TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 22:24-34
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. - John 17:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
""If I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament on the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity. The old cross slew men, the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.""

This incisive quote from the late pastor and author A. W. Tozer was written more than a few years ago, but it's as timely as the morning paper. The kind of casual, no-cost Christianity Tozer laments can, in fact, lead to a self-satisfaction and overconfidence which will quickly crumble when temptation or trials hit.

Peter wasn't wearing a cross around his neck the night Jesus was betrayed. Ornamental crosses were not in vogue yet. However, the fisherman was supremely confident that he had what was needed to stick with Jesus no matter what.

But there's a huge difference between confidence and faithfulness. Jesus knew that Peter was heading for failure, and He prepared the apostle ahead of time for his denials and his restoration. Jesus was facing crucifixion, but He was faithful to pray that Peter would not fall prey to Satan.

You won't find the word ""faithfulness"" in today's reading, but this account glows with it. The Savior was totally faithful both to His own ministry of redemption and to His followers. He prayed for His disciples, present and future, in the Upper Room--that included us (John 17:20). We are reminded this month that as our high priest in heaven, Jesus is still praying for us today.

We sometimes tell people we will pray for them, but then forget our good intentions. But Jesus Christ is faithful to intercede with the Father for us even when we fail Him.

The fact that Jesus is praying for us to stand firm does not mean we should treat spiritual failure lightly. It may be the case that we yield to temptation, or fail to fulfill our spiritual responsibilities. But knowing that He intercedes for us assures us that we are not out there trying to live the Christian life in our own power.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The context of Peter's vow and Jesus' response (vv. 24-30) holds an important clue to the apostle's collapse.

As Jesus and the Twelve reclined in the Upper Room, these men began arguing about greatness--each claiming the title of ""the greatest."" Jesus corrected their mistaken idea of spiritual greatness, but Peter still felt more than adequate for anything. The road to spiritual failure is paved with pride and self-confidence. The first qualification for greatness is a servant's attitude. Pray that God will deal ruthlessly with any pride in your heart and give you the attitude of Christ (Phil. 2:5).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 103:1-5, 13-18
From everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him. - Psalm 103:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
In April 1513 the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon became the first European to reach and explore Florida. Ponce de Leon was searching for a mythical spring called ""the Fountain of Youth,"" which supposedly restored youth to whomever drank or bathed in its waters. Ponce de Leon never found the object of his search, and eventually died in Cuba in 1521 after being wounded by an Indian arrow during another trip to Florida to establish a colony.

No ""Fountain of Youth"" exists, but who needs it when we enjoy the blessings of a heavenly Father whose unfailing love renews our youth (v. 5)? Today's reading is another psalm of praise that helps us appreciate and celebrate God's faithfulness.

This psalm is attributed to David, and who better to write of the benefits of knowing God? David knew the forgiveness of sin--his affair with Bathsheba was legally punishable with the death penalty. Earlier, David's life was at stake while he was being pursued by Saul, and he was forced to spend years hiding in caves and the desert. Throughout these trials, David had tasted the goodness of God.

David also knew that God was fully aware of human frailty--he understood and marveled at the way God formed life in the womb (Ps. 139:13-16). Finally, David knew as well as any believer who has ever lived the constant faithfulness of the Lord. All of this qualified David to lead God's people in praise.

We need the same kind of mercy and love that David enjoyed. And it is ours because God's love is the same ""from everlasting to everlasting."" The word translated love is the same word we have encountered several times this month--the unfailing, loyal love of God that is unique to Him alone.

No matter what our need may be, God has infinite resources to meet it. He is the perfect Father who graciously gives us just what we need, and answers the desires of our hearts.

God places a demand on us too, but it is a delightful demand. His fatherly love is shown to those who obey His Word and show Him the reverence due His name. No ""Fountain of Youth"" can begin to match the benefits of being the child of a faithful God!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
""Your youth is renewed like the eagle's"" (v. 5).

Sounds great, doesn't it? There are no magic waters or formulas for this kind of refreshment. We do have a suggestion, though. Pray through each verse of today's reading, inserting your name in place of all the pronouns such as you, yours, and those. Verses 1-2 get you started, since David wrote those in the first person. As you pray, thank the Lord for each benefit of His grace--and when you're done, see if your spirit isn't feeling refreshed and renewed.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 25:1-10
Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. - Psalm 25:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
The late author Alex Haley, of Roots fame, loved to tell of the time when, as a boy, he and his grandmother faced eviction from their Tennessee home. Hard times had caused the family to get behind in the mortgage payment. But Grandma Cynthia received a special gift that Christmas, an envelope which contained a receipt--showing that the mortgage had been paid--and a roll of money totaling twenty-seven dollars. Grandma Cynthia got down on her knees and offered a prayer of thanksgiving, tears flowing uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Alex Haley said that even with of all his successes, nothing touched him as deeply as that moment. We can understand why. Such real-life illustrations of God's faithfulness are unforgettable. And just as Haley never tired of telling how God met Grandma Cynthia's need, we must never tire of rehearsing God's faithfulness to us, or praising Him for His love.

That's why we have included several psalms of praise in our study, and we'll share two more before the month is over. Here David praised God because those who trust in Him will not ""be put to shame"" (vv. 2-3). Does that mean believers will never lose their homes to foreclosure or suffer other setbacks? No, God doesn't promise to shield us from every blow.

No matter what may happen, however, God will never abandon us and leave us looking foolish for trusting Him. We may stagger under the load sometimes, but God will not let us fall.

When you realize the blessing of God's saving presence, your prayer becomes: ""Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths"" (v. 4). There is no other way worth learning about, and no other path worth following.

David also asked God to remember him, not according to his sins, but according to God's goodness and love (v. 7). The latter word, love, is another occurrence of that wonderful Hebrew word describing God's unfailing or loyal love. In fact, this same root, ""hesed,"" also appears two other times (vv. 6, 10).

Verse 10 is a great summary of praise: all of God's ways are faithful for those who obey Him. The only proper response we can make to such love is praise.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Last Sunday we suggested that you add one psalm a day to your regular Today Bible reading schedule.

Since our text for today is a psalm, you may want to take an extra minute to read the rest of Psalm 25. These verses contain a prayer for God's continued help and deliverance, and also reaffirm the greatness of our Father's faithful dealings with His children. And by the way, if you have a ""Grandma Cynthia"" story in your own life, be sure to include it in your testimony on Thanksgiving Day!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Peter 4:12-19
Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator. - 1 Peter 4:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Marcus Whitman was a pioneering medical doctor who went to the Pacific Northwest in 1836 to begin a mission work among the regional Indians. Serving with his wife Narcissa, Whitman established two missions at Fort Boise. In 1842 he went back East to appeal for more help and to encourage settlers to come to the Oregon territory. He returned with new settlers, but they brought measles, causing an epidemic that killed many American Indian children. The American Indians, who believed their children had been poisoned, attacked the mission, killing the Whitmans and twelve other people.

The tragic mistake that ended the lives of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman illustrates the kind of suffering that makes some people ask, ""Where is God when His people suffer?"" The apostle Peter, who knew something about suffering himself, offers us an answer. God is faithfully watching over His hurting saints.

According to verse 12 suffering should never catch a Christian by surprise--but it almost always does. Peter reminds us that we must identify with our suffering Savior if we expect to share in the glory that followed His pain. We are not being punished when we suffer as Christians. On the contrary, we are blessed because it glorifies God when we bear with trouble for the sake of His name.

Earlier in his letter Peter had written that it is ""commendable"" for a believer to bear up under unjust suffering for the Lord (1 Pet. 2:19). The key word is unjust. Unfortunately, many of the scars we carry are self-inflicted.

God is faithful to discipline and restore us in times like these, but there is nothing praiseworthy about this kind of suffering. However, when we undergo hard times because of our faith in Christ, or when God afflicts us ""in faithfulness"" (Ps. 119:75) for the accomplishment of His will, we have the assurance that we can commit ourselves to His faithful care.

In cases such as this, we are able not only to stand firm, but even to rejoice. Why? Because we know that God is working in our trial to produce something of lasting value--our maturity on earth (James 1:2-4) and our eternal reward in heaven (2 Cor. 4:17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Peter's closing words of advice to suffering Christians are important. He admonishes them to ""continue to do good.""

This is the irony of our suffering. Sometimes it comes, not because we are doing the wrong thing, but because we do the right thing. Our first reaction to trouble, however, is often to assume that we must be heading the wrong way.

Are you feeling the pain of suffering today? Share your situation with a trusted Christian friend who may be able to help you see the problem from a new spiritual perspective.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:25-33
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. - James 1:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
D. L. Moody told how his mother shared the family's dinner with people in need even though the Moody family lived in desperate poverty. Moody's father had died, leaving his widow with nine children to raise. Despite this, no hungry person was turned away from the Moody farmhouse. ""Mother just sliced the bread a little thinner"" is the way Moody described mealtimes.

God faithfully provided for Betsey Moody and her children even when the bill collectors came to the front door. The Moody family is among generations of God's people who can testify that their heavenly Father has cared for them. These familiar verses are prefaced by Jesus' command not to worry about life's necessities--a wasted effort anyway, and especially foolish in light of God's promise.

But the larger context of Jesus' teaching is also important if we are to appreciate these promises fully. The first word of verse 25, ""therefore,"" makes it obvious that Jesus linked these verses with what He had just taught.

Go back about six verses and you'll read more words that will probably sound familiar. Speaking of our attitude toward finances, Jesus taught us to use our money for spiritual gain rather than to fall in love with it and the things it can buy. He knew that our devotion to money would lead to becoming enslaved to it, just as our devotion to God leads us to serve Him as our Master.

That's the message the Lord was communicating. Verses 25-33 are evidence verifying that when we make God our master instead of our checkbook, He assumes responsibility for our daily needs. And since He is the God of all creation, nothing we really need escapes His notice. God is infinitely able, and faithful, to meet any need we could ever have.

So all of us have two choices. We can either try to do everything ourselves, spending our time amassing as much as we can and then trying to hold on to it. Or, we can abandon the chase for the gold and commit our lives to our faithful Lord, trusting Him for our needs.

Since we only have one life to invest, and eternity after that, it makes sense to invest in eternity.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's reading follows a pattern we have seen often this month. God shows Himself faithful to those who obey and serve Him.

Verse 33 contains God's requirement. Since He has committed Himself to provide for us, it is only reasonable that we should commit ourselves to Him. There is no question that God will be faithful to you in the new week ahead. Will your response to Him match His care? A look at your schedule for the next seven days might give you a good reading on your commitment.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:8-19
By faith Abraham...was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. - Hebrews 11:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Roaring Twenties were engulfing America, and religious skepticism was sweeping Europe, when young Audrey Johnson decided the Bible she had been raised to believe was not true after all. Audrey rejected God's Word and wanted nothing to do with Jesus Christ--but her attempts to find meaning elsewhere failed. One evening, in deep despair, Audrey read the promise of John 11:26: ""Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die"" [KJV]. The truth deeply affected her, and Audrey kneeled in surrender to Christ. Although she was a missionary to China for fourteen years, Audrey is best known as the founder of the Bible Study Fellowship movement.

Audrey Johnson stands in a line that reaches all the way back to Abraham and forward to us today. This line includes the countless numbers of men and women who have discovered that God is faithful to His promises.

Ask a room full of Christians what comes to mind when they hear the name Abraham, and the word faith will soon come up. It seems like faith was Abraham's middle name. Paul paid the patriarch a high tribute when he called Abraham ""the father of all who believe"" (Rom. 4:11).

But if we could ask Abraham, ""What impressed you most, your faith or God's faithfulness?,"" today's verse suggests that Abraham would answer that it was God's faithfulness.

We don't have to speculate, for the Bible tells us that Abraham depended on God's faithfulness every step of the way. How else can we explain a man who was willing to sacrifice his promised son Isaac? What would otherwise have been a senseless act became a great step of faith because Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead if necessary.

Hebrews says Abraham and his predecessors ""were still living by faith when they died"" (v. 13). That's a great tribute to their faith, and an even greater tribute to the God whom they trusted. It is amazing to think that for these saints, the fulfillment of God's promises was still to come. They only saw these things at a distance.

Despite this, they continued to live by faith because they believed God would fulfill His Word. His faithfulness was their confidence and hope. Let's imitate their faith!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Chances are that there is something still ""out there"" in the future for you, a desire or burden of your heart that you have been asking God to meet.

If so, be encouraged by the example of godly people such as Abraham whose faith was vindicated because they knew God is always faithful to His promises. Keep praying, allow God to bring your desire in line with His will, and thank Him for His great faithfulness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 111:1-10
The works of [God's] hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. - Psalm 111:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
With Thanksgiving just two days away, we hope you are anticipating a joyful time of praise and fellowship as we celebrate God's great faithfulness to His people.

In fact, it could be argued that one way we know we are growing spiritually is when we look forward to Thanksgiving as much as most children look forward to Christmas. It isn't hard to get enthusiastic about all the good things you expect to receive. It takes more spiritual maturity to look at the good things you have already received and say ""thank you"" with the same enthusiasm.

This has been our goal for the Today in the Word family this month. If you need a good place to start your praise and gratitude today, we recommend Psalm 111. The psalm invites us to ""ponder"" and ""delight in"" (v. 2) the great works of God. God wants us to remember His works (v. 4).

The list of God's faithful blessings is impressive. He feeds and provides ""for those who fear Him"" (v. 5)--and His provision does not stop with our physical needs. The writer mentions God's faithfulness to His covenant, the specific promises He has made to all those who put their trust in Him.

In the case of Israel, God remembered and fulfilled His covenant by giving them the land He had sworn to give them in Canaan (v. 6). As we learned earlier this month, Joshua could come to the end of his life and say, ""You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed"" (Josh. 23:14, see the September 5 study).

But the land was just one evidence of God's faithfulness. Every ""precept"" from Him can be trusted because everything God does is marked by ""faithfulness and uprightness"" (v. .

That is very good news for us this Thanksgiving week because God's redemption will never fail. We know this because His covenant will stand forever (v. 9). How else can we respond but to say, ""Holy and awesome is His name""? This is the fear of the Lord, and it's the place where wisdom is found.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Another trait of God is that ""He remembers His covenant forever"" (v. 5).

The only thing God forgets is our sin (Isa. 43:25), when we bring them to Christ and trust Him for forgiveness and salvation. If you have done this, you have much to celebrate today. But if you have never acknowledged your sin and put your faith in Christ, this would be a great time to experience God's faithfulness in a new way. Ask your pastor or a Christian friend to show you the way of salvation if you have any doubt about your relationship with God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 13:1-6
God has said, ""Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."" - Hebrews 13:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Wall Street, the financial center in Manhattan, was once an actual wall. In 1653 Dutch settlers built a stockade fence at the city's northern boundary to protect against attacks. A street was laid out along the wall in 1685. As the town expanded, the wall was removed, but the street adopted its famous name.

In some ways this illustrates our situation as believers in the West. We don't face the direct threats to faith, or our lives, that our brothers and sisters face in countries that are hostile to Christianity, but we dare not forget that we still need God's protection.

That's because the enemy's attacks against us are usually launched in more subtle ways. The opening verses of Hebrews 13 reveal some of the areas where we must be alert, then give us a promise we can live by. Let's start with the promise.

God's presence surrounds us every day. He is present within us in the Person of the Holy Spirit. His eye is always upon us, and we are close to His heart. That should give us all the spiritual confidence we need to stand against anything that anyone can throw in our path.

We have said it a number of times this month, and it needs to be said again here. God's faithfulness is beyond question, argument, or doubt. The issue is whether we will respond in faithfulness to His love.

We can do so by practicing material contentment, for example. Money was the focus of an earlier study (see September 22), so today let's be reminded that the love of money is dangerous because our hearts follow our checkbooks (Matt. 6:21).

Sexual morality is another area in which God demands faithfulness of us, married or single (v. 4) and is an area particularly relevant to our society. Although ministering to those who are suffering mistreatment for their faith in Christ is easy to overlook because we seldom see these believers in our day-to-day lives, it is still a necessary part of our walk with Christ. Additionally, the Christian virtues of hospitality (v. 2) and love (v. 1) are mentioned as duties we can carry out because our faithful God will never leave us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God's comforting presence has special meaning for widowed, single, or divorced Christians who live alone.

It's likely that a number of these people, including some in our Today family, will be alone on Thanksgiving Day. You can help in two ways. First, take inventory of the people you know who live alone and make a few calls to see if there is someone you can invite to your home. Second, join us in praying today for the members of our family who will spend Thanksgiving alone. Ask God to make His comforting presence real to them. And if you are alone, be encouraged to know that many brothers and sisters in Christ are praying for you!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 145:1-21
The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. - Psalm 145:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
In her book Love Has a Price Tag, author Elisabeth Elliott said, ""For one who has made thanksgiving a way of life, the morning prayer will be, 'Lord, what will you give me today to offer back to you?' ""

Learning to make thanksgiving a way of life is what this month's studies are all about. And what better day to celebrate God's faithfulness? We pray that your Thanksgiving Day is truly a day given over to thanks, praise, and joyful celebration of God's goodness.

If you need a good start, or perhaps a good ending, to your day, you'll find it in Psalm 145. Verses 15-16 are especially appropriate today as we enjoy the good things God has provided. Actually, the entire psalm is perfect for this season because it contains so many of the themes we have been studying.

First and foremost is the theme of praise, which is the framework for the entire psalm. God is ""most worthy of praise"" (v. 3) because His greatness--indeed we could say His faithfulness--is beyond our comprehension.

Notice also the themes of passing on the truth of God's greatness from generation to generation (vv. 4-7), and the importance of telling the world about our faithful God (vv. 10-12).

It just keeps getting better the more deeply we study the psalm. David sang of God's faithfulness to His promises and His kindness toward His creation (vv. 13, 17).

We can also praise God today for His righteousness, which marks everything He does (v. 17). His standard is unchanging truth, and we must approach Him on that basis (v. 18).

Those who come to God in truth enjoy His nearness, the kind of presence that a loving father shows to his children. God's readiness to hear the prayers of His children (vv. 18-20) is also a theme that should cause us to rejoice on this special day.

David's conclusion is very appropriate--God deserves our praise forever. Since we will, in fact, be praising Him for all eternity, let's offer God our praise today.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This psalm not only makes a good beginning or ending to your Thanksgiving Day. It also provides a number of reasons to give thanks, all of them grounded in God's character.

We mentioned some of those reasons in today's study, but there are more in the psalm itself. Was there a verse or a phrase that spoke to you in a special way? We suggest you turn back to that place and make those words your closing prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God. You may also want to share your praise with family or guests as a parting benediction.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. - 2 Thessalonians 3:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
British Bible teacher Jesse Penn-Lewis once observed, ""Satan's war on the saints can be summed up in the one phrase 'wiles of the devil.' He does not work in the open but always behind cover. The methods of the deceiving spirits are adapted to each individual, with a cunning gained by years of experience.""

That's a good description of our spiritual enemy. Paul had seen more than enough of the devil's opposition during his initial visit to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9). The city had a synagogue, so Paul had a platform from which to prove that Jesus was the Messiah.

Many received the Word gladly, but the enemy stirred up tremendous opposition through some Jews who were jealous of Paul and recruited ""bad characters"" (Acts 17:5) to start a riot. These evil men followed Paul and Silas to Berea and started up trouble there. But God was faithful to protect Paul and allow him to establish a thriving church in Thessalonica.

This piece of history teaches us the need for alertness. At the time Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, the people whom Satan used to oppose the gospel in Thessalonica were probably still around. And even if they weren't, the enemy had plenty of others to use. Satan hates the gospel, and he never has trouble finding human henchmen eager to oppose ""the message of the Lord"" (v. 1).

The Thessalonians needed to be alert in their day; we need the same alertness in God's work today. Our enemy is still stirring up opposition to the gospel, and we need strength and protection from his attacks.

Thankfully, these blessings are ours because we serve a faithful God. Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not be able to overpower His church (Matt. 16:18). It takes the power of heaven to overcome the power of hell, which means we are at our strongest and best when we stay under God's protecting hand.

How do we know when we are under God's protection? The best answer is the instruction Paul gave the Thessalonians--obedience to the Word (v. 4) and a growing love for God (v. 5). When we are faithful to do God's will, He is faithful to protect us from the enemy and strengthen our work for the Lord.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The church has never been in greater need of God's strength and protection than it is today.

In much of the world, the threats are open and often violent, just like the situations Paul encountered. Here in the West, the threats are more subtle, but just as real. Our enemy is seeking to silence God's truth by silencing those who proclaim it. Let's pray for the church around the world, thanking God for the promise of His faithfulness in the face of opposition.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. - 2 Timothy 2:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
We have been celebrating God's faithfulness this month, and finding out what it takes on our part to fully enjoy this blessing. Before we finish our study we need to answer this question: when our faithfulness to Christ is lacking, what can we do to restore it?

The words of Bible commentator Matthew Henry, written well over two centuries ago, speaks to this need: ""Those who have lost their first love must compare their present with their former state, and consider how much better it was then than now....They must repent. They must be ashamed for their sin and humbly confess it in the sight of God. They must revive and recover their first zeal [and] tenderness.""

Repenting and returning is the biblical prescription for the Christian who has slipped from being devoted to Christ (Rev. 2:5). Verses 11-13 of our reading were probably an ancient creed that the church recited, much as the Apostles' Creed is recited in many churches today. It is a ringing confirmation of God's eternal faithfulness which no situation on earth can shake.

This early creed can sometimes be confusing to the modern reader. Therefore, to understand Paul's hymn it is important to notice the change in tenses he makes from verse to verse. Verse 11 looks at a past-tense action when believers first believed in Christ. The first part of verse 12 has a present-tense action that shows the benefits of continually enduring persecution. But in the last portion of verse 12, Paul refers to a possible future event when one might continually live in denial of Christ's atoning work. If that should happen Christ would then, and only then, deny such an unbelieving person entrance into eternity. Verse 13 returns to the present, showing that believers may have times of faithlessness; but Christ will still be faithful to love us in spite of our spiritual lapses.

But since we are convinced your deepest desire is to be faithful to the Lord, let's look back to 2 Timothy 2:1-10 and see what is required of a faithful believer.

First, we need to be strong (vv. 1-2). We can do this because we learned just yesterday that God is faithful to provide all the strength we need to be spiritually successful.

Second, we need to be focused and ready to endure trials (vv. 3-4). Here is another command we can fulfill because of God's promise that we can do anything in the strength Christ gives (Phil. 4:13).

Third, we must keep our focus on Christ (v. and remember that nothing can stop God's Word. There is no doubt that God is faithful to keep us. Let's decide to be faithful to Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul told Timothy, ""Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this"" (v. 7).

That's good advice for us on a holiday weekend. After the activities of Thanksgiving, we hope this is a quiet, fall Saturday for you--a good time to take a walk or spend some time alone, reflecting on God's faithfulness to you and your desire to live for Him. Give yourself a mini retreat if possible today, sharing with the Lord what is on your heart and mind.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 23:44-46; John 19:28-30
""My food,"" said Jesus, ""is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."" - John 4:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
On May 10, 1869, Leland Stanford of the Central Pacific Railroad drove the final spike in the final piece of rail, linking the Atlantic and Pacific coasts by railroad. Stanford performed the ceremony at Promontory Point, Utah, using a golden spike and a silver hammer. When the festivities were complete, a one-word telegram was flashed across the country: ""Done!""

When something truly significant has been accomplished, it usually doesn't take many words to describe it. Consider the greatest accomplishment in all history, the redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus Himself announced this great work with one word, spoken from the cross just before the Savior gave up His spirit to God the Father.

The phrase ""It is finished"" (John 19:30) translates from one word in the original manuscript. It announced the completion of Jesus' work as our Redeemer. At the cost of His own precious blood, the sin debt that we had accumulated against God was now paid in full. Satan had been defeated in his last and boldest attempt to frustrate the plan of God.

Think of this great sacrifice in terms of God's faithfulness. He had promised as early as the garden of Eden that He would provide a remedy for sin (see Gen. 3:15). God's determination to fulfill that promise never wavered, even though it would cost Him His one and only Son.

John was there at the cross, so it's not surprising that he wrote down what he heard Jesus say. Luke told about the immediate effects of the transaction, the tearing of the temple veil that opened up God's presence to anyone who comes to Him.

The wonder of Jesus' obedience to death, ""even death on a cross!"" (Phil. 2:, is even more wonderful because it occurred in a setting of human unfaithfulness. Mark says that at Jesus' arrest, all of His followers deserted Him (Mark 14:50). Praise God for the great faithfulness that took Jesus to the cross!

The nails that held Jesus to the cross were, for us, golden spikes that gave us a link to a holy God. We need to flash the news not only across the country, but around the world: ""Done!""
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The gospel means that your friends and family members who don't know Christ can stop trying to please God by their own efforts.

Sharing this news with someone you care about would be a great way to finish the month. With the Christmas season already underway, many people will be focused on spiritual things, even if very briefly. Why not ask God to help you take advantage of the season by witnessing to a lost person? This may be the time to look for that ""divine appointment"" we talked about earlier (see the November 8 study).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 19:11-16
There before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. - Revelation 19:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Throughout this month we have been celebrating the fact that God is faithful. He is faithful every day, in every way, in any and all circumstances. Faithfulness is so much a part of God's character that it is part of His name.

We know this because of John's great vision of an all-conquering Jesus Christ riding out of heaven to crush His enemies as ruler of His millennial kingdom. Think of the significance of the name ""Faithful"" in this setting.

The Holy Spirit inspired the apostle John to portray the Savior in all of His splendor and awesome majesty. Every word that John recorded concerning Jesus is packed with importance, including His amazing names.

In addition to Faithful and True, Jesus carries an unknown name (v. 12), along with the names ""Word of God"" and ""King of Kings and Lord of Lords"" (vv. 13, 16). The first name refers to Jesus as the revelation of God (John 1:1), the greatest unveiling of who God is and what He expects from us. The name written on Jesus' robe and thigh speaks of His role as conquering King and Lord of all creation.

In this incredible revelation, the Holy Spirit's designation of Jesus as ""Faithful"" puts this quality of His character in lofty company. Our Lord could no more go back on His faithfulness than He could fail in any of His other divine attributes.

Because God is faithful yesterday, today, and forever, we will have a place in His kingdom and by His side forever. The saints who comprise the church of Jesus Christ in this age will also be there when Jesus rides out of heaven. John calls us ""the armies of heaven"" (v. 14). We will share in the Savior's conquest and kingdom as rulers with Him.

That's more than enough encouragement to finish these Thanksgiving studies. Our faithfulness brings God glory today, and helps prepare us for the day when we will see Jesus face-to-face and be with Him forever.

We have a future that is too great to imagine. Therefore, it should be our greatest delight to serve and love Jesus Christ faithfully while we are here.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Tomorrow begins a new month and a new topic, ""Finishing Well.""

One way you can prepare to finish well this year is to take care of any unfinished business that may still be on the table. Is there a sin that needs to be confessed, a relationship that needs to be healed, a step of obedience you need to take? Maybe you just feel the need to spend time in God's presence, thanking Him once again for His faithfulness and renewing your commitment to follow Him faithfully.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:1-8
Grace and peace to you from God our Father. - Colossians 1:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
The prayer of todayÕs verse expresses our heartfelt desire for you this Christmas season. In an earlier edition of Today in the Word, the column of MoodyÕs President, Dr. Joseph Stowell, reads: ÒItÕs the truth of our Savior that makes Christmas truly special! As we know, the coming of Jesus Christ is unique in all of history, the event which the Old Testament anticipated and foretold....That makes Jesus Christ superior in every way to all who ever came before or after Him. Since He is worthy of all our adoration and praise, Christmas is the ideal season to study the Person and work of our Savior.Ó

Amen to those thoughts! Christmas is the ideal season to consider Christ, and the ideal book to teach us about ChristÕs superiority is PaulÕs letter to the Colossians. WeÕll consider this wonderful portion of Scripture in its entirety, taking a break during Christmas week to turn back to the familiar and yet thrilling accounts of JesusÕ birth.

Then weÕll finish December and get ready for 1999 with two of PaulÕs most stirring challenges to the church. ItÕs going to be a great month.

ThereÕs a good reason Paul chose the theme of ChristÕs superiority for the Colossian letter. The church in Colosse, once a prominent commercial center in modern-day Turkey, was being harassed by an early form of heresy that had several elements: pride in supposed superior knowledge that typified the pagan Greek world and a form of Jewish legalism that demanded rigid obedience to rules and ceremonies.

Both of these teachings were dangerous because they denied the sufficiency of Christ to save a person apart from any human effort.

Jesus was not born in Bethlehem in order to join hands with us in some sort of 50/50 partnership, in which we do our part for salvation and He provides the rest. Instead, He came to save sinners who were totally helpless to save themselves.

The Colossians needed to know that Christ was all they needed. Since Paul had never met these believers, he was careful to begin by encouraging them in the faith they had already shown.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Notice that Paul mentioned the familiar trio of faith, hope, and love in todayÕs text (vv. 4-5, see 1 Cor. 13:13).

The apostle wanted his readers to keep their faith, hope, and love centered in Christ. Is He the focus of your heart and mind today? One good way to fix your thoughts on Jesus, and prepare for this monthÕs study, is to read Colossians in one sitting. It wonÕt take long, and youÕll be in for a blessing. In particular, look for and mark the passages that speak of Jesus ChristÕs sufficiency and supremacy, and your completeness in Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:9-14
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. - Colossians 1:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Most of us will spend time this Christmas trying to match the right gift with the right person. We work hard at this because gift-giving is a way to show people how much they mean to us.

God the Father is a gift-giver too and HeÕs perfect at it. He gave us the greatest gift ever given in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior and Lord. And since the Father has not withheld His Son from us, He has not withheld anything else from us. Instead as Paul reasons, we can have faith that God will Ògraciously give us all thingsÓ along with Christ (Rom. 8:32).

This means that along with Christ, God gives us all the gifts that we need. You will find some of those priceless gifts ÒwrappedÓ in todayÕs reading. They come in the form of a prayer Paul expressed for Christians in the ancient city of Colosse. The recipients of the letter were believers whom he had never met but knew about through his coworker Epaphras (v. 7).

LetÕs unwrap these valuable gifts. Paul prayed that God would fill these believers Òwith the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understandingÓ (v. 9). The Holy Spirit reveals to us the wisdom contained in GodÕs Word so that we can understand His will and live in a way that pleases Christ (v. 10).

And we can live in a manner pleasing to Christ because of another gift: the power of God that enables us to live our daily Christian lives with Ògreat endurance and patienceÓ (v. 11).

Speaking of gifts, itÕs impossible to receive anything better than becoming an heir with Christ in GodÕs glorious kingdom (v. 12). If this was a result of our goodness simply receiving what we deserved that would be one thing.

But that isnÕt the case at all. Because of our sin, we were held as captives by Satan. We were enslaved in his kingdom of darkness until Jesus came to earth, died on the cross, and liberated us from the devilÕs domain.

That brings us to the last verse of todayÕs text and the gift of salvation that makes all the other gifts possible. Salvation is only available to us because of ChristÕs supreme sacrifice. This is all we need to make Christmas special!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We have nothing to give God that could have helped us purchase our salvation. It is a gift, period.

But if you are a Christian, there is a gift you can give the Lord that will delight Him. The writer of Hebrews calls it Òa sacrifice of praise the fruit of lips that confess His nameÓ (Heb. 13:15). Fill your devotional time with praise to God today, thanking Him for the gift of Jesus Christ.