TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15
We put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 9:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the harsh realities that Dwight L. Moody had to contend with in his ministry was the scathing, and often

outrageous, criticism that dogged him and Ira Sankey after their astounding evangelistic campaign in the British Isles.

Moody and Sankey were accused of making a fortune from the sales of their hymnal, although the truth was that all the

royalties went back into the work. Someone even started the rumor that Moody was being backed by the circus showman

P.T. Barnum.

Mr. Moody was far too busy doing God's work to get sidetracked by his critics. He learned the lesson every person in the

spotlight soon learns: it's impossible to even keep up with everything being said about you, much less try to answer every

false charge. Paul was reluctant to be dragged into controversy about his authority, his motives, and his ministry in

general.

The apostle had better things to do--such as protecting the Corinthians from the lies of the same cunning serpent who

deceived Eve. As Paul said several times in this letter, he shouldn't have had to defend himself or boast about his

credentials to these people who were his own spiritual children.

But since the ""super-apostles"" in Corinth were doing their dirty work, Paul had to speak up. He did so with humility--but

not the phony ""poor me"" kind of attitude. Paul spoke the truth about his ministry, not to elevate himself, but to defend the

gospel and deal with those who were exploiting the believers.

Paul had to answer the absurd accusation that he refused to accept financial support from the Corinthians because he

didn't love them.

Paul did teach that gospel ministers are worthy of support (1 Cor. 9:7-12). But somehow, he knew that accepting money

from this church would ""hinder the gospel,"" and he would rather work on the side making tents than allowing that to

happen. It's possible Paul's opponents came up with this charge because his refusal to accept support was making these

money-grabbers look bad.

In verses 13-15, Paul unmasked the impostors in Corinth. Their master was not Christ but Satan, who knows how to make

false religion work for his purposes. He's still doing it today.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you know someone who is spiritually lost, clinging to religious tradition as his or her ticket to heaven, then you have

met one of Satan's victims.

But God's power overcomes the devil's lies, which means your friend or family member doesn't have to stay in the

darkness. We'd like to suggest a biblical text you can pray on behalf of someone who needs to know Christ (2 Tim.

2:25b-26). Pray that God will grant this person repentance leading to the truth, and that he or she will escape from the devil's

trap.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 11:16-27
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
From time to time all of us get involved in arguments that just don't make sense. At some point we usually say to

ourselves, or to the other person, ""How did this get started in the first place? We shouldn't even be having this

discussion.""

That's the sense we get in reading this section of 2 Corinthians. Paul had been dragged into a controversy he wanted no

part of, through no fault of his own. The only way he could defend the credibility of his ministry and guard the Corinthians

against the pompous bragging of the false teachers was to recount the things Christ had enabled him to achieve.

Paul felt foolish talking about himself in a boastful-sounding way. It was out of character for him--although he kept the

spotlight on Christ.

But the apostle realized that if he didn't spell things out in crystal-clear terms, his readers wouldn't get the message. Paul

had good reason for concern. Even though his opponents were exploiting and abusing the church, the people welcomed

their abusers because they seemed to be so wise.

Given the situation, Paul had no choice but to speak up. So he continued to prove the validity of his ministry, despite his

obvious discomfort with the whole discussion.

Paul began by mentioning his Jewish background. If credentials like this were so impressive to the Corinthians, and if the

deceitful teachers among them were claiming the same kind of background, then Paul would silence that claim.

But more than anything else, it was the sufferings and deprivations Paul went through as a servant of Christ that put him

in a class apart. This is an unbelievable list, far more than the relatively few incidents recorded in the book of Acts.

For example, the Jewish punishment of thirty-nine lashes could sometimes be severe enough to cause death. The

Mishnah, a collection of Jewish traditions, says the one delivering this punishment was not to be held liable if the victim

died.

Along with the pain imposed on Paul by others, he willingly endured other hardships for the gospel's sake (v. 27). The

false teachers, looking for the easy way, must have looked foolish in light of Paul's sufferings.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you know someone who is spiritually lost, clinging to religious tradition as his or her ticket to heaven, then you have Paul’s personal testimony of faith is to be commended as an example of service for all believers to imitate.

You have a story of God's work in your life, a testimony of His faithfulness that can encourage others. Have you shared it

with your spouse, children, roommates, and other important people around you? At your next meal together, why not have

everyone around the table give a brief account of how he or she came to know Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 11:28-33
God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. - 1 Corinthians 1:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dallas Theological Seminary professor David Lowery made this observation about today's Scripture: ""It is difficult to comprehend the pain Paul must have felt from [his] physical afflictions and deprivations. But the spiritual struggles of his ministry were an even greater burden. These verses [vv. 28-29] climax the catalog of his ministerial suffering. Concern for others, not for himself, weighed heavily on him.""

That's a good insight into the heart of the apostle who would rather suffer a beating than see Christians deceived and led away from the purity of their faith. The Corinthians had caused him grief and this letter was written to them, but Paul carried all the churches he had established on his heart. He felt such a close connection with his spiritual children that their weaknesses and sins felt like his own.

Unlike his opponents, Paul didn't brag about how strong and self-reliant he was. His turned their standards around and said it was his weakness that he wanted to talk about because it was in Paul's weakness that God demonstrated His power. How else could this weak, unimpressive man survive suffering that would have killed most men?

People often say to each other, in an attempt to be helpful, ""Oh, I know exactly how you feel."" Although that's not always true, it was so in Paul's case, and he could call God as his witness that he was telling the truth.

At this point Paul felt he needed to share an example from his ministry, to back up his ""boast"" that he was weak and dependent rather than arrogant and independent like false apostles. For this example Paul reached all the way back to the earliest days of his Christian life, to an incident that happened in Damascus (Acts 9:19-25).

This is a great story of a dramatic escape. But Paul's point in telling it was to illustrate his own weakness and total dependence upon God. It's interesting that when Paul set out for Damascus, he was like the false teachers in Corinth: proud of his learning, full of religious prowess, self-sufficient. But God put Paul on his face in the dust, and didn't let him get up until he was completely changed.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We seem to be having a ""celebration of weakness"" this month. God must be trying to tell us something.

God doesn't value weakness and brokenness in and of themselves, but for what they represent: the submission of our wills and egos to Him, and openness to whatever He wants for us. Search your heart today, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any area of pride that may be keeping God from displaying the full measure of His power in your life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. - 2 Corinthians 12:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Zachary Taylor, Mexican War hero and twelfth president of the United States, was known for his humility. One officer

said Taylor was ""perfectly unaffected by his brilliant successes."" The man went on to describe the general as ""plain and

unassuming in his kind manners, mild and affable in his disposition, and kind and courteous in his demeanour [sic]."" Taylor

almost never wore a uniform or anything to indicate his rank. His appearance was, as a result, not very impressive.

This sounds a little bit like the way we might describe the apostle Paul if we had met him. He doesn't sound like the kind of

person who would turn heads and command attention just by entering a room.

Paul even boasted about his weakness, which he understood better after an unspeakable revelation from the Lord when

Paul was ""caught up"" into heaven, seeing and hearing things he could not repeat. This was a rapture for Paul, since the

verb used here is the same one he used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to describe the rapture of the church.

This event was so awe-inspiring that God saw fit to afflict Paul with a ""thorn in the flesh"" (v. 7) to keep him aware of his

weakness and need for God's power.

Paul even spoke of the event in the third person because he wanted to keep the focus on Christ and not himself. After all,

despite being forced to defend himself, Paul believed nothing would be gained by people bragging about their

accomplishments.

A lot of ink has been spilled trying to decide what this thorn was. That it was a physical problem is generally agreed, but

the agreement stops there.

But we don’t have to know all the details about this affliction, because the important thing is what God taught Paul

through it. Paul spoke of it as a ""messenger of Satan"" (v. 7), something God allowed in order to keep Paul humble. It must

have been a painful problem, for Paul prayed repeatedly for its removal. But when God says, ""No, I'll be sufficient for you,""

Paul teaches us to answer, ""Thank you, Lord. Leave it if it means I'll have Your power.""
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
By inspiring Paul not to share the nature of his problem, the Holy Spirit seems to be turning our attention away from

guessing games and toward the principle being taught.

Chances are you have some problems, that you would describe in terms similar to those Paul used for his thorn. Unless

and until God chooses to remove your problems, the issue is how you are going to respond. We don't pretend to have an

easy answer for you, but we encourage you to pray that God will help you bring Him praise through problems and trials.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength. - 1 Timothy 1:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you were to take a pen and draw a heavy line across your Bible at the place where today's text begins, you'd have a

good picture of the change in tone that Paul adopts at this point.

When Paul wrote, ""I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it"" (v. 11), he was drawing a line on the page and

saying, ""All right, that's it. This boasting foolishness is over. I'm not going to do any more of it."" Paul's defense of himself

and his ministry ends with verse 18, although we are going a little further today.

Given that the signs of a genuine apostle's work were abundantly evident in Paul's ministry, he reminded the Corinthians

once again that the charges against him should never have been made, or allowed to go unchallenged by them. If the

Corinthians and the false apostles were impressed by outward displays of authority, Paul could point to many of these.

We know from the discussion on giving (2 Cor. 9:5) that Paul was about to visit Corinth again. It would be his third visit,

during which he planned to follow his usual practice of refusing financial support from the church. Like a father providing

for his children, Paul would spend himself in ministry and hard work for the Corinthians' benefit.

But even in this commitment Paul came under attack from his opponents. The idea of verses 16-18 seems to be that the

false apostles were the ones saying Paul was a ""crafty fellow"" (v. 16) for pretending not to want the Corinthians' support.

But in reality, the charge went on, he and his friends were exploiting the church by planning to pocket the offering for

Jerusalem.

Paul's response, in today's terms, was something like this. ""Are you serious? Do you really think I sent Titus to you to

exploit you? Has he or our brother [probably Luke] ever done anything to take advantage of you (vv. 17-18)? You know

better.""

This last piece of Paul's defense brings us to his expectations for his upcoming visit. He wanted to see genuine

repentance among the Corinthians. The sins named here are typical of disorder and disunity in the church, and moral

laxness--and the church at Corinth was known for both.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Through the eyes of Paul, we've had an up-close view of the distress, pain, and damage to God's work caused when

unfounded charges against Christians are allowed to go unchallenged.

Do you have a plan for handling these situations when someone comes to you with gossip about a third person? We

suggest you take the direct approach and offer to go with the speaker to the person being talked about to determine if the

accusations are true. Be prepared to stop rumors and gossip.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 13:1-10
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. - Ephesians 6:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
On the night of the 1912 presidential election that put Woodrow Wilson in the White House, a group of Princeton University students dropped by to congratulate Wilson--a former Princeton president--on his victory. It had been a hard-fought, three-way race between Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft, and there were a lot of challenges ahead. Maybe that's why Wilson told the students, ""I myself have no feeling of triumph tonight. I have a feeling of solemn responsibility.""

If someone had congratulated Paul on his powerful letter setting the record straight in Corinth, his response might have been similar to Wilson's. Paul's attitude wasn't triumphant, he wasn't saying to the Corinthians, ""I guess I showed you.""

Instead, the great apostle's heart was burdened for his spiritual children living in this decadent city. Some of the believers in Corinth reflected their culture in their lifestyles, and that was unacceptable in the eyes of God. So Paul was ready to exercise severe discipline if necessary when he arrived in the city on his third visit.

But that's not what Paul wanted to happen. His deep desire was that the church would discipline itself, so he could avoid the use of harsh measures of authority and concentrate on building the people up (v. 10).

But to reach this goal, the Corinthians would have to do some serious self-evaluation. In the context of what he had just written, Paul's exhortation, ""Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith"" (v. 5) probably is not a reference to the Corinthians' salvation. More likely, Paul was calling them to examine their Christian lives to see if they could point to any concrete evidence of Christ's work in them.

This put the searchlight where it belonged. The Corinthians thought Paul was the one being examined. But it was the Corinthians themselves who were on trial. The word yourselves in verse 5 is emphatic: ""You Corinthians yourselves . . .""

For us as Christians, self-examination and repentance are far better than discipline from God for our disobedience.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Through the eyes of Paul, we've had an up-close view of the distress, pain, and damage to God's work caused when Earlier Paul had written, ""If we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment"" (1 Cor. 11:31).

For many of us, self-examination is very difficult because our human tendency is to excuse our own behavior. That's why we need someone else, or a handful of trusted people, to whom we can be accountable. If you don't have someone like this, we encourage you to pray for an accountability partner. Accountability is a current ""hot button"" among believers, but it's nothing new. God thought of it first.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14
Be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. - 2 Corinthians 13:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
You may have wondered how this intensely personal and heartfelt letter (2 Corinthians) was received by the church in Corinth. Did the people respond to Paul's plea and warning to get their spiritual lives in order, or did the apostle's third visit turn out to be another painful experience (cf. 2:1-4)?

Interestingly, we may have a hint in the book of Romans. New Testament professor David Lowery (see the October 27 study) suggests the following sequence of events.

Paul wrote Romans while he was in Corinth on his third visit, after 2 Corinthians had been delivered to the church by Titus. In 2 Corinthians 10:15-16, Paul had said his further work in that region would depend on resolving the problems in Corinth. If the issue of who was the true apostle could be settled, and the Corinthians' sins dealt with, Paul would move on and preach the gospel elsewhere in the region.

This appears to be exactly what happened, because later, while in Corinth, Paul told the Romans his ministry in that region was now complete (Rom. 15:23). Based on what Paul had told the Corinthians earlier (2 Cor. 10:15-16), the only way he could have completed his ministry there was if the church responded positively to this letter and his visit.

If this was the case, there's much more here than a history lesson. Repentance for sin and full acknowledgment of Paul's God-given authority were the results he had prayed for (2 Cor. 13:9-10). Paul's goal was their restoration, not their humiliation and punishment.

With this goal in mind, Paul closed the letter with a plea for unity and peace, and his customary prayer of benediction for God's blessing on the church.

We pointed earlier to the sins Paul feared might erupt if he came and found the church in a battling, divisive mood rather than a repentant state of heart (12:20). The cure for this was Christian unity, peace, and love, all of which God would give the Corinthians if they would seek Him in humility and repentance.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We have seen deeply into the heart of Paul, a godly leader who, at times, must have wept over the sin of God's people.

Beginning tomorrow, we'll meet another spokesman for God whose heart was moved by the sin of his people. The prophet Jeremiah had a very hard message to deliver--and the Israelites of his day failed to respond in repentance. Today, why not pray that God will give you an open, tender heart to His Word in the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 3:1-15
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! - Psalm 8:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Visitors to Sydney, Australia, can take part in an unusual tourist activity: climbing the 440-foot-tall Harbour Bridge. Experienced guides lead small groups of tourists to the top of the bridge along steep stairways and narrow catwalks. Everyone is tied to a static line, and each three-hour trek is preceded by a safety briefing and a simulated run. For the brave who make the trip, the view is said to be awe-inspiring.

We will climb a spiritual ""mountain"" this month for an awe-inspiring view of our great God. The trip may be spiritually challenging, even a little uncomfortable at times. But that's what happens when we open our hearts and minds to the searchlight of God's truth. It's worth the effort, though, to get a closer glimpse of God.

Our subject this month is the names of God. When two people are getting acquainted, the first thing they usually ask is ""What's your name?"" In Bible times, that was an especially good way to get to know a person, because in those days people were given names that reflected their character.

It's the same with God. He is called by many names in the Bible in an attempt to describe His infinitely powerful, holy, wise, and loving nature. We will be able to pursue only a part of this incredible study, but we've selected some great names.

The first name we want to consider is perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all: ""I AM WHO I AM."" This is often transliterated as Yahweh, and appears in the Bible as LORD, printed in all capital letters (as in today's verse). It is the personal name of God that emphasizes His self-existence and His relationship to Israel as the nation's covenant-making and covenant-keeping God.

At the burning bush on Horeb, God called Moses to be Israel's deliverer from Egyptian bondage. Moses was afraid to look at God and was also intimidated by his assignment, fearing the Israelites would question his authority. God's answer was the revelation of His holy name.

This name is regarded as so sacred that the Jews would not pronounce it, using another name of God instead. It appears thousands of times in the Old Testament, but it loses none of its significance. God is the eternal, unchanging ""I AM"" who is faithful to His people generation after generation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Moses was on holy ground at the burning bush. God commanded him to take off his sandals as an act of humble worship.

We need to begin this month in the same spirit of worship and awe before our great God--taking off our sandals, spiritually speaking, and standing humbly before the Lord. We'll be on holy ground in these studies. Ask God to reveal Himself to you through His names, and prepare you for any step of obedience, confession, or repentance He may call you to take.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 20:7-8; 1 Peter 1:13-16
It is written: ""Be holy, because I am holy."" - 1 Peter 1:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
John Wesley and his brother Charles were at Oxford University in England when they became part of a group dedicated to prayer, Bible study, self-examination, and works of charity. The group was called the ""Holy Club,"" and it included the great preacher George Whitefield. But even though John Wesley practiced rigid spiritual discipline, he grew increasingly frustrated. After three years in America, he wrote in his journal: ""I went to America to convert the Indians; but oh, who shall convert me?"" It wasn't until after Wesley returned to England in 1737 that he realized he had been trying to practice holiness without a saving relationship with Christ. He was converted in 1738.

John Wesley's attempts to please God by religious activity and self-discipline put him in a long line of sincere, well-meaning people who have tried to manufacture holiness. But the Bible is clear that holiness, the state of being dedicated to or set apart for God, is not a matter of human effort. God emphasized that to Israel by one of His names, ""The LORD, who makes you holy"" (Lev. 20:7).

The Israelites were holy not because they were better than everybody else, but because God chose them and set them apart for Himself. God gave Israel His holy law and commanded the people to obey Him, separating themselves from the sins of the pagan nations around them.

Leviticus 20 is a good example of this. The verses in today's reading occur in a chapter detailing gross sins that were so offensive to God they carried the death penalty. The Israelites were called to an entirely different way of life.

But while God's law demanded internal righteousness as well as external obedience, the law itself was incapable of providing that righteousness. It took Christ's death on the cross to pay the debt of sin and allow God to declare sinners holy when they put their faith in Christ for salvation.

As Christians, we have an advantage over the people living under the law. We have been born again, given new spiritual life from God--and we have the power of the Holy Spirit to live holy lives. From beginning to end, holiness is the work of the God ""who makes you holy.""
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Holiness is a term that isn't used much anymore. Some people are afraid of it because it sounds too . . . well, too holy!

But Peter reminds us that holiness is what God wants and expects from us. Holiness is a reflection of God's character, and He wants His children to look like Him. Romans 12:1-2 is one of the most practical formulas for holy living in the Bible. Why not turn to these familiar verses and make them your prayer today? Also, memorize them if you haven't done so before.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 103:13-18; Matthew 6:9-13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. - Psalm 103:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
After a devastating 1989 earthquake in Armenia, a father rushed to his son's school, only to find the building destroyed. Going to the area where his son's classroom was, the man began digging through the rubble with his hands. Other parents tried to convince him it was no use. Officials tried to make him leave, fearing fires and explosions. But the father kept digging alone, and after forty hours found his son and thirteen other children still alive. ""I told the other kids not to worry,"" the boy told his father. ""If you were alive, you'd save me.""

That's a great example of a father's love for his child. God has revealed Himself to us as our Father, a name that suggests protection, love, provision, and discipline (see Heb. 12:4-6). The psalmist says that God knows us intimately. He does not scold us for our humanness, but at the same time He requires obedience from us--just like the wise, loving fathers many of us knew as children.

And for those of us whose human fathers were not what they should have been, the fact that God invites us to call Him ""Abba,"" or ""Daddy"" (Rom. 8:16), holds special meaning. No child of God will ever be rejected, abandoned, or orphaned.

That Armenian father's hands were surely bloodied after forty hours of digging. His sacrificial love reminds us of the cost God paid to bring us to Himself. He had to turn away from His Son's agony on the cross in order to save us and make us His children.

Jesus, as the eternal Son in perfect fellowship with His Father, taught us to pray, ""Our Father in heaven"" (Matt. 6:9). This prayer reminds us of the awesome majesty of our heavenly Father, who is worthy of our adoration and praise.

God is the Giver of every good thing (James 1:17), including our daily bread. And just as disobedient children need to have fellowship with their father restored, we need to come to our Father in confession and repentance, and receive His forgiveness. Our Father is also our Protector and Deliverer from ""the evil one."" You can rest in your strong Father's care today!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Let's declare today an unofficial father's day by reaching out to a dad who deserves a word of blessing and encouragement.

We'd like to suggest that you write a note to a father you know. Your own father, or another dad in your family circle, would certainly be a good place to start. But don't forget about your spiritual father, if you have one, or a dad in your church, neighborhood, or workplace. You could also share a note with an unsaved dad you know.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 40:27-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God. - Isaiah 40:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
At the time when most people his age have long ago ridden off into the sunset, Bruce Brown is still in the saddle as a volunteer mounted sheriff's deputy in Oklahoma City. At 85, Mr. Brown is believed to be the oldest mounted sheriff's deputy in the country. He spends many hours on his quarter horse, patrolling public events, helping investigators search for evidence, or visiting with children's groups.

People like Bruce Brown are newsworthy because they seem to defy the norm. Our physical limitations usually become more obvious and tend to take over as we get older. Teenagers may think they're immortal, but that illusion fades as the decades add up. Our days on earth are definitely limited.

Imperfect, powerless people like us need a God who does not wear out, run down, or give up. There's only one God who qualifies; the ""eternal"" or ""everlasting"" God of Israel. Only a God who is eternal is able to stand apart from and above every created thing, untouched by the passing of time and the winding down of His creation.

So while our limitations and weaknesses may frustrate us, our eternal God never suffers any loss at all. Here's another name of God in which we can take real comfort. In fact, comfort is the theme of Isaiah 40: ""Comfort, comfort my people, says your God"" (v. 1).

The people of Israel in Isaiah's day needed comfort. The ten tribes of the northern kingdom were under threat from the Assyrian empire, and would be conquered and taken into captivity in 722 B.C.

This was God's judgment for Israel's sin, but those who remained faithful to Him needed to know God had not forgotten them. Even in the middle of judgment, He would give strength to the weary and restore those who had lost their strength.

It was obvious where Israel needed to put its trust. God's people had been carrying on an illicit love affair with idols for many years, but these manmade gods could not compare to the eternal God. They would rot, tarnish, and topple over (vv. 18-20). Israel's trust was misplaced. Where is your trust today?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you belong to the eternal God, His ""everlasting arms"" are underneath you today.

That reality should help put life's concerns in perspective. What is your biggest need right now or your most worrisome circumstance? It may help to write it down on a card, then put beneath it today's Scripture references. Put the card where you will see it often, and remind God of His promise to uphold and strengthen you when you are weary.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. - Psalm 23:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1862 a young pastor named Joseph Gilmore preached a Wednesday evening message on Psalm 23 at the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Later, Gilmore and his wife went to the home of a church deacon, where the group began discussing the joys of God's care as described in this beautiful psalm. Gilmore was so inspired by the conversation he wrote a poem on the spot, handed it to his wife, and forgot about it. But she submitted it to a magazine, where well-known hymn writer William Bradbury saw it and put the words to music, adding two lines at the end of the chorus. Gilmore's poem became the great hymn, ""He Leadeth Me.""

One Bible commentator suggests that no other name for God is as comforting as Shepherd. Considering all the ways that shepherds in biblical times cared for their sheep, this may be true. Sheep certainly need the kind of total protection described here.

Someone else said that no one but David could have written this psalm celebrating God's love and care as our great Shepherd. That's probably true too. Israel's shepherd-king had experienced everything he wrote about here.

Verses 1-2 are a wonderful picture of God's provision. David had seen God provide for him during the years he hid from Saul, and also during his years on the throne.

But God's abundance is not just material. The psalms themselves tell how often David turned to God for the restoration of his soul and for guidance to walk in ""the paths of righteousness."" For believers these are the greatest blessings of all, the kind Jesus taught us to seek (Matt. 6:33).

Because of his Shepherd's presence, David was not afraid even in his darkest hour. The Bible also pictures God as our Protector who keeps us from falling on the path and drives away our enemies. David needed this protection countless times. So do we, although we're often unaware of it because our enemies aren't as visible as David's.

Verses 5-6 provide a different picture of God as a generous host, but the message is the same. God meets every need we could ever have, and the best response we can make is to worship Him every day of our lives.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In John 10:14 Jesus called Himself ""the good shepherd."" In John 10:27-30 Jesus promised us that no one can take our eternal life from us because we are held firmly in the hand of our Shepherd. He further enhanced the promise by saying we are in the Father's hand too. All three members of the Trinity are active in securing our salvation, because the Holy Spirit is our deposit guaranteeing the finished work (Eph. 1:13-14). If you need a reason to praise God today, here it is.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 14:1-24
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. - Psalm 91:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Tafari Makonnen, who ruled the north African nation of Ethiopia from 1930-1974, was known by the title Haile Selassie, which means ""power of the Trinity."" Selassie was from a dynasty of Ethiopian kings who claimed to be descended from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, who according to an Ethiopian legend had a child whom Solomon raised in his court.

Many human rulers have taken on names and titles that they or their followers believed reflected their greatness. But only one Ruler deserves the kind of exalted names that people often claim for themselves. God is ""Most High"" or ""God Most High,"" a name which underscores His absolute supremacy. It is often used in passages that speak of God's relationship to the nations.

The first occurrence of this name for God is in the story of Abram's victory over four kings from the east who swept into the region of Sodom and captured Abram's nephew Lot. Abram pursued the kings, defeated them, and brought back Lot along with a huge amount of plunder.

On his return Abram was met by the mysterious biblical figure Melchizedek, who was both the king of Salem (""peace"") and ""priest of the Most High God"" (v. 18). Melchizedek attributed Abram's victory to the power of God, who as Creator rules over all nations and can set up or pull down kings.

Later, Moses sang of ""the Most High"" who divided up the nations and set their boundaries according to His sovereign will (Deut. 32:. Even Nebuchadnezzar, one of the most powerful kings in history, had to bow before ""the Most High"" and confess that the God of Israel does whatever He will with kings and peoples, and no one can stop Him (Dan. 4:34-35).

This is also a name that appears several times in the New Testament. The angel told Mary that ""the power of the Most High"" would overshadow her and accomplish the virgin birth of Jesus (Luke 1:35). On another occasion, the demons had to confess that as ""the Son of the Most High God"" (Mark 5:7), Jesus had absolute power over them.

Next to our Most High God, no other person or thing is worthy of our worship and praise!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The God who is far above everyone and everything else in majesty is the same God who asks, ""Is anything too hard for me?"" (Jer. 32:27).

We know the answer to that question. Nothing is too hard for our God, who is supreme in His glory. Yesterday we praised God for His tender, shepherd-like care. Why not spend time praising Him today for His power, and for the comforting promise of today's verse? The Most High God is a shelter to those who put their trust in Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read:  Genesis 17:1-8
I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. - Genesis 17:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the best modern-day examples of victory in the face of seemingly impossible odds is the Battle of Britain in the early days of World War II. The British defeated Nazi Germany in a desperate air battle under the leadership of Winston Churchill. The British leader was everywhere during the bombing of London, even defying air raid sirens to walk the streets. His familiar ""V for victory"" salute also became a famous and inspiring symbol.

The patriarch Abram was not at war in Genesis 17, but he was facing a seemingly impossible situation. God had promised Abram a son, and descendants as numerous as the stars (Gen. 15:1-6). But almost twenty-five years had passed by, and Abram and Sarai still had no children. In a moment of weakness, he had agreed to father a child through Sarai's servant Hagar, resulting in the birth of Ishmael (Gen. 16:1-6, see the November 10 study).

But now God appeared to Abram again to reaffirm His promise, calling Himself ""God Almighty,"" the name El-Shaddai. There is some question about the root of the word Shaddai, which can mean either ""breast"" or ""mountain."" Some Bible scholars believe both images are appropriate here, since God is both the source of provision and the majestic God who can fulfill His word.

God Almighty was the name by which Old Testament patriarchs like Abram came to know Him (see Exod. 6:2-3). This name was also associated with God's covenant with Abram, because God appeared to confirm His covenant (v. 2). Later in the chapter He gave Abram the covenant sign of circumcision.

It was also God Almighty who changed Abram's name to Abraham, which means ""father of a multitude"" (v. 5). Only God Almighty could give a ninety-nine-year-old childless man a name like this. And only God Almighty could fulfill the promise implied in Abraham's name, creating a new life from the union of Abraham and his elderly, barren wife Sarah (whose name was changed in verse 15).

This name for God also appears eight times in the book of Revelation (see Rev.1:8 and 4:8 for two examples). It's in His total and final defeat of Satan and his forces, and the establishment of Christ's kingdom, that God demonstrates for all eternity His almighty power and majesty.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
According to Revelation 4:8, the ""four living creatures,"" either angels or other created beings in heaven, spend eternity in endless praise of ""the Lord God Almighty.""

We are going to praise God for all eternity too, so we may as well get in practice. This has turned out to be a weekend for praising the God who reveals Himself to us in these wonderful and exalted names. The Almighty God who kept His word to Abraham will keep every promise He has made to you! Praise His name!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 61:1-8
You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. - Psalm 61:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
After an earthquake shattered northwestern Turkey last summer, thousands of people camped outdoors for fear that aftershocks would collapse their homes and apartment buildings. Tent cities were set up, but more than a week after the quake tents were still in short supply. Driving rains added to the grief and misery of quake survivors, turning many areas into a sea of mud and forcing people to seek refuge wherever they could find it.

When you're in the middle of a dangerous storm, you need a safe refuge. That's what the word refuge means--""a shelter from danger."" The psalm writers used this name for God repeatedly to describe Him as a shelter for His children.

Actually, Psalm 61 addresses God by several names, as do a number of the passages we will study this month. For example, Psalm 62 speaks of God as a rock, and we will talk about this name tomorrow. But Psalm 62:7-8 also refers to God as a refuge. The writers of Scripture drew on every kind of image and descriptive term available to them to convey the greatness of God's majesty, love, mercy, holiness, and other attributes.

We don't know the historical setting for Psalm 61, nor all the reasons for David's distress. Like prey being chased by a hunter, he longed to run to the protective care of his God. He sought refuge the way soldiers might take refuge in a strong tower when under attack, or a baby chick might huddle under its mother's wings.

David's threat may have been physical. His life seemed to be in danger (v. 6). But whatever the source of the storm, David knew where to find safe shelter. The king's plea to God was based on His covenant with David, which was sealed by God's love (v. 7), that special Old Testament word that describes His unfailing faithfulness to His children.

When it comes to life's storms, someone has said that we're either heading into one, we're in one now, or we're just coming out of one. No matter where you are today on that continuum, it's reassuring to know you have a strong Refuge in whom you can rest.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way God provides a refuge for His people is through fellow believers who can come alongside to help.

Maybe you know a fellow Christian who is in the middle of a storm and needs a helping hand. Why not contact that person and offer to share a meal, a time to pray together, or perhaps just a listening ear? Ask God to help you make the right response--the kind of support you look for when you're in your own storm. Also, share today's psalm with your friend, something you can do even over the phone.