TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 108:1-5
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth. - Psalm 108:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Hymnwriter Frances Ridley Havergal, best known for her hymn ""Take My Life and Let It Be,"" once told how she received the inspiration for her work. ""I believe my King suggests a thought and whispers me a musical line or two, and then I look up and thank Him delightedly, and go on with it. [He] gives it to me piece by piece, just when He will and as much as He will.""

One of the blessings of music is the way it can draw our minds and hearts to God, and fix them there. In the process, the fears and concerns around us tend to fade in importance. Sounds like something we need to discover this month as worshipers seeking God during a time of uncertainty, and even anxiety.

David knew the incredible, soul-lifting power of music that praises God. In today’s verses Israel’s ""singer of songs"" (2 Sam. 23:1) expressed his determination to praise God with the instruments in his hands and the joy in his soul.

It’s easy to imagine David singing praise to God the same way he did everything else--with all that he had. This is the idea behind his statement, ""My heart is steadfast"" (v. 1). He gave his full attention to glorifying God through his music. That’s the kind of energy and commitment we need to have in our praise.

David wanted his songs of praise and thanksgiving to wake up the dawn, which is likened to a person asleep (v. 2). In other words, David was determined to start his day on a right note before the day started him on a wrong note.

Additionally, the psalmist vowed to make his praise heard ""among the nations"" (v. 3). This is only fitting--look at the subject David had to sing about: God’s soaring love and faithfulness that reached farther than David could see. The only response he could make was to pray that God’s glory would fill the earth.

Interestingly, today’s verses are identical to Ps. 57:7-11. Turn back there, and you’ll see that these words were written at a time when David was being pursued by his enemies (vv. 1-6). His music came out of a real-life need!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We often suggest that you fill your home or apartment with God-honoring music. What better time than Christmas?

If you don’t have a collection of Christmas hymns and carols, this is the time to give yourself and your family the gift of inspiring music. If praise-filled music lifts us above the things that make us anxious and fearful, then December 1999 ought to be a month filled with music. Why not start now by singing your favorite Christmas hymn to the Lord?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Lamentations 3:19-24
His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent newspaper article cited a study which showed that the amount of daylight in a classroom affects students' learning. Students in classrooms allowing the most daylight learned faster and scored higher on standardized tests than those in classrooms with the least amount of daylight. Other studies show that patients recover faster when their hospital rooms have windows, and even stores with skylights sell more merchandise than stores without them. The article concluded, 'Humans just have a predilection for daylight.'

There is something about a new morning that suggests hope and a fresh beginning. We weren't designed to live in constant darkness. One Bible commentator says that in the Scriptures, dawn was considered the time for God's deliverance. David wrote, 'Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning' (Ps. 30:5).

This is good news for us. It means that no matter what this month and the year ahead may bring, nothing can change the fact that as long as God is in charge, His sun will come up tomorrow.

Jeremiah knew something about the promise of hope that comes with each new morning. The irony is that one of the greatest and most often-repeated statements of hope in the Bible, 'Great is your faithfulness,' comes in the middle of a book whose name means to 'cry out loud.'

You may recall that Lamentations is a series of five poems written to mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians. True to His covenant word, God was judging His people for their sin, and Jeremiah was suffering along with everyone else.

Yet Jeremiah also realized that even God's severe judgment was a sign of His faithfulness, because God promised in the same covenant He would not abandon Israel forever. So Jeremiah reminded his fellow Jews, 'Even in judgment we have hope. God's loyal love means we will not be completely destroyed.' Every day the sun came up, the Jews could anticipate God's tender mercies.

Our circumstances are very different from Jeremiah's, but our need for God's daily compassion is the same. Let's thank Him that His mercies never fail.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jeremiah said, 'The LORD is my portion' (v. 24).

In the Bible a person's portion could refer to a piece of land, an inheritance, or necessities like daily food and clothing. Jeremiah was saying the Lord was more valuable to him than any of these things. Can you identify with this kind of devotion? It's a question worth thinking and praying about this weekend.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 3:1-4
Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. - Colossians 3:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Before playing for a major league ball club, almost every professional baseball player in the United States has to spend some time in the minor leagues. They spend long trips on buses, stay in hotels apart from their families, and play in less-than-ideal conditions on the field. And when the month of September arrives and the minor-league championship playoffs begin, some of the best players are promoted to their respective major league teams. Many of these players only see limited playing time, being used as last-minute substitutions in meaningless games. One might think that a player would rather compete in intense playoff games in the minors, but that isn't how the players feel about it.

In the words of former pitcher and current baseball commentator Steve Stone, 'When you're in the minors, all you're thinking about is wearing a big-league uniform and playing in a big-league ballpark.' Every player has his mind set on advancing to the next level.

Paul tells us to have a similar mindset towards our life on earth. He tells us to set our hearts, minds, emotions, and thoughts on 'things above.' We can't do that if we're busy getting upset about events, real and imagined, going on around us.

Focusing on eternity is a great formula for a healthy spiritual life, but it's possible to read these verses and go off in one of two extreme directions.

The first is to assume that the apostle is talking about some kind of dreamy, hazy 'other worldly' state of mind in which we float around in the clouds. The other extreme is to assume that Paul is advocating a grit-your-teeth, hard-nosed kind of Christianity you grind out in your own strength.

Both extremes are far-removed from reality. Paul is telling us to live in a manner consistent with who we already are, citizens of heaven. He's saying that since reality for us is located 'in the heavenly realms' (Eph. 2:6) where the risen Christ is seated in power, we need to take our cues and commands for life from heaven.

Focusing on things above makes perfect sense for people who have died to their old way of life, and who now draw their life from Jesus Christ. You don't have to ignore earthly concerns to anchor your mind on the things of Christ. But it does mean that daily concerns don't drive or control you Christ does.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If our minds and hearts are set on the things of Christ, this ought to be evident in some very practical ways.

Consider your checkbook and your schedule, for example. It can be very enlightening to go back through your check register for the last six months or so and see how much your use of money reflects a Christ-first focus. It's also revealing to step back and look at your schedule for the upcoming week or month in the same light. Take time to review both of these today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 13:1-6
We say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? -
TODAY IN THE WORD
Old-time baseball umpire Bill Klem once had a run-in with John McGraw, the fiery manager of the New York Giants. Enraged by a call, McGraw roared, 'Klem, I'll have your job for this!'

Klem answered, 'McGraw, if it's possible for you to have my job, I don't want it.'

It's been said that if someone else can take something away from you, it wasn't really yours to begin with. If that's true, we have another good reason to spend our time and energy investing in spiritual values and commitments that no one can take from us. This is living with an eternal perspective.

The writer of Hebrews gives us a terrific list of things we can work on this month and into the new year. No computer glitch can erase Christian love, moral purity, a sense of contentment, and God's own promise of His eternal presence.

We suggested earlier that if temporary needs do in fact develop from the Y2K problem, Christians may be called upon to go the second mile ministering to fellow believers and exercising hospitality. That's right in line with the exhortation of verses 1 and 2.

God also wants us to identify with those who are suffering imprisonment and mistreatment, particularly for their faith in Christ. This is happening to our Christian brothers and sisters in dozens of countries today. We can pray for them and make our influence felt by working for their protection.

Moral purity is something else that we don't have to surrender under any circumstances. God's desire for our faithfulness in marriage, and sexual abstinence outside marriage (v. 4), won't change with the new millennium.

The last item on the list in verse 5 is a big hurdle for many of us. You can lose your money and your possessions, but no one can threaten your contentment if it's anchored in God andHis promises.

These are powerful blessings, all of which are safe from the millennium bug! When you put this together with God's promise to help, you can say to the world, 'Go ahead and take your best shot.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Self-giving love, moral purity, and deep-seated contentment.

How about giving these as Christmas gifts to the people you care most about, and even to yourself? For example, you can pray for opportunities to give of yourself in loving service to someone who needs you. You can renew your pledge of purity and devotion. Why not give yourself and your loved ones the gift of contentment by choosing to cut back on spending money and instead, spend more time together?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 42:1-11
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. - Psalm 43:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
It's safe to say that at one time or another over the past two years, the majority of Today in the Word readers have felt overwhelmed by all the information and opinions concerning the Y2K computer problem.

Even for those who understand the issues and follow Y2K developments closely, the sheer volume of news reports and printed materials is staggering. So if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and wishing for some solid answers, you have lots of company. It's hard to maintain an eternal perspective when people are making dire predictions about the end of the year.

The writer of Psalm 43 was feeling overwhelmed by his circumstances. To get the full picture, you need to read Psalms 42-43 together, since they were apparently one unit originally and appear that way in many Hebrew manuscripts.

The psalmist was a long way from Jerusalem and the temple where he longed to be in God's presence. Understandably, this situation caused the writer great distress, which he expressed in terms of an engulfing flood of sorrows (Ps. 42:7). His soul was 'downcast' and 'disturbed' (v. 11).

But in Psalm 43, the psalmist's mood lightened. He prayed for God's vindication, and asked for the guidance of the Lord's understanding ('your light') and Word ('your truth') to lead him back to Jerusalem and the altar in the temple the place of worship. It was there that he would offer praise to God, the joy and delight of his life. The psalm ends with an affirmation of confidence in God.

As you anticipate the turn of the millennium, maybe you can identify with the psalmist's feeling of isolation in an unfamiliar territory. If that's the case, follow his journey from despair into the presence of God in worship.

And even if you can say you haven't had one anxious thought about the coming of the new millennium, this psalm is still for you. The psalmist didn't think of being in God's presence as a temporary fix for a distressing problem. That's where he wanted to stay consistently. Worship was a way of life for him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 43 contains some wonderful confidence boosters that can get your work week off to a great start.

For instance, the psalmist reminds us that God is our stronghold (v. 20), a fortress of defense against the enemy's attacks. God also provides us with light and truth, which refers to understanding and the Word. And no matter what happens over the next few weeks or months, God will remain our Savior and our God in whom we can be completely confident.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 3:7-15a
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize. - Philippians 3:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author Andrew Merritt advises, 'Don't stay locked in your past. Don't keep focusing on yesterday. . . . It's not important how many people have disappointed you, failed you, and done you wrong. The crucial issue now is not what they did, but what God has done . . . and what He's going to do. Go forward. Keep believing. Keep moving!'

Good advice. The apostle Paul would have liked Merritt's attitude, especially his focus on the future, keeping his eyes on what God is doing. Paul had the same attitude when he encouraged his friends in Philippi to go on with Christ.

It's important to remember that Paul didn't talk about failures or disappointments from the past. He talked about accomplishments, honors, the right kind of education and family background. In other words, the kinds of things that most people would brag about, not discard.

But Paul had something much bigger and more important in mind. He was willing to let go of the past because he was pursuing more intimate knowledge of, and obedience to, Jesus Christ.

No year-end devotional study would be complete without this passage, but Paul wasn't doing a new year's message. The reason we need to let the past be the past is not because the calendar is turning over, but because God is calling us to a life of complete commitment.

Paul compared his ministry with the destructive work of the Judaizers, who were trying to turn the Philippians from their devotion to Christ. These deceivers put all their confidence in human pedigrees (v. 4).

But Paul wanted the power that raised Christ from the dead to be at work in him (v. 10). He was also ready to share in Christ's sufferings. Not the cross when Christ bore our sins, which no human being can share, but the suffering that comes with preaching

the gospel.

Paul was probably a hero and role model to the church in Philippi, but he was too honest to let the people think he had arrived. He was still on the road, still running the race. And he was determined not to quit until he had won.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the reasons many people keep looking back instead of ahead is that they have some unresolved issues from the past crippling them.

Is that the case with you? If so, this may be the time to come to terms with the past, so you can serve Christ with your undivided attention in 2000. Maybe there's someone you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from. It could be an important job left undone, or a step of obedience God asked you to take that was never taken. If it's within your power, make sure you don't have any old accounts still unsettled as you enter the new year.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 22:34-40
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. - Matthew 22:37
TODAY IN THE WORD
Pastor Charles Lowery tells of the time he took his small daughter to a store to pick out a surprise she had earned. Lowery says, 'I guess I was a little too restless because she turned to me and said, 'Daddy, are we in a hurry again?' I realized she probably thought her name was Hurry instead of Kasey because I was always saying 'hurry' to her. So this time I said, 'No, Kasey, we aren't in a hurry. Take as much time as you want.' ' Lowery went on to say that watching his daughter make one of her first choices in life was one of his best experiences.

Children have a way of helping us understand what our priorities are. We've all heard the old saying that when it comes to life, the main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing. That's a good way of putting it. When everything is sifted out, a life that really counts for Christ can be defined by priorities.

Jesus Himself helped us prioritize our lives when He summarized the Old Testament's requirements in two commandments, given in response to the probing questions of His enemies. It will take us the rest of our lives, and all of eternity, to learn what it means to love God with every part of our being.

But one thing is obvious. Devotion like this doesn't leave a lot of room for competing loyalties or for oversized worries about what the future may bring. We can love God the way He wants us to love Him because our future is safely in His hands. And no one can harm us there (Jn 10:29).

The second commandment to love others is a theme we have encountered several times this month. The Savior also gave us the clearest possible measuring stick by which we can tell whether our love for others is what it should be. Our determination to care for other people should match the care we take of ourselves. Jesus was not teaching self-love, merely recognizing its reality.

If we're busy loving God and others, we'll be in the best possible position to deal with any problems that might come.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Obeying Jesus' commands requires an eternal perspective.

But as we suggested at the beginning of the month, this doesn't happen when we're moving too fast to notice the needs of the people around us or even to be aware of God's presence. One way you can slow down the pace today is to give God five minutes of uninterrupted silence in His presence, when you do nothing but listen. Then, listen to someone you love in the same manner. You should come away with a memorable experience.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 8:31-39
If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
A poor man once took in a boy with no family. Not long after, the man's house caught on fire, trapping the boy inside. His foster father had to climb a red-hot metal downspout to save him, and in the process burned his hands badly. Later, at a custody hearing to decide the boy's future, several people presented a strong case against allowing the poor man to keep the child. When the judge asked the man to present his case, he simply held out his scarred hands. He was awarded custody.

There's really no case you can make against that kind of love and sacrifice. God won us to Himself through the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, and nobody either on earth or under the earth has a claim on us any longer. When Satan the accuser (Rev. 12:10) comes to bring a charge against us, God shows Him the pierced hands of His Son.

The closing verses of Romans 8 build a powerful testimony to God's protection nothing can happen to God's saints outside of His will, because His ultimate purpose for us is nothing less than eternal glory in heaven (vv. 28-30). This eternal perspective will carry you right through the cares and worries.

Having made his point, the apostle drove it home in a different way by asking a series of questions and answering them himself. The outline of this passage ought to stir up praise in our hearts. Because we are in Christ, there is no opposition that can stand against us, no accusation can convict us, no condemnation to dread, and no separation from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Do you see anything on that list that can be affected by your worries? We don't either. Now that doesn't mean we can just glide to glory. In the same passage Paul says we may encounter a whole string of troubles, which for him was everything up to, and including, the threat of death ('the sword,' v. 35).

The goal is not to dodge problems, since they are often part of God's plan for us. The goal is to overcome them in the power of 'Him who loved us' (v. 37).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Let's work a little more on gaining an eternal perspective by remembering the condition we were in before Christ saved us.

While we were lost, God Himself was our opposition because we stood in rebellion against Him. Satan had an arsenal of accusations our sins. We were 'condemned already' for our failure to believe (Jn 3:18). And our future was eternal separation from God. But Jesus Christ reversed all of this. Have you thanked Him lately?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. - 2 Corinthians 4:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
A king once became so discontent that he couldn't sleep. When he asked his counselors what he should do, one wise old man told the king, 'Find a man in your kingdom who is content, then wear his shirt for a day and a night, and you will be content.'

The king sent servants to search for such a person. When they returned, he asked, 'Did you find a contented man?'

'Yes, sire,' was the reply.

'Where is his shirt?'

'Your Majesty, he wasn't wearing one.'

The person in this make-believe story found contentment that transcended circumstances. Our troubles look like a very big deal when we focus on our immediate situations. But when we begin to see 'the eternal glory that far outweighs' any trial God asks us to endure, we gain a whole new outlook. Heavy burdens become 'light and momentary.'

Anyone who has read the book of Acts (our study for January 2000), or Paul's letters, knows he wasn't writing from an ivory tower. 2 Corinthians details the pain and heartache Paul suffered as he served Christ, but he didn't allow his emotions to erode his theology.

Paul could feel that his body was wasting away growing older and accumulating more and more scars along the way. Most of us can relate to that fact of life. But spiritually, the apostle was getting younger and stronger every day. And that's what kept him going.

Paul had a solid reason for his hope. What kept him from losing heart was the same hope we have today the resurrection of Jesus Christ (v. 14). Because God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, we can be sure God will also raise us up to be with Him forever.

The year 2000 is getting close but so what? Paul would tell us, 'If you're keeping a worried eye on the calendar, your focus is in the wrong place.' The unseen realities of the faith were more real for Paul than the things around him he could see. Remember, faith is being 'certain of what we do not see' (Heb. 11:1).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What happens when we 'fix our eyes' on eternal things (2 Cor. 4:18)?

For one thing, we learn the secret Moses learned as he persisted in doing God's will even when the most powerful king in the world, the Pharaoh of Egypt, opposed him. The writer of Hebrews said Moses 'persevered because he saw him who is invisible' (Heb. 11:27). Do you want an eternal perspective today? Spend some time in the Lord's presence fixing your attention on Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Job 34:10-20
It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. - Job 34:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll offers us this perspective: 'When was the last time you thanked the Lord for not showing you the future? I'm convinced that one of the best things God does for us is to keep us from knowing what will happen beyond today. Just think of all the stuff you didn't have to worry about just because you never knew it was coming your way!'

That's a good word from a wise Christian leader. Worrying about the future is a favorite human pastime, and the level of worry and fear in the United States right now is probably as high as it has ever been. But we have the same suggestion we've been making all month. Get a grip on the God who holds the future, and let go of the stress.

Today we want to offer you some more solid reasons for trusting God no matter what. They're found in the book of Job, but Job wasn't the speaker on this occasion. It was Elihu, the youngest man in the group trying to console their suffering friend.

Elihu spoke up because Job had argued that God was treating him unjustly. Job even said it didn't do any good trying to please God (Job 34:5-9). Elihu didn't like what he was hearing, so he spoke up in defense of God's justice and righteousness. Let's take part of his speech and name four qualities of God's character that can give us peace and confidence in any situation.

First, Elihu pointed out that God is completely just in everything He does (vv. 10-12). He rewards people based on what their actions deserve.

Second, God is sovereign in His authority over the universe. He doesn't have to answer to any other authority (v. 13), and nobody can prevent Him from exercising perfect justice.

Third, God is the sustainer of life (vv. 14-15). Don't get too worried about anything as long as God has His hand firmly on creation.

Fourth, God is the impartial ruler of all, who doesn't show favor to the rich or powerful (vv. 16-20). He can bring down an arrogant leader without help from anyone.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
With a week to go before Christmas, this is a good time to do a checkup on your preparations.

Since we're celebrating the birth of the One who fits the description above as God in the flesh, our celebration of the season should exalt Christ. For instance, does your home reflect the priority place He holds there? Do your holiday plans and schedule, and even your shopping list, show that He is central in your celebration?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 10:19-25
Let us not give up meeting together . . . but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
This December 31 promises to be one of the noisiest New Year's Eves many people have spent in their lifetime. Entertainment providers have been busy planning the 'party of the century' on land, on sea, and in the air as the supersonic Concorde takes a group of revelers around the world. Even the traditional New Year's eve celebration in New York's Times Square is going to begin twenty-four hours earlier than usual.

Getting together with people is a good way to multiply our enjoyment and divide our anxieties. Close fellowship with others is important on the spiritual level too. It helps us keep our equilibrium and focus on what is eternally important.

Since that's our goal, look at four powerful ways we can accomplish it. The writer of Hebrews tells us first to draw near to God (Heb. 10:19-22). We can do this because the blood of Jesus Christ has opened the way into God's presence, and Jesus Himself is there to minister on our behalf as our great High Priest.

Second, when our relationship with God is solid we can hold to the hope we have in Him without wavering (v. 23).

The Hebrews themselves were wavering between their faith in Christ and their former lives in Judaism. There are plenty of believers today wavering in doubt every time they hear some doomsayer predict the terrible things that could happen at the end of the millennium. That kind of fear does not produce steady faith. God's faithfulness is not limited by events.

Verse 24 describes a third way we can keep an eternal perspective. When we come together as believers, our objective is not just to have a social or mark a date on the calendar. We should be urging each other on toward love and Christian service.

The best context for this ministry is the fourth 'Let us' in today's reading (v. 25). We need to stay in contact with our fellow believers on a regular basis. We have a 'Day' approaching the return of Christ. We need to stay close to God and one another to be ready when this day comes.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Maybe God's people should plan the 'fellowship of the century.'

Churches used to get together on New Year's eve to 'pray the old year out and pray the new year in.' Can you think of a better year to do that than 1999? You may want to think about arranging and/or hosting a year-end fellowship, bringing your Sunday school class or other group together for prayer and mutual encouragement. You could also plan a special night for the whole church.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 27:1-6
The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? - Psalm 27:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the French built the famous Maginot Line for defense after World War I, they thought about every detail. The underground portion contained huge forts, barracks for several hundred thousand troops, hospitals, kitchens, ammunition dumps, and a lighting and ventilation system. But when Adolf Hitler's army invaded France in 1940, his troops simply went around the Maginot Line and captured Paris.

Nothing any human being can make offers ultimate security. If we are going to be secure, we'll have to look elsewhere. King David, who knew something about warfare and defense, points us in the right direction.

Verse 1 would make a great theme for the final month of 1999. God was David's light, providing him with joy, understanding, and life. And He was David's salvation, which gave him a right relationship with God and protection from his enemies. Put those on one side, and there wasn't anyone on the other side David needed fear.

The king's enemies were both military and political, and at times he had armies massed against him. That meant David also had to deal with the unseen enemies we face: fear, discouragement, and maybe even doubt.

That's why we need to pay attention when David tells us how he had learned to be confident facing any foe. In verses 4-6 he pictured himself in the Lord's house, which in his day was the tabernacle, since Solomon's temple was not yet built.

But it was the occupant of the house, not the kind of structure, that held David's attention. We don't know if he actually went to the tabernacle to be out of his enemies' reach. But even so, being in God's presence worshiping Him, David was not only safe but also victorious.

If God is the stronghold, the fortified place in your life, you don't need man-made defenses to be secure. These are perfect days to witness about your confidence in the Lord.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The statement at the end of verse 6 is very appropriate for us in these last few days before Christmas.

'I will sing and make music to the LORD,' David wrote. Earlier this month (see the December 9 study), we suggested that you fill your home with inspiring, Christ-centered music this Christmas. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to do that, we suggest you make it a priority this week. And if this is already a part of your Christmas celebration, pray that God will accept the worship of your heart today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:9-14
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. - Colossians 2:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book The Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges tells about a Cold War-era Russian pilot who flew his fighter plane to a U.S. base in Japan and asked for asylum. He was flown to the United States and given a new identity. Bridges points out that although this pilot had the same physical characteristics and personality traits after his experience, his new identity allowed him to live a new life. He was delivered from a totalitarian regime, and able to enjoy all the benefits of living in a free society.

That’s a good illustration of what happened to us when we were delivered from Satan’s kingdom into the kingdom of God’s Son. We went from guilt to forgiveness, from slavery to freedom, from weakness to strength, and from total spiritual poverty to an eternal inheritance.

Isn’t that an encouraging perspective in these closing days of the year? If we fully understand our position in Christ, we won’t worry too much about what might happen tomorrow or next week.

Instead of worrying or being fearful, our emphasis should be on thanking God for all these gifts. Besides expressing our thanks with words, we can show God our gratitude by the way we live for Him and grow in our faith. This was the prayer Paul had for the Colossian Christians.

The apostle wanted these believers to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will by gaining spiritual understanding. We can know the will of God for our lives, and knowing what He expects from us comes from Spirit-directed reading and study of the Word.

The result of this will be seen in our lives. First, we will ""find out what pleases the Lord"" (Eph. 5:10, see Col. 1:10). Jesus said His Father was glorified when we bear fruit (Jn. 15:; pleasing God involves spiritual fruit-bearing, reproducing the character of Christ in ourselves and in others.

Keeping the right spiritual perspective also results in endurance and patience (v. 11), two qualities in great demand and short supply in the world today--and too often, among Christians as well.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Back on December 12, we talked about special Christmas gifts you can give to your family and friends.

As the shopping days before Christmas dwindle to a few, and the pressure is on to get all the holiday projects done and get-togethers planned, it seems that endurance and patience would be two good gifts to add to your ""gift"" list. Pray that God will give you all the energy and grace you need to carry you through the season, and that you will bless others by your patient reaction in any circumstance.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:19-24
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. - Matthew 6:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
John Wesley said, ""If your eye is single, God is in all your thoughts. If you are constantly aiming at Him who is invisible, if it is your intention in all things small and great to please God and do the will of Him who sent you into the world, then the promise will certainly take place: 'Your whole body will be full of light.’ Your whole soul will be filled with the light of heaven--with the glory of the Lord resting upon you.""

Wesley was describing what it means to have your eyes focused on God. He understood the importance of Jesus’ teaching that we should keep our eyes, our full attention set on God so we aren’t distracted by the world around us. The Lord’s word of caution is good preparation for us as we turn our thoughts and our study toward the story of His birth. We’ll begin a four-day series on the Christmas story tomorrow.

If you’ve ever been dazzled by the show the world can put on, you know how hard it is sometimes to keep your focus on the things of God. The world puts on one of its best shows during the holidays, and if we’re not careful we can become dazzled by the glitter and start wanting all the stuff we can’t afford and don’t need.

It’s easy to get out of balance during the holidays. But it’s obvious from today’s reading that keeping a guard on our desires is a year-round project. This is not a traditional Christmas text, but maybe it should be a required reading for us as we make our Christmas plans.

Jesus’ familiar words in verse 21 have a particularly significant application for us at Christmas. If we are pouring too much of our ""treasure"" into the commercial event that happens alongside the celebration of Christ’s birth, that’s where our hearts will be. The important principle the Savior was teaching is that the things on which we spend our money (and we could add, our time and talents) are the things we will grow to love.

This is not a plea for God’s people to be grinches or Scrooges who throw cold water on everyone’s holiday. We believe it’s possible to please God, even in the way we do our Christmas shopping (1 Cor. 10:31). He makes all the gifts and activities meaningful.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way you can store up heavenly treasures during Christmas is by setting aside special time to worship the Lord this season.

We’ll spend the next four days reading the story of the angels’ visitations to Mary and Joseph, and the birth of Jesus. Why not plan to study these devotionals with your family or friends? Take turns reading the Scripture and try to recapture the drama of the events.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:26-38
You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. - Luke 1:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
Despite a life of seemingly constant pain, Elizabeth Prentiss was a woman of strong spirit--a cheerful, loving mother and the wife of a Presbyterian minister in 19th-century Maine. Even the death of two children over a short period of time did not rob Elizabeth of her hope. Out of her pain and grief, she turned to God’s Word for comfort, and God met Elizabeth in her time of need. She responded by writing the hymn of devotion, More Love to Thee, O Christ.

Elizabeth Prentiss was a Mary-like example of humility, devotion, and obedience to the Lord, whatever His will might include. That’s saying a lot, because the mother of Jesus Christ remains an example by which humility and obedience to God may be measured.

It’s hard to get past layers of religious tradition when we talk about Mary as she is actually portrayed in God’s Word. What shines through in the pages of Scripture is a godly young Jewish girl. Mary may have been from a humble background in an obscure village, but God chose her for the honor of bearing His one-and-only Son.

It’s understandable that Mary was startled and even ""greatly troubled"" by the angel Gabriel’s appearance to her (v. 29). But Gabriel’s announcement that God was ready to send the long-promised Messiah to His people did not cause Mary any hesitation. She knew and believed God’s promises.

Mary’s question to the angel, ""How will this be?"" (v. 34), was not an expression of unbelief. She had not been praying for a son, as had her relatives Elizabeth and Zechariah. Besides, the angel did not reveal any details of Jesus’ birth until Mary asked. And when she heard God’s plan, she responded in faith.

The angel revealed to Mary the wonder of the Incarnation. Jesus would be born of a virgin through the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. To this, Mary responded with obedience and humility.

Mary was a worshiper of the eternal God whose Son would be born as a man through her. Her response of worship demonstrates what God wants from all of those who would follow Christ as Messiah.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God interrupted Mary’s routine in a miraculous way to reveal His will to her. She was ready to listen and obey.

If God wanted to interrupt your routine for a special reason this Christmas, would He have trouble getting your attention?

It’s always a good idea to be ready to hear from God. Today, as you finish your Bible study, offer this prayer: ""Lord, if there’s something special You want me to do this Christmas, please help me to be sensitive to Your leading.""