. At the end of the struggle, Jacob’s opponent declares, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome” (Genesis 32:28). “Israel” means struggles, or strives, with God.

So the land of Israel was named after the man who lived there. His twelve sons and their families became the twelve “tribes” of Israel and spread out to live throughout the land. The Bible says that the borders of Israel at that time extended from the desert in the south to Lebanon in the north, and from the Euphrates River on the east to the western sea, or Mediterranean, on the west (see Deuteronomy 11:24 and Joshua 3:1-4).

The land of Israel was actually promised to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, years earlier, which is why the land of Israel is often referred to as the “promised land.”

What I love about reading these passages in the Bible is that they are continual reminders to me that God keeps His promises, whether they are to all of humanity, as in the case of God’s promise to Noah that God would never again destroy the earth with a flood, or to a particular nation, as in this case of God’s promise to the Israelites that He would bring them into this land, and then bring them back again if they were ever taken away. When God makes a promise, He keeps it!

Here’s the original promise that God made to Abraham way back in the twelfth chapter of the Bible, about 4,000 years ago. God said to Abraham:

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3).

So Abraham obeyed and went. And when Abraham got there, God gave him this promise:

“Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you” (Genesis 13:14-17).

God also forewarned Abraham that his descendants one day would be strangers in another country and enslaved for four hundred years, but afterward they would return to the promised land. This took place when a famine came upon Israel, and Israel’s sons moved to Egypt to get food. As the sons’ families grew in number, they were enslaved by the Egyptians for fear that they would become too powerful.

Four hundred years later, God sent Moses to set the Israelites free and return them to their homeland. God reminded the Israelites of His promise,saying to them as they approached the promised land:

“Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the western sea” (Deuteronomy 11:24, and again in Joshua 1:3-4).

Almost a thousand years later, the Israelites were taken captive again, this time to Babylon. But again, God promised that one day they would return to their land. God told the prophet Jeremiah to buy a field in Israel, even though they were about to be taken away, to let the people know that one day they would return again and that,

“Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” (Jeremiah 32:15).

They did return about seventy years later. Another five hundred or so years later, Jesus was born in Israel. Except for a few years when Jesus was young, when his parents took Him to Egypt to protect Him from King Herod, Jesus spent His entire life and ministry in the land of Israel.

And when Jesus comes back again, He’ll return to the land of His birth, to Israel.

God keeps His promises!

From Genesis to Revelation, God talks about His promises regarding both the land and the people of Israel. It is a land that is truly precious to God. The Bible says,

“It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end” (Deuteronomy 11:12).

And it’s a land that reminds us that God keeps His promises, whether they’re made to all of humanity, or to particular nations, or to individual people like you and like me.

God loves you, He cares about your life, and He wants to see you accomplish all that He has prepared in advance for you to do. If God has made you a promise, hold onto it! God keeps His promises.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for the promises that You have made throughout history, and the promises that You have made to us in our lifetime. Lord, help us to remember Your promises, and to hold onto them tightly, knowing that You will always keep them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 2: WHAT HAPPENED IN CAESAREA? (Back to Table of Contents)

Today we’re headed up the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the city of Caesarea.  Why Caesarea? Because something remarkable happened there about 2,000 years ago. To see what happened, take a look at the short video clip below, then read on to see how this story can apply to your life today.

“Watch “What Happened In Caesarea?”

So what happened in Caesarea? This is where Peter preached the good news about Jesus to Cornelius. And what makes it so remarkable? Because this is where God made it crystal clear that Jesus didn’t come just as a Savior for the Jews, but for anyone who would believe in Him.

The other thing that’s remarkable about this story is the way God spoke to Peter and Cornelius. God spoke in a way that was very specific, helping each of them know exactly what God wanted them to do next in their lives. Wouldn’t all of us love to have God do that for us! The truth is, He can, and often does, and if we read the story carefully, we can see some clues as to why God spoke to these two so clearly.

Here’s how God spoke to Cornelius:

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea” (Acts 10:1-6).

And here’s how God spoke to Peter:

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” (Acts 10:9-20).

Did you catch why God spoke the way He did to Cornelius? And why God might have spoken to Peter the way He did?

In Cornelius’ case, the Bible says, “He [Cornelius] and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” The angel then says very specifically: “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Then the angel proceeds to share with him what to do next.

And as for Peter’s case, his story begins with the words, “Peter went up on the roof to pray.” It was during that time of prayer that God spoke to Peter and revealed to him what he needed to do next, too.

Prayer in its most basic form is having a conversation with God. Sometimes it may feel like it’s only a one-way conversation, but I’ve found that the more I pray, and the more that I wait for and listen for and expect Him to answer, the more I actually hear God speak to me in return! It’s not rocket-science, but it does take is faith. And in Cornelius’ example, he didn’t rely on his faith alone, but he was continually demonstrating his faith in God by his good deeds. He was putting his money where his mouth was, so to speak. Or, as Jesus said it: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:22).

The beauty of this story is that God was not only moved by the prayers and gifts of these men, but God answered their prayers in a way that went beyond either of their expectations. For Cornelius, it opened up a whole new understanding of who God was and what He could do next to come into a more full and right relationship with Him. And for Peter, this opened a whole new door of ministry that he would have never realized even needed to be opened without his prayers and God’s response, that God wanted him to proclaim the good news about Jesus even to the Gentiles, meaning anyone who was not Jewish.

These are great lessons for any of us who want to experience more of God in our lives, and for anyone who wants to serve Him more fully.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, today’s a good day to thank God for what happened in Caesarea! And if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, today’s a good day to do that, too! Let God’s Spirit fall upon you as it fell upon all who heard Peter’s message that day when he said:

“All the prophets testify about Him [Jesus] that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:34-36,43).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for speaking to people so specifically about events that were about to change their lives so dramatically. We pray that You would speak to us again today, so that we may hear from You and do all that is on Your heart for us to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 3: WHAT HAPPENED ON MOUNT CARMEL? (Back to Table of Contents)

As we continue our devotional tour of the Holy Land, we’re heading further north along the Mediterranean coast, this time to the top of Mount Carmel. It’s a beautiful spot where a powerful story took place about 3,000 years ago.

To hear a summary of the story in under two minutes, including how it applies to your life today, click the link to the video below.  Then continue reading the rest of the message below that to learn how God can answer your prayers in extraordinary ways, even though you may feel like just an “ordinary person.”

Watch “What Happened On Mount Carmel?”

So what happened on Mount Carmel? That’s where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and Asherah to a dramatic showdown. Many of the Israelites had strayed from God, worshiping Baal and Asherah instead. The situation had gotten so bad that God told Elijah to go to the Israelite king, Ahab, and tell him:

“…there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1b).

So Elijah told this to Ahab and the rain stopped. All of Israel began to suffer. But neither Ahab nor the people turned back to God. After three and a half years, God told Elijah to go back to Ahab and tell him that the rain was about to come again.

Elijah went to Ahab and told him to meet him on Mount Carmel, where the dramatic showdown took place, and where God would answer Elijah’s prayers in a way that convinced the Israelites to turn their hearts back to God. It was after this that Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, bent down to the ground to pray, and by the end of the day, the rain poured down.

It’s one of the coolest stories in the Old Testament, and if you haven’t read it yet, or haven’t read it in awhile, I’d like to encourage you to read the whole thing sometime this week. You’ll find it in the book of 1 Kings, chapters 17-19.

While there are tons of helpful and encouraging lessons from these chapters—ranging from how God can provide for your needs even during a famine to how God can give you the courage you need to do some very difficult things—the lesson I’d like to focus on today deals with the question of why God sometimes answers your prayers and other times doesn’t—or at least not in the way you expected.

Sometimes God can knock your socks off with His answers to your prayers, like He did with Elijah’s prayers on Mount Carmel. The book of James even holds up Elijah’s story as an example of just how powerful prayer can be. James says:

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops” (James 5:16b-18).

So Elijah was human, just like us, and God heard and answered his prayers in a powerful way. Yet did you know that not long after this event, Elijah prayed another prayer—one that he seems to have prayed as earnestly as the one before—yet God didn’t do what Elijah asked?

This other prayer took place after the showdown at Mount Carmel, when Elijah had to run for his life because Ahab’s wife had vowed to hunt Elijah down until he was dead. So Elijah ran as far as he could until he he was thoroughly exhausted. The Bible says,

“He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors’” (1 Kings 19:4b). 

Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.

But God didn’t answer this prayer, at least in the way that Elijah wanted Him to answer it. God didn’t take his life. God wanted Elijah to live, for God still had more for Elijah to do with his life.

So God sent Elijah an angel. The angel woke him up and gave him something warm to eat. After eating two of these angel-cooked meals, Elijah gained enough strength to travel another forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. And it was there on Mount Horeb that God Himself appeared to Elijah in a very personal way,

“…in a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12b).

God didn’t give Elijah what he wanted, but He gave him something much better: an angel of encouragement, strength for the journey, and a one-on-one visit with Elijah himself.

I want to encourage you today that God can answer your prayers as dramatically and powerfully as He answered Elijah’s prayers for rain. But God can also answer your prayers like He answered Elijah’s second prayer, not necessarily giving you what you want or expect, but giving you something truly better.

God loves you. He cares about your life. And He has things that He truly wants to do in and through your life. Keep praying earnestly that God’s will would be done here on earth, through you, just as God’s will was done through Elijah’s prayers at Mount Carmel.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for Elijah’s example of what it means to pray earnestly for Your will to be done. Give us Your wisdom and insight into the situations in our lives today so that we can pray for Your will to be done in them as well. We love You and thank You for hearing our prayers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 4: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AT MEGIDDO? (Back to Table of Contents)

You may have never heard of Megiddo before, but it’s more than likely you’ve heard about what is going to happen there one day. And with a little help from the Hebrew language, you may realize that you have heard of Megiddo before in just a slightly different form. Take a look at the short video below to see this historical place with an important future. Then keep reading below to see how it can affect your life today.

Watch “What’s Going To Happen At Megiddo?”

So what’s going to happen at Megiddo? That’s where Christ will return for the final battle of all the nations of the world.

The book of Revelation prophecies about this coming battle, saying that the spirits of demons will go out to the kings of the whole world:

“…to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. … Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” (Revelation 16:14b, 16).

Armageddon comes to us from the Hebrew words “Har” meaning hill, and Megiddo, referring to the city found there. So Har Megiddo means the hill of Megiddo, which translates for us into “Armageddon.”

It’s an unusual sight to look out and see the cars and trucks and buses going back and forth about their business at the base of the hill, knowing that one day all the nations of the world will gather here for that final epic battle, the one which has been depicted in so many apocalyptic books and movies.

But perhaps more sobering to me is the fact that since God has fulfilled so many prophecies found in the Bible already, it just follows reason that He will one day fulfill the rest as well, including the prophecies about this cataclysmic battle.

And from history, we know that this location has served as a battlefield for many battles before. King Josiah died here about 600 years before Christ in a battle with Pharaoh Neco of Egypt (2 Kings 23:29) and Sir Edmund Allenby of Britain launched a massive attack here during the first World War, to name a few.

The role of Megiddo as a military battlefield was summed up by Napoleon, one of the foremost military leaders of all time when he saw Megiddo in the early 1800’s. He is quoted as saying:

“All the armies of the world could maneuver their forces on this vast plain … There is no place in the whole world more suited for war than this … It is the most natural battleground on the whole earth.” (The Battles of Armageddon, pg. 142).

And Megiddo is situated in a primary trade route at the north of Israel, a location from which you can see the hills of neighboring countries who are even now poised and ready to do battle here. The inspiring thing about standing on the hill of Megiddo is that it makes me want to do right before God and men.

While God is certainly more forgiving and patient than I or anyone else I know has ever been or would ever be, there is still a limit to His patience. At some point, He must deal with sin, or He wouldn’t be a very good judge at all.

As much as I’d rather not think about it, there comes a time when justice must be done and we will all have to face judgment for what we’ve done. This day is often referred to in the Bible as the “Day of the Lord.” It’s a day that is referred to over twenty-five times in the Bible, including both the Old and New Testaments.

Several weeks before writing this message I had a dream in which I got an invitation in the mail. It was an invitation to an “end of the world party” to be held on June 6-7, just a few weeks from then. I don’t put much stock in the dream as anything prophetic, as even Jesus Himself said that no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36). But the dream did help me to think a little more clearly that day when I woke up!

I wondered: What would I do differently if I knew that the world was really going to end in just a few weeks? How would I spend my time? Who do I still need to talk to and what would I say? How can I help more people come into a relationship with Christ so that when the final battle does come they’re on the winning side?

And today I wonder: How would it affect your life if you knew that the end were just a few weeks away? It reminds me of a quote from Stephen Levine:

“If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?”

God wants more than anything else to have a relationship with each one of us, including you and those around you. He knows how sin affects our lives in ways that we could never even understand. And He wants us to be freed from those sins.

That’s why He sent Jesus to earth, to die for our sins, so that all who put their faith in Him will be forgiven of their sins and spend eternity with Him in heaven.

If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, I encourage you to do it today. Don’t wait any longer, for no one knows the day or hour when He will return. And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, share that faith with someone today.

Give them a call. Write them a letter. Send them a text, an email, or a link to this video and devotional. Remind them that:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for fulfilling so many of the prophecies of the Bible already and we trust that You will fulfill the rest in due time. Lord, help us to live our lives in such a way that they become shining testimonies to You and help us to encourage those around us to put their faith in Christ so they can be on the winning side in the final battle as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 5: WHAT HAPPENED IN NAZARETH? (Back to Table of Contents)

Our next stop on this devotional tour of the Holy Land is a city that wasn’t known as one of the hot spots of Israel. In fact, the Bible quotes Nathanael as saying,

“Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46).

But something good did come from there. To hear what happened there, take a look at this short video that I shot while at the Nazareth Village in Israel, a re-creation of what the city might have looked like back in Jesus’ day.  Then read on below to find out how God can work in your life through even the most difficult situations to accomplish His plans.

Watch “What Happened In Nazareth?”

So what happened in Nazareth? This is where Jesus grew up. It was also the hometown of Mary and Joseph and the place where the angel Gabriel came to Mary and said:

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31).

But Jesus wasn’t born in Nazareth. In fact, His route to ending up here seemed rather circuitous.

Because of the Roman census, Mary and Joseph had to return to Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. Then after Jesus’ birth, Herod found out that a new “King of the Jews” may have been born in Bethlehem and began a killing spree of all the newborn boys there, so Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt. After Herod died, Mary and Joseph returned again to Israel and went back to their hometown of Nazareth.

It may have seemed like Jesus and his parents were being yanked around by governments and kings, making their lives difficult at critical times. I try to imagine Mary being nine months pregnant, having to ride on a donkey to Bethlehem, then finding no place to stay and give birth to her child. I try to imagine their having to flee that city because a crazed king wanted to kill their young Son. I try to imagine their having to move to a foreign country when Jesus was small, with all the changes such a move from family and friends must have entailed.

Yet I’m encouraged to think that each stop along the way was not random. Each move was part of God’s divine plan for both Jesus and His parents. Hundreds of years earlier each stop along the way had already been foretold.

Getting to Bethlehem was the first stop in fulfilling the prophecies concerning the Messiah. When the chief priests and teachers of the law were asked where the Messiah was to be born, they replied:

“In Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel’ “ (Matthew 2:5-6).

The trip to Egypt fulfilled the next stop. As Matthew said:

“And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’ “ (Matthew 2:15).

And the return to Nazareth fulfilled the third stop. As Matthew said about His return:

“So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:23).

So rather than a seemingly random chain of events moving Jesus from place to place, God had a plan and a way to use all of those events to bring about His will.

How does all this relate to you and me? I take encouragement from the fact that even when it looks like our lives are being pushed and pulled in various directions by people, governments, or difficult situations, that it may actually be God doing the pushing and pulling to fulfill His plans for our lives! And if it’s not God doing the actual pushing and pulling, at least it’s no surprise to Him what we’re going through. If God was able to foretell and use all of the events and situations that would surround the birth and life of His Son, then He is able to foretell and use all of the events and situations that we’ll face in our lives as well.

Rather than being upset at others who sometimes seem to be in control of our lives—whether it’s a boss or a job, a government official or a family member, a friend or an enemy—we can trust that God is the one who controls them all. And even if He doesn’t control them directly, for He has given each of us free will as well, God does know the hearts of men and women and He can work all things together for good.

Although Nazareth wasn’t a hot spot in the Holy Land in Jesus’ day, God wasn’t bothered by its reputation. It was here where God chose to raise His Son and it was here where the Bible says,

“Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).

Your life is not random and the places where you live and work and eat and sleep are not arbitrary, regardless of the reputation they may or may not have. God has a plan for you, for your life, and for the situations that you’re facing even right now. He wants you to trust Him fully with that plan and follow Him wherever He leads—whether that’s staying where He wants you to stay or going where He wants you to go.

Trust Him with every aspect of your life and let Him take control of the direction it takes. It’s good to make plans for our lives, but it’s also good to let God take control of those plans when He has a better one. As it says in the book of Proverbs:

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for taking the random events of our lives and giving them purpose and meaning in ways that go beyond what we could think or imagine. Lord, we commit to trusting You again today, giving You full control over the course of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 6: WHAT HAPPENED ON THE SEA OF GALILEE? (Back to Table of Contents)

Today, we’re visiting the Sea of Galilee.  If you’d like to see—and hear—what the water looks like at the Sea of Galilee today, take a look at the short video below. It’s a beautiful spot in the land of Israel and the site of some of Jesus’ most memorable miracles. Then read on to see how putting your faith in Christ can help you through some of the toughest situations in your life.

Watch “What Happened On The Sea Of Galilee?”

So what happened on the Sea of Galilee?  This is where Jesus spent much of His time after He left His boyhood home of Nazareth.  In the coming weeks, I’ll be talking about several of the miracles that took place here that touched people’s hearts and lives.

But today I’d like to focus on two that took place out on the sea itself: when Jesus walked on water and when He calmed the storm that threatened the lives of His disciples.

Jesus is an expert at walking through storms. The miracle that He did on the Sea of Galilee wasn’t the first time He displayed His giftedness for this. Just before coming to the Sea of Galilee, Jesus walked unscathed through another storm that threatened to take His own life.

Maybe you remember that when Jesus lived in Nazareth, He went to the synagogue one day and read from the scroll of Isaiah. At first, all the people spoke well of Him, being amazed at “the gracious words that came from His lips.” But after quoting from the words of Isaiah—referring to the Messiah that was to come—Jesus added:

“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21b).

Imagine growing up in the same city with Jesus—the guy down the block who did carpentry with His dad—then He gets up and says that He’s the Messiah, the One about whom the prophet Isaiah had written about some 700 years earlier. You’d think that Jesus was either a lunatic or a liar. He couldn’t possibly be telling the truth, could He?

So the crowd turned on Him. The Bible says:

“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and took Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way” (Luke 4:28-30).

The crowd went from calm to stormy in a matter of seconds. They went from praising Jesus to taking Him to the edge of a cliff to throw Him off within a matter of minutes. But Jesus wasn’t phased by their words of praise nor their acts of violence. He simply said what He had to say, then “walked right through the crowd and went on His way.”

So when the storm came up on His disciples on the Sea of Galilee some time later, Jesus wasn’t phased by it either. He and His disciples had just finished a long day of ministering to thousands, having heard earlier in the day that John the Baptist had just been beheaded. Jesus headed off to a mountainside to pray, telling His disciples to get into the boat and head to the other side.

The story picks up here:

When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

That’s when Jesus famously called Peter to come out to Him and walk on the water and which Peter did until he saw the wind and the waves and started to sink again. So Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter’s and pulled him back up.

The story finishes by saying:

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:23b-33).

There are two things that I’d like to mention about this storm. The first is that Jesus is the one who sent them into it. And the second is that Jesus is the one who brought them out of it.

Just like in Nazareth, Jesus didn’t worry about the wind and the waves.  In the case of the angry crowd, Jesus had nothing to fear.  It was the crowd who was fearful by what Jesus was saying and acted wrongfully because of it. Jesus did what was right and when He was done He simply walked through the crowd and went on His way.

In the same way, when Jesus needed to get to the other side of the lake, He wasn’t phased by the fact that strong waves lay ahead. He sent His disciples into the waves and He went into them Himself afterward. Jesus wasn’t afraid of the storm. Jesus just kept doing what He needed to do and His disciples did what He told them to.

There are times when I’ve felt like I was being thrown into a storm—and it seemed like it was Jesus who was throwing me into it! I’ve learned that the best thing to do in those times is to hold onto Jesus as tight as I can. I know that Jesus knows best how to walk through them, whether I’m facing an angry crowd or some wind and some waves.

You may find yourself in the middle of a storm right now, too. The circumstances of your life may be buffeting against you. You may be facing things that are threatening your health, your family, your relationships, your job, your career, your finances or your friends. The threats may be very real and the prospects ahead may look very grim.

I want to encourage you to hold onto Jesus as tight as you can. Keep walking through the wind and the waves. Keep walking towards Jesus, the Messiah, the Author and Sustainer of your life. And even if you start to sink, know that Jesus is right beside you to take hold of your hands and pull you in close. Hold on tight and never let Him go. He’s the One who knows best how to walk through a storm. Let Him speak to you the words He spoke to His disciples that night on the Sea of Galilee:

“Take courage, it is I! Don’t be afraid.”

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to help us through the storms we face. Thank You for reminding us that it’s sometimes even Jesus who sends us into the storms in the first place. Lord, help us to have the faith to trust in Him, no matter what, and to trust that whether it’s Him who sent us into the storm or not, that He’s the One who can bring us through it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 7: WHAT HAPPENED IN CAPERNAUM? (Back to Table of Contents)

I was surprised when I visited the city of Capernaum to learn about all the things that Jesus did there. It shouldn’t have been surprising, however, for Capernaum served as the home base for most of Jesus’ ministry, having moved there when He left His boyhood home of Nazareth. To hear about some of the things that Jesus did in Capernaum, take a look at the forty-second video below. Then read on to see how Jesus is still working today in the same ways that He did in Capernaum.

Watch “What Happened In Capernaum?”

So what happened in Capernaum? This is where Jesus healed many people. Here’s a sampling of the healings that took place there:

  • He healed the centurion’s servant
  • He healed the paralytic and forgave him of his sins
  • He healed the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years
  • He healed Jairus’ daughter, raising her from the dead
  • and He healed two blind men.

The common thread running through each of these stories is that the people were healed by faith in Christ.

In the story of the centurion’s servant, Jesus commends his faith, saying:

“I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith…” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour (Matthew 8:10b,13).

In the story of the paralytic, Jesus took note of his friends’ faith:

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,

“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” … Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home. (Matthew 9:2b,6b-7).

In the story of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, Jesus said:

“Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment (Matthew 9:22b).

In the story of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus said:

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” … He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’ ). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around… (Mark 5:36b, 41-42a).

And in the story of the two blind men, before Jesus healed them, He asked them a question:

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored (Matthew 9:28b-30a).

It was this last story that surprised me the most when I read that it took place in Capernaum, for it was this story that inspired me to put my faith in Christ 23 years ago. I had no idea that it took place there in Capernaum until I was preparing for this trip to Israel. It was a detail I had overlooked at the time.

When I had read the story 23 years ago, I was walking along a road in Houston, Texas. I was about 7,000 miles away from Capernaum and it was about 2,000 years later. I was asking God for a healing in my own life. I felt like Jesus was asking me the same question: “Eric, do you believe I am able to do this, too?”

I thought about everything Jesus had ever done—how He healed the sick, walked on water and raised the dead. I thought if anyone could do it, Jesus could. So I put my hand up in the air, and for the first time in my life, I truly put my faith in Christ. Like the blind men, I said, “Yes, Lord.” And like the blind men, I was healed in that moment.

By the next day I had put my faith in Christ for everything in my life. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and trusted Him to take me to live with Him forever when I died. (If you’d like to read more of this story, you can read it on my website at http://www.theranch.org.)

The course of my life changed that day, and it was all based on a story that took place in Capernaum. To stand there when we visited Israel and think about what happened then and how it had affected me now was astounding. What a blessing that these stories have been recorded for us and can touch our lives in such life-changing ways.

Faith in Christ is a powerful thing. But you don’t have to take my word for it—you can take His word for it! According to His word, it was by faith that the centurion’s servant was healed; by faith, the paralytic was forgiven of his sins and healed of his paralysis; by faith, the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years was healed; by faith, Jairus’ daughter was raised from the dead; and by faith, the sight of the blind men had restored.

If you need God to do something in your life that you can’t seem to do on your own, I’d like to encourage you to put your faith in Christ, and keep putting your faith in Him for everything in Your life. You’ll be glad you did.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for the inspiring stories of faith that took place in Capernaum. I pray that You would reach out to us in the same way today, doing the impossible for those who are willing to put their faith in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 8: WHAT HAPPENED ON THE MOUNT OF BEATITUDES? (Back to Table of Contents)

The Mount of Beatitudes is one of the many hills that rise up around the Sea of Galilee. It was here that Jesus preached His famous “Sermon on the Mount,” blessing thousands of people who had gathered to hear Him speak. But why is it called the Mount of “Beatitudes,” and what else did Jesus do on this hill for those who gathered here? Take a look at the short video below to hear more and to get a view of the mountain itself.  Then read on to see how Jesus can bless you today—and how you can be a blessing to Him!

Watch “What Happened On The Mount Of Beatitudes?”

So what happened on the Mount of Beatitudes? “Beatitude” means “blessing,” and this is where Jesus spoke about the many blessings that God offers to those who believe in Him, such as:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled…” (Matthew 5:3-6).

This is also where Jesus demonstrated His blessings to the crowd by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish into a feast that fed five thousand. The Bible says:

“Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand” (Mark 6:39-44).

It’s a remarkable story, and Jesus still does similar things today. I’ve written about one such story that happened to me recently on our trip to Israel—and even culminated for me at the very spot where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes. (I’ve included this story at the end of this book, in the concluding chapter called “Making A Chance.”)

But as practical as Jesus’ teachings are, and as remarkable as His ability to multiply loaves and fish is, Jesus doesn’t stop there. He goes a step farther and offers us more: an abundant life in Him. But sometimes we’re the ones who shortchange what Jesus has to offer us.

I heard a story about a boy who went to his uncle’s farm every summer for a few days. When the boy would arrive, his uncle would greet him with pockets full of nickels jingling at his sides. After a few minutes of talking with each other, the uncle reached into his pocket and handed his nephew a nickel.

Throughout the next few days, the uncle did the same thing over and over, spending a few minutes talking with the boy, then handing him a nickel; doing a chore or two, then handing the boy a nickel; taking a walk down the road together then handing the boy a nickel. By the end of those few days, the uncle’s pockets were empty and the boy’s pockets were full.

The next summer, the same thing happened. The uncle began with his pockets jangling with nickels and at the end of their time together, the boy’s pockets were full of nickels.

After a few summers, the boy got an idea. The next time he visited his uncle at the farm, he was again greeted by his uncle with his pockets full of nickels. The boy said: “Every summer by the end of my time with you, you always give me all the nickels in your pocket. So I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you just give me all the nickels right now, then I can go do what I want, and you can go do what you want without me around to bother you!”

Although the boy’s idea had merit at one level, it missed the point entirely at another. The reason the uncle gave the boy the nickels in the first place was because he loved spending as much time with the boy as he could. The uncle wanted to be with his nephew, and their time together always turned out to be precious to them both.

You can almost see this boy’s idea start to crop up in the hearts of the people who followed Jesus. The day after Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes, more boats arrived at the place where the miracle had occurred, but Jesus was no longer there. The Bible says:

Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (John 6:24-27a).

Jesus went on to remind them that God is eager to provide for their daily needs just as He provided bread from heaven—in the form of manna—every day for forty years while the Israelites wandered through the desert. But then Jesus added:

“I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:48-51a).

While Jesus is glad to give you practical advice for living, like He did in the Sermon on the Mount, He wants to give you more. And while He’s glad to meet your daily needs, as He did for those who ate the feast on the hillside, He wants to give you more.

Jesus wants to give you a relationship with Him, the living bread that came down from heaven. He doesn’t want to just give you money for the trip, He wants to be your companion along the journey. He doesn’t want to just give you a roadmap to where you’re going, He wants to go with you and guide you there Himself. Your relationship with Jesus takes precedence over everything He could ever teach you, or give you, in a lifetime.

I want to encourage you today: come to Jesus for His teachings, for they can change your life; and come to Him for your daily bread, for He’s still a God who can provide for all your needs with baskets full left over.

But don’t stop there. Don’t shortchange all that God wants to do for you today. Come to Him for life, and life abundant. Come to Him for a feast that never ends—eternal life with Him, a life that starts here on earth and goes on forever. As Jesus told those on the hillside:

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty….If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:35,51b).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for blessing us with Your life and Your words. Help us to look to You for our daily bread, but not to stop there. Help us to look to You for bread that will last forever, bread that comes only through an ongoing relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 9: WHAT HAPPENED AT CAESAREA PHILIPPI? (Back to Table of Contents)

Caesarea Philippi is on the northern edge of Israel in a beautiful region known as Dan. But the things that took place there weren’t always so beautiful. To find out more, watch the short video below, then read on to find out how God can do beautiful things for you even if you’re in a very dark place.

Watch “What Happened At Caesarea Philippi?”

So what happened at Caesarea Philippi? This is where God revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Caesarea Philippi was also home to a cultic temple carved into the side of a massive rock that was called at that time “the gates of hell.” It was so named because of the infant sacrifices that took place there in the years leading up to the time of Christ.

With this background in mind, the words that Jesus spoke on this spot are even more meaningful. Here’s what happened, as recorded in the book of Matthew:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-19).

I never realized until I went to Israel what a dark place Caesarea Philippi must have been in the days when Jesus was speaking.

The Temple of Pan had been built there a few hundred years earlier, and when people came to worship Pan, they would bring with them an infant child to be offered as a sacrifice. The child was thrown into the water that flowed from the rock on the side of the cliff. If the child went under the water and disappeared, that meant Pan had accepted their sacrifice. If instead, the child’s was dashed apart under water and its blood flowed into the river below, Pan had rejected their sacrifice. Either way, the child’s life was over.

Not only was this area known for this pagan temple, but the Israelites had also rejected God in this region hundreds of years before that. Way back in the days of King Jeroboam, Jeroboam ruled Israel from this area.  But for fear that the people would want to leave his kingdom and side with the breakaway kingdom of Judah, he erected two altars in this area instead. He made two golden calves and said to the people:

“It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there (1 Kings 12:28b-29).

So this region of Dan, at the northernmost border of Israel, which is so beautiful and hilly and rich on the outside, had been a place of great darkness spiritually. In Jesus’ day, with the Temple of Pan located there, it was an even darker place. Yet this is where God chose to reveal to Peter and the other disciples that Jesus was the Christ. The darkness wasn’t a problem for Him, for He was, as He called Himself, “the light of the world.” Jesus said:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Perhaps you’re in a dark time or a dark place in your life today. Or perhaps you have family or friends who are surrounded by darkness. If so, I want to encourage you to take heart: Jesus can reveal Himself even in the darkest of times and places. In fact, based on the time and place where He made this revelation to Peter, Jesus seems to delight in doing just that.

I also want to encourage you to make sure your faith in Christ is profoundly personal. By that I mean, don’t just take someone else’s word for it that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Make sure that this is something that you believe deeply yourself. If you look at Jesus’ questions in the passage above, you’ll see that He started by asking His disciples what others said about Him. “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples replied:

“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

It’s sometimes safe and easy to talk about Jesus in terms of what others believe about Him. If asked who He is, some people might say, “Well, my grandmother thinks He’s God, “ or “My parents believe He’s the Messiah,” or “My friends say that He’s their Savior.” But after Jesus asked the disciples what others said about Him, He turned to them directly and asked who they thought He was.

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”

There comes a point in life when you can no longer rely solely on the faith of others to get you through the trials you’re facing. You can no longer waver between what others say about Christ. My prayer is that you’ll be able to say, like Peter said:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

“The Christ” (Greek) and “the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean the same thing: “the Anointed One.”

If you’ve never put your faith in Jesus, trusting and believing that He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One who came to die for your sins and bring light into your world, I encourage you to do it today. And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, know that He is a Savior who delights in revealing Himself even in the darkest of places. Keep on praying that He will reveal Himself again and again to you, to your family and friends, and to the rest of the world.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for revealing that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior of all who put their faith in Him. Help us to see that revelation for ourselves in a fresh way today, and help others see Him that way as well, no matter how dark it may seem all around them right now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 10: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE JORDAN RIVER? (Back to Table of Contents)

For today’s message, I’d like to take you to one of the world’s most famous rivers, the Jordan River in Israel. The waters of this river flow about 200 miles from the north of Israel to the south, passing through the Sea of Galilee in the north, then continuing its final destination at the Dead Sea in the south. To find out some of the things that took place on this historic river, take a look at the short video below that I shot on the banks of the river itself, then read on to hear about how very much God loves you—and how you can express your love back to Him.

(I’ve also included in the video an actual baptism at the Jordan River, this one of my son Josiah. You’ll note as you watch that there are some overly friendly fish in the river who love nibbling at people’s toes! The fish are harmless, but they do make the baptism all the more… uhmm… exciting!)

Watch “What Happened At The Jordan River?”

So what happened at the Jordan River? This is where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. This is also where John the Baptist baptized thousands of people, as did Jesus’ disciples.

The Jordan River has also been the site of many other events over several thousand years of history, such as:

  • when Joshua and the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground as they entered into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-17),
  • when Naaman was healed of leprosy in the Jordan (2 Kings 5:8-14),
  • when Elisha made an ax head float on top of the water (2 Kings 6:1-7),
  • and when Elijah was taken up into heaven after crossing the Jordan with Elijah (2 Kings 2:6-12).

But of all the events that took place in the Jordan, perhaps the most famous is the baptism of Jesus. And what makes that event so special to me is not just what Jesus did there, but what God the Father said to Jesus when Jesus was baptized there. Here’s the story, as recorded in Matthew chapter 3:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13-17).

I love the fact that God, the Father, told Jesus, His Son, how very much He loved Him—even before Jesus did one miracle, before He healed anyone of any disease, before He preached any sermon, walked on the water, or raised anyone from the dead.

God, the Father, loved Jesus, not because of all that Jesus had done for Him, but because Jesus was His Son.

And the truth is, God loves you for the same reason, not because of all you’ve done for Him, but simply because you’re His son or daughter, made in His image, and created for a loving relationship with Him from the moment He conceived you (which, by the way, could have been long before the time that your parents conceived you…see Jeremiah 1:5, for example). God loves you. He adores you. He created you. And He has so much in store for you and your life.

The good news is you don’t have to go to the Jordan River to let God love on you. He’s glad to soak you in His love wherever you may be. How can you feel God’s love more in your life? One way is to just take a few minutes to sit and meditate on the truth that He does indeed love you. Read the passage of Jesus’ baptism again from Matthew chapter 3 and remember that He loves you just as He loved Jesus, even before Jesus began His ministry.

Remember that you’re His child, His little one, His beloved. Remember that He sent Jesus to die for the sins in your life, the messes that you’ve made, so that you won’t have to pay the price for those sins yourself. Remember that His love extends for generations to those who love Him. And remember that you really are special, a wonderful creation of the most loving Father in the world.

And while you’re considering this passage on Jesus’ baptism, can I also encourage you that if you’ve never been baptized to consider being baptized soon? There’s something special that comes from being obedient to the Lord’s command in this area. Jesus’ words about baptism were so important that He included them in His final instructions to His disciples before going into heaven. Jesus said:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19).

I’ve studied the topic of baptism for many years, yet I can honestly say that I still don’t understand it fully. But what I do understand is that something powerful takes place when a person is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen baptism can touch people in so many ways, from realizing that they truly are saved and going to heaven, to feeling like their sins are dripping off of them as they come out of the water, to receiving new giftings from God to help them make the most of their new lives in Christ.

As a follower of Christ, baptism is one of those steps that demonstrate you are willing to follow in His footsteps, being baptized as He was baptized and then living the rest of your life as He lived His.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for loving us even before we ever did anything for You, and regardless of anything that we’ve done against You. We pray that You would pour out Your love on us again today in a way that we can hear it, see it, feel it, or otherwise sense it. Lord, we also pray that You would show us ways that we can express our love back to You, whether it is by being baptized ourselves, or in some other way, for our desire is to pour out our love on You as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 11: WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE DEAD SEA? (Back to Table of Contents)

The Dead Sea was one of my favorite stops on our trip to Israel. Maybe it was because we had some extra time to relax there because of a change in our schedule. Or maybe it was because the land and the water were so unusually beautiful. But I think the main reason I liked it so much is because of what will happen there in the future. To see what it looks like yourself, and to find out what God is going to do there one day, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out what God could do in your life in unexpected ways as well.

Watch “What Will Happen At The Dead Sea?”

So what will happen at the Dead Sea? Everything will come back to life! To understand how dramatic this change will be, you have to understand how dead the Dead Sea really is.

The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on earth at almost 1,400 hundred feet below sea level. It’s also the saltiest body of water on earth, with a salinity of 30-33%, which is about six to seven times saltier than the oceans. Because of this, and whatever other reasons God has chosen, nothing is able to live in the Dead Sea whatsoever. There are no fish in the water, so there are no birds in the air. There’s no grass along the shoreline, and no algae growing along its edges. The Dead Sea really is dead!

For some reason, I used to picture the Dead Sea as some kind of smelly swamp filled with dead things. But actually there’s nothing “dead” in it. There are no dead fish on the shore and the water is as clear as crystal, giving a clear view of millions of shimmering crystals of salt that cover the bottom of the sea itself. In the Bible, it’s not called the Dead Sea, but rather the “Sea of Salt,” which is perhaps is a bit more descriptive. It’s also referred to as the Eastern Sea, as it is on the East side of Israel, and just southeast of Jerusalem.

Given this background of just how desolate the sea is, it’s even more remarkable to read about what God is going to do there one day. You can read about it in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 47. God gave Ezekiel a vision of the future, showing him the new temple that would one day be in Jerusalem. And out from beneath this temple, a river would flow—a river of life, all the way to the Dead Sea. Ezekiel says:

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea [the Dead Sea]. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea [the Mediterranean]. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:6b-12).

The prophet Zechariah also makes reference to this event, saying:

On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea [the Dead Sea] and half to the western sea [the Mediterranean], in summer and in winter (Zechariah 14:8).

When you’re standing at the edge of the Dead Sea, it’s awesome to consider that one day it will be teeming with life—that one day, living water will pour out from underneath the temple in Jerusalem to bring life to all the water touches, even filling this great basin of the Dead Sea with enough fresh water to bring this barren spot back to life.

Having read through many of the other prophecies in the Bible and visited the spots where they’ve already been fulfilled—such as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah that God foretold to Abraham and took place near here, or the birth of the Savior that God told Micah would take place in Bethlehem hundreds of years before Jesus was born—I’m reassured that what has been foretold about the Dead Sea, and its coming back to life again, will take place just as certainly.

And it shouldn’t be surprising that God can bring things that have been dead back to life again. I’ve seen Him do it in my own life, giving me a new birth over twenty years ago when I thought I was headed for death, then giving me an abundant life instead. And I’ve seen God do the same thing in the lives of countless others as well, breathing new life into marriages that were officially dead, or bringing forth new life from wombs that doctors had declared physically dead.

I think of ministries and churches and corporations that have been on the brink of bankruptcy, without a hope in the world, but through hope in God have come back to life more fully and fruitfully than ever.

God specializes in bringing the dead back to life! This isn’t to say that God wants everything to live, for there are some things that should die in our lives, and other things that have run their course and need to pass on so that something fresh and new can be birthed. But there’s no doubt that God can breathe life into anything that He intends to bring back to life!

Maybe there’s something in your life right now that feels like it is dead or dying and you see no way in the world for it to come back to life. But don’t put your hope in the world. Put your hope in the Lord God Almighty, the Author and Sustainer of life itself!

Before you give up on that which may look dead today, consider Him who gives life and breath to every living thing that you see around you today. Be encouraged that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead can give life to your mortal bodies as well. Be encouraged that the same God who breathed life into Adam, who was made out of the dust of the ground, can breathe new life into your family, your business, your marriage, your ministry. Be encouraged that the river of life that will flow into the Dead Sea will bring life to all that it touches.

God loves to bring that which is dead back to life! Let His river of life flow into your life today!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for showing us how you can breathe life into the most desolate places on earth, and encourage us that Your river of life can touch our lives as well. Lord, help us to have the faith that You can and You will bring new life back into everything that You have said should come back to life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 12: WHAT HAPPENED AT SODOM AND GOMORRAH? (Back to Table of Contents)

I’m not usually a “fire and brimstone” type of preacher.  But if there was ever a time to preach a message on fire and brimstone, it’s today, because today we’re going to look at the time when God rained fire and brimstone down from heaven on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because their wickedness had become so great. To find out what happened there, take a look at this short video below, then read on below to learn how powerful God really is, and how God can use that power in your life today.

Watch “What Happened At Sodom And Gomorrah?”

So what happened at Sodom and Gomorrah? God destroyed them completely. The destruction that took place at Sodom and Gomorrah was so complete that nothing has grown again in that region for thousands of years.

Compare that to the most powerful destruction men have invented, such as the atomic bombs which destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the war with Japan, and you’ll see just how powerful God really is.

When the bombs were dropped on those cities, they were almost completely wiped out within seven seconds. But if you visited those cities just forty years later, although you would have found those cities had changed, you would have also found that they were teeming with life again. Buildings, trees, and people had grown up all around them. I’m told that except for the monuments that were erected to remind people of the horrific destruction that took place there years ago, visitors may not even realize the cities were once destroyed.

Sodom and Gomorrah, on the other hand, have never come back to life, and it’s not been just forty years, or four hundred years, but more than four thousand years.

While the cities themselves no longer exist, the memory of what happened there is often repeated. Abraham talked about Sodom and Gomorrah, as did Isaiah, Paul, Peter, John, and even Jesus. As for the condition of the land beforehand, we’re told that it wasn’t always a barren wasteland, but it was at one time “well-watered, like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). It was such a desirable land that Lot chose to live there when Abraham gave him his choice of where to live.

But as desirable as the land may have been, the people of the land left much to be desired. Their wickedness had become so great that God sent two angels—in the form of men—down to Sodom to destroy it.

Although God’s patience is longer than ours, even His patience runs out. And that time had come for Sodom. God didn’t want to have to destroy it. He even told Abraham He would spare the entire city if He could find even ten righteous people living there. But when the angels arrived and went to spend the night with Lot and his family, the men of the city showed how far their wickedness had gone. The Bible says:

Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them” (Genesis 19:4-5).

Lot pleaded with them not to do this to his guests, but the men of Sodom persisted, saying:

“Get out of our way. This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door (Genesis 19:9).

No matter what you might think about the topic of homosexuality, the idea of men forcibly having sex with other men goes against God’s beautiful design for sex.

Through a miraculous intervention of the two angels, God whisked away Lot and his family, and finally did what He hoped He wouldn’t have to do. Genesis 19:23-26 says:

“Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:24-26).

Although Lot and his two daughters escaped, Lot’s wife looked back, against the clear instruction of the angels who helped them to escape. Perhaps she hesitated and looked back to take one last look at the city where she had spent so much of her life.  Or maybe she was just curious and wanted to see for herself just how what such destruction might look like.  But whatever the reason, her looking back caused her to suffer the same fate as those who had also so deliberately gone against God’s commands—commands that were not designed to restrict or limit them, but commands that would help them to live, and live abundantly.

When Jesus talked about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, He warned people:

“Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:32).

I want to encourage you today to do the same: Remember Lot’s wife!

I know that some of you are playing with fire. You’re doing things that you know are against God’s will for your life. Whether you’re doing them because you’ve always done them, or whether you’re just curious and want to see what it’s like, you’re still playing with fire. And God’s fire can burn you seriously—and for eternity.

God may have been patient with you this far and not yet brought the complete destruction upon you that He could bring at any moment. But don’t mistake God’s patience as His approval of what you’re doing. The purpose of His patience is to give you time to turn from your sin so that you can save yourself from the destruction that’s coming upon you if you don’t.

Remember Lot’s wife! Turn from the coming destruction while you still have a chance. Do it today. Don’t hesitate. Don’t look back. Don’t let curiosity kill you. If you’ve been looking at pornography, stop it today. If you’ve been considering, or engaged in, and adulterous relationship, end it today. If you’ve been abusing drugs or alcohol, stop it today. If you’ve been using God’s gift of sex in ways that are selfish instead of ways that lead to an abundant life, stop it today. Remember Lot’s wife, and live!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for reminding us of Your incredible power and Your incredible patience with us. Lord, help us to throw off everything that hinders us from beautiful relationship with You and with those around us. Fill us with Your power to do all that You’ve called us to do today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 13: WHAT HAPPENED AT MASADA? (Back to Table of Contents)

In America, the “Fourth of July” is not just a date on the calendar, but to us is a phrase that is synonymous with the word “Freedom!” In Israel, there’s a place called Masada that symbolizes for many Jews the fight for freedom as well, a fight that took place there back in 73 A.D.

To find out what happened and take a look at the mountain of Masada yourself, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out how taking a stand for freedom can inspire and impact those around you as well.

Watch “What Happened At Masada?”

So what happened at Masada? This is the place where almost 1,000 Jews committed suicide. As gruesome as it may sound, the truth is that these people were so committed to the idea of staying free that they preferred to die free than to live as slaves.

Although the story of Masada doesn’t appear in the Bible, and the suicidal aspects of the story go against traditional Jewish beliefs, what happened at Masada still makes a profound statement about the lengths people are willing to go for freedom. In some ways, it reminds me of Patrick Henry’s famous words at the beginning of the American Revolution:  “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

But while Patrick’s Henry’s speech was a call to fight for the freedom in which they believed, for the 960 Jewish rebels who had been holed up in the mountain of Masada as a fortress from which they launched their attacks on the Roman Empire, fighting was no longer an option. The Romans had sent thousands of troops to Masada to take back this fortress that King Herod and others had developed over the years. (The word “masada” means “fortress.”)

Because of the steep cliffs that protected Masada from its enemies, the Romans could not simply rush into the fortress to take it back. Instead, they moved tons of sand and dirt over the period of three years to build a siege ramp from the base of the mountain to its top. The ramp, as well as the remains of the Roman camps that were built in those days to house the armies for those three years, can still be seen clearly today.

It was a massive undertaking by the Roman government that finally culminated in the year 73 A.D., within a generation after the time when Jesus Christ had lived and died.

But when the Romans finally reached the top of Masada and broke through the gates, they found that the battle for which they had prepared for so long would not have to take place. The 960 rebels had, days earlier, realized that a fight would not be profitable. And rather than giving up their freedom to worship God in the way they believed, they gave up their lives, dying free, rather than living as slaves under Roman rule.

The story of their faith and how they came to their final end was documented by those who lived inside Masada. Interestingly, as a way to avoid committing wholesale suicide which was against their own teachings, each man drew lots and took turns taking the lives of their own families and friends, until finally only one man remained who alone killed himself.

While there’s nothing scriptural to justify suicide, this story serves as a reminder of just how precious freedom really is, and to what lengths people will go to get it, rather than to live in slavery any longer.

It was the same sort of commitment the men who signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence made when they wrote:

“…we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor” (from the final sentence of the Declaration of Independence).

And many of those who signed the Declaration of Independence did give up their lives and fortunes because of that pledge of sacred honor to one another.

Christ calls us to do the same.

Jesus frequently invited people to “come and see” what the kingdom of heaven was all about, then challenged them to go deeper and to “come and die” for that kingdom of heaven.

Here are a few of the things that Jesus said about the cost of freedom that could come to those who follow Him:

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35).

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).

Jesus wants us to be as committed to Him and to the freedom that He offers as were those who were committed to freedom at Masada, as were those who were committed to freedom in America.

There’s a price to pay for freedom that Christ offers. But when you’re following Christ, any price is worth it. And once you’re willing to die for Jesus, you’ll find it’s so much easier to live for Him as well.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for dying for us to set us free, and help us to be willing to die to set others free as well. And Lord, help us realize that being willing to die for You will free to us to live for You even more.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 14: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE QUMRAN CAVES? (Back to Table of Contents)

The Qumran Caves are the site of what has been called “the greatest archaeological discovery of modern time.” To find out what was discovered there, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to see how this tremendous discovery can affect your life in profound ways today, too.

Watch “What Happened At The Qumran Caves?”

So what happened at the Qumran Caves? That’s where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. And the scrolls found at Qumran aren’t just any old scrolls. They contain the oldest hand-written manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament, that have ever been found.

Because the scrolls were made of animal skins and parchment, both of which are easily carbon-dated, the ages of these scrolls have been reliably dated as having been written between the years of 200 BC and 68 AD.C and 68 AD. It was quite a find for the shepherd boy who discovered the caves and the scrolls back in 1947, and for the many scholars and archaeologists who have found more caves and more scrolls in the Qumran area since that time.

Among the thousands of scrolls and scroll fragments that have been found, at least a portion of every book of the Old Testament has been discovered to date, with the exception of the book of Esther. Multiple copies of some of the scrolls have been found, such as the books of Psalms, Genesis, and Deuteronomy, and some of the books have been found in their entirety, such as the book of Isaiah.

What makes this discovery so exciting to researchers is that the books are so very old. For instance, the Isaiah scroll is 1,000 years older than any previously discovered copy of Isaiah. And even more exciting is the high level of accuracy of today’s translations of the Bible when compared to these scrolls from the time of Christ.

Archaeological finds like those at the Qumran Caves continue to shed light and credibility on the Scriptures that we use today. In the words of the book of Isaiah itself:

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

When you look out at the barren mountains that surround Qumran, and see how the grass has withered, the flowers have fallen, and even the people who lived there have faded away, it’s an awesome thought to think that the Word of God still stands.

The fact that God’s Word has remained true for all this time confirms to me that the same words He spoke to the people back then, God wants to speak to you today.

When God says in the book of Jeremiah,

“I have loved you with an everlasting love,” (Jeremiah 31:3). 

He meant it then, and He means it today.

When God says in the book of Joshua,

“I will never leave you nor forsake you,” (Joshua 1:5), 

He meant it then, and He means it today.

When God said in the book of Isaiah,

“…those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

He meant it then, and He means it today.

God loves you, He will never leave you nor forsake you, and He will give you the strength you need to fulfill the purpose for which He created you, if you’ll continue to put your hope and faith in Him.

Even though the grass withers and the flowers fade away, the Word of God will stand forever, as evidenced once again by the ancient scrolls that were found in the caves at Qumran. God is faithful and true, and His Word is powerful and reliable.

Keep reading God’s Word. Keep hiding it in your heart and memorizing it regularly. Keep meditating on it day and night, as God told Joshua to do in Joshua 1:8. Don’t let this ancient treasure that has been preserved for so long be wasted. Keep opening up your Bible again and again, and let God’s Living Word breathe life into your daily walk with Him.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for preserving these ancient manuscripts of Your Word for all of these years. Thank You for confirming to us that Your Word is reliable and true, and for giving us the inspiration we need to keep reading it, memorizing it and meditating on it day and night, so that we may experience the fullness of the life for which we were created. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 15: WHAT HAPPENED AT EN GEDI? (Back to Table of Contents)

In the midst of the barren hills that surround the Dead Sea, there’s a surprising oasis of life. It’s called En Gedi, where a fresh water spring pours over steep crevices in the rock, creating a series of beautiful waterfalls and pools as the spring winds its way from the top to the bottom. To find out how God used this oasis to protect and provide for one of the most famous characters in the Bible, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to learn how God can help you when you feel you are being treated unjustly.

Watch “What Happened At En Gedi?”

So what happened at En Gedi? This is where David came to hide from King Saul when Saul was trying to kill David. But Saul wasn’t always angry with David. In fact, David was one of Saul’s favorites. David was called to come and live at the palace to play the harp for Saul, bringing great relief to the king every time David played.

But when David’s fame began to grow as one of the best warriors in Saul’s army, Saul became jealous. Fearing that the people would like David more than him, Saul tried to kill David by pinning him to a wall with his spear.

David tried to talk things out with Saul, reminding the king that David had never done anything wrong against him, but the conversations appeased Saul for only a short time. Then Saul was back to trying to kill David again because of Saul’s burning jealousy. It soon became apparent that David would die if he stayed in the palace any longer.

So David fled. He went from place to place as Saul and his men tried to hunt him down. One of the places that God provided for David was En Gedi. The book of 1 Samuel says:

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats (1 Samuel 24:1-2).

If you were to visit En Gedi today, you would see why David fled there. It featured an oasis of fresh spring water in the middle of the barren hills that surround the Dead Sea, with many caves in the hills where he could hide. It’s an ideal spot to hide and be refreshed at the same time, and wild goats still climb the steep cliffs today, probably descendants from the wild goats for which the area was named back in David’s time.

It was in one of these caves that Saul stopped for a bathroom break. In God’s timing, it happened to be the very cave in which David and his men were hiding. The Bible says:

He [Saul] came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “Today the LORD is saying, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe (1 Samuel 24:3-4).

But after cutting off the corner of Saul’s robe, David was conscience-stricken that he should not do anything to harm the one that God had chosen as king, nor would he let any of his men attack Saul. When Saul left the cave, David followed after him and called out to Saul:

“My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May He consider my cause and uphold it; may He vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”

David did three things at En Gedi that I think are worth learning from when we feel we are being treated unjustly

First, he fled from a bad situation. While God may sometimes call you to stay in a bad situation to do all you can to work things out, there are still those times when it’s truly OK to flee from it. David did his best to try to talk things out with Saul, but when it became apparent that his very life was in danger if he stayed any longer, he fled. Jesus did the same thing at times, escaping quickly from people and places where people wanted to harm or kill Him, such as escaping from a crowd that wanted to throw Him over the cliff, or fleeing from those who tried to stone Him at the temple, or when He escaped the grasp of those who tried to kill Him as He walked through Solomon’s Colonnade (see Luke 4:28-30, John 8:59, and John 10:39).

Second, David trusted God to protect and provide for him. Sometimes you may not want to flee from a bad situation because of the fear that something worse will happen to you. But if God is in it, He can protect and provide for you as well. God can provide a place for you like He provided En Gedi for David. It may not be like the place from which you came, but if it’s God’s provision, it can be just what you need, and a remarkable place in its own right. God protected and provided for the Israelites in the desert after they fled from their captors in Egypt, giving them manna and meat to eat for forty years. And He did the same for Elijah when Elijah fled from King Ahab, sending bread and meat to Elijah every morning and evening by way of birds who were directed by God to do so (see Exodus 16:35, Numbers 11:31-32, and 1 Kings 17:4-6).

Third, David trusted God to administer justice. Even though you may have a chance to administer justice yourself to those who wrongfully accuse or harm you, you may benefit by taking this lesson from David. He could have killed Saul himself, but then he would have had to face 3,000 angry troops next. By trusting the matter into God’s hands, Saul was eventually punished for his wrongdoings, losing his life in battle, and David was brought back to live at the palace, this time as king. Even Jesus, for as many times as He escaped from the hands of His captors, trust God to administer the ultimate justice when God told Him to lay down His life for those who sinned against Him. Because of this, the Bible says:

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

Jesus trusted God to make things right in the end—and make things right He did—just like David trusted God, and just like you and I can do when we feel like others are treating us unjustly.

There are many other things you can do in situations like these, such as forgiving those who mistreat you (see Matthew 18:21-35) or calling for help from others who can step in and help with the situation (see Matthew 18:15-17).

Whether you flee or whether you stay, whether the situation improves or gets worse, know that God can protect and provide for you in the midst of it, and that He can work all things for good in the end. Remember David at En Gedi, and remember what the Bible says:

“… that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for giving us the example of David and Saul, so we can learn from them to see just how much You can do for those who love You. And Lord, help us to to keep putting our trust in You that You will always work all things for good in Your way and in Your timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 16: WHAT HAPPENED AT BETHLEHEM? (Back to Table of Contents)

Today we’re headed to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.  If you’d like to go with me into the Church of the Nativity and see for yourself the place underneath the altar of the church that has marked for centuries where they believe Jesus was born, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to learn why God might have chosen this place for the birth of His Son, and why having a heart like God’s can bear fruit even hundreds—if not thousands—of years later.

Watch “What Happened At Bethlehem?”

So what happened at Bethlehem? That’s where Jesus was born.

The Church of the Nativity has marked the spot ever since 327 A.D., when the church was built at the request of Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Helena was shown this spot on her visit to the Holy Land as the birthplace of her Savior, and she had a church built there to commemorate it. The spot had already been noted as the birthplace of Jesus for hundreds of years before that time by locals and historians alike, such as Justin Martyr in the 2nd century, and Origen of Alexandria in the 3rd.

It’s amazing to think that Jesus was born on this spot, but it’s even more amazing to think that Jesus was ever born at all. To think that God, the Father, would love us so much that He would send His Son into the world to live among us, to tell us of His love, and to demonstrate that love by giving up His life for us so we could live with God forever, that’s what’s really amazing.

As Jesus said so succinctly:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

But why Bethlehem? Why did God want His Son to be born there? As with most things God does, God didn’t pick the city of Bethlehem out of a hat of possible locations at the last minute. He had foretold it, hundreds of years earlier, through the prophet Micah:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).

But why? What was it about Bethlehem that made it so special that God would honor it in this way? I don’t know for sure, but I do know that there was another man born in Bethlehem about a thousand years earlier about whom God had said:

“I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22b).

God honors those whose hearts are after His own heart:  people who love God so much that they will do whatever He wants them to do, whenever He wants them to do it and however God wants them to do it.

And look what God did for David as a result:

“From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised” (Acts 13:23).

I don’t think it was haphazard that God chose Bethlehem as the birthplace of His Son. It seems to me that because David had honored God with his life, God honored David with the life of His Son, even so many generations later.

Because of David’s love for God, God seemed to move heaven and earth, and even the Roman Emperor, to orchestrate things so that this descendant of David’s would be born back in David’s hometown. As Luke records:

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. …And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1,3-7).

Even the angels made the connection between Jesus’ birthplace and David’s, as one of them told the shepherds on the hills of Bethlehem that night:

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10b-11).

David was a man after God’s own heart, and God honored his heart even a thousand years later. I pray you’ll commit today to being a man or woman after God’s own heart. You’ll be blessed—and so will future generations who will be blessed through your faith.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to us here on earth, to live and die for us so that we could live with You forever. Help us commit to being men and women after Your own heart, so that we can bless Your heart, and the hearts of those in generations to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 17: WHAT’S THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL? (Back to Table of Contents)

We’ve been traveling all around the country of Israel during this study, but now we’re going to focus on just one city for the remaining lessons: the capital city of Israel. To take a look this incredible place, and to see what the future holds for it, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to learn what happened there in the past and why what’s going to happen there in the future is so important to us all.

Watch “What’s The Capital Of Israel?”

So what’s the capital of Israel? Jerusalem.  Jerusalem became the capital of Israel in the year 993 B.C.—about 3,000 years ago—when King David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. The Bible says:

“David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years” (2 Samuel 5:4-5).

Jerusalem also became the spiritual capital of Israel at that time, for soon after King David arrived, he had the Ark of the Covenant brought into the city as well. If you remember from the book of Exodus, the Ark of the Covenant was an ornate wooden box covered with gold which contained the “covenant” between God and the Israelites in the form of the Ten Commandments, inscribed on two stone tablets by the finger of God Himself. God told the Israelites that He would make a dwelling for His name there above the ark, and that from there He would meet with them and speak with them (see Exodus 25:10-22).

So even though God certainly isn’t confined to any one location, there was something special about this ark. When David’s son, Solomon, built the temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant, Solomon said:

“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built!  Yet give attention to Your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying in Your presence this day. May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive” (1 Kings 8:27-30).

Throughout the Bible, God said that He would choose a place for His Name, a place where His presence would rest, and that people should seek Him in that place and worship Him there. For instance, in Deuteronomy 12, God told the Israelites:

“You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put His Name there for His dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you” (Deuteronomy 12:4-7).

So when Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, people came to worship there from all over, and continued to come for the next thousand years until the time of Christ.

But when Jesus came, things changed. Jesus was, of course, Emmanuel, which means, “God with us.” God, through His Son Jesus Christ, came to dwell among His people in real live flesh and blood. As the apostle John said so eloquently:

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14a).

And God’s plan to dwell among His people didn’t stop there. He said that He would continue to dwell among His people wherever they lived, even after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus talked about these coming changes in a conversation with a woman from Samaria. The woman said:

“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem” (John 4:20).

Jesus responded:

“Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24).

Less than forty years after Jesus said these words, in the year 70 A.D., Jerusalem was attacked by the Romans and the temple was completely destroyed, never to be rebuilt again.

Jesus foresaw this coming destruction of Jerusalem, and when He did, He wept over the city. The Bible says:

“As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace―but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you’” (Luke 19:41-44).

Although the city was destroyed as Jesus foretold, and the temple along with it, God was not done making His dwelling among men. God said that He would send His Holy Spirit to live within all those who put their faith in Christ. And so it is that now through God’s Holy Spirit He makes His dwelling among us. Now all of us can worship Him “in spirit and in truth,” just as Jesus said, from anywhere in the world. As the apostle Paul said, now we are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit lives within each of us (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

But back to Jerusalem, there is no doubt that God still has a special place in His heart for this Holy City, and that He has special plans for it still to come. God showed the apostle John what’s to come in the future. John wrote:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).

It seems that God’s greatest desire is to dwell among His people, to live with them, talk with them, walk with them, and make His home with them.

From the beginning of its days as the capital of Israel, Jerusalem has a long history of being the place where God dwelt among His people. And according to the Bible, the New Jerusalem will be a place where God will continue to dwell among His people—for the rest of eternity!

Here in the mean time, praise God that, through His Holy Spirit, He can still dwell among us anywhere, anytime, at any moment, day or night, when we put our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, and invited His Holy Spirit to come and live within you, I want to encourage you to make the most of it. Worship God in spirit and in truth. Walk with Him. Talk with Him. Meet with Him every day and throughout your day. Recognize that God is with you right now and at all times. Remember that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and treat it with the utmost honor and respect. Then let God’s Holy Spirit flow freely through your life into the lives of others, letting God use your hands, feet, eyes, ears, and heart as His to those around you. God loves you and He loves the fact that you would let Him come in and make His dwelling within you. Make the most of it!

And if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, do it today! God wants to make His dwelling within you, as well and give you access to His unlimited love and joy, peace and wisdom, from this day forward. Put your faith in Christ today. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Then invite His Holy Spirit to live within you starting today and on into eternity.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for wanting to come and live with us. It’s overwhelming to think that You would want to do that, yet we know that is Your greatest desire. Please, Lord, continue to make Your presence real to us again today, and know that we look forward to living with You forever one day in the New Jerusalem. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 18: WHAT HAPPENED ON MOUNT MORIAH? (Back to Table of Contents)

Mount Moriah sits on what is perhaps the most valuable piece of real estate in the world. If it were for sale, I’m sure the price would be higher than anyone could pay. On some maps, it is marked as the center of the world, out of which everything else emanates. And in some ways, that’s probably true. For it was here on Mount Moriah that some of the most important events of history took place—and will take place again in the future. To find out what happened here, take a look at the short video below. Then read on to see how what happened here can make a difference in what can happen in your life as well.

Watch “What Happened On Mount Moriah?”

So what happened on Mount Moriah? This is where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac.

It’s one of the first stories recorded in the Bible where someone expressed their great faith in God, even in the face of great obstacles.

God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the sand on the seashore and as the stars in the sky. But there was one problem. Abraham didn’t have any children. Not even one. And he and his wife believed that all hope was gone. At least until God spoke to them.

But how could God fulfill a promise like this? Yet Abraham believed Him, and God began to deliver on His promise by giving Abraham and Sarah a son from their own bodies.

But then, the tide seemed to turn. After believing God, and seeing the fulfillment of His promise begin, it seemed like God was about to go back on his promise. God told Abraham:

“Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about” (Genesis 22:2).

It must have seemed ridiculous. If Abraham did what God said, not only was Abraham’s son going to be dead, but so was God’s promise. But if Abraham felt any of that, the Bible doesn’t record it. It simply says that early the next morning, Abraham saddled his donkey, cut some wood to make the offering, took two servants and his son Isaac, and set off for the place God had told him to go.

As he reached the spot, he built an altar, bound his son and put him on it. He took the knife in his hand, and just as he was about to slay his son, an angel of the Lord called out:

“Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me” (Genesis 22:11b-18).

Abraham had proved himself faithful. And so did God. When all hope seemed to be gone, Abraham still believed God could fulfill His promise, somehow, someway, sometime. And because of Abraham’s faith, and God’s faithfulness, Abraham’s descendants are now counted in the millions, including those living today, and those who have lived over the past 4,000 years since this dramatic event on Mount Moriah.

The Dome of the Rock now stands on Mount Moriah over the massive rock rock where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.

It wasn’t the only event that took place there. About a thousand years later, King David bought the threshing floor on Mount Moriah to build an altar and stop a plague that God had sent upon the people. When God saw David’s faith, He proved Himself faithful again by stopping the plague after three days, just as He said He would.

About a thousand years after that, Jesus walked up to the steps of the temple to teach the multitudes, a temple that was built over this very place where Abraham and David had expressed their faith. He, too, eventually expressed his faith here, by willingly being sentenced to death in the chambers of the Antonia Fortress at the base of the Temple Mount, and carrying His cross from there to the hill where He died for all of our sins.

And it was there that Jesus picked up his cross, and carried it to his death, the ultimate sacrifice that stopped the ultimate plague called “sin.”

So you can see how this spot has been the site of many acts of faith, from Abraham 4,000 years ago, to David 3,000 years ago, and to Jesus 2,000 years ago. And you can see why this spot has also become priceless to millions, whether their heritage is Jewish, Muslim or Christian.

One day, the Bible says that a river of life will spring up from this spot.  It will bring life to all that it touches, even the Dead Sea twenty miles away.

While Mount Moriah may not have been a very peaceful spot over the years, it has been a spot where many acts of faith have played out, and where God has proven Himself to be faithful—over and over again, and where He will one day prove Himself to be faithful yet again.

How does this all relate to you?  God loves it when people put their trust in Him, people whose hearts are fully committed to Him, in spite of how things might look around them.

Here’s what the Bible says about Abraham:

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned’” (Hebrews 11:17-18).

Here’s what the Bible says about David:

“I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22).

Here’s what the Bible says about Jesus:

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

And here’s what the Bible says about me and you, as written in Hebrews 11:6:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

God wants you to have faith in Him, even when everything you see might tell you otherwise. God wants you to believe in Him, to trust in Him, to keep putting your faith in Him, no matter what, at all times, in all situations, believing that He exists, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Keep putting your faith in God, and He’ll prove Himself faithful to you, just like He proved Himself faithful to Abraham, David, and Jesus, right there on Mount Moriah.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for showing your faithfulness to those who showed their faithfulness to You. Help us to be faithful to You today as well, believing that You exist, and that You will reward those who earnestly seek You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 19: WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE WESTERN WALL? (Back to Table of Contents)

The Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall, is one of the most famous places on earth, but not because of all that has happened there.  The Wall is famous because of how close it is to something else.  To find out what it’s near, and what goes on there every day and why, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out how you can do the same thing they’re doing at the Western Wall every day, wherever you are on the face of the planet.

Watch “What’s Happening At The Western Wall?”

So what’s happening at the Western Wall?  People are praying.  They come here to pray from all over Jerusalem, from all over Israel, and from all over the world.

I was visiting a friend in New York before my first trip to Israel who said, “When you get to the Western Wall, will you say a prayer for me?”  I said I would, even though I knew I could pray for him just as well right there in New York, which I did.

But I also knew why he wanted me to pray for him there, in that spot:  because the Western Wall is the closest spot to the Holy of Holies, the place where God chose—out of all the earth—as a dwelling place for His name.

You may have heard this famous quote from the Bible before:

“…if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

But you may not remember the context in which those words were spoken.  The context was just after Solomon had finished building the Temple in Jerusalem as a place for God’s name to dwell.  Here’s what God said to Solomon when the temple was completed:

“When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people,  if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there’ “ (2 Chronicles 7:11-16).

So it’s easy to see why people would want to go to the Temple Mount to pray still today.  God promised that His eyes would be open and His ears attentive to the prayers offered in this special place.

And it’s easy to see why the Temple Mount is still such a sought after property in the world:  people want to be as close to God as they can get.  They want Him to hear their prayers.  They want Him to pay attention to their needs.  People want God to answer their prayers, so they still try to get as close to the Temple Mount as they can to pray.

And that brings us to why the Western Wall is so important.  The Temple Mount has changed hands many times over the years.  Solomon’s Temple was destroyed and rebuilt again, only to be destroyed again in 70 A.D.    The domed building that now stands above the rock of Abraham was at one time a Christian church, with a cross atop the dome.  There was also a time when an Israeli flag flew upon the Temple Mount.  The dome is now adorned with a golden moon, the symbol of the Muslims who control the Temple Mount today.  And as the third holiest site in Islam, it is forbidden for Jews or Christians to pray anywhere upon it—and if they are seen to be praying, they are asked to leave.

So today, the closest spot to the place where the Holy of Holies once was, and where Jews can pray, and Christians as well, for that matter, is the Western Wall, a 187 foot expanse of the wall that can be seen on the southwestern edge of the Temple Mount (the walls of the Temple Mount are not to be confused with the city walls that encircle the entire old city of Jerusalem, which Nehemiah rebuilt, and which are are further out).

But what many people don’t realize is that the Western Wall extends along the full length of the Temple Mount, and can be visited today in its entirety by descending into the rabbinical tunnels, an extensive network of tunnels that are said to extend underneath the entire Temple Mount as well.  The tunnels along the Western Wall have been excavated in recent years, and you can go down underground and walk along the entire length of the Western Wall, down to what would have been the street level during the time of Jesus!

It is spectacular to walk along this massive wall at its base, with its huge foundation stones, and there is one spot along the wall that garners particular attention: the spot that is said to be directly across from where the Holy of Holies once stood, the place where the Ark of the Covenant was located (and is shown in the picture at the right, and in video above).  It is remarkable to stand there and imagine that this is the closest we can get to the place where God chose for His name to dwell.

Having said all of that, there is a closer spot still where God has since chosen for His name to dwell:  within the hearts of all those who have put their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  As the apostle Paul told the Ephesians:

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16-17).

If you’ve put your faith in Christ, God’s Spirit lives within you, just as Jesus told the disciples He would:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-16).

We all long to be close to God.  We want to be with Him and know that He is close enough to hear our prayers.  A new worship song by Dennis Jernigan, called “Breathe,” expresses this strong desire for intimacy with God by saying:

“Lean so close that I feel You breathe 

Lean so close You quench this thirst in me 

Lean so close You loose these chains in me 

Set me free… So I can breathe…”

Imagine, leaning so close to God that you could feel Him breathe!  The good news is that if you want to be this close to God, to talk to Him and to be sure that His eyes are upon you and His ears are attentive to your prayers, all you need to do is to put your faith in Christ.  If you’ve already done that, you need look no further than within your own heart to find the place where the Spirit of God Himself now dwells.

Lean close to God today.  Feel his breath on your cheek.  Let Him whisper the words He longs to tell you, and the words you’re probably longing to hear from Him as well:  “My child, I love you.”  Then respond to that love with a few words of your own.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for coming to dwell among us, both at the Holy of Holies and now within the temple of our own hearts.  Lean so close to us so we can hear You, see You, feel You, touch You, and thank You for being there so we can lean upon You as well.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 20: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE NORTH GATE? (Back to Table of Contents)

I’d like to tell you a very personal story today.  It’s about what happened to me at the North Gate of the Temple Mount.  But before I tell you my story, I’d like to tell you Ezekiel’s story, and what he saw, in a vision from God, at the North Gate of the Temple Mount.  It’s a beautiful picture of what it will be like when Jesus returns.  Take a look at the short video below to see where the northern gates of the Temple once stood.

Watch “What Happened At The North Gate?”

So what happened at the North Gate?  That’s where Ezekiel saw a vision of a river of life flowing out from the Temple, bringing life to all that it touched.  It was a vision for him, but it will be a reality for us one day, when Jesus returns.  You may remember some of Ezekiel’s story from when we talked about the Dead Sea, when God showed Ezekiel this river flowing from the Temple and said:

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12).

But that wasn’t the only vision Ezekiel had of what would happen at the Temple.  God had brought him there many times over his years as a prophet to show him what would happen, ranging from bringing judgment on those who had forgotten God, to bringing blessings to those who continued to wait on Him.

God used one of Ezekiel’s visions to speak to me one day.  I’d like to share that story with you to encourage you that God still speaks today as He did in the days of Ezekiel.

It happened just shortly after I quit my secular job to go into full-time ministry.  I felt God was calling me to do something full-time for Him, but I didn’t know what.  It was only a week or so after I had quit when I felt God calling me to the Holy Land for the first time.  As I prayed about the trip, I felt there were two places I should visit in particular:  the place where the Temple used to be and the place where Jesus died.  I asked God why He wanted me to go to these two places, and I felt He said: “I will reveal Myself to you there.”

So I had just finished writing these things down in my journal, which I was using during my prayer time with God, and was about to stand up to go on with my day, when I felt God say He wasn’t done yet.  “Open your Bible,” He seemed to say.  So I opened it up and began to read the words I saw on the page.  It was a passage from Ezekiel, chapter 8:

“In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came upon me there. I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal. He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain” (Ezekiel 8:1-4).

There I was, thinking about going to the place where the Temple used to be in Jerusalem, and I felt like God was giving me very specific instructions about where to go on the Temple Mount.  In Ezekiel’s vision, he was picked up and transported to Jerusalem, between earth and heaven (by the hair of his head, no less!), and dropped him off at the entrance to the north gate of the inner court of the temple. It was there that God revealed His glory to Ezekiel.

I pictured my own upcoming flight to Israel, where I would be transported to Jerusalem, between earth and heaven (by plane, thankfully!) and heading to the Temple Mount as well.  I felt like God was telling me for some reason to go specifically to the place where the north gate of the inner court of the temple would have been.  Although the temple itself no longer exists, the location of the the north gate of the inner court was quite likely just to the north of the rock of Abraham, inside the Dome of the Rock, and where the Holy of Holies would have been located.

I stood up with renewed interest in whatever God wanted to reveal to me on this trip, and on that spot in particular.  I went home and told my wife about what I felt God was saying, and that if she needed to find me in Israel, to look for me at the north gate on the Temple Mount!

You can imagine my frustration when I finally got to Jerusalem to find out that the Temple Mount was closed.  It was the Muslims holy month of Ramadan, and I was told that the Temple Mount was closed off to non-Muslims. Each day of my trip, I went into Jerusalem and tried to get in, but each day I was turned away.

As I sat outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem one day, I read in my Bible about people who were anointed with oil when they went into service for God.  I began to wonder if God could somehow anoint me with oil as I was going into service for Him as well.  But where could I find someone who would anoint me with oil?  I couldn’t just walk up to someone on the streets of Jerusalem and ask if they’d do it!

The next morning, however, as I was talking to a shopkeeper about my desire to see the Temple Mount, but my frustration that I kept getting turned away, he told me that if I went to a certain door before 9 a.m., I could get in, for tourists could get in for a few hours that morning if they went before 9.  It was just before 9 a.m. when he told me, so I took off running for the door he had described.  After a quick search of my backpack, the men watching that door let me in.  I had made it onto the Temple Mount!

I headed for the Dome of the Rock and ran into a group of tourists who were going inside.  One woman was staying behind to watch their pile of backpacks, shoes, and cameras, as none of those things could be brought into the Dome. She said she would watch my things, too, and I stepped inside the Dome.

I went to the north side of the wide rock inside, where Abraham was supposed to sacrifice Isaac, and I stood and thanked God for bringing me there.  I asked Him to reveal anything that He wanted to reveal to me.  I was ready to hear it. I noticed a man to my right who had climbed up on the short base of a pillar inside the door to get a better view of the rock from above.  I continued my conversation with God, and after waiting a bit longer for anything He might say, but hearing nothing more, I went back outside.

I returned to the woman who was watching our pile of things, and she started to ask me a series of questions:  why I had come, what I was doing there, what kind of church did I go to.  I tried to politely answer her questions, but I was in a bit of a hurry to go and explore more of the Temple Mount.  I was, after all, waiting for God to show up!

But she kept asking questions, and finally said, “My husband’s a pastor, and he would love to hear all of this, but he’s still inside the Dome.  Could you wait till he comes out and tell him what you’re doing?”  So I waited.

When her husband came out, I saw that he was the same man I had seen inside the Dome on the north side of the rock of Abraham.  I shared with him why I had come to Israel, and about some of my recent experiences, such as praying for the healing of a woman who had cancer.  He asked, “When you pray for people, do you anoint them with oil?”  He said he found it helpful to anoint people with oil when he prayed for them, as it says to do in the book of James.

I was stunned.  I had just been praying the day before that God would send someone to anoint me with oil as I began my ministry, and here stood someone who just might do it, right at the place where the north gate of where the inner courts of the Temple would have been! I told them about my prayer, and asked if they might pray for me and anoint me with oil for my service to God.  They said they’d be glad to, and although they didn’t have any with them, they said we could buy some at one of the shops nearby.  Then, when their group took their next break from their tour, they’d pray for me.

I followed them as they left the Temple Mount, walking through the actual northern gates of the Temple Mount that are there today.  We walked along the Via Dolorosa, the path through the streets that Jesus was said to have taken when He carried His cross to His death.  We ended up at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional spot where Jesus was said to have been crucified.  Then their group took a break.

We went to a nearby shop and bought a small bottle of “Anointing Oil from the Holy Land,” and went back inside the church to pray.  It was there, at the place where Jesus died, that they—and God—anointed me with oil for the service I had recently begun for Him.

It was a holy moment, as I realized what God had done:  He had brought me to the two places He put on my heart to come: the place where the Temple used to be and the place where Jesus died.  And it was in those two spots where God revealed Himself to me in a very personal way, showing me how clearly He speaks, and how clearly He answers prayers.  And it was in that moment that God ordained me for the ministry that I’ve now been doing for the past fifteen years.

As I flew home the next day, I thanked God again for speaking so clearly and personally to me, just as He has spoken to people throughout the ages.  What an awesome God we serve!

I want to encourage you today to listen carefully for God’s voice.  He still speaks today, not just about “big” things, but about the every day things as well.  But it takes time to hear Him clearly, and it takes faith to believe that what He says to you is true.  Know, however, that God loves those who seek Him, and when you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you generously.  As it says in the Bible:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6).

Take some time to listen to God today.  Quiet your heart, open your Bibles, and ask Him your questions.  Then get ready to receive whatever He has to say.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for speaking to Ezekiel centuries ago, and thank You for speaking to us still today, through Your Word and by Your Holy Spirit.  We pray that You would again answer the questions that are on our hearts today, and that we would have the faith to believe You when the answers come.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 21: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SOUTHERN STEPS? (Back to Table of Contents)

Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, yet he said that walking on the southern steps of the Temple Mount was even more exciting.  Why?  To find out, take a look at this short video below, then read on to learn how you can have exciting moments like this every day.

Watch “What Happened At The Southern Steps?”

So what happened at the southern steps?  That’s where Jesus walked.

When Neil Armstrong visited Israel in 1994, he asked his host if there was a place where Jesus would have walked—without a doubt—2,000 years ago.  His host, Archaeologist Meir Ben Dov and the excavator of the Temple Mount and southern walls in Jerusalem,  answered that the southern steps were, for sure, the steps that Jesus would have used when He walked up to the Temple.

Mr. Armstrong bent down and kissed the ground, saying that this was an even more exciting moment for him than walking on the moon.  If you were to go to Israel today and wanted to walk where you knew Jesus would have walked, you would go to the southern steps.

That’s because the southern steps, which have been excavated in recent years, served as the main entrance to the entire Temple Mount complex.  And we know from Scripture that Jesus went to the Temple several times throughout His life.  The Temple itself has since been destroyed, and the Temple Courts are buried under years of civilization and rebuilding.  But the southern steps can still be walked upon today.

The Bible says that Jesus first visited the Temple as a child, when Mary and Joseph brought Him here to be consecrated to the Lord (see Luke 2:21-40). The family then came back to Jerusalem year after year, as was their custom, for the yearly Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41).

It was on one of these trips that Mary and Joseph lost Jesus as they were traveling back home, thinking that He was traveling back with relatives or friends.  After searching for Him for three days, they finally found Him, back in Jerusalem in the Temple Courts.  He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions.  Upon hearing that His parents had been anxiously searching for Him, Jesus replied:

“Why were you searching for me?  Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).

Then as an adult, Jesus often taught crowds of people there at the Temple Courts.  The Bible says that during the final week of His life:

“Each day Jesus was teaching at the Temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the Temple.” (Luke 21:37-38).

If just walking where Jesus walked sounds exciting—like it was to Neil Armstrong—imagine what it would have been like to hear Him speak!  Imagine being there in person, back in 33 A.D., and listening to the words that Jesus spoke, coming from His own mouth!

Imagine hearing Jesus tell some of His parables for the very first time, right there in the Temple Courts:  the parable of the two sons, or of the ungrateful tenants, or of the wedding banquet of a king.

Imagine Jesus answering people’s questions, whether honest and practical questions, or those that were asked by people in order to trap Him, with words that astonished all who heard them and silenced His critics.

Imagine hearing Jesus answer the question about whether or not it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, and then hearing Jesus ask you to take out a coin with Caesar’s image on it and saying:

“Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21).

Or imagine Him answering the question about the resurrection of the dead, and whether or not people would really live again after they died, and hearing Jesus say:

“Have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Matthew 22:31b-32).

Or imagine Jesus being asked what He thought was the greatest commandment in the law, and hearing Jesus say for the first time:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ “ (Matthew 22:37-38).

Or imagine watching, along with Jesus, as a poor widow passed in front of you and put two very small coins into the Temple offering, and hearing Jesus say:

“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on”  (Luke 21:2-4).

All of these things took place at the Temple Courts.  No wonder the Bible says that all those who heard Jesus speak there—even when He was just twelve—were “…amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:47).

No wonder the Bible says that the crowds who heard Jesus speak at the Temple Courts as an adult were “…astonished at His teaching” (Matthew 22:33b).

No wonder the Bible says that when He spoke during the feast that “…all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the Temple” (Luke 21:38).

Maybe you wish you could have been one of those people who got up early in the morning to hear the wisdom of Jesus.  The truth is, you can be one of those people!

If you’d like to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him speak His words to you, words that are practical and words that answer the honest questions on your heart, you can still do it today.  You can pick up a copy of the Bible and read the words of Jesus, as recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, recorded by people who heard Him speak those words in person—Matthew, Mark and John—and Luke, who personally and thoroughly researched the stories by asking eyewitnesses who heard Jesus speak to verify their authenticity, people who were still living at the time he wrote his book.  Some of you may even have “red-letter Bibles,” where the words of Jesus are highlighted in red so that you can find them easier, underscoring the words of this master teacher that were spoken 2,000 years ago.

Thankfully, the words that Jesus spoke back then are just as applicable to our lives today.  Jesus isn’t a teacher who is now dead and silent.  He’s just as alive and eager to speak to you today as He was back then.  As the Bible says:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

What a blessing it is to be able to walk where Jesus walked, as Neil Armstrong did, and what a blessing it would have been to hear Him teach in person at the Temple Courts.  But what a blessing it is that we can still come to Him every day, whether early in the morning, throughout the day, or late in the day, and hear the wisdom of God as spoken through Jesus Christ Himself.

Come to Christ again today—and every day—and let Him speak His words of life  to you.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to speak to the crowds at the Temple, and thank You for those who recorded His words so we can continue to hear Him speak to us today.  Open our hearts to hear those words as we come to You again today and every day.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 22: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE POOLS OF BETHESDA? (Back to Table of Contents)

The Pools of Bethesda, just outside the Temple in Jerusalem, were said to have healing powers.  But one day, when a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years went to the pools for healing, he discovered the Source of all true healing.  To find out what happened that day, take a look at this minute-and-a-half video shot on location at the remains of the pools themselves.  Then read on for encouragement that God still heals today.  Here’s the video…

Watch “What Happened At The Pools Of Bethesda?”

So what happened at the Pools of Bethesda?  That’s where Jesus healed a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years.

The man had apparently come to the Pools of Bethesda looking to be healed by the waters there.  According to local tradition, there were times when an angel of the Lord would stir up the waters in the pools and the first one into the water after such a disturbance would be healed.  As a result, the Bible says,

“Here a great number of disabled people used to lie: the blind, the lame, the paralyzed” (John 5:3).

On one of Jesus’ visits to Jerusalem, He went to the pools and saw this man lying there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus asked:

“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6b).

The man didn’t know who was asking him this question, for he simply replied that he had no one to help him into the pool when the water was stirred.   Little did he know that he was talking to the One who is the Source of all healing!  But he was about to find out.  In the next moment, Jesus did for him the miracle that he had waited so long to receive:

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’  At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked” (John 5:8).

Jesus is known for many things, but His ability to heal ranks right at the top.  The Bible says,

“And wherever He went–into villages, towns or countryside–they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Him to let them touch even the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed” (Mark 6:56).

As the “Author of life,” as Peter called Him, Jesus is the One who knows best how to heal a life.  When God designed our bodies, He designed them with healing in mind, knowing that we wouldn’t go through life unscathed.  When doctors stitch up a wound or administer an antibiotic, they are often using techniques that simply tap into the body’s God-given ability to heal itself, helping to stimulate, accelerate, or otherwise facilitate the body’s built-in healing processes.

That’s why God said to Moses:

“…for I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).

And God is a healing God not just of our bodies, but of our hearts, minds, and souls as well.  After healing the man at the pools, Jesus later found him again at the Temple and said to him:

“See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14).

Jesus wanted the man to be fully healed, not just in part, but the whole; not just in body, but in heart, mind and soul.

Jesus’ healing power extends to all aspects of our lives.  In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he talks about people in the church there who had, in the past, suffered from all kinds of problems:  sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, thievery, greediness, drunkenness, slandering and swindling.  But Paul goes on to say,

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

They were changed, healed, renewed, restored. How? In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. All healing–whether physical, mental, spiritual or emotional–comes from God, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and through His Holy Spirit.

Even those healings performed by doctors or nurses, psychologists or psychiatrists, mothers or fathers, or friends or family, ultimately come from the God who designed our hearts, souls, minds and bodies.

If you need a healing in your life today, or know someone who does, I want to encourage you, and to encourage them, to come to Jesus, the Author and Sustainer of life itself.

Remember the man who was healed at the pools of Bethesda.  Jesus touched him and said, “‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’  At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked” (John 5:8).

Remember the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, who had run out of money and doctors and all other options.  She came to Jesus and said, “If I just touch His clothes, I will get well.”  Then she touched His cloak, her bleeding stopped, and Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 5:28, 34).

Remember King David, who suffered much at the hands of other men–and from his own sins, yet he wrote in the Psalms, “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…” (Psalm 103:2-3).

Remember James, the brother of Jesus, who called on those who were sick to come to Jesus in prayer for their healing: “Is any one of you sick? He should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well” (James 5:14-15a).

Remember Peter, who healed a crippled man who was begging for money outside the Temple by saying, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6).  Then taking the man by the hand, he helped him up to his feet, which became strong again, and the man went walking and leaping and praising God.

Peter knew that it wasn’t his own power or strength that healed the man. He knew that he was just a conduit who reached out to the One True Source of healing: Jesus.

After the healing, Peter said,

“Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? …  You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see” (Acts 3:12,16).

If you’re sick, come to Jesus. If you’re worn out, come to Jesus. If you’ve run out of money and doctors and all other options, come to Jesus.

If you’re wrestling with unhealthy thoughts, words, or deeds, come to Jesus.  If you’re worried sick and your emotions are shot, come to Jesus.

As Peter said,

“It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this COMPLETE healing to him, as you can all see.”

“Do you want to get well?”  Come to Jesus. Let Him do His healing work in your life.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for being a God who heals.  Thank You for wanting to make us whole and complete.  Thank You for designing our bodies to heal themselves when possible, for giving us wisdom to facilitate that healing power when not, and for sending us Jesus who we believe can heal us supernaturally at any moment–even after thirty-eight years.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 23: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES? (Back to Table of Contents)

The Mount of Olives is only a short walk from the Temple Mount, and from there you can get a beautiful view of the city of Jerusalem. Jesus spent His nights there during the last week of His life, praying, sleeping, and teaching His disciples.  But something else is going to happen on the Mount of Olives one day. To find out what, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out what you can do today to prepare for what’s going to happen there in the future.

Watch “What’s Going To Happen On The Mount Of Olives?”

So what’s going to happen on the Mount of Olives? That’s where Jesus will return.

Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives with His disciples when He was in Jerusalem, perhaps because it was so close to the Temple.  It is just across the valley from the Temple Mount, and only a Sabbath’s day’s walk from the city (just over half-a mile away, the maximum distance that Jews were allowed to walk on the Sabbath).

It was a convenient spot for Jesus and His disciples to retreat to after teaching at the Temple during the day. The Bible says:

“Each day Jesus was teaching at the Temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives…” (Luke 21:36-38).

But Jesus’ affinity for the Mount of Olives may not have been simply because of its proximity to the Temple. The Mount of Olives is also the site where the prophet Zechariah said the Lord would appear one day, redeeming those who honored Him and destroying those who didn’t:

“On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south” (Zechariah 14:4).

And it was from the Mount of Olives that Jesus eventually ascended into heaven after His death and resurrection here on earth.  As He rose into the sky, two angels appeared to the disciples and said:

“Men of Galilee, 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.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city (Acts 1:11-12).

So the Mount of Olives has become famous as the place where the Messiah will first appear, and over 150,000 people have been buried there on that hill—including the prophet Zechariah—in order to be on hand the moment the Messiah arrives.

But you won’t have to be on the Mount of Olives to know that Jesus has come back.  Jesus taught His disciples what that day would be like, the signs that would precede it, and what they could do now to prepare for it.

Listen to the words of Jesus that He spoke while still here on the earth, words that He spoke, in fact, right there on the Mount of Olives just a few days before His death:

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come….

“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.

“So if anyone tells you, ‘There He is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man….

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him” (Matthew 24:1-14, 23-27, 36-44).

When I was young, I remember hearing a lot of stories about Jesus. But for some reason, I missed the fact that one day He was going to come back again! When I realized that He was really coming back, my heart leapt! Wow! The same Jesus who had done so many miraculous things was going to be coming again! What a day that would be!

But this wasn’t going to be “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” (not that He was ever was that way when He first came either, but that was my impression as a child). This Jesus was going to be coming in power and might, redeeming those who loved Him and destroying those who didn’t.

There will be no question on that day about whether Jesus is the Christ or not. His re-appearance will be visible simultaneously and instantaneously all around the world. As Jesus said, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” You won’t have to be on the Mount of Olives to know that Jesus is back. You’ll know it—no matter where you are in the world!

And when that day comes, Christ wants you to be ready. After teaching His disciples to look for the signs of His coming, Jesus then told three parables, stories that describe what will happen to those who are prepared for His return, and what will happen to those who aren’t. If you haven’t read them lately, you might want to read them again this week.  You can find them in Matthew chapter 25:  the parables about the ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep and the goats.

Jesus summarized them like this:

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:45-51).

When Jesus returns, He wants to find you with your hearts firmly committed to Him, ready and eagerly desiring His coming, as a bride eagerly desires the coming of her groom.

He wants to find you using the talents He has given you, not squandering away the resources and abilities He has given you, but using them to make a good return on His investment.

He wants to find you doing the things that He’s called all of us to do, both spiritually and physically:  giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, inviting in strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting those in prison.

I want to encourage you today to get ready for His return. If your heart’s not fully committed to Jesus, make that commitment today. If you know someone whose heart’s not fully committed to Jesus, send this message to them and encourage them to make that commitment today.

And if your heart is fully committed to Jesus, get ready for His return! Look forward to it! Look forward to the day when He stands again on the Mount of Olives, in the fullness of His glory, coming back to take you to be with Him forever! Fill your hearts with faith today, make a good return on the gifts He has given you, and serve one another wholeheartedly. Remember, as Jesus said, “…he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for the reminder that Jesus is coming back again, and that He will one day take us to be with Him forever. Lord, fill our hearts with faith again today, faith that Jesus will indeed come back for us, and faith that will inspire us to keep doing Your work here on earth right up until that day comes. We put our faith, hope and trust in You again today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 24: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE? (Back to Table of Contents)

The Garden of Gethsemane is made up of a grove of olive trees found at the foot of the Mount of Olives.  The word “gethsemane” means “oil press,” and this garden likely served as the location of an ancient olive press, a device used to squeeze the oil out of olives.  But another kind of pressing took place on the night before Jesus died.  It was, perhaps, His most difficult trial on earth.  To find out what happened that night, and how He faced it, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out how God can give you the strength to pass the trials you face as well.

Watch “What Happened At The Garden Of Gethsemene?”

So what happened at the Garden of Gethsemane?  This is where Jesus went to pray the night He was betrayed.

If you remember the story, the trial He faced that night was so difficult that He told His disciples He was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:34a).

When Jesus tried to get His disciples to stay awake with Him during the night, they couldn’t do it.  This was a trial He was going to have to face without them.

But He didn’t have to face it alone.  He faced it together with God His Father in prayer.  The words Jesus prayed that night are an encouragement to me, as they have been to people for thousands of years, people who have faced trials of many kinds.  Jesus said:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 25:42).

You may have heard these words so many times that they’ve lost their freshness, but I’d like to remind you today of the power contained within them.  They are words that can bring you peace and restore life to your soul once again no matter what kind of situation you might be facing.

First, know that when you face a trial of any kind, you’re not facing it alone. When you get to that point where you feel so alone that even your closest friends seem unable to walk with you through it any further, know that God is still there to walk through it with you.

When Jesus prayed that night, He went to His Father not just once or twice, but three times.  Before each time of prayer, He asked His disciples to stay awake and keep watch for Him.  But the fact that they couldn’t do it didn’t mean that His friends didn’t love Him, or that they didn’t want to help Him.  They wanted to do whatever He asked, but in the end they simply couldn’t do it.  Jesus knew their hearts were still with Him nonetheless, and He said:

“The spirit is willing, but the body is weak”
(Matthew 26:41).

But even though Jesus’ disciples fell asleep, God never did.  The Bible says that God never slumbers nor sleeps (see Psalm 121:4). Each time Jesus found the disciples sleeping, He returned to God in prayer.

Second, know that it’s not unspiritual to plead with God for that which you think is best.  Three times, Jesus said:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me.”  

Jesus didn’t want to face what lay ahead of Him.  He pleaded with God to take it away, to change His course, or to show Him another path.  It wasn’t that Jesus wanted to disobey His Father’s will, but neither did He hide the fact that He’d rather do it another way if possible!

The anguish that Jesus faced that night was intense, so intense that Luke says:

“His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

The pressure of it all, the squeezing that He felt must have been nearly unbearable. The pain and twisting he felt may have been mirrored in the gnarled and twisted olive trees found in the Garden of Gethsemane itself, some of which are over 1,000 years old—and some could have even been alive at the time of Christ, as olives tree can, remarkably, live several thousand years.

Jesus knew that the pain ahead could be severe, and He didn’t hesitate to pray that His Father would make another way.  If it wasn’t “unspiritual” for Jesus to pray this way, then I wouldn’t think it would be unspiritual for you to ask for it either.

But third, know that whatever happens in the end, you can trust God to work all things for good, when you truly commit your will to His.  Madame Guyon was a Christian who suffered much during her lifetime in France in the 1700’s. Yet through it all she was able to find the peace of God by surrendering her will to God’s.  She wrote:

“All your concerns go into the hand of God. You forget yourself, and from that moment on you think only of Him.  By continuing to do this over a long period of time, your heart will remain unattached; your heart will be free and at peace!  How do you practice abandonment? You practice it daily, hourly and by the moment. Abandonment is practiced by continually losing your own will in the will of God—by plunging your will into the depths of His will, there to be lost forever!” (Madame Guyon, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ).

While it is important to remember that God has given us free will—the will or desire do that which we want—it’s also important to remember that God has a will, too.  While God wants to give you the desires of your heart, He also has desires on His heart, desires which often go way beyond ours!

I am a firm believer that God wants to bless you, to prosper you, and to make you healthy and wealthy and wise.  The Scriptures are full of stories of how God has come through for His people, blessing them with healing and prosperity, both physically and spiritually, and pouring out His wisdom upon them.  But I am also a firm believer that God’s blessings can often exceed our own, but sometimes we can only see them as blessings when we look at them through eyes of faith.

I once heard a long-time and well-respected Christian leader say that when he looked back on his life, it turned out that the times he thought were his mountaintop turned out to be the valleys, and the times he thought he was going through the valleys turned out to be the mountaintops.  God has a way of bringing good from every situation, when we trust Him to do His will in all things.

Know that God wants to bless you, that He wants to bless others through you, and that you can trust Him in all things, at all times, to work His will, in His ways. Know that when He calls you to face your own Garden of Gethsemane, you won’t face it alone.  You’ll be in good company, the likes of which includes Jesus Christ Himself, the One who trusted His Father inherently and said with His whole heart:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

I pray that you’ll be able to do the same.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for never leaving us alone, thank You for giving us our own free will, and thank You for giving us the confidence that Your will always is always better than our own.  Help us to come to You with complete abandonment so that we can experience the fullness of Your peace, Your joy, and Your life that will come to us when we do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 25: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HOUSE OF CAIAPHAS? (Back to Table of Contents)

Caiaphas was the high priest at the time when Jesus was betrayed, and it was to Caiaphas’ house that Jesus was brought and accused of blasphemy against God.  To see the dungeon of this house, and the adjoining pit where prisoners were lowered into by a rope to prevent them from escaping, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out what else happened that night at Caiaphas’ house, and how God can restore, redeem, and forgive you, too, if you’ve ever felt that you’ve done something against Him.

Watch “What Happened At The House Of Caiaphas?”

So what happened at the House of Caiaphas?  That’s where Peter denied Jesus three times.

After Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, the guards brought Jesus to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest.  Jesus was taken inside and tried for blasphemy, while Peter waited in the courtyard outside to find out what was going to happen.

But while Peter was waiting, some people in the crowd recognized him as having been with Jesus.  Apparently overcome by fear, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus, not just once or twice, but three times.  The Bible says:

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee” she said.

But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”

Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:69-74).

This was, perhaps, the worst night in Jesus’ life.  But it was also probably the worst night in Peter’s life as well.  When Peter realized what he had done, the Bible says, “he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Looking back on the situation, we can forgive Peter for what he did that night—for under the same circumstances, who knows what any of us might have done?  And yet I think it would have been harder for Peter to forgive himself.  For it was Peter who, just a few hours earlier, at the Passover dinner, said to Jesus:

“Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will…. Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You” (Matthew 26: 33, 35).

But Jesus knew what Peter was going to do, and mercifully He told Peter ahead of time, speaking words of restoration to Peter even before he sinned.  What a gracious Friend and Lord.

Here’s what Jesus said to Peter, also known as Simon, earlier in the night:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31, 32).

Jesus knew that all the disciples would fall away from Him that night, including Peter.  But Jesus came to Peter specifically to let him know that He was praying for Him that his faith wouldn’t fail.  Then He encouraged Peter to strengthen his brothers when he did turn back.

A church has now been built over the House of Caiaphas.  It has been named in honor of Saint Peter and is called “The Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu”—although I’m not sure that Peter would prefer the honor, since “gallicantu” means “cock-crow” in Latin, a reminder of the words Jesus spoke to Peter earlier that night:

“I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times” (Matthew 26:34).

But then again, Peter may truly appreciate the honor, for even though it showed his weakness, it also showed Christ’s strength:  to restore those who have fallen far, far from their faith.  Jesus’ restoration of Peter continued a short time later on the beach at the Sea of Galilee when, after Jesus died and rose again from the dead, He appeared yet again to the disciples.

Taking Peter aside for a very personal conversation, Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him.  The Bible says:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” 

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love You.” 

Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” 

He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” 

Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”

The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” 

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17).

It’s as if Jesus was giving Peter a chance to redeem himself, saying that He loved Jesus three times, perhaps to counteract the three times had Peter denied Him.  And the restoration took hold, for Peter went on to feed Jesus’ sheep in a powerful way, leading the church in Jerusalem for the rest of his life, proclaiming Jesus’ name everywhere he went, and facing threats of death without fear from those who opposed his message.

Perhaps you’ve felt like Peter before on the night that he denied Jesus.  Perhaps you’ve felt you’ve done something so horrible, at least in your mind, that you believe Jesus could never forgive you.  Maybe you’ve cheated or lied or stolen.  Maybe you’ve had an affair or betrayed your family or friends.  Maybe you’ve denied Christ in ways that only you and He could fully comprehend.

If so, you might wonder if Jesus could ever forgive you, restore you, and use you ever again.

If that’s the case, I want to remind you today that Jesus knew about Peter’s sins even before he committed them.  And He knows about yours and mine.  And still, He was willing to die for Peter and you and me, even while we were still involved in our sins.  That’s the way that the Bible says God demonstrates His love for us:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

If you’re wrestling with the idea of forgiveness, and whether or not God can or will forgive you of your sins, I pray today that God will show you His unsurpassing love.  I pray that these words from the Bible will wash over you.  And I pray that you’ll know that if you ask God for forgiveness, and put your faith in Christ, that He will indeed forgive you, removing your sins from you as far as the east is from the west, and remembering them no more.

As the Bible says:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“…as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

While the House of Caiaphas may stand as a reminder of Peter’s worst possible sin in his life, it also stands as a beacon of hope for all those need a reminder that Christ can restore, redeem, and forgive them, too.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for making a way for us to come back to You when we’ve sinned.  Give us the boldness to come back to You again today, leaving our past behind, and walking ahead in the calling that You have on each one of our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 26: WHAT HAPPENED ON THE VIA DOLOROSA? (Back to Table of Contents)

The Via Dolorosa is a path that winds its way through the streets of Jerusalem, and upon which millions have walked over the years.  Why?  Because another Man walked this path one day—the most painful day of His life.  To see what the path looks like today, and find out why it’s called the Via Dolorosa, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out how God can give you the strength to get through the painful days in your life as well.

Watch “What Happened On The Via Dolorosa?”

So what happened on the Via Dolorosa?  That’s the path that Jesus took as He carried His cross to His crucifixion.

The words “via dolorosa” are Latin for “the way of suffering.”  And while the Via Dolorosa is a path that many people have taken over the years, not many people ever really want to take the “way of suffering” in life.  Suffering goes against human nature, and pain is usually a God-given indicator to let you know that something is wrong and needs to be fixed.

But there are times when God may call you to take a path that leads directly into pain—not because He wants you to suffer, but because He has something better in mind for you on the other side of the pain.

Examples abound:

– Like a pregnant woman who has to endure nine months of labor and the pain of childbirth in order to experience the joy of holding her newborn baby in her arms,

– Or like a teenage girl who has to break up with her boyfriend because she wants to remain pure for her future husband,

– Or like a man with a gash in his arm who has to endure the cleansing and stitching of the wound so that his flesh can eventually be healed.

Jesus showed us the key to making it through times of suffering like these:  by keeping your eyes on the prize.  As the Bible says:

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

It was for the joy set before Jesus that He was able to endure the cross.  If there was any other way, Jesus would have taken it.  He said as much in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He had to walk down the Via Dolorosa.  He prayed:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 25:42).

While none of us wants to enter into pain and suffering voluntarily—not even Jesus—He showed us how to do it when the time comes for us to enter into it.

He kept His eyes on the prize.  When the guards came to take Him away, He went.  When they asked Him to carry His cross, He carried it.  And when He could carry it no longer by Himself, God sent someone else to carry it for Him:

“Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)”. (John 19:17).  “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross” (Matthew 27:32).

You can still see the place marked on the Via Dolorosa where Simon of Cyrene may have taken up Jesus’ cross for Him.  It’s one of fourteen “stations of the cross” that are marked out along the path, stations that are replicated in many churches throughout the world.  If people want to remember all that Jesus did for them in those last few hours of His life, they can walk around the perimeter of the church and stop to meditate at any of these fourteen stations, just as they can on the real Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.

Walking along the Via Dolorosa is a reminder not only of the suffering that Jesus endured for us, but also of the suffering that He sometimes calls us to endure for Him.  As Jesus told His disciples:

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

Although no one ever wants to suffer, Jesus’ words are a reminder that some things are worth suffering for, that there is a prize awaiting those who endure it to the end, and that God wants you to have it.

The best way to go through suffering is to make sure you set your eyes on the prize.  But it’s also important to make sure you’re setting your eyes on the right prize.  There’s nothing worse than enduring pain and suffering, only to find that what you’ve been waiting for all along has been lost in the process.

If your hope is set on having the perfect family, and then something happens to destroy that perfection, you’ll be disappointed.  If you’re working your hardest to get a promotion, then the promotion doesn’t come, you’ll be upset.  If you give up your dreams in order to help someone else fulfill theirs, but then they blow it and waste all that you’ve given up for them, you might wonder if it was worth it.

Sometimes these disappointments come because our eyes weren’t on the right prize in the first place.  Even Peter, who may have expected Jesus to ride into Jerusalem, overthrow the Romans and setup His new kingdom, was willing to die for Jesus as He ascended to His throne.  But when Peter found out that Jesus had been arrested, and was likely going to be sentenced to death, his disappointment was evident.  Instead of standing up for Jesus anymore, he denied that he even knew him.  Perhaps it was because his eyes were on the wrong prize for the moment.

But God honored Peter still, just like He honors all those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.  He eventually showed Peter that Jesus reigned in a kingdom whose authority went beyond Jerusalem, beyond the Romans, and extended over the entire earth.  It was better than Peter could have ever expected.  We’re told that Peter eventually did give up his life for Jesus, being crucified on a cross upside-down.  But this time he had his eyes on the right prize, and he was willing to walk down the path of suffering to get it.

As much as God wants to relieve you of much of the suffering you’ll face in life,  He also wants you to know that some things are achieved only by going through it.

God wants you to trust Him.  He wants you to trust that He is able to do “immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20a).  Keep your eyes on the prize, and if you can’t see the prize, then keep your eyes on Jesus.  In the end, it will all be worth it.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for Jesus’ example, that we can follow in His steps.  Help us to trust that the suffering in our life is worth it, when we entrust our lives completely to You.  Help us to take up our cross daily and be willing to die for you, so that we can find the life that You’ve wanted us to have all along.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 27: WHAT HAPPENED AT GOLGOTHA? (Back to Table of Contents)

Golgotha means “the place of the skull.”  It’s not a very happy-sounding name, and what took place here was most likely even more gruesome than the name suggests.  But on the other hand, what took place here at Golgotha is what has made it the holiest site in all of Christendom.  To find out what happened here, and why it matters to so many people, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out how God can use the sadness of what happened at Golgotha to bring incredible joy to your life today.

Watch “What Happened At Golgotha?”

So what happened at Golgotha?  That’s where Jesus died, was buried, and rose again again from the dead.

When Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death, He and those who were to be executed with Him walked through the streets of Jerusalem, carrying their crosses when they could, and having others carry their crosses for them when they couldn’t.  Eventually they came to the execution site.  The Bible says:

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots.  And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there (Matthew 26:33-36).

Golgotha was undoubtedly a horrific place, just outside the walls of the city at the time of Christ.  It seems to have gotten its name either because of all the crucifixions that took place there, or because the hill itself actually resembled a skull.  Either way, the hill called Golgotha was a picture of death.

But the day that Christ died there, something changed.  When Christ died on the cross, Golgotha became a picture of life, filled with the beauty of sacrificial love.

There’s a song that explains how Golgotha—and the cross of Christ—could come to represent such an unusual mixture of death and life.  George Bennard said it this way in his song, The Old Rugged Cross:

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;

and I love that old cross where the dearest
and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see,
for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.

This is why crosses are so prevalent in jewelry, churches, and other holy places.  It’s not because Christians have some perverse fascination with death, like wearing little guillotines around their necks on a chain.  Jesus didn’t express His love to us by dying on a guillotine.  He expressed it by dying on a cross.  And it’s the love that Christ expressed for us when He died on the cross that we celebrate as Christians, and that’s why we make so much of His cross.

It is both an “emblem of suffering and shame,” and also a “wondrous beauty” to behold, all at the same time.

There are two spots in Jerusalem that are considered potential locations of Christ’s crucifixion.  One is the Garden Tomb, which was discovered in 1848 and which I highlighted in the introduction of this book.  The other is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (“sepulchre” means “tomb” in Latin), and has been the traditional site of the crucifixion since the 1st and 2nd century.  Today I’d like to focus on the the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

For those interested, the church itself was first built and dedicated in 335 A.D. by Helena, the mother of Constantine, after she had been shown this site by the believers in Jerusalem at that time.  The church has undergone many changes over the years, but the location has remained the same.

When I walked into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the first time, and up the stairs to the right that led to the top of the small hill called Golgotha over which the church was built, I was overcome with emotion.  It wasn’t because of anything I saw there—for it was filled with candles and tourists and objects that glittered with gold.  I was overcome with emotion because of what had happened there.

I dropped to my knees.  I thanked God for all He had done for me there.  And I cried.

I knew that Jesus wasn’t the One who should have died on the cross that day.  He was totally innocent.  It should have been me.  It was me who had sinned, and it was me who should have had to pay the price for those sins.  But Jesus did it for me, of His own free will, as a demonstration of His love for me.

He could have called twelve legions of angels to rescue Him if He had wanted, as He told Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Matthew 26:53).  But He didn’t.

The fact that Jesus stepped in to pay for my sins with His life has been, and still is, the greatest expression of love I have ever felt in my life.  While others have loved me dearly, like my family and friends, Jesus is the only one who could have stepped in and did for me what He did: fully forgiving me of my sins.

When I got back up from my knees, I walked downstairs again and to the other side of the massive church, to the spot where they believe Jesus was buried in a tomb nearby.  The walls and ceiling of the tomb have been destroyed over the years, as the church has changed hands and been ransacked many times since then.  Only a plain slab of rock remains of the place where they believe He was lain, and that is housed in a small chapel under the great dome of the church.

While there’s little to see there, of course, for neither Christ nor much of the tomb are there, the site is vivid enough in the memories of those who are familiar with the story to recreate in their minds the scene of what happened there.  As it says in the Bible:

“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.” (John 19:38-42).

And then, a few days later:

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you” (Matthew 28:1-7).

So you can see why this place has become such a sacred spot to those who claim Jesus as their Lord.  While the ravages of time, battles, earthquakes, and fires have taken their toll on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the events that made this place so holy are no less compelling today than they were when they first took place.

It is not the church itself that has brought millions of people like me here to visit it.  It is the realization that what happened here was real, and that God really did love us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for us so that we could put our faith in Him and live forever.

As incredible it is to be able to be able to go to Jerusalem and touch the ground where Jesus died and rose again, if there was one thing that I could encourage you to do in your lifetime, it wouldn’t be to go to Jerusalem.  It would be to go to Jesus, to put your faith in Him who died on the cross for your sins, rose again from the dead, and who now calls you to live your life for Him, following Him here on earth and on into heaven.

If there’s sin in your life, drop it now at the foot of His cross.  If you’re involved in lying or stealing, gossiping or cheating, pre-marital or extra-marital or any other kind of sinful sex, turn away from it today and turn back again.  If you’re burying your gifts in the sand, saving them for no one and nothing in particular, dig them out and put them to work for the kingdom of God.  You’ll be blessed when you do and so will those around you.

Most of all, you’ll be able to express your love back to Christ , the One who expressed His love for you—and for all to see—there on the hill called Golgotha.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sins, and for giving us the chance to be forgiven when we put our faith in Him.  Thank You for filling us with Your Holy Spirit, to enable us to do the work here on earth that You’ve called us to do.  And thank You for promising to take us to be with You in heaven when our life on earth is over, where we can live with You forever.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

LESSON 28: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE UPPER ROOM? (Back to Table of Contents)

The Upper Room is perhaps best known as the location of Jesus’ last supper with His disciples.  But something else happened in the Upper Room just fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, something Jesus told them to expect and to wait for.  To find out what happened, take a look at this short video below.  Then read on to find out what God wants you to do with all the things that you’ve learned about Him!

Watch “What Happened At The Upper Room?”

So what happened at the Upper Room?  That’s where the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.  God’s Spirit flowed into the people gathered there, causing them to praise God in all kinds of languages.  As a result of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, over 3,000 people put their faith in Christ.

It wasn’t something that Peter and the other disciples could have done on their own, but God used their voices to reach out to people, who came from all over the world at the time, so that they could hear all that Christ had done for them.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared again to the disciples and over five hundred others throughout Jerusalem for a period of forty days.  On one of these occasions, Jesus said:

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. … You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4-5, 8).

So when Jesus went up into heaven, the disciples went back to the room where they were staying.  Luke called it an “upper room” (Acts 1:13, KJV), just as he had done when describing the place where they had eaten their last supper (see Luke 22:12).  It was here, apparently, that:

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14).

About ten days later, on the fiftieth day since Jesus rose from the dead (and the day of Pentecost, which comes from the Greek word for “fifty”), God sent His Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised:

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1).

As they spoke, others began to hear them praising God in their own languages, people from all different parts of the world who had come to Jerusalem for the festivals.  Some were amazed, but others thought they had just been drinking too much wine.

Peter, who had denied Jesus just a few weeks earlier, stood up with the other disciples, and spoke to the crowd:

“Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.  These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!” (Acts 2:14-15).

He went on to say that this was the work of the Holy Spirit, whom the prophet Joel said would be poured out on the people in the last days.

Peter spoke about Jesus and how, even though Jesus had done many signs and wonders and miracles in their presence, they still handed Him over to be crucified.  After telling them at length from the Scriptures who Jesus was and what they had done to Him, they were all cut to the heart.  They cried out to Peter and the other apostles:

“Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:37-41).

It’s a powerful story on many fronts:

  • What Jesus said would happen did happen,
  • The same Peter who denied Jesus earlier now proclaimed His name to thousands,
  • The Spirit came in a way that was both astounding and perplexing to those who saw it,
  • About 3,000 put their faith in Christ and were baptized in a single day.

And that was just the beginning.  In the days that followed, the disciples continued to do more wonders and miraculous signs:

“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b).

Soon, those who followed Christ were taking the gospel beyond Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth, just as Jesus said they would.

What does this all mean to you?  Well, if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, do it today, just like those who heard the message on the day of Pentecost did!  And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, tell others about it so they can put their faith in Christ, too!

When we were in Israel, we had a local Israeli guide who took us from place to place and taught us many things about the places that we were seeing.  On the final day, our guide said, “Today, my job is finished.  Tomorrow, yours begins.  Your job is to go back and tell others what you have learned.”

Isn’t that the way God loves to work?  God could, if He wanted to, put some kind of cosmic loud speakers in the sky, telling everyone that He exists, that He loves them, and that He wants them to leave their sins and come back into a relationship with Him.  (And in many ways, He has already done this—see Psalm 19:1-4 or Romans 1:18-20.)

But God’s preferred method is to use the voices of people—yours and mine—to tell others about His love for them, and to share with them everything they have heard and learned and known to be true.

As we near the end of this devotional tour of Israel, I wanted to remind you of why God wanted to teach you all that you’ve learned about Him so far.  First of all, it’s for you, so that You will know Him better and fall in love with Him more deeply.  But secondly, it’s for you to share with others, so they may know Him better and fall in love with Him more deeply, too.

As our Israeli guide said to us, I want to say to you:  “Today, my job ends.  Tomorrow, yours begins!” If you’re not sure how to share what you’ve learned with others, here are a few ideas.

1) Ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit upon you in ways that you may have never known before, so that You can proclaim His name to those around you.  How can this help?  The same way it helped Peter, who went from being afraid to even tell anyone that He knew Christ to being able to proclaim His name before thousands.

2) Study your Bible deeply, every day, so that you may know with confidence the truth of what you believe.  Find a good study Bible, with footnotes and commentary if possible, to help you grow in the knowledge of all that God wants to say to you.  Remember, too, that it’s not just a time to study, but a time to spend with the One who created you, who knows you best, and who loves you more than anyone else in the world.

3) Start sharing what you’ve learned so far about Christ.  Whether it’s sharing a simple comment or two on someone’s Facebook page about God’s love for them, or taking an evangelism class at a local church so that you can sharpen what and how you share with others, look for and take the opportunities God gives you to let others know about your own relationship with Him so that they can grow in their relationship with Him.

4) Share the messages in this book with others!  Point them to our website at http://www.theranch.org, or give them copies of this book!  These resources were created to help bring the Bible to life for as many as people as possible.

While I loved going to Israel so that I could learn more about Christ for myself,   I also loved going to Israel so that I could share more about Christ with others.  My prayer is that you will do the same.

Whether you go to Israel in person, or experience it through the Bible and books like these, I pray that you will be filled with God’s Holy Spirit to the point of overflowing, so that whatever God pours out onto you will be flow out onto to others, bringing joy and life to you, to them, and to the God who created us all.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for pouring out Your Holy Spirit on those who gathered together for prayer in Jerusalem.  We pray that You will pour out Your Holy Spirit on us again today so that we may lead others into a deeper relationship with You as well.  Give us the wisdom to do it, the courage to do it, and the way to do it.  Then help us take the steps of faith we need to take to proclaim Your name throughout the earth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

CONCLUSION: MAKING A CHANCE (Back to Table of Contents)

Thanks for joining us on this devotional tour of the Holy Land. To see a few highlights of our trip together, take a look at this short video below, as our worship leaders from the trip, Lucas Elder and Gary Marini, lead us in a closing song.  Then read on to hear a touching story of God’s faithfulness to those who put their faith in Him.

Watch “Conclusion: Making A Chance”

I was telling a group one time that they should try to go to Israel if they ever got a chance.  My son Lucas added:  “Don’t just wait till you get a chance.  Make a chance!  Do whatever you can do to get there.  It’s worth it!”  He’s right.

So I’d like to tell you just one more story as we close, a story about “making a chance.”  While I usually try to shorten stories to make them as concise as possible, I think this one is best told with all the details in tact.  I believe God has several things He might want to speak to you through this story, so I pray that you’ll be blessed as you read it.

As we began talking about going on this trip to Israel, a woman from Malawi named Esther had written to me, saying that she wondered if I thought God would ever make a way for her to visit Israel someday.  She said she simply began crying every time she read the word “Israel” in some of the devotionals I had written and shared over the Internet.  Knowing that she lived in Malawi, and knowing the situation for many who live there, I wasn’t sure what to say.  I began to pray about how to respond to her email, thinking that I’d say, “I believe that God can make a way, but I’m sorry I can’t help you myself.”  As soon as I said those words in my mind, however, I felt God say, “Yes, you can help her.”  I said, “No, I can’t.”  He said, “Yes you can.”  I said, “No, I can’t!”

I had been planning this trip to Israel for the past three years, and our whole family had been working and saving money so that my wife and I and our four oldest kids could go with us.  We barely had enough money at that time for just one of us to go, let alone six.  So when God said I could help Esther get there, too, I really didn’t know what to do.  So I wrote back to her and said simply that I believed God could make a way, and I’d be praying along with her.

As the summer went on, I kept reading the words of Jesus to His disciples from Matthew 14:13-21, when 5,000 people were gathered together on a hillside at dinnertime.  Jesus told His disciples: “You give them something to eat.”  I could imagine what the disciples must have felt. They said that not even eight months wages would give everyone even one bite, so how could they feed them?  All they had were five loaves of bread and two fish from a boy’s lunch.

Yet I was puzzled why Jesus would ask them to do something impossible if He didn’t think they could do it.  Unless, of course, they could do it, and they just didn’t know how.  I kept asking God, “How?  How did Jesus do it?  And how can we do it when You ask us to do something that seems impossible to us?”

So I studied that passage over and over, trying to see how Jesus did it.  He simply gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and had the disciples start passing it out. Somehow there was enough food for all 5,000 to eat till they were satisfied and still have twelve baskets full left over.

As I shared this dilemma one week with a youth group, some of them came up to me afterwards and said they’d like to help with Esther’s ticket.  I tried to decline their money, because I didn’t want them to think I was telling them the story in order for them to give money for the trip.  I was just sharing with them the puzzle of how to do what God asks us to do when we think it is impossible. Several of them insisted, however, saying that they felt God really wanted them to give the money to help with Esther’s trip.  By the end of that week, I had received just over $300—enough to make the deposit on the trip for Esther to come with us.  But I still needed more than 10 times that amount to pay for her whole trip, plus I still had to pay for my own family to go.  I didn’t tell Esther about the money yet, nor the deposit.  I just told her that I was still praying for her, and asked if she could get her passport information to me in case God were to make a way for her to come with us.

As the trip got closer, I just couldn’t let go of the idea that God wanted me to help Esther get to Israel, but I still didn’t know how.  So I sent out a note to some others who also read my weekly devotionals on the Internet, letting them know about the situation.  We received about a third of the total needed for her trip from that appeal.  Another man donated about a third of the cost to cover her airfare from Malawi, and Lana and I put in the final third, as God was also working at the same time to help the six of us going from our family to pay for our trips, too.  I told Esther the good news, that God had made a way for her to join us.  By the time we left, everyone’s ticket was completely paid for! This was astounding!

But then we got to Israel.  We were supposed to meet Esther at the airport, as she was to arrive on a flight about twelve hours earlier.  But when we got there, we couldn’t find her.  We paged her several times over the airport intercom, we checked for phone messages and email messages, looked in all the waiting areas, but couldn’t find anything about where she might be, or if she even made it on her flights.  We finally had to leave the airport, knowing that I had at least sent her the names of the hotels where we’d be staying at before we left, and hoped that she would catch up with us.

But she didn’t. She called us the next day from an airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Although she had made it all the way to the airport in Israel, they had denied her entry into Israel, saying that it was too questionable about how she came to know us through our Internet ministry, and why the rest of the group wasn’t there to meet her in Israel when she arrived.  Although she tried to explain it to them several times, and she was even still in the airport when our flight finally landed twelve hours later, she wasn’t allowed to call or email or make any contact with us.  (To the credit of the airport security in Israel, they run a very tight ship and for very good reasons.  We appreciate that they take their job so seriously or otherwise no one would be able to travel in and around Israel at all.)  But since Esther did not travel together with us into the country with the group, she was questioned more strictly and finally put on a plane headed back to her home.

I couldn’t believe it when she told me the story over the phone and I began trying to think of anything else I could do.  We had come too far in getting her to this point that I didn’t want to give up on it, even though she was already headed on her flights back home, now waiting in Ethiopia to change planes back to Malawi.  I called the immigration office at the Addis Ababa airport to ask if she could be put back on the plane to Israel, that we would meet her at the airport when she arrived and try to provide whatever documents they needed to verify that she was on our tour, but they said there was nothing they could do for her.  She had been officially deported, and they were to put her on a flight back to Malawi the next morning.  After several calls to several different people at the immigration office, I couldn’t get any farther.  I went to bed that night wondering why God had brought her so far, only to have her turned back in the end.  It was 4 in the morning by this time, and I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so I finally slept.

When I woke up a few hours later, I updated my wife Lana on the situation, and asked if she could think of anything else we could do.  She remembered that a friend of ours had a daughter who had just come home from serving a year in Ethiopia as a missionary, and maybe she would have a contact who could help us out.  I didn’t know what they could even do, but I felt I had to pursue any possible option that was still open to us, as I felt it was the Lord who had put it on my heart to try to get her there in the first place.  So we texted our friend’s daughter back in Chicago, who texted us back with the phone number of a pastor she knew in Addis Ababa.  I was astounded that we knew someone who knew someone who lived in Addis Ababa at all!

And I couldn’t believe it when we called him and he immediately said that he would do whatever we needed him to do, just let him know.  It was such a surprise that my wife and I both cried at the thought that someone would take a call from complete strangers and would be willing to drop everything and go to the airport right away.  He was a busy man with a large congregation and they had just gotten out of some special weekday services they were holding.  It was beyond what we could have imagined someone doing for us in this situation.  It still makes me cry to think of it—a brother in Christ willing to help out another brother, simply because we have the same Father. So he went to the airport that night, along with a pilot friend from his congregation.  Unfortunately they weren’t able to find Esther there.  We were all disappointed, but we didn’t know what else to do.

In the mean time, I had also talked to the tour company who helped us arrange the whole trip, and they said they could try to fax a letter to immigration in Addis Ababa, saying that Esther was indeed part of our tour, and that she was an invited guest as part of our group.  I called the immigration office again, saying that we’d try to get a letter to them if they could just let Esther stay at the airport another five or six hours, as it was the middle of the night back in the States, and the tour offices wouldn’t be open yet for another several hours.  They granted our request and didn’t make her get on the next-scheduled flight to Malawi.

So we got their fax number and the tour company tried several times to fax the letter—but the fax wouldn’t go through.  As the day went on, the rest of our group in Israel continued on with our tour, now sitting in a garden in the city of Capernaum, a site where Jesus had done some incredible miracles.  I updated the group on Esther’s situation, and we all prayed that someone would be able to get that letter through to the immigration office.  I didn’t have the heart to call the pastor in Addis Ababa again, but Lana did, so she tried to call him.  None of her calls would go through.  We sat down again and prayed.  Our time was running out.

At the very moment that we sat down to pray, my phone rang.  It was the pastor from Addis Ababa!  He said he had just been to the airport again to try one more time to find Esther, taking some of his church members with him, this time one who worked at the airport.  They had found Esther!  They were calling us to see if there was any possibility we could fax him a letter from the tour company saying that she was with our trip!  It was the very thing we were trying to do, but he didn’t know it, and I didn’t know he had gone back to the airport again! I called the tour company who found a way to finally email to the pastor, who printed it out and took it back to the immigration office at the airport.  I also instructed the tour company that if they needed to buy another ticket for Esther to get back to Israel, to go ahead and buy it and charge it to my account, up to $1,000, without having to try to call me.  We didn’t have time to wait for any more calls.  I just wanted the ticket waiting for her at the airport if she needed it.  I didn’t have $1,000 to spend on her ticket, but that’s the number that came into my mind while I was on the phone, and what I felt I should say.

The pastor was able to get the documents to Esther, and the immigration office said she could get on a plane back to Israel.  The tour company agency found the cheapest ticket they could—it was $992, just $8 under the limit I had given them, so they bought it and had it waiting for her at the airline counter.

As I went to bed that night, exhausted not only from the recent days’ activities, but also from the months leading up to this moment, I went to lay down and felt God said, “You passed the test.  Enjoy the rest of the trip.”  I wasn’t sure exactly what test I had passed, but I was thankful that it was all working out.  Even though Esther wasn’t yet back in Israel, I felt like I had done the utmost of what I could possibly do to get her to Israel, as God had called me to do.

The next morning, our first stop on our tour “just happened” to be the site where Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish to feed the 5,000—the place where Jesus had told the disciples to give the people something to eat, and the passage which had so inspired me all along.  There we were standing on the same hill where that miracle from God took place.  As I was looked up the passage again to read to our group that morning, I saw that it was told in several of the gospels, so I looked at each version to see which one to read.  When I read John’s version of the story, I couldn’t believe it!  In his version, when Jesus asked Philip where they could get food for all these people to eat, John added:

“He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what He was going to do” (John 6:6).

It was a test!  And just as Jesus had tested the disciples by asking them to give the people something to eat,—when it seemed utterly impossible—God had tested me to help someone else in need when it seemed impossible, too.  And God had told me the night before that I had passed the test.  Hallelujah!  And now He had brought me to the hillside where Jesus had given the disciples their test!  God couldn’t have spoken more clearly to me if He had appeared in front of my eyes!

Later that afternoon, Esther arrived again at the airport in Israel, and this time she was allowed to enter the country.  (The security people at the airport had asked her, “Why have you come back again when someone who is deported isn’t allowed to attempt to come back into the country again for five years, and now you’re trying to come back after only three days later!”  Had I known that, I don’t know that I would have even tried to get her back in.  Only God could have opened that door for her to return!)  She met us at the hotel for dinner that night.

Over dinner with our group, Esther and I shared with each other all that God had been doing to make this moment possible.  And that’s when the real clincher came.

Esther told me that from the very first day that I responded to her email, saying that I felt God could make a way for her to visit Israel someday, she said God spoke to her and told her she’d be coming this year, with us.  Even when she was being turned away at the airport, she said she was praising God, that those had been the best few days of her life so far.  Her mom had even called me during all of this to say that she wasn’t discouraged, that they were just going to thank God in all things in order to shame the devil.  Esther said that from the very beginning, when she first started thinking about the trip, she wanted to pray that God would make a way for her to go, but that God had stopped her from praying.  She said that God told her not to pray for the trip, but to simply give thanks for it.  She was puzzled, but did what God said.  In fact, as time went on she was tempted to ask others to start praying for her to be able to go on the trip, too, but that God had stopped her from telling even one person about the trip or to pray for her, but simply to continue to give thanks for it.  She said she didn’t feel she was supposed to tell anyone about the trip until it was set.  When she got my email asking for her passport information, and before I had even told her that people had begun to give money for her to come, she said she knew on that day that everything was set, and she could finally begin telling others about it.

I was stunned by what she said.  Wasn’t that exactly what Jesus did on the hillside when He multiplied the loaves and the fish?  He simply gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and asked the disciples pass it out.  He didn’t plead for it, He just gave thanks for it!  I looked at Esther and thanked her for being obedient to what God had told her to do.  It had spoken volumes to me, answering a question that had been on my heart for months as I studied that passage trying to see what Jesus had done.  I told her what God said to me about passing the test, and that I felt that she had passed her test, too ,because of her obedience.  We both knew that while God would still use the rest of the trip to speak to us in many ways, that He had already done His greatest work in us already, that of increasing our faith in Him.

As if to confirm all that had just happened that day, when I got back to my hotel room that night and having shared all of this with Esther—even the part about authorizing the purchase of her second ticket for anything up to $1,000 when I didn’t know how I’d be able to pay for it—I checked my email before heading for bed.  In my inbox was a note saying that a friend of ours back in the States had unexpectedly made an online donation of $1,000 to our ministry while we were at dinner that night!  It was as if God were putting the icing on the cake, covering even the final detail of her trip.

I still don’t know how to interpret it all.  On the one hand, it seems it wouldn’t have happened had we not prayed fervently and worked feverishly towards the goal, even day and night near the end.  But on the other hand, God wanted to teach us something through what He called Esther to do:  to simply give thanks for what He was going to give her.  Or as my wife said while we were going through the whole ordeal, she felt that we were like the workers who helped to dig Hezekiah’s tunnel to bring water into the City of David.  One team started digging from one side, and the other team started digging from the other side, and miraculously both teams were able to meet in the middle to complete the tunnel!

In any case, I hope that God will speak to you through at least some portion of this story.  And for some reason, I don’t think this is the end of the story.  It could very well be the beginning of some new ones!  Thanks again for joining us on this incredible trip to the Holy Land!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for all the remarkable things we’ve learned from this trip to the Holy Land, and all the remarkable things you still want us to learn in the future.  Give us the faith to step out and trust you completely for everything in our lives, giving You thanks, even in advance, for Your love and faithfulness to us.  Thank You for sending Your Son to lead us in Your ways, and keep giving us the faith we need to follow Him every day, until one day He leads us on into heaven.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You're reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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Israel For Kids Activity Book!

30 fun activities for kids about the Holy Land including word searches, crosswords, pictures to color, word scrambles, sudokus, coded phrases, mazes and more!
by Eric Elder and family

Read or print it from the file below!

You're reading ISRAEL FOR KIDS! LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder and Family, featuring over 90 photgraphs and 30 devotional lessons for kids, including fun activities such as word searches, crosswords, pictures to color, word scrambles, sudokus, coded phrases, mazes and more! Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading ISRAEL FOR KIDS! LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder and Family, featuring over 90 photgraphs and 30 devotional lessons for kids, including fun activities such as word searches, crosswords, pictures to color, word scrambles, sudokus, coded phrases, mazes and more! Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

PREFACE

Did you know that most of the stories in the Bible took place in Israel? In this book, you’ll find 30 questions and answers about some of the most interesting things that have happened there.

You’ll also find lots of awesome activities to do along the way, from word searches, mazes, and coloring pages, to word scrambles, connect-the-dots, and coded phrases.

We had fun making this book for you and we hope you have fun going through it!

Love,
The Eric Elder Family

Eric Elder and Family, Christmas 2009

Eric Elder and Family, Christmas 2009. Eric is second from the left and Lana is second from the right.

Click here to open the book (PDF file, 14Meg) in a new window!

You're reading ISRAEL FOR KIDS! LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder and Family, featuring over 90 photgraphs and 30 devotional lessons for kids, including fun activities such as word searches, crosswords, pictures to color, word scrambles, sudokus, coded phrases, mazes and more! Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

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News From The Ranch – March 2010

The Newsletter of Eric Elder Ministries

Moving to Clover Ranch, a new weekly series starting called “Israel: Lessons from the Holy Land,” and a new name for the ministry, “The Ranch Fellowship.”

Dear Friends,

It’s been a few months since I’ve sent you an update–not because nothing has been happening–but because so much has been happening! Here are three thingsI thought you’d like to know about.

Taking A Break At Clover Ranch

First, we’re moving to Clover Ranch! From the beginning of our ministry, we’ve envisioned having a place in the country where we could invite people for times of worship, prayer and personal ministry. Four years ago, our ministry purchased the farmhouse where I grew up in Central Illinois to use for such a purpose, renovating it as time and money allowed and giving it the name Clover Ranch.

We’ve now fixed it up enough to the point where we can move in and finish up the final pieces while living there! So we’re going to start moving over the next few weeks, and we’re hoping to be completely moved in by May. Here’s a picture of our family piled into one of the bedrooms at Clover Ranch, taking a break after painting walls and plastering ceilings in the other rooms to get them ready.

Israel Devotional

Second, I wanted to let you know that I’ll be starting a new series of weekly devotionals on Easter Sunday called “Israel: Lessons from the Holy Land.” I’ll be sending you these messages each week by email as a way to take you on a “devotional tour” of the land where Jesus walked. I’m praying that these messages will help bring the Bible to life, not only giving you an idea for the land where so many of the famous stories in the Bible took place, but also giving you a boost in your faith wherever you might live in the world today.

Along with this new series, we’re also going to start our live Internet broadcasts again.You’ll be able to join me online for some live worship, an encouraging word, and a personal prayer if you’d like one. The first live broadcast will be this coming Sunday night, Easter Sunday, at 8 p.m. Central Time (5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time). Here’s the link if you’d like to join me for the live broadcast on Sunday night at 8 p.m..

The Ranch Fellowship

Third, as excited as we are about moving to Clover Ranch, we’re also entering into it with a certain amount of uncertainty! There are still a number of projects that need to be completed before, and soon after, we move in, and both time and money are short. But I take comfort from the words that David wrote in Psalm 86, that the God who provided for David will provide for us, too, just as I trust He will provide for you. Here’s what David said at the beginning of his prayer:

“Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and distressed, needy and desiring. Preserve my life, for I am godly and dedicated; O my God, save Your servant, for I trust in You, leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, without fear or doubt” (Psalm 86:1-2, Amplified Bible).

Although David was going through some uncertain times, he trusted in God. He continued to come to God with his needs and desires, committing everything to the One who gave him life. David even used the phrase, “O My God!” which many today translate as “OMG!” (While it may seem like a new phrase, it’s been around for over 3,000 years!) May we all be like David, saying “OMG!” and calling out to God when we’re feeling poor and distressed, needy and desiring. And in the end may we see a sign from Him of His goodwill and favor, His help, and His comfort.

One more thing…it’s small, but important. As we enter into this new season of ministry, we’ve also adopted a new name for our ministry, calling it “The Ranch Fellowship.” We’ll still use the name “Eric Elder Ministries” from time to time for some of our ministry activities, but know that both “Eric Elder Ministries” and “The Ranch Fellowship” still refer to the same “non-profit, 501(c)(3) religious organization.” (All donations given in either name are still fully tax-deductible. If you’d like to make a donation towards our move or to the continuing renovation of Clover Ranch, please use the links at the end of this email.) The thing I love most about the new name is that it reflects the very real fellowship aspect of this ministry that involves so many of you from all around the world. Just this month, new subscribers have signed up to be a part of our ministry from places likeKentucky, Ohio, Texas and Florida to as far away as Indonesia, Myanmar, Ghana, and Papua New Guinea.

So welcome to all of you to The Ranch Fellowship! As always, we appreciate so much your notes, your prayers and your financial contributions to our ministry. They really keep us going! We pray also for you that God will meet your needs in a way that you’ll know He is real, alive and active in your lives.

Sincerely,
Eric Elder

The Ranch Fellowship is a non-profit 501(c)(3) religious organization whose purpose is to share the message of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Click here to read more about our ministry.

To give a gift to The Ranch and to yourself, please visit The Ranch Giftshop.
To make a donation without ordering, just click Make A Donation.

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News From The Ranch – January 2010

The Newsletter of Eric Elder Ministries

2009 Year-End Update, Letters from Readers, Clover Ranch progress, Trip to Israel, Speaking and a Christmas Novel

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!!! As we head into 2010, I thought you might be interested to see how God was working through your gifts and prayers during 2009 to reach people around the world with the message of Christ.

Our newsletter list continues to grow, reaching people in over 100 countries every week to encourage them in their faith in Christ. Let me quote just two of the hundreds of comments that people have sent in.

Here’s a letter from a subscriber in Thessalonika, Greece:

Letter from Thessalonika, Greece

“I really do not remember how I chose to view your website. What I do remember, though, is that I was searching for “prayer and faith” in the Internet. It was a really hard time for me then, and I needed to know if there was actually Anybody up there, listening. Some months later, now, I can say that I have grown in faith so that I can fight to direct my own life towards its primitive purpose: to resemble our Lord in our lives, by loving others. In this letter I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart, because your online ministry was a real blessing for my life. I have read almost all of your lessons’ series and I can say they are overwhelming. I enclose a part of my first salary, hoping it could help your work.”

And here’s a note from a 19-year-old college student who just found our website a few days ago:

“I can’t explain how happy I am that I came across this site. I was very near an emotional breakdown about an hour ago, and even simply sitting here and spending time on this site has helped. It’s put some things in check for me. Mainly that God knows what He’s doing, and whatever happens only happens because it’s supposed to, and things are going to turn out exactly how He intends. And even though things are very hard for me right now, I know I can get through it with God’s help, and any help I can find along the way will just make it that much easier. I also apologize for the small novel written above [in his prayer request]. Lots of pain translated to lots of words. Thank you for taking time out of your day to listen to a broken nineteen-year-old’s rambling. And thank you in advance for any and all prayers that may be said on my behalf. They are greatly appreciated. God bless.”

Article in Estonian

The weekly messages have been reprinted in newspapers, blogs, and in the case pictured here, translated for a magazine in Estonia (the headline reads: “According to your faith will it be done to you.”)

Our renovation of Clover Ranch continues, turning the farm where I grew up into a spiritual retreat for people wanting to get closer to God. This year’s repairs focused on upgrading the water-well system, removing and planting trees, and continued renovation of the interior rooms.

A number of volunteers have helped again this year with their time and efforts, and even with all the work going on, it still serves as a retreat for those who come to help. One man wrote:

“Thanks very much for letting us work with you, for sharing your stories, for your insights, and for praying for us! We are taking one day at a time and trying to follow His lead. When you come to the farm again let us know…the time and experience was worth it, and we would do it again:-)!”

crb

In October, Lana and I led a group of fifteen on an inspirational tour of the Holy Land. Even though Lana and I had been to some of the sites before, we found that the Bible really came to life again before our eyes, as it seemed to do for the whole group.

One of the women wrote afterwards:

Israel Study Tour

“Thank you for taking me on the most life changing journey of my life this far…I see my Bible in color and have a new found love for HIS word. I can’t wait to get lost in HIS word and it seems as if every time I hear a sermon I go “Lord, thank you for allowing me the privilege of seeing this place.” I can’t tell you the new thing HE is beginning to do in my life as if I did not think it could be better, HE is taking me to the next level.”

My plan is to start writing a series of devotionals in 2010 based on our trip to Israel as a way to help bring the Bible to life for those who aren’t able to travel there in person. I’ll be sharing more of those stories, pictures and short videos in the weeks ahead.

Throughout the year I was able to speak at several churches and conferences, including the Exodus International Freedom Conference held at Wheaton College where I talked about my book What God Says About Sex. It seems that the attendees of this conference are some of the most open I’ve ever seen to hearing about the life-changing power of Christ.

My final project of 2009 was writing a first draft of a new Christmas novelthat Lana and I hope will inspire many to put their faith in Christ. I’ll share more about the project as we get further into it, but I love the way it’s shaping up already! I look forward to working on it more during 2010.

Thanks again for all your gifts and prayers. They’re really making a difference in the world. I pray your New Year is more blessed than any year you’ve ever had before!

Sincerely,
Eric Elder

The Ranch Fellowship is a non-profit 501(c)(3) religious organization whose purpose is to share the message of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Click here to read more about our ministry.

To give a gift to The Ranch and to yourself, please visit The Ranch Giftshop.
To make a donation without ordering, just click Make A Donation.

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Peace On Earth

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace toward men.” 100% Pure Christmas by Marilyn Byrnes.

Listen Here!

You’re listening to PEACE ON EARTH, featuring 100% Pure Piano versions of your favorite Christmas hymns and classics, performed by Marilyn Byrnes. Also available in CD and MP3 formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re listening to PEACE ON EARTH, featuring 100% Pure Piano versions of your favorite Christmas hymns and classics, performed by Marilyn Byrnes. Also available in CD and MP3 formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

A Word From Marilyn Byrnes

May you always be filled with the peace of Christmas, when Christ was born and the angels proclaimed:  “Peace On Earth.”

Credits

All songs performed by Marilyn Byrnes

  1. O Come All Ye Faithful arr. David Lanz
  2. O Little Town of Bethlehem arr. David Lanz
  3. Carol of the Bells by Mykola Leontovich, arr. Mark Hayes
  4. O Holy Night by Adolphe Charles Adam, arr. Mark Hayes
  5. Here We Come a Wassailing arr. Kurt Bestor
  6. The Coventry Carol/The First Nowell arr. Mark Hayes
  7. Angels We Have Heard On High arr. Lorie Line
  8. O Tannenbaum arr. Jim Brickman
  9. Do You Hear What I Hear? by Noel Regney,Gloria Shayne arr. Jim Brickman
  10. Away In A Manger arr. Chris Lodbell Edited, Mixed and Mastered by Gil Stober, Peak Recording & Sound, Bozeman, MT

Artwork: “Adoration of the Shepherds” (1690) by Charles Le Brun.

Copyright © & ℗ 2009 Marilyn Byrnes.  All Rights Reserved. Produced and Designed by Eric Elder, IMR Publishing.

All songs streamed from The Ranch by permission of the artists and through ASCAP and BMI. Other uses are not permitted without written permission from the copyright holders.

Conclusion: Having A Grace-Filled Heart
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Conclusion: Having A Grace-Filled Heart

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:24 

As I was writing these messages about grace, someone asked me if I had any ideas for how they could have a more grace-filled heart―a heart that would help them to appreciate others more instead of complaining, to forgive instead of holding grudges, and to love instead of being angry.

Here’s a summary of what I shared in response, taken from things I’ve learned from the book of Ephesians and other places in the Bible.  I thought you might like to read them, too, as a summary of our study together:

1) Practice continual forgiveness.  Forgiveness is the heart of the gospel, as Jesus forgave us even while we were still sinning against Him. It’s the heart of showing grace towards others as well.  As Paul said, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). By choosing to forgive others, as God has forgiven you, you’ll be well on your way towards having a grace-filled heart.

2) Fill your mind with the things of God.  Paul wrote to the Philippians: “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable―if anything is excellent or praiseworthy―think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).  By reading God’s Word daily, memorizing verses of scripture, and meditating on what you’re reading,you’ll find that God will begin to fill your mind with His thoughts, His ideas and His point of view on whatever you’re facing.  Keep filling your heart and mind with the things of God as much as possible, every day, several times throughout the day. This will pay off with huge dividends for you and for those around you, both in the short-term and in the long-term.

3) Keep asking yourself, “What Would Jesus Do?” (WWJD). This is a simple, but helpful reminder to try to think and act and speak as Jesus would.  It’s not just an intellectual exercise. It’s a practical way to accomplish God’s work here on the earth.  When Jesus went back to heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to live inside us so that we could be His body―His hands, His feet, His eyes and ears and voice to those around us.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).  As a believer in Christ, God wants to work through you as if Jesus Himself were doing the work―because He is!

4) Pray at all times.  As Paul said to the Ephesians: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18).  By praying throughout the day, seeking His will and listening for His voice, you’ll be able to stay focused on what God wants at all times. It’s like walking through the day with a friend―and even better―because Jesus is a friend who knows everything!  So as you walk or sit or talk or think, keep on praying and talking to God at all times.  It’ll be both a joy to you and a practical help to those around you.

5) “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).  This practical reminder from James will help you you to spiritually “count to 10” before responding to others.  While it doesn’t say you can’t get angry, or you can’t ever say anything with which others might disagree, it does say to wait to speak until after you have listened carefully―meaning “with care” and “fully.”  When you do this, your words will simply come out better, expressing more love and grace, even when speaking things that may be hard to hear.

While having a grace-filled heart can take a lifetime, the Bible is full of practical steps that you can take right now to have an impact right away.  That’s the beauty of God’s Word!  It starts working as soon as you apply it to your life, and it keeps on working to the end.  Put it into practice today, and may God fill you with His grace as you do.

As Paul said in his closing line to the Ephesians:

“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love” (Ephesians 6:24). 

Prayer: Father, thank You for this study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Thank You for the wisdom that You poured into him, and thank You for preserving that wisdom in this letter so that we can learn from it even 2,000 years later.  Continue to give us a desire to learn all we can from Your Word, so that we can fill our hearts with Your grace, and then share it with others.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 18: How Gracious Is Gracious Enough?
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Lesson 18: How Gracious Is Gracious Enough?

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:23-24 

As we come to the closing words of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I’d like to touch on the idea of just how  gracious we have to be in order to be “gracious enough.”  Just how much grace has God shown to us?  And how much grace does He want us to show to others?

One of my favorite quotes on this topic goes like this:

“Sometimes you have to be overly gracious in order to be gracious enough.”

When I think of that quote, I think of a woman named Jean.  Jean is a business woman from England whom we met on a missions trip a few years ago.  She helped us out shortly after that trip by coming to a retreat center we’re renovating here in Illinois called Clover Ranch.  She came to help us with some interior decorating.

But when she arrived, it became clear that the house needed much more than a coat of paint and some pretty pictures.  While she was taking a bath one day, the pipes burst in the upstairs bathroom, pouring water down into the kitchen below.  While replacing those pipes, it became clear that the wiring had to be redone as well.  We ended up gutting both the bathroom and the kitchen entirely, starting again from scratch.  Then the rain came and we realized that water was coming in around many of the old windows and they would have to be replaced before we could even think about any interior decorating.  The house was a mess and she hadn’t even gotten to start on what she initially came to do.

In spite of all of this, Jean was a trooper.  We invited her to stay in our own home during all of this, but like the loyal captain of a ship, she wanted to stay with her vessel.  She continued to live at Clover Ranch, without a functional kitchen or bathroom, except for a sink and a shower stall in the basement, and accompanied by a host of crickets and spiders and other creatures that seemed to thrive in the chaos of the reconstruction.

Through it all, Jean was not just gracious.  She was overly gracious.  She talked about how thankful she was to be out in the country, to have time to think and pray, and to be part of helping us out with this project.

While Lana and I felt bad that she had to live in such an inhospitable situation, Jean’s grace helped ease our burden.  She expressed over and over that she truly wanted to help us out.  The only reason we could even possibly believe her was that she was consistently overly gracious.  If she had just said, “It’s OK, don’t worry about it,” that would have been gracious.  But we would have still felt miserable for what was happening.  Yet because of her overflowing graciousness,  we were finally able to believe that she was sincere in her thankfulness and solid in her belief that God had placed her right where He wanted her to be for that season of her life.

Through her words and actions, Jean taught us the value of being overly gracious.  Just saying a kind word or two doesn’t always get the message across.  Sometimes we need to be overly gracious, as God has been with us, in order for others to truly believe that we’re sincere.

Like the Apostle Paul, who used the word grace a dozen times in his letter to the Ephesians, and another seventy-five times in his other letters in the New Testament, it may seem like we would never be able to talk about grace enough, to demonstrate it enough, to live it enough, or to truly express it enough so that others would be able to believe it and receive it.

But if we keep trying, if we keep sharing, if we keep expressing God’s grace to others as if God Himself was expressing His grace through us, then perhaps others would begin to believe us. Just maybe they’d begin to realize how much we love them, and how much God loves them.  Just maybe, by being “overly gracious,” we’d finally be able to be “gracious enough.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for being overly gracious with me.  Thank You for expressing Your grace to me in a way that I could believe it and receive it.  Now, Lord, help me to do the same in sharing Your grace with others.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 17: Grace Is “Others-Focused”
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Lesson 17: Grace Is “Others-Focused”

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:19-22

I’m sitting today with one of the most gracious women I know.  It’s not my wife, although she’s quite gracious. And it’s not anyone particularly famous, except to her family and to those of us who know her well.

Her name is Mary Lou Schrock, and she was a lifetime friend of my Dad’s until he passed away earlier this year.  She stepped back into his life about nineteen years ago, filling a void that was left after my mom passed away.  Mary Lou has been like a second mother to me, coming to our kids’ birthday parties, spending countless hours with my Dad during days of sickness and health, and spending Christmas mornings with our family year after year.

She’s invested her life in taking care of others.  But in recent years, she’s had to let others take care of her. If she had a choice, I’m sure she’d gladly switch roles.  That’s just the kind of woman she is.  And that’s one of the things that makes her so gracious as well.  Whether she was baking a meal for someone, or helping out at the nursing home, or writing a card to send to someone who needed a lift, she was always thinking of others.

In a way, she was very much like the Apostle Paul, who displayed a similar quality of graciousness.  From the beginning of his letter to the Ephesians until the very end, he was always “others-focused.”  I can’t imagine it was easy, though.

As a prisoner in Rome, I’m sure he could have written thousands of words talking about himself, complaining of the false accusations made against him, the unjust beatings he’d had to endure, or the hardships of life as a prisoner in the first century A.D.  But instead, he wrote thousands of words talking about them, focusing on their lives, their trials, and their relationships with God.

The only time he asked for anything for himself was at the very end of his letter.  And even then, his only request was for them to pray that he would be able to fearlessly proclaim the message of Christ to others, the very thing that landed him in prison in the first place.  He wrote:

“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19-20). 

Paul was already on trial for proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ, and he was awaiting a very likely death sentence for it.  Yet he called on the Ephesians to pray that God would help him to keep proclaiming the message of Christ without fear.  To the end, Even when asking for prayer for himself, Paul remained steadfastly committed to others. And God wants us to remain “others-focused” as well.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t talk about yourself, your problems and your needs.  But it does mean that you should be thoughtful about when and how you share those needs.  You don’t want to be like the woman who said:  “Enough about me. Let’s talk about you. What do you think about me?”

As “others-focused” as he was, Paul knew that it was also important to let others know how he was doing, too.  So at the end of his letter, he wrote:

“Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.  I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you” (Ephesians 6:21-22). 

Paul didn’t ignore himself and his needs completely.  But he was gracious enough to know there was an appropriate time and place to share those needs.  And God wants us to do the same.

God wants us to be people who are “others-focused” to the core, people who regularly spend time thinking about the needs of others and how to meet those needs.  He wants us to be people like Mary Lou, people who invest their lives in ways that will bless those around us.

Prayer: Father, thank You for helping me see that grace is “others-focused.” I pray that You would help me to be so focused on others that my life and my problems will fade in comparison.  Help me to be filled with Your grace to such an extent that I would gladly pour it out on others, regardless of the cost to me personally.  Let me be a good ambassador for You, and a good messenger of Your grace to those around me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 16: Overcome Your Enemies With Grace
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Lesson 16: Overcome Your Enemies With Grace

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-18

One of the best ways to overcome your enemies is to make them your friends.

I made a friend like this back in college.  When we were taking an English Literature class together, it seemed like we were always at odds.  I was always defending King Arthur as the hero of the books, and she was always defending Queen Guinevere.  In class, it seemed like we’d never agree on anything.

But one day we both showed up for tryouts at a college musical.  We realized we had more in common than we thought, and both of us softened up in our approach.  That softening had such an effect on our friendship, that a few years after college was over, she even agreed to sing at my wedding.

There are times when God calls you to overcome your enemies by destroying them so completely that they no longer have an effect on your life.  But there are other times when God calls you to overcome your enemies by winning them over with your love, realizing that the battle may not be against them, but against spiritual forces that may be turning them against you.

The Apostle Paul talks about these battles in his letter to the Ephesians, and the kinds of weapons that God gave them to fight these battles.  You might call these “weapons of grace,” weapons that can turn your enemies into your friends!

Listen to these words as Paul describes this spiritual “armor of God.”

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18). 

The next time someone comes against you, speaks against you, or tries to overpower you, go ahead and put on your battle gear.  But instead of gearing up with all your usual defenses, try some of God’s.  To paraphrase the Apostle Paul:

Be truthful.  Be righteous.  Be eager to share the gospel of peace.  Keep up your faith.  Keep in mind that Jesus has already saved you.  Speak the truth in love.  And keep on praying, continually.

These are God’s weapons of grace, weapons that you can use to defend yourselves, and disarm your opponents, oftentimes with a greater impact than physical weapons could have.

It was through Jesus’ love and grace that He turned you from being His enemy to being His friend (see Romans 5:10 and John 15:15).  So it shouldn’t be surprising that God wants you to use these same weapons to overcome your enemies, making them your friends as well.  It may not happen overnight, but over time you may just find their hearts softening towards you, as the real enemy, the power of darkness, has to flee when the light turns on.

Remember that your battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces in the heavenly realm.  In a spiritual battle, you need spiritual armor, which is much softer and more gracious than physical armor, but in the end, is much stronger and more powerful.

Put on your spiritual armor today.  Clothe yourself with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, God’s Word and prayer.  Let God’s love flow through you to those around you and watch what happens.

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me that the battles I face aren’t always against an enemy I can see, but against spiritual forces in the heavenly realm.  Help me to put on my spiritual armor of love and grace today so that I can overcome those who are against me―and even make them my friends.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 15: Submit To One Another ~ Part 3
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Lesson 15: Submit To One Another ~ Part 3

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:5-9

When Paul encouraged the Ephesians to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), he gave them three practical examples for how to do this:  one for husbands and wives, one for parent and children, and one for masters and slaves.

While the terms “masters” and “slaves” may not apply to many people today, the terms “employers” and “employees” certainly do.  And Paul’s words to the Ephesians are just as fitting for these types of working relationships, too.  Listen to Paul’s words, and see how they might apply to you today:

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.  Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 

“And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him” (Ephesians 6:5-9). 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a fair share of bosses in my lifetime.  Some of which I had great respect for, and others of which I had very little respect for.  But as I look at Paul’s words, he never said anything about whether or not a master was worthy of respect, but that we were to treat them with respect, obeying them just as we would obey Christ.

I know from experience just how hard that can be.  But I also know from experience just how beneficial that can be, often doing more for my working relationships than I could have imagined.

In one instance, I had a boss who didn’t like me from day one―and he let me know it.  He had heard I was some kind of go-getter and he wasn’t about to let me go anywhere. Things went from bad to worse.

One day he asked me to do yet one more thing that I felt was about to push me over the edge. It wasn’t immoral or unethical―he simply asked me to fill out a survey that the company had distributed, asking employees to fill it out voluntarily and anonymously.  But since I was out of town when the survey was distributed, he sent me a copy and told me I had to fill mine out and fax it back to him by the following day.

I took issue with his request, since it was supposed to be voluntary and anonymous.  By mandating that I fill it out, and then fax it back with my phone number right there on the fax, it would violate both of those conditions.

But after making my case, he still held onto his position, and I held onto mine.  Late that night, Paul’s words to the Ephesians came back to me, to “obey your earthly masters with respect and fear…just as you would obey Christ.”  Even though I disagreed with his approach, I filled out the survey and faxed it back to him so it would be on his desk in the morning.

Our whole relationship turned around that day.  My boss became my biggest champion from that day forward and for the rest of my career at that company.  It was a lesson that proved once more than God’s words spoken through Paul were true, that God really will “reward everyone for whatever good he does.”   And it was a lesson that helped me when I later became an employer myself―and a husband and a father.

Submitting to one another really does work!  It demonstrates a graciousness on your part, and can make your relationships flow better all around―whether they’re between husbands and wives, parents and children, or “masters and slaves.”  Don’t miss out on the reward God has for you!  Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ!

Prayer: Father, thanks for the reminder to submit to to those with whom I work, whether I work for them or they work for me.  Help me to be gracious in my relationships with each person in the workplace, so that Your blessings would flow to us and through us.  Help me in all my relationships to submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 14: Submit To One Another ~ Part 2
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Lesson 14: Submit To One Another ~ Part 2

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:1-4

When the Apostle Paul told the Ephesians to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ,” he followed it up with several practical examples for how to do this in real life.  In chapter 6, Paul described how children and parents can “submit to one another”:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’―which is the first commandment with a promise―‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’  

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1-3). 

It’s hard being a parent.  But it’s hard being a child, too.

Maybe you heard about the man who observed a woman in the grocery store with a three-year-old girl in her basket.  As they passed the cookie section, the little girl asked for cookies and her mother told her, “No.” The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss, and the mother said quietly, “Now Jane, we just have half of the aisles left to go through―don’t be upset. It won’t be long now.”

Soon, they came to the candy aisle and the little girl began to shout for candy. When told she couldn’t have any, she began to cry. The mother said, “There, there, Jane, don’t cry―only two more aisles to go and then we’ll be checking out.”

When they got to the checkout stand, the little girl immediately began to clamor for gum and burst into a terrible tantrum upon discovering there’d be no gum purchased. The mother said serenely, “Jane, we’ll be through this check out stand in 5 minutes and then you can go home and have a nice nap.”

The man followed them out to the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her. “I couldn’t help noticing how patient you were with little Jane. It’s quite commendable,” he remarked.

The mother replied, “I’m Jane. My little girl’s name is Tammy.”

It takes a lot of patience to be gracious, especially between children and parents.  Yet Paul tells us there’s value in doing so.

For children, Paul points out that obeying your parents is the first of the Ten Commandments with a promise: “that it may go well with you and enjoy a long life on the earth.”  Not only do things go better for you, but children someday may grow up to have children of their own and realize that “what goes around comes around.”  I’ve heard it said that “diaper” spelled backwards is “repaid!”

For parents, Paul says not to exasperate your children, meaning not to irritate them so much that that they become enraged.  “Instead,” Paul says, “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  King Solomon knew the long-term benefits of training a child in how to live a godly life.  He said:

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). 

And some of you may find yourself in the same place that my wife and I are in right now:  taking care of both your children and your parents at the same time, as Lana’s parents have moved in with us as their health has started to decline.  Even after all these years as children and as parents, we’re still in the process of learning what it means to “obey your parents in the Lord,” and to “not exasperate your children.”

Some days it means holding your tongue when you’d rather talk back.  Other days it means speaking the truth in love when you’d rather not talk at all.  At times it means serving a meal and cutting up someone’s food.  At other times, it means training someone else how to make a serve a meal and cut up their own food.  Quite often it means surrendering your will to accommodate someone else’s.  But occasionally it means exerting your own will for the benefit of everyone involved.

Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.  You’ll be blessed―and so will those around you―when you do.

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me to how to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, especially to those closest to me.  Help me to know how to apply these words in practical way today, whether that’s honoring my parents and or training my children in Your ways, or both.  Lord, help me to do these things in a way that blesses You, blesses them, and blesses me as well.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 13: Submit To One Another ~ Part 1
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Lesson 13: Submit To One Another ~ Part 1

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:21-33

One of the hardest things to do in life is what Paul asked the Ephesians to do in Ephesians chapter 5.  Paul wrote:

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). 

It may not sound that hard.  In fact, it probably sounds quite reasonable.  It’s like listening to Jesus, and nodding in agreement, when He says, “Love one another” (John 13:34).  Of course we should love one another.  That’s the most reasonable thing in the world to do.  But it took on a whole new meaning when Jesus defined what it meant to “love one another.”  Jesus said:

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

When your life is at stake, it’s no longer quite as simple or convenient to “love one another.”  It’s especially hard when the other person you’re supposed to be loving just happens to be a jerk.  But Jesus went beyond just loving his friends.  The Bible says that Jesus laid down His life even for those who were sinning against Him.  Paul wrote:

“Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:7-8, NLT). 

It’s the same thing with submission.  It might sound easy enough to “submit to one another.”  But the truth is, none of us want to submit to anyone!  It goes against human nature.  It goes against “free will.”  It goes against the “rugged individualism” that many people think made our country so great.

But by submitting to one another, by surrendering your will to someone else’s, you’re demonstrating your love to them in one of the greatest ways possible.  While it may be one of the most difficult things to do in life, it’s also one of the most gracious.  And it can turn your relationships around in a heartbeat.

I got a call one night from a couple who was having a knockdown, drag-out fight.  I had only recently met them, and the wife said she was trying to decide if she should call me or call the police.  When I got to their door and heard them fighting inside, I was wondering myself if she should have called the police instead!

But when we all sat down to talk, it turned out that the husband truly loved his wife, and the wife truly loved her husband.  But their lives were so busy that when the husband wanted to spend more time with his wife, he expressed it in anger and frustration at their schedule, and she gave it right back to him with frustrations of her own.  It quickly became a battle of the wills, and the fighting escalated from there.

I asked the wife if she believed her husband truly loved her, and if she could see that his anger grew out of an honest desire to spend more time with her, and she said, “Yes.”  I asked the husband if his wife were in danger, would he willingly give up his life for her, and he said, “Yes.”

Then I shared with them the next words that Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord….Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…” (Ephesians 5:22, 25). 

That truth helped them through another night.  I’m thankful to say it’s now been over fifteen years since that night, and they’re still together and serving the Lord.  It’s hard work to submitting to one another, surrendering your will to someone else’s.  But the benefits to you, to others, and to the Lord far outweigh the work involved.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Lay down your life for those you love―and even for those who are sinning against you.  As you do, I pray that God’s love and grace will flow from you to them―just as it flowed from Christ to you.

Prayer: Father, thank You for challenging me to submit to one another out of reverence for Your Son.  Lord, even though I know it’s hard, I pray that You would give me Your Spirit to help me to do it, for I want to be as gracious and loving as I can be, and I want to honor You in all I do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 12: Let Your Heart Sing
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Lesson 12: Let Your Heart Sing

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:19-20

When I think of gracious people, it seems like they’re often walking around with a song in their hearts.  Whether any songs actually come out of their mouths or not, it seems like their words are practically musical, as if they’re flowing out from songs being sung deep within them.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesians speak to each other with songs, too.  He wrote:

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20). 

There’s something about singing that brings joy to the surface.  And there’s something about having a song in your heart that spreads joy to those around you.

I have a nine-year-old son who can sing about anything.  He’ll sing about brushing his teeth, or a bumblebee he just saw, or a trip he’s about to take.  Whatever the topic, he’s glad to sing about it.  Sometimes he doesn’t even have words for his songs―he’ll just start humming a tune as he’s walking around or riding in a car, letting the music flow from within him.

What has struck me about his singing is that whenever he sings, he’s happy.  It’s not like he’s always happy before he starts singing.  But once he starts, his whole outlook and disposition changes.  The songs themselves seem to bring joy into his heart and life.

I decided to try it myself this week when I was riding with some of my kids in the car.  Every once in awhile, I’d need to remind them to talk nicer to each other, or to act more sweetly.  So I began singing my reminders to my kids rather than speaking.  Even though I didn’t have much of a tune to what I was singing, the words came out much more pleasant and brought more smiles.  It’s hard to be angry when you’re singing!  It was a good lesson for me.

And it was a good reminder of the power of these verses from Ephesians.  If you can try to keep a song in your heart, giving thanks to the Lord for all things, you’ll be more gracious, more cheerful, more helpful, and get a better response from those around you.  It doesn’t mean that you have to sing about everything that comes into your mind, or else the person at the drive-up window might start to wonder about you.  But it might just bring a bigger smile to your face and the faces of those around you to think about singing whatever you’re going to say, even if you don’t actually sing it.

My family and I were in a nursing home this week visiting a close friend who’s is in the final days of her life.  Although she wasn’t able to respond much, she seemed to perk up when we sang a song or two for her.  We didn’t sing any big or fancy songs, just some songs that we all happened to know and that we sometimes sing as prayers before we eat.  Maybe you’ve heard of the “Johnny Appleseed” song or the “Superman” prayer.  They’re simple, but thankful songs.

Even though they were just simple songs, they seemed to lift the spirits of everyone in the room, even in the face of impending death.  Songs have a way of helping us refocus our thoughts and reframing our situations, especially songs of thanks and praise to God.

If you need a lift in your spirit today, or want to give a lift to the spirits of those around you, try singing a song.  Make some music in your heart and let it flow out of your mouth.  Even if you don’t feel much like singing, you may find that singing is exactly “the cure for what ails ya’.”

If you need some ideas where to start, take a look at the book of Psalms, which means “songs.”  Try speaking or singing the words to one of the Psalms out loud.  Then consider sharing those words with those around you, and see what a blessing it can be.

Prayer: Father, thank You for encouraging me to sing and make music in my heart to You.  Help me to sing to You in a way that blesses You, blesses those around me, and blesses my own heart as well.  Lord, fill me with Your Spirit again today, the Spirit that bring music to my life.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen.

Lesson 11: Live A Life Of Love
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Lesson 11: Live A Life Of Love

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:1-18

I love the title of today’s message:  “Live A Life Of Love.”  That phrase is full of alliteration, …all the “l’s” and “v’s” and “f’s” combine to make it just roll off your lips:  “Live A Life Of Love.”

I remember back in college I thought I was doing just that.  I thought I was living a life of love, enjoying my friendships to my heart’s content, and loving others as best I knew how.

But when the pain of the inevitable broken relationships finally caught up with me, I realized that I wasn’t really living a life of love.  It was more like a life of lust, and for some reason, that phrase just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

I found out why, a few years later, as I began to read the Bible for the first time as an adult.  I finally saw that I had been crossing boundaries in my relationships that God never intended for me to cross.  I began searching the Scriptures for everything else that God had to say about love and life and I was amazed at what I discovered.

As I stepped into God’s plan for my life in this area, I found that His way of loving was way better than anything I had imagined.  I was so thankful that I took the time to discover what He said about these things instead of just following my own plans.

So now, when I see others heading down the same path that I had been on, I want to warn them, encourage them, help them to get back onto God’s path.  I want to share with them the same things that the Apostle Paul shared with the Ephesians when he said:

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving…. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret” (Ephesians 5:1-3). 

Paul encouraged the Ephesians to live a life of love, but to do so in a way that didn’t have even a hint of sexual immorality.  And God wants us to do the same.

I read this week about a governor who lived his life according to this approach…at least, most of the time. But once a year he’d take a trip with some friends to “let steam out of the box.”  Those annual outings eventually undid him.  What started as seemingly innocent fun turned into sharing his email address with a stranger, then meeting up with her again in the future.  It eventually turned into a full-blown affair―and a full-blown nightmare.  The relationship resulted in the destruction of his marriage, his career, and his relationship with God.

While I know that God can still work in his life to sort things out, to bring some good out of all the bad that’s been done, I also know that it didn’t have to be this way.  God wasn’t trying to “box him in” by saying he shouldn’t have even a hint of sexual immorality.  God was trying to help him “live a life of love,” one that would truly lead to the abundant life that God intends for you and me, too.

Maybe you’re like me and you’re wondering if you may have crossed some lines that God never intended for you to cross.  If so, I’d encourage you to take a close look at God’s Word so you can find out for sure.  As Paul said to the Ephesians:

“Live as children of light….and find out what pleases the Lord… Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:8b, 10, 17). 

Find out what pleases the Lord, and take time to understand what His will is.  Then you’ll truly be able to “live a life of love.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me life, and thank You for showing me how to live a life of love―through Christ.  I pray that You would help me to give my life to others, just as He gave His life for me.  Lord, help me to drop anything in my life that has even a hint of sexual immorality in it, and help me to never cross any boundaries that You don’t want me to cross.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 10: Forgive As Christ Has Forgiven You
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Lesson 10: Forgive As Christ Has Forgiven You

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:17-32

One of the things I’ve noticed about gracious people is that they often have an incredible capacity to overlook the faults of others and focus on their strengths instead.  I suppose it’s the same way that God looks at us, even if we don’t always perceive it that way.

While it might seem that gracious people could be simply unaware of just how sinful others can be, usually just the opposite is true.  Gracious people, like God, often seem to understand sin and just how destructive sin can be.  But just like God, they also understand something else.  They understand just how powerful forgiveness can be.

As a result, when faced with a sin in someone else’s life, those who are filled with grace make a conscious decision to choose forgiveness over anger, blessing over cursing, and compassion over destruction.

The Apostle Paul understood these choices as well.  In his letter to the Ephesians, he urged them to give up their thoughts of anger, rage and malice, and to extend forgiveness, grace and kindness instead.  He wrote:

“ ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold… Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32). 

Forgiveness is at the heart of grace.  It’s what makes Christ Himself so gracious.  The Bible says that Christ didn’t wait for us to turn from our sins before He was willing to die for us, but rather,

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8b). 

That’s grace.  That’s forgiveness.  That’s what God has done for us in Christ.  And that’s what God wants us to do for others.

Being gracious isn’t about ignoring, or excusing, other people’s sin.  Being gracious is about forgiving other people’s sin―because God, in Christ, has forgiven you of yours.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant.  In the story, Jesus tells about a king who forgives one of his servants of a huge debt.  But when that servant goes home and demands repayment of a debt that one of his fellow men owed to him, the king had the unmerciful servant thrown into prison, saying that he wouldn’t get out until he paid back all he owed.  Jesus’ ends the story with these words:

“This is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:35). 

If someone has wronged you, God understands.  He knows the hurt and pain that sin can cause.  But He also knows how heavy it can be to carry around the burden of anger, as well as the burden of what’s been done to you.  You don’t have to carry both.  Let go of the anger, and let God heal the hurt.

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, he included these words:  “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).  Then He added these sobering words:

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). 

If anyone understands forgiveness, it’s Christ.  And if anyone can help you to forgive others when they’ve sinned against you, it’s Christ, too.  Let Him help you to forgive.  Let Him show you what true grace is about by teaching you how to extend it to others.  Then one day, when others look to you and say, “How can you be so gracious!?!” you’ll be able to say, “Because Christ has been so gracious to me.”

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (from Matthew 6:9-13)

Lesson 9: Use Your Gifts To Serve Others
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Lesson 9: Use Your Gifts To Serve Others

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:7-16

I once belonged to a church that had 3,500 ministers!  That’s a lot of ministers!  But it wasn’t because they had 3,500 people on staff.  It was because they considered every member a minister.  They expected and encouraged every member to minister to others, to serve others, with the particular gifts that God had given them.

That was the church where I finally decided to put my faith in Christ.  It wasn’t just because of the great sermons, or the powerful Sunday School lessons, which were important.  It was also because of the various members who reached out to me, who invited me to Bible studies in their homes, who prayed for me, and who served me―ministered to me―in various other ways.

When the truth of God’s love for me in Christ finally broke through to my heart and mind, I decided to devote the rest of my life to serving Him, too.  That didn’t mean that I went immediately into “professional” ministry.  It meant that I had now become the three-thousand, five hundred and first minister at that church, using the gifts God had given me to minister to others.

This is how the Bible describes ministry.  While there are certainly specific gifts―or “graces,” as the Bible sometimes refers to them― that are given to some to preach or teach, to prophesy or evangelize, or to oversee the workings of the church, these gifts are simply a means to an end:  to equip the rest of God’s people for works of service.

Here’s how the Apostle Paul puts it in Ephesians chapter 4:

“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…. It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7, 11-13). 

The Apostle Peter puts it like this, in 1 Peter chapter 4:

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11a). 

When I first put my faith in Christ and received the gift of eternal life, I was surprised to find out that God still had more gifts to give me!  I thought eternal life was enough!  But it wasn’t enough for God.  He still had more He wanted to do in and through me, so He poured other gifts into my life, gifts that were not just for me, but to equip me to serve others.

If you’ve already received the gift of eternal life by putting your faith in Christ, God still has more He wants to do in and through you, too.

For some of you, God has called you, gifted you, and equipped you with the ability to teach,  preach, evangelize, prophesy and oversee His work here on the earth.  If so, God wants you―He needs you―to use those gifts to equip others, “to prepare God’s people for works of service.”

For some of you, God has called you, gifted you, and equipped you with gifts of faith, mercy, encouragement, serving, giving, leadership, administration―and the list goes on and on (just read Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, chapters 12 and 13, or to the Romans, chapter 12, for more about spiritual gifts and how to use them).  But all gifts are given for the same reason, “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Your church doesn’t have just one minister, or two, or ten or twenty.  Every member is a minister, when you use your gifts to serve others.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me the gift of eternal life, and thank You for going further and giving me even more gifts beyond that!  Help me to think of ways today to use the gifts You’ve given me to serve others.  Help me to not neglect those gifts, but to put them into practice so they can grow better and stronger, not only for my sake, but for those You want to touch through me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 8: Extend Grace To Your Fellow Believers
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Lesson 8: Extend Grace To Your Fellow Believers

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

Have you ever known people who can show incredible grace to those they hardly know, but who seem to withhold that grace from their fellow believers?  I heard a joke that directly illustrates this problem:

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran  over and said, “Stop! Don’t do it!” 

“Why shouldn’t I?” he said. 

I said, “Well, there’s so much to live  for!” 

He said, “Like what?” 

I said, “Well, are you religious or atheist?” 

He said, “Religious.” 

I said, “Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?” 

He said, “Christian.” 

I said, “Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?” 

He said, “Protestant.” 

I said,  “Me too! Are your Episcopalian or Baptist?” 

He said, “Baptist!” 

I said, “Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?” 

He said, “Baptist Church of God!” 

I said, “Me too! Are your Original Baptist Church of God or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?” 

He said, “Reformed  Baptist Church of God!” 

I said, “Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist  Church of God, Reformation of 1915?” 

He said, “Reformed  Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!” 

I said, “Die, heretic scum!” and I pushed him off. 

That joke was voted the best religious joke of all time in an online poll a few years ago, probably because it hits so close to home for so many people.  Maybe you’ve seen it happen yourself, where people who are otherwise extremely close to each other in their thoughts and beliefs let something comparatively minor cause a sharp disagreement.

God reminds us in the book of Ephesians that He’s extended incredible grace to us all, and He wants us to extend that same grace to our fellow believers.  The Apostle Paul wrote:

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit―just as you were called to one hope when you were called―one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:1-6). 

Paul says something similar in his letter to the Galatians:

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10). 

I know of a man who built one of the largest churches in India.  A friend who knew him said that one of the reasons for his success was that he never, ever spoke a negative word against anyone or any church who was working in that country in the name of Christ, even if he disagreed with their doctrine or approach.  As a result of his true graciousness, he was able to build bridges with many people, expanding the kingdom of God at every turn.

Jesus alluded to the same idea one day when the Apostle John came to Him and said:

“Teacher, we saw a man driving out demons in Your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in My name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:39-41). 

The next time you’re tempted to push someone off the bridge who is otherwise extremely close to you in their thoughts and beliefs, don’t do it!  Extend to them the same grace that God has extended to you.  Give them a cup of cold water, in Jesus’ name, making every effort “to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me to seek unity with my fellow believers, rather than trying to find fault with them.  Help me to be truly gracious today, and truly forgiving, when I run across those who approach their faith and life different than I do.  Help me focus on our shared love for You and extend the same kind of grace to them that You’ve extended to me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 7: How Much Can You Imagine?
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Lesson 7: How Much Can You Imagine?

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:20-21

Have you ever found yourself to be a little disappointed with God, wondering why He hasn’t answered your prayers in the way you thought He might?

You may want to pray in faith, but you also want to pray realistically.  So how can you pray in a way that expresses your faith and trust in God, without being disappointed if you don’t see the answers in the way that you expected?

For me, I’ve found that even if I overreach in my prayers, asking and expecting more from God in the short run than He actually provides, I know that in the long run He can still answer my prayers in a way that goes beyond anything I could have asked or imagined.

Back when I used to work as a computer analyst for a large company, I heard a professional technology forecaster say that the trouble with technology forecasting is that people often vastly overestimate the short-term impact of new technologies, but vastly underestimate their long-term impact.

My own experience with the Internet was a prime example.  When I saw a demonstration of the very first web browser, Mosaic, the presenter pulled up a page on his computer with a picture of three doors on it.  As he clicked on each door, it pulled up  a web page from a computer in Germany, then a page from a computer in another country, and finally a page from a computer in a third country.  Everyone in the room was amazed.  I began to imagine all kinds of possibilities of what could be done with such an easy-to-use worldwide network.

Yet with all the potential I could see or imagine for the Internet on that day, it paled in comparison to what the Internet has become today.  It actually took several years for my initially high, short-term expectations of the Internet to finally become a reality within our company.  But I could never have imagined the long-term impact the Internet would have on my own life in the future, forming the foundation for the rest of my life’s work and ministry.

I think the same applies to our expectations of God.  There are times when we tend to overestimate how God will answer our prayers in the short-term.  But we vastly underestimate how God will answer our prayers in the long-term.  While we may be disappointed in the short-term answers to our prayers, the long-term answers often go way beyond all we could ask or imagine.

In reading through one of my prayer journals from a few years ago, I ran across some disappointing days when I was trying to figure out how to fund the renovations at our Clover Ranch retreat house.  When a job opportunity came up, I decided to apply, take on a second job, and put all the money I made at that job into the repairs on the house.  When that job fell through even before I got started, I was disappointed.

But within a few months, God brought someone who not only donated enough to put a new roof on the house, but to completely redo the bathroom, the kitchen, and replace all the windows!  I wrote in my journal that it was “beyond what I could imagine.”  My disappointment with God in the short run was replaced by amazement with God in the long run.

The Apostle Paul said it like this:

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). 

The next time you set out to ask God for something, ask boldly.  But remember what God told the prophet Isaiah:

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).  

By doing so, you can pray in faith and pray realistically, trusting God to answer in His way and His timing―and believing that He can do “immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word, which says even more than I would expect it to say.  Thank You for Your grace and mercy that allows us to come before You with our requests.  And Lord, increase my faith so that I can come to you with boldness and confidence, trusting that You can indeed do more than all I could ask or imagine.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 6: How Much Are You Worth?
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Lesson 6: How Much Are You Worth?

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-19

How much do you think you’re worth?  It depends on who you ask, and what they’re counting.

If you were to ask an accountant, you’d find out that your worth could be extremely low or extremely high, depending on your assets.  Michael Jackson, who created some of the most memorable music in history, was once asked by a reporter:  “How much do you think you’re worth?”  Jackson replied, “It’s way up there.”  Michael was counting the value of his accumulated wealth, including his 50% ownership of the entire Beatles music collection.

If you were to ask Wired magazine, you’d find out that you’re worth about $45 million.  That’s because they’re counting the value of the organs, tissues, and fluids that make up your body, assuming it were legal to sell them on the open market (which it’s not).  According to hospital and insurance estimates, your bone marrow alone is worth about $23 million, based on 1,000 grams at $23,000 per gram.  One lung would be worth $116,400, a kidney $91,400 and a heart $57,000.

If you were to ask the U.S. Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, you’d find out that your net worth is just under one dollar.  That’s because they’re counting your worth in terms of the market value of the chemicals and minerals that make up your body, including 65% oxygen, 18% carbon, 10% hydrogen, 3% nitrogen, and trace quantities of silicon, copper, aluminum, arsenic and so on.

But if you were to ask God, the One who created you and loves you more than anyone else in the world, you’d get an answer that blows all the others away.

That’s because God counts your worth in terms of how much He loves you.  But calculating God’s love for you is nearly impossible.  The Apostle Paul tried to express how much God loved the people in Ephesus, but he knew they would hardly be able to comprehend it.  So he got down on his knees and prayed that they would have the power to grasp just how much God loved them.  Here’s what he wrote:

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge―that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).

How much are you worth?  If you were to calculate it according to God’s love for you, you’d find out that the answer is much closer to Michael Jackson’s than any other:  “It’s way up there!”

When God created you, and the world in which you live, He spared no expense, lavishing His love on you with all kinds of colors, flavors, sights, sounds, attractions and delights.

And when God saw that you were going astray, He spared no expense to get you back, paying more to save you than just $1 dollar, or $1,000 dollars or $45 million dollars.  He paid more than an arm and a leg.  He even paid more than what many consider the ultimate price―giving up His life for you.  He went even further than that, and sacrificed the life of His most beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

And when Jesus died for you, He didn’t do it because He had to, He did it because He wanted to.  He did it because He loves you, because He considers you to be His friend.

“Greater love has no one than this,” Jesus said, “than He lay down His life for His friends” (John 15:13). 

You’re worth more to God than you might even be able to comprehend.  But still I pray that God will give you the power today to grasp just how “wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” … for you.

Prayer: Father, I pray that You would give me the power today to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for me.  I pray that You would help me to give up my simple thoughts that maybe You don’t love me because of what I have or don’t have, or what others say or don’t say about my worth, but to realize just how vast and complex and astounding is Your love for me.  I pray that You would overwhelm me with Your love today in a way that I can see it, sense it, know it, and believe it, deep in my heart.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 5: Grace Grows Best In Winter
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Lesson 5: Grace Grows Best In Winter

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:1-13

When you’re going through tough times, it can be hard to see God at work in your life.  Sometimes you begin to question whether He’s really paying attention to your prayers.  Sometimes you begin to question if He’s even there at all.

If you’re going through a tough time in your life right now, I want to encourage you that God is hearing your prayers.  He does care.  And He really is there.  You may even find that God is at work doing the most important work He’s ever done in your life.

It was at such a time as this that Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish minister who was imprisoned for his faith back in the 1600’s, wrote to a friend about a truth he had discovered during that extremely difficult time.  He wrote:

“I see that grace groweth best in winter.” 

When I think of the people I know who are among the most gracious, I realize that they are often the people who have been through some of the hardest circumstances in life.

The Apostle Paul was one of those people.  Even though he was frequently beaten, robbed, imprisoned and left for dead, Paul didn’t let those things crush his spirit.  Instead, he put his faith in Christ even more.  The more he suffered, the more he seemed to grow in grace.

Listen to how Paul described himself, both in terms of his own feelings of brokenness, and the grace that God had given him in his life:

“Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things” (Ephesians 3:8-9). 

Compare this description of himself with two other descriptions he gave in two of his other letters.

The author J.I. Packer notes that in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, written about 54 AD, Paul referred to himself as “the least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9). By the time he wrote his letter to the Ephesians, about 7 years later in 61 AD, Paul called himself “the least of all God’s people” (Ephesians 3:8).  But by the time he wrote his letter to Timothy, about 4 years after that in 65 AD, Paul described himself as the “chief of all sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

As Paul continued to walk with God through all those years of suffering, he went from considering himself as the least of the apostles, to the least of all God’s people, to the chief of all sinners.  It seems that the closer he got to God, the more aware he became of his own sinfulness.  No wonder his letters are so filled with grace, using the word “grace” over 80 times throughout his letters in the New Testament.  He truly saw God’s grace at work in his own life and wanted to extend that grace to all those around him.

Paul knew the secret of how to handle suffering:  keep looking up.  Keep trusting in God to work things out for His glory.  Paul said as much to the Ephesians, encouraging them to keep coming to God freely and confidently, not being discouraged by Paul’s own sufferings:

“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory” (Ephesians 3:12-13). 

Paul saw that his suffering was not in vain, but would serve God’s purpose in the end.  As he wrote in his letter to the Romans:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Whatever you’re facing today, keep putting your faith in Christ.  Keep trusting Him that He will work all things for your good as you continue to love Him, no matter how hard it may seem at the time.  Grace, it seems, truly does grow best in winter.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your grace that You have showered upon me, even in the difficult times.  I pray that You would help me to see that You’re still at work in my life, even when things look like they’re falling apart.  Help me to keep turning to You during this time, growing closer to You and growing deeper in Your grace.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 4: God’s Grace Draws You Near
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Lesson 4: God’s Grace Draws You Near

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22

God’s grace is like a powerful magnet:  it draws you close to Him.  No matter how far away you may feel from God, God can still draw you near.

There’s an old joke that says that the Prime Minister of Israel came to visit the President of the United States in his office one day.  The Prime Minister noticed a red telephone on the President’s desk.  When the Prime Minister asked about it, the President said, “Oh, that’s my direct line to God.”

After a few minutes, the Prime Minister asked if he could use the phone.  The President said, “Sure, but don’t talk too long, because it’s pretty expensive from here.”

A few months later, when the President of the United States went to visit the Prime Minister of Israel in his office, he noticed the Prime Minister had a red phone on his desk, too.  When the President found out that the phone did the same thing as his phone back home, he asked the Prime Minister if he could use it for just a few minutes.

The Prime Minister said, “Sure, and you can talk as long as you want!  From here it’s a local call.”

While God does seem to have a special place in His heart for Israel, the truth is that no matter where you live in the world, you can talk to God anytime, for as long as you want.  Every call to God is a local call when you place that call through Jesus Christ.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, Christ destroyed the dividing wall that once separated the Jews from the Gentiles (or “non-Jews”), as well as the wall that once separated all people from their Creator.  Now anyone can come near to God through Christ.  Paul said:

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth…were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility….  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:11a, 12-14, 17). 

God’s grace draws you near.  It doesn’t matter how close or how far away you may feel you are, His grace can draw you in.

The first time I went to Israel, I stayed with a Muslim family on the West Bank.  They were incredibly gracious and treated me like a king.

But as I thought about how close they lived to the paths where Jesus once walked and ministered and died, I also thought about how far away they were from the peace that Christ offers to all who put their faith in Him.

Even though I lived over 6,000 miles away from this land where Christ called His home, God’s grace was still powerful enough to reach out to me on the other side of the world and draw me close to Him.  He’s not far from any one of us.  As Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, says:

“From one man He [God] made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27). 

God is not far from you today.  It doesn’t matter where you were born or where you live.  What matters is that you keep putting your faith in Christ, realizing that it was God’s grace, demonstrated in Christ, that destroyed the dividing wall of hostility between you and God.

Reach out today and give Him a call. And feel free to talk as long as you want!  No matter where you are, it’s always a local call.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to bridge the gap between me and You, and between me and my fellow believers.  Lord, I pray that I would be able to experience just how near You are to me today, sensing Your presence as close as the very air I breathe.  Lord, help me to reach out to You  today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 3: God’s Grace Is A Gift
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Lesson 3: God’s Grace Is A Gift

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10 

Have you ever been able to tell someone some good news?  It feels great, doesn’t it?  I was able to be the bearer of good news to someone this week, and it was a lot of fun.

Someone had heard about our upcoming trip to Israel this fall and wanted to surprise one of the worship leaders at their church with a gift:  an all-expense paid trip to come with us to Israel.

The donor of the trip wanted to remain anonymous and asked me to call the recipient to tell him about the gift.  When I made the call, this worship leader was overcome to the point of tears, unable to believe what he was hearing.  He had told me before that he desperately wanted to come with us, but it would take a miracle.

When I told him his miracle had just happened, he asked, “Are you sure they wanted to give it to me?  I don’t deserve it!  How could I ever pay them back?”

I told him he didn’t have to pay it back.  It was a gift.  He didn’t even have to deserve it.  All he had to do was to receive it.  If he wanted to go, all he had to do was say, “Yes.”  Through tears, he said, “Yes, I want to go!”  And now, he’s on his way!

Moments like these help me to understand God’s gift of grace a little better.

When God offered me the gift of grace, to forgive me of my sins and give me the gift of eternal life, my reaction was much like this worship leader’s:  “Are you sure He wants to give it to me?  I don’t deserve it!  How could I ever pay Him back?”

But God’s gift of grace was just that―a gift.  I didn’t have to pay it back.  I didn’t even have to deserve it.  All I had to do was receive it.  If I wanted to be forgiven, saved, born again and given a new life―both here on earth and in heaven forever―all I had to do was to receive it by faith. Through tears, I said, “Yes, Lord, I believe.”  And now, I’m on my way!

The Apostle Paul gave a beautiful description of how all of this works in his letter to the Ephesians.  He wrote:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions―it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith―and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God―not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:1-10). 

Paul reminded the Ephesians―and us―that God’s grace is a gift.

You may feel like you don’t deserve it, that your sins have pulled you down too far to receive God’s wonderful gift of grace.  But that’s exactly why God sent Jesus to earth―not to condemn you for your sins, but to free you from them, inviting you to live with Him forever.

If you’ve never received God’s gift of eternal life, it can be yours today.  When your faith touches God’s grace, the transaction is complete.  Eternal life becomes yours.  It’s a gift that really is meant for you.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me even though there are times when I’m sure I’ve been unlovable.  I’m sorry for the things I’ve done wrong in my life, and I want to thank You for sending Jesus to die in my place.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. and help me to live my life for You from this day forward.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Lesson 2: God’s Grace Is Glorious And Lavish
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Lesson 2: God’s Grace Is Glorious And Lavish

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-23 

Have you ever tried to describe something incredible―a beautiful sunset, a magnificent canyon, a massive mountain―but your words seem to fall flat?  No matter how hard you try to describe it, you know that the only way others will be able to catch a glimpse of what you’re trying to describe is if they can somehow experience it themselves?

It seems that this is what the Apostle Paul may have felt as he tried to describe God’s grace in the book of Ephesians.  As much as Paul tried to describe it, as both “glorious” and  “lavish,” Paul knew that the best way for the Ephesians to fully understand what he was saying was for them to experience it themselves.  So he prayed:

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:16-19). 

Paul prayed that the “eyes of their heart” would be enlightened, that they would be able to know God―and God’s plans for them, and God’s inheritance for them, and God’s power for them―not just in their heads, but in their hearts.

It’s a prayer that I know God answers because I’ve seen Him answer it in my own life, and because I’ve seen Him answer it when I’ve prayed it for others.

The most memorable time I watched God answer this prayer was when I was praying for a woman who was dying of cancer.  She believed in her head that God loved her, but because her battle with cancer had taken up so much of her life, she had trouble believing it in her heart. I went to see her to pray for her healing, but when we finally sat down to pray, I asked her what she would like me to pray for her.  She said simply that she’d like to hear God’s voice, to hear him speak directly to her heart.  She said she had been a Christian for so many years, yet she had never heard God speak to her personally.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t read the Bible, or hadn’t been to church.  She had done both all her life.  It was just that she didn’t feel that what she had read about God’s love and grace applied to her personally.

All I could do at that point was to pray.  To pray that God would open the eyes of her heart.  To pray that God would speak to her in a way that she could understand it and believe it personally, not just in her head, but deep inside her heart.  So we prayed, and I went back home.

I got a call from her a few days later.  She told me that she was sicker than she had ever been in her life.  But she went on to say that even though she felt sicker than ever before, she felt, for the first time in her life, that God had truly spoken to her.  She could hardly describe it, but she said that she went to a special church service that weekend and the speaker was talking about God’s lavish love from the book of Ephesians.  And for the first time in her life, she felt that God was speaking those words directly to her.

In the weeks that followed, she and her husband took communion together every day, experiencing a sweet fellowship with each other and with the Lord until the day finally came that He took her home to commune with Him forever.  God had answered her prayer.

If you’d like to experience God’s love and grace in a personal way, not just in your head, but deep inside your heart, let me encourage you to pray.  Pray that God would open the eyes of your heart, that you may know Him better.  Let Him pour out His glorious and lavish grace on you today.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me a glimpse of Your glorious and lavish grace.  Thank You for telling me about it through the words of the Bible and through the words of those who have experienced it themselves.  I pray that You would open the eyes of my heart so that I could know You better.  Help me to experience Your glorious and lavish grace in a fresh way today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 1: Grace Begins With A Thought
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Lesson 1: Grace Begins With A Thought

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:1-2

Some people think that being kind and gracious is a sign of weakness, but the exact opposite is true.  The measure of graciousness in your life is the true measure of your strength.

According to the 19th century British hymn-writer, Frederick W. Faber:

“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.”  

Being kind and gracious towards others, even when they give you no reason to be kind to them, can have a greater and longer-lasting impact on their lives than perhaps anything else you could offer them.  But where does grace begin?  Where can you start if you want to be more gracious in your life?  The answer I’ve found is this:  grace begins with a thought.

One of my favorite birthday presents was a bottle of water.  What I loved so much about this present wasn’t just the water itself, but the thought behind it.

It started years earlier when I was on a business trip to New York.  During a meeting, someone at the table asked if I’d like anything to drink.  I didn’t want to be a bother, and I didn’t want them to have to spend anything on me, so I just said, “Sure, I’ll take some water.”

But a few minutes later, this man came back with a cold bottle of the most incredible water I had ever tasted in my life.  I had no idea water could taste so good!  It turned out to be a bottle of Evian mineral water, imported from the mountains of France.

When I came back from that trip, I went to the store to see if I could get some more bottles of that water.  I went into sticker shock at the price.  I decided I didn’t need to relive that experience bad enough to pay that much.  But I must have mentioned it to my family, because when my birthday came around, my oldest son, who was still pretty young at the time, went out and bought me a few bottles of Evian water.

I asked my wife if she told him to get it for me, but she didn’t.  He just thought of it himself.

I was touched.  It wasn’t like I talked or dreamed about this water all the time.  But here my son had made a mental note of something that was special to me, and when a special occasion arose, he went out and got it for me.  It wasn’t an expensive gift as far as gifts go―even though it was expensive as far as water goes!  But what made it so special was the thought that went into it.

And that’s where grace begins:  with a thought.

In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul opens with these words:

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1-2).

Paul wished for them to have God’s grace and peace in their lives, and he meant it!  He backed up his graceful thoughts towards them by writing the letter.  Perhaps the most gracious thing about this whole letter is that Paul took time to write it at all!

Here he was, bound in chains as a prisoner in Rome.  But rather than focusing on himself and his own problems, he took the time to send a letter to those who needed some encouragement in their lives.  That one act of kindness is still impacting lives today, as we’re still reading and learning from the words that Paul took the time to write almost 2,000 years ago!

If you want to grow in graciousness towards others, the best place to start is with a thought.  Take some time to let your thoughts roam through different ways you could express grace to those around you.  Pick up a pen.  Pick up a phone.  Pick up a bottle of water.

It doesn’t take much to be gracious, but it does take some thought.  Give it some thought today.  You’ll be blessed―and you’ll be a blessing―when you do.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the kindness that You’ve shown to me, and I pray that You’d help me to show it to others.  Give me Your thoughts to know how I can be a blessing to those around me today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ephesians: Lessons In Grace
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Ephesians: Lessons In Grace

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

How To Believe, Receive And Share God’s Gift Of Grace
by Eric Elder

Twenty inspiring lessons based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible.

INTRODUCTION: THE GRACE OF AN AMERICAN IDOL

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:18-19

Even if you’ve never watched American Idol, you may still have heard of Adam Lambert.  He competed in the grand finale of this nation’s most famous singing contest.

Besides having an astounding voice, there’s another thing that stands out to me about this top contender:  his consistent graciousness.

When complimented by the judges for an outstanding performance, Adam readily offers his thanks to those in the band who helped make it possible.  When asked by the host how he’ll be adding his own spin to a famous song, Adam compliments the one who wrote the song, saying that it was so well-written there’s little he could add to make it better.

It seems that almost every time a compliment comes his way, Adam steers the praise towards those around him.

While not many of us will ever be able to sing like Adam Lambert, we can all take a lesson from this other facet of his life that has helped to make him so incredibly successful:  his graciousness towards others.  Does this mean we should follow his example in everything he does?  Of course not!  We all do some things that are more honoring to God than others.  But his graciousness is something we would all do well to emulate.

When your thoughts, words and actions are filled with grace, people are naturally drawn towards you.  They’re more likely to listen to what you have to say, to do what you ask them to do, and to become all that they can become.  God wants you to be grace-filled, not only because it will enhance your life, but because it will enhance the lives of those around you as well.

God knows what a blessing graciousness can be because He’s been showering people with grace throughout human history.  He knows that the best way to express His love to others is to overwhelm them with His grace.

God’s grace has helped transform countless lives, turning some of the most sour, bitter and angry people into people who are the most joy-filled, happy, and delightful people I know.  I’ve also seen how those who don’t understand God’s grace, or who find it hard to understand or receive, also find it hard to express grace to others in meaningful or practical ways.

As for me, well, I guess I’m somewhere in between!  I’d like to be more consistently gracious, but I’m not there yet.  Sometimes I’m just too self-focused.  Sometimes I become critical of others, forgetting how much grace God has already showered upon me. Sometimes I’m just not thinking, and ungraciousness slips out when I should have been gracious instead.  Whatever the reason, I know that I have a lot to learn and a lot of room to grow.

So in the coming weeks, I’m going to be taking a closer look at the book of Ephesians, and I’d be glad for you to take a look along with me.  Even though the book is only six chapters long, Ephesians is one of the most grace-filled books in the whole Bible.  The Apostle Paul, who wrote the book originally as a letter to the Christians in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus (now modern-day Turkey), filled his letter with grace both in words and tone.

From the opening words to the closing line, Paul uses the word “grace” a dozen times, encouraging the Ephesians to understand and receive God’s grace for themselves and then to extend it to others.  He prayed for them the same prayer that I’ll be praying for you, and for myself, in the weeks ahead:

“…that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide, and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge―that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19). 

I’m looking forward to this study of the book of Ephesians.  I pray that God will overwhelm you with His grace, and that you’ll find it the most natural thing in the world to pour it out on others as well.

If you’ve never read the book of Ephesians before, I think you’ll find it to be filled with both grand thoughts about God and practical suggestions for your life.  For those who have read it before, I think you’ll be amazed at how many of the most famous verses in the Bible are found in this very short book.

At the top of each devotional, I’ve included a Scripture Reading that I encourage you to read on your own, as I don’t include the full text of Ephesians in this book.  When you’re finished reading each of these Scripture Readings, you’ll have read through the entire book of Ephesians.

I’ve also included a prayer at the end of each devotional that you can use to pray along with me.  I hope this helps you to begin a quiet time of prayer with God in response to what you’ve read.  To get you started, here’s today’s prayer:

Prayer: Father, thank You for the graciousness that we’ve seen displayed in the lives of others, and thank You for the graciousness that You’ve showered upon us.  Help us, Lord, to be filled so much with Your grace that it flows out to those around us as well, blessing them―and ourselves―along the way.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Ephesians: Lessons In Grace

20 inspiring lessons based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible 
by Eric Elder

Read it online below!

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

INTRODUCTION: THE GRACE OF AN AMERICAN IDOL

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:18-19

Even if you’ve never watched American Idol, you may still have heard of Adam Lambert.  He competed in the grand finale of this nation’s most famous singing contest.

Besides having an astounding voice, there’s another thing that stands out to me about this top contender:  his consistent graciousness.

When complimented by the judges for an outstanding performance, Adam readily offers his thanks to those in the band who helped make it possible.  When asked by the host how he’ll be adding his own spin to a famous song, Adam compliments the one who wrote the song, saying that it was so well-written there’s little he could add to make it better.

It seems that almost every time a compliment comes his way, Adam steers the praise towards those around him.

While not many of us will ever be able to sing like Adam Lambert, we can all take a lesson from this other facet of his life that has helped to make him so incredibly successful:  his graciousness towards others.  Does this mean we should follow his example in everything he does?  Of course not!  We all do some things that are more honoring to God than others.  But his graciousness is something we would all do well to emulate.

When your thoughts, words and actions are filled with grace, people are naturally drawn towards you.  They’re more likely to listen to what you have to say, to do what you ask them to do, and to become all that they can become.  God wants you to be grace-filled, not only because it will enhance your life, but because it will enhance the lives of those around you as well.

God knows what a blessing graciousness can be because He’s been showering people with grace throughout human history.  He knows that the best way to express His love to others is to overwhelm them with His grace.

God’s grace has helped transform countless lives, turning some of the most sour, bitter and angry people into people who are the most joy-filled, happy, and delightful people I know.  I’ve also seen how those who don’t understand God’s grace, or who find it hard to understand or receive, also find it hard to express grace to others in meaningful or practical ways.

As for me, well, I guess I’m somewhere in between!  I’d like to be more consistently gracious, but I’m not there yet.  Sometimes I’m just too self-focused.  Sometimes I become critical of others, forgetting how much grace God has already showered upon me. Sometimes I’m just not thinking, and ungraciousness slips out when I should have been gracious instead.  Whatever the reason, I know that I have a lot to learn and a lot of room to grow.

So in the coming weeks, I’m going to be taking a closer look at the book of Ephesians, and I’d be glad for you to take a look along with me.  Even though the book is only six chapters long, Ephesians is one of the most grace-filled books in the whole Bible.  The Apostle Paul, who wrote the book originally as a letter to the Christians in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus (now modern-day Turkey), filled his letter with grace both in words and tone.

From the opening words to the closing line, Paul uses the word “grace” a dozen times, encouraging the Ephesians to understand and receive God’s grace for themselves and then to extend it to others.  He prayed for them the same prayer that I’ll be praying for you, and for myself, in the weeks ahead:

“…that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide, and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge―that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19). 

I’m looking forward to this study of the book of Ephesians.  I pray that God will overwhelm you with His grace, and that you’ll find it the most natural thing in the world to pour it out on others as well.

If you’ve never read the book of Ephesians before, I think you’ll find it to be filled with both grand thoughts about God and practical suggestions for your life.  For those who have read it before, I think you’ll be amazed at how many of the most famous verses in the Bible are found in this very short book.

At the top of each devotional, I’ve included a Scripture Reading that I encourage you to read on your own, as I don’t include the full text of Ephesians in this book.  When you’re finished reading each of these Scripture Readings, you’ll have read through the entire book of Ephesians.

I’ve also included a prayer at the end of each devotional that you can use to pray along with me.  I hope this helps you to begin a quiet time of prayer with God in response to what you’ve read.  To get you started, here’s today’s prayer:

Prayer: Father, thank You for the graciousness that we’ve seen displayed in the lives of others, and thank You for the graciousness that You’ve showered upon us.  Help us, Lord, to be filled so much with Your grace that it flows out to those around us as well, blessing them―and ourselves―along the way.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

LESSON 1: GRACE BEGINS WITH A THOUGHT (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:1-2

Some people think that being kind and gracious is a sign of weakness, but the exact opposite is true.  The measure of graciousness in your life is the true measure of your strength.

According to the 19th century British hymn-writer, Frederick W. Faber:

“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.”  

Being kind and gracious towards others, even when they give you no reason to be kind to them, can have a greater and longer-lasting impact on their lives than perhaps anything else you could offer them.  But where does grace begin?  Where can you start if you want to be more gracious in your life?  The answer I’ve found is this:  grace begins with a thought.

One of my favorite birthday presents was a bottle of water.  What I loved so much about this present wasn’t just the water itself, but the thought behind it.

It started years earlier when I was on a business trip to New York.  During a meeting, someone at the table asked if I’d like anything to drink.  I didn’t want to be a bother, and I didn’t want them to have to spend anything on me, so I just said, “Sure, I’ll take some water.”

But a few minutes later, this man came back with a cold bottle of the most incredible water I had ever tasted in my life.  I had no idea water could taste so good!  It turned out to be a bottle of Evian mineral water, imported from the mountains of France.

When I came back from that trip, I went to the store to see if I could get some more bottles of that water.  I went into sticker shock at the price.  I decided I didn’t need to relive that experience bad enough to pay that much.  But I must have mentioned it to my family, because when my birthday came around, my oldest son, who was still pretty young at the time, went out and bought me a few bottles of Evian water.

I asked my wife if she told him to get it for me, but she didn’t.  He just thought of it himself.

I was touched.  It wasn’t like I talked or dreamed about this water all the time.  But here my son had made a mental note of something that was special to me, and when a special occasion arose, he went out and got it for me.  It wasn’t an expensive gift as far as gifts go―even though it was expensive as far as water goes!  But what made it so special was the thought that went into it.

And that’s where grace begins:  with a thought.

In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul opens with these words:

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1-2).

Paul wished for them to have God’s grace and peace in their lives, and he meant it!  He backed up his graceful thoughts towards them by writing the letter.  Perhaps the most gracious thing about this whole letter is that Paul took time to write it at all!

Here he was, bound in chains as a prisoner in Rome.  But rather than focusing on himself and his own problems, he took the time to send a letter to those who needed some encouragement in their lives.  That one act of kindness is still impacting lives today, as we’re still reading and learning from the words that Paul took the time to write almost 2,000 years ago!

If you want to grow in graciousness towards others, the best place to start is with a thought.  Take some time to let your thoughts roam through different ways you could express grace to those around you.  Pick up a pen.  Pick up a phone.  Pick up a bottle of water.

It doesn’t take much to be gracious, but it does take some thought.  Give it some thought today.  You’ll be blessed―and you’ll be a blessing―when you do.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the kindness that You’ve shown to me, and I pray that You’d help me to show it to others.  Give me Your thoughts to know how I can be a blessing to those around me today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 2: GOD’S GRACE IS GLORIOUS AND LAVISH (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-23 

Have you ever tried to describe something incredible―a beautiful sunset, a magnificent canyon, a massive mountain―but your words seem to fall flat?  No matter how hard you try to describe it, you know that the only way others will be able to catch a glimpse of what you’re trying to describe is if they can somehow experience it themselves?

It seems that this is what the Apostle Paul may have felt as he tried to describe God’s grace in the book of Ephesians.  As much as Paul tried to describe it, as both “glorious” and  “lavish,” Paul knew that the best way for the Ephesians to fully understand what he was saying was for them to experience it themselves.  So he prayed:

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:16-19). 

Paul prayed that the “eyes of their heart” would be enlightened, that they would be able to know God―and God’s plans for them, and God’s inheritance for them, and God’s power for them―not just in their heads, but in their hearts.

It’s a prayer that I know God answers because I’ve seen Him answer it in my own life, and because I’ve seen Him answer it when I’ve prayed it for others.

The most memorable time I watched God answer this prayer was when I was praying for a woman who was dying of cancer.  She believed in her head that God loved her, but because her battle with cancer had taken up so much of her life, she had trouble believing it in her heart. I went to see her to pray for her healing, but when we finally sat down to pray, I asked her what she would like me to pray for her.  She said simply that she’d like to hear God’s voice, to hear him speak directly to her heart.  She said she had been a Christian for so many years, yet she had never heard God speak to her personally.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t read the Bible, or hadn’t been to church.  She had done both all her life.  It was just that she didn’t feel that what she had read about God’s love and grace applied to her personally.

All I could do at that point was to pray.  To pray that God would open the eyes of her heart.  To pray that God would speak to her in a way that she could understand it and believe it personally, not just in her head, but deep inside her heart.  So we prayed, and I went back home.

I got a call from her a few days later.  She told me that she was sicker than she had ever been in her life.  But she went on to say that even though she felt sicker than ever before, she felt, for the first time in her life, that God had truly spoken to her.  She could hardly describe it, but she said that she went to a special church service that weekend and the speaker was talking about God’s lavish love from the book of Ephesians.  And for the first time in her life, she felt that God was speaking those words directly to her.

In the weeks that followed, she and her husband took communion together every day, experiencing a sweet fellowship with each other and with the Lord until the day finally came that He took her home to commune with Him forever.  God had answered her prayer.

If you’d like to experience God’s love and grace in a personal way, not just in your head, but deep inside your heart, let me encourage you to pray.  Pray that God would open the eyes of your heart, that you may know Him better.  Let Him pour out His glorious and lavish grace on you today.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me a glimpse of Your glorious and lavish grace.  Thank You for telling me about it through the words of the Bible and through the words of those who have experienced it themselves.  I pray that You would open the eyes of my heart so that I could know You better.  Help me to experience Your glorious and lavish grace in a fresh way today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 3: GOD’S GRACE IS A GIFT (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10 

Have you ever been able to tell someone some good news?  It feels great, doesn’t it?  I was able to be the bearer of good news to someone this week, and it was a lot of fun.

Someone had heard about our upcoming trip to Israel this fall and wanted to surprise one of the worship leaders at their church with a gift:  an all-expense paid trip to come with us to Israel.

The donor of the trip wanted to remain anonymous and asked me to call the recipient to tell him about the gift.  When I made the call, this worship leader was overcome to the point of tears, unable to believe what he was hearing.  He had told me before that he desperately wanted to come with us, but it would take a miracle.

When I told him his miracle had just happened, he asked, “Are you sure they wanted to give it to me?  I don’t deserve it!  How could I ever pay them back?”

I told him he didn’t have to pay it back.  It was a gift.  He didn’t even have to deserve it.  All he had to do was to receive it.  If he wanted to go, all he had to do was say, “Yes.”  Through tears, he said, “Yes, I want to go!”  And now, he’s on his way!

Moments like these help me to understand God’s gift of grace a little better.

When God offered me the gift of grace, to forgive me of my sins and give me the gift of eternal life, my reaction was much like this worship leader’s:  “Are you sure He wants to give it to me?  I don’t deserve it!  How could I ever pay Him back?”

But God’s gift of grace was just that―a gift.  I didn’t have to pay it back.  I didn’t even have to deserve it.  All I had to do was receive it.  If I wanted to be forgiven, saved, born again and given a new life―both here on earth and in heaven forever―all I had to do was to receive it by faith. Through tears, I said, “Yes, Lord, I believe.”  And now, I’m on my way!

The Apostle Paul gave a beautiful description of how all of this works in his letter to the Ephesians.  He wrote:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions―it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith―and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God―not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:1-10). 

Paul reminded the Ephesians―and us―that God’s grace is a gift.

You may feel like you don’t deserve it, that your sins have pulled you down too far to receive God’s wonderful gift of grace.  But that’s exactly why God sent Jesus to earth―not to condemn you for your sins, but to free you from them, inviting you to live with Him forever.

If you’ve never received God’s gift of eternal life, it can be yours today.  When your faith touches God’s grace, the transaction is complete.  Eternal life becomes yours.  It’s a gift that really is meant for you.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me even though there are times when I’m sure I’ve been unlovable.  I’m sorry for the things I’ve done wrong in my life, and I want to thank You for sending Jesus to die in my place.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. and help me to live my life for You from this day forward.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

LESSON 4: GOD’S GRACE DRAWS YOU NEAR (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22

God’s grace is like a powerful magnet:  it draws you close to Him.  No matter how far away you may feel from God, God can still draw you near.

There’s an old joke that says that the Prime Minister of Israel came to visit the President of the United States in his office one day.  The Prime Minister noticed a red telephone on the President’s desk.  When the Prime Minister asked about it, the President said, “Oh, that’s my direct line to God.”

After a few minutes, the Prime Minister asked if he could use the phone.  The President said, “Sure, but don’t talk too long, because it’s pretty expensive from here.”

A few months later, when the President of the United States went to visit the Prime Minister of Israel in his office, he noticed the Prime Minister had a red phone on his desk, too.  When the President found out that the phone did the same thing as his phone back home, he asked the Prime Minister if he could use it for just a few minutes.

The Prime Minister said, “Sure, and you can talk as long as you want!  From here it’s a local call.”

While God does seem to have a special place in His heart for Israel, the truth is that no matter where you live in the world, you can talk to God anytime, for as long as you want.  Every call to God is a local call when you place that call through Jesus Christ.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, Christ destroyed the dividing wall that once separated the Jews from the Gentiles (or “non-Jews”), as well as the wall that once separated all people from their Creator.  Now anyone can come near to God through Christ.  Paul said:

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth…were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility….  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:11a, 12-14, 17). 

God’s grace draws you near.  It doesn’t matter how close or how far away you may feel you are, His grace can draw you in.

The first time I went to Israel, I stayed with a Muslim family on the West Bank.  They were incredibly gracious and treated me like a king.

But as I thought about how close they lived to the paths where Jesus once walked and ministered and died, I also thought about how far away they were from the peace that Christ offers to all who put their faith in Him.

Even though I lived over 6,000 miles away from this land where Christ called His home, God’s grace was still powerful enough to reach out to me on the other side of the world and draw me close to Him.  He’s not far from any one of us.  As Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, says:

“From one man He [God] made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27). 

God is not far from you today.  It doesn’t matter where you were born or where you live.  What matters is that you keep putting your faith in Christ, realizing that it was God’s grace, demonstrated in Christ, that destroyed the dividing wall of hostility between you and God.

Reach out today and give Him a call. And feel free to talk as long as you want!  No matter where you are, it’s always a local call.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to bridge the gap between me and You, and between me and my fellow believers.  Lord, I pray that I would be able to experience just how near You are to me today, sensing Your presence as close as the very air I breathe.  Lord, help me to reach out to You  today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 5: GRACE GROWS BEST IN WINTER (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:1-13

When you’re going through tough times, it can be hard to see God at work in your life.  Sometimes you begin to question whether He’s really paying attention to your prayers.  Sometimes you begin to question if He’s even there at all.

If you’re going through a tough time in your life right now, I want to encourage you that God is hearing your prayers.  He does care.  And He really is there.  You may even find that God is at work doing the most important work He’s ever done in your life.

It was at such a time as this that Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish minister who was imprisoned for his faith back in the 1600’s, wrote to a friend about a truth he had discovered during that extremely difficult time.  He wrote:

“I see that grace groweth best in winter.” 

When I think of the people I know who are among the most gracious, I realize that they are often the people who have been through some of the hardest circumstances in life.

The Apostle Paul was one of those people.  Even though he was frequently beaten, robbed, imprisoned and left for dead, Paul didn’t let those things crush his spirit.  Instead, he put his faith in Christ even more.  The more he suffered, the more he seemed to grow in grace.

Listen to how Paul described himself, both in terms of his own feelings of brokenness, and the grace that God had given him in his life:

“Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things” (Ephesians 3:8-9). 

Compare this description of himself with two other descriptions he gave in two of his other letters.

The author J.I. Packer notes that in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, written about 54 AD, Paul referred to himself as “the least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9). By the time he wrote his letter to the Ephesians, about 7 years later in 61 AD, Paul called himself “the least of all God’s people” (Ephesians 3:8).  But by the time he wrote his letter to Timothy, about 4 years after that in 65 AD, Paul described himself as the “chief of all sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

As Paul continued to walk with God through all those years of suffering, he went from considering himself as the least of the apostles, to the least of all God’s people, to the chief of all sinners.  It seems that the closer he got to God, the more aware he became of his own sinfulness.  No wonder his letters are so filled with grace, using the word “grace” over 80 times throughout his letters in the New Testament.  He truly saw God’s grace at work in his own life and wanted to extend that grace to all those around him.

Paul knew the secret of how to handle suffering:  keep looking up.  Keep trusting in God to work things out for His glory.  Paul said as much to the Ephesians, encouraging them to keep coming to God freely and confidently, not being discouraged by Paul’s own sufferings:

“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory” (Ephesians 3:12-13). 

Paul saw that his suffering was not in vain, but would serve God’s purpose in the end.  As he wrote in his letter to the Romans:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Whatever you’re facing today, keep putting your faith in Christ.  Keep trusting Him that He will work all things for your good as you continue to love Him, no matter how hard it may seem at the time.  Grace, it seems, truly does grow best in winter.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your grace that You have showered upon me, even in the difficult times.  I pray that You would help me to see that You’re still at work in my life, even when things look like they’re falling apart.  Help me to keep turning to You during this time, growing closer to You and growing deeper in Your grace.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 6: HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORTH? (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-19

How much do you think you’re worth?  It depends on who you ask, and what they’re counting.

If you were to ask an accountant, you’d find out that your worth could be extremely low or extremely high, depending on your assets.  Michael Jackson, who created some of the most memorable music in history, was once asked by a reporter:  “How much do you think you’re worth?”  Jackson replied, “It’s way up there.”  Michael was counting the value of his accumulated wealth, including his 50% ownership of the entire Beatles music collection.

If you were to ask Wired magazine, you’d find out that you’re worth about $45 million.  That’s because they’re counting the value of the organs, tissues, and fluids that make up your body, assuming it were legal to sell them on the open market (which it’s not).  According to hospital and insurance estimates, your bone marrow alone is worth about $23 million, based on 1,000 grams at $23,000 per gram.  One lung would be worth $116,400, a kidney $91,400 and a heart $57,000.

If you were to ask the U.S. Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, you’d find out that your net worth is just under one dollar.  That’s because they’re counting your worth in terms of the market value of the chemicals and minerals that make up your body, including 65% oxygen, 18% carbon, 10% hydrogen, 3% nitrogen, and trace quantities of silicon, copper, aluminum, arsenic and so on.

But if you were to ask God, the One who created you and loves you more than anyone else in the world, you’d get an answer that blows all the others away.

That’s because God counts your worth in terms of how much He loves you.  But calculating God’s love for you is nearly impossible.  The Apostle Paul tried to express how much God loved the people in Ephesus, but he knew they would hardly be able to comprehend it.  So he got down on his knees and prayed that they would have the power to grasp just how much God loved them.  Here’s what he wrote:

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge―that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).

How much are you worth?  If you were to calculate it according to God’s love for you, you’d find out that the answer is much closer to Michael Jackson’s than any other:  “It’s way up there!”

When God created you, and the world in which you live, He spared no expense, lavishing His love on you with all kinds of colors, flavors, sights, sounds, attractions and delights.

And when God saw that you were going astray, He spared no expense to get you back, paying more to save you than just $1 dollar, or $1,000 dollars or $45 million dollars.  He paid more than an arm and a leg.  He even paid more than what many consider the ultimate price―giving up His life for you.  He went even further than that, and sacrificed the life of His most beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

And when Jesus died for you, He didn’t do it because He had to, He did it because He wanted to.  He did it because He loves you, because He considers you to be His friend.

“Greater love has no one than this,” Jesus said, “than He lay down His life for His friends” (John 15:13). 

You’re worth more to God than you might even be able to comprehend.  But still I pray that God will give you the power today to grasp just how “wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” … for you.

Prayer: Father, I pray that You would give me the power today to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for me.  I pray that You would help me to give up my simple thoughts that maybe You don’t love me because of what I have or don’t have, or what others say or don’t say about my worth, but to realize just how vast and complex and astounding is Your love for me.  I pray that You would overwhelm me with Your love today in a way that I can see it, sense it, know it, and believe it, deep in my heart.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 7: HOW MUCH CAN YOU IMAGINE? (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:20-21

Have you ever found yourself to be a little disappointed with God, wondering why He hasn’t answered your prayers in the way you thought He might?

You may want to pray in faith, but you also want to pray realistically.  So how can you pray in a way that expresses your faith and trust in God, without being disappointed if you don’t see the answers in the way that you expected?

For me, I’ve found that even if I overreach in my prayers, asking and expecting more from God in the short run than He actually provides, I know that in the long run He can still answer my prayers in a way that goes beyond anything I could have asked or imagined.

Back when I used to work as a computer analyst for a large company, I heard a professional technology forecaster say that the trouble with technology forecasting is that people often vastly overestimate the short-term impact of new technologies, but vastly underestimate their long-term impact.

My own experience with the Internet was a prime example.  When I saw a demonstration of the very first web browser, Mosaic, the presenter pulled up a page on his computer with a picture of three doors on it.  As he clicked on each door, it pulled up  a web page from a computer in Germany, then a page from a computer in another country, and finally a page from a computer in a third country.  Everyone in the room was amazed.  I began to imagine all kinds of possibilities of what could be done with such an easy-to-use worldwide network.

Yet with all the potential I could see or imagine for the Internet on that day, it paled in comparison to what the Internet has become today.  It actually took several years for my initially high, short-term expectations of the Internet to finally become a reality within our company.  But I could never have imagined the long-term impact the Internet would have on my own life in the future, forming the foundation for the rest of my life’s work and ministry.

I think the same applies to our expectations of God.  There are times when we tend to overestimate how God will answer our prayers in the short-term.  But we vastly underestimate how God will answer our prayers in the long-term.  While we may be disappointed in the short-term answers to our prayers, the long-term answers often go way beyond all we could ask or imagine.

In reading through one of my prayer journals from a few years ago, I ran across some disappointing days when I was trying to figure out how to fund the renovations at our Clover Ranch retreat house.  When a job opportunity came up, I decided to apply, take on a second job, and put all the money I made at that job into the repairs on the house.  When that job fell through even before I got started, I was disappointed.

But within a few months, God brought someone who not only donated enough to put a new roof on the house, but to completely redo the bathroom, the kitchen, and replace all the windows!  I wrote in my journal that it was “beyond what I could imagine.”  My disappointment with God in the short run was replaced by amazement with God in the long run.

The Apostle Paul said it like this:

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). 

The next time you set out to ask God for something, ask boldly.  But remember what God told the prophet Isaiah:

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).  

By doing so, you can pray in faith and pray realistically, trusting God to answer in His way and His timing―and believing that He can do “immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word, which says even more than I would expect it to say.  Thank You for Your grace and mercy that allows us to come before You with our requests.  And Lord, increase my faith so that I can come to you with boldness and confidence, trusting that You can indeed do more than all I could ask or imagine.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 8: EXTEND GRACE TO YOUR FELLOW BELIEVERS (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

Have you ever known people who can show incredible grace to those they hardly know, but who seem to withhold that grace from their fellow believers?  I heard a joke that directly illustrates this problem:

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran  over and said, “Stop! Don’t do it!” 

“Why shouldn’t I?” he said. 

I said, “Well, there’s so much to live  for!” 

He said, “Like what?” 

I said, “Well, are you religious or atheist?” 

He said, “Religious.” 

I said, “Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?” 

He said, “Christian.” 

I said, “Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?” 

He said, “Protestant.” 

I said,  “Me too! Are your Episcopalian or Baptist?” 

He said, “Baptist!” 

I said, “Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?” 

He said, “Baptist Church of God!” 

I said, “Me too! Are your Original Baptist Church of God or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?” 

He said, “Reformed  Baptist Church of God!” 

I said, “Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist  Church of God, Reformation of 1915?” 

He said, “Reformed  Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!” 

I said, “Die, heretic scum!” and I pushed him off. 

That joke was voted the best religious joke of all time in an online poll a few years ago, probably because it hits so close to home for so many people.  Maybe you’ve seen it happen yourself, where people who are otherwise extremely close to each other in their thoughts and beliefs let something comparatively minor cause a sharp disagreement.

God reminds us in the book of Ephesians that He’s extended incredible grace to us all, and He wants us to extend that same grace to our fellow believers.  The Apostle Paul wrote:

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit―just as you were called to one hope when you were called―one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:1-6). 

Paul says something similar in his letter to the Galatians:

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10). 

I know of a man who built one of the largest churches in India.  A friend who knew him said that one of the reasons for his success was that he never, ever spoke a negative word against anyone or any church who was working in that country in the name of Christ, even if he disagreed with their doctrine or approach.  As a result of his true graciousness, he was able to build bridges with many people, expanding the kingdom of God at every turn.

Jesus alluded to the same idea one day when the Apostle John came to Him and said:

“Teacher, we saw a man driving out demons in Your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in My name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:39-41). 

The next time you’re tempted to push someone off the bridge who is otherwise extremely close to you in their thoughts and beliefs, don’t do it!  Extend to them the same grace that God has extended to you.  Give them a cup of cold water, in Jesus’ name, making every effort “to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me to seek unity with my fellow believers, rather than trying to find fault with them.  Help me to be truly gracious today, and truly forgiving, when I run across those who approach their faith and life different than I do.  Help me focus on our shared love for You and extend the same kind of grace to them that You’ve extended to me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 9: USE YOUR GIFTS TO SERVE OTHERS (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:7-16

I once belonged to a church that had 3,500 ministers!  That’s a lot of ministers!  But it wasn’t because they had 3,500 people on staff.  It was because they considered every member a minister.  They expected and encouraged every member to minister to others, to serve others, with the particular gifts that God had given them.

That was the church where I finally decided to put my faith in Christ.  It wasn’t just because of the great sermons, or the powerful Sunday School lessons, which were important.  It was also because of the various members who reached out to me, who invited me to Bible studies in their homes, who prayed for me, and who served me―ministered to me―in various other ways.

When the truth of God’s love for me in Christ finally broke through to my heart and mind, I decided to devote the rest of my life to serving Him, too.  That didn’t mean that I went immediately into “professional” ministry.  It meant that I had now become the three-thousand, five hundred and first minister at that church, using the gifts God had given me to minister to others.

This is how the Bible describes ministry.  While there are certainly specific gifts―or “graces,” as the Bible sometimes refers to them― that are given to some to preach or teach, to prophesy or evangelize, or to oversee the workings of the church, these gifts are simply a means to an end:  to equip the rest of God’s people for works of service.

Here’s how the Apostle Paul puts it in Ephesians chapter 4:

“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…. It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7, 11-13). 

The Apostle Peter puts it like this, in 1 Peter chapter 4:

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11a). 

When I first put my faith in Christ and received the gift of eternal life, I was surprised to find out that God still had more gifts to give me!  I thought eternal life was enough!  But it wasn’t enough for God.  He still had more He wanted to do in and through me, so He poured other gifts into my life, gifts that were not just for me, but to equip me to serve others.

If you’ve already received the gift of eternal life by putting your faith in Christ, God still has more He wants to do in and through you, too.

For some of you, God has called you, gifted you, and equipped you with the ability to teach,  preach, evangelize, prophesy and oversee His work here on the earth.  If so, God wants you―He needs you―to use those gifts to equip others, “to prepare God’s people for works of service.”

For some of you, God has called you, gifted you, and equipped you with gifts of faith, mercy, encouragement, serving, giving, leadership, administration―and the list goes on and on (just read Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, chapters 12 and 13, or to the Romans, chapter 12, for more about spiritual gifts and how to use them).  But all gifts are given for the same reason, “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Your church doesn’t have just one minister, or two, or ten or twenty.  Every member is a minister, when you use your gifts to serve others.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me the gift of eternal life, and thank You for going further and giving me even more gifts beyond that!  Help me to think of ways today to use the gifts You’ve given me to serve others.  Help me to not neglect those gifts, but to put them into practice so they can grow better and stronger, not only for my sake, but for those You want to touch through me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 10: FORGIVE AS CHRIST HAS FORGIVEN YOU (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:17-32

One of the things I’ve noticed about gracious people is that they often have an incredible capacity to overlook the faults of others and focus on their strengths instead.  I suppose it’s the same way that God looks at us, even if we don’t always perceive it that way.

While it might seem that gracious people could be simply unaware of just how sinful others can be, usually just the opposite is true.  Gracious people, like God, often seem to understand sin and just how destructive sin can be.  But just like God, they also understand something else.  They understand just how powerful forgiveness can be.

As a result, when faced with a sin in someone else’s life, those who are filled with grace make a conscious decision to choose forgiveness over anger, blessing over cursing, and compassion over destruction.

The Apostle Paul understood these choices as well.  In his letter to the Ephesians, he urged them to give up their thoughts of anger, rage and malice, and to extend forgiveness, grace and kindness instead.  He wrote:

“ ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold… Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32). 

Forgiveness is at the heart of grace.  It’s what makes Christ Himself so gracious.  The Bible says that Christ didn’t wait for us to turn from our sins before He was willing to die for us, but rather,

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8b). 

That’s grace.  That’s forgiveness.  That’s what God has done for us in Christ.  And that’s what God wants us to do for others.

Being gracious isn’t about ignoring, or excusing, other people’s sin.  Being gracious is about forgiving other people’s sin―because God, in Christ, has forgiven you of yours.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant.  In the story, Jesus tells about a king who forgives one of his servants of a huge debt.  But when that servant goes home and demands repayment of a debt that one of his fellow men owed to him, the king had the unmerciful servant thrown into prison, saying that he wouldn’t get out until he paid back all he owed.  Jesus’ ends the story with these words:

“This is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:35). 

If someone has wronged you, God understands.  He knows the hurt and pain that sin can cause.  But He also knows how heavy it can be to carry around the burden of anger, as well as the burden of what’s been done to you.  You don’t have to carry both.  Let go of the anger, and let God heal the hurt.

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, he included these words:  “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).  Then He added these sobering words:

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). 

If anyone understands forgiveness, it’s Christ.  And if anyone can help you to forgive others when they’ve sinned against you, it’s Christ, too.  Let Him help you to forgive.  Let Him show you what true grace is about by teaching you how to extend it to others.  Then one day, when others look to you and say, “How can you be so gracious!?!” you’ll be able to say, “Because Christ has been so gracious to me.”

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (from Matthew 6:9-13)

LESSON 11: LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:1-18

I love the title of today’s message:  “Live A Life Of Love.”  That phrase is full of alliteration, …all the “l’s” and “v’s” and “f’s” combine to make it just roll off your lips:  “Live A Life Of Love.”

I remember back in college I thought I was doing just that.  I thought I was living a life of love, enjoying my friendships to my heart’s content, and loving others as best I knew how.

But when the pain of the inevitable broken relationships finally caught up with me, I realized that I wasn’t really living a life of love.  It was more like a life of lust, and for some reason, that phrase just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

I found out why, a few years later, as I began to read the Bible for the first time as an adult.  I finally saw that I had been crossing boundaries in my relationships that God never intended for me to cross.  I began searching the Scriptures for everything else that God had to say about love and life and I was amazed at what I discovered.

As I stepped into God’s plan for my life in this area, I found that His way of loving was way better than anything I had imagined.  I was so thankful that I took the time to discover what He said about these things instead of just following my own plans.

So now, when I see others heading down the same path that I had been on, I want to warn them, encourage them, help them to get back onto God’s path.  I want to share with them the same things that the Apostle Paul shared with the Ephesians when he said:

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving…. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret” (Ephesians 5:1-3). 

Paul encouraged the Ephesians to live a life of love, but to do so in a way that didn’t have even a hint of sexual immorality.  And God wants us to do the same.

I read this week about a governor who lived his life according to this approach…at least, most of the time. But once a year he’d take a trip with some friends to “let steam out of the box.”  Those annual outings eventually undid him.  What started as seemingly innocent fun turned into sharing his email address with a stranger, then meeting up with her again in the future.  It eventually turned into a full-blown affair―and a full-blown nightmare.  The relationship resulted in the destruction of his marriage, his career, and his relationship with God.

While I know that God can still work in his life to sort things out, to bring some good out of all the bad that’s been done, I also know that it didn’t have to be this way.  God wasn’t trying to “box him in” by saying he shouldn’t have even a hint of sexual immorality.  God was trying to help him “live a life of love,” one that would truly lead to the abundant life that God intends for you and me, too.

Maybe you’re like me and you’re wondering if you may have crossed some lines that God never intended for you to cross.  If so, I’d encourage you to take a close look at God’s Word so you can find out for sure.  As Paul said to the Ephesians:

“Live as children of light….and find out what pleases the Lord… Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:8b, 10, 17). 

Find out what pleases the Lord, and take time to understand what His will is.  Then you’ll truly be able to “live a life of love.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me life, and thank You for showing me how to live a life of love―through Christ.  I pray that You would help me to give my life to others, just as He gave His life for me.  Lord, help me to drop anything in my life that has even a hint of sexual immorality in it, and help me to never cross any boundaries that You don’t want me to cross.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 12: LET YOUR HEART SING (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:19-20

When I think of gracious people, it seems like they’re often walking around with a song in their hearts.  Whether any songs actually come out of their mouths or not, it seems like their words are practically musical, as if they’re flowing out from songs being sung deep within them.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesians speak to each other with songs, too.  He wrote:

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20). 

There’s something about singing that brings joy to the surface.  And there’s something about having a song in your heart that spreads joy to those around you.

I have a nine-year-old son who can sing about anything.  He’ll sing about brushing his teeth, or a bumblebee he just saw, or a trip he’s about to take.  Whatever the topic, he’s glad to sing about it.  Sometimes he doesn’t even have words for his songs―he’ll just start humming a tune as he’s walking around or riding in a car, letting the music flow from within him.

What has struck me about his singing is that whenever he sings, he’s happy.  It’s not like he’s always happy before he starts singing.  But once he starts, his whole outlook and disposition changes.  The songs themselves seem to bring joy into his heart and life.

I decided to try it myself this week when I was riding with some of my kids in the car.  Every once in awhile, I’d need to remind them to talk nicer to each other, or to act more sweetly.  So I began singing my reminders to my kids rather than speaking.  Even though I didn’t have much of a tune to what I was singing, the words came out much more pleasant and brought more smiles.  It’s hard to be angry when you’re singing!  It was a good lesson for me.

And it was a good reminder of the power of these verses from Ephesians.  If you can try to keep a song in your heart, giving thanks to the Lord for all things, you’ll be more gracious, more cheerful, more helpful, and get a better response from those around you.  It doesn’t mean that you have to sing about everything that comes into your mind, or else the person at the drive-up window might start to wonder about you.  But it might just bring a bigger smile to your face and the faces of those around you to think about singing whatever you’re going to say, even if you don’t actually sing it.

My family and I were in a nursing home this week visiting a close friend who’s is in the final days of her life.  Although she wasn’t able to respond much, she seemed to perk up when we sang a song or two for her.  We didn’t sing any big or fancy songs, just some songs that we all happened to know and that we sometimes sing as prayers before we eat.  Maybe you’ve heard of the “Johnny Appleseed” song or the “Superman” prayer.  They’re simple, but thankful songs.

Even though they were just simple songs, they seemed to lift the spirits of everyone in the room, even in the face of impending death.  Songs have a way of helping us refocus our thoughts and reframing our situations, especially songs of thanks and praise to God.

If you need a lift in your spirit today, or want to give a lift to the spirits of those around you, try singing a song.  Make some music in your heart and let it flow out of your mouth.  Even if you don’t feel much like singing, you may find that singing is exactly “the cure for what ails ya’.”

If you need some ideas where to start, take a look at the book of Psalms, which means “songs.”  Try speaking or singing the words to one of the Psalms out loud.  Then consider sharing those words with those around you, and see what a blessing it can be.

Prayer: Father, thank You for encouraging me to sing and make music in my heart to You.  Help me to sing to You in a way that blesses You, blesses those around me, and blesses my own heart as well.  Lord, fill me with Your Spirit again today, the Spirit that bring music to my life.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen.

LESSON 13: SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER – PART 1 (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:21-33

One of the hardest things to do in life is what Paul asked the Ephesians to do in Ephesians chapter 5.  Paul wrote:

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). 

It may not sound that hard.  In fact, it probably sounds quite reasonable.  It’s like listening to Jesus, and nodding in agreement, when He says, “Love one another” (John 13:34).  Of course we should love one another.  That’s the most reasonable thing in the world to do.  But it took on a whole new meaning when Jesus defined what it meant to “love one another.”  Jesus said:

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

When your life is at stake, it’s no longer quite as simple or convenient to “love one another.”  It’s especially hard when the other person you’re supposed to be loving just happens to be a jerk.  But Jesus went beyond just loving his friends.  The Bible says that Jesus laid down His life even for those who were sinning against Him.  Paul wrote:

“Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:7-8, NLT). 

It’s the same thing with submission.  It might sound easy enough to “submit to one another.”  But the truth is, none of us want to submit to anyone!  It goes against human nature.  It goes against “free will.”  It goes against the “rugged individualism” that many people think made our country so great.

But by submitting to one another, by surrendering your will to someone else’s, you’re demonstrating your love to them in one of the greatest ways possible.  While it may be one of the most difficult things to do in life, it’s also one of the most gracious.  And it can turn your relationships around in a heartbeat.

I got a call one night from a couple who was having a knockdown, drag-out fight.  I had only recently met them, and the wife said she was trying to decide if she should call me or call the police.  When I got to their door and heard them fighting inside, I was wondering myself if she should have called the police instead!

But when we all sat down to talk, it turned out that the husband truly loved his wife, and the wife truly loved her husband.  But their lives were so busy that when the husband wanted to spend more time with his wife, he expressed it in anger and frustration at their schedule, and she gave it right back to him with frustrations of her own.  It quickly became a battle of the wills, and the fighting escalated from there.

I asked the wife if she believed her husband truly loved her, and if she could see that his anger grew out of an honest desire to spend more time with her, and she said, “Yes.”  I asked the husband if his wife were in danger, would he willingly give up his life for her, and he said, “Yes.”

Then I shared with them the next words that Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord….Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…” (Ephesians 5:22, 25). 

That truth helped them through another night.  I’m thankful to say it’s now been over fifteen years since that night, and they’re still together and serving the Lord.  It’s hard work to submitting to one another, surrendering your will to someone else’s.  But the benefits to you, to others, and to the Lord far outweigh the work involved.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Lay down your life for those you love―and even for those who are sinning against you.  As you do, I pray that God’s love and grace will flow from you to them―just as it flowed from Christ to you.

Prayer: Father, thank You for challenging me to submit to one another out of reverence for Your Son.  Lord, even though I know it’s hard, I pray that You would give me Your Spirit to help me to do it, for I want to be as gracious and loving as I can be, and I want to honor You in all I do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 14: SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER – PART 2 (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:1-4

When the Apostle Paul told the Ephesians to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ,” he followed it up with several practical examples for how to do this in real life.  In chapter 6, Paul described how children and parents can “submit to one another”:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’―which is the first commandment with a promise―‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’  

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1-3). 

It’s hard being a parent.  But it’s hard being a child, too.

Maybe you heard about the man who observed a woman in the grocery store with a three-year-old girl in her basket.  As they passed the cookie section, the little girl asked for cookies and her mother told her, “No.” The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss, and the mother said quietly, “Now Jane, we just have half of the aisles left to go through―don’t be upset. It won’t be long now.”

Soon, they came to the candy aisle and the little girl began to shout for candy. When told she couldn’t have any, she began to cry. The mother said, “There, there, Jane, don’t cry―only two more aisles to go and then we’ll be checking out.”

When they got to the checkout stand, the little girl immediately began to clamor for gum and burst into a terrible tantrum upon discovering there’d be no gum purchased. The mother said serenely, “Jane, we’ll be through this check out stand in 5 minutes and then you can go home and have a nice nap.”

The man followed them out to the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her. “I couldn’t help noticing how patient you were with little Jane. It’s quite commendable,” he remarked.

The mother replied, “I’m Jane. My little girl’s name is Tammy.”

It takes a lot of patience to be gracious, especially between children and parents.  Yet Paul tells us there’s value in doing so.

For children, Paul points out that obeying your parents is the first of the Ten Commandments with a promise: “that it may go well with you and enjoy a long life on the earth.”  Not only do things go better for you, but children someday may grow up to have children of their own and realize that “what goes around comes around.”  I’ve heard it said that “diaper” spelled backwards is “repaid!”

For parents, Paul says not to exasperate your children, meaning not to irritate them so much that that they become enraged.  “Instead,” Paul says, “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  King Solomon knew the long-term benefits of training a child in how to live a godly life.  He said:

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). 

And some of you may find yourself in the same place that my wife and I are in right now:  taking care of both your children and your parents at the same time, as Lana’s parents have moved in with us as their health has started to decline.  Even after all these years as children and as parents, we’re still in the process of learning what it means to “obey your parents in the Lord,” and to “not exasperate your children.”

Some days it means holding your tongue when you’d rather talk back.  Other days it means speaking the truth in love when you’d rather not talk at all.  At times it means serving a meal and cutting up someone’s food.  At other times, it means training someone else how to make a serve a meal and cut up their own food.  Quite often it means surrendering your will to accommodate someone else’s.  But occasionally it means exerting your own will for the benefit of everyone involved.

Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.  You’ll be blessed―and so will those around you―when you do.

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me to how to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, especially to those closest to me.  Help me to know how to apply these words in practical way today, whether that’s honoring my parents and or training my children in Your ways, or both.  Lord, help me to do these things in a way that blesses You, blesses them, and blesses me as well.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 15: SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER – PART 3 (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:5-9

When Paul encouraged the Ephesians to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), he gave them three practical examples for how to do this:  one for husbands and wives, one for parent and children, and one for masters and slaves.

While the terms “masters” and “slaves” may not apply to many people today, the terms “employers” and “employees” certainly do.  And Paul’s words to the Ephesians are just as fitting for these types of working relationships, too.  Listen to Paul’s words, and see how they might apply to you today:

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.  Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 

“And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him” (Ephesians 6:5-9). 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a fair share of bosses in my lifetime.  Some of which I had great respect for, and others of which I had very little respect for.  But as I look at Paul’s words, he never said anything about whether or not a master was worthy of respect, but that we were to treat them with respect, obeying them just as we would obey Christ.

I know from experience just how hard that can be.  But I also know from experience just how beneficial that can be, often doing more for my working relationships than I could have imagined.

In one instance, I had a boss who didn’t like me from day one―and he let me know it.  He had heard I was some kind of go-getter and he wasn’t about to let me go anywhere. Things went from bad to worse.

One day he asked me to do yet one more thing that I felt was about to push me over the edge. It wasn’t immoral or unethical―he simply asked me to fill out a survey that the company had distributed, asking employees to fill it out voluntarily and anonymously.  But since I was out of town when the survey was distributed, he sent me a copy and told me I had to fill mine out and fax it back to him by the following day.

I took issue with his request, since it was supposed to be voluntary and anonymous.  By mandating that I fill it out, and then fax it back with my phone number right there on the fax, it would violate both of those conditions.

But after making my case, he still held onto his position, and I held onto mine.  Late that night, Paul’s words to the Ephesians came back to me, to “obey your earthly masters with respect and fear…just as you would obey Christ.”  Even though I disagreed with his approach, I filled out the survey and faxed it back to him so it would be on his desk in the morning.

Our whole relationship turned around that day.  My boss became my biggest champion from that day forward and for the rest of my career at that company.  It was a lesson that proved once more than God’s words spoken through Paul were true, that God really will “reward everyone for whatever good he does.”   And it was a lesson that helped me when I later became an employer myself―and a husband and a father.

Submitting to one another really does work!  It demonstrates a graciousness on your part, and can make your relationships flow better all around―whether they’re between husbands and wives, parents and children, or “masters and slaves.”  Don’t miss out on the reward God has for you!  Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ!

Prayer: Father, thanks for the reminder to submit to to those with whom I work, whether I work for them or they work for me.  Help me to be gracious in my relationships with each person in the workplace, so that Your blessings would flow to us and through us.  Help me in all my relationships to submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 16: OVERCOME YOUR ENEMIES WITH GRACE (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-18

One of the best ways to overcome your enemies is to make them your friends.

I made a friend like this back in college.  When we were taking an English Literature class together, it seemed like we were always at odds.  I was always defending King Arthur as the hero of the books, and she was always defending Queen Guinevere.  In class, it seemed like we’d never agree on anything.

But one day we both showed up for tryouts at a college musical.  We realized we had more in common than we thought, and both of us softened up in our approach.  That softening had such an effect on our friendship, that a few years after college was over, she even agreed to sing at my wedding.

There are times when God calls you to overcome your enemies by destroying them so completely that they no longer have an effect on your life.  But there are other times when God calls you to overcome your enemies by winning them over with your love, realizing that the battle may not be against them, but against spiritual forces that may be turning them against you.

The Apostle Paul talks about these battles in his letter to the Ephesians, and the kinds of weapons that God gave them to fight these battles.  You might call these “weapons of grace,” weapons that can turn your enemies into your friends!

Listen to these words as Paul describes this spiritual “armor of God.”

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18). 

The next time someone comes against you, speaks against you, or tries to overpower you, go ahead and put on your battle gear.  But instead of gearing up with all your usual defenses, try some of God’s.  To paraphrase the Apostle Paul:

Be truthful.  Be righteous.  Be eager to share the gospel of peace.  Keep up your faith.  Keep in mind that Jesus has already saved you.  Speak the truth in love.  And keep on praying, continually.

These are God’s weapons of grace, weapons that you can use to defend yourselves, and disarm your opponents, oftentimes with a greater impact than physical weapons could have.

It was through Jesus’ love and grace that He turned you from being His enemy to being His friend (see Romans 5:10 and John 15:15).  So it shouldn’t be surprising that God wants you to use these same weapons to overcome your enemies, making them your friends as well.  It may not happen overnight, but over time you may just find their hearts softening towards you, as the real enemy, the power of darkness, has to flee when the light turns on.

Remember that your battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces in the heavenly realm.  In a spiritual battle, you need spiritual armor, which is much softer and more gracious than physical armor, but in the end, is much stronger and more powerful.

Put on your spiritual armor today.  Clothe yourself with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, God’s Word and prayer.  Let God’s love flow through you to those around you and watch what happens.

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me that the battles I face aren’t always against an enemy I can see, but against spiritual forces in the heavenly realm.  Help me to put on my spiritual armor of love and grace today so that I can overcome those who are against me―and even make them my friends.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 17: GRACE IS “OTHERS-FOCUSED” (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:19-22

I’m sitting today with one of the most gracious women I know.  It’s not my wife, although she’s quite gracious. And it’s not anyone particularly famous, except to her family and to those of us who know her well.

Her name is Mary Lou Schrock, and she was a lifetime friend of my Dad’s until he passed away earlier this year.  She stepped back into his life about nineteen years ago, filling a void that was left after my mom passed away.  Mary Lou has been like a second mother to me, coming to our kids’ birthday parties, spending countless hours with my Dad during days of sickness and health, and spending Christmas mornings with our family year after year.

She’s invested her life in taking care of others.  But in recent years, she’s had to let others take care of her. If she had a choice, I’m sure she’d gladly switch roles.  That’s just the kind of woman she is.  And that’s one of the things that makes her so gracious as well.  Whether she was baking a meal for someone, or helping out at the nursing home, or writing a card to send to someone who needed a lift, she was always thinking of others.

In a way, she was very much like the Apostle Paul, who displayed a similar quality of graciousness.  From the beginning of his letter to the Ephesians until the very end, he was always “others-focused.”  I can’t imagine it was easy, though.

As a prisoner in Rome, I’m sure he could have written thousands of words talking about himself, complaining of the false accusations made against him, the unjust beatings he’d had to endure, or the hardships of life as a prisoner in the first century A.D.  But instead, he wrote thousands of words talking about them, focusing on their lives, their trials, and their relationships with God.

The only time he asked for anything for himself was at the very end of his letter.  And even then, his only request was for them to pray that he would be able to fearlessly proclaim the message of Christ to others, the very thing that landed him in prison in the first place.  He wrote:

“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19-20). 

Paul was already on trial for proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ, and he was awaiting a very likely death sentence for it.  Yet he called on the Ephesians to pray that God would help him to keep proclaiming the message of Christ without fear.  To the end, Even when asking for prayer for himself, Paul remained steadfastly committed to others. And God wants us to remain “others-focused” as well.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t talk about yourself, your problems and your needs.  But it does mean that you should be thoughtful about when and how you share those needs.  You don’t want to be like the woman who said:  “Enough about me. Let’s talk about you. What do you think about me?”

As “others-focused” as he was, Paul knew that it was also important to let others know how he was doing, too.  So at the end of his letter, he wrote:

“Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.  I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you” (Ephesians 6:21-22). 

Paul didn’t ignore himself and his needs completely.  But he was gracious enough to know there was an appropriate time and place to share those needs.  And God wants us to do the same.

God wants us to be people who are “others-focused” to the core, people who regularly spend time thinking about the needs of others and how to meet those needs.  He wants us to be people like Mary Lou, people who invest their lives in ways that will bless those around us.

Prayer: Father, thank You for helping me see that grace is “others-focused.” I pray that You would help me to be so focused on others that my life and my problems will fade in comparison.  Help me to be filled with Your grace to such an extent that I would gladly pour it out on others, regardless of the cost to me personally.  Let me be a good ambassador for You, and a good messenger of Your grace to those around me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 18: HOW GRACIOUS IS GRACIOUS ENOUGH? (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:23-24 

As we come to the closing words of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I’d like to touch on the idea of just how  gracious we have to be in order to be “gracious enough.”  Just how much grace has God shown to us?  And how much grace does He want us to show to others?

One of my favorite quotes on this topic goes like this:

“Sometimes you have to be overly gracious in order to be gracious enough.”

When I think of that quote, I think of a woman named Jean.  Jean is a business woman from England whom we met on a missions trip a few years ago.  She helped us out shortly after that trip by coming to a retreat center we’re renovating here in Illinois called Clover Ranch.  She came to help us with some interior decorating.

But when she arrived, it became clear that the house needed much more than a coat of paint and some pretty pictures.  While she was taking a bath one day, the pipes burst in the upstairs bathroom, pouring water down into the kitchen below.  While replacing those pipes, it became clear that the wiring had to be redone as well.  We ended up gutting both the bathroom and the kitchen entirely, starting again from scratch.  Then the rain came and we realized that water was coming in around many of the old windows and they would have to be replaced before we could even think about any interior decorating.  The house was a mess and she hadn’t even gotten to start on what she initially came to do.

In spite of all of this, Jean was a trooper.  We invited her to stay in our own home during all of this, but like the loyal captain of a ship, she wanted to stay with her vessel.  She continued to live at Clover Ranch, without a functional kitchen or bathroom, except for a sink and a shower stall in the basement, and accompanied by a host of crickets and spiders and other creatures that seemed to thrive in the chaos of the reconstruction.

Through it all, Jean was not just gracious.  She was overly gracious.  She talked about how thankful she was to be out in the country, to have time to think and pray, and to be part of helping us out with this project.

While Lana and I felt bad that she had to live in such an inhospitable situation, Jean’s grace helped ease our burden.  She expressed over and over that she truly wanted to help us out.  The only reason we could even possibly believe her was that she was consistently overly gracious.  If she had just said, “It’s OK, don’t worry about it,” that would have been gracious.  But we would have still felt miserable for what was happening.  Yet because of her overflowing graciousness,  we were finally able to believe that she was sincere in her thankfulness and solid in her belief that God had placed her right where He wanted her to be for that season of her life.

Through her words and actions, Jean taught us the value of being overly gracious.  Just saying a kind word or two doesn’t always get the message across.  Sometimes we need to be overly gracious, as God has been with us, in order for others to truly believe that we’re sincere.

Like the Apostle Paul, who used the word grace a dozen times in his letter to the Ephesians, and another seventy-five times in his other letters in the New Testament, it may seem like we would never be able to talk about grace enough, to demonstrate it enough, to live it enough, or to truly express it enough so that others would be able to believe it and receive it.

But if we keep trying, if we keep sharing, if we keep expressing God’s grace to others as if God Himself was expressing His grace through us, then perhaps others would begin to believe us. Just maybe they’d begin to realize how much we love them, and how much God loves them.  Just maybe, by being “overly gracious,” we’d finally be able to be “gracious enough.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for being overly gracious with me.  Thank You for expressing Your grace to me in a way that I could believe it and receive it.  Now, Lord, help me to do the same in sharing Your grace with others.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

CONCLUSION: HAVING A GRACE-FILLED HEART (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:24 

As I was writing these messages about grace, someone asked me if I had any ideas for how they could have a more grace-filled heart―a heart that would help them to appreciate others more instead of complaining, to forgive instead of holding grudges, and to love instead of being angry.

Here’s a summary of what I shared in response, taken from things I’ve learned from the book of Ephesians and other places in the Bible.  I thought you might like to read them, too, as a summary of our study together:

1) Practice continual forgiveness.  Forgiveness is the heart of the gospel, as Jesus forgave us even while we were still sinning against Him. It’s the heart of showing grace towards others as well.  As Paul said, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). By choosing to forgive others, as God has forgiven you, you’ll be well on your way towards having a grace-filled heart.

2) Fill your mind with the things of God.  Paul wrote to the Philippians: “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable―if anything is excellent or praiseworthy―think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).  By reading God’s Word daily, memorizing verses of scripture, and meditating on what you’re reading,you’ll find that God will begin to fill your mind with His thoughts, His ideas and His point of view on whatever you’re facing.  Keep filling your heart and mind with the things of God as much as possible, every day, several times throughout the day. This will pay off with huge dividends for you and for those around you, both in the short-term and in the long-term.

3) Keep asking yourself, “What Would Jesus Do?” (WWJD). This is a simple, but helpful reminder to try to think and act and speak as Jesus would.  It’s not just an intellectual exercise. It’s a practical way to accomplish God’s work here on the earth.  When Jesus went back to heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to live inside us so that we could be His body―His hands, His feet, His eyes and ears and voice to those around us.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).  As a believer in Christ, God wants to work through you as if Jesus Himself were doing the work―because He is!

4) Pray at all times.  As Paul said to the Ephesians: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18).  By praying throughout the day, seeking His will and listening for His voice, you’ll be able to stay focused on what God wants at all times. It’s like walking through the day with a friend―and even better―because Jesus is a friend who knows everything!  So as you walk or sit or talk or think, keep on praying and talking to God at all times.  It’ll be both a joy to you and a practical help to those around you.

5) “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).  This practical reminder from James will help you you to spiritually “count to 10” before responding to others.  While it doesn’t say you can’t get angry, or you can’t ever say anything with which others might disagree, it does say to wait to speak until after you have listened carefully―meaning “with care” and “fully.”  When you do this, your words will simply come out better, expressing more love and grace, even when speaking things that may be hard to hear.

While having a grace-filled heart can take a lifetime, the Bible is full of practical steps that you can take right now to have an impact right away.  That’s the beauty of God’s Word!  It starts working as soon as you apply it to your life, and it keeps on working to the end.  Put it into practice today, and may God fill you with His grace as you do.

As Paul said in his closing line to the Ephesians:

“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love” (Ephesians 6:24). 

Prayer: Father, thank You for this study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Thank You for the wisdom that You poured into him, and thank You for preserving that wisdom in this letter so that we can learn from it even 2,000 years later.  Continue to give us a desire to learn all we can from Your Word, so that we can fill our hearts with Your grace, and then share it with others.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Back to Table of Contents)

Thanks for reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Thanks for reading EPHESIANS: LESSONS IN GRACE, by Eric Elder, featuring twenty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most grace-filled books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Conclusion: Maintaining What You’ve Built
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Conclusion: Maintaining What You’ve Built

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 7-13 

I was working on a project one day and called a friend for help.  I told him I was reading the directions and he said, “The first thing to do is to throw away the directions!”  He offered to come and help me himself.

I appreciated his offer, but I soon found out he had only done this once before and the project was bigger than he thought.  I decided it was time to pull out the directions again!

Perhaps the best advice I can give you for how to maintain what you’ve worked so hard to build is this:  Read the directions!  Pull out a copy of God’s Word and do what it says.  The same directions that helped you to rebuild what’s broken in your life can help you maintain what you’ve built.

This is exactly what Nehemiah did when they finished rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.  Nehemiah assembled all the people in one place and had Ezra the scribe, along with the Levites,  read and explain God’s Word to the people.  Nehemiah says:

“They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” (Nehemiah 8:8).

The rest of the book of Nehemiah describes the effects God’s Word had on the people―the same effects it can have on you:

1)  It caused them to weep for what they had lost, due to their own sins and the sins of their fathers.  Nehemiah says,

“For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:9b).  

God knew how the wall fell into disrepair in the first place, and He knew how to put it together again.

2)  It caused them to praise God for what He had done.  Nehemiah knew they were heartbroken over what had been lost, but he lifted their spirits by telling them,

“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).  

God wanted them to know what had gone wrong, but He also wanted them to get up and move on.

3)  It caused them to recommit their future to God.  The people said,

“In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it” (Nehemiah 9:38).  

After rebuilding the wall, they wanted to rebuild their lives in a way that honored God.

4)  It caused them to dedicate the work to God.  The party they held to dedicate the wall was so exuberant that Nehemiah said,

“The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away” (Nehemiah 12:43b).  

They marked the occasion with an all-out celebration, dedicating the work of their hands into God’s hands.

Nehemiah did it, and so can you.  He set out to achieve what God had put on his heart, then he followed through with the hard work to get it done.  Even though the project seemed imposing, impractical and nearly impossible, God helped Nehemiah all along the way.  God provided Nehemiah with the wisdom, resources, strength and people to pull it off, just like God will do for you when He gives you the green light to do something for Him.

The same God who helped Nehemiah will help you, too.  God loves you.  He is for you.  And He wants you to succeed, not only for Your sake, but for His sake, and for the sake of all those who will be touched by the work of your hands in the future.

Just because our study of the book of Nehemiah is finished, it doesn’t mean that your study of God’s Word has to stop here.  Don’t throw out the directions just because the project is finished!  Keep reading and rereading God’s Word every day for the rest of your life!

I pray that as you read it, like Nehemiah, you’ll find that the joy of the Lord is your strength as well.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me Your Word to help me rebuild my life and maintain what I’ve rebuilt.  Lord, help me to keep reading and rereading Your Word, and in so doing, help me to find that Your joy is my strength.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 15: The Wall Is Complete!
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Lesson 15: The Wall Is Complete!

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:15-19

Just when Nehemiah’s storm seemed the darkest, a ray of light broke though.  In the face of death threats and lies, Nehemiah finally achieved what he had set out to do.

The description of it is tucked in the middle of the book of Nehemiah, in the middle of a chapter.  But those two simple lines must have spoken volumes to Nehemiah, just as they did to the surrounding nations:

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.  When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:15-16).

After all his prayers, tears and hard work, Nehemiah finally saw the fruit of his labor.

The completion of the wall didn’t mean that his life’s work was over: he continued to serve as the governor over that region for another twelve years.  And it didn’t mean that his battles were over: he would still have to deal with his opponents from time to time.

But the completion of the wall did mean that Nehemiah, with God’s help, was able to accomplish the monumental work that God had put on his heart.  He was able to do what others thought was impossible.  And he was able to take part in God’s plan to continue His mission in the world:  in this case, the restoration of the Israelites to the holy city of Jerusalem.

Now that the wall around the city was restored, Israelite families could begin moving back into Jerusalem, rebuilding their homes and rebuilding their lives. The rebuilding of the wall was an achievement in and of itself, but it was a means to an end for God’s overarching plan.

When God calls you to work on a project, I think it’s helpful to keep in mind both the project itself, and the future purpose for which God called you to it.

When God rebuilt the marriage of a couple whom I had been talking to and praying with for some time, I watched in amazement as God not only restored their marriage, but went on to redirect the husband into ministry, becoming a pastor and building up a new church in his city that reached out to his ethnic group.  He and the church then went on to begin a missions outreach back to their home country.

The restoration of their marriage was critical, and no small feat on its own.  But it served as a launching pad for what God had in mind for their lives once their marriage was restored.

As for me, as I write this, I’m still working on my renovation project at our Clover Ranch retreat.  It’s taken way more than fifty-two days, and some days I wonder if it will ever be done.  I was having that feeling this week again as I was putting a third coat of stain on some wood trim that will be used around the doorways and windows in the kitchen.  I was starting to wear out, thinking that I still have two coats of varnish to put on after this third coat of stain finally dried.

But when I looked at the wood again, it crossed my mind of just how long it had taken for the tree to grow that I was now staining.  I was thankful that I didn’t have to grow the tree from scratch as well!

In view of how long God has been at work trying to reach the people I’m hoping to reach through this retreat center, I realized that my little time spent on it is just a drop in the bucket.  It’s an important project, but it’s just one more step in the series of steps that God has been taking all along to see His work complete.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than fifty-two days to complete your project.  Rather, be encouraged by the story of Nehemiah and by what God can do once your project is finished.  Also, be encouraged by the Word of God, which says in the book of Galatians:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Before I close for today, I’d like to say a word to those of you who have worked your hardest at something and yet, for various reasons aren’t able to see the work finished.  In the words of one wife who was trying her best to restore her relationship with her husband, she said:

“…even if there is no happy ending for our marriage, I will not regret the stand I have taken.  I will know that I made the right decision and followed the only course possible for me.  I will have done all that I could.” 

God knows your heart, and He’ll honor your heart as you honor His.  Don’t give up.  Don’t give in.  Keep pressing on with what God has called you to do.  Whatever the outcome, you will reap a harvest at the proper time, if you do not give up.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Nehemiah’s example of what it means to keep pressing on, and thank You for helping him to accomplish that which you put on his heart to do.  Father, help me to do the same, for Your sake, and for the sake of those who will be affected by my work both now and in the generations to come.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 14: Don’t Fall For Lies
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Lesson 14: Don’t Fall For Lies

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time.

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time.

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:5-14

The Broadway musical, Wicked, tells the “untold” story of the witches of Oz.  Using some creative storytelling, the show’s writer convinces the audience that the Wicked Witch of the West was really just misunderstood, and that the supposedly “good” Wizard of Oz was really the one who was “wicked.”

By the end of the show, the audience is cheering for the green witch’s success, and hoping for the wizard’s defeat.  It’s a compelling story that shows the power of words to sway people’s thoughts, portraying that which is evil as good, and that which is good as evil.

Satan knows the power of words, too.  But when he speaks, he doesn’t just use “creative storytelling” to entertain an audience; he uses outright lies to destroy people’s lives.  Satan is so adept at lying that Jesus called him both “a liar” and the “father of lies.”  Jesus went on to say that lying is such an innate part of Satan’s character that, “when he lies, he speaks his native language” (John 8:44b).

I think it’s critical that you’re aware of this, because Satan wants to lie to you, too, especially when you’re doing the work of God.  Sometimes he’ll spread lies about you and your work, and sometimes he’ll lie to you directly to entice you to give up on your work and give in to his plan.

What can you do to defend yourself when Satan attacks you like this?  What can you do to combat the lies he throws at you?

You can do what Nehemiah did:  don’t fall for the lies; confront them with the truth.

When Nehemiah was nearly finished rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, his opponents brought on their fiercest attack.  They began to spread lies about Nehemiah to others, sending an “open” letter to Nehemiah that said:

“It is reported among the nations―and Geshem says it is true―that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together” (Nehemiah 6:6-7).

What could Nehemiah do?  He could have panicked, even if it wasn’t true, and tried to meet with them so word didn’t get back to the king.  But doing so would have sent him directly into the trap they were setting for him.  So Nehemiah sent a reply back that said:

“Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head” (Nehemiah 6:8).

Rather than being intimidated and giving up on the work, he prayed to the Lord,

“Now strengthen my hands” (Nehemiah 6:9b).

Nehemiah’s opponents even hired some prophets to speak lies directly to Nehemiah, telling him that people were coming to kill him, warning him to run and hide inside the temple walls, thus causing him to sin and discredit his name.  But Nehemiah saw through those lies, too, saying:

“Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” (Nehemiah 6:12-13).

Is Satan trying to lie to you today, whether in your head or by using someone else’s words?  If so, I want to encourage you:  don’t fall for the lies; confront them with the truth.  Confront them with the Truth of God as spoken in His Word and the Truth of God as spoken by His Holy Spirit to your heart.

There’s power in words, but there’s even more power in God’s Word.  Don’t let Satan call “wicked” that which God calls good.  Keep reminding yourself of God’s Word.  He loves you (John 3:16).  He’s for you, not against you (Romans 8:31).  He wants to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  Don’t fall for lies!  Confront them with the truth!  As you’ll find out in the next message, when the attack is fiercest, you may be closer to victory than you think!

Prayer: Father, help me to confront the lies of Satan with the Truth of Your Word.  Remind me of that Truth when I need it, and help me to speak that Truth, to myself and to others, so that I can see Your victory in the end.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 13: Don’t Give In
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Lesson 13: Don’t Give In

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-4

Some people will try to discourage you from reaching your dreams because they love you, they care about you, and they don’t want to see you get hurt in pursuing something that may never happen.

But others will try to discourage you because they’re afraid you might actually accomplish what you’ve set out to do.  They’re not interested in your future, your success, your well-being.  They’re interested in their own dreams and goals and will do whatever they can to stop you from achieving yours.

Nehemiah faced his share of opposition.  But one group opposed him throughout his project because they were afraid he’d actually accomplish what he had set out to do.  They tried to lure him away from his project, calling out to him:

“Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”  (Nehemiah 6:2).

But Nehemiah saw through their plan.  He knew they meant to harm him, not help him.  So he sent messengers to them with this reply:

“I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3).

Those who opposed Nehemiah didn’t just ask him to leave the work and meet with them once or twice.  Four times they tried to lure him away.  And four times, Nehemiah gave them the same answer: “Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

Sometimes it may seem impolite if we don’t respond to all of our critics.  We feel we need to explain ourselves to them, hear them out, and negotiate with them through our disagreements.  But sometimes we just need to follow Nehemiah’s example.  You don’t negotiate with a wolf.

Even Jesus warned his disciples:

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

When others want you to give up on your plans, give careful thought to their reasons.  Is their advice really for your benefit, or simply for their own?  While it’s important to listen to those who truly care about you and who care about what you feel God has called you to do, it can be just as important to ignore those who don’t care about you, who care mainly about their own plans instead.

I was hard at work renovating our Clover Ranch retreat center one day when a man came by and asked if I would be willing to sell the place.  He wasn’t a wolf, but he also wasn’t aware of what God had spoken to me about the project.  He said he’d had his eye on the property for some time and would really like to buy it if I’d like to sell it.  His offer was tempting.  I was starting to wear out from working on the project myself.  It would be much easier, I thought, to just give in and sell the place to him.

I talked to my Dad later that day and mentioned this man’s offer.  My Dad said, “Don’t sell it to him.  You’ve put in too much work into it to sell it off now.”  His words woke me up to the reality of the situation, and to the vision that God had put on my heart for the project in the first place.  My Dad was right.  The project had been a lot of work, but this wasn’t the time to give in.  This was the time to press on and finish what God had put on my heart to do.

There are times when you might be tempted to give in to the demands of others.  You may even see their offer as a welcome relief at the time, getting you out of more hard work.  But if God has put this project on your heart, don’t even go there.  Don’t give up.  Don’t give in.  Don’t go down and meet with those who would try to distract you from what God has called you to do, especially wolves who don’t have your best interest at heart.

Don’t give in.  Keep pressing on with all that God has put on your heart to do.

Prayer: Father, help me to not give in to the demands of others who don’t have my best interest at heart.  Help me to put Your priorities ahead of even my own, so that I can finish the work You’ve called me to do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 12: Help Those Who Are Helping You
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Lesson 12: Help Those Who Are Helping You

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 5

There was a creative ad campaign a few years ago called, “Don’t Almost Give.”  It’s purpose was to raise people’s awareness of the needs around them, encouraging people to help meet those needs.

One ad showed an elderly woman sitting alone in her chair, staring blankly ahead.  The narrator said,

“This is Sarah Watkins.  A lot of people almost helped her.  One almost cooked for her.  Another almost drove her to the doctor.  Still another almost stopped by to say ‘Hello.’  They almost helped.  They almost gave of themselves.  But almost giving is the same as not giving at all.”

The series of ads concluded with the words,

“Remember all those times you almost helped?  You meant to, but somehow you forgot.  You were too busy and it slipped your mind.  Well, it’s only human, this almost giving.  But if you almost gave, there’s a good chance everybody else almost gave, too.  Don’t almost give.  Give.” 

In the story of Nehemiah, there was a point where Nehemiah became aware of the needs of those who were helping him rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.  When Nehemiah recognized their need, he didn’t just “almost give.” He gave, in terms of both his personal resources and his influence over others, to help ease their burden.

Nehemiah found out that the Jews who were working with him were having to mortgage their fields, their vineyards and their homes just to get food to survive.  They were selling their sons and daughters into temporary slavery until they could pay off their debts.  Unfortunately, it was their fellow Jews who were buying these slaves and charging interest on the loans.

When Nehemiah heard these things, he was angry.  The Jewish law was clear that while there was nothing wrong with lending money to their brothers in need, the Jews were not to charge interest to their fellow Jews, which they were doing.  And by holding their property as collateral, those who needed the money could not continue making a living.  So Nehemiah gathered the nobles who were making these loans and told them:

“What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury [charging interest] stop! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them―the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil” (Nehemiah 5:9-11).

The people responded:  

“We will give it back.  And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say” (Nehemiah 5:12).

Nehemiah also agreed to ease their burden by not collecting the tax that was due to him to meet his own needs during the entire time that he served as their governor.  Instead, Nehemiah regularly had a hundred and fifty Jews and nobles eating around his table, as well as those from surrounding nations.  Nehemiah did this from his own resources, because the demands on his people were so heavy.

Because of the nature of my work, I often have to call on others to help me do what God has put on my heart to do.  Nehemiah’s actions are a helpful and necessary reminder to think about ways I can practically help those who are helping me, both for their own sake, and for the sake of the project that God has called us to do together.

If there are people helping you do what God has put on your heart to do, I’d like to encourage you to take some time in the coming days to listen to their hearts.  See if they have needs that you could help meet, whether directly or through your influence, then do what you can to meet those needs.

Don’t almost give.  Give.  Help those who are helping you so that together you can do all that God has called you to do.

Prayer: Father, show me the needs of those who are helping me so that I can help them as well.  Give me the resources and influence to help meet their needs in practical ways so that together we can accomplish all that You’ve put on our hearts to do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 11: Fight For What You Hold Dear
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Lesson 11: Fight For What You Hold Dear

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:14-23

One of the most powerful scenes in the Lord of the Rings trilogy comes in the final movie, when Aragorn implores his men not to give in to fear, but to fight for what they hold dear.  Riding his horse back and forth in front of his troops, Aragorn calls out:

“I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!”

If you find yourself overwhelmed by fears today, don’t let them take your heart!  If God has called you into this battle, don’t give in to your fears.  Fight for what you hold dear.  Fight for your faith.  Fight for your marriage.  Fight for your children, your business, your friends, your family, your neighbors, your ministry, your health, your career.

Fight the way Nehemiah encouraged his people to fight when they came under attack:  Nehemiah called out:

“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14).

Nehemiah didn’t discount that the battle was real.  He encouraged the people to remember the Lord who had called them into this battle in the first place.  But Nehemiah didn’t stop there.  He didn’t throw up his hands in despair and act as if the battle would go away on its own.  He called on his people to prepare for battle.

He called for half the men to keep on working, and he equipped the other half of the men with spears, shields, bows and armor to stand guard behind the workers.  He had those who carried materials do their work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other.  And he had those who worked with both their hands still wear a sword at their side.

He had a man stay with him at all times who could sound a trumpet.  He knew that the work was extensive and the workers were widely separated from each other, so he told them,

“Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:20).

Even though Nehemiah fully trusted that God would fight for them, he still armed his people so that God could fight through them.  If God  has called you into this battle, He’s certainly willing to fight for you.  But don’t be surprised if He chooses to fight through you, too!

Nehemiah and his people worked from the first light of dawn till the stars came out, and they stayed inside the city at night.  Neither he nor his brothers nor the guards with him even took off their clothes.  Each had their weapon, even when they went for water.

Nehemiah’s plan worked, and God’s plan kept moving forward.  The same wisdom that worked for Nehemiah can work for you, too.  Look to the Lord and follow His lead.

Work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other.  If the work is too extensive and spread out, sound the trumpet and call for help.  Work all day, but stay in at night.  Don’t let your guard down, even when you go for water.

A day may come when the courage of men fails…but it is not this day! This day we fight!  Don’t give in to fear.  Don’t give up on the work God has called you to do. And don’t turn your back on the battle, either.  At the risk of sounding repetitive, I want to repeat Nehemiah’s quote just one more time!

“Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Don’t give in to fear.  Fight for what you hold dear!

Prayer: Father, help me to fight the good fight of faith today.  Help me to look to You so that I can follow Your lead.  Show me what I can do today to fight for what I hold dear.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 10: Don’t Be Afraid
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Lesson 10: Don’t Be Afraid

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:7-14

Many times in the Bible, when things were getting tense, someone would often show up on the scene and say the words, “Don’t be afraid.”

What I’ve found interesting in reading through these stories is that the person speaking is not saying, “There’s nothing to fear.”  They’re saying, “Don’t be afraid,” even though the danger is very real.  Real threats are at hand.  Real attacks are on their way.  Real lives are at stake.  It’s not like telling your kids to go back to bed because there’s no such thing as monsters.  In these stories, the “monsters” are very real, just like they may be in your life right now, too.

So, if the danger is real, why would God send angels or others to tell people, “Don’t be afraid?”  The reason is that even though the danger is real, so is God.  As someone has said, “Don’t tell God how big your storm is.  Tell the storm how big your God is.”

When Nehemiah and his people faced life-threatening attacks in Nehemiah chapter 4, Nehemiah said:

“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…” (Nehemiah 4:14a).

If you look at the threats that were being made against Nehemiah and his people, you’ll see that Nehemiah wasn’t trying to discount the threats, or make light of them, or say that they didn’t exist, like fairy-tale monsters in a closet.  He wanted to remind them to remember the Lord, the one who had called them to this project in the first place.

As you read the story, you’ll see that the situation looked bleak―and it was bleak.  When those who opposed the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem heard that the repairs had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed,

“they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it” (Nehemiah 4:8-9).

“The people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.’  Also our enemies said, ‘Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.’  Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, ‘Wherever you turn, they will attack us’ ” (Nehemiah 4:10-12). 

It was in the midst of these very discouraging times that Nehemiah took bold action and spoke bold words:

“Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes’ ” (Nehemiah 4:13-14).

I’m not here today to tell you there’s nothing to fear.  Real attacks may come.  There is fighting throughout the world, and even Israel is under attack once again.  For you, it may be that your finances are crumbling.  Your health may be failing.  The adulteress who threatened your marriage may be back in the picture.  But as real as those threats may be, I want to tell you today that God is just as real.  I want to tell you today:  “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

When fatigue sets in, remind yourself that “this matters.”

As the Lord told Jehosephat:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). 

As the Lord told the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah:

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 43:5a). 

As the Lord told Daniel:

“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them” (Daniel 10:12). 

Don’t be afraid.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.  Keep putting your trust in Him.

Prayer: Father, thank You for promising to never leave me nor forsake me.  Help me to remember You today so that I don’t have to be afraid.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 9: Work With All Your Heart
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Lesson 9: Work With All Your Heart

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:6

I was praying about my goals for the new year when I felt God saying to me, “Finish the ones from last year.” Three projects popped into my head that I’ve been working on but haven’t finished yet.  I wrote those down as my “new” goals for this year― to finish the old ones!

It’s easy to look at what’s “undone” in your life, but it’s just as important to look at what has been done already, to see just how far God has brought you.

Nehemiah paused in the midst of his story about rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem to take note of what had been accomplished so far.  It’s just one sentence, but it’s worth noting what he says:

“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6). 

The people had worked with all their heart and now the wall was half-way finished.  I don’t know if you’re the type of person who sees half a glass of water as half-full or half-empty.  But today I want to encourage you to look at the projects you’re working on as half-full.  I also want to encourage you to dive into the rest of the project with all your heart.

In the movie, Fireproof, there’s a scene where the husband in the movie confesses that he was just going through the motions of trying to save his marriage, but that his heart wasn’t really in it.  Through prayer and a realization of just what this meant to him and his family, he was able to get his heart back in the game.  Rather than working out of duty, he began to work “with all his heart” like those in Nehemiah’s story did.  From that moment on, the husband’s work changed from a chore to a passion, and ended up saving his marriage in the end.

One way to help get your heart back in the game is to think about how far God has brought you already.

I like to keep a prayer journal and I often want to dive in by writing out all the questions that are on my mind, asking God for His help in walking me through each day.  But some time ago I decided to make it a habit to always begin my journal with the words, “Father, thank You…” and then write down several things for which I was truly thankful.  God will often bring to mind things He’s done for me, and the progress He’s helped me to make so far.  Once I see the glass as half-full, it prepares my heart to be ready to do whatever God says to fill the rest of the glass.

What has God brought you through this past year?  What has He helped you to accomplish?  What projects, goals, ambitions, dreams, desires were you able to start?  You may want to sit down for a few minutes today and just thank God for the progress you’ve made up to this point.  You may even want to write down some of the things He’s walked you through that you never thought you’d be able to do.  Once you see how far you’ve come, God can give you the heart to keep moving forward.  Then work at it with all your heart.  As the Apostle Paul told the Colossians:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Whether you’re moving forward with brand new goals, or moving forward to finish some old ones, remember that God really is for you in accomplishing what He’s put on your heart to do. He wants you to succeed at it.  He wants to walk with you through it.  He wants to help you day by day.  So take some time to remember what God has done for you so far, then “work with all your heart” to finish the good work He’s put on your heart to do.

Prayer: Father, thank You for all you’ve helped me to accomplish this far.  I pray that You would help me to “work with all my heart” to finish the work You’ve put on my heart.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 8: Pray Against Opposition
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Lesson 8: Pray Against Opposition

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:1-5

Has anyone ever laughed when you told them about your “good idea”?  It can be disheartening, but it doesn’t have to destroy your plans.  Just keep going back to the Lord in prayer, putting your hope and trust in Him.

I remember someone laughed at me when I told them I wanted to start a ministry on the Internet.  She said, “But not everyone has a connection to the Internet!”  I already had doubts of my own, and her comments didn’t help.

But in the same instant, God brought to mind the incredible potential He had shown me for the idea.  I had put a great deal of thought into how it could work, and I knew the idea had merit.  More importantly, I felt God had His hand in the idea. Somehow I found the courage to respond to her remark by saying, “You’re right, not everyone has a connection to the Internet yet.  But I’ll start with the 30 million that are connected and work my way up from there!”  (That was back in 1995 when the Internet was just taking off for public use.  As I write this, there are now over 1.5 billion people connected to the Internet―and counting!)

It’s hard to face opposition to your ideas especially when you have you’re just getting started.  But by going back to the Lord in prayer, He can help you through it.

People laughed at Nehemiah and his fellow Jews when they had the “good idea” to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, too.  Here’s what a couple of people said to them as they began rebuilding:

“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, ‘What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble―burned as they are?’  Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, ‘What they are building―if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!’ ” (Nehemiah 4:1-4).

Nehemiah and his fellow Jews may have had their own doubts, too, but they didn’t let the ridicule discourage them.  They simply went to the Lord in prayer.  They prayed:

“Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders” (Nehemiah 4:4-5).

It was a pretty strongly worded prayer, but the fact is they prayed.  They put their hope and trust in their God to vindicate them in their cause.  You may prefer to pray as Jesus prayed, asking God to bless those who don’t yet understand what you’re attempting to do, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). In any case, turn to the Lord in prayer.

God vindicated Nehemiah, and time after time, God has vindicated me.  Sometimes He even blesses those who have previously laughed at my ideas in ways they couldn’t have imagined.

When I used to work for a secular company, I promoted a project that would allow the employees to work from home.  This was before the idea of “telecommuting” had caught on, and very few people had such an opportunity.  One man in my company told me point blank it was dumb idea and would never work.  But I went forward with the project and ten of us moved home to test it out.  Within six months it was shown to be so successful the company allowed more people to apply to do the same.

This man who had laughed at my idea decided to apply.  He moved back to his own hometown, about four hours away from where he used to work, and he later told me what a blessing it was to him and his family, and how thankful he was that our project had proved him wrong.

The next time someone laughs at your “good idea,” just turn your heart back to God in prayer.

Prayer: Father, help me have the wisdom to pray to you when others laugh at what You’ve called me to do.  Bless them, Lord, even in spite of what they are saying.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 7: Start Rebuilding
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Lesson 7: Start Rebuilding

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 3:1-32

You know how to eat an elephant, right?  One bite at a time.  It’s the same with any big project that God has called you to do.  While it may seem overwhelming, there comes a time―after all the thinking and planning and praying―that you just have to take the plunge and start rebuilding.

Nehemiah and his friends were finally ready to take the plunge themselves in Nehemiah chapter 3, when they began to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem, section by section and gate by gate.

Nehemiah gives a detailed description of all they did, starting with the work of Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests:

“Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.  The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs…” (Nehemiah 3:1-4).

This detailed description of the work continues for the rest of the chapter.  They repaired the Jeshanah Gate, the Broad Wall, the Tower of the Ovens, the Valley Gate, the Dung Gate.  They worked on the Fountain Gate, the wall of the Pool of Siloam, and up to the House of the Heroes. They continued on to the Water Gate, the Horse Gate, the East Gate, the Inspection Gate, and the Sheep Gate.  As you read the report, you can tell this is one of the largest building projects undertaken in the Bible.  And many of the gates in Jerusalem today still have these same names!

You could say it all started back when God first put the idea into Nehemiah’s heart.  But the work of his hands was just as important.

After thinking and planning and praying about your own project, you may have some good ideas for what needs to be done.  But sometimes it’s taking that first step of actual work that’s the most important.  They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and today may be the day for you to take yours.

What specific action step can you take today to advance the project that God has put on your heart?  If you’ve been blocked at various points along the way, what other steps can you take in the mean time?  If you’re waiting on God, that’s fine.  But if He’s waiting on you, then you’d better get going!

When I first began my Internet ministry, I went to pick out a computer.  I had just quit my job and didn’t have a computer of my own, so I needed to get one to begin the work.  So I shopped and shopped, checking prices and features, trying to find just the right one.

At one point, I felt like God was saying:  “I’ve called you to walk alongside Me in this, but My stride is long, so you’d better get going if you want to keep up!”  I knew I’d better get moving!  Twelve years and several computers later, I still have more steps to take to keep up with all that God wants me to do.  I just need to keep moving forward, too, step by step.

Have you ever seen a round tuit?  If not, join the club.  They must be pretty rare, though, and they must be pretty valuable, too, because when people talk about the big dreams they want to accomplish in their lives, they often add, “But I’ve just never gotten a round tuit.”  :)

Maybe today’s your lucky day and you’ll finally get “a round tuit” for yourself!  Look around and see what specific steps you can take today toward fulfilling the dream God has put on your heart.  Then take it!

Prayer: Father, I want to keep up with You and Your plans for my life.  Help me to take whatever steps I need to take today to advance the project You’ve put on my heart.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 6: Gather Others To Help
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Lesson 6: Gather Others To Help

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 2:17-20

Do you ever feel like you’re all alone in the world?  That no one else cares about the things that God has put on your heart?  That if anything is ever going to get done, you’re going to have to do it yourself?

This is one of Satan’s best strategies to discourage you:  to make you feel isolated, alone, without help and without hope.  Let me assure you today, you’re not alone.  There’s always hope.  And God wants to help you more than you know.  The Bible says:

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Nehemiah knew the importance of spending time alone with God.  Up to this point, Nehemiah had only told a few trusted friends about his plans, even inspecting the walls of Jerusalem at night so he could see for himself what needed to be done.  But when it was time to begin the work, he gathered others to help:  the Jews, priests, nobles, officials and all the others who would be doing the work.  When the time was right, Nehemiah told the others of his plans, as recorded in Nehemiah chapter 2:

“Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.  Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.’  I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. 

“They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work” (Nehemiah 2:17-18).

There were still nay sayers who opposed the work:  Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab.  They mocked and ridiculed the Israelites, but Nehemiah simply replied:

“The God of heaven will give us success.  We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it” (Nehemiah 2:20).

Nehemiah was ready to move forward―no matter what―and God moved on the hearts of others to help him along the way. There may be nay sayers in your life who aren’t lifting a finger to help you right now.  But that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone.  Gather others to help:  pastors, spouses, friends, relatives, volunteers, paid workers, youth groups.  If you get a “No” from one or two or three or more, just keep asking others, or come back to the same ones at a later time.

I remember asking one man to share his testimony at an event we were putting on in town.  I really felt God had prompted me to ask him.  He said, “No, there’s no way I could do that.”  I went home and prayed again and God kept putting his name on my heart.  I went back to him the next week and asked him again.  Without batting an eye, he said, “Sure, I’d be glad to do it!”  His testimony turned out to be one of the highlights of the event.

I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve felt like I was all alone in what God had called me to do.  But the truth is, I also couldn’t count the number of times God has sent people to help me to do what He’s put on my heart to do.  It’s taken persistence, time and a continual realization that there’s no way I would be able to do it on my own.  That, plus knowing that God is for me―not against me―in the plans that He’s put on my heart, has helped me to continue to gather others to help along the way.

Don’t let Satan keep you down.  Don’t give in when he tries to magnify the negative and minimize the positive in your life.  Keep coming back to God and let Him strongly support you in what you’re doing.  Take courage from the story of Nehemiah and keep asking others for help.  I pray for you that like Nehemiah, “the God of heaven will give you success.”

Prayer: Father, help me know who to ask for help.  Help me have the wisdom and the discretion to ask those who can truly help with my situation.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 5: Examine The Situation
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Lesson 5: Examine The Situation

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 2:10-16

There will come a time when it’s important to enlist the help of others to do all that God has called you to do. But there’s also a time when you need to talk to God, and God alone, about your project, letting Him help you to examine the situation at hand so you can take the next steps together.

Nehemiah reached this point when he arrived in Jerusalem.  There were already a couple of people who had heard about what he wanted to do, and they weren’t happy about it.  Nehemiah says:

“When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites” (Nehemiah 2:10).

So Nehemiah took his next steps alone.  He had heard about the condition of the walls surrounding Jerusalem from others, but now was the time for him to see the site for himself.  He went at night, taking with him only a few trusted friends.  Here’s how Nehemiah describes it as chapter 2 continues:

“I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. 

“By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work” (Nehemiah 2:11-16).

As important as it would soon be for Nehemiah to tell others about his plans, it was also important that he see for himself the extent of the work involved beforehand.  So Nehemiah examined the situation, looking over his project from one end to the other and getting a good grasp of what needed to be done.

I remember hearing about a couple who had gotten a divorce.  God put it in my heart to pray that they would be reconciled.  But as I talked to others, I heard something totally different:  their family didn’t want them to be reconciled, their friends didn’t want them to be reconciled, and neither the husband nor wife wanted to be reconciled!

I had to go back to God and listen carefully to what He wanted me to do for them, which was to continue to pray for their reconciliation.  So I kept up with what God had put in my heart to do until one day, to the shock of their family and friends, and even to themselves, they were finally reconciled and remarried to each other once again.  (If you’d like to hear more of their story, you can watch it on The Ranch website at www.theranch.org.  In the Stories section, click on the title “It’s Never Too Late.”)

The time will come when it’s wise and critical to involve others.  But there are also times when you need to spend time with God, and God alone, as you honestly examine the situation.

It could be easy to get discouraged at this point, with so much to do and with others possibly opposing your efforts.  But I’d like to point you back to something Nehemiah said as he set out to examine the situation in front of him.  He wrote:

“I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:12b).

Nehemiah knew that rebuilding the walls wasn’t just a good idea, it was God’s idea―an idea that God had put in his heart.  Let God encourage you today as you carefully examine the situation at hand.  Let Him show you what needs to be done next.  Then trust Him to walk beside you as you move forward, every step of the way.

Prayer: Father, I come to You today to ask for Your help as I examine the situation in front of me.  Let me see the full scope of what needs to be done so I can know what to do next.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 4: Find Your Resources
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Lesson 4: Find Your Resources

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 2:1-10

Has God called you to do something that’s bigger than you can pull off yourself?  Then it’s time to call on Him to help you find the resources you need from somewhere else.

It’s hard to ask for help, though.  But the good news is that when you ask God first, He’ll show you who to ask next.  Listen to this conversation that Nehemiah had with King Artaxerxes, just after Nehemiah had been praying to God about rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem:

“In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, ‘Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.’ 

“I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, ‘May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’ 

“The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ 

“Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.’ 

“Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, ‘How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?’ It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. 

“I also said to him, ‘If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?’ And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me” (Nehemiah 2:1-9).

Even though Nehemiah was “very much afraid,” God opened a door for him with the king, and   Nehemiah walked through it.  I can’t guarantee that God will send a king to give you what you need, but it may surprise you who God does put in your path.

I was afraid to ask for help when we began renovating Clover Ranch, but I knew there was no way we could do it on our own.  So when I asked God for help, He began to put me in touch with people who had the resources I needed to move forward.  One person knew about plumbing and came along to help; another knew about electricity and offered a hand.

At one point, God brought someone with significant resources at their disposal, but I was too afraid to ask for their help.  I didn’t want to seem presumptuous.  I didn’t want to jeopardize our new friendship.  I didn’t want to hear another “No,” as I had often heard before.  But God reminded me that this was His project, not just mine.  So I asked―and God answered.  It turned out to be the most significant contribution to the project to date.

There’s a story told about Mother Teresa, who went walking door-to-door to raise money for her orphans.  At one door, when she asked for help, a man spat in her face.  She took her habit, wiped her face clean and said,

“Well, that’s for me. That’s for my humility. Now how about something for the children?”  

The man gave her some money.

If God has put a project on your heart, remember that He wants you to succeed even more than you do.  My prayer for you is that when God opens a door in front of you, you’ll have the courage you need to walk through it and find the resources you need.

Prayer: Father, help me to find the resources I need to accomplish what You’ve put on my heart.  When it just seems too overwhelming for me to do on my own, give me the boldness to ask for help.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 3: Acknowledge Your Position
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Lesson 3: Acknowledge Your Position

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1:11b 

If God has called you to rebuild something in your life, do you have any idea why He called you to do it?  Why He didn’t call on someone else?

Maybe you don’t feel particularly qualified to undertake the project God has put on your heart.  If so, I’d like to encourage you to take a closer look at a few of the reasons God may have called you, specifically.

Nehemiah may have thought that he was an unlikely candidate to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.  As far as we know, he wasn’t an architect, a bricklayer or a gate builder.  He was, as he tells us at the end of Nehemiah chapter 1, a cupbearer:

“I was cupbearer to the king” (Nehemiah 1:11b). 

As cupbearer to the king, Nehemiah was a servant in the king’s court, serving the king his wine.  Yet God called him to undertake one of the greatest rebuilding projects documented in the Bible.  He may have wondered why God called him specifically, too.  In fact, just a few verses later, when Nehemiah approached the king with his idea, Nehemiah says,

“I was very much afraid” (Nehemiah 2:2b).

He had a lot to fear as a servant to a king in a foreign land.  Yet there was something about Nehemiah’s position that made him a more likely candidate than even he may have realized.  As cupbearer, Nehemiah was in a highly trusted position.  The king literally had to trust his cupbearer with his life, because anyone might try to poison him at any time.  The cupbearer helped to keep the king alive.

As you can read throughout the rest of the book of Nehemiah, you’ll see that God used the trust that Nehemiah had earned to give him great favor with the king.  God moved on the king’s heart to provide Nehemiah with the resources he needed to rebuild the wall, to send him letters of safe passage back to Jerusalem, and to eventually appoint Nehemiah as the governor of the rebuilt city.

So even though Nehemiah felt “very much afraid,” God had very good reasons for choosing him!  Nehemiah acknowledged his position, both the fear he felt and willingness he showed to use whatever favor God had given him to advance this project.

Queen Esther faced the same dilemma when her people were about to be destroyed.  As wife of another king, she was in a unique position to ask him to overturn a wrongful law of the land.  Yet, she also knew that approaching the king with such a request could mean death for her if the king felt insulted by her approach.  Still, Esther’s cousin Mordecai reminded her of her unique position, saying,

“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b).

So Esther acknowledged her position, recognizing both the incredible impossibility and the incredible possibility of what God had laid before her.  In the end, she concluded that she would go to the king no matter what, saying,

“And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16b).

God used both her humility and her unique position to save the lives of her people.

Maybe you feel like there’s no way you can move forward with what God’s called you to do.  But know this:  if God has put a special project on your heart, know that He has a very good reason for choosing you!  And if you look closely at some of His reasons, they may just give you the confidence you need to move forward, too.

Maybe it’s simply because you have a stronger desire to see it succeed than anyone else.  Maybe it’s because the project involves people or places close to you, so you have a greater vested interest in the outcome than anyone else.  Maybe it’s because of the unique position God has given you in life, a position that gives you access to resources others may not have.

Whatever the reasons, acknowledge your position, recognizing both the incredible impossibility and the incredible possibility of what God has laid before you.  Then ask Him for help to move past your fears and move on with the task at hand.

Prayer: Father, help me to see why You have called me, specifically, to this task.  Give me insight so that I can get the courage I need to move past my fears.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 2: Get Up And Pray
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Lesson 2: Get Up And Pray

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1:4-11 

There’s a scene in the middle of the classic Christmas movie It’s A Wonderful Life that I hardly noticed in all the years that I’ve watched it―until I became a Christian, that is.  The message of the movie is so powerful, I missed the fact that the whole chain of events that takes place throughout the movie starts with a prayer.

When George Bailey, the character played by Jimmy Stewart, finds himself at a loss for what to do next, he prays:

“God…God…Dear Father in Heaven, I’m not a praying man, but if You’re up there and You can hear me, show me the way. I’m at the end of my rope.  Show me the way, God.” 

And God does.

There’s a time to weep over the losses in your life, but there’s also a time to move forward.  And the best way to move forward is to get up and pray.  Although you may feel like George Bailey at times, not even sure if God’s there and listening at all, I assure you He is.  God is there and God does care.  Knowing that can make all the difference in your prayers.

If you think of prayer as just a time to be alone, or a time to talk to yourself and try to work things out on your own, then you may not have much incentive to pray at all.  But if you truly believe that God is there, and that when you talk, He listens―and responds―then turning to prayer takes on a whole new meaning.

When the prophet Nehemiah suffered a great loss in his life, he sat down and wept, but the next thing he did was to get up and pray.  Listen to the words of Nehemiah, and his prayer, as recorded in Nehemiah chapter 1:

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said: 

‘O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer Your servant is praying before You day and night for Your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against You. We have acted very wickedly toward You. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws You gave Your servant Moses. 

‘Remember the instruction You gave Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’ 

‘They are Your servants and Your people, whom You redeemed by Your great strength and Your mighty hand. O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of this Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your name. Give Your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man’ ” (Nehemiah 1:4-11). 

Nehemiah knew that God was there, that God was listening, and that God knew best what to do next.  Nehemiah mourned, fasted and prayed.  He confessed his own sins, as well as those of his countrymen.  And he reminded himself―and God―of God’s promises, asking for God’s favor as he moved forward.

I don’t know whether you’re more like George Bailey, who didn’t think of himself as a praying man, or more like Nehemiah, who prayed regularly, or somewhere in between.  But I do know that whoever you are, you can pray to your Father in heaven and He will hear you―and He will respond.  That prayer could very well be the one that starts the whole chain of events of the rest of your life.

Come to God today and pray, even if it’s as simple as saying, “I’m at the end of my rope.  Show me the way, God.”  And He will.

Prayer: Father, I’m at the end of my rope and I don’t know what to do next.  I confess my sins to you.  Show me the way, Lord, and help me to know what to do next.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lesson 1: Sit Down And Weep
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Lesson 1: Sit Down And Weep

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1:1-4

Where do you start to rebuild something in your life that’s been broken?  Whether you’re trying to rebuild your marriage, family, city, nation, house, career, business, or whatever’s important to you that’s been lost, where can you possibly begin to undertake such an overwhelming project?

The best place to start is where Nehemiah started:  he sat down and wept.  When Nehemiah heard that the people in Jerusalem were in distress and the wall around their city was in ruins, the very first thing he did―before he prayed, before he ran back home, before he lifted even one stone to try to fix it―he sat down and wept.

Here’s how Nehemiah says it, as recorded in the Bible:

“In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 

“They said to me, ‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’ 

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept” (Nehemiah 1:1b-4a). 

When something has fallen apart in your life, the best first step you can take toward rebuilding it is to sit down and weep over what’s been lost, to let the depth of the destruction sink deep into your soul.  Without a full understanding of what’s been lost, it’s very hard to take the steps you need to take to reclaim it.  But once you grasp what’s happened, along with all of its implications, God can use that understanding to help you take the rest of the steps you need to reverse what’s been done.

I remember when I first heard about a couple who was going through adultery.  I was stunned, shocked and numbed by what I’d heard.  I could sit with them and listen, I could pray for them, but I felt helpless about what else I could really do.  It wasn’t until several days later that the full weight of what I had heard finally hit me, along with all of its implications.  When it did, I just sat down and wept, and wept and wept.

There was something about the tears that brought me to the place where I knew I had to do something to intervene in this situation.  I knew that no matter what it took, I needed to step in and do what I could to help repair what had been broken.  While people usually see tears as a sign of weakness, it was―ironically―the tears that gave me the strength to do what I needed to do.

What is it in your life that’s been broken that you desperately wish could be repaired?  What is it that you’ve lost that you wish you could restore, and how badly do you want to see it restored?

The best first step you could possibly take is to sit down and weep.

The rebuilding project I’m working on right now is the restoration of the farmhouse where I grew up.  Our ministry bought it a few years ago to turn it into a personal retreat for people who want to renew their relationship with God.  But the project didn’t start with tearing down walls, or sanding the floors, or even signing the papers at the bank.  It started one day when I visited the farm after it had fallen into disrepair.

I just knelt down on the grass and wept, praying that God would someday restore it, remembering these words from 2 Chronicles:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). 

It turned out to be the best first step I could take.  And, if you follow Nehemiah’s example, it could be the best first step you can take as well:  to simply sit down and weep.

Prayer: Father, help me to weep over what’s been lost, and give me Your strength to rebuild it again.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Nehemiah: Lessons In Rebuilding
by

Nehemiah: Lessons In Rebuilding

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

How To Repair, Restore And Rebuild What’s Broken In Your Life
by Eric Elder

Fifteen inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time.

INTRODUCTION

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:15-16 

Is there something broken in your life that you’d like to fix, but don’t know how?  A broken marriage, a failing business, a dying relationship?  Or is there something that’s fallen apart that you’d like to rebuild:  a house, a church, a ministry, a career?  If so, then you’ll love to learn some lessons in rebuilding from the biblical book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah took on a rebuilding project that seemed imposing, impractical and nearly impossible.  But when he told God what he wanted to do, and God gave him the green light to do it, God walked him through every step of the project.  With God’s help, Nehemiah and his people rebuilt a wall around the entire city of Jerusalem.

People told Nehemiah it was impossible; people tried to stop his work; people threatened his life.  But Nehemiah pressed on.  After many months of planning, praying, fighting and building, the work was finally complete.  When all the surrounding countries, including his enemies, saw what Nehemiah had done, they also knew how he got it done.  The book of Nehemiah says:

“…they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:16). 

If you’d like to learn how Nehemiah did it, and how God helped him along the way, I invite you to join me in learning about this great rebuilding project as recorded in the book of Nehemiah.  If you’ve got something on your heart that you want to rebuild, I’d like to encourage you in the weeks ahead to do it.

Here’s a simple truth:  if it matters to you, it matters to God.  God cares about the details of your life.  He cares about the things that you care about.  That doesn’t mean that He always wants you to head out and do whatever you want to do.  Our plans are not always His plans.

But if He doesn’t want you to do it, He’ll let you know, if you’re willing to listen.  God has redirected many people’s good plans so He can do something better through them, (see 2 Samuel 7, for instance, where King David wanted to build a house for God, but God wanted to build a house for David).

But if God does want you to go forward with your plans, He’d love to help you succeed.  He is undoubtedly for you.    He created you, He loves you and He has an incredible plan for you life.  You could say He has a “vested” interest in you, because He’s in-vested so many gifts and skills into your life because He has so many things He wants to do through you.

The hardest part of starting a project is often believing that God really wants you to do it;  that He really cares, and that He’ll really help you every step of the way.  Once you know that, you’re half-way there!  After that, it’s just a matter of figuring out the details of how to proceed.  I hope this study encourages you on both levels, giving you both the confidence to believe in the project that’s on your heart, and giving you the practical steps to do it.

Nehemiah followed a series of practical steps to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, steps which you can follow to rebuild the things in your own life that need rebuilding.  It involved much prayer, much planning, many people and fair amount of hard work.  But He didn’t have to do it alone:  God helped him all along the way.

By the end of this study, I hope that you’ll have the confidence and the tools that you need in order to reach the goal that Nehemiah reached as recorded in Nehemiah 6:15:

“So the wall was completed…” (Nehemiah 6:15).

Those words are stated with such simplicity that they could never do justice to the work involved, nor the accomplishment that was achieved.  But they are stated in a way that when I hear them, I’m inspired that what Nehemiah was able to accomplish, I just might be able to accomplish, too, with God’s help.  My prayer is that they inspire you as well.

As we go through this study, I’ll include a Scripture Reading to go with each devotional.  I hope you’ll read these passages along with what I write, because I can only touch on one or two thoughts in each devotional, but God has so much He wants to say to you!  By the end of the study, when you’re finished reading each of these Scripture Readings, you’ll have read through the entire book of Nehemiah.

I’ve also included a prayer that you can pray with me at the end of each devotional.  I hope this helps you to begin a quiet time of prayer with God in response to what you’ve read.  Here’s today’s prayer:

Prayer: Father, open my eyes to see what Nehemiah saw that helped him to accomplish what was on his heart, and help me learn how to do the same.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

by

Nehemiah: Lessons In Rebuilding

15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time
by Eric Elder

Read it online below!

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

INTRODUCTION (Back to Table of Contents)

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:15-16 

Is there something broken in your life that you’d like to fix, but don’t know how?  A broken marriage, a failing business, a dying relationship?  Or is there something that’s fallen apart that you’d like to rebuild:  a house, a church, a ministry, a career?  If so, then you’ll love to learn some lessons in rebuilding from the biblical book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah took on a rebuilding project that seemed imposing, impractical and nearly impossible.  But when he told God what he wanted to do, and God gave him the green light to do it, God walked him through every step of the project.  With God’s help, Nehemiah and his people rebuilt a wall around the entire city of Jerusalem.

People told Nehemiah it was impossible; people tried to stop his work; people threatened his life.  But Nehemiah pressed on.  After many months of planning, praying, fighting and building, the work was finally complete.  When all the surrounding countries, including his enemies, saw what Nehemiah had done, they also knew how he got it done.  The book of Nehemiah says:

“…they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:16). 

If you’d like to learn how Nehemiah did it, and how God helped him along the way, I invite you to join me in learning about this great rebuilding project as recorded in the book of Nehemiah.  If you’ve got something on your heart that you want to rebuild, I’d like to encourage you in the weeks ahead to do it.

Here’s a simple truth:  if it matters to you, it matters to God.  God cares about the details of your life.  He cares about the things that you care about.  That doesn’t mean that He always wants you to head out and do whatever you want to do.  Our plans are not always His plans.

But if He doesn’t want you to do it, He’ll let you know, if you’re willing to listen.  God has redirected many people’s good plans so He can do something better through them, (see 2 Samuel 7, for instance, where King David wanted to build a house for God, but God wanted to build a house for David).

But if God does want you to go forward with your plans, He’d love to help you succeed.  He is undoubtedly for you.    He created you, He loves you and He has an incredible plan for you life.  You could say He has a “vested” interest in you, because He’s in-vested so many gifts and skills into your life because He has so many things He wants to do through you.

The hardest part of starting a project is often believing that God really wants you to do it;  that He really cares, and that He’ll really help you every step of the way.  Once you know that, you’re half-way there!  After that, it’s just a matter of figuring out the details of how to proceed.  I hope this study encourages you on both levels, giving you both the confidence to believe in the project that’s on your heart, and giving you the practical steps to do it.

Nehemiah followed a series of practical steps to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, steps which you can follow to rebuild the things in your own life that need rebuilding.  It involved much prayer, much planning, many people and fair amount of hard work.  But He didn’t have to do it alone:  God helped him all along the way.

By the end of this study, I hope that you’ll have the confidence and the tools that you need in order to reach the goal that Nehemiah reached as recorded in Nehemiah 6:15:

“So the wall was completed…” (Nehemiah 6:15).

Those words are stated with such simplicity that they could never do justice to the work involved, nor the accomplishment that was achieved.  But they are stated in a way that when I hear them, I’m inspired that what Nehemiah was able to accomplish, I just might be able to accomplish, too, with God’s help.  My prayer is that they inspire you as well.

As we go through this study, I’ll include a Scripture Reading to go with each devotional.  I hope you’ll read these passages along with what I write, because I can only touch on one or two thoughts in each devotional, but God has so much He wants to say to you!  By the end of the study, when you’re finished reading each of these Scripture Readings, you’ll have read through the entire book of Nehemiah.

I’ve also included a prayer that you can pray with me at the end of each devotional.  I hope this helps you to begin a quiet time of prayer with God in response to what you’ve read.  Here’s today’s prayer:

Prayer: Father, open my eyes to see what Nehemiah saw that helped him to accomplish what was on his heart, and help me learn how to do the same.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LESSON 1: SIT DOWN AND WEEP (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1:1-4

Where do you start to rebuild something in your life that’s been broken?  Whether you’re trying to rebuild your marriage, family, city, nation, house, career, business, or whatever’s important to you that’s been lost, where can you possibly begin to undertake such an overwhelming project?

The best place to start is where Nehemiah started:  he sat down and wept.  When Nehemiah heard that the people in Jerusalem were in distress and the wall around their city was in ruins, the very first thing he did―before he prayed, before he ran back home, before he lifted even one stone to try to fix it―he sat down and wept.

Here’s how Nehemiah says it, as recorded in the Bible:

“In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 

“They said to me, ‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’ 

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept” (Nehemiah 1:1b-4a). 

When something has fallen apart in your life, the best first step you can take toward rebuilding it is to sit down and weep over what’s been lost, to let the depth of the destruction sink deep into your soul.  Without a full understanding of what’s been lost, it’s very hard to take the steps you need to take to reclaim it.  But once you grasp what’s happened, along with all of its implications, God can use that understanding to help you take the rest of the steps you need to reverse what’s been done.

I remember when I first heard about a couple who was going through adultery.  I was stunned, shocked and numbed by what I’d heard.  I could sit with them and listen, I could pray for them, but I felt helpless about what else I could really do.  It wasn’t until several days later that the full weight of what I had heard finally hit me, along with all of its implications.  When it did, I just sat down and wept, and wept and wept.

There was something about the tears that brought me to the place where I knew I had to do something to intervene in this situation.  I knew that no matter what it took, I needed to step in and do what I could to help repair what had been broken.  While people usually see tears as a sign of weakness, it was―ironically―the tears that gave me the strength to do what I needed to do.

What is it in your life that’s been broken that you desperately wish could be repaired?  What is it that you’ve lost that you wish you could restore, and how badly do you want to see it restored?

The best first step you could possibly take is to sit down and weep.

The rebuilding project I’m working on right now is the restoration of the farmhouse where I grew up.  Our ministry bought it a few years ago to turn it into a personal retreat for people who want to renew their relationship with God.  But the project didn’t start with tearing down walls, or sanding the floors, or even signing the papers at the bank.  It started one day when I visited the farm after it had fallen into disrepair.

I just knelt down on the grass and wept, praying that God would someday restore it, remembering these words from 2 Chronicles:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). 

It turned out to be the best first step I could take.  And, if you follow Nehemiah’s example, it could be the best first step you can take as well:  to simply sit down and weep.

Prayer: Father, help me to weep over what’s been lost, and give me Your strength to rebuild it again.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 2: GET UP AND PRAY (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1:4-11 

There’s a scene in the middle of the classic Christmas movie It’s A Wonderful Life that I hardly noticed in all the years that I’ve watched it―until I became a Christian, that is.  The message of the movie is so powerful, I missed the fact that the whole chain of events that takes place throughout the movie starts with a prayer.

When George Bailey, the character played by Jimmy Stewart, finds himself at a loss for what to do next, he prays:

“God…God…Dear Father in Heaven, I’m not a praying man, but if You’re up there and You can hear me, show me the way. I’m at the end of my rope.  Show me the way, God.” 

And God does.

There’s a time to weep over the losses in your life, but there’s also a time to move forward.  And the best way to move forward is to get up and pray.  Although you may feel like George Bailey at times, not even sure if God’s there and listening at all, I assure you He is.  God is there and God does care.  Knowing that can make all the difference in your prayers.

If you think of prayer as just a time to be alone, or a time to talk to yourself and try to work things out on your own, then you may not have much incentive to pray at all.  But if you truly believe that God is there, and that when you talk, He listens―and responds―then turning to prayer takes on a whole new meaning.

When the prophet Nehemiah suffered a great loss in his life, he sat down and wept, but the next thing he did was to get up and pray.  Listen to the words of Nehemiah, and his prayer, as recorded in Nehemiah chapter 1:

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said: 

‘O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer Your servant is praying before You day and night for Your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against You. We have acted very wickedly toward You. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws You gave Your servant Moses. 

‘Remember the instruction You gave Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’ 

‘They are Your servants and Your people, whom You redeemed by Your great strength and Your mighty hand. O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of this Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your name. Give Your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man’ ” (Nehemiah 1:4-11). 

Nehemiah knew that God was there, that God was listening, and that God knew best what to do next.  Nehemiah mourned, fasted and prayed.  He confessed his own sins, as well as those of his countrymen.  And he reminded himself―and God―of God’s promises, asking for God’s favor as he moved forward.

I don’t know whether you’re more like George Bailey, who didn’t think of himself as a praying man, or more like Nehemiah, who prayed regularly, or somewhere in between.  But I do know that whoever you are, you can pray to your Father in heaven and He will hear you―and He will respond.  That prayer could very well be the one that starts the whole chain of events of the rest of your life.

Come to God today and pray, even if it’s as simple as saying, “I’m at the end of my rope.  Show me the way, God.”  And He will.

Prayer: Father, I’m at the end of my rope and I don’t know what to do next.  I confess my sins to you.  Show me the way, Lord, and help me to know what to do next.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 3: ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR POSITION (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1:11b 

If God has called you to rebuild something in your life, do you have any idea why He called you to do it?  Why He didn’t call on someone else?

Maybe you don’t feel particularly qualified to undertake the project God has put on your heart.  If so, I’d like to encourage you to take a closer look at a few of the reasons God may have called you, specifically.

Nehemiah may have thought that he was an unlikely candidate to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.  As far as we know, he wasn’t an architect, a bricklayer or a gate builder.  He was, as he tells us at the end of Nehemiah chapter 1, a cupbearer:

“I was cupbearer to the king” (Nehemiah 1:11b). 

As cupbearer to the king, Nehemiah was a servant in the king’s court, serving the king his wine.  Yet God called him to undertake one of the greatest rebuilding projects documented in the Bible.  He may have wondered why God called him specifically, too.  In fact, just a few verses later, when Nehemiah approached the king with his idea, Nehemiah says,

“I was very much afraid” (Nehemiah 2:2b).

He had a lot to fear as a servant to a king in a foreign land.  Yet there was something about Nehemiah’s position that made him a more likely candidate than even he may have realized.  As cupbearer, Nehemiah was in a highly trusted position.  The king literally had to trust his cupbearer with his life, because anyone might try to poison him at any time.  The cupbearer helped to keep the king alive.

As you can read throughout the rest of the book of Nehemiah, you’ll see that God used the trust that Nehemiah had earned to give him great favor with the king.  God moved on the king’s heart to provide Nehemiah with the resources he needed to rebuild the wall, to send him letters of safe passage back to Jerusalem, and to eventually appoint Nehemiah as the governor of the rebuilt city.

So even though Nehemiah felt “very much afraid,” God had very good reasons for choosing him!  Nehemiah acknowledged his position, both the fear he felt and willingness he showed to use whatever favor God had given him to advance this project.

Queen Esther faced the same dilemma when her people were about to be destroyed.  As wife of another king, she was in a unique position to ask him to overturn a wrongful law of the land.  Yet, she also knew that approaching the king with such a request could mean death for her if the king felt insulted by her approach.  Still, Esther’s cousin Mordecai reminded her of her unique position, saying,

“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b).

So Esther acknowledged her position, recognizing both the incredible impossibility and the incredible possibility of what God had laid before her.  In the end, she concluded that she would go to the king no matter what, saying,

“And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16b).

God used both her humility and her unique position to save the lives of her people.

Maybe you feel like there’s no way you can move forward with what God’s called you to do.  But know this:  if God has put a special project on your heart, know that He has a very good reason for choosing you!  And if you look closely at some of His reasons, they may just give you the confidence you need to move forward, too.

Maybe it’s simply because you have a stronger desire to see it succeed than anyone else.  Maybe it’s because the project involves people or places close to you, so you have a greater vested interest in the outcome than anyone else.  Maybe it’s because of the unique position God has given you in life, a position that gives you access to resources others may not have.

Whatever the reasons, acknowledge your position, recognizing both the incredible impossibility and the incredible possibility of what God has laid before you.  Then ask Him for help to move past your fears and move on with the task at hand.

Prayer: Father, help me to see why You have called me, specifically, to this task.  Give me insight so that I can get the courage I need to move past my fears.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 4: FIND YOUR RESOURCES (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 2:1-10

Has God called you to do something that’s bigger than you can pull off yourself?  Then it’s time to call on Him to help you find the resources you need from somewhere else.

It’s hard to ask for help, though.  But the good news is that when you ask God first, He’ll show you who to ask next.  Listen to this conversation that Nehemiah had with King Artaxerxes, just after Nehemiah had been praying to God about rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem:

“In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, ‘Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.’ 

“I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, ‘May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’ 

“The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ 

“Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.’ 

“Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, ‘How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?’ It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. 

“I also said to him, ‘If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?’ And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me” (Nehemiah 2:1-9).

Even though Nehemiah was “very much afraid,” God opened a door for him with the king, and   Nehemiah walked through it.  I can’t guarantee that God will send a king to give you what you need, but it may surprise you who God does put in your path.

I was afraid to ask for help when we began renovating Clover Ranch, but I knew there was no way we could do it on our own.  So when I asked God for help, He began to put me in touch with people who had the resources I needed to move forward.  One person knew about plumbing and came along to help; another knew about electricity and offered a hand.

At one point, God brought someone with significant resources at their disposal, but I was too afraid to ask for their help.  I didn’t want to seem presumptuous.  I didn’t want to jeopardize our new friendship.  I didn’t want to hear another “No,” as I had often heard before.  But God reminded me that this was His project, not just mine.  So I asked―and God answered.  It turned out to be the most significant contribution to the project to date.

There’s a story told about Mother Teresa, who went walking door-to-door to raise money for her orphans.  At one door, when she asked for help, a man spat in her face.  She took her habit, wiped her face clean and said,

“Well, that’s for me. That’s for my humility. Now how about something for the children?”  

The man gave her some money.

If God has put a project on your heart, remember that He wants you to succeed even more than you do.  My prayer for you is that when God opens a door in front of you, you’ll have the courage you need to walk through it and find the resources you need.

Prayer: Father, help me to find the resources I need to accomplish what You’ve put on my heart.  When it just seems too overwhelming for me to do on my own, give me the boldness to ask for help.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 5: EXAMINE THE SITUATION (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 2:10-16

There will come a time when it’s important to enlist the help of others to do all that God has called you to do. But there’s also a time when you need to talk to God, and God alone, about your project, letting Him help you to examine the situation at hand so you can take the next steps together.

Nehemiah reached this point when he arrived in Jerusalem.  There were already a couple of people who had heard about what he wanted to do, and they weren’t happy about it.  Nehemiah says:

“When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites” (Nehemiah 2:10).

So Nehemiah took his next steps alone.  He had heard about the condition of the walls surrounding Jerusalem from others, but now was the time for him to see the site for himself.  He went at night, taking with him only a few trusted friends.  Here’s how Nehemiah describes it as chapter 2 continues:

“I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. 

“By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work” (Nehemiah 2:11-16).

As important as it would soon be for Nehemiah to tell others about his plans, it was also important that he see for himself the extent of the work involved beforehand.  So Nehemiah examined the situation, looking over his project from one end to the other and getting a good grasp of what needed to be done.

I remember hearing about a couple who had gotten a divorce.  God put it in my heart to pray that they would be reconciled.  But as I talked to others, I heard something totally different:  their family didn’t want them to be reconciled, their friends didn’t want them to be reconciled, and neither the husband nor wife wanted to be reconciled!

I had to go back to God and listen carefully to what He wanted me to do for them, which was to continue to pray for their reconciliation.  So I kept up with what God had put in my heart to do until one day, to the shock of their family and friends, and even to themselves, they were finally reconciled and remarried to each other once again.  (If you’d like to hear more of their story, you can watch it on The Ranch website at www.theranch.org.  In the Stories section, click on the title “It’s Never Too Late.”)

The time will come when it’s wise and critical to involve others.  But there are also times when you need to spend time with God, and God alone, as you honestly examine the situation.

It could be easy to get discouraged at this point, with so much to do and with others possibly opposing your efforts.  But I’d like to point you back to something Nehemiah said as he set out to examine the situation in front of him.  He wrote:

“I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:12b).

Nehemiah knew that rebuilding the walls wasn’t just a good idea, it was God’s idea―an idea that God had put in his heart.  Let God encourage you today as you carefully examine the situation at hand.  Let Him show you what needs to be done next.  Then trust Him to walk beside you as you move forward, every step of the way.

Prayer: Father, I come to You today to ask for Your help as I examine the situation in front of me.  Let me see the full scope of what needs to be done so I can know what to do next.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 6: GATHER OTHERS TO HELP (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 2:17-20

Do you ever feel like you’re all alone in the world?  That no one else cares about the things that God has put on your heart?  That if anything is ever going to get done, you’re going to have to do it yourself?

This is one of Satan’s best strategies to discourage you:  to make you feel isolated, alone, without help and without hope.  Let me assure you today, you’re not alone.  There’s always hope.  And God wants to help you more than you know.  The Bible says:

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Nehemiah knew the importance of spending time alone with God.  Up to this point, Nehemiah had only told a few trusted friends about his plans, even inspecting the walls of Jerusalem at night so he could see for himself what needed to be done.  But when it was time to begin the work, he gathered others to help:  the Jews, priests, nobles, officials and all the others who would be doing the work.  When the time was right, Nehemiah told the others of his plans, as recorded in Nehemiah chapter 2:

“Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.  Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.’  I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. 

“They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work” (Nehemiah 2:17-18).

There were still nay sayers who opposed the work:  Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab.  They mocked and ridiculed the Israelites, but Nehemiah simply replied:

“The God of heaven will give us success.  We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it” (Nehemiah 2:20).

Nehemiah was ready to move forward―no matter what―and God moved on the hearts of others to help him along the way. There may be nay sayers in your life who aren’t lifting a finger to help you right now.  But that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone.  Gather others to help:  pastors, spouses, friends, relatives, volunteers, paid workers, youth groups.  If you get a “No” from one or two or three or more, just keep asking others, or come back to the same ones at a later time.

I remember asking one man to share his testimony at an event we were putting on in town.  I really felt God had prompted me to ask him.  He said, “No, there’s no way I could do that.”  I went home and prayed again and God kept putting his name on my heart.  I went back to him the next week and asked him again.  Without batting an eye, he said, “Sure, I’d be glad to do it!”  His testimony turned out to be one of the highlights of the event.

I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve felt like I was all alone in what God had called me to do.  But the truth is, I also couldn’t count the number of times God has sent people to help me to do what He’s put on my heart to do.  It’s taken persistence, time and a continual realization that there’s no way I would be able to do it on my own.  That, plus knowing that God is for me―not against me―in the plans that He’s put on my heart, has helped me to continue to gather others to help along the way.

Don’t let Satan keep you down.  Don’t give in when he tries to magnify the negative and minimize the positive in your life.  Keep coming back to God and let Him strongly support you in what you’re doing.  Take courage from the story of Nehemiah and keep asking others for help.  I pray for you that like Nehemiah, “the God of heaven will give you success.”

Prayer: Father, help me know who to ask for help.  Help me have the wisdom and the discretion to ask those who can truly help with my situation.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 7: START REBUILDING (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 3:1-32

You know how to eat an elephant, right?  One bite at a time.  It’s the same with any big project that God has called you to do.  While it may seem overwhelming, there comes a time―after all the thinking and planning and praying―that you just have to take the plunge and start rebuilding.

Nehemiah and his friends were finally ready to take the plunge themselves in Nehemiah chapter 3, when they began to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem, section by section and gate by gate.

Nehemiah gives a detailed description of all they did, starting with the work of Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests:

“Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.  The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs…” (Nehemiah 3:1-4).

This detailed description of the work continues for the rest of the chapter.  They repaired the Jeshanah Gate, the Broad Wall, the Tower of the Ovens, the Valley Gate, the Dung Gate.  They worked on the Fountain Gate, the wall of the Pool of Siloam, and up to the House of the Heroes. They continued on to the Water Gate, the Horse Gate, the East Gate, the Inspection Gate, and the Sheep Gate.  As you read the report, you can tell this is one of the largest building projects undertaken in the Bible.  And many of the gates in Jerusalem today still have these same names!

You could say it all started back when God first put the idea into Nehemiah’s heart.  But the work of his hands was just as important.

After thinking and planning and praying about your own project, you may have some good ideas for what needs to be done.  But sometimes it’s taking that first step of actual work that’s the most important.  They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and today may be the day for you to take yours.

What specific action step can you take today to advance the project that God has put on your heart?  If you’ve been blocked at various points along the way, what other steps can you take in the mean time?  If you’re waiting on God, that’s fine.  But if He’s waiting on you, then you’d better get going!

When I first began my Internet ministry, I went to pick out a computer.  I had just quit my job and didn’t have a computer of my own, so I needed to get one to begin the work.  So I shopped and shopped, checking prices and features, trying to find just the right one.

At one point, I felt like God was saying:  “I’ve called you to walk alongside Me in this, but My stride is long, so you’d better get going if you want to keep up!”  I knew I’d better get moving!  Twelve years and several computers later, I still have more steps to take to keep up with all that God wants me to do.  I just need to keep moving forward, too, step by step.

Have you ever seen a round tuit?  If not, join the club.  They must be pretty rare, though, and they must be pretty valuable, too, because when people talk about the big dreams they want to accomplish in their lives, they often add, “But I’ve just never gotten a round tuit.”  :)

Maybe today’s your lucky day and you’ll finally get “a round tuit” for yourself!  Look around and see what specific steps you can take today toward fulfilling the dream God has put on your heart.  Then take it!

Prayer: Father, I want to keep up with You and Your plans for my life.  Help me to take whatever steps I need to take today to advance the project You’ve put on my heart.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 8: PRAY AGAINST OPPOSITION (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:1-5

Has anyone ever laughed when you told them about your “good idea”?  It can be disheartening, but it doesn’t have to destroy your plans.  Just keep going back to the Lord in prayer, putting your hope and trust in Him.

I remember someone laughed at me when I told them I wanted to start a ministry on the Internet.  She said, “But not everyone has a connection to the Internet!”  I already had doubts of my own, and her comments didn’t help.

But in the same instant, God brought to mind the incredible potential He had shown me for the idea.  I had put a great deal of thought into how it could work, and I knew the idea had merit.  More importantly, I felt God had His hand in the idea. Somehow I found the courage to respond to her remark by saying, “You’re right, not everyone has a connection to the Internet yet.  But I’ll start with the 30 million that are connected and work my way up from there!”  (That was back in 1995 when the Internet was just taking off for public use.  As I write this, there are now over 1.5 billion people connected to the Internet―and counting!)

It’s hard to face opposition to your ideas especially when you have you’re just getting started.  But by going back to the Lord in prayer, He can help you through it.

People laughed at Nehemiah and his fellow Jews when they had the “good idea” to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, too.  Here’s what a couple of people said to them as they began rebuilding:

“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, ‘What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble―burned as they are?’  Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, ‘What they are building―if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!’ ” (Nehemiah 4:1-4).

Nehemiah and his fellow Jews may have had their own doubts, too, but they didn’t let the ridicule discourage them.  They simply went to the Lord in prayer.  They prayed:

“Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders” (Nehemiah 4:4-5).

It was a pretty strongly worded prayer, but the fact is they prayed.  They put their hope and trust in their God to vindicate them in their cause.  You may prefer to pray as Jesus prayed, asking God to bless those who don’t yet understand what you’re attempting to do, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). In any case, turn to the Lord in prayer.

God vindicated Nehemiah, and time after time, God has vindicated me.  Sometimes He even blesses those who have previously laughed at my ideas in ways they couldn’t have imagined.

When I used to work for a secular company, I promoted a project that would allow the employees to work from home.  This was before the idea of “telecommuting” had caught on, and very few people had such an opportunity.  One man in my company told me point blank it was dumb idea and would never work.  But I went forward with the project and ten of us moved home to test it out.  Within six months it was shown to be so successful the company allowed more people to apply to do the same.

This man who had laughed at my idea decided to apply.  He moved back to his own hometown, about four hours away from where he used to work, and he later told me what a blessing it was to him and his family, and how thankful he was that our project had proved him wrong.

The next time someone laughs at your “good idea,” just turn your heart back to God in prayer.

Prayer: Father, help me have the wisdom to pray to you when others laugh at what You’ve called me to do.  Bless them, Lord, even in spite of what they are saying.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 9: WORK WITH ALL YOUR HEART (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:6

I was praying about my goals for the new year when I felt God saying to me, “Finish the ones from last year.” Three projects popped into my head that I’ve been working on but haven’t finished yet.  I wrote those down as my “new” goals for this year― to finish the old ones!

It’s easy to look at what’s “undone” in your life, but it’s just as important to look at what has been done already, to see just how far God has brought you.

Nehemiah paused in the midst of his story about rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem to take note of what had been accomplished so far.  It’s just one sentence, but it’s worth noting what he says:

“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6). 

The people had worked with all their heart and now the wall was half-way finished.  I don’t know if you’re the type of person who sees half a glass of water as half-full or half-empty.  But today I want to encourage you to look at the projects you’re working on as half-full.  I also want to encourage you to dive into the rest of the project with all your heart.

In the movie, Fireproof, there’s a scene where the husband in the movie confesses that he was just going through the motions of trying to save his marriage, but that his heart wasn’t really in it.  Through prayer and a realization of just what this meant to him and his family, he was able to get his heart back in the game.  Rather than working out of duty, he began to work “with all his heart” like those in Nehemiah’s story did.  From that moment on, the husband’s work changed from a chore to a passion, and ended up saving his marriage in the end.

One way to help get your heart back in the game is to think about how far God has brought you already.

I like to keep a prayer journal and I often want to dive in by writing out all the questions that are on my mind, asking God for His help in walking me through each day.  But some time ago I decided to make it a habit to always begin my journal with the words, “Father, thank You…” and then write down several things for which I was truly thankful.  God will often bring to mind things He’s done for me, and the progress He’s helped me to make so far.  Once I see the glass as half-full, it prepares my heart to be ready to do whatever God says to fill the rest of the glass.

What has God brought you through this past year?  What has He helped you to accomplish?  What projects, goals, ambitions, dreams, desires were you able to start?  You may want to sit down for a few minutes today and just thank God for the progress you’ve made up to this point.  You may even want to write down some of the things He’s walked you through that you never thought you’d be able to do.  Once you see how far you’ve come, God can give you the heart to keep moving forward.  Then work at it with all your heart.  As the Apostle Paul told the Colossians:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Whether you’re moving forward with brand new goals, or moving forward to finish some old ones, remember that God really is for you in accomplishing what He’s put on your heart to do. He wants you to succeed at it.  He wants to walk with you through it.  He wants to help you day by day.  So take some time to remember what God has done for you so far, then “work with all your heart” to finish the good work He’s put on your heart to do.

Prayer: Father, thank You for all you’ve helped me to accomplish this far.  I pray that You would help me to “work with all my heart” to finish the work You’ve put on my heart.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 10: DON’T BE AFRAID (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:7-14

Many times in the Bible, when things were getting tense, someone would often show up on the scene and say the words, “Don’t be afraid.”

What I’ve found interesting in reading through these stories is that the person speaking is not saying, “There’s nothing to fear.”  They’re saying, “Don’t be afraid,” even though the danger is very real.  Real threats are at hand.  Real attacks are on their way.  Real lives are at stake.  It’s not like telling your kids to go back to bed because there’s no such thing as monsters.  In these stories, the “monsters” are very real, just like they may be in your life right now, too.

So, if the danger is real, why would God send angels or others to tell people, “Don’t be afraid?”  The reason is that even though the danger is real, so is God.  As someone has said, “Don’t tell God how big your storm is.  Tell the storm how big your God is.”

When Nehemiah and his people faced life-threatening attacks in Nehemiah chapter 4, Nehemiah said:

“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…” (Nehemiah 4:14a).

If you look at the threats that were being made against Nehemiah and his people, you’ll see that Nehemiah wasn’t trying to discount the threats, or make light of them, or say that they didn’t exist, like fairy-tale monsters in a closet.  He wanted to remind them to remember the Lord, the one who had called them to this project in the first place.

As you read the story, you’ll see that the situation looked bleak―and it was bleak.  When those who opposed the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem heard that the repairs had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed,

“they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it” (Nehemiah 4:8-9).

“The people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.’  Also our enemies said, ‘Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.’  Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, ‘Wherever you turn, they will attack us’ ” (Nehemiah 4:10-12). 

It was in the midst of these very discouraging times that Nehemiah took bold action and spoke bold words:

“Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes’ ” (Nehemiah 4:13-14).

I’m not here today to tell you there’s nothing to fear.  Real attacks may come.  There is fighting throughout the world, and even Israel is under attack once again.  For you, it may be that your finances are crumbling.  Your health may be failing.  The adulteress who threatened your marriage may be back in the picture.  But as real as those threats may be, I want to tell you today that God is just as real.  I want to tell you today:  “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

When fatigue sets in, remind yourself that “this matters.”

As the Lord told Jehosephat:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). 

As the Lord told the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah:

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 43:5a). 

As the Lord told Daniel:

“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them” (Daniel 10:12). 

Don’t be afraid.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.  Keep putting your trust in Him.

Prayer: Father, thank You for promising to never leave me nor forsake me.  Help me to remember You today so that I don’t have to be afraid.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 11: FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU HOLD DEAR (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:14-23

One of the most powerful scenes in the Lord of the Rings trilogy comes in the final movie, when Aragorn implores his men not to give in to fear, but to fight for what they hold dear.  Riding his horse back and forth in front of his troops, Aragorn calls out:

“I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!”

If you find yourself overwhelmed by fears today, don’t let them take your heart!  If God has called you into this battle, don’t give in to your fears.  Fight for what you hold dear.  Fight for your faith.  Fight for your marriage.  Fight for your children, your business, your friends, your family, your neighbors, your ministry, your health, your career.

Fight the way Nehemiah encouraged his people to fight when they came under attack:  Nehemiah called out:

“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14).

Nehemiah didn’t discount that the battle was real.  He encouraged the people to remember the Lord who had called them into this battle in the first place.  But Nehemiah didn’t stop there.  He didn’t throw up his hands in despair and act as if the battle would go away on its own.  He called on his people to prepare for battle.

He called for half the men to keep on working, and he equipped the other half of the men with spears, shields, bows and armor to stand guard behind the workers.  He had those who carried materials do their work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other.  And he had those who worked with both their hands still wear a sword at their side.

He had a man stay with him at all times who could sound a trumpet.  He knew that the work was extensive and the workers were widely separated from each other, so he told them,

“Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:20).

Even though Nehemiah fully trusted that God would fight for them, he still armed his people so that God could fight through them.  If God  has called you into this battle, He’s certainly willing to fight for you.  But don’t be surprised if He chooses to fight through you, too!

Nehemiah and his people worked from the first light of dawn till the stars came out, and they stayed inside the city at night.  Neither he nor his brothers nor the guards with him even took off their clothes.  Each had their weapon, even when they went for water.

Nehemiah’s plan worked, and God’s plan kept moving forward.  The same wisdom that worked for Nehemiah can work for you, too.  Look to the Lord and follow His lead.

Work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other.  If the work is too extensive and spread out, sound the trumpet and call for help.  Work all day, but stay in at night.  Don’t let your guard down, even when you go for water.

A day may come when the courage of men fails…but it is not this day! This day we fight!  Don’t give in to fear.  Don’t give up on the work God has called you to do. And don’t turn your back on the battle, either.  At the risk of sounding repetitive, I want to repeat Nehemiah’s quote just one more time!

“Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Don’t give in to fear.  Fight for what you hold dear!

Prayer: Father, help me to fight the good fight of faith today.  Help me to look to You so that I can follow Your lead.  Show me what I can do today to fight for what I hold dear.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 12: HELP THOSE WHO ARE HELPING YOU (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 5

There was a creative ad campaign a few years ago called, “Don’t Almost Give.”  It’s purpose was to raise people’s awareness of the needs around them, encouraging people to help meet those needs.

One ad showed an elderly woman sitting alone in her chair, staring blankly ahead.  The narrator said,

“This is Sarah Watkins.  A lot of people almost helped her.  One almost cooked for her.  Another almost drove her to the doctor.  Still another almost stopped by to say ‘Hello.’  They almost helped.  They almost gave of themselves.  But almost giving is the same as not giving at all.”

The series of ads concluded with the words,

“Remember all those times you almost helped?  You meant to, but somehow you forgot.  You were too busy and it slipped your mind.  Well, it’s only human, this almost giving.  But if you almost gave, there’s a good chance everybody else almost gave, too.  Don’t almost give.  Give.” 

In the story of Nehemiah, there was a point where Nehemiah became aware of the needs of those who were helping him rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.  When Nehemiah recognized their need, he didn’t just “almost give.” He gave, in terms of both his personal resources and his influence over others, to help ease their burden.

Nehemiah found out that the Jews who were working with him were having to mortgage their fields, their vineyards and their homes just to get food to survive.  They were selling their sons and daughters into temporary slavery until they could pay off their debts.  Unfortunately, it was their fellow Jews who were buying these slaves and charging interest on the loans.

When Nehemiah heard these things, he was angry.  The Jewish law was clear that while there was nothing wrong with lending money to their brothers in need, the Jews were not to charge interest to their fellow Jews, which they were doing.  And by holding their property as collateral, those who needed the money could not continue making a living.  So Nehemiah gathered the nobles who were making these loans and told them:

“What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury [charging interest] stop! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them―the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil” (Nehemiah 5:9-11).

The people responded:  

“We will give it back.  And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say” (Nehemiah 5:12).

Nehemiah also agreed to ease their burden by not collecting the tax that was due to him to meet his own needs during the entire time that he served as their governor.  Instead, Nehemiah regularly had a hundred and fifty Jews and nobles eating around his table, as well as those from surrounding nations.  Nehemiah did this from his own resources, because the demands on his people were so heavy.

Because of the nature of my work, I often have to call on others to help me do what God has put on my heart to do.  Nehemiah’s actions are a helpful and necessary reminder to think about ways I can practically help those who are helping me, both for their own sake, and for the sake of the project that God has called us to do together.

If there are people helping you do what God has put on your heart to do, I’d like to encourage you to take some time in the coming days to listen to their hearts.  See if they have needs that you could help meet, whether directly or through your influence, then do what you can to meet those needs.

Don’t almost give.  Give.  Help those who are helping you so that together you can do all that God has called you to do.

Prayer: Father, show me the needs of those who are helping me so that I can help them as well.  Give me the resources and influence to help meet their needs in practical ways so that together we can accomplish all that You’ve put on our hearts to do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 13: DON’T GIVE IN (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-4

Some people will try to discourage you from reaching your dreams because they love you, they care about you, and they don’t want to see you get hurt in pursuing something that may never happen.

But others will try to discourage you because they’re afraid you might actually accomplish what you’ve set out to do.  They’re not interested in your future, your success, your well-being.  They’re interested in their own dreams and goals and will do whatever they can to stop you from achieving yours.

Nehemiah faced his share of opposition.  But one group opposed him throughout his project because they were afraid he’d actually accomplish what he had set out to do.  They tried to lure him away from his project, calling out to him:

“Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”  (Nehemiah 6:2).

But Nehemiah saw through their plan.  He knew they meant to harm him, not help him.  So he sent messengers to them with this reply:

“I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3).

Those who opposed Nehemiah didn’t just ask him to leave the work and meet with them once or twice.  Four times they tried to lure him away.  And four times, Nehemiah gave them the same answer: “Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

Sometimes it may seem impolite if we don’t respond to all of our critics.  We feel we need to explain ourselves to them, hear them out, and negotiate with them through our disagreements.  But sometimes we just need to follow Nehemiah’s example.  You don’t negotiate with a wolf.

Even Jesus warned his disciples:

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

When others want you to give up on your plans, give careful thought to their reasons.  Is their advice really for your benefit, or simply for their own?  While it’s important to listen to those who truly care about you and who care about what you feel God has called you to do, it can be just as important to ignore those who don’t care about you, who care mainly about their own plans instead.

I was hard at work renovating our Clover Ranch retreat center one day when a man came by and asked if I would be willing to sell the place.  He wasn’t a wolf, but he also wasn’t aware of what God had spoken to me about the project.  He said he’d had his eye on the property for some time and would really like to buy it if I’d like to sell it.  His offer was tempting.  I was starting to wear out from working on the project myself.  It would be much easier, I thought, to just give in and sell the place to him.

I talked to my Dad later that day and mentioned this man’s offer.  My Dad said, “Don’t sell it to him.  You’ve put in too much work into it to sell it off now.”  His words woke me up to the reality of the situation, and to the vision that God had put on my heart for the project in the first place.  My Dad was right.  The project had been a lot of work, but this wasn’t the time to give in.  This was the time to press on and finish what God had put on my heart to do.

There are times when you might be tempted to give in to the demands of others.  You may even see their offer as a welcome relief at the time, getting you out of more hard work.  But if God has put this project on your heart, don’t even go there.  Don’t give up.  Don’t give in.  Don’t go down and meet with those who would try to distract you from what God has called you to do, especially wolves who don’t have your best interest at heart.

Don’t give in.  Keep pressing on with all that God has put on your heart to do.

Prayer: Father, help me to not give in to the demands of others who don’t have my best interest at heart.  Help me to put Your priorities ahead of even my own, so that I can finish the work You’ve called me to do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 14: DON’T FALL FOR LIES (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time.

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time.

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:5-14

The Broadway musical, Wicked, tells the “untold” story of the witches of Oz.  Using some creative storytelling, the show’s writer convinces the audience that the Wicked Witch of the West was really just misunderstood, and that the supposedly “good” Wizard of Oz was really the one who was “wicked.”

By the end of the show, the audience is cheering for the green witch’s success, and hoping for the wizard’s defeat.  It’s a compelling story that shows the power of words to sway people’s thoughts, portraying that which is evil as good, and that which is good as evil.

Satan knows the power of words, too.  But when he speaks, he doesn’t just use “creative storytelling” to entertain an audience; he uses outright lies to destroy people’s lives.  Satan is so adept at lying that Jesus called him both “a liar” and the “father of lies.”  Jesus went on to say that lying is such an innate part of Satan’s character that, “when he lies, he speaks his native language” (John 8:44b).

I think it’s critical that you’re aware of this, because Satan wants to lie to you, too, especially when you’re doing the work of God.  Sometimes he’ll spread lies about you and your work, and sometimes he’ll lie to you directly to entice you to give up on your work and give in to his plan.

What can you do to defend yourself when Satan attacks you like this?  What can you do to combat the lies he throws at you?

You can do what Nehemiah did:  don’t fall for the lies; confront them with the truth.

When Nehemiah was nearly finished rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, his opponents brought on their fiercest attack.  They began to spread lies about Nehemiah to others, sending an “open” letter to Nehemiah that said:

“It is reported among the nations―and Geshem says it is true―that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together” (Nehemiah 6:6-7).

What could Nehemiah do?  He could have panicked, even if it wasn’t true, and tried to meet with them so word didn’t get back to the king.  But doing so would have sent him directly into the trap they were setting for him.  So Nehemiah sent a reply back that said:

“Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head” (Nehemiah 6:8).

Rather than being intimidated and giving up on the work, he prayed to the Lord,

“Now strengthen my hands” (Nehemiah 6:9b).

Nehemiah’s opponents even hired some prophets to speak lies directly to Nehemiah, telling him that people were coming to kill him, warning him to run and hide inside the temple walls, thus causing him to sin and discredit his name.  But Nehemiah saw through those lies, too, saying:

“Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” (Nehemiah 6:12-13).

Is Satan trying to lie to you today, whether in your head or by using someone else’s words?  If so, I want to encourage you:  don’t fall for the lies; confront them with the truth.  Confront them with the Truth of God as spoken in His Word and the Truth of God as spoken by His Holy Spirit to your heart.

There’s power in words, but there’s even more power in God’s Word.  Don’t let Satan call “wicked” that which God calls good.  Keep reminding yourself of God’s Word.  He loves you (John 3:16).  He’s for you, not against you (Romans 8:31).  He wants to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  Don’t fall for lies!  Confront them with the truth!  As you’ll find out in the next message, when the attack is fiercest, you may be closer to victory than you think!

Prayer: Father, help me to confront the lies of Satan with the Truth of Your Word.  Remind me of that Truth when I need it, and help me to speak that Truth, to myself and to others, so that I can see Your victory in the end.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LESSON 15: THE WALL IS COMPLETE! (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:15-19

Just when Nehemiah’s storm seemed the darkest, a ray of light broke though.  In the face of death threats and lies, Nehemiah finally achieved what he had set out to do.

The description of it is tucked in the middle of the book of Nehemiah, in the middle of a chapter.  But those two simple lines must have spoken volumes to Nehemiah, just as they did to the surrounding nations:

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.  When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:15-16).

After all his prayers, tears and hard work, Nehemiah finally saw the fruit of his labor.

The completion of the wall didn’t mean that his life’s work was over: he continued to serve as the governor over that region for another twelve years.  And it didn’t mean that his battles were over: he would still have to deal with his opponents from time to time.

But the completion of the wall did mean that Nehemiah, with God’s help, was able to accomplish the monumental work that God had put on his heart.  He was able to do what others thought was impossible.  And he was able to take part in God’s plan to continue His mission in the world:  in this case, the restoration of the Israelites to the holy city of Jerusalem.

Now that the wall around the city was restored, Israelite families could begin moving back into Jerusalem, rebuilding their homes and rebuilding their lives. The rebuilding of the wall was an achievement in and of itself, but it was a means to an end for God’s overarching plan.

When God calls you to work on a project, I think it’s helpful to keep in mind both the project itself, and the future purpose for which God called you to it.

When God rebuilt the marriage of a couple whom I had been talking to and praying with for some time, I watched in amazement as God not only restored their marriage, but went on to redirect the husband into ministry, becoming a pastor and building up a new church in his city that reached out to his ethnic group.  He and the church then went on to begin a missions outreach back to their home country.

The restoration of their marriage was critical, and no small feat on its own.  But it served as a launching pad for what God had in mind for their lives once their marriage was restored.

As for me, as I write this, I’m still working on my renovation project at our Clover Ranch retreat.  It’s taken way more than fifty-two days, and some days I wonder if it will ever be done.  I was having that feeling this week again as I was putting a third coat of stain on some wood trim that will be used around the doorways and windows in the kitchen.  I was starting to wear out, thinking that I still have two coats of varnish to put on after this third coat of stain finally dried.

But when I looked at the wood again, it crossed my mind of just how long it had taken for the tree to grow that I was now staining.  I was thankful that I didn’t have to grow the tree from scratch as well!

In view of how long God has been at work trying to reach the people I’m hoping to reach through this retreat center, I realized that my little time spent on it is just a drop in the bucket.  It’s an important project, but it’s just one more step in the series of steps that God has been taking all along to see His work complete.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than fifty-two days to complete your project.  Rather, be encouraged by the story of Nehemiah and by what God can do once your project is finished.  Also, be encouraged by the Word of God, which says in the book of Galatians:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Before I close for today, I’d like to say a word to those of you who have worked your hardest at something and yet, for various reasons aren’t able to see the work finished.  In the words of one wife who was trying her best to restore her relationship with her husband, she said:

“…even if there is no happy ending for our marriage, I will not regret the stand I have taken.  I will know that I made the right decision and followed the only course possible for me.  I will have done all that I could.” 

God knows your heart, and He’ll honor your heart as you honor His.  Don’t give up.  Don’t give in.  Keep pressing on with what God has called you to do.  Whatever the outcome, you will reap a harvest at the proper time, if you do not give up.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Nehemiah’s example of what it means to keep pressing on, and thank You for helping him to accomplish that which you put on his heart to do.  Father, help me to do the same, for Your sake, and for the sake of those who will be affected by my work both now and in the generations to come.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

CONCLUSION: MAINTAINING WHAT YOU’VE BUILT (Back to Table of Contents)

You're reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 7-13 

I was working on a project one day and called a friend for help.  I told him I was reading the directions and he said, “The first thing to do is to throw away the directions!”  He offered to come and help me himself.

I appreciated his offer, but I soon found out he had only done this once before and the project was bigger than he thought.  I decided it was time to pull out the directions again!

Perhaps the best advice I can give you for how to maintain what you’ve worked so hard to build is this:  Read the directions!  Pull out a copy of God’s Word and do what it says.  The same directions that helped you to rebuild what’s broken in your life can help you maintain what you’ve built.

This is exactly what Nehemiah did when they finished rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.  Nehemiah assembled all the people in one place and had Ezra the scribe, along with the Levites,  read and explain God’s Word to the people.  Nehemiah says:

“They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” (Nehemiah 8:8).

The rest of the book of Nehemiah describes the effects God’s Word had on the people―the same effects it can have on you:

1)  It caused them to weep for what they had lost, due to their own sins and the sins of their fathers.  Nehemiah says,

“For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:9b).  

God knew how the wall fell into disrepair in the first place, and He knew how to put it together again.

2)  It caused them to praise God for what He had done.  Nehemiah knew they were heartbroken over what had been lost, but he lifted their spirits by telling them,

“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).  

God wanted them to know what had gone wrong, but He also wanted them to get up and move on.

3)  It caused them to recommit their future to God.  The people said,

“In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it” (Nehemiah 9:38).  

After rebuilding the wall, they wanted to rebuild their lives in a way that honored God.

4)  It caused them to dedicate the work to God.  The party they held to dedicate the wall was so exuberant that Nehemiah said,

“The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away” (Nehemiah 12:43b).  

They marked the occasion with an all-out celebration, dedicating the work of their hands into God’s hands.

Nehemiah did it, and so can you.  He set out to achieve what God had put on his heart, then he followed through with the hard work to get it done.  Even though the project seemed imposing, impractical and nearly impossible, God helped Nehemiah all along the way.  God provided Nehemiah with the wisdom, resources, strength and people to pull it off, just like God will do for you when He gives you the green light to do something for Him.

The same God who helped Nehemiah will help you, too.  God loves you.  He is for you.  And He wants you to succeed, not only for Your sake, but for His sake, and for the sake of all those who will be touched by the work of your hands in the future.

Just because our study of the book of Nehemiah is finished, it doesn’t mean that your study of God’s Word has to stop here.  Don’t throw out the directions just because the project is finished!  Keep reading and rereading God’s Word every day for the rest of your life!

I pray that as you read it, like Nehemiah, you’ll find that the joy of the Lord is your strength as well.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me Your Word to help me rebuild my life and maintain what I’ve rebuilt.  Lord, help me to keep reading and rereading Your Word, and in so doing, help me to find that Your joy is my strength.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thanks for reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Thanks for reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!