The Daily Bread Audio Reading of the Day
Unshakable Faith
Kevin walked into the nursing facility subsequently his dad passed away to pick upwardly his belongings. The staff handed him two small boxes. He said he realized that day that it actually didn't take an abundance of possessions to be happy.
His dad, Larry, had been carefree and always set with a grin and an encouraging word for others. The reason for his happiness was some other "possession" that didn't fit into a box: an unshakable faith in his Redeemer, Jesus.
Jesus urges us to "shop up . . . treasures in sky" (Matthew 6:20). He didn't say we couldn't own a home or purchase a car or save for the future or accept numerous possessions. Just He urged usa to examine the focus of our hearts. What was Larry'south heart set on? On loving God past loving others. He would wander up and downwardly the halls where he lived, greeting and encouraging those he met. If someone was in tears, he was at that place with a comforting give-and-take or listening ear or heartfelt prayer. His listen was focused on living for God's honor and the good of others.
Nosotros might want to ask ourselves if nosotros could be happy with far fewer things that clutter and distract us from the more of import matters of loving God and others. "Where [our] treasure is, there [our] heart will be besides" (v. 21). What we value is reflected in how nosotros live.
Encouraged in God
In 1925 Langston Hughes, an aspiring writer working equally a busboy at a hotel in Washington D.C., discovered that a poet he admired (Vachel Lindsey) was staying as a guest at the hotel. Hughes shyly slipped Lindsey some of his own verse, which Lindsey later praised enthusiastically at a public reading. Lindsey's encouragement resulted in Hughes receiving a university scholarship, furthering him on his mode to his ain successful writing career.
A little encouragement tin go a long way, specially when God is in it. Scripture tells of an incident when David was on the run from Rex Saul, who was trying "to accept his life." Saul's son Jonathan sought David out "and helped him find strength in God. 'Don't exist afraid,' he said. 'My father Saul will non lay a hand on y'all. Yous will be king over Israel' " (i Samuel 23:15–17).
Jonathan was right. David would be rex. The key to the effective encouragement Jonathan offered is found in the simple phrase, "in God." God, through Jesus, gives us "eternal encouragement and good promise" (2 Thessalonians 2:xvi). Equally nosotros humble ourselves earlier Him, He lifts usa as no other tin can.
All around us are people who need the encouragement God gives. If nosotros seek them out every bit Jonathan did David and gently point them to God through a kind give-and-take or activeness, He will do the residue. Regardless of what this life may hold, a bright future in eternity awaits those who trust in Him.
Managing Our Gifts
In 2013, British actor David Suchet was filming the final Television episodes equally Agatha Christie's honey Belgium detective Hercule Poirot—and also starring in a stage play—when he took on "the biggest role in my life." Between those projects he recorded an audio version of the unabridged Bible, from Genesis to Revelation—752,702 words over two hundred hours.
Suchet, who converted to Christianity afterward reading the volume of Romans in a hotel Bible, chosen the project the fulfillment of "a 27-year-long ambition. I felt totally driven. I did then much research on every office of it that I couldn't expect to go going." Then he donated his wages.
His recording remains an inspiring example of how to glorify God by stewarding well a gift, then sharing information technology. Peter urged such stewardship in his alphabetic character to first-century Christians. Persecuted for worshiping Christ not Caesar, they were challenged to focus instead on living for God by nurturing their spiritual gifts. "If anyone speaks, they should do so equally i who speaks the very words of God" (1 Peter 4:11). The gift of helping? Also develop it "so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."
Suchet's talents as a dramatist are something he could offer to the Lord. We tin practise the same. Whatsoever God has given to you, manage information technology well for His celebrity.
A Friendly Chat
Catherine and I were good friends in high school. When we weren't talking on the telephone, we were passing notes in class to programme our adjacent sleepover. Sometimes we rode horses together and partnered on school projects.
One Sunday afternoon, I started to think about Catherine. My pastor had spoken that morning about how to have eternal life, and I knew my friend didn't believe the Bible's teachings the way I did. I felt pressed to call her and explain how she could have a human relationship with Jesus. I hesitated, though, because I was afraid she would turn down what I said and altitude herself from me.
I retrieve this fear keeps a lot of us quiet. Even the apostle Paul had to enquire people to pray that he would "fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians vi:19). There's no getting effectually the run a risk involved with sharing the good news, yet Paul said he was an ambassador—someone speaking on behalf of God (v.20). We are too. If people reject our message, they're also rejecting the 1 who sent the message. God feels the sting along with u.s..
And then what compels us to speak upwards? We care nigh people, like God does (two Peter 3:ix). That's what led me to dial my friend'southward number. Amazingly, Catherine didn't shut me downwardly. She listened. She asked questions. She asked Jesus to forgive her sin and decided to alive for Him. The hazard was worth the advantage.
Choosing Celebration
Writer Marilyn McEntyre shares the story of learning from a friend that "the opposite of green-eyed is celebration." Despite this friend's physical disability and chronic pain, which express her ability to develop her talents in the means she'd hoped, she was somehow able to uniquely embody joy and to celebrate with others, bringing "appreciation into every encounter" earlier she passed away.
That insight—"the contrary of envy is commemoration"—lingers with me, reminding me of friends in my own life who seem to live out this kind of comparison-gratis, deep, and genuine joy for others.
Envy is an easy trap to autumn into. Information technology feeds on our deepest vulnerabilities, wounds, and fears, whispering that if nosotros were only more than like so-and-and so, we wouldn't exist struggling, and nosotros wouldn't be feeling bad.
As Peter reminded new believers in 1 Peter 2, the only fashion to "rid [ourselves]" of the lies that envy tells united states is to be securely rooted in the truth, to "have tasted"—deeply experienced—"that the Lord is proficient" (vv. 1–iii). Nosotros can freely "love one some other deeply, from the heart" (1:22) when we know the true source of our joy—"the living and enduring word of God" (5. 23).
And we tin can give up comparison when we recollect who nosotros actually are—dearest members of "a chosen people, . . . God's special possession," "called . . . out of darkness into his wonderful light" (ii:9).
The Joy of Skilful News
I evening in 1964, the Corking Alaska earthquake shocked and writhed for more than four minutes, registering a nine.2 magnitude. In Anchorage, whole city blocks disappeared, leaving only massive craters and rubble. Through the dark, terrifying dark, news reporter Genie Chance stood at her microphone, passing forth messages to desperate people sitting by their radios: a husband working in the bush heard that his wife was alive, distraught families heard that their sons on a Male child Scout camping ground trip were okay, a couple heard that their children had been constitute. The radio crackled with line after line of good news—pure joy amid the ruin.
This must accept been something like what Israel felt when they heard these words from the prophet Isaiah: "The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor" (61:1). As they looked over the wasteland of their wrecked lives and grim future, Isaiah'south clear voice brought proficient news at the very moment when all seemed lost. God intended to "demark up the crestfallen, to proclaim freedom for the captives. . . . [To] rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated" (vv. ane, 4). In the midst of their terror, the people heard God's assuring promise, His good news.
For us today, it's in Jesus that we hear God's good news—this is what the discussion gospel means. Into our fears, pains and failures, He delivers good news. And our distress gives style to joy.
Part of the Family
Downton Abbey was a pop British tv set drama that followed the fictional Crawley family every bit they navigated a changing social structure in early 1900s England. One of the fundamental characters, Tom Branson, initially worked as the family'due south chauffeur before shocking everyone by marrying the youngest Crawley daughter. Following a menses of exile, the young couple returned to Downton Abbey and Tom became part of the family, gaining access to rights and privileges he had been denied as an employee.
Nosotros were once considered "foreigners and strangers" (Ephesians two:19) and excluded from the rights given to those who are part of God'due south family. Just, because of Jesus, all believers, regardless of their background, are reconciled to God and called "members of his household" (v. 19).
Existence a member of God'southward family unit brings incredible rights and privileges. We can "arroyo God with freedom and confidence" (iii:12), enjoying unlimited, unhindered admission to God. We become office of a larger family, a community of organized religion to back up and encourage us (2:xix–22). Members of God's family have the privilege of helping each other grasp the enormity of God'south lavish dear (iii:xviii).
Fear or doubt could easily make u.s.a. feel like an outsider, keeping us from accessing fully the benefits of being part of God'due south family. But hear and embrace once more the reality of God'south costless and generous gifts of love (ii:eight–10), and bask in the wonder of being His.
Avoid the Door
The dormouse'due south olfactory organ twitched. Something tasty was nearby. Sure enough, the scent led to a birdfeeder full of succulent seed. The dormouse climbed down the chain to the feeder, slipped through the door, and ate and ate all nighttime. Only in the morning did he realize the trouble he was in. Birds now pecked at him through the feeder'due south door, but having gorged on the seed, he was now twice his size and unable to escape.
Doors can lead us to wonderful places—or unsafe ones. A door features prominently in Solomon's advice on fugitive sexual temptation in Proverbs 5. While sexual sin may be enticing, he says, trouble awaits if it's pursued (5:3–6). Best to stay far from it, for if y'all walk through that door you'll be trapped, your honor lost, your wealth pecked away by strangers (vv. 7–11). Solomon counsels us to enjoy the intimacy of our own spouse instead (vv. fifteen–xx). His advice tin apply to sin more broadly too (vv. 21–23). Whether information technology's the temptation to overeat, overspend, or something else, God can help united states to avoid the door that leads to entrapment.
The dormouse must've been happy when the homeowner found him in her garden birdfeeder and freed him. Thankfully, God's hand is gear up to free u.s. when we're trapped too. But let'south call on His force to avert the door of entrapment in the first place.
Follow the Leader
No words. Merely music and moving. During a 24-60 minutes Zumba marathon amongst the COVID-nineteen pandemic, thousands of people from effectually the globe worked out together and almost followed instructors from Bharat, Cathay, United mexican states, America, Southward Africa, parts of Europe, and several other places. These diverse individuals were able to move together without any language barriers. Why? Because instructors of the practice craze Zumba, created in the mid-1990s past a Colombian aerobics instructor, employ non-verbal cues. Class instructors motion and students follow their lead. They follow with no words uttered or shouted.
Words can sometimes go in the way and create barriers. They may cause confusion such as the Corinthians experienced, equally noted in Paul's first letter to them. It was defoliation brought about by differing views of disputable matters pertaining to the eating of particular foods (1 Corinthians 10:27–thirty). But our actions can transcend barriers and even confusion. Equally Paul says in today'south passage, we should show people how to follow Jesus through our actions—seeking "the good of many" (10:32–33). We invite the world to believe in Him as we "follow the instance of Christ" (11:1).
Equally someone once said, "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words when necessary." Equally we follow Jesus' pb, may He guide our actions so equally to cue others to the reality of our faith. And may our words and deportment be done "all for the glory of God" (10:31).
The Challenge of the Stars
In the early on twentieth century, Italian poet F. T. Marinetti launched Futurism, an artistic movement rejecting the past, scoffing at traditional ideas of beauty, and glorifying instead machinery. In 1909 Marinetti wrote his Manifesto of Futurism, in which he declared "contempt for women," praised "the blow with the fist," and asserted, "Nosotros want to glorify state of war." The manifesto concludes: "Standing on the earth's summit we launch once over again our insolent challenge to the stars!"
Five years afterwards Marinetti'southward manifesto, modernistic warfare began in earnest. Globe War I did non bring glory. Marinetti himself died in 1944. The stars, still in place, took no discover.
Rex David sang poetically of the stars but with a dramatically dissimilar outlook. He wrote, "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in identify, what is mankind that you lot are mindful of them, human beings that you treat them?" (Psalm 8:3–4). David's question isn't one of disbelief but of amazed humility. He knew that the God who fabricated this vast creation is indeed mindful of us. He notices every particular about us—the good, the bad, the humble, the insolent—even the absurd.
It's pointless to challenge the stars. Rather, they claiming us to praise our Creator.
Source: https://ourdailybread.ca/daily-bread-devotional/
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