TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:8-22
God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. - Hebrews 11:16
TODAY IN THE WORD

Let's suppose you are out driving on a hot day with your windows rolled up and the air-conditioner humming. You pull alongside another car at a red light and notice that the driver, whose windows are also rolled up, is tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. His mouth is moving and his head is swaying slightly back and forth--all for no apparent reason. Would you assume he was crazy, or would you just look away and drive on?

Chances are you would do the latter, having concluded that the other driver was simply listening to a song you couldn't hear.

That's the way it is with faith. God's Old Testament faithful ones were not beside themselves with the desert heat. They persevered because they ""saw him who is invisible"" (v. 27). They were, in effect, listening to a song others couldn't hear.

Abraham remains the classic example of a life of faith. Consider the greatness of this amazing man's faith. He journeyed forth at God's command, not knowing where he was going. He looked forward to a city that he was never to see in his lifetime. By their faith, he and Sarah had a child when it was all but impossible for them to conceive.

And in the greatest individual act of faith ever recorded, Abraham set out to sacrifice his long-awaited son, not knowing how God would fulfill His promises.

No wonder Abraham's descendants could also speak of things even far in the future as if they had already happened! Joseph spoke of the exodus from Egypt and ""gave instructions about his bones"" (v. 22) many years before the actual event.

Notice how the author of Hebrews stopped in the middle of his narration about Abraham to make some important summary comments (vv. 13-16). Given the readers' current situation, these verses would have carried a good deal of impact.

The point seems to be that if believers such as Abraham could keep on in faith throughout their whole lives without seeing all of God's promises fulfilled, the readers could make it too.

Moreover, Abraham didn't keep looking over his shoulder, sighing over what he had left behind and wishing he could go back to the easy life he had known. The obvious parallel to the Hebrews' condition could not have escaped their notice.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Do you ever have a little ""sanctified nostalgia,"" reminiscing about the good old days when you were a new believer, full of faith and on fire for the Lord?

Well, those days may be gone--but the Lord is the same today (Heb. 13:! Would you like to be more daring, more enthusiastic for Jesus Christ as you walk with Him along the way? We suggest you talk to Him about this today. Just be ready for the answer--a desire for greater faith pleases the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:23-31
[Moses] persevered because he saw him who is invisible. - Hebrews 11:27
TODAY IN THE WORD

On April 27, 1874, Mississippi Senator L.Q.C. Lamar made a politically risky speech to his surprised colleagues. Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, an abolitionist who was said to have been the most hated man in the South, had died. But Lamar eulogized Sumner as a man who loved and defended freedom. The dramatic speech helped the cause of postwar reconciliation, although it could have backfired for Lamar and cost him his seat in the Senate.

Moses knew what it was like to take a risk for something he believed in. Why would the adopted son of Pharaoh trade the palace for the desert, give up the robes of royalty for the rags of a shepherd, and choose mistreatment over endless pampering?

Today's verse holds the answer. Moses was one of God's faithful who saw something others didn't see. Take away the faith factor, and the life-threatening risk Moses took by siding with the Hebrew slaves doesn't add up at all.

But Moses wasn't adding things up by human equations. He was a child whose life had been spared by his parents' faith in God; even so, when he came of age, Moses acted on what he knew best.

Now if you know the full story of Moses and the exodus, you will recall that his first attempt to identify with his Hebrew brethren involved the murder of an Egyptian. Why didn't the writer of Hebrews include that unsavory detail?

For the same reason that none of the failings and foibles of God's faithful are mentioned in Hebrews 11. The emphasis was on their great faith, not on those moments when they failed to act faithfully. Besides, the writer was not trying to hide anything--the readers knew the full story just as we do.

The faith choice that Moses made must have been another powerful encouragement to the Hebrews. They also needed to decide whether suffering ""disgrace for the sake of Christ"" (v. 26) was more valuable than any temporary advantage they might gain by going back to their old way of life.

You will face that choice yourself more than once. When the test comes, it makes all the difference whether you are looking back or ""looking ahead"" (v. 26).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Sometimes, it can seem as though we traded a good deal to follow Christ.

Let's consider some of those tradeoffs. When we put our faith in Christ, we traded eternal death for eternal life. We swapped out hopelessness for hope, and exchanged a futile way of living for a life filled with purpose. But that's not all. We also gave up the fading, rusting, moth-eaten rewards of earth for an everlasting inheritance in heaven. Today, we have many reasons to choose to stand up for our belief in Christ. Let's pray that God will strengthen our faith in a tangible way during the next week.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:32-40
These were all commended for their faith. - Hebrews 11:39
TODAY IN THE WORD

Dan Southern, president of the American Tract Society, tells of a friend in a small town whose house was on the route of a local parade. Because few people came out to watch, this woman stood outside her home waving at the marchers and greeting them. As the parade went on, she became more excited and began responding with great enthusiasm. Suddenly, a VIP in the parade came over to Dan's friend and gave her a hug. It was the state's governor who had noticed her enthusiasm and wanted to say thanks.

We can almost imagine the readers of Hebrews, watching the parade of the VIPs of God passing by. But the writer did not simply want his readers to watch the parade of the faithful. He was calling them to fall into step and join it.

Remember, Hebrews 11 was not written just to praise the Old Testament spiritual giants. The Hebrews were being given an armload of reasons for not shrinking back from Christ, but for persevering and gaining ""what He has promised"" (Heb. 10:36).

Verses 32-35a speak of triumph, escape, and displays of power. It's no surprise, then, to find David, Gideon, and Daniel in this list, although Daniel is not mentioned by name (v. 33).

But beginning with second half of verse 35, the picture changes from conquest to weakness and suffering. About a dozen kinds of persecution are cataloged here, and it's possible that the Hebrew believers had experienced some of them.

No one can accuse the author of sugarcoating the suffering that might await those who are committed to Christ. The Bible never denies that believers will suffer. Jesus assured us we could expect trouble (John 16:33). So the issue is not whether we will suffer, but how we will suffer.

Moses was a model of godly suffering for the Hebrews--and for us. Only someone looking to the things of eternity would choose affliction with the people of God over the short-lived pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:25-26).

This powerful chapter closes with an amazing statement. All of these great saints of the past still lacked the ""something better"" which believers on this side of the Cross enjoy: the coming of Christ and His perfect sacrifice for sin. In that sense, only together with us are they made perfect.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

We have a great advantage over the Old Testament saints. We can see the fulfillment of God's promises, we know the reality of the Cross, and we hold God's complete revelation in our hands.

It follows, then, that our commitment to live by faith should be as great as theirs, if not greater. Is that true of us today? Each of us needs to answer that question before the Lord. Maybe it's time for a spring weekend walk as you talk with the Lord and allow Him to examine your heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 12:1-11
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. - Hebrews 12:2a
TODAY IN THE WORD

Bible teacher Tony Evans tells of a farmer who was teaching his son to plow with a mule. ""To make straight furrows, son, just pick out an object beyond the field and keep your eyes fixed on it."" The boy nodded his understanding, and the farmer left.

When he came back an hour later, the farmer was shocked to see a field of twisted furrows. ""What happened, son? I thought I told you to keep your eye on an object beyond the field.""

""I did, Dad,"" the boy replied, pointing to the ""standard"" he had chosen--a cow in the adjoining pasture!

That humorous story holds a serious lesson. Whether you're plowing a field or running the race called the Christian life, it's critical that you keep your eyes on the right target. Despite all the great men and women of faith the Hebrews had just read about, only Jesus Himself was worthy of their undivided loyalty and attention.

The writer made a good bridge from the past to his readers' present by showing that the greats of history were now pulling for those believers to finish their race triumphantly. It's an interesting word picture: Christians running in the arena of life with encouraging cries from the grandstand ringing in their ears, but with their eyes fixed firmly on Jesus.

Running as Jesus ran means training hard and shedding anything that drags us down. Jesus endured great hardship and opposition to reach His finish line, the Cross. Up to this point, not much has been said about the suffering Jesus had to endure to finish His race and offer the perfect sacrifice for sin.

The writer did not dwell long on Jesus' sufferings here, but there wasn't any need to do so. The point was made: God can demand faithfulness of us because His own Son ran the most demanding race of all and finished it perfectly.

Beginning with verse 4, the imagery changes from a race to a father/child relationship--although enduring hardship is still the subject (v. 7). God's discipline is like a loving father's in that while it may seem stern, it is applied in love and has the child's ultimate good as its goal.

If we patiently bear His discipline, God promises us something no earthly father can guarantee to his children: a harvest of righteousness and peace.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Some people find it easier to exercise consistently when they have a friend to help keep them accountable.

Do you have a spiritual running partner--someone with whom you can share your heart? Accountability is a buzzword these days, but God thought of it a long time ago. Sometime today, read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and thank the Lord for giving you such a friend. And if you are running alone, ask Him for a ""running partner.""

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 12:12-17
Make every effort...to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. - Hebrews 12:14
TODAY IN THE WORD

William Carey, often considered the father of modern missions, once wrote: ""If, after my removal, anyone should think it is worth his while to write my life, I will give you a criterion by which you may judge of its correctness. If he give me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly...I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit.""

William Carey had that spiritual trait the Hebrews needed so badly: perseverance. They needed to learn how to keep running even when their arms ached and their knees felt as if they were going to buckle.

There's nothing wrong with being a plodder. In fact, it's safe to say that there are more plodders among us than there are sprinters. God's work has room for both.

As weak and wavering as the Hebrews were, it might not have occurred to them that they could strengthen others. But that is what the author encouraged them to do, so that the weakest among them would not stumble. Remember that mutual encouragement was one reason they were urged not to give up meeting together as the church (see 10:25).

Those believers were also urged to pursue peace and holiness, another way of describing sanctification or Christian growth. If the lives of the Hebrews were marked by turmoil from outside pressure and persecution instead of peace, they could at least try to ensure that they were not adding to the turmoil by their own actions.

While turmoil may not be something over which we have any control, no one can prevent us from becoming more like Jesus Christ.

This seems to be what the writer had in mind when he warned his readers against missing the grace of God. We have already established that he is not talking about a loss of salvation, but rather the tragedy of a life lived with no effectiveness for God.

There was one additional Old Testament individual that the author had in mind--but Esau was a bad example. Snubbing the holy in favor of his stomach, he suffered incredible spiritual loss. When it comes to a life like Esau's, we need to run the other way.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Has it been a while since you have looked around to see who might be following you in the race called the Christian life?

Yes, we know that you're not supposed to look behind you in a race. But this case is different. Whether you are a spouse, parent, employer, supervisor, teacher, Saturday morning coach--or just about anything else--it is almost certain that someone is looking to you as an example. Did you run a level path last week for that person to follow? It's worth thinking about today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 12:18-29
You have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. - Hebrews 12:22
TODAY IN THE WORD

One of the caricatures of God that skeptics sometimes draw is the so-called distinction between the fiery, distant, vengeful God of the Old Testament and the loving, forgiving, turn-the-other-cheek God of the New Testament.

Any first-year Bible student could refute that nonsense. The God who set Mount Sinai on fire is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God's holy character did not change between the Testaments. It is the author of Hebrews, in fact, who warned that it is fearful to fall under God's judgment (Heb. 10:31).

But there is definitely a difference between the way God manifested Himself in the Old Testament and His revelation in Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews acknowledged that right up front (Heb. 1:1-2). Throughout the book, we have seen that the old covenant, represented by the Mosaic Law, was a temporary provision pointing ahead to Jesus.

The difference between the two covenants is plainly spelled out in today's reading. The giving of the Law was an awe-inspiring, terrifying visitation of God. Even Moses trembled with fear. There was no drawing near to God with confidence on the Israelites' holy day. The people begged that the voice speak to them no more.

Now let's think of another day of darkness and gloom. As Jesus was hanging on the Cross, darkness fell over the land for several hours. The people watching the crucifixion fell silent.

When the darkness was at its deepest, Jesus cried out with a loud voice and then slumped in death. The scene was so striking that even a hardened Roman soldier had to confess: ""Surely this man was the Son of God!"" (Mark 15:39). And the temple's huge veil was torn in half.

Because Jesus died in the darkness of Calvary, the barrier between God and us that would keep us from His presence was removed. Compare these two scenes and you'll see why the book of Hebrews refers to the better covenant Jesus initiated. And you'll see why refusing Him in the sense of turning back from full commitment is so dangerous. No matter which Testament you turn to, ""Our God is a consuming fire"" (v. 29).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Even in this day of grace we are still told to worship God ""with reverence and awe"" (v. 28).

God is worthy of our reverence because He is the awesome God who will one day shake the whole creation with His voice when Christ comes to establish His kingdom (v. 27). When God gets through shaking things, only what's eternal will be left! Today, let's praise God that because of Christ's sacrifice, we can be part of His eternal kingdom.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 13:1-6
Be content with what you have, because God has said, ""Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."" - Hebrews 13:5
TODAY IN THE WORD

The story is told of a stonecutter who delivered stone to a merchant. Seeing the merchant's goods, the stonecutter wished he could be a merchant. His wish was granted, and he was happy. But then when he saw a prince riding one day, hewished to be a prince. That wish too was granted, but the man was not happy for long. He continued to wish for greater things until he became a mountain, which seemed to him the greatest thing on earth. But one day, a man came with a hammer and chisel to cut stone, and the mountain could not stop him. ""That stonecutter is greater than I,"" said the mountain. ""I wish I were a stonecutter again.""

It's hard to be content. The Hebrews probably felt like that stonecutter at times, not sure exactly what they wanted to be. They had tasted the joys of salvation in Jesus Christ; yet for whatever reason they were looking back over their shoulders.

Maybe that's why contentment was one of the traits the writer urged these believers to adopt. Being content with what you have, especially when you have the promise of God's abiding presence, has a steadying effect. And the Hebrews certainly needed a steadying hand on their lives.

Another way to bring stability to a troubled life and to help turn one's focus outward is to reach out to others. So the Hebrews were urged to continue showing family love to one another, hospitality to strangers, compassion to those imprisoned for their faith, and care for the suffering.

Abraham entertained angels without knowing it when he welcomed the strangers to his tent (Gen. 18). Did the writer mean the Hebrew believers might expect a similar experience? Not necessarily. The word angel means ""messenger,"" so the angels coming to them might have been God's messengers--visiting teachers or missionaries. But even human messengers from God were to be received as His angels.

Today's verses remind us that even in the midst of their turmoil, the Hebrews still needed to live worthy lives. They could do all of this--love others, keep themselves sexually pure, and be content--because they had God as their helper. Therefore, no real or potential threat from any human persecutor could harm them.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

God is your Helper, too--and that means you don't need to be afraid.

Is there a fear gripping your life today? If not, perhaps you know a fellow Christian who is being paralyzed by fear. For you or your friend, write out that fear and then search the Word for verses that speak to the fear. Also, commit to memory Psalm 56:3, where the psalmist, addressing God, proclaims: ""When I am afraid, I will trust in you.""

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 13:7-19
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8
TODAY IN THE WORD

British-born Bible teacher and pastor G. Campbell Morgan has become a friend this month (see the April 9 and 16 studies). Through his writings and godly influence, Dr. Morgan is one of those saints who still speaks even though he is no longer living (Heb. 11:4). Dr. Morgan's ministry of careful and thorough Bible exposition came at a crucial time in history for the church in Great Britain and America. He ministered to and helped to establish in the faith many of the thousands of new converts who flooded the churches following the work of great revivalists such as Charles Finney, D.L. Moody, Gipsy Smith, and Billy Sunday.

Campbell Morgan is one of those leaders to be remembered and imitated. The Hebrews had been led by such people, and by pointing to them the writer was probably coming at his main point another way: ""Remember the faithfulness of your early leaders, and be like them. Don't waver, give up, or turn away from Christ.""

Notice the contrast between these human leaders, who apparently were no longer on the scene, and the eternal, abiding presence of Jesus Christ. It's only because of Him and His unchanging nature that any of us can find the strength to be faithful.

At this point in the letter the author made one final plea for faithfulness to Christ. He returned to the major truth of the book: the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ had set aside the Law and made believers holy (see 2:11; 10:10, 14). There was nothing to turn back to, because, as believers in Christ, they were fed spiritually from a greater altar--probably a reference to Christ's sacrificial death.

The writer acknowledged that identifying with Christ would ""disgrace"" them in the eyes of those who were trying to turn those believers back to the old ways (v. 13). But as people who were on their way to a better and eternally enduring city, they would be foolish to turn back.

Verses 15-17 contain one final word on sacrifices, and it's a good one. As Christians, we have our own sacrifices to offer God: praise and good works from a heart of love for Christ. The same spirit of love and humility needed to be shown to their current leaders, of whom the writer considered himself a part (v. 18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

We regularly encourage our Today readers to honor their spiritual leaders.

Recall how you felt the last time someone wrote you a note of thanks or spoke a word of sincere appreciation. Why not do the same this week for your pastor or other church leader--or perhaps your spiritual parent? A good book or other gift, along with an offer to pray for any prayer requests, would also be a welcome encouragement.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 13:20-25
Grace be with you all. - Hebrews 13:25
TODAY IN THE WORD

Anne Sullivan became famous as the teacher who broke through to a blind and deaf girl named Helen Keller. But as a child, Sullivan herself suffered from vision problems and at one time was a student in a school for the blind. Surgeries in 1881 and 1887 restored Sullivan's sight, but she chose to stay at the school to work with others. It was there that she met Helen Keller.

We might compare the Jewish believers of the book of Hebrews to the young Anne Sullivan. They were having spiritual vision problems of their own. But God's will for them was to recover their sight so that they could help others in their Christian lives.

We can see this goal in the writer's warm benediction to these people whom he obviously knew and loved. His closing prayer for the Hebrews was that God would ""equip [them] with everything good for doing His will"" (v. 21).

This word ""equip"" is the same word Paul used in Eph. 4:12, where we are told that the goal of Christian teaching is to equip or prepare every Christian for works of service. And the goal of this good work is that every believer might be brought to full spiritual maturity (Eph. 4:13-16).

Given the wavering condition of the people to whom he wrote, this might seem like a pretty lofty goal for the writer to set. But that's not the case; the New Testament makes it clear that spiritual maturity and effective service are the normal Christian life, not the exception.

The writer's affection for his readers shines through in these closing lines of the letter. He had written some hard things and had issued strong warnings. But his confidence was that these brothers and sisters in Christ would receive these exhortations patiently and act on them (see Heb. 6:9).

The personal notes about Timothy's imprisonment and the greeting from ""those in Italy"" tell us that this nameless writer was well-acquainted with the leadership of the early church. These clues don't necessarily help to establish his identity, but in the end it doesn't matter.

The Holy Spirit wanted this book written anonymously--maybe because He wanted all the glory to go to Jesus Christ (v. 21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

There are two things we can say with confidence about Hebrews: it is full of great teaching about our awesome provisions in Christ, and it contains many things ""that are hard to understand"" (2 Pet. 3:16).

For these reasons, and more, we encourage you to invest time in the study of this great book. Moody Press has several excellent commentaries on Hebrews that help the everyday student to get a firm handle on the Word. Ask your local bookstore for these tools as you dig deeper into the Scriptures.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-13
Lord, teach us to pray. - Luke 11:1
TODAY IN THE WORD

In his classic work, With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray writes: ""The place and power of prayer in the Christian life is too little understood. As long as we view prayer simply as the means of maintaining our own Christian lives, we will not fully understand what it is really supposed to be. But when we learn to regard it as the highest part of the work entrusted to us...we will see that there is nothing we need to study and practice more than the art of praying.""

Murray's century-old insights remain very timely for us. What a great introduction to our topic this month: the power of prayer! You would probably be hard-pressed to find a sincere Christian who doesn't want a powerful prayer life. We all do.

But Murray reminds us that a process precedes the power. There is nothing magical or mysterious about prayer. It is a spiritual discipline, a process of learning and growing.

Jesus' disciples wanted powerful prayer lives. And they went to the right source. Luke doesn't say Jesus was holding a teaching session on prayer, or even that the disciples were praying with Him. All we know is that as Jesus was praying one day, the disciples were watching and listening, and they wanted a prayer life like His.

Jesus' response to the request was a prayer that should really be called ""The Disciple's Prayer."" Matthew records that Jesus prefaced the prayer with intructions, and we'll consider these verses later on. For today, we'll consider Jesus' answer to the disciples' request.

This prayer is a basic outline of the concerns that should be on our hearts as we approach God. The order of the concerns is all-important. Prayer that honors God and moves Him to action is prayer that focuses first on Him (Matt. 6:9-10). Our first task is to uphold and enhance His name and to desire His will and His kingdom.

Onlye then are we ready to bring our needs to God (v. 11). We don't have to do so reluctantly, since our Father urges us to make our needs known. The prayer for forgiveness and deliverence from temptation (vv. 12-13) reminds us to keep our relationships with others up to date and our eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb. 12:2).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Whether a believer is a veteran ""prayer warrior"" or a beginner, God always has something to teach him or her about prayer. Let's try an experiment today. Take a few minutes to think about and write out your greatest need when it comes to knowing how to pray--not the requests you may be praying for, but the one thing you feel you need to learn, or relearn, about prayer. Keep your card handy this month, and let's see what God does.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 6:18; 1 Peter 5:8-9
In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6
TODAY IN THE WORD

Predicting the path of hurricanes has always been an inexact science. But now, storm trackers have a vastly improved weapon. It's a new high-altitude jet that can fly much higher and faster than the plane the Air Force now uses to track hurricanes. This jet flies directly into the eye of a hurricane. The new craft, however, will enable forecasters to fly above and around the storm, gathering data they have previously lacked in the effort to issue warnings to threatened areas.

This provides us with a fascinating picture of the power of prayer! Prayer takes us above the swirling storms of life--not so we can escape them, bu so we can see them from God's vantage point and be alerted to potential dangers.

Paul calls for this kind of alert praying, and he gives us the basic information we need to make it a reality each day. We are to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, at all times, with ""all kinds of prayers and requests"" for all people--specifically, our fellow Christians.

What things should we pray for? We find one good example n the next two verses of Ephesians 6. Paul requested prayer that he would be fearless in preaching the gospel and that he would not shrink from the threats and intimidatioins he faced regularly (vv. 19-20).

Why did the apostle urge us to be alert in prayer? One reason is that being human, we tend to get weary and even lazy in prayer. The experience of Peter, James, and John in Gethsemane confirms that fact, which we will study on May 17.

But there's an even more serious reason for alertness. Paul's fellow apostle, Peter, reminds us that we have an enemy who is ever ready to devour us. Peter's denials at Jesus' crucifixion had taught him the danger of nodding off spiritually when Satan is on the prowl (Luke 22:31-34).

Thankfully, since prayer is appropriate ""on all occasions,"" we have no excuse for not being alert. The storms will come, but we don't have to sit in their paths unaware and be swept away.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

one reality that gives added significance to our prayers is this: we are seated with Christ ""in the heavenly realms"" (Eph. 2;6).

now to some people, this sounds like one of those other worldly statements that has something to do with heaven, but has little significance today. Paul didn't seem to think so, however. He spoke of our exaltation with Christ as a present reality. In other words, we have already been given the divine perspective we need. Let's thank God today that because we are spiritually raised up with and seated with Christ, we can pray from a position of heavenly authority.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 18:1-8
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? - Luke 18:8
TODAY IN THE WORD

If you have been a Christian very long, you know that one fo the great enemies of prayer is

""busyness."" These are the distractions of everyday life that seem important at the time, or that we

hide behind to keep from facing ourselves or God. In The Transforming Power of Prayer,

author James Houston says busyness can be ""an addictive drug…which acts to repress our inner

fears and personal anxieties."" When this happens, Houston says, we become obsessed with

outward appearances and neglect our internal life.

In the parable of Luke 18, Jesus gives us a great motivation to set aside busyness and be

tenacious in our prayer lives. Several times this month we will encounter this fundamental truth

about prayer: God is moved to action by the persistent prayers of His people.

Jesus often teaches by painting a contrast. Far from identifying God with an uncaring judge,

Jesus set the character of His Father at the extreme opposite end of the moral spectrum.

The question raised by the parable is an important one. If an uncaring, earthly authority can be

moved to action by a persistent petitioner, wouldn't our caring, loving God be even more moved

to act on our behalf when we cry out to Him?

The answer to that question, Jesus said, was in the mouth of the unjust judge (v. 6).

One of the puzzles of prayer for many people is the issue of asking God repeatedly for something

when He already knows how He is going to answer. Why does God tell us to ""always pray and

not give up?""

In today's key verse, jesus gives us one answer by posing a question of His own. Persistent,

believing prayer--the kind that simply will not quit--is a definite faith-builder. Something

happens within us as we bring the burdens and requests of our hearts to God day after day.

For one thing, our faith is exercised and grows stronger. And the more we pray, the more the

Holy Spirit can prepare us for God's answer.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Jesus said that the answer to prayer would come ""quickly"" (v. . There is a lesson and an

encouragement for us contained here.

First, the lesson. The promise is not that the answer will come immediately, the way we put

something in the microwave and it's finished in four minutes. Instead, Jesus is saying that when

the answer does begin to come, it will unfold quickly.

Next, the encouragement. God knows the perfect time to bring the answer, and He is listening

carefully to the prayers of His chosen ones. We can trust His love, wisdom, and timing!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 3:7-12
We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. - Hebrews 10:19
TODAY IN THE WORD

Foreign leaders who come to Washigton, D.C. for state visits are often stunned to learn that ordinary American citizens are allowed inside the White House. When George Bush was president, he would often introduce his foreign guests to the people who came for daily tours of the presidential mansion's first floor. One writer says, ""The White House's accessibility continues to stagger visiting heads of state.""

For many of the world's kings and rulers, these times are too dangerous to allow access to their palaces, much less to their presence. But there is no such difficulty in heaven. We who have put our faith in Christ have free, unlimited access into God's presence.

Today's verse and Scripture reading teach the truth of our freedom to come before God confidently in prayer. Ephesians 3 is a wonderful example of a believer using his access to bring his prayer concerns to God, because Paul goes on to say, ""For this reason I kneel before the Father"" (v. 14).

While we bask in the knowledge that God's throne room is open to us, let's remember how we gained such free and open access to the great Ruler of the universe. The first three Gospels mention that when Jesus died, the massive curtain enclosing the inner part of the temple--the small area known as the Most Holy Place--was torn in half (Matt. 27:51).

This was the holiest site in Israel, the place where the high priest came once a year to offer sacrifice for the people's sins. God's holy presence lived among His people in the Most Holy Place…but the high priest did not enter this small cubicle ""with freedom and confidence.""

Instead, he entered under penalty of death if his sacrifice did not please God. All that the people of Israel could do was to stand outside and wait anxiously.

Now, contrast the Old Testament sacrificial system with the free access that is ours in Christ, and you'll see there is no comparison! Jesus' perfect, once-for-all sacrifice on the Cross put an end to animal sacrifices and opened for us the way to God's presence (Heb. 10:19-22). Don't take your access for granted!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Jesus said that the answer to prayer would come ""quickly"" (v. . There is a lesson and an

Paul's prayer for his spiritual children in Ephesus is a powerful petition that any believer can pray any time for himself or herself with confidence (Eph. 3:14-21).

Why not make it your own today? To personalize it, read the prayer back to the Lord, addressing Him in the first person, and insert your name where Paul refers to the Ephesian believers. Focus on Paul's requests, and you'll see that you are asking God for greater power, spiritual understanding, and love in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 55:6-9
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters. - Isaiah 55:1
TODAY IN THE WORD

If you were to hit the streets of your area and take a poll, it might take you a while to find any people who could say they have never prayed--even once--in their lives. Prayer is typically a universal human response to fear, trouble, or pain. As the old saying goes, ""There are no atheists in foxholes.""

But the world's concept of prayer often falls far short of biblical truth. A lot of people pray the way they shop.

When shoppers want an item in a store, they simply take it off the shelf, lay it on the counter, and give their money to the clerk. There is no discussion of the shopper's character or relationship to the store owner. All that matters is the purchaser's desire to have his or her request granted. One person's money is as good as another's.

People pray in times of need because they believe prayer has power. And they're right--except that the unbeliever overlooks the fact that to God, prayer is a family matter.

A person who does not know God cannot merely run into His presence and demand something. Similarly, the neighbor kids can't burst through your front door tonight and ask that you feed them supper and give them lunch money for tomorrow. They are not your children. There is no relationship in place to warrant that kind of request.

There is one prayer, though, that any non-Christian can pray with confidence. The prophet Isaiah issued a powerful invitation for unbelievers to come to the Lord for salvation while the door is still open.

Does this limitation on access to God contradict what we studied yesterday? No, Isaiah was writing in a context of salvation and God's judgment. The Bible is consistent in warning lost people that, although God is always ready to receive them in repentance and salvation, His patience will one day run out (2 Pet. 3:9-10).

However, look at the richness of God's invitation to the sinner: mercy and free pardon. Only He could conceive a plan like this to forgive and bless the very people who rebelled against Him; His thoughts and ways are infinitely higher than ours.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Every Today reader has a standing invitation to receive Christ as Savior, because salvation is too important to take for granted.

Today we want to restate the invitation. Romans 3:23 states the problem: all have sinned. Romans 6:23 gives the penalty of sin: eternal separation from God, but also the promise of eternal life in Christ. Romans 5:8 says that Christ died for us, and Romans 10:9-10 urges the unbeliever to call on God for salvation. If Isaiah's invitation has your name on it, please don't refuse to respond to it!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 12:1-6
The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. - Isaiah 12:2
TODAY IN THE WORD

After winning many trophies and awards, tennis player Michael Chang lost the 1992 French Open and Wimbledon. he knew something was wrong, and discussed with his family the reason for the change in his playing: they hadn't been praying before each game like they had in the beginning.

""We then vowed to work as a team to praise God, to focus on Him, to worship Him, to thank Him, and to learn from Him,"" Chang says. ""We took that preparation and mentality into the U.S. Open, and although I didn't win, we came away feeling that it was a success and that God's work was done.""

Isaiah, too, knew the importance of praising God. Today's passage teaches us that true prayer to the Father begins with praise and thanksgiving.

The context of today's reading is prophetic, taking place during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Isaiah is picturing the coming of the Messiah to redeem His people and establish His glorious reign. We know this future period as the millennial kingdom spoken of in Revelation 20:1-7. Notice the phrase ""in that day,"" repeated at the beginning of each stanza (Isa. 12:1Ƽ).

The first three verses are the praise and gratitude of ""the remnant of His people,"" Israel (see Isa. 11:16). Verses 4-6 are the praise of ""the nations,"" the Gentiles. In that day when Christ sits on His throne, the redeemed of both groups-those who make up His body, the church (Eph. 2:11-18)-will reign with Him.

But we don't have to wait until Christ returns to offer Him the praise He deserves. Praise and adoration of God is the ""sacrifice of praise"" we are called to give to Him (Heb. 13:15).

Isaiah 12 may be prophetic, but the attributes of God and the ""glorious things"" mentioned in these verses are true for us today. For example, we can ""trust and not be afraid"" (v. 2) because God is our salvation. And we can ""draw water from His wells""-that is, enjoy the full benefits of His salvation.

Praise is a great way to keep your prayers from falling into the ""gimme"" mentality. God loves to give, but He also delights to hear our praise.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

""Sing to the Lord,"" Isaiah urges (v. 5). if your devotions don't include some music along the way, you have a whole new realm of worship open to you.

Singing hymn of praise or gratitude to the Lord during your prayer time is as natural as speaking to Him. Try it today with a hymn or a chorus that God brings to mind. Or sing as a family for a touch of variety, or in place of the prayer at your next meal together.