TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 5:1-17
You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts. - Amos 5:12B
TODAY IN THE WORD
Martin Luther King Jr. once observed that a great nation is a compassionate nation. He also noted that we have become comfortable with the presence of the poor because we overlook their existence. “The poor have been shut out of our minds and driven from the mainstream of our societies, because we have allowed them to become invisible,” he explained. This is the same complaint that was leveled against the people of Israel in the book of Amos.

On the heels of the sober invitation of Amos 4:12 to “prepare to meet your God,” the Lord appealed to Israel to turn to Him. In Amos 5:4 the Lord urged the house of Israel to “seek me and live.” God’s people were warned not to go to Bethel, Gilgal or Beersheeba--all locations associated with idolatrous worship--in an effort to escape the coming judgment.

Those who attempted to protect Israel from doom that awaited them would themselves be decimated regardless of their might (v. 3). When the time came for “Virgin Israel” to fall, no one but God would be able to provide refuge. The invitation to seek God, although gracious, was also coupled with a grave threat. “Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire; it will devour, and Bethel will have no one to quench it” (v. 6).

In verses 7–12 Israel’s crimes are listed. They are said to have poisoned justice (v. 7). They also had contempt for the truth. Motivated by greed, they had perverted the justice system so that it favored those who could afford to pay a bribe (vv. 10, 12). Consequently, they had produced a society that was biased against the poor. They forced the poor to earn a living as sharecroppers and then charged them exorbitant prices in rent. They used the legal system to keep the poor from getting the justice.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Bible often reminds us that one of the marks of holiness is to have a concern for the poor. Is there a practical way for you to reflect God’s interest in the poor by your actions? Perhaps you could volunteer to help at a homeless shelter or you could include a Christian relief organization in your giving. Find out if there’s a program of helping the poor at your church that you could join. Proverbs 19:17 promises: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 5:18-27
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! - Amos 5:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Catherine Booth, along with her husband William Booth, co-founded the Christian Revival Association, a precursor to the Salvation Army. She pioneered the women’s work for that movement, and she was so well-loved that when she died, 36,000 people attended her funeral. A tireless worker, she once observed that revival ministry could often be discouraging. “What a deal there is of going to meetings and getting blessed,” she complained, “and then going away and living just the same, until sometimes we, who are constantly engaged in trying to bring people nearer the heart of God, go away so discouraged that our hearts are almost broken.”

Perhaps Amos felt the same way as he preached to the people of Israel. On the surface there seemed to be considerable religious interest. Many people claimed to long for the Day of the Lord, perhaps interpreted by them as a day when God would give them a decisive victory over their enemies. Amos corrected their thinking by pointing out that the Day of the Lord would be a day of judgment. He warned that for the unprepared, it would be an unremitting series of calamities. He compared the people of Israel to a fugitive who runs away from one threat only to find another (vv. 18–19).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Popular religion says, “It doesn’t matter who you believe in, as long as you are sincere.” Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Popular religion says that God accepts everyone, regardless of faith and practice. Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 6:1-7
Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria! - Amos 6:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book Seize the Day: Seven Steps to Achieving the Extraordinary in an Ordinary World, author Danny Cox writes about a problem that arose when fighter jets were first invented. When some pilots ejected, they had a tendency to grip the seat instead of letting go, keeping their parachutes from opening. In order to solve this problem, engineers had to find a way to force the pilot out of his seat. Cox writes: “The new design called for a two-inch webbed strap. One end attached to the front edge of the seat, under the pilot. The other end attached to an electronic take-up reel behind the headrest. Two seconds after ejection, the electronic take-up reel would immediately take up the slack, and force the pilot forward out of his seat, thus freeing the parachute.”

God was on a similar quest with His people, seeking a way to force them “out of their seats.” One of the main reasons Israel’s spiritual life had declined was because God’s people had grown complacent (v. 1). They had grown smug and self-confident, deriving a sense of false security from the prosperity they had enjoyed over the years. This had led them to believe that they were exempt from divine judgment. This was true of both the southern kingdom of Judah (Zion) and the northern kingdom of Israel (Mount Samaria). The leaders of Judah and Samaria seemed to have believed that, since they had a special place in God’s plan, they would enjoy prosperity and escape the judgment of their neighbors (v. 2).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
According to Roberta Hestenes, “Maturity is pressing toward the mark; immaturity is complacency and self-satisfaction.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 6:8-14
I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it. -
TODAY IN THE WORD
At one point in his ministry, noted preacher Harry Ironside worried that he was not as humble as he ought to be. When he asked a friend for advice, his friend suggested that Ironside make a large sandwich board sign with the plan of salvation in Scripture written on it and walk through the busy shopping district of downtown Chicago for an entire day. Ironside did as his friend suggested. When he had finally returned to his apartment, he thought about how humbling the experience had been. But as he removed the sign, Ironside caught himself thinking, “There’s not another person in Chicago that would be willing to do a thing like that.”

Pride is something that even the most godly Christians sometimes struggle with. One of the best remedies for pride is to see it through God’s eyes. According to Amos 6:8, God abhors pride. The Hebrew term used in this verse refers to the same kind of loathing that God has for idolatry. It means to regard something as an abomination. Indeed, the kind of pride condemned in these verses really was a form of idolatry, because it was rooted in the worship of self.

Israel’s pride had grown to such a proportion that extreme measures were required. Recent military successes led Israel to believe that it was invincible (v. 13). God’s people would soon learn from bitter experience that their strongest fortresses were not strong enough to protect them from divine chastening.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To what do you attribute your successes and achievements? Certainly, a measure of human effort is required in most endeavors. Ultimately, however, we must trace all our successes to God’s enabling power. It is a good thing to be confident in the Christian life, if it is the kind of confidence that Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 3:5: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” Are you confident in yourself or in God as you engage in ministry?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 7:1-9
Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. - Amos 7:8b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Writer Calvin Miller once noted, “Great communication is based on liking our audience rather than fearing them.” One of the secrets to being an effective evangelist is to empathize with those you hope to reach. We may not like everything that they do but we must care about them.

This was true of Amos. The compassion he felt for those to whom he had been sent infuses today’s passage. When the Lord showed him a series of visions foretelling the destruction of Israel, Amos pleaded with God on Israel’s behalf.

In the first vision he saw a swarm of locusts ready to destroy the harvest. This was after the first harvest had been gathered and just as the second crop was starting to come up (v. 1).

In our culture today we may miss the significance of this timing. The second crop was planted late in the season in order to benefit from the spring rains. A swarm of locusts then would mean that there would be no time left to plant another crop. Anything planted would die, since there was no rain to sustain it. Since the first crop was “the king’s share,” people depended upon the second crop for their survival.

In Amos’s vision, the locusts “stripped the land clean.” Instead of rejoicing because God’s sinful people were getting what they deserved, Amos cried out in anguish and begged God to forgive (v. 2). The Lord granted the prophet’s request and relented.

Sometime after this Amos saw another vision. This time the Lord called for “judgment by fire” to destroy the crops and dry up the underground water supply (v. 4). Many Bible scholars believe this referred to a possible drought. Once again, Amos pleaded with God to relent and judgment was delayed (vv. 5–6).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Amos felt compassion that compelled him to pray as well as preach. The people of Israel did not appreciate his ministry, but they were spared because he cared enough to pray.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 7:10-17
The LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” - Amos 7:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Radio humorist Garrison Keillor once complained that the preaching he heard was too soft. “I’ve heard a lot of sermons in the past 10 years or so that make me want to get up and walk out,” he said. “They’re secular, psychological, self-help sermons. Friendly, but of no use. They didn’t make you straighten up. They didn’t give you anything hard.” Keillor seems to agree with the person who observed that the true task of the preacher is to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable.

Amaziah, the priest who officiated at Bethel, subscribed to the view of tickling the ears of the powerful. In an effort to sabotage Amos’s ministry, Amaziah sent word to Jeroboam II accusing Amos of attempting to overthrow him. He warned Jeroboam that the things Amos prophesied threatened the king personally and placed the political stability of the northern kingdom at risk (v. 10).

What Amaziah said was half true. Amos had spoken against the king and the sanctuary at Bethel. Amos, however, was not driven by a political agenda but by his calling as a prophet of God and his commitment to the truth. His preaching had not caused the calamities he foretold--they were the result of Israel’s sin.

Amaziah’s own values became clear when he told Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there” (v. 12). Amaziah was familiar with priests and prophets who sold their services to the highest bidder. Like Balaam, these “prophets” were motivated primarily by personal gain (cf. Num. 22–24).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Money or power may not be the factors that affect us when we share the gospel with others–it may be the approval or disapproval of others. Whatever the circumstance, it is important to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 8:1-10
The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done.” - Amos 8:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Two days ago we looked at three visions that Amos received. In today’s reading, Amos was shown another vision. This time it consisted of a basket of ripe fruit--the Lord explained that, like this fruit, Israel was ripe for judgment (v. 2). This moment had come after many years of patient waiting and pleading. God had acted according to His own timetable and was now declaring through Amos that Israel’s time had run out. Yet even in this ominous pronouncement, God’s grace was still evident. The actual fall of Samaria would not come for approximately another ten years.

The Bible often speaks of God’s patience toward the sinner, noting that He does not take any pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:23; 33:11). He is a gracious and compassionate God who is slow to anger and abounding in love (Ex. 34:6). Yet He is also a God who is not afraid to judge. He had appointed a day of judgment for Samaria--and when that day finally came, the sounds of worship in the temple would turn to wailing and bodies would be flung everywhere (v. 3).

The reason for this devastation was given in verses 4–6. It had been prompted by Israel’s disregard for the needy. They had “trampled” on the needy by using unfair business practices, including giving less than their poor customers had paid for, price fixing, and using dishonest scales. They treated others as property to be bought and sold and were so greedy that they collected the dirty sweepings of wheat that fell on the threshing floor and sold them (v. 6).

Even worse, they did all this while appearing to obey God’s Law. Although they refrained from doing business during the Sabbath as the Law had commanded, their heart was not in it. Instead, they were eager for the day to end so that they could get back to maximizing their profits (v. 5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We can misread God’s patience and conclude that He does not care about our sin. But God’s kindness is meant to lead us toward repentance (Rom. 2:4).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 8:11-14
Not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. - Amos 8:11b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Not long ago, an article in Newsweek magazine described the tragic journey of Badia Omar, an Ethiopian woman who watched two of her five children die due to famine-related causes. She and her husband had once owned 200 sheep, 25 cows, and one goat. But when a deadly combination of drought and famine claimed their possessions, her husband abandoned the family. In desperation, Badia left the lowland region that had been their home and made an 18-day journey in order to find food.

Although her story may seem strange to those of us who live in a more prosperous country, it would have been very familiar to the people of Amos’s day. Drought and famine often caused entire populations to uproot and migrate from one place to another. God’s own people had initially gone down to Egypt because of such a famine. Few calamities in the ancient world were as devastating.

In today’s passage, however, Amos warns of an even worse disaster. Because God’s people had not listened to the warnings of the prophets, the Lord promised to send “a famine of hearing the words of the Lord” (v. 11). In a sense, God permitted the people of Israel to have their own way. They had not wanted to listen to the message of the prophets, and so God said that He would silence them. Only then would God’s people develop a “hunger” for His Word. Like Badia, they would wander throughout the land in a futile search, not for food, but for someone who would proclaim the Word of the Lord (v. 12).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Some experience a “famine” of the Word of God because they live in countries closed to God’s Word. How much more tragic is the case of those who have easy access to the Scriptures and suffer a spiritual famine out of neglect. The very availability of the Bible causes them to take it for granted. Write out or memorize Job 23:12 and place it near your Bible to remind you of its importance: “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 9:1-10
“Yet I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD. - Amos 9:8b
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Scottish hymn writer Horatius Bonar once told of two men who were discussing their religious experience. One had attended church for many years but did not trust Jesus Christ for eternal life. The other man had spent many years living an immoral life and had only recently come to trust in Christ.

“So you say you have found Christ, and have peace with God?” the churchgoing man asked. “I have indeed,” the other replied. “I have found him, I have peace, and I know it.” “Know it!” the churchgoer snapped. “Do you think that God would give a sinner like you peace, and not give it to me, who have been doing all I can to get it for so many years?” The new Christian answered, “You are such a respectable man that you can get on without peace and pardon, but a wretch like me cannot.”

The churchgoer’s mistake, of course, was to attempt to find peace with God by “doing” all he could. He believed that his religious efforts would shield him from the consequences of sin.

The people of Israel made the same mistake. Their confidence was based upon the outward trappings of religion. The Lord, however, called for the destruction of the very things in which they had placed their trust. He promised to pursue them in judgment, no matter what measures they might take to avoid His wrath (vv. 2–4).

This underscores the chief danger of sin--it alienates us from God. Sin is not a small matter. It estranges us from God and makes us His enemies (Col. 1:21). God’s treatment of Israel in these verses may seem harsh, but it accurately reflected sin’s penalty (Rom. 6:23).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The good news of the gospel is that the God who judges sin has also provided the only sure remedy for it: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:. How should we approach Him? Horatius Bonar tells us in his hymn entitled “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”: “I came to Jesus as I was,/ Weary and worn and sad;/ I found in Him a resting place,/ And He has made me glad.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 9:11-15
“I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God. - Amos 9:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, it covered the surrounding area with a layer of ash that was several hundred feet deep. The hot ash and lava that spewed from the mountain destroyed all plant and animal life, leaving behind a landscape that resembled the moon. Yet nineteen years later an amazing transformation had begun to take place. Birds, grass, elk, and even frogs had all begun to flourish there again. The mountainside, once dead, had come back to life.

The prophet Amos closes his book on a note of hope, describing a similar rebirth for the nation of Israel. God had promised to judge His people, but He did not intend to destroy them. In the future He would “restore David’s fallen tent,” “repair its broken places,” “restore its ruins,” and “build it as it used to be” (v. 11).

The mention of “David’s fallen tent” in this verse has been interpreted in a number of ways. Some think that it refers to the future restoration of the city of Jerusalem after its destruction by the Babylonians. Others regard it as a prediction of the reestablishment of the Davidic dynasty.

Acts cites this prophecy as support for the inclusion of Gentile believers in the church (Acts 15:16–17). The spread of the gospel to the Gentiles began God’s fulfillment of His promise that the Gentiles would bear His name (v. 12).

In addition to this, Amos predicted a time of unparalleled prosperity for Israel in their own land. He foresaw a harvest so abundant that “the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes” (v. 13). Normally the plowman worked during the months of October and Novem-ber. The reaper harvested the crop in March or April. In the future, however, the harvest will be so abundant that the reaper will not be able to finish before the plowman begins.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The promises Amos describes in these verses will one day be completely fulfilled when Christ establishes His kingdom. But those who know Christ as Savior already experience a foretaste of what that fulfillment will be like, as they experience the richness of new life in Christ. Think of the changes Jesus Christ has brought into your life. In what areas that were once barren has Christ brought you new life? As you think through each one, pray and thank God for His transforming work in your life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Obadiah 1:1-9
Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down. - Obadiah 1:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Theodore Roosevelt and his friend William Beebe performed a ritual each night before going to bed. They would scan the night sky until they found the constellation Pegasus. Once they located it, they looked for a small speck of light nearby and began to chant: “That is the Spiral Galaxy of Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It consists of one hundred billion suns, each larger than our sun.” Roosevelt would then turn to Beebe and say, “Now I think we are small enough. Let’s go to bed.” Perspective is often the first step to gaining humility.

The nation of Edom--the descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau--badly needed perspective in Obadiah’s day. Edom had been the enemies of Israel from its inception. When Moses asked to pass through Edomite territory in peace before beginning Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan, he was refused, and Edomites even brought out their large army to prevent Israel from entering their land (Num. 20:14–21).

Mount Seir, a range of mountains that was fifteen to twenty miles long, epitomized Edom’s rugged terrain. Its inaccessibility was a source of pride (v. 3). God, however, had a plan that would give Edom the humbling they so badly needed. He planned to raise a coalition of nations against them. As a result, this long-time enemy of Israel, that had so proudly considered itself invincible, would become “small among the nations” and “utterly despised” (vv. 1–2).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s passage underscores God’s fierce protection of His people. Although He does not always shield us from the malice of our enemies, He does hold them accountable for their actions.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Obadiah 1:10-14
You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune. - Obadiah 1:12a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Nobody likes a sore loser, but a gloating winner is just as bad. Edom had watched with glee as Jerusalem was sacked by its enemies, and the Edomites had done nothing to help their relatives in Israel. In God’s eyes their refusal to interfere was itself an act of aggression. Although the relationship between the two nations had never been good, the Edomites did share a blood tie with the people of Judah. When they stood by while “strangers” carried off Jerusalem, they were no better than one of the aggressors (v. 11).

Edom’s sin was threefold. First, they regarded the plight of the people of Jerusalem with an attitude of contempt. Second, they expressed outright glee over the city’s destruction, celebrating while the residents of Jerusalem suffered. Third, they took the opportunity to boast--perhaps bragging that their own location made them impregnable (v. 12).

But there was more to Edom’s response than “passive aggression.” They entered the city themselves to loot what was left. They also lay in wait for those who had fled from Jerusalem and killed them or even handed them over to the enemy (vv. 13–14).

The judgment of Edom was a living example of the warning found in Proverbs 24:17–18: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.” The destruction of Jerusalem was a matter of divine discipline. They deserved the punishment that they received. But Edom’s gleeful response made them liable as well. Obadiah warned that God had seen this sinful attitude and would turn His wrath from Jerusalem to Edom.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Can you think of someone who recently “got what was coming to them?” At times it is hard not to rejoice over their misfortune. This is especially true if we know that they hurt others by their actions.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 7:1-17
I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel. - Luke 7:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
When he was just a teenager, Beethoven had an opportunity to display his talent for Mozart, who was very impressed. He said, “The world shall speak of this youth!” There could be no higher compliment than to be praised by the very best.

To impress Jesus with faith is an even higher accomplishment, and that's exactly what the centurion did. First, he impressed Jesus with his humility. A Roman soldier of his rank would never consider himself below a Jew, but the centurion recognized the glory of Jesus. He also understood the powerful authority of Christ, since he believed that Jesus could heal his servant simply by saying the word. Jesus had been engaged in ministry for more than a year among a people who were expecting the Messiah, but in all that experience He had never witnessed such faith. Jesus then proved that the centurion's faith was well-placed.

The second miracle in this passage bears testimony to Jesus' incredible compassion as well as His power. The drama of the scene is intense. Picture Jesus, followed by a large crowd, approaching a small town where a funeral procession was underway. The two masses of people converged, but Jesus noticed one woman in particular. A widow who had just lost her only son was wailing loudly. Jesus was moved, and before He acted with a miracle, He comforted the woman. He wasn't rebuking her for crying, He was showing her the end of her sorrow.

The “coffin” mentioned here wasn't the box we're familiar with but rather a type of stretcher. So when Jesus healed the man, it was in plain view of the crowd, and they instantly recognized the miracle as an act of God. Again, Jesus' purpose was not to glorify Himself, but His Father. And the miracle was no secret—the entire surrounding region was made aware that this man was much more than a prophet; He was delivering the Word and doing the work of God. Surely they wondered if He were more than just a man.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The centurion felt unworthy to be present with Jesus, but he also felt confident that Christ could heal his servant. That's a rare combination of understanding, and since it was heartily commended by Jesus, we would do well to imitate it. Resist the natural tendency to familiarize Jesus in your mind, which can cause us to think too much of ourselves and too little of what Christ can do. Humble your heart today, and then confidently glorify His name!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 11:29-40
No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed; he must be put to death. - Leviticus 27:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
General George Custer was the youngest general in American history. His battle successes in the Civil War have been described as astounding by military historians. Yet he is best known for the colossal defeat at Little Big Horn.

Jephthah had a stunning military victory over the Ammonites, but most people don't remember his battle exploits—instead, he is remembered for his vow. Indeed, our passage today doesn't give us Jephthah's brilliant strategy or exciting battle scenes. In just two short verses the key information is given: Jephthah went to fight, the Lord gave him the victory, and Israel subdued Ammon.

The main character isn't a military hero at all. It's a young woman, loved by her father and yet doomed to die because of his vow. The Law made provision for dedicating people, animals, and property to the Lord (see Lev. 27). God was clear that these vows before Him were serious business. We don't know why Jephthah decided to vow a burnt offering to the Lord; it wasn't a requirement. We do know that Jephthah had enough fear and reverence for God to know that he had to follow through on what he had promised (v. 35).

Again in the book of Judges we see a woman at the center of the story. We also see that the plight of women is worsening. We opened with Acsah and Deborah and Jael; now we have an innocent daughter being sacrificed. She is obedient to her father and recognizes the Lord's faithfulness, but Jephthah's daughter will be forever associated with mourning the needless loss of life.

As we read this today, thousands of years later, the sadness and grief still pour through this narrative. We wonder, “Why didn't God deliver this girl? He delivered Isaac from sacrifice, so He's certainly capable! How could He let this happen?” If we feel this way, we are getting the picture that the writer of this book wants us to see. Dark days are ahead for the people of Israel, and much more sorrow is to come.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's a mistake to isolate this incident in the book of Judges from the whole story that is presented. This tragedy is a personal illustration of the terrible consequences of Israel's downward plunge into idolatry and rebellion.

If sin and suffering in the world has become an abstraction for you, pray that God will give you a sense of the lives at stake and give you a renewed zeal for holiness and seeking first the kingdom of God in all that you do.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 6:4-19; 8:1-5
For the word of God is living and active. . . . It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit. - Hebrews 4:12a
TODAY IN THE WORD
How would history look without the Word of God? The Bible has influenced literature, music, law, and art, as well as science and psychology. Although not everyone impacted by the Bible acknowledges Jesus as Savior, it’s clear that the Bible, both directly and indirectly, has changed the course of human history.

This shouldn’t surprise us, because God’s Word is alive (Heb. 4:12). No other book can make this claim. This month we’re going to pursue a somewhat different study by looking at the impact that God’s Word has had on the individuals who shaped history. We’ll begin our study with our Lord Jesus, who is Himself the very Word of God. Along the way, we’ll meet a variety of people, some famous and some less well-known. Each day we’ll see the power of God’s Word.

As you read through today’s passages, consider how much this sounds like Jesus’ teaching. That’s because Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy more than any other Old Testament book. As Jesus grew up, it’s certain that He heard the opening words of our first passage (Deut. 6:4–9) often. The Jews called this passage the Shema (from the Hebrew “to hear”), and it was recited over and over in homes and synagogues. In fact, Jesus quotes this passage in Mark 12:28–31. Recall that He also quoted Deuteronomy 6:13, 16 and 8:3 when He was tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever considered the impact of God’s Word in your own life? Perhaps you have a favorite passage or a significant verse that has shaped your life. Take a few minutes today to reflect on these verses. When did you first hear them? How have they influenced your thinking?