TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 12:1-9
Without faith it is impossible to please God. - Hebrews 11:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
The idea of leaving your comfort zone to serve Jesus Christ has become a popular theme in Christian circles these days. Our comfort zone is the area where we feel safe, the boundaries we draw around our world to protect ourselves from risk and possible rejection. For some believers, leaving their comfort zone may mean speaking up for Christ at work, or witnessing to a neighbor. For others, it may mean packing up and heading halfway around the world. s patriarch Abraham, probably didnt realize that he was in his comfort zone while living in Ur. But he certainly was comfortablea prosperous man with no reason to leave everything and follow the call of a God his fathers did not know. s exactly what Abraham did. And because this man was willing to pack up and plant a For Sale sign in his front yard, we can enjoy the blessings of faith today. restatement of his call, because Acts 7:2-3 tells us that God originally called him when he was still living in Ur. Genesis 11:31 records the response of Abraham and his family to because Abrahams father Terah was old and near death. There, God restated His call to Abraham (12:1), who promptly obeyed. they were made before Abraham had even arrived, much less become established, in Canaan.for promises that seemed humanly impossible for a 75-year-old man with a barren wife. the Lord (vv. 7-8). These acts of worship were also an indication of Abrahams trust in s promisesall the more so because everywhere he went, Abraham saw Canaanites. He was about as far out of his comfort zone as a man could get.As you read todays lesson, you might have thought, Theres only one Abraham.all of us. Theres one way you can follow Abrahams example even now, before you get too comfortable in 1998. Is there something old and familiar that God is asking you to leave behind, such as a habit or an attitude? Why not let it go? Or perhaps God is calling you to something new and unknown, a step of service or faith that seems challenging. What better time than now to step out in faith?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 15:1-6
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. - Genesis 15:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
The spoils system of American politics, in which friends and supporters of an election winner look for appointments to office and other favors, was working well at the end of the nineteenth century. So well, in fact, that two presidents, James Garfield and Grover Cleveland, claimed they were driven to distraction by hungry office-seekers. Cleveland told one man that these seekers haunted him in his dreams.offered a chance to take home more spoils than he could carry as a reward for victory (Genesis 14). But he refused to obligate himself to anyone but the Lord, and his faith was richly rewarded. ll notice that todays text begins with two important words: After this. After what? After the events of Genesis 14, when Abraham pursued and defeated the four-king coalition that had swept through Sodom and the surrounding area, carrying off Abrahamnephew Lot among their other captives.s rescue, and he offered to let Abraham keep all of the plunder (Gen. 14:21). But Abraham refused to keep even a thread, revealing his trust in God alone for his reward.s faith with another incredible promise (15:1). Abrahams question concerning the fulfillment of the promise was not an expression of doubt, but an honest statement of reality. He was old, and his wife Sarah was unable to have children. s answer to Abrahams need was to restate His promise in unmistakable terms. Abrahams heir would come from his own body, not from a house-born servant. And from that son would come a posterity as innumerable as the stars.righteousness, according to todays verse. Paul referred to this moment in Romans 4:1-3 when he discussed salvation by faith as opposed to salvation by works. Abrahamtremendous faith made an astounding difference for the kingdom of God.s ask Him to use us in making a difference for His Kingdom too!Are you asking and believing God for something that seems far too big for your circumstances? If not, why not?We are coming to a King. Large petitions we must bring.re not talking about name it, claim it prosperity, but faith that trusts God to impact lives and circumstances for His glory. If you arent trusting God for something impossible, ask Him today to enlarge your faith.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 1:1-28
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. - Psalm 116:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many years ago, a young mother was making her way on foot across the hills of South Wales, carrying her infant son. A blinding blizzard overtook the pair, and the mother never reached her destination. Searchers found her lifeless body, with the baby snuggled beneath her, warm and alive. She had wrapped her outer clothing and scarf around the boy and then covered him with her own body. That baby grew up to be David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister and one of Englands greatest statesmen.s little doubt that Hannah would gladly have made the ultimate sacrifice for her baby if God had required it. We could fill a library with the volumes that have been written about the impact of this faithful motherand it would not be an overstatement. This godly woman wanted a child so much that her anguished prayer at the tabernacle in Shiloh drew the attention of the priest Eli (vv. 12-14). conceive. But she stands out in our survey of people who made a difference because she made an extraordinary vow to the Lordand kept it. Hannahs faithfulness was key to the way God used her son, Samuel, to touch the nation Israel.s vow was sincere. She promised God that if He would give her a son, she would give him back all the days of his life (v. 11). Samuel was still a toddler when his mother brought him to Eli at Shiloh, the worship center in those days. t let Godanswer to her prayer give her amnesia concerning her vow. If were not careful, we can make promises to God in times of need that we forget about later. Humanly speaking, it could not have been easy for Hannah to leave Samuel at the tabernacle at such a tender age. But she had made a vow. was a way of life for her and her husband, Elkanah, Hannah felt at home in the tabernacle pouring out her heart to God (vv. 3-7). And God heard her cry.Have you ever made a vow to God? It can be a great moment of commitment, as it was for Hannah.because God has a blessing for you in it. Heres a vow you may want to make to the Lord today: to be consistent this month, even this year, in your appointment with Him in daily prayer and Bible study.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 2:11-18; 3:1-11
Speak, for your servant is listening. - 1 Samuel 3:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the reformer John Calvin first arrived in Geneva, he found a city in moral, political, and spiritual chaos. Violence and vice were common, and Christianity was only accepted as long as it did not make any real demands on the people. Calvin found this state of affairs intolerable and went to work to improve it. One historian says that Calvinpreaching and public influence helped turn one of Europe’s most licentious cities into the cradle of Protestantism.His life was a ringing testimony to what one person can do. So was the life of Samuel, the boy who grew up in the Lord’s house.prayer. He was set apart for God’s service as a very small child. Having a mother like Hannah gave Samuel a great spiritual start in life. And it soon became obvious that he too was a person who had a great heart for the Lord.lay on his bed one night. The story has a charming, innocent feel to it as it is told in most children’s Bible story books, and it is a wonderful story.storybook kind. This lad was living in the midst of scandalous corruption in God’s house, as today’s reading makes clear. Later we learn that they were committing immorality (2:22) and that Eli made only a halfhearted attempt to discipline them (v. 23). In fact, verse 25 makes the startling declaration that God had pronounced these young men worthy of death!in today’s verse, set the stage for Samuel’s distinguished life of service as Israel’s last prophet. His faithfulness saw Israel through a spiritually desperate period in its history.Samuel’s response to the Lord is a great prayer for any believer of any age to offer.Listen, Lord, for your servant is speaking, while the attitude of Samuel says, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Of course, we are right to make our needs and requests known to the Lord. But we also need to nurture the heart attitude of a listener, for ’s Spirit will not try to outshout the world to get our attention. Are you ready to listen today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 1:35-42
We have found the Messiah (that is, the Christ). - John 1:41
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dudley Tyng was a pastor in Philadel-phia during the revival of 1858. God used Tyng to stir thousands of men to commitment. One day Tyng was visiting in the country when his arm was caught in a threshing machine and mangled so badly that he died of shock and loss of blood. On his deathbed, the young pastor whispered to a group of friends, Let us all stand up for Jesus. A fellow pastor named George Duffield took Tyngs words to heart and wrote a poem to his friend. The poem was set to music, and we now know it as the gospel song Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.s brother Andrew was a young man much like Dudley Tyng. Andrew had the heart of a disciple, and he clearly loved the things of God. message of repentance and preparation for the coming of Messiah (v. 40). s disciples, which meant that his heart was ready and open to believe in Jesus. And although Andrew probably did not have the ability to stir thousands with his oratory, he stirred at least one very important personhis brother Peterto get up and seek out Christ. In doing so, Andrew became another individual who made a real difference.followed Jesus, and he brought others to Jesus. When you think about it, thats not a bad epitaph for anyone!Jesus. The two accepted Jesus invitation to come and see where He was staying. What an afternoon that must have been! Andrew became convinced that he had found Israelpromised Messiah, and he excitedly told Peter so.(John 6:8-9); and he, along with Philip, helped some Greeks who were trying to find Jesus (John 12:22). background once Peter arrived on the scene. Andrew accomplished what God had for him to do, and God blessed his dedication.There are certainly more Andrews among us than Petersand thats fine, because without Andrew we dont know who would have brought Peter to Jesus.the case, we hope that praying for lost friends and relatives is part of your daily devotional routine. Why not ask God to give you a divine appointment this week to introduce someone to Christ, as Andrew did?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 14:1-9
Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. - Matthew 4:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1920, Gladys Aylward sailed for China from her home in Great Britain. Once there she took in children who had been orphaned and were left either to starve or to be placed in government orphanages that were similar to warehouses. This godly woman gave these children a home, and years later when the Japanese army invaded China, she had to flee with 100 of the children. Gladys Aylward’s selfless service for Christ was so remarkable that it became the subject of a book, The Simple Woman, and a film titled The Inn of the Sixth Happiness.ordinary person. But she did one thing extremely well: she loved Jesus with a devotion that few others ever showed. And Jesus Himself guaranteed that the story of Mary devotion would be preserved for every generation of believers to read and imitate.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 9:9-13
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. - Matthew 9:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified twenty-one careers that offer high earnings, fast growth, and lots of openings for the 21st century. Not surprisingly, several of the jobs are in the field of computers and technology, and at least four of the careers are related to education. Professions such as law, medicine, and business are also well represented, with writing and art also making the list.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 6:5-22
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. - Hebrews 11:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
While trying to figure out the maximum intensity possible for a hurricane, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology stumbled onto a computer model of an incredibly powerful storm they dubbed a hypercane. This stormwhich one newspaper says conjures images from the Old Testamentfeatures a column of storm clouds forty miles high, packing winds of more than 600 miles per hour. The scientists speculate that such giant storms may have once dominated the earths oceans and may be partly responsible for having wiped out the dinosaurs. But at this point, hypercanes are strictly hypothetical.s reference to giant, Old Testament-type storms is an obvious allusion to the flood of Noah. The biblical flood has been the subject of endless research and various scientific models. But theres only one model that truly explains the flood: the judgment of God. And by the same token, theres only one model that explains the salvation of Noah: the grace of God.s hard to find a better example than Noah. This man who was righteous and blameless (v. 9) preserved the line of human existence at a time when God was so grieved at mankinds sin that his heart was filled with pain (v. 6).have forgotten the graphic way Gods Word describes the human condition in Noahs day. Because the race was completely corrupt, God was ready to do away with His creation. and was living according to His standards. Verse 8 is one of those hinge verses on which history swings, and we can be thankful that God swung the door of His grace open to receive Noah and his family.s instructions to Noah regarding the ark and Noahs response reveal that he was obedient as well as upright. With no evidence to go on other than Godpronouncement, Noah did everything God told him to do the way God told him to do it. t have computer models or meteorological charts to stir him. He just had faith, and his faith moved him to act for God.In todays society, we usually have all the information we can handle. Theres nothing wrong with gathering the facts about a decision or a circumstance facing us. Our challenge is to make sure that we dont let the charts and graphs supersede our faith. If God called you to take a Noah-like step of faith that seemed to counter all of the evidence, would He get an argument of earthly reasoning in reply? Or would He get a reply of wholehearted obedience? Lets consider these questions together today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 2:1-16
A woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned. - Proverbs 31:30-31
TODAY IN THE WORD
The late British Bible teacher W.H. Griffith Thomas told of a missionary who, translating the New Testament into a tribal language, discovered that the people had no equivalent for the biblical concept of faith. The missionary searched for a way to explain faith to them for months. Then one day he got an idea. He lifted his feet off the floor and put his full weight on the chair he was sitting on. When he asked his native translation helper what he was doing, the man replied, You are leaning wholly on the chair. The missionary then had the words he needed to explain faith to the tribe.s doubtful that the pagan culture of Jericho provided the prostitute Rahab with the language to describe faith in the true God. But she had heard enough about the God of Israel to know that she wanted herself and her family to belong to Him.she had risked her life to protect them. She said that it was because the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below (v. 11). s actions, put her in very select company. She appears in GodHall of Faith (Heb. 11:31); she joined Abraham as a classic example of faith that included works (James 2:25); and most remarkable of all, she became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:5). s house were so grateful for her protection that they pledged their lives to guarantee her safety. Their oath met with Gods approval, for when Israel conquered Jericho, Rahab and her family were rescued (Josh. 6:22-25). s full story isnt really told until we come to Joshua 6:23-25. She and her family were brought out of Jericho and placed outside the camp of Israelmost likely as a waiting period for them to be ceremonially cleansed according to tradition. She then lived among the Israelites the rest of her life, leaving her past in Jericho to become a follower of God.past can do a great deal if he or she is willing to turn to Christ in faith and allow Him to forgive.We all have a past the Bible says: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God(Rom. 3:23).exchanging it for His forgiveness and eternal life (Rom. 6:23). If you are at all unsure about your salvation, you can make the best decision you will ever make in 1998 or any other year by coming to Christ today. Admit your sin and believe that Christ died for you (Rom. 5:. Put your trust in Him alone, and He will save you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 24:1-18
Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ...But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. - Joshua 24:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the plan to rebuild Western Europe was formulated after World War II, President Harry Truman referred to it as the Marshall Plan because of the brilliant contributions of Secretary of State George Marshall. The plan was a spectacular success and has been called one of the greatest achievements of this or any century. Joshua is an example of a leader who had such a plan for his people that, if followed, would bring spectacular success.Joshua Plan is brilliant in its simplicity. In fact, it is contained in one very famous verse, part of which is quoted above (v. 15). As the people of Israel prepared to settle into the Promised Land and claim their inheritance, Joshua urged them to make the most critical choice any individual or household could ever make: the choice to serve the Lord alone.prefaced his charge with a review of God’s mighty acts on behalf of His chosen people. And he made sure that the nation’s other leaders were assembled before him to hear what the Lord had to say to them so they could choose wisely (v. 1). life beyond the River in Ur. From there, Joshua traced the miraculous deliverance and provision of God for Israel all the way up to the day on which he spoke (vv. 2-13). enjoying a land they did not work to develop. God had given it into their hands, but Joshua knew the strong temptation in the people’s hearts to worship false gods. They had carried something with them from Egypt to Canaan: a propensity to idolatry that would plague Israel for generations to come and would only be cured by judgment and exile.confront the issue at hand. By making the declaration of verse 15, Joshua not only helped secure the blessing of his own generation; he also inspired countless generations of believers to commit their homes to serving the Lord.You may have grown up in a home where Joshua 24:15 hung on the wall in a plaque or cross-stitch. on the coming year and on the generation ahead. Sometime today, why not gather your family together, read this great portion of Scripture, and commit yourselves and your home to the Lord for 1998?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Esther 4:1-17
Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? - Esther 4:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the Western Union company asked the great inventor Thomas Edison to name his price for the ticker he had invented, Edison asked for a few days to think it over. His wife suggested $20ꯠ, but Edison thought that was too much. When the time came for the meeting, the Western Union official asked Edison for his price. Edison wanted to say $20ꯠ but couldn’t get the words out of his mouth. So the official broke the silence. Well, how about $100ꯠ?Esther must have felt during the situation she encountered in Persia. She was afraid even to approach King Xerxes with her appeal for the Jews, let alone to expect him to grant it in abundance. But after God moved in the king’s heart and gave Esther the courage to take a very difficult step, she became a true biblical heroine. of God but reveals His sovereign hand from beginning to end. The main players in the drama included the Persian king, one member of his court, and the Jewish people who were still living in Persia more than 100 years after Nebuchadnezzar first deported the people of Judah to Babylon.king’s counselor Haman was able to get Xerxes to sign a decree providing for the destruction of all Jews in the kingdom. As the queen and a Jew, Esther was squarely on the spot to do something. to Esther (vv. 7-8). We can only imagine the uncertainty she must have felt, since it was her life if the king refused to receive her.would precede her approaching the king. As the rest of the book unfolds, God gave Esther favor with Xerxes and enabled her to save her people.to commit her life to God’s providence (v. 16). In less dramatic ways, we are called to do the same every day.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 1:1-21
Those who honor me I will honor. - 1 Samuel 2:30
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the popular children’s book The Secret Garden, Frances Burnett tells the story of the young girl Mary Lennox. Her childhood was spent in India, as her father worked for the English government there. For reasons un-known, Mary’s parents kept her hidden from the outside world.died...and Mary was forgotten until some soldiers happened upon her. As there was no family living in India to care for her, Mary was then sent to England to live with her Uncle Archibald Craven whom she had never met, in a place she had never been.far from family and all that is familiar! This happened to Daniel when King Nebuchad-nezzar conquered Jerusalem and took the people to Babylon and Daniel was probably just a teenager when he was taken. foundation that kept him upright. Daniel had an amazingly strong commitment to the Lord.prisoners refuse to cooperate with their captors. But Daniel took that risk because he had his eye on Someone bigger than the king. He was committed to being pure before God, no matter the cost.Because God honored Daniel’s resolve, his diet became the diet of all the young men being trained for the king’s service (v. 16). And when the three-year training was over, God blessed them further by gifting them beyond the wisest counselors Nebuchadnezzar had around him. It’s worth noting that Daniel chose his battles wisely. He didn’t seem to object to being given a Babylonian name or to being trained in the language and learning of his captors. But when it came to the revealed law and will of God, Daniel was immovable. Daniel knew God and His Word, and nothing could make him say yes, or even maybe, when God had said no.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 6:1-28
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble. - Psalm 32:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
A Gallup Poll recently commissioned in Great Britain by The Daily Telegraph produced some surprising results. While most of the British are proud of their nation’s history as a great empire, fifty- three percent of the people polled did not know that the United States was once a British colony. And nearly half believed that Australia was still being governed from London! An eminent British historian said of the poll: We’re living in a world which is terribly, and dangerously, ignorant of history.God had honored his commitment as a teenager in Babylon and had delivered his friends from a fiery furnace when they took their stand (Dan. 3). rule of another pagan empire. Daniel’s jealous fellow administrators convinced King Darius of Persia to take the title of god for a month. The decree put Daniel squarely on the spot, which was the goal of their conniving plan.spiritual integrity. They were confident that when it came to the law of his God (Dan. 6:5), Daniel would not hesitate to follow his convictions.faithfulness to the true God, and he wasn’t about to let a no prayer law stop his daily worship. disobedience, and they immediately went to Darius with their evidence. The sentence for any violator had already been declaredso, without recourse, it was the lions den for Daniel (vv. 15-16).Daniel in the Lions Den has been relegated to children’s Bible storybooks for so long that we adults often overlook its power. The fact is that Daniel was exposing himself to the fury of an all-powerful state, and there was no place to hide and no other human who could help him if he chose to do right. do. He knew what was right, and he believed God would prove Himself faithful again. Daniel’s godly courage should give us new resolve to serve God without reservation.ve been talking for the past two days about Daniel’s spiritual strength of character. Each of us has weak points, places where we are vulnerable to Satan’s seductions. Do you know your weak spots? You can be sure your enemy does! Today, choose one area and jot down two or three steps you can take to guard yourself. Then submit your list to God and ask Him to protect you and keep you pure for His service.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 18:16-46
If the LORD is God, follow him. - 1 Kings 18:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the fourth century A.D. the city of Constantinople was stirred by the preaching of a man named John, who was later nicknamed Chrysostom (golden-mouthed) for his powerful message delivery. The capital of the Roman Empire had become a center of political and ecclesiastical corruption when John was named Bishop of Constantinople in 398. Because John’s uncompromising stand for truth soon got him in trouble with the authorities, he was banished, recalled, and banished again. He died in 407 A.D. from the rigors of his journey to a remote place of exile.nation’s history.(17:2-4). Over the next few years, the drought took effect in Israel and the people began to suffer. God’s words from the mouth of Elijah had come true. Now it was time for Elijah to confront Ahab again (18:1-2).God. But it was the people of Israel who were on trial. Elijah did not say, We are now going to prove which God is real.was true. Elijah’s challenge can be paraphrased this way: If the LORD is God [and you know He is], then quit being disloyal and follow Him alone.draw that line. However, because Elijah was willing to do so, the victory belonged to the Lord that day.When it comes to stirring and courageous biblical figures, it’s hard to find a better example than Elijah.threat (1 Kings 19). He even thought his life was over and prayed at one point that he might die (v. 4). victory? It happens, because the aftermath can be a time of vulnerability if we relax and let our guard down. Ask God to help you keep alert and on guard, even as you enjoy moments of spiritual victory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 24:1-27
Praise be to the LORD ...who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. - Genesis 24:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
James Gordon Bennett was a Scotsman who came to the United States when he was twenty-four. He taught school for awhile but soon became interested in the newspaper business. As founder and editor of the New York Herald Tribune, Bennett revolutionized the industry by sending reporters out to gather the news, instead of waiting for news to come in to the newsroom. son of promise through whom God’s covenant would be fulfilled. And rather than waiting around for a bride to appear, Abraham took a proactive step. So Abraham entrusted the task of finding a suitable bride for Isaac to his chief servant, who was most likely Eliezer (Gen. 15:2). This man had a formidable job, because he swore the Lord (Gen. 24:3) that he would fulfill Abraham’s directions. There was a lot more at stake here than simply following an old man’s wishes.Abraham’s home country in Mesopotamia. It was a long trip and Eliezer feared that even if he found a potential bride for Isaac, she might not want to return with him to Canaan (v. mission successful. Now it was time for Abraham’s faithful servant to act on that assurance as he came to the area where Abraham had been born. Rebekah in answer to his specific prayer, Eliezer responded in worship and praise for ’s blessing both to Abraham and to himself.everyman kind of person. In the array of Bible heroes and heroines we have met this month, he is one who served God behind the scenes. But his faithfulness as a servant made an important difference to Abrahamand ultimately to us, because we are also blessed through Abraham.Most of us identify more easily with Eliezer than we do with the great names in Bible history.you are making a difference! For example, your service brings eternal glory to God. possible that your everyday acts of obedience are having an impact far beyond what you can see. That makes today the right time to renew your commitment to be faithful where you are.