Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Tuesday 31 March 2020- OUR INHERITANCE IS FREE FROM GOD

Inheritance Isn’t Earned

Bible in a Year:

He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

Today's Scripture & Insight:

“Thanks for dinner, Dad,” I said as I set my napkin on the restaurant table. I was home on a break from college and, after being gone for a while, it felt strange to have my parents pay for me. “You’re welcome, Julie,” my dad replied, “but you don’t have to thank me for everything all the time. I know you’ve been off on your own, but you’re still my daughter and a part of the family.” I smiled. “Thanks, Dad.”

In my family, I haven’t done anything to earn my parents’ love or what they do for me. But my dad’s comment reminds me that I haven’t done anything to deserve to be a part of God’s family either.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul tells his readers that God chose them “to be holy and blameless in his sight” (1:4), or to stand without blemish before Him (5:25–27). But this is only possible through Jesus, in whom “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (1:7). We don’t have to earn God’s grace, forgiveness, or entrance into His family. We simply accept His free gift.

When we turn our lives over to Jesus, we become children of God, which means we receive eternal life and have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven. Praise God for offering such a wonderful gift!

By: Julie Schwab

You can make an impact today.

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Reflect & Pray

In what ways do you feel or act as if you have to earn God’s love? How can you practice living in the freedom of His love?

Faithful God, thank You for freely giving Your Son so I can be a part of Your family. Help me to honor You in all You’ve done for me.

Today's Scripture

Ephesians 1:3–14(NIV)

Insight

Ephesians 1:3–14 praises God for His work of creation and redemption. Paul goes to great lengths to describe and celebrate the goodness of God for His grace and promise. Twice Paul mentions that our salvation is in accordance with His good pleasure or “according to the purpose of His will” (vv. 5, 9 esv). God made the decision to lavish grace on those who would be saved in Jesus Christ, and He took delight in extending that grace.

Monday, March 30, 2020

Monday 30 March 2020-GOD MADE YOU FOR A PURPOSE

March 30

Blessed Bread

Bible in a Year:

Jesus took some bread and blessed it.

Matthew 26:26 nlt

Today's Scripture & Insight:

When our oldest child became a teenager, my wife and I gave her a journal that we’d been writing in since her birth. We’d recorded her likes and dislikes, quirks and memorable one-liners. At some point the entries became more like letters, describing what we see in her and how we see God at work in her. When we gave it to her on her thirteenth birthday, she was mesmerized. She’d been given the gift of knowing a crucial part of the origins of her identity.

In blessing something as common as bread, Jesus was revealing its identity. What it—along with all creation—was made to reflect: God’s glory. I believe Jesus was also pointing to the future of the material world. All creation will one day be filled with the glory of God. So in blessing bread (Matthew 26:26), Jesus was pointing to the origin and the destiny of creation (Romans 8:21–22).

Maybe the “beginning” of your story feels messed up. Maybe you don’t think there’s much of a future. But there’s a bigger story. It’s a story of a God who made you on purpose and for a purpose, who took pleasure in you. It’s a story of God who came to rescue you (Matthew 26:28); a God who put His Spirit in you to renew you and recover your identity. It’s a story of a God who wants to bless you.

By: Glenn Packiam

You can make an impact today.

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Reflect & Pray

How does seeing your true origin story as being made on purpose and for a purpose change the way you see yourself? What’s the bigger story than simply your situation right now?

Dear Jesus, I place my life like bread in Your hands. Only You can return me to my origin. Only You can carry me to my destiny. Jesus, You are the author and the finisher of my faith.

Today's Scripture

Matthew 26:26–29(NIV)

Insight

The Passover is a family meal observed at the beginning of Israel’s religious calendar, commemorating their deliverance from Egyptian slavery and celebrating the beginning of a redeemed people who belong to God (Exodus 12:1–3; 13:3, 14–16; 19:5–6).

Because Jesus Himself is the true Passover Lamb (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7), He instituted a new family meal. His eating the Passover with His disciples points to the formation of a new kingdom of God—a new redeemed people and a new family of God. Today we refer to it as the Last Supper because it would have been the last Passover meal for Jesus before the cross (Matthew 26:17–30). Many scholars believe the next feast will be at the great messianic banquet when Jesus returns to establish His Father’s kingdom on earth (see Isaiah 25:6; Luke 13:29; 14:15).

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Sunday 29 March 2020-LET'S BEAR FRUIT FOR JESUS

March 29

Fruit Juice

Bible in a Year:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.

John 15:5

Today's Scripture & Insight:

A thrift-store bargain, the lamp seemed perfect for my home office—the right color, size, and price. Back at home, however, when I plugged in the cord, nothing happened. No light. No power. No juice.

No problem, my husband assured me. “I can fix that. Easy.” As he took the lamp apart, he saw the trouble immediately. The plug wasn’t connected to anything. Without wiring to a source of power, the “perfect” pretty lamp was useless.

The same is true for us. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” But then he added this reminder: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

This teaching was given in a grape-growing region, so His disciples readily understood it. Grapevines are hardy plants, and their branches tolerate vigorous pruning. Cut off from their life source, however, the branches are worthless deadwood. So it is with us.

As we remain in Jesus and let His words dwell in us, we’re wired to our life source—Christ Himself. “This is to my Father’s glory,” said Jesus, “that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (v. 8). Such a fruitful outcome needs daily nourishment, however. Freely, God provides it through the Scriptures and His love. So plug in and let the juice flow!

By: Patricia Raybon

You can make an impact today.

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Reflect & Pray

What does it mean for you to remain in Jesus? How has He equipped you to bear fruit for Him?

All-powerful God, empower me to remain in You and allow Your loving Word to yield good fruit in me.

To learn more about growing spiritually, visit christianuniversity.org/SF104.

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Saturday 28 March 2020-THE LORD IS WITH US IN THIS PANDEMIC

March 28

The Would-Be Woodcutter

Bible in a Year:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Today's Scripture & Insight:

One year when I was in college, I cut, stacked, sold, and delivered firewood. It was a hard job, so I have empathy for the hapless logger in the 2 Kings 6 story.

Elisha’s school for prophets had prospered, and their meeting place had become too small. Someone suggested they go into the woods, cut logs, and enlarge their facilities. Elisha agreed and accompanied the workers. Things were going remarkably well until someone’s axhead fell into the water (v. 5).

Some have suggested that Elisha simply probed in the water with his stick until he located the axhead and dragged it into sight. That would hardly be worth mentioning, however. No, it was a miracle: The axhead was set in motion by God’s hand and began to float so the man could retrieve it (vv. 6–7).

The simple miracle enshrines a profound truth: God cares about the small stuff of life—lost axheads, lost keys, lost glasses, lost phones—the little things that cause us to fret. He doesn’t always restore what’s lost, but He understands and comforts us in our distress.

Next to the assurance of our salvation, the assurance of God’s care is essential. Without it we would feel alone in the world, exposed to innumerable worries. It’s good to know He cares and is moved by our losses—small as they may be. Our concerns are His concerns.

By: David H. Roper

Help more people find Jesus this Easter.

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Reflect & Pray

What “little” things are troubling you that you can cast on God right now? How does it encourage you to know that you can be assured of His daily care for you?

Loving God, here are my concerns. Please take them, provide as You see best, and give me Your peace.

Friday, March 27, 2020

Friday 27 March 2020- THE LORD IS ALWAYS WITH US

March 27

Precious Departure

Bible in a Year:

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.

Psalm 116:15

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Sculptor Liz Shepherd’s 2018 exhibition The Wait was described by a Boston Globe correspondent as “evok[ing] the precious, exposed, and transcendent in life.” Inspired by the time Shepherd spent at her dying father’s bedside, the exhibition attempts to convey yearning, the emptiness of loss, and the fragile sense that loved ones are just out of reach.

The idea that death is precious might seem counterintuitive; however, the psalmist declares, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants” (Psalm 116:15). God treasures the death of His people, for in their passing He welcomes them home.

Who are these faithful servants (“saints” nkjv) of God? According to the psalmist, they are those who serve God in gratitude for His deliverance, who call on His name, and who honor the words they speak before Him (Psalm 116:16–18). Such actions represent deliberate choices to walk with God, accept the freedom He offers, and cultivate a relationship with Him.

In so doing, we find ourselves in the company of Jesus, who is “chosen by God and precious to him . . . . For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame’ ” (1 Peter 2:4–6). When our trust is in God, our departure from this life is precious in His sight.

By: Remi Oyedele

Help more people find Jesus this Easter.

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Reflect & Pray

How does your perception of death compare with God’s view of the passing of His people? To what extent is your perception influenced by what the Bible says about death?

Dear God, help me to trust You even in the challenges and losses of life.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Thursday 26 March 2020- WE WILL SEE THE LORD'S SALVATION AND HEALING

March 26

Seeing Salvation

Bible in a Year:

All people will see God’s salvation.

Luke 3:6

Today's Scripture & Insight:

At fifty-three, the last thing Sonia expected to do was abandon her business and her country to join a group of asylum seekers journeying to a new land. After gangs murdered her nephew and tried to force her seventeen-year-old son into their ranks, Sonia felt escape was her only option. “I pray to God. . . . I will do whatever is necessary,” Sonia explained. “I will do anything so [my son and I] don’t die of hunger. . . I prefer to see him suffer here than end up in a bag or canal.”

Does the Bible have anything to say to Sonia and her son—or to so many who have suffered injustice and devastation? When John the Baptist proclaimed the arrival of Jesus, he announced good news to Sonia, to us, to the world. “Prepare the way for the Lord,” John proclaimed (Luke 3:4). He insisted that when Jesus arrived, God would enact a powerful, comprehensive rescue. The biblical word for this rescue is salvation.

Salvation encompasses both the healing of our sinful hearts and—one day—the healing of all the world’s evils. God’s transforming work is for every story, every human system, and is available to everyone. “All people will see God’s salvation,” John said (v. 6).

Whatever evil we face, Christ’s cross and resurrection assure us we’ll see God’s salvation. One day we’ll experience His final liberation.

By: Winn Collier

Help more people find Jesus this Easter.

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Reflect & Pray

Where do you need to see God’s salvation in your life? How has God called you to be part of His transforming work on earth?

God, You promise that all people will see Your salvation. I claim this promise. Show me Your rescue and healing.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Wednesday 25 March 2020- DONT STOP PRAYING

March 25

It’s Time to Pray . . . Again

Bible in a Year:

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Ephesians 6:18

Today's Scripture & Insight:

I pulled into my driveway, waving at my neighbor Myriam and her little girl Elizabeth. Over the years, Elizabeth had grown accustomed to our spontaneous chats lasting longer than the promised “few minutes” and morphing into prayer meetings. She climbed the tree planted in the center of their front yard, dangled her legs over a branch, and busied herself while her mother and I spoke. After a while, Elizabeth hopped down from her roost and ran to where we stood. Grabbing our hands, she smiled and almost sang, “It’s time to pray . . . again.” Even at an early age, Elizabeth seemed to understand how important prayer was in our friendship.

After encouraging believers to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10), the apostle Paul offered special insight on the crucial role of continual prayer. He described the necessary armor God’s people would need during their spiritual walk with the Lord, who provides protection, discernment, and confidence in His truth (vv. 11–17). However, the apostle emphasized this God-given strength grew from deliberate immersion in the life-giving gift of prayer (vv. 18–20).

God hears and cares about our concerns, whether they’re spoken boldly, sobbed silently, or secured deep in a hurting heart. He’s always ready to make us strong in His power, as He invites us to pray again and again and again.

By: Xochitl Dixon

Help more people find Jesus this Easter.

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Reflect & Pray

How can ongoing prayer change our perspective, relationships, and day-to-day living? What would it mean for you to consider your time in prayer to be as vital as breathing?

Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of coming to You in prayer.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Tuesday 24 March 2020-WHEN FAILURE BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY

March 24

The Bell

Bible in a Year:

I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Matthew 16:18

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Jackson dreamed of becoming a US Navy Seal from early childhood—an ambition that led to years of physical discipline and self-sacrifice. He eventually faced grueling tests of strength and endurance including what’s referred to by trainees as “hell week.”

Jackson was physically unable to complete the exhaustive training, and reluctantly rang a bell to inform the commander and other trainees of his choice to leave the program. For most, this would feel like failure. But in spite of the extreme disappointment, Jackson was later able to see his military failure as preparation for his life’s work.

The apostle Peter experienced his own form of failure. He boldly proclaimed that he would remain loyal to Jesus even to prison or death (Luke 22:33). Yet later he wept bitterly after he denied that he knew Jesus (vv. 60–62). But God had plans beyond his failure. Prior to Peter’s denial, Jesus informed him, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18; see also Luke 22:31–32).

Are you struggling with a failure causing you to feel unworthy or unqualified to move on? Don’t let the ringing bell of failure cause you to miss God’s greater purposes for you.

By: Evan Morgan

Reflect & Pray

What did you view as a failure in your life that God used to help you grow in Him? Why is it vital for us to find our identity in how God views us?

God, help me to use every circumstance, even my failures, for Your glory and honor!

Monday, March 23, 2020

Monday 23 March 2020-WE LOVE YOU LORD

March 23

Reunion

Bible in a Year:

Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people.

Revelation 21:3

Today's Scripture & Insight:

The little boy excitedly ripped open a big box from his serviceman daddy, whom he believed wouldn’t be home to celebrate his birthday. Inside that box was yet another giftwrapped box, and inside that box was another that simply held a piece of paper saying, “Surprise!” Confused, the boy looked up—just as his dad entered the room. Tearfully the son leapt into his father’s arms, exclaiming, “Daddy, I missed you” and “I love you!”

That tearful yet joyful reunion captures the heart of Revelation 21’s description of the glorious moment when God’s children see their loving Father face to face—in the fully renewed and restored creation. There, “[God] will wipe every tear from [our] eyes.” No longer will we experience pain or sorrow, because we’ll be with our heavenly Father. As the “loud voice” in Revelation 21 declares, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them” (vv. 3–4).

There’s a tender love and joy that followers of Jesus already enjoy with God, as 1 Peter 1:8 describes: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Yet imagine our incredible, overflowing joy when we see the one we’ve loved and longed for welcoming us into His open arms!

By: Alyson Kieda

Help more people find Jesus this Easter.

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Reflect & Pray

What do you most look forward to about life in God’s presence in the restored creation? How do you experience glimpses of that joy now?

Loving God, we anticipate with joy the day when we will be with You. Until then, help us to happily serve You as we wait.