Pay It Forward - Malachi 3:10

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." The prophet Malachi accuses the people of Israel of robbing God (vs. 8) because they did not pay their tithes. The tithes were used to support the priests and Levites, whose ministry was essential if Israel was to be faithful to God in its calling. Their land was cursed by drought and pestilence (vs. 9,11) and so they were not giving the tithe. Thus, their negligence to give their tithes may have seemed justified, but the Lord reveals, quite dramatically, that these natural disasters were not the cause of their disobedience but the result of their disobedience. So God dared them to pay it forward. You see, the tithe is the first 10% of your income, not the last 10% or whatever portion is left (if any) after you pay everything else. So God dared them to pay the tithe no matter what the economic circumstances or conditions and then He would bless them and cause all their needs to be met. In other words, God promised that if they pay it forward, then He would meet 100% of their needs with 90% of their resources. Some argue that tithing is an Old Testament command and doesn't apply to New Testament believers. However, the promise of the blessing of tithing applies to both Old and New Testament believers! Pay it forward--pay your tithes before you pay the bills and God will meet your financial needs. God dares you to try it!

Face to Face with God - Revelation 22:3-4

"No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." The newly created order--the new heaven and earth--will not be under a curse as was the old creation. Thus, there will be no guilt, strife, struggle for survival, sickness, sorrow, and death. In New Jerusalem where God will abide, His throne will make the entire city a temple in which His people will worship Him as His priests. Remember how Moses could not see the Lord's face and live (Exodus 33:20–23; 34:29–35). But in the new heaven and earth you will see God face to face because He has made you a member of His immediate family and you will bear His name. Therefore, let the Holy Spirit begin to sanctify and prepare you in this present life for the life to come in which you will see God face to face.

Heaven on Earth - Revelation 21:3

"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." If you are planning to go to heaven to be with God when you die, don't plan to stay there forever because God is coming to live on the earth. In John's vision of the future he saw a new heaven and earth and the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. John described heaven coming to earth. At the end of John’s vision is a new world order that is established from the present world. The future that God planned for His created order is established. Heaven and earth will come together so that the dwelling place of God is no longer in heaven but on the earth among His redeemed people. In this present age we experience a little piece of the eternal life that awaits us by the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who is God's abiding presence with us. In the new heaven and earth we will we will dwell fully in God's personal presence. Therefore, allow God's Spirit Who dwells in you now to prepare you for the day when you will dwell with God forever.

For Such a Time as This - Esther 4:14

"And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" The story of Esther is set in Susa, the Persian capital, during the reign of King Xerxes (486–464 BC) after Persia had replaced Babylon as the ruling power. Some Jews had returned to Jerusalem where they enjoyed a reasonable amount of control over their own affairs as described in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Others, like those in the story of Esther, lived in various parts of the empire where they were often treated with suspicion and recriminations. Because of her great beauty, Esther became the queen of Persia although her Jewish heritage was unknown to the king. When the king issued an edict to exterminate all the Jews in the empire, Esther was in a unique position to persuade the king otherwise and so it was in this context that Esther's cousin and guardian, Mordecai, made this statement to Esther. God is providentially at work in this world and He generally works through His people to accomplish His plans and purposes. Jesus recognized and acknowledged God's providence in this world: "My Father is working until now, and I am working" (John 5:17). The nature of God the Father is continuous activity and Jesus occupied Himself with constantly performing the work and activity of the Father. Like Esther, you are in a unique position to be used by God to accomplish His plans and purposes. Jesus explained how to be used of God: "The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise" (John 5:19). You were chosen by God for such a time as this! See what God is doing around you and go and do likewise!

Eternal Matters - Revelation 19:7-8

"Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." To prepare for a modern wedding, the bride-to-be starts weeks or maybe even months in advance to select a wedding dress, shoes, jewelry and other attire to wear at the wedding ceremony. Before the ceremony the bride-to-be will go to the beauty salon to have her hair done and have a facial and manicure so she can look especially beautiful for the groom at the wedding ceremony. In the book of Revelation, God's people, the Church, are the Bride of Christ. At the second coming of Christ a feast will be held to celebrate the union of Christ with His Church. This "marriage supper of the Lamb" was anticipated in the predictions of a messianic banquet in Isaiah 25:6–8, Matthew 22:1–14; 25:10; and 26:29. Prior to this wedding ceremony in heaven the Bride of Christ was granted the opportunity to make preparations for the wedding by clothing herself with fine linen in much the same way that a modern bride prepares for her wedding. Your life is a wedding gift from God to prepare for the day when Christ and his Church are united for eternity. We live godly lives and do good works--righteous deeds--because we want to present Him with a beautiful life when we meet Him face to face. God has redeemed you and is giving you a unique opportunity to prepare for eternity with Him through the life you live in this present age. Make it matter for eternity!

We Fight Because the Lord is With Us! - Zechariah 10:5

"They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses." Zechariah prophesied about the restoration of God's chosen people saying that they would be would be transformed from wandering sheep into a majestic warhorse (vs. 3). Zechariah declared that God's chosen people would be triumphant against all foes not because they are bigger or stronger but because of the Lord's presence with them. Not only would God's people be victorious, they would triumph even against the strongest of enemies. As we struggle with the problems of life that confront us, we don't give up or give in--we fight on because the Lord is with us!

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing - Zechariah 8:23

"In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." Zechariah prophesied about a day when the Lord would restore a remnant in Israel. When the restoration took place, Jerusalem would be a prosperous and peaceful place and would be known by its faithfulness to God. God would no longer render judgment on His people but bless them: "But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things...and you shall be a blessing" (vs. 11-13). The common thread running through God's promises for the peace and prosperity of His people in this chapter is that their blessedness will be a testimony and blessing beyond Jerusalem and Judah to include other people and nations. In fact, people from every nation will come to Jerusalem to follow their example and entreat the favor of the Lord. Some even say this prophecy found its fulfillment on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2). God wants your life to be so blessed by Him that other people will want what you have...and then you can be a blessing to them!

The Test for True Repentance - Zechariah 7:9

"Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another." In 518 BC after re-construction of the temple was started but before its completion the people of Bethel sent representatives to Zechariah in Jerusalem to ask whether they should continue to perform ritual fasts commemorating the destruction of the temple since the temple was now being rebuilt. Fasting was a religious ritual concerned with demonstrating repentance and attempting to change God's disposition toward the penitent ones. God responded to the inquiry through the prophet Zechariah. Although the original question addressed a matter of religious practice, God responded by asking a deeper question, a matter of the heart: By fasting do you not seek God's favor, but when you stop fasting and celebrate, do you abandon that concern for God's favor? In other words, if the people had learned the lesson that the destruction of the temple was intended to teach and had truly repented and turned from their sins, then they could stop fasting. But if all their fasting didn't change them, then it was simply a waste of time. The test of true repentance is a life of obedience to God, a heart that has been changed. A change of heart has always been the test of true repentance and always will be. Has God changed you to the extent that it changed your behavior and you now act differently than you did before? Are you now merciful and empathetic to others as God is to you? If there's no change in behavior, then there's no change of heart!

Count Your Blessings - Revelation 14:13

"Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" Did you know the book of Revelation has its own set of Beatitudes that prounouce blessings on certain people similar to the ones in Matthew 5 from the Sermon on the Mount? However, in Revelation these seven pronouncements of blessing are stated in several places throughout the book:

1. Blessed is the one who reads aloud, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy (1:3). The message of the book of Revelation and its related blessings are received by reading it or hearing it read, but only if it is accompanied by obeying as well.
2. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (14:13). The saints who heed God's call to endurance and keep His commandments and their faith in Jesus are blessed at death with rest from their labors.
3. Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on (16:15). Christ's return will be like a thief who comes at an unexpected time. Therefore, Christ's followers must remain vigilant and faithful until He returns lest they be caught off-guard and compromised.
4. Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:9). These blessed ones are believers who belong to the bride of Christ, the Church, who have been called through the gospel of grace. The marriage supper of the Lamb refers to the predictions in Isaiah and Matthew of a great messianic banquet at the end of time.
5. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection (20:6). When the wicked are returned to bodily existence and condemned for evil deeds, they will be cast eternally into the lake of fire. Those who maintain their testimony of Jesus and resis Satan during the time of great tribulation are resurrected to eternal life with God.
6. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book (22:7). The one who heeds, follows, and obeys the message of the book of Revelation has entered into blessedness--the blessed way of life.
7. Blessed are those who wash their robes (22:14). These blessed ones have been are cleansed from sin and have their conscience cleared by the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God. They have turned their backs on sin and walk in God's righteousness and so have access to the tree of life within God's city.

Holy Spirit Power - Zechariah 4:6

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." The foundation of the temple had been laid shortly after the initial return of the Jews from Babylonian exile in 538 BC, but powerful opposition prevented any further progress on rebuilding the temple for nearly 20 years. In a vision Zechariah saw a golden lampstand supplied by a never-ending source of oil from two adjacent olive trees. When Zechariah inquired of the Lord what this meant, Zechariah was given a message addressed to Zerubbabel, the governor, who along with Joshua the high priest had been charged with the task of rebuilding the temple upon the Jews return from captivity. God's word to Zerubbabel was a reminder that the obstacles that faced him in the rebuilding task would not be overcome by conventional resources of might or power, but by the enabling and empowering presence of God's Spirit. How much more in our time does the enabling power of the Holy Spirit accomplish God's plans and purposes because He lives and dwells in each one us. God supplies you with a never-ending anointing of the Holy Spirit to accomplish His plans and purposes through you because you have the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Power in the Blood - Revelation 12:10-11

"For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." Some people try to turn the source of evil in the world, Satan, the devil, into a fairy tale. However, the Bible makes it clear that he exists and that he hates those who have been saved by the blood sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross. He hates Christians so much that he accuses them before God 24/7. The book of Revelation assures us that he will ultimately be silenced, defeated, and expelled from God's new creation. Meanwhile, Satan is at work where you live, but you can conquer the evil influences Satan attempts to exert over your life and verse 11 tells you how. The first and most obvious way you conquer the devil is by the blood of Jesus Christ. The fact that you claimed the power of the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, to cleanse and purify you from all sin when you believed and were saved is your main weapon against Satan's evil influence. Next, if you are cleansed and purified from sin by the blood of Jesus, then your testimony--your life and the way you live it, the way of the cross--enables you to disprove the accusations of the devil. Finally, faithfulness to Christ and the way of the cross no matter what problems confront you indicates a blood-soaked life in Christ against which the devil is powerless. Yes, there is power, wonder-working, devil-conquering power in the Blood of the Lamb and your life should be a demonstration of the power of the Blood to conquer evil.

God's Unrequited Love - Zechariah 1:3

"Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts." After their exile to Babylon, God invited his people to renew their commitment to Him. The Lord was angry with their forefathers whose sins caused the exile. Now their time of exile was coming to an end and God did not want to extend His anger toward this new generation. If they would but return to Him, then he would return to them in favor and blessing. This promise to God's people, Israel in the Old Testament, is the same promise He makes to His people, the Church, in the New Testament in the book of Revelation: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). God describes His love for His people when they have sinned and turned away from Him as unrequited love. Even though you may "break up" with God, He is still in love with you and does not want the relationship to end. If you want Him back, you must make the first move. You are assured, however, that if you return to Him, if you open the door, then He is always ready to "make up" with you.

The Latter Glory Promise - Haggai 2:9

"The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts." Haggai the prophet encouraged the repatriated Jews, the remnant from the Babylonian captivity who had returned to Judah, to start rebuilding the temple. The Lord told the people to "Be strong" and "Work" because He was with them beause they were His covenant people (vs. 4). And as His covenant people His Spirit remained with them (vs. 5). God promised that He will once again fill the temple with His glory and adorn it with treasures of silver and gold so that its future glory will be even greater than when Solomon first built the temple, and it will be a place of peace--Hebrew shalom, meaning well-being or peace with God. While the ultimate fulfillment of this prophetic verse may be found in Christ's first and second comings, it has inferences for the individual lives of God's covenant people in the present, who are the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Contained in this verse is the promise that you have the potential to be more productive for God's Kingdom as you grow older if you work and be strong in the Lord because His Spirit remains with you! Be encouraged that the physical aging process is also a spiritual strengthening process for those who have God's Spirit.

Reorganizing Your To-Do List - Haggai 1:9

"You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house." The work of rebuilding the temple by the returning Jews ceased for about ten years by order of King Artaxerxes of Persia (Ezra 4:24). Near the end of this ten-year cessation period the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet to stir up the repatriated Jews to complete the rebuilding of the temple. Haggai told the people in no uncertain terms that their priorities were out of order and as a result, nothing was working right in their lives. They sow much but harvest little; they never have enough to eat or drink to satisfy themselves; they can't hold on to the money they earn (vs. 6). Why does nothing go right? Because their lifetime To-Do List was out of order. They were building their own houses when the Lord's house lay in ruins (vs. 4). God tells them to look at their priorities and put Him first: "Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord." Nothing will go right in your life until your priorities are in the correct order. First build God's house and then your own. Reorganize your lifetime To-Do List: First God, then everything else! When building God's house is the main priority of your life, then you can be assured that He will help you accomplish everything else on your lifetime To-Do List.

Prayer Rising - Revelation 8:3-4

"And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel." The tabernacle and temple sanctuaries in the Old Testament had two altars, one for bloody sacrifice in the courtyard and the other for smoky incense inside, adjacent to the veil into the Most Holy Place (see Exodus 27:1–8; 30:1–10). In his vision of the heavenly sanctuary, John sees only one altar fulfilling both functions. Incense was associated with the prayers of the saints in the earthly sanctuary: "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!" (Psalm 141:2). In John's vision not only martyrs under the heavenly altar but also suffering saints on earth cry out for justice. Therefore, fire from the altar, from which the saints' prayers rise, will be flung to earth in judgment, indicating that the judgments to follow answer the prayers of the saints. So what does John's vision of the heavenly sanctuary and the time of the end mean for us today? This passage specifically addresses prayer and reveals what happens to prayers that are offered to God.  God hears your prayers; God remembers your prayers until He responds to them; and God answers your prayers, often in ways that impart deliverance and righteousness on His people in the present and in the future. Keep praying because your prayers are rising to God where He uses them to change the world!

Breaking Faith - Ezra 10:1-2

"We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this." In 539 BC King Cyrus of Persia captured Babylon and soon thereafter issued a proclamation freeing the Jews in Babylonian captivity to return to Judah. The first wave of exiles returned to Jerusalem and started rebuilding the temple in 536 BC and construction was completed in 516 BC. Ezra, a priest and scribe, wanted to return to Jerusalem to teach the returning exiles the commands and statutes of God (vs. 7:10). Ezra departed Babylon and arrived in Jerusalem leading a second wave of exiles in 458 BC during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia. Upon arriving in Judah, Ezra discovered that in the time since the return of the first exiles, about 60 some years, many of them were involved in the same sin as their forefathers that had caused their captivity in the first place! They intermarried with the non-Jewish inhabitants of the land and practiced idolatry. This breaking of faith was particularly egregious because it involved some of the priests and other religious leaders (vs. 9:2). Ezra began to mourn, pray, and confess the sin of Israel to God. While Ezra was praying a great assembly of people came forward and acknowledged their sin and called upon the mercy of God to forgive them. They had hope for restoration even though they had broken faith with God. In spite of your sin, you can have hope that if you will abandon your sinful ways, God in His great love and mercy will forgive you and restore you to Himself.

Cosmic Conflict - Daniel 10:12

"Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words." At the end of Daniel's time of fasting he encountered or received a vision of a heavenly being. The revelation of God's glory shining through this mighty being was overwhelming, crushing Daniel to the ground and sending his companions scurrying for cover (vs. 7). The angelic messenger was delayed on his way to Daniel twenty-one days--the period of time Daniel had been fasting--by the prince of the kingdom of Persia, an evil angelic being associated with the Persian Empire (vs. 13). The awe-inspiring messenger encouraged Daniel by telling him that he was "greatly loved" by God (vs. 11) and that he had been sent to Daniel in answer to his prayers to give him insight and encouragement in response to his mourning and constant concern about the situation in Jerusalem. There are several spiritual principles we need to recognize in this passage. 1) Conflicts on earth are of cosmic proportions and reflect conflicts in the heavens and this will continue to the end of time when God will ultimately triumph. 2) Satan and his cohorts continually attempt to thwart God's plans and purposes in both the spiritual and physical realms. 3) God hears and answers prayers, but in His own time. You are greatly loved by God and God wants to reveal Himself to you in more powerful ways as you endeavor to know and understand Him and His plans and purposes for you.

Casting Crowns - Revelation 4:9-11

"The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." The twenty-four elders may represent the orders of priests serving in the Old Testament temple or they may symbolize the unity of God's people as encompassing the twelve tribes of Old Testament Israel and the twelve apostles of the New Testament church--like the new Jerusalem's twelve gates and twelve foundations in Revelation 21. Their thrones resemble those of God's heavenly court in Daniel 7. Some scholars even believe that these elders are angelic beings. Whether angelic or redeemed human beings, these elders recognize that God exerts His sovereign will in creating and sustaining all things and they cast their crowns before Him in an expression of submission to His divine authority. They worship God for His eternal perfection and creative achievement and their song of praise is a prelude to a “new song” in Revelation 5 that extols God and the Lamb for the redemption of mankind, which is the the culmination of their divine worthiness. Let us recognize God's sovereignty on earth as in heaven and cast our crowns--that is, our achievements, our successes--before him in submission knowing that we owe any triumph in this life and the life to come to Him. Matthew Henry said, "Would we on earth do like them, let our praises be constant, not interrupted; united, not divided; thankful, not cold and formal; humble, not self-confident."

The Complacency Conundrum - Revelation 3:15-16

"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." While the church in Sardis was chastised for its dearth of spiritual vitality, the spiritual condition of the church in Laodicea was repugnant because it was lukewarm--neither cold nor hot. So why is the reprimand of the lukewarm Laodicean church more severe than the reprimand of the dead Sardisian church? The Sardisian church had lost its focus and was ineffective while the Laodicean church had lost it focus but pretended to be effective: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked" (vs. 17). It is easier to rehabilitate lethargy than pretense. The prosperity of the Laodicean church lured it into self-sufficiency and, consequently, complacency set in. To rectify its spiritual failure, the church in Laodicea needed to become reliant on the spiritual resources God provides rather than the material wealth it gained for itself: "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich" (vs. 18). Unfortunately, the way of human nature is that it is easier to rely on God when you have little or nothing than it is when you have much. So don't let your wants get in the way of your needs. Make your eternal life with God your main priority and He will be sufficient to supply both your needs and your wants: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (vs. 20).

A Spiritual Wake-Up Call - Revelation 3:1-2

"You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God." According to the Apostle John the church in Sardis was in a spiritual state that was near death--the church had no spiritual vitality. But there was still hope the church would awake from its spiritual coma and revitalize itself because it had not accomplished God's plans and purposes. The differing salutations to each of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 forewarns the failure and/or poses a subtle hint at the solution for the failure identified for each church. In the case of the church in Sardis, the salutation says: "The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars" (vs. 1). The "seven spirits of God" is figurative language for the Holy Spirit and the seven stars are the angels for each church--a personification of the identity of each church as if concentrated in its angel or messenger. Thus, the Lord informs the messenger of the church in Sardis that it needs a spiritual wake-up call--it needs a refilling of the Holy Spirit so that its works can be complete in God's sight. So how does this Holy Spirit revitalization take place? "Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent" (vs. 3). The Lord tells the church in Sardis that what it needs is a Holy Ghost revival! It needs to repent of its spiritual apathy and indifference for the gospel, get back to the fundamental truths of the gospel, re-ignite the passion with which it first received the gospel, and go out and actually live out the gospel. If you need a spiritual wake-up call, then try this recipe for revival and let the Holy Spirit revitalize you with a new zeal for the gospel that will enable you to accomplish what God has planned and purposed for your life.

The Power of a Good Reputation - Daniel 6:4

"But they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him." Daniel served the Babylonian empire faithfully for almost 70 years and continued to serve the new Medo-Persian administration of King Darius. Darius appointed provincial rulers who were responsible for security and collection of tribute. Three presidents oversaw their work, making sure the tribute reached the king's treasury. Daniel was one of the three and he had such a good reputation--"an excellent spirit was in him"--that Darius planned to promote him to a position over the whole kingdom (6:3). The other officials in the Medo-Persian court resented Daniel and conspired to bring about a royal edict they knew Daniel could not obey. They encouraged King Darius to decree that for the next thirty days no one was to petition any god or man except the king himself and all offenders would be cast into a den of lions. Daniel continued his practice of prostrating himself in prayer three times daily toward Jerusalem, a practice that must have made it easy to gather the evidence needed to convict him. In spite of the king's efforts to rescue Daniel, Darius was forced to acknowledge that his royal decree condemned Daniel to the den of lions (vs. 15-16). Daniel was in the den of lions overnight and when the king came the next day to check on Daniel, the king was overjoyed that Daniel had survived: "So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him because he had trusted in his God" (vs. 23). Then King Darius had all the men who maliciously accused Daniel thrown into the den of lions and he issued a new decree that all people in his kingdom were to worship the God of Daniel (vs. 26). This story demonstrates the powerful effect of a good reputation built on faithfulness to God. What kind of example do you set before people? Is your way of life a witness to the salvation of God? St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel, and if necessary use words.”

The Kingdom Where All Are Priests - Revelation 1:5-6

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever." The roles of kingdom and priests now belong to those of all nations who are freed from their sins by Jesus' blood. Now all believers are citizens of God's Kingdom and are like priests, meaning each believer is consecrated by the blood of Christ to approach God directly on his or her own behalf. John's declaration is reminiscent of Exodus 19:6: "and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when God freed them from slavery and brought them out of Egypt. What God told the people of Israel--that if they obey His voice and keep His covenant they shall be His treasured possession among all the peoples of the Earth (Exodus 19:5)--is now fulfilled through Christ and those who believe and follow Him. Therefore, exercise your priestly role before God each day by making the sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving, by obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit, and by sanctifying your life to His service by studying His word and keeping His commands and covenant.

The Problem With Pride - Daniel 4:37

"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." King Nebuchadnezzar, like many successful people, developed a pride problem. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a great tree that reached to heaven and an angel was sent to chop down the tree but leave the stump. Nebuchadnezzar's wise men could not interpret the dream so Nebuchadnezzar called on Daniel to interpret the dream. Daniel explained the dream meant that if Nebuchadnezzar did not acknowledge the God of Israel as the One who rules the affairs of mankind, then he must learn this lesson through his own humiliation. A year passed and Nebuchadnezzar was unchanged. One day Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of the royal palace where he could view numerous ornate temples, the hanging gardens (one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world), and the outer wall of the city, which was wide enough for chariots driven by four horses to pass each other on the top of the wall. As he looked at these notable accomplishments, Nebuchadnezzar boasted to himself of his mighty power and glory (vs. 30). Immediately, he heard a voice from heaven pronounce judgment on him and Nebuchadnezzar lost his sanity and was driven away from Babylon and lived as a wild animal for a period of time. At the end of God's appointed time of judgment, Nebuchadnezzar's reason returned and his kingdom was restored and he acknowledged that God was supreme over him. Nebuchadnezzar learned that God can humble the proud as well as exalt the humble. Do you have a problem with pride? If so, don't wait for God to teach you a hard lesson. If Nebuchadnezzar had humbled himself as Daniel advised, God would not need to have humbled him. So, follow the advice Daniel gave to King Nebuchadnezzar and repent of your pride, practice righteousness, and show compassion to others (vs. 27).

Resolute Faith - Daniel 3:17-18

"Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." How much stress can your faith handle? When Judah was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, many young Jewish men of noble birth were taken to the king's palace and instructed in the literature and language of the Chaldeans. One of these young Jewish men, Daniel, interpreted a dream Nebuchadnezzar had and was promoted to prime minister over the province of Babylon. Daniel requested the king to appoint his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as cabinet ministers over the affairs of the province. Later, Nebuchadnezzar built a ninety-foot image of gold and ordered all nations under his rule to worship the golden image. He made it a capital offense to refuse or neglect to worship the image. When Daniel's friends refused to worship the image, they knew it meant a death sentence--and an agonizing one at that. Nebuchadnezzar ordered the three young men to be bound and thrown into a fiery furnace heated to seven times its usual capacity. The fire in the furnace was so hot it killed the men who who took Daniel's friends up to the furnace and the three young men fell bound into the furnace. Apparently, their bindings were burnt off because they were seen by Nebucadnezzar and his advisors walking around in the fiery furnace with a fourth person (vs. 25). The fourth person was either an angel or a preincarnate appearance of Christ (called a Christophany) sent to provide protection for the three young men from the intense heat of the furnace. They were so well protected from the fire that no hair on their head was singed, their clothing was not burned, and they didn't even smell like smoke! Nebuchadnezzar was so astonished that he offered praise to God and issued a new decree to make it a capital offense to speak against God. And the king was so impressed by their faith that he gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego a big promotion. How resolute and uncompromising is your faith in God? Like the three young men in this story, you must be determined to be faithful to God whether or not he delivers you out of adversity.

We Shall Overcome - 1 John 5:4-5

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" The Apostle John reiterates what Jesus told His disciples in John 16:33. Jesus said that He has overcome the world and so John says that everyone who has faith in Jesus also overcomes the world. Our faith in Jesus is the basis for a right relationship with God and, therefore, directly connects us to His overcoming power. We overcome the world because Jesus already did. Although we encounter adversity in this world, we enjoy victory over the adversity because we now live in a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

No Bullying Allowed - 1 John 4:4

"You are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." According to the Apostle John, there is a bully in this world who actively works against God by threatening, intimidating, tempting, and deceiving people including the children of God with his evil influences: "This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already" (vs. 3). Fortunately, we have a Big Brother who is bigger and stronger than the bully who thinks he controls this world. In fact, our Big Brother, Jesus, has already overcome and defeated this bully. Therefore, the Spirit of Jesus who dwells in us is more powerful than the evil spirit, Satan, who controls this world. You have nothing to fear from this bully. Whenever this bully threatens or intimidates you, you can call on your Big Brother, Jesus, who is always near because His Spirit dwells in you to help you take on and defeat this bully.

We Shall Be Like Him - 1 John 3:2

"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." The Apostle John indicates that Christ is the prototype for our own resurrection. In other words, our resurrected bodies will take the same form as the resurrected Christ. Although Christ has been raised from the dead, we have not yet been raised. So we have hope for being resurrected from the dead and having resurrection bodies like Jesus, but, as John points out, "we are God's children now." So the redeemed of God have one foot in eternity and one foot in this present world. But the power of Christ's resurrection is already at work to purify us so that we start becoming like Christ now: "And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure" (vs. 3). John goes on to say that God's chidren do not make a practice of sinning (vs 4), but instead practice righteousness (vs. 7). You are enabled to practice righteousness because you are born of God and have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you and working through the Word of God to empower you to refrain from sinning and to practice righteousness (vs. 9-10).

The Beginning of the End - I John 2:17

"And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." Human beings are creatures of eternity. God created people for eternity and eternity is ever present in the life you now live. Your life as a child of God is about living for a future hope through your present reality. The beginning of the end of this world started with the first coming of Jesus. So you must learn how to live with one foot in this present world and one foot in eternity. When you do the will of God in this present life, you are beginning to experience eternal life. Dallas Willard says that as you integrate your life into the unseen and spiritual world of God, your life on this earth begins to take on the nature of the eternal. Eternity begins now with this present life, so live today like it's the first day of the rest of your eternal life.

Successful Service - 2 Chronicles 31:21

"And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered."

During his reign over Judah, King Hezekiah cleansed the temple, restored temple worship, and organized the priests.

In other words, he made serving God his personal and professional responsibility and he was successful at it.

Hezekiah's formula for success in serving God was simple:

1. Align your service to God with His commands;
2. Seek God's will in everything you do for Him; and
3. Make serving God your main priority.

You can be successful for God if you will follow this simple formula for serving Him.

Truth Professionals - 1 John 1:6-7

"If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." The Apostle John says in the preceding verse (vs. 5) that God is light. Therefore, those who walk in darkness are not walking with God, no matter what they say. John says that if you are walking in darkness then you are not practicing the truth. By contrast, those who walk in the light reflect God's glory; they walk in the same way Jesus walked (vs. 2:6). The light in which they walk includes both correct doctrine (truth) and God's moral law (holiness). If you "walk in the light" then you practice the truth and your behavior is consistent with your doctrine. When you live your life each day according to God's redemptive love and moral law, then you are living the truth. You are like a practitioner of the truth, a truth professional. Just as doctors practice medicine and attorneys practice the law, Christians practice truth. As a practitioner of truth, when you “walk in the light” then your life is known to others: "You are the light of the world...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). Be a truth professional and let the way you live your life and the way you say you live your life be one in the same and to the glory of God, and the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all sin.

A Sudden Change of Heart - 2 Chronicles 29:36

"And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had prepared for the people, for the thing came about suddenly." During the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, he closed down the temple and built altars in many places around Jerusalem and in many cities in Judah to make offerings to other gods. When Hezekiah, his son, became king, the first thing he did was to open and repair the doors of the temple. Then he called in the Levites and priests and commanded them to cleanse and consecrate the temple. Sixteen days later they completed the repairs and consecration of the temple and the people of Judah brought so many sacrifices that there were not enough priests to prepare the burnt offerings. God had changed the people in such a way that they "were of a willing heart" (vs. 31). The change of heart of the people and the restoration of  temple worship happened suddenly. In fact, it was so sudden a change that the people, who but a few days earlier were ready to comply with wicked King Ahaz in his idolatrous ways, were now ready to be obey and worship God. King Hezekiah recognized the hand of God on the people and he seized the opportunity to repair the temple and restore the people of Judah to the worship of God. Like Hezekiah, we must be spiritually perceptive and prepared so that we can seize any opportunity to lead or restore a person to faith in God when the Holy Spirit is drawing her or him.

Between the Times Faith - John 20:29

"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Did you know that Jesus was talking about you when He spoke these words to Thomas during one of His appearances to His disciples after His resurrection? Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after His resurrection. Thomas declared that he would not believe in Christ's resurrection unless he saw the nail scars in Jesus' hands and the wound in His side. Christians today face a dilemma they have faced since Jesus made this statement to Thomas—that of living in that period in time after Christ’s first coming and before His second coming. Some theologians have called the age in which we live "between the times," meaning the period of time between Christ's first and second comings. While the first generation of Christians was closely connected to Christ’s first coming, all Christians since have had to address the ambiguity of the time between His first and second comings. Fortunately, according to Jesus, we "between the times" Christians are actually blessed because we have not seen Jesus face to face but have believed in Him. Although you do not now see Jesus in person, you know that you will see Him at His second coming; therefore, you have no disadvantage to Jesus' first century followers and are, actually, enriched in your love for Him, your faith in Him, and your joy received from Him: "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).

God's Marvelous Help - 2 Chronicles 26:15

"And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong." During his fifty-two year reign in Jerusalem, King Uzziah built towers, dug many wells, organized a large army, conquered surrounding nations, and made devices for the defense of the city. Uzziah was a remarkable king who had a broad interest in the improvement of his kingdom and because of his many achievements, his fame spread among other nations. For all his accomplishments he became strong because he was marvelously helped by God. Unfortunately, Uzziah began to trust in his own strength forgetting that it was the marvelous help of God that brought him prosperity and success. Uzziah transgressed against the Lord by entering the temple to burn incense on the altar, a ceremony of religious worship that was performed by a priest. It seemed that Uzziah was not content with the authority God had given him as king and apparently wanted to add priestly functions to his royal power. You also, have been marvelously helped by God. In fact, the "marvelous help of God" is a fitting description of the enabling power of the Holy Spirit that is at work in your life: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth...for he dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit will marvelously help you and make you strong in the Lord; but remember where your strength comes from and give God the glory because pride is always lurking behind any success that you may achieve through God's help.

The Quest for Truth - John 18:37

"For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." This statement was made by Jesus to Pilate at His trial before Pilate. Pilate's rhetorical question to Jesus in the following verse, "What is truth?" glibly dismisses the relevance of truth in the very presence of the One who is truth incarnate. Ironically, the one charged with determining the truth in the matter had no regard for the truth himself. Incredibly, Pilate sought no answer from the only One who was The Answer: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (vs. 14:6). People have not changed much over the last two thousand years. There are many who say that there is no truth or that truth is relative. If you have found truth in Jesus Christ, then you know that there is absolute truth in this post-modern world. But truth once discovered becomes a journey, not a destination. The pursuit of truth lasts a lifetime--it doesn't stop with that initial understanding. It's just that now you know where to find it. As a follower of Jesus, you are a lover of truth, a truth-seeker. Now you are involved in a lifelong quest for truth and God graciously reveals His truth--reveals Himself--to you as you seek after Him.

Time for a Tune-Up? - 2 Chronicles 23-24

"And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest" (vs. 2). The story of Joash, king of Judah, is an object lesson we all need to take to heart. When Joash's father, the king, died prematurely, his father's mother usurped the throne. She had all of the royal family killed, but Joash, the infant heir to the throne, was concealed in the temple for six years by his aunt and uncle, Jehoida, the high priest. Jehoida led a coup to restore the throne to the house of David and install the rightful heir, Joash, as king. In the first part of Joash's reign while Jehoida was alive, Joash was devoted to the restoration of the temple and adherence to God's law. After Jehoida, the high priest, died Joash succumbed to the evil counsel of certain leaders in Judah who identified with the evil ways of Ahab, the former king of Israel and so Joash established idolatrous practices in Judah. Joash even commanded that the prophet Zechariah, who was the son of Jehoida, be put to death because he spoke against the king. In a battle with the Syrians Joash was severely wounded and brought to Jerusalem where he was killed by his own officials in revenge for Zechariah's death. King Joash's faith was dependent upon Jehoida and once Jehoida was gone, so was Joash's faith. Furthermore, Joash listened to bad advice from the wrong spiritual advisors. Joash couldn't handle dissent--everyone around him had to agree with him. The lessons we can learn from Joash are to always guard your faith; don't let your faith be based on the faith of someone else; be careful who you listen to for spiritual advice and then be careful of the spiritual advice that others give; and don't dissociate yourself from those who disagree with you because God may be using them to reprove and discipline you! Your faith requires continual maintenance--is it time for tune-up?

Jesus' Prayer For You - John 17:20-21

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." Did you know that Jesus prayed for you when He walked the earth two thousand years ago? In John 17 Jesus prayed first for himself (vs. 1–5), then for his disciples (vs. 6–19), and then for later believers, which includes you and me (vs. 20–26). So what did Jesus pray for us? Of all the things Jesus might have prayed for us, He prayed for our unity (vs. 21–23) and that God's love would be manifest through us (vs. 26). While it's easy to understand why He would pray for God's love for us, why unity when there are plenty of other needs to pray for us? When Jesus prayed for future believers, He prayed for those of us who believe in Him because of the message passed to each generation of believers from the apostles (vs. 20). The only way we could be believers of the the apostles' message two thousand years later is because there is internal consistency to the message and among those proclaiming it. In other words, there is unity among those who believe and declare the message so that what is believed is the same as what is declared and vice versa. If there is not unity among Jesus' believers, then we send mixed messages and nobody knows what to believe and either believe a lie or believe nothing at all about the gospel. Unity starts with each of us individually and is built on love for one another collectively. So that's why Jesus prayed for you: "I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me" (vs. 23).

When God Does What You Ask For - John 16:23-24

"Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full." This enigmatic command is repeated by Jesus three times in John 14-16 (see 14:13-14, 15:16, and 16:23-24). It must be important if Jesus repeats it to His disciples three times on the same occasion (at the Last Supper). What does Jesus mean to ask the Father in His name and the Father will do it? The obvious answer is that up to this point Jesus had been with His disciples in person and so there wasn't much need to pray to God the Father when Jesus was right there with them in person to supernaturally intervene in people's lives. Now Jesus is going away (in physical presence) and so He is teaching them a different way to ask of or pray to God that applies also to us. With each repetition of this command Jesus taught the disciples more about how this new prayer relationship with God works. When Jesus tells the disciples in chapter 14 that He will do whatever they ask in His name, He also tells them to believe that He acts by the authority of God the Father because He is of the same nature as the Father and they can act on His authority (as God) when they do the same works that He did (vs. 10-14). In chapter 15 Jesus tells the disciples that He will tell them what He has heard from the Father, that is, He will reveal God's plans or will to them so they can be productive for God's Kingdom (vs. 15-16). In chapter 16 Jesus tells His disciples that they can have a happy and fulfilled life because they can talk to God the Father directly in Jesus' name. God will do what you ask of Him (and you will have a happy life) when you ask by the authority granted you by Jesus as His obedient disciple and you ask those things that are consistent with God's character and will.

God's B.F.F. (Best Friends Forever) - John 15:14-15

"You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." Jesus promises that if we do what He has told us to do, we can be best friends with God and He will be best friends with us. In the parlance of MySpace and Facebook, God is inviting you to be His friend. Think about it. The eternal, omnipotent Creator of the universe wants to be friends with you! In the Old Testament only Abraham (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8) and Moses (Exodus 33:11) were called “friends" of God. Now Jesus extends this privilege to all obedient believers. And when you are friends with God, then He wants to tell you what He is doing just like you tell your friends what you are doing (Isn't telling your friends what you are doing the fundamental premise of Facebook and MySpace?). Now a friendship is a two-way street and God wants you to be His friend not just so you can be saved, but also so your life can be fruitful and productive in fulfilling the plans and purposes God has in mind for you: "I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you" (vs. 16).

The Dwelling Places of God - John 14:23

"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." The Greek word for "home" (monē meaning dwelling place) used in this verse is the same word used for for "many rooms" in vs. 2 of this chapter: "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?" In vs. 2 Jesus gives the assurance that each of His followers has an eternal dwelling place with Him and He is going there to prepare it. In vs. 23 Jesus and the Father come to dwell (by the Holy Spirit) with those who love Him and keep His word so that His followers can prepare for their eternal dwelling place: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you" (vs. 15-16). Jesus gives us an assurance for this life that there is an assurance of eternal life with Him. The Holy Spirit (and Father and Son) dwell with us to help prepare us for our eternal life with Them. In other words, you will dwell with God then because He dwells with you now so that you will be prepared to live eternally in the place Jesus has prepared for you!

God's Power of Attorney - John 14:12-13

"Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do." Jesus not only had power to do God's works, He also enabled those who believed in Him, His disciples, to do the same. Because Jesus was born of God and was God, He exercised His authority by birthright. Since we are the created beings of God and not of the Divine Nature as was Jesus, we are granted the authority that Jesus had not by birthright but by proxy when we ask in Jesus' name. When Jesus said to ask in His name and He will do it, He was giving His power of attorney. Power of attorney is a legal concept or transaction authorizing one to act as an agent on behalf of the one granting the authority. Once Jesus had atoned for the sins of the whole world, He returned to heaven and gave His power of attorney to His disciples. God has put us in charge of His Kingdom until Christ the King returns, but He has not left us powerless. He has granted us authority and power to seize this world for His Kingdom. When we individually and collectively ask God for the accomplishment of His will, God's power is released through us to accomplish the same things Jesus did and even more. Just as power and authority was vested in Jesus by the Father: "The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works" (vs. 10), our personal relationship to Christ is the only legal basis for our authority in His Kingdom, and that authority is effective only to the extent that it expresses God's will.

Your Divine Counselor - 2 Chronicles 10:16

"And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David. So all Israel went to their tents." The reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, is marked by the division of Israel into the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah). The division of the kingdom was the direct result of Rehoboam listening to the wrong people and following their bad advice. When Rehoboam became king, the people of Israel gathered before Rehoboam and asked him to lessen the use of forced labor. Rehoboam first conferred with the elders, the older men who were Solomon's advisors, and then with the young men who were his friends and contemporaries. The older men advised Rehoboam to lighten the service of the people but the young men advised Rehoboam to increase the service of the people. Rehoboam, "forsaking the counsel of the old men" (vs. 13), threatened his subjects "according to the counsel of the young men" saying he would increase their forced labor even more than what Solomon, his father, required. As a result of Rehoboam's poor decision-making, all the people of the northern tribes renounced allegiance to Rehoboam according to the saying of vs. 16. So be careful not only about the the spiritual counsel you choose to follow, but also about who is giving the counsel. The Holy Spirit is the One you should seek for spiritual advice--He is your Divine Counselor. "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" (John 14:26). "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13).

When the Righteous Die and the Wicked Live - Ezekiel 33:18-19

"When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this." This warning spoken by God through the prophet Ezekiel hardly seems fair. The formerly righteous person dies while the formerly wicked person lives! God explains His position on this matter in vs. 13-16. If a righteous person trusts in his own righteousness, which causes him to act unjustly, then none of his righteous acts matter and he is responsible for the injustice he has inflicted and he shall die. But if a wicked person repents and turns from her sin and begins to do what is just and right, then she shall live. God's redemption is always tempered by divine justice. What matters is Who you trust in--yourself or God. The self-righteous person really only trusts in himself, not God. The penitent person no longer trusts in herself, but God. What matters in the end is what was the transforming effect of God's redemption on your life? In fact, it is a matter of life or death!

If My People Pray - 2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." After the temple was built and dedicated, the glory of the Lord filled the temple (vs. 1–3) and God appeared to Solomon and told him that He had heard Solomon's prayer (vs. 12–22). God's answer to Solomon's prayer was a message of repentance and restoration. God's purpose above all is to forgive his people and heal their land when they repent of their evil ways. This verse describes the process of individual and collective repentance: humble oneself, ask God for forgiveness and mercy, and turn away from sin and unrighteousness. When God's people truly repent, then He will “heal their land,” which includes not only deliverance from drought and pestilence but the restoration of people to their right relationship with God. Be assured that God hears you and will restore you into fellowship with Him when you repent and turn away from your sin and unbelief.

The Most Powerful Words Ever Spoken - John 11:25-26

"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” Word came to Jesus while He was on the other side of the Jordan River that his good friend Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, was very ill. By the time Jesus reached Bethany where Lazarus lived, Lazarus had already died and his body placed in a tomb where it had been for four days. Martha, one of the sisters of Lazarus, came to meet Jesus as He approached the tomb where Lazarus was buried. Martha told Jesus that Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had been there before he actually died. To Jesus, it made no difference when the miracle occurred. Both a miracle of healing before physical death or a miracle of resurrection after the physical death of the Lazarus made no difference to Him because in Him and His Words were the power both to heal and resurrect people and give them eternal life. Jesus said that in Him is resurrection and eternal life. If you believe in Him you can live forever! In this simple yet powerful promise can be found the gift of eternal life. All you have to do is believe in Him and the death of your physical body will one day be transformed into eternal life.

The Door to Eternal Life - John 10:10

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Jesus used the metaphor of a sheepfold and a shepherd to tell a beautiful story in John 10:1-18 of how God desires to care for and protect His people. A sheepfold was a courtyard bordered by a stone wall in which one or more families kept their sheep for protection. A sheepfold had a gate that was sometimes guarded by a “gatekeeper” (v. 3), someone hired to stand watch or even the shepherd himself. Jesus likened Himself to the shepherd who entered the sheepfold by its door or gate to lead his sheep out to find pasture. His sheep followed him because they recognized the sound of the voice of their shepherd, the same way a family pet knows the voice of its master. When the Jews did not understand what Jesus meant, He revised the meanings behind the metaphor. In the second version of the story Jesus identified Himself as the "door" (vs. 7) or gate of the sheepfold (as well as the shepherd) and no one comes in or goes out without His authorization. So whoever enters the correct way by the gate is saved from evil (the "thieves and robbers" of vs. 1 and 8 who break in the sheepfold) and enabled to go in and out to find pasture. Then Jesus contrasts His purpose for the sheep in the sheepfold (people) with that of the evil one. While the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy people, Jesus wants people to have life in all its fullness, abundant life, eternal life. The point of the story is clear: the devil wants to destroy you, but God wants you to live eternally!

The Joy of Giving - 1 Chronicles 29:9

"Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly." In preparation for building the temple, King David accumulated precious metals and stones and wood for its construction. In addition to all the materials he accumulated as King, he gave a substantial amount of gold and silver from his personal wealth. Then he asked the leaders of Israel what they would give. They also gave a substantial amount of precious metal and stones from their personal wealth to help pay the costs of the temple construction. After these gifts were given the Israelites were joyful because everyone had willingly given without being commanded. They gave freely to the Lord and the result was that it made them happy! David acknowledged that what they gave was only what God had given them in the first place: "For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you" (vs. 14). Giving to God is not a burden but an expression of our worship of Him. When done willingly and freely with a whole heart, giving makes you happy! But always remember that when you give to God you are really just giving back to God what He has blessed you with in the first place.

Planners and Builders of the Kingdom - I Chronicles 28

King David assembled all the military, civic, and religious leaders of Israel and declared that God had revealed to him that not him but his son Solomon would build the temple. David had formulated comprehensive plans to build the temple because "he had it in his heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord" (vs. 2). Because God wanted Solomon rather than David to buid the temple, David turned the plans and preparations over to Solomon, his son, who would be the one to build the temple. David gave Solomon “the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord,” (vs 12). David said that God had made it clear to him “in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan” (vs 19). God inspires us in different ways by His Spirit to do His work. Some develop plans; some construct the buildings or implement the programs. So he who plans and she who builds are both are doing the work of the Lord. Whether your role in God's Kingdom is planner or builder, let the Holy Spirit give you inspiration for using the abilities God has given you to advance His Kingdom!