TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 8:1-6
Every tongue [will] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
The popular television series Bonanza followed the adventures of the Cartwright family, owners of a huge ranch in Nevada called the Ponderosa. In one episode, Little Joe Cartwright (actor Michael Landon) was bringing a visitor from back East out to the ranch. At one point in their long ride from town the man looked around at the countryside, then turned to Little Joe and said, ""I'm looking forward to seeing the Ponderosa.""

Little Joe looked at the man and said, ""Mister, you've been on Cartwright land for the last two hours."" The Cartwright family was master of everything as far as the visitor could see.

That's a good picture of what the name ""Lord"" means. The Lord is the owner, the master, the one who decides how things are going to be. It is also a title of respect and reverence. When this name is applied to Jesus Christ, it speaks of His supremacy as the Master, the only One deserving of our reverence. There is room in the universe for only one Lord.

The New Testament contains several illustrations of the way this name is used to express ownership. Jesus is ""Lord of the harvest"" (Matt. 9:38) and ""Lord of the Sabbath"" (Matt. 12:, meaning He decides how the harvest will be reaped and what is appropriate to do on the Sabbath.

Paul was writing to the Corinthians about a real-life issue, whether to eat meat offered to idols. But he also pointed out the truth that although there were pretenders to the title ""Lord,"" they were nothing (v. 4). ""There is but one Lord, Jesus Christ"" (v. 6) is a powerful doctrinal statement.

You may recognize today's verse as the conclusion to one of the Bible's great passages about Jesus Christ, tracing His life and ministry from the glory of heaven to the humiliation of death on a cross. His exaltation will be universal when every person bows and admits that He is Lord.

For some people, that confession will be too late in terms of their eternal destiny. But we who know the Lord as Savior are privileged to bow before Him now in humble repentance and worship, rather than later when He is revealed for all the world to see. For this, we'll be eternally grateful to Jesus.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If Jesus is Lord of your life, you can join the rest of the Today family in thanking Him for the gift of salvation.

This is the focus of our praise the day before Thanksgiving. But it's possible that some of our readers have not yet bowed before Christ in repentance and faith. If that describes you, there's no better season to enter into a relationship with God. Put your faith in Christ alone today to save you, and you'll have the best reason for thanksgiving you've ever had.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 22:1-14
God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering. - Genesis 22:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
D. L. Moody once said, ""After I became a father, and for years had an only son, as I looked at my boy I thought of [God] the Father giving His Son to die, and it seemed to me as if it required more love for the Father to give His Son that for the Son to die. Oh, the love that God must have had for the world when He gave His Son to die for it!""

Moody captured a glimpse of what Abraham must have felt the day God gave him the stunning command. God wanted Abraham to take his only son Isaac--the son of promise for whom Abraham and Sarah had waited twenty-five years--and sacrifice him to the Lord on Mount Moriah. Abraham's heart must have been torn with agony all that night.

But even more stunning than God's command was Abraham's unquestioning obedience. He obeyed willingly. At one point on the trip Isaac asked his father about the lamb for the offering. Abraham answered in the words of today's verse, and in this (along with v. 14) gave us another name for our great God.

The word translated ""provide"" (vv. 8, 14) and ""provided"" (v. 14) is very interesting. It can also be translated ""see"" or ""seen."" Some people even translate these verses using ""see,"" because this is the word's primary meaning. It is used over 1괌 times in the Bible, and these are the only three places it is translated ""provide"" in the NIV.

But ""the LORD will provide"" (v. 14) is a good translation because for God to see something, with His foreknowledge and power, is the same thing as saying He provides it. In other words, God ""saw"" that ram caught in the thicket because He had put it there ahead of time in anticipation of Abraham's need for a sacrifice. It was never God's intention for Abraham to take Isaac's life.

God sees the need, and God provides. That simple statement carries a great blessing, because Genesis 22 was a picture of the coming Lamb of God who would be offered up by His Father for the sins of the world. God saw our need far ahead of time, and in His plan Jesus was sacrificed as our Lamb before the world was ever created (Rev. 13:!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We have to wonder if Abraham held an impromptu thanksgiving service on that mountain when the angel stopped him from sacrificing Isaac.

We do know that Abraham built an altar to the Lord there and worshiped Him. As you thank the Lord for His provision of your material needs this Thanksgiving Day, don't forget to thank Him for providing the Lamb, His Son Jesus Christ, to pay the price for your sins.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 1:18-21, 24-25; Luke 1:31; 2
You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. - Matthew 1:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
It's interesting to learn that names have been used throughout history to denote important facts such as a person's family connections or place of origin. Two examples of these kinds of names in the Bible are Simon Bar-Jona (Matt. 16:17, KJV), showing that Simon was the son of Jonah, and Mary Magdalene (Matt. 27:56), designating this woman as the Mary from Magdala, a small town in Galilee.

Many biblical names have another trait in that they are compounds of a name for God and another word. That's the case with the name Jesus, the Greek form of Joshua, made up of a shortened form of Yahweh and the word for ""save.""

This is the personal name of God's Son, given to Joseph and to Mary before Jesus was born. The angel explained to Joseph the meaning of the name Jesus, and the mission of the Child whom Mary was carrying. We've studied one of His titles, Lord, and on Sunday we'll talk about His title as ""the Christ,"" the Messiah or Anointed One of God.

The blessing for us in Jesus' name is obvious: He is our Savior sent from God. Jesus' birth fulfilled God's promise to send a Redeemer in the oldest prophecy in the Bible, Genesis 3:15. Jesus was also the promised Redeemer of Israel.

The angel's announcement to the shepherds in Luke 2:11 brings together Jesus' names and titles in a powerful way: ""Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."" No wonder an entire ""host"" of angels appeared to praise God. No Person like this had ever been born before.

Archaeological records indicate that Jesus was a common name in that day, just as Joshua is a popular name today. And in Jesus' day there were false leaders going around claiming to be the Messiah. What set Jesus apart from all the rest was that He spoke the words and did the works of the Savior (see Luke 4:14-21 and John 10:38).

Luke 2:21 records the obedience of Joseph and Mary to heaven's command for the naming of their Child and our Savior. As the songwriter said, ""The name of Jesus is so sweet, I love its music to repeat. It makes my joy full and complete, the precious name of Jesus.""
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The words of this hymn should be our song today as we get ready to celebrate God's ""indescribable gift"" to us (2 Cor. 9:15).

Does your family have specific plans to honor and worship Jesus this Christmas? You can do that by the music you play and the things you display in your home. This weekend might be a good time to have a family council and see how many ways you can think of to make sure that Jesus occupies the place He deserves in your Christmas celebration.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 7:13-14; Matthew 1:22-23
They will call him Immanuel--which means, ""God with us."" - Matthew 1:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
Let's do another one-question Bible quiz today, like the one we did on Tuesday (see the November 23 study). Which name or title of Jesus Christ was never again used in the Bible after its first mention? Once again, the answer is in today's verse.

In explaining the significance of Jesus' birth, Matthew said the people would call Jesus ""Immanuel,"" which the writer interprets for us. Matthew drew this name from Isaiah's prophecy, but it appears only once in the New Testament. If Jesus was ever called Immanuel, it is not recorded in Scripture.

But that doesn't lessen the power of this name. Matthew's purpose was not to give us an alternative name by which to call Jesus. The purpose of his quotation from Isaiah was to demonstrate that Jesus' virgin birth was the fulfillment of a prophecy made centuries before.

You may know that Matthew's use of Isaiah 7:14 has generated much controversy. The problem centers on how we should understand what Isaiah was saying. His prophecy had a meaning for his own day, which was clearly not a virgin birth, and a greater meaning that Matthew explained.

It can be argued that the Hebrew word Isaiah used does not have to mean ""virgin."" But the woman the prophet was speaking about in his day could have been his future wife, with whom Isaiah later had a son (Isa. 8:1-4). In that case, she may have been a virgin at the time Isaiah 7:14 was written.

Verses 15-17 say this child was a ""sign"" to King Ahaz of Judah in that by the time the boy was old enough to know right and wrong, the kings of Israel and Syria, who were threatening Judah, would be driven away.

Whatever the specifics of Isaiah's prophecy, Matthew leaves no doubt about the virgin birth of Jesus. Quoting from the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint, Matthew used a word that can mean only virgin.

Jesus is ""God with us."" No one else can claim that title, which makes Him unique. As you prepare your heart and home to celebrate His birth, praise God for sending His Son to live among us--and die for us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When we did the little quiz on Tuesday (the November 23 study), we mentioned a book that contains more than 300 names for Jesus.

You may want to pick up a copy of this book for devotional use this Christmas. It's called Names of Christ, by T.C. Horton and Charles E. Hurlburt. Reading some of these names together and talking about them as a family will give your family's Christmas devotions a new perspective. Check your local bookstore for this unique book.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 1:35-42; Psalm 2:1-12
We have found the Messiah (that is, the Christ). - John 1:41
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you ran into some great person, a world-renowned dignitary, you would probably follow that person as far as you could just to get a better look. And if that person invited you to come and spend the day together, chances are you would not keep the experience to yourself. The first words out of your mouth when you got back home would be, ""Guess who I met today?"" And if you were told this famous person would welcome your return visit with relatives, you would certainly invite your family to meet your newfound friend.

That's not a perfect analogy to what Andrew did with Peter, but it's close. For a devout Jew like Andrew, realizing he had met the Messiah, the ""Anointed One,"" the promised Redeemer of Israel, was an event so exciting he couldn't wait to get home to tell Simon Peter. It was the first thing Andrew did after meeting Jesus.

In addition to all of His other glorious and exalted names, Jesus is the Christ, the Greek term meaning ""anointed one."" This word is the equivalent of the Hebrew term we know as Messiah. The use of Messiah here is rare in the New Testament (the only other occurrence is in John 4:25). The far more common term is Christ, which is used more than 500 times.

This title is incredibly important because it designates Jesus as the One specially set aside by God for the work God has given Him to do. In the Old Testament, priests were anointed for their service to indicate their consecration to God, and kings were anointed at their coronation. There's even a reference to prophets being anointed (1 Kings 19:16). Jesus' designation as the Messiah, or the Christ, points to His ministry as Prophet, Priest, and King.

Psalm 2 is a powerful tribute to the kingly role of God's ""Anointed One"" (v. 2), who is also His Son (v. 7). This is a description of Jesus' reign in His kingdom, when He will rule the nations with absolute authority and break His enemies in pieces.

Earlier we read that one day, every knee will bow to Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:11). We have the privilege today of bowing in reverence and worship, taking refuge in God's Anointed One.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This is a perfect day for a study on the greatness of our Savior and the importance of worshiping Him.

We hope your Sunday includes worship at a church where the Bible is believed and taught. If you have a church like this, take a few minutes to thank the Lord for this blessing. And if you know someone who needs a church home, why not invite that friend to your church this year?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7
To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. - Isaiah 9:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
After it became obvious that the Allies' policy of appeasing Adolf Hitler had failed to stop the Nazi leader's plans for war and conquest, one British leader described the dark situation in memorable terms. ""The lamps are going out all over Europe, and we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.""

The situation looked dark in the northern region of Israel after the Assyrians invaded in 732 B.C. and put the people under their rule. The region even came to be called ""Galilee of the Gentiles"" because of its domination by the foreigners.

But Isaiah used this dark period of Israel's history to prophesy of a time when the darkness and gloom would be lifted. That happened hundreds of years later when Jesus began His ministry in this same area--an occasion which Matthew noted by quoting from Isaiah (Matt. 4:13-16).

But Isaiah did not end his prophecy with Jesus' first coming. The prophet went on to describe the day when the Messiah would carry the government of the world on His shoulders. He would be born as a child, a clear reference to Christ's birth in Bethlehem. But He would be given as a son, a gift from God because Jesus existed in eternity as God before He came to earth.

The names in verse 6, like all the names we have studied this month, are impossible for anyone but God to claim. Isaiah said the Messiah would be a ""Wonderful Counselor,"" having exceptional wisdom. He would also be the ""Mighty God,"" far more than a mere human being. As ""Everlasting Father"" Jesus is the eternal God, and He is uniquely the ""Prince of Peace,"" the One who will bring in and maintain peace in His kingdom.

We could spend a month absorbing all the beauty and nuances of the names contained in this one verse. Imagine what it will be like to experience the fulfillment of all these roles when Jesus returns to reign!

It will happen, the prophet says, because ""the zeal of God Almighty will accomplish this"" (v. 7). We have learned the power behind the name Almighty, which means when God is ready to send His Ruler and Savior back to earth, nothing will stop Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It doesn't get any better than Jesus Christ returning to rule in perfect righteousness and peace.

That will be a great day, and we can anticipate it as we celebrate His birth. But you don't have to wait until heaven to enjoy the blessings God has for you in the Person of His Son. The writer of Hebrews assures you that Jesus will never leave or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). That means he's with you today, no matter what your Monday holds. Praise Him!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 1:1-8; 21:6; 22:13
""I am the Alpha and the Omega,"" says the Lord God, ""who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."" - Revelation 1:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Late last summer a huge floating crane put into place the last link in a 10-mile bridge that connected Copenhagen, Denmark with Malmoe, Sweden's third-largest city. The bridge will allow cars, trucks, and trains to avoid costly and time-consuming ferries across the waterway that leads to the Baltic Sea. The heirs to the Danish and Swedish thrones met in the middle of the bridge and exchanged kisses as the final link was installed. The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic in July 2000.

A bridge that links two countries gives us some idea of the meaning behind a name Jesus Christ used for Himself in the book of Revelation, ""the Alpha and the Omega."" Jesus also used two other names in Revelation with similar meanings: ""I am the First and the Last"" (Rev. 1:17), and ""I am . . . the Beginning and the End"" (Rev. 21:6). All three names are combined in Revelation 22:13.

It's not hard to understand what Jesus was saying here. Using the first and last items in a series is a figure of speech that means completeness, the whole package. When it comes to authority and power Jesus Christ stands alone as God, from A to Z, from first to last, and from beginning to end.

This name used in the revelation God gave to the apostle John, implies authority and majesty. The Bible's final book describes the end of time, the curtain call for the heavens and earth in their present form, the end to mankind's sin, the final gasp in Satan's doomed rebellion against God, and a restored paradise with the tree of life.

God's perfect paradise was spoiled by sin, but in the end He will reverse sin's effects and demonstrate to all of creation that He is Lord from beginning to end.

It would take all the names of God we've studied this month, and many more, to begin to comprehend God's greatness. And it will take eternity to realize who He is and what He has done for us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The last letter of the Greek alphabet is a good place to finish our study on the names of God.

Here's one way you and your family, or a group of friends, can continue celebrating the truth that Jesus is our everything from A to Z. For each letter of the alphabet, name either a blessing you have because of Christ, a ministry of His for which you are grateful, or one of His attributes as God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 46:1-11
Be still, and know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
A computer owner in Texas recently called in a technician to test his computer for potential Y2K problems. The test printout showed that two of the computer's systems would probably fail if the computer were running when the changeover to January 1, 2000 occurred. But the test also showed that those same two systems would remain unharmed if the computer were not in operation during the date changeover. The technician instructed, 'Make sure your computer is turned off at midnight on December 31, and everything should be fine.'

That's an obvious solution to one person's 'millennium bug' problem. It's pretty good advice for the rest of us too, though not necessarily as a cure for our technology problems. Spiritually, most of us need a lot more 'down time' than we're getting those valuable times when we turn off our computers, televisions, cell phones, CD players, and video games to seek God and hear the still, small voice of His Spirit.

Something wonderful happens when we do this. We begin to gain, or regain, an eternal perspective. Problems, deadlines, shopping lists, and other things that seemed very important start to shrink to their proper size, and we discover the blessing of God's own invitation to be still and know Him.

Seeing life from an eternal perspective is something Christians should be doing every day. It ought to be the rule, not the exception. So as the world waits to step into an uncertain future, our goal this month is to help you maintain a perspective on life that can come only from knowing, loving, and serving God and keeping everything else in line with that priority.

Psalm 46 is a great start to our studies. Because God is our refuge and 'ever-present help,' we can put away fear (vv. 1-3), a phrase our Y2K-weary world needs to hear. God's presence also secures the city where He dwells (vv. 4-7). This was Jerusalem for the psalmist, but it's also a powerful reminder that when people put their trust in God, He becomes their security. The psalm also invites us to see God's mighty work that brings peace among the nations (vv. 8-11). With God as the anchor of our souls, we can be at peace whatever the new year brings.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
No one knows what, if anything, will happen a month from now. But God will be the same on January 1 as He is on December 1.

Knowing this should help us keep our perspective. You may have lots of millennial fears or none. In either case, why not write down one thing you would like to see God do in your life this month? It may be a needed change, strength to face a trial, or simply a calm spirit in uncertain days. Then tuck the paper away, or clip it to the back of your devotional booklet, and we'll see later how God has answered your request.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? - 1 Corinthians 9:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, Italian runner Dornado Pietri collapsed in exhaustion just a few yards from victory in the marathon. Two helpful British Olympic officials dragged Pietri across the finish line but the Italian was disqualified for using 'external support' and denied his gold medal.

Imagine giving a race everything you had for more than twenty grueling miles, but then falling short of the finish line by a few yards and losing the prize. That kind of finish would be an athlete's worst nightmare.

Being disqualified in the Christian race was Paul's worst nightmare, because he was running for an eternal prize. Paul figured that if the competitors in the Isthmian Games held near Corinth every two years could discipline themselves to win a wreath that would fade, he could discipline himself for the eternal prize of God's approval and rewards in heaven. We need to adopt the apostle's attitude.

We don't know exactly how Paul would have handled all the millennium hype and legitimate concerns this month. But based on passages like today's, we think his advice to Christians today would be something like this: 'Just keep running the race God has given you to run. Don't let all the distractions throw you off track. God will take care of those, and you.'

Running a winning Christian race has never been that easy. It has always required discipline and a strong focus on the goal. In that sense, December 1999 is no different than any other month in any other year. Running around 'aimlessly' (v. 26) won't get us anywhere. Let's keep running to win!

Paul then changed athletic metaphors, but the message stayed the same. 'Beating the air' was probably a reference to a boxer throwing wild punches that hit nothing during a match.

Running around aimlessly and wildly punching the air is an accurate picture of the way some people have reacted to the Y2K issue and the fears it has generated. Rather than panic, Paul prescribed the practice of solid discipline the kind that enables a runner to finish the race.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How disciplined has your 'practice schedule' been lately?

We hope you're making prayer and Bible study a daily priority. It's a great way to maintain an eternal perspective. Given the unusual nature of this December, and the importance of our subject, why not plan now to meet with God in His Word every day? Whether this is simply the continuation of a regular practice for you, or a relatively new form of daily discipline, we encourage you to make this commitment today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Peter 3:8-13
You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. - 2 Peter 3:11-12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Six-year-old John Wesley was trapped in a second-story room of his father's burning rectory. John opened the door, but was driven back by the flames. He ran to the window, but it wouldn't open. So the desperate boy climbed up on a dresser and shouted for help. His father, Samuel Wesley, saw John at the window and tried to go up the stairs, but they were engulfed in flames. Finally, a neighbor leaned against the wall while another man climbed on his shoulders and opened the window. He yanked John out of the room just before the roof caved in.

No wonder Wesley later referred to himself as a 'brand plucked out of the fire' (see Zech. 3:2 KJV). It was not in God's plan and timetable for John Wesley to die in a fire as a boy, and Wesley's lifetime of ministry is still affecting us.

One thing is clear from Peter's words: God operates by His timetable, not ours. The year 2000 is no more startling to Him than the year 1000 or 1000 B.C., for that matter.

The end of the second millennium is like the end of another day to our God. His program for earth and His people will be unaffected.

We need to keep this truth in mind. Lots of people seem to think God is obligated to do something spectacular at midnight on December 31 such as end the world. But when the end-times scenarios don't pan out, the world will scoff and go on about its business of practicing evil (see vv. 3-4).

But Christ is coming back, says Peter, and when He does everyone will know it. He is delaying His coming out of mercy and a desire to see the lost saved.

As Christians we don't need to worry about the time of Christ's return. We've got a big assignment in the meantime, living the kind of holy lives that will make us glad and not ashamed before Christ when He returns. What would such a life look like? Just look at Jesus

(1 Pet. 1:15-16).

So when it comes to end-times hype, maintaining an eternal perspective means not getting too shook up about temporary events on a planet that is completely under God's control.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If God is holding back His judgment so more people will be saved, shouldn't we have a deep desire to bring men and women to Christ? Every person is going to live forever either in heaven or in hell, so we need to take an eternal perspective toward friends and family members who don't know Christ. One way we can avoid worrying about the future is to start focusing on people who need to be saved. Do you dare to believe that God can use you this month to be a witness? He can, and He will, if you'll make yourself available.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 1:6-9
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Oswald Chambers wrote, 'The Christian life is gloriously difficult. But the difficulty of it does not make us faint and cave in; it rouses us to overcome. Do we so appreciate the marvelous salvation of Jesus Christ that we give our utmost for His highest? Thank God He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a glad thing, but it also tests us for all we are worth.'

What Chambers described in the spiritual realm is similar to what Joshua faced as he stepped up to fill the sandals of Moses. Israel's new commander had no less an assignment than leading the nation in the conquest of the promised land. This had never happened before, and no one really knew what to expect.

But it's clear from God's message to Joshua that this was no time for paralyzing fear. Bible teacher Donald K. Campbell points out that each of the three times God urged Joshua to be courageous, He gave Israel's leader a good reason for courage. Let's notice these, for our own encouragement today.

First, Joshua could be courageous because of God's promise (v. 6). God had sworn by His covenant promise to Abraham to give the land of Canaan to Israel, so Joshua had a solid reason to move forward with confidence.

Second, Joshua would find all the courage and strength he needed by obeying God's Word, our source for God's power (vv. 7-8). This was a strong command, as Dr. Campbell says, 'Greater strength of character would be required to obey God's Word faithfully and fully than to win military battles!'

The third reason for Joshua's courage was God's constant presence (v. 9). Knowing our eternal Lord is always with us certainly eases the task of keeping an eternal perspective.

Look at this list again, and you'll see that none of these blessings was limited to Joshua. We have God's promise, not of land on earth, but of an eternal home in heaven (Jn. 14:1-3). We also activate the transforming power of His Word by our obedience, and God has said He will never leave us (Heb. 13:5).

Put all of this together and there isn't much room left for paralyzing fears!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Joshua 1:8 is another three-part outline for spiritual success.

1. God tells us to talk about His Word. We can do that as families and friends when we read the Word together and talk about what it means for our lives. 2. We also need to think about the Word. Meditation sounds a little suspicious to some Christians, but deliberately pondering the Scriptures in our minds is a great spiritual discipline. 3. Then we're ready to do the Word. Obedience is God's Word manifested in our lives.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 121:1-8
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. - Psalm 121:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author and seminar speaker Gary Rossberg tells of the time he was in a hotel lobby in Atlanta. Suddenly, there was a small commotion as a group of men moved quickly through the lobby. As the entourage passed Rossberg he saw that Nelson Mandela, the president of South Africa, was being escorted by a contingent of security people. Rossberg also noticed that as the group stepped onto the elevator, one of Mandela's guards turned around and entered backwards, guarding against trouble even at the last second before the elevator's doors closed. Rossberg says that act of vigilance defined for him what it means to be a protector.

That's a good picture of the way our God and Father surrounds us with His care. He watches us whether we are coming or going, and His protection is so complete that He is on watch for dangers coming at us from all sides.

This famous psalm is called a psalm of ascent, or a pilgrim psalm that worshipers recited as they headed up to Jerusalem to worship God at His temple. As a traveler, the psalmist may have seen the hills either as a source of comfort, or a source of danger because of potential robbers.

But either way, the pilgrim's confidence was in the Lord who made the hills and everything else to protect him along the journey. God would not allow the psalmist's foot to slip on the path, nor would He become indifferent to the traveler, indifference symbolized by sleeping.

In fact, the psalmist was assured that God would protect him from all dangers both during the day and at night. And in case there was any room left for concern, the psalm ends with two verses that declare the completeness of God's protection. He is the Protector over all of life, and His watchful care will last forever (vv. 7-8).

One tendency is to think that God protects us only in a 'spiritual' sense. Of course He protects us spiritually, but there's more to it than that. We're also on God's 'radar screen' wherever we go, and we probably won't know until heaven how many times He kept us from harm. The change of the calendar, or of the millennium, won't change His care. We can face anything with His help.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Earlier generations of Christians used to sing on Sunday, 'Safely through another week, God has brought us on our way.'

That song probably had a lot more meaning to people who had to walk to church in hostile territory or ride a creaking wagon across the prairie. We may not see the same dangers around us that they saw, but God's protection is just as real. Why not gather family or friends, read Psalm 121 together, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for God's protec-ting care?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 37:1-9
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Several months ago the newspaper told the unusual story of an elderly man in Minnesota. This gentleman offered to leave his $375ꯠ estate to any clergy from any faith, or anyone else, who could answer his questions about spirituality and the afterlife, and make him 'feel better about facing eternity.'

Are there really people out there who are willing to give everything they have to find peace with God? Of course there are, and they aren't always the rich and famous. Countless numbers of ordinary men and women want to know how to find lasting contentment in their souls.

Psalm 37 is a great formula for peace and contentment but it's not for everyone, and it's not for sale. David is writing to 'the righteous' (v. 12), 'the blameless' (v. 18), 'the just' (v. 28). These are people who already know God as Savior. God can make astonishing promises to them, like the one in today's verse, when their hearts are right before Him.

This is another familiar psalm, like the one we studied yesterday. We want to focus on the details of what could be called David's formula for peace. You may want to write these down on a card you can post somewhere this month, because they're a wonderful remedy for fears.

First, our trust needs to be in the Lord, not in the assurances of experts. He is the One who can help us 'enjoy safe pasture' even when the world seems like a dangerous place (v.3).

Second, we're told to delight ourselves in God (v. 4). That means He Himself becomes our number one desire, not the temporal gifts He can give us.

Third, when we commit our way to the Lord (vv. 5-6), He will vindicate us, probably before those who would be critical of our service to God.

Fourth, we need to be still in God's presence (v. 7, see the December 1 study). Here the focus is on not worrying about what others may do and their seeming success. This verse is tailor-made for the worries our world has today.

Fifth, David says to refrain from anger (v. . We tend to get upset when it seems like the bad guys are winning. The best thing we can do about it is to put ourselves in God's hands and then stay there. He is never surprised by anything.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Did you notice that these five items are commands? God is not giving us an optional way of life we can take or leave.

Instead, it is His will that we live this way. If you wrote down the five steps to the formula, review each of them now to see how your daily Christian life lines up. And if you haven't jotted them down yet, we suggest you do so and regularly review the list this week.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 12:22-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. - Luke 12:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bob Russell, a pastor in Kentucky, points out that Jesus' teaching in Luke 12 means 'worry is a choice. To say, 'I just can't help worrying about this' is a cop-out. We don't like giving up control. We think if we worry enough we'll be prepared, [and] might even change the outcome.'

Here's another good reminder for us on the edge of a new millennium and the uncertainty it brings. If worry could prepare us to face a problem, or even change the outcome, the 'millennium bug' would be a distant memory for many people.

You could make a case that more worry has been spent on Y2K and related issues than on any problem in recent memory. Jesus anticipated our human tendency to lie awake at night wondering how we're going to make ends meet, what will happen tomorrow, or what the world is coming to. He had the right cure for the wrong-headed approach of worry.

Luke places this teaching of Jesus after an incident in which a man tried to get Jesus' help to get his share of the family inheritance. Jesus refused to get entangled in the dispute, instead issuing a strong warning against greed by telling about a greedy farmer (vv. 13-21).

Then Jesus turned to His disciples for a follow-up lesson. This is 'family business' of a different kind. Only a follower of Jesus can really understand and apply what He says about living a life that pleases God.

These are well-known verses, but they take on even more meaning when we read them in the context of an uncertain future. God's promise to meet our daily needs is not just an insurance policy against hunger or a lack of adequate clothing. God wants to free us from allowing these things to fill up our time and attention and ultimately to replace the priority of His kingdom.

Should it surprise us that the world is talking about stockpiling essentials, or that some people have taken advantage of the Y2K scare to turn a quick profit? Not according to Jesus. That's the kind of thing 'the pagan world runs after' (v. 30).

But when our consuming commitment is to seek God

and His righteousness, we are so secure that we can give everything away and still own the kingdom!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Why not give yourself a few minutes to worry about your biggest concern?

We're serious. Think through what might happen if your worry came true. Imagine how it might affect your income, health, or family. And fret for a minute over what you can do about it. When you're finished, turn your biggest worry into the first item on your prayer list today. But before you get to that, spend time praising God for His daily goodness to you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:9-14
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. - Romans 12:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dr. George Sweeting, Chancellor at Moody and a faithful servant of God, says too many people are quitting too soon, giving up even though they still have years left to serve the Lord. When asked why people tend to quit when things get tough, Dr. Sweeting says, 'Perhaps it's because we lose sight of two important facts. First, God loves us in spite of everything. . . . Second, God can be fully trusted. [He] is too wise to make a mistake and too loving to be unkind.'

Those are great words of encouragement from a ministry friend and Christian leader who has walked with the Lord for a long time. We know Dr. Sweeting would say 'amen' to the exhortation in today's verse. Whatever your level of millennium-related anxiety, the word to you from God's Word is to keep fighting the good fight of faith. Keep doing the things that matter, and don't let some doomsayer throw a bucket of ice water on your spiritual fervor.

Notice what the Apostle tells us to do in these verses. First, we are to actively pursue what is good (v. 9). He means that we are to consistently ask ourselves, 'How can I show goodness in this situation, even when I may feel like getting revenge?' Then he tells us to be intentional about loving others, especially our Christian brothers (v. 10). And finally Paul tells us to focus on the spiritual rather than the material matters of life (vv. 11-13).

Please don't misunderstand. We're not trying to say that every Y2K-related concern is bogus. No one knows exactly what will happen. And it's true that some potential problems may not show up until later in the year.

But whatever unfolds, the point is that God has equipped His people with every necessary resource to answer the challenge. There may be cases next year in which God's people find themselves in special need. That's our cue to step in and use our spiritual gifts and material goods to meet the need.

In fact, almost every line of today's reading has important implications for the new year. If affliction or trials come, we'll need patience to deal with them. And we can't abandon hope, or prayer, just because the calendar turns over to 2000. Let's be ready to serve one another in the new year.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are there fellow Christians in your neighborhood or church who may need your care and attention in a special way when the new year comes around?

We'd like to suggest that as a family or a group of friends, you survey the needs around you and offer your help when, for example, an elderly or disabled believer may face special needs. There's nothing wrong with anticipating problems and being ready to deal with them.