TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 14:25-35
Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
Following a journey of more than nine months, NASA’s Climate Orbiter was set to enter orbit around Mars on September 23, 1999. Its mission was to gather information on Mars’ water history.

The craft fired its engine, but something went wrong. It plunged too far into the atmosphere, becoming uncontrollable. Its engine overheated and shut down, which may have allowed the craft to emerge on the other side of the Martian atmosphere.

What happened? For a certain key function, one group of engineers used English units of measurement, while another group used the metric system. In short, they miscounted! If it survived, the $125 million device may now be orbiting the sun.

Counting (or miscounting, as the case may be) has consequences. That’s why in today’s reading Jesus urged His audience to count the cost of following Him. By way of introduction, He spoke of priorities we have already heard about. Believers must “hate” their families, a hyperbole trumpeting the supreme importance and intensity of discipleship (v. 26). We must also take up our crosses, traveling Christ’s road of suffering and self-denial (v. 27).

Jesus used two illustrations to explain the difficulties: a building project and a potential battle. In both cases, someone needed to compare costs to resources and then estimate what could be accomplished with the available resources. What’s the lesson? “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” (v. 33). To “give up” doesn’t mean to sell–literally, it means to “say goodbye.” That is, we give up our “rights” to other things, surrendering them for the sake of Christ, the pearl of great price.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus emphasized the cost of discipleship. Dallas Willard (Nov. 13) wrote of the “cost of nondiscipleship.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 10:17-31
Many who are first will be last, and the last first. - Mark 10:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
Obadiah Holmes, an ordinary seventeenth-century farmer, wrote an extraordinary will, framed as a letter to his wife. In it, he advised her to value Christ as life’s chief treasure: “Order thy heart to cleave to Him alone, esteeming Him as the chief good, as a pearl of great price, as worthy and causing thy heart to part with all for Him. . . . Oh, consider that great love of the Lord, to cause thy soul to cleave to Him alone and so He to be thy only protection! Having given thee His Son, He has with Him given thee all things thou dost enjoy, and so to be to thee–both in life and in death–thy advantage.”

Christ is supreme! Following Him can have no competition. We have already seen that family and even one’s own life are nothing compared with Him–these must be denied, lost, or left behind in favor of the all-important task of discipleship.

The rich young ruler in today’s reading had much in his favor, including an active desire for eternal life and a high respect for God’s commands. So why did he walk away downcast? His possessions got in the way. Jesus looked into his heart and saw the barrier of materialism. When given a choice between eternal life and earthly riches, he could not part with the latter. He could not let go of his wealth, not even for treasure in heaven (cf. Matt. 6:19-21).

Since this young man trusted in something other than God, he showed a lack of faith. Since he didn’t understand that salvation cannot be earned, he didn’t understand God’s love. The disciples, on the other hand, had left all to follow Jesus, and so their ultimate reward would be inexpressibly greater (vv. 28-31).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we mentioned on November 4, many good Christian books have been written about becoming a true disciple of Christ. Here are two more we would like to recommend: The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey, and Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, by John Piper.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 21:1-4
With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. - Mark 4:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
It has been noted that great literature can be regarded as an “experiment in living.” Characters enter situations and speak and act based on their perceptions, motivations, and beliefs–which is to say, they live out their worldviews. The story’s outcomes are the results of the “experiment,” the effects and consequences of living out the worldviews. Good readers know that what is required next is a response from them. They must interact with the characters and the author, weighing in with their own observations about the “experiment” conducted in the story.

In just this way, in today’s reading Jesus acted as a “narrator,” treating the widow He observed in the temple as a “character” in a story that He wanted His disciples to study. He did this in yesterday’s reading with the rich young ruler, and we find Him doing it in today’s reading as well. The “moral” of this story was the woman’s sacrificial giving and trust, as her two coins were all she had to live on.

In addition to learning the principles Jesus taught at such times, we can also benefit from examining His teaching methods. He observed life keenly and insightfully. He used real-life situations as object lessons in spiritual truth, and He created parables, metaphors, and analogies to help His followers understand His meanings. He seized teachable moments, calling His disciples’ attention to people and situations they might otherwise have overlooked or misunderstood (see v. 5).

In today’s incident, He taught by contrast: the rich and their gifts versus the widow and her gift. He penetrated beneath the surface–despite appearances, her gift was superior. He noted the socioeconomic element, her poverty, as well as the spiritual element, her faith. He added God’s evaluation of her gift as “more,” according to the “last shall be first” principle we have already encountered.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In light of the lesson about giving Jesus taught His disciples in today’s reading, and after considering what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8:1–15 on the same topic, examine your own giving habits. Does your giving honor the Lord? Does it demonstrate faith in His provision and goodness? Is it sacrificial? Do you recognize that you are only the steward of what the Lord has given you?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 13:1-17
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. - John 13:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Make me a servant, humble and meek; Lord, let me lift up those who are weak. And may the prayer of my heart always be: Make me a servant, make me a servant, Make me a servant today.”

The meditative words of this popular chorus, penned as a prayer, perfectly capture the heart of today’s reading. Jesus not only taught about discipleship, He modeled it in countless ways. We can find much to imitate from this familiar chapter (vv. 14–17).

One lesson is humility. On this evening, the disciples seemed concerned about which of them was the greatest (see Luke 22:24). What a rebuke Jesus’ actions must have been to them! He did not stride automatically to the place of honor at the table. Instead, He did the menial job a servant would normally do. Despite being the Son of God, standing on the verge of accomplishing His mission of redemption, and having all power, He washed their feet.

Another lesson here is service. Given the disciples’ sandals and the dusty roads, foot-washing was a practical necessity in that place and time. But none of them had volunteered to meet the need, so Jesus took the initiative and did it.

Still another lesson is love. Jesus was motivated by godly love for His disciples. “Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love” (v. 1). This was one of His final chances to teach or show them something important about the kingdom of God. It may have been His very last chance with Judas (v. 11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To the put the words of today’s verse into action, plan to do an act of service sometime this week. It should be practical and behind the scenes, something for which you will not be praised publicly. It could be done for a neighbor, a friend, or someone at your church.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 9:33-37; 10:35-45
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. - Mark 10:43–44
TODAY IN THE WORD
We can hardly wrap our minds around the stunning truth found in today’s verse. All our lives, we have been culturally pushed to live in the opposite way. From the elementary school playground to the corporate boardroom, jockeying for position and prestige is normal, expected, even admired. It’s how we’re taught to show our ability and succeed. No one wants to be a flunky, a doormat, a loser. The famous football coach, Vince Lombardi, is reputed to have said, “Winning isn’t everything–it’s the only thing,” and our society nods in agreement. It’s all about getting to the top.

Following Jesus, on the other hand, is all about getting to the bottom, so to speak. On the road, the disciples had argued about who was the greatest–who would hold the highest rank or be the “chief deputy” in the earthly messianic kingdom that they expected Jesus to start. Against their pride and desire to exalt themselves, Jesus taught them that greatness in God’s kingdom is the reverse of greatness in the eyes of the world (9:35). They needed to flip their perspective completely!

As an object lesson in the humble attitude that God loves, Jesus called a child. To show care for a child, a person at the bottom of that culture in terms of social rank and power, is commendable before God. To “welcome” a child also implies to have the attitude of a child, to “accept” or “receive” childlikeness. In the same way, to “welcome” the Son strongly implies actively accepting the person and ways of God (9:37).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How might you restate the “first shall be last, and the last shall be first” principle in contemporary language? More importantly, how might you live out this attitude in your everyday life? In your home, on the job, at church, and in the other arenas of your life, how can you be a Christ-imitating “slave of all” with whom God is well-pleased? We’ll leave this question open-ended; as you pray and meditate on this truth today, the answer and what you do with it are between you and the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 2:19-30
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. - Philippians 3:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
On his album Poiema, Christian artist Michael Card paid musical tribute to his grandfather’s spiritual influence on his life: “From you I learned the kind of faith / That looks up to the mountains / In you I saw just what I’d like to be / Oh, Granddad, I wish you could be here / To tell me what to do / 'Cause I first saw the light of Christ through you.”

In the introductory notes Card added, “He prayed for me daily as soon as he knew I was on the way. Those prayers, I believe, have made all the difference. When I sensed the call of God on my life he would have been the first person I would have told, only by that time he had gone home to be with the Lord.”

Being a disciple of Christ can also mean following those people who follow Him. In today’s reading, Paul held up Timothy and Epaphroditus as two good examples. Timothy, in contrast to normal human self-centeredness, acted from genuine concern for the church and God’s work (vv. 20–21; cf. 1 Tim. 4:6–16). Epaphroditus had come as an “ambassador” from the Philippian church, literally risking his life to encourage Paul and bring him missionary support (vv. 29–30).

What made these two men, and Paul himself, worthy of imitation? It wasn’t just their abilities, for that would be mere egotism. It was the fact that they imitated Christ. The word “pattern” (Phil. 3:17) refers to a stamp made by a metal die, a permanent impression. Those older than us in faith can make this kind of impression because they make Christlikeness concrete in daily life. That’s why the writer of Hebrews admonished, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In your life, whom do you consider to be or have been an example, a mentor, a hero of the faith? In what specific ways were or are they Christlike? In what specific ways have you or would you like to imitate them?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 3:1-17
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death. - Romans 6:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Because of the Law’s strong emphasis on purity, Jews in Jesus’ day often used “miqwaot,” or ritual baths, which archaeologists have found both in private homes and public locations. The water in these baths had to be running–that is, they couldn’t be filled by hand–and deep enough for complete bodily immersion. It seems that early Christian baptisms imitated this Jewish model.

In Jesus’ day, Jews also used this baptism as a rite of initiation for Gentile converts. It signified a complete change from the former way of life. In today’s reading, John baptized those who accepted his message and who wanted to repent in preparation for the coming kingdom of God. Baptizing Jews (as opposed to Gentiles) was apparently unique to his ministry.

With this in mind, what was the significance of John’s baptism of Jesus? Christ didn’t need to repent of sin, which was why John was reluctant to baptize Him in the first place. He did it “to fulfill all righteousness” (v. 15). Jesus also viewed His baptism as an act of consecration and obedience, and God heartily approved (vv. 16-17).

The baptism marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, so it also enabled John to fulfill his prophetic function as the herald and forerunner of Christ. His statement that Jesus would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit looked forward to Pentecost (v. 11).

From the beginning of the Church at the day of Pentecost, believers in Christ were baptized (Acts 2:41). In Acts, baptism often immediately followed conversion (Acts 8:38; 16:33). Some biblical scholars see baptism specifically as an image of the burial–resurrection motif (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you consider yourself a follower of Christ but have never been baptized, make plans to take this step of obedience without delay. Talk to your pastor or another church leader to find out what you need to do. You may need to take a preparatory class, interview with the pastor, or write out your testimony.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 22:7-20
Do this in remembrance of me. - Luke 22:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dr. Henry Heimlich, a thoracic surgeon, was alarmed to read that choking was the sixth leading cause of accidental death. Researching a remedy, he devised a simple technique to put pressure on the diaphragm in order to expel food or other objects from choking victims’ throats. Known internationally as the “Heimlich Maneuver,” in the past thirty years his technique has saved countless lives around the world.

To save physical lives is a doctor’s purpose; to give spiritual life is our Savior’s purpose. He did it by sacrificing Himself for our sins, and in today’s reading He taught His disciples both the meaning of what He was about to do and how to commemorate it.

The symbolism of the Lord’s Supper is straightforward. The bread represents Jesus’ body, broken for us. The wine represents His blood, shed for us (vv. 19–20). Jesus Himself makes this clear at the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26-29). The shocking power of this symbolism is also stated by Jesus in John 6:56: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”

In addition to baptism, communion or the Lord’s Supper has historically been considered an ordinance or sacrament of the church. “Do this in remembrance of me,” Jesus said, and so we, too, use bread and wine as symbols of His body and blood. When Paul recounted the core events, the solemnity and formality of his language indicated that communion had been celebrated from the church’s earliest days (1 Cor. 11:23–26). It marks the “new Passover” or “new covenant”–just as God redeemed Israel from slavery under the blood of lambs, so He has redeemed us from sin with the Lamb’s blood (1 Cor. 5:7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In light of the importance of obeying Christ’s command, “Do this in remembrance of me,” make a plan to prepare your soul for your church’s next observance of communion. You might re-read Gospel accounts of His Passion, listen to or sing sacred music focusing on redemption, visit a museum to contemplate classic paintings of the Crucifixion, or another idea of your choosing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 2:12-22
Zeal for your house consumes me. - Psalm 69:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book, With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray wrote: “Jesus in His prayers on earth, in His intercession in heaven, in His promise of an answer to our prayers from there, makes this His first objective–the glory of His Father. Is it so with us too? Or are not, in large measure, self-interest and self-will the strongest motives urging us to pray? . . . It is only when the whole life, in all its parts, is given up to God’s glory, that we can really pray to His glory too. 'Do all to the glory of God,’ and, 'Ask all to the glory of God’–these twin commands are inseparable: obedience to the former is the secret grace for the latter.”

In every aspect of His life, Jesus thought, spoke, and acted for God’s glory. We see this lesson on display in today’s reading, with which we begin the third and final major subtopic of our month’s study: Jesus’ relationship with the world.

The merchants and moneychangers were pursuing their professions in the temple courts, specifically the outer court in which Gentiles were allowed to pray. Thus, they were interfering with worship, a serious sin that brought on Christ’s righteous anger.

Jesus demonstrated zeal for worship and the honor of God’s name, taking immediate and forceful action: “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” (v. 16). The synoptic Gospels have a similar “temple cleansing” episode at the end of Jesus’ public ministry years, which means He probably did this twice!

The disciples interpreted His action as characteristic of the Messiah, and in fact Jesus had been intensely concerned with His Father’s house ever since boyhood (v. 17; cf. Luke 2:41–52). When challenged, Christ in essence said that the authority on which He acted was the authority of His resurrection, implying His identity not only as the Messiah but as the Son of God (vv. 19–22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Instead of doing a specific application, today why not take a few moments to review and assess? To date, what has been the impact of this month’s study on your life? Which truth has seemed the most powerful? Which one has seemed freshest? What effects has the Word had on your life as a result? What additional effects are you praying for?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 23:23-32
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. - Matthew 5:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
What had the Pharisees and other religious leaders done to deserve the harsh condemnations Jesus delivered in today’s reading?

They had rejected His teachings, questioned His authority, and ignored His miracles. They were jealous of His reputation among the populace. They had tried to trap and embarrass Him with theological debates and trick questions. They were plotting against His life. Blinded by their own desires and conceit, they spurned the prophesied Messiah, God’s Son.

Jesus’ “seven woes”–our passage covers the last four–exposed the rottenness at the core of the Pharisees’ spiritual lives. The zeal for God’s glory includes a love for righteousness, and thus we see Jesus’ loathing of sin found in the acerbic words of these verses. Politeness may be fine in most situations, but there comes a time when a thing must be called by its proper name.

What exactly did Christ hate? Hypocrisy, self-centeredness, self-indulgence, pride, legalism, greed, rejection of God’s Word, ignorance of true worship, and neglect of spiritual virtue, among other sins.

Jesus used a variety of colorful images to show His disgust. The leaders were like dirty dishes or whitewashed tombs, clean on the outside but filthy and corrupt on the inside. In those days, tombs were sometimes whitewashed to make them more visible, so that no one would accidentally step on one and become ritually unclean. Furthermore, the Pharisees strained out a gnat but swallowed a camel, a humorous piece of irony that means they fussed with details but missed the big picture. In fact, they often did strain their drinking water through a cloth to avoid accidentally swallowing a gnat, listed as unclean in the Law.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today, here are several open-ended questions for reflection and action.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 7:1-18
The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. - John 7:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance . . .” (Eccl. 3).

These words from Old Testament wisdom literature express a truth that Jesus lived by as well. To know the times and seasons of God’s will, and to wait patiently for them, is another aspect of His life we can imitate. This may not seem as dramatic as what we have read the past two days, but it is no less essential to understanding and following Christ.

In today’s reading, Jesus decided not to go up to Jerusalem because the time for Him to confront His murderous enemies had not yet arrived. When His half-brothers mockingly urged Him to “go public” and try to attract a larger following, He replied: “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right” (v. 6). His answer showed that pride or self-exaltation was not a motive for Him, that God’s interests were at the center of His life. It also showed that there was a plan, God’s plan, within which there was a right time and a wrong time for certain actions. When Jesus did go to the Feast, He stressed that He spoke God’s words for God’s honor (vv. 16–18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we have read this month, you may have felt the need for additional study tools. We encourage you to obtain one on the life of Christ. For example, a “harmony” of the Gospels arranges passages chronologically, so that you can read straight through all that is written about Jesus’ life. Another reference suggestion is the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, from InterVarsity Press.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 25:31-46
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. - Matthew 25:40
TODAY IN THE WORD
About once a week, Jane Pigue of Greenwood, Missouri, swings into high gear and bakes 25 to 30 loaves of fresh, homemade bread. The next day, she delivers it to needy people in the Kansas City area–people suffering from cancer or other health problems, or people going through a crisis or down time in their lives. She sometimes takes the bread to a local mission or church food pantry.

Jane bakes bread as a way of expressing Jesus’ love to others. “How can I do anything less, when Jesus gave His all for us?” she said. “I just let Him work through me.” Her goal: “Do all the good I can, for all the people I can, for as long as I can.”

Jane’s bread ministry pleases Christ, as we know from today’s reading. While we are not certain whether this passage describes a specific future judgment or is a parable of sorts, the lesson remains the same: We must show brotherly love and kindness, especially to those in God’s family. The parable of the talents that opens Matthew 25 teaches us to work for God’s glory, and these verses give extra motivation!

What makes the difference between the favored sheep and the condemned goats? Their actions. While we know salvation is not earned by merit, these verses highlight the key truth that trees are known by their fruit (Matt. 7:15–27). Specific acts of compassion are mentioned, including providing food and clothing, showing hospitality, and visiting prisoners and sick people (cf. Isa. 58:6–9). Jesus’ many healing miracles are a good place to see His own compassion in action.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Were you convicted by anything on Jesus’ list in today’s reading? Then act on it! These verses contain their own applications: giving food and clothes to the poor, visiting prisoners, and other ministries of compassion.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Peter 4:12-19
Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. - 1 Peter 4:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Christian activist Li Shi-xiong has compiled an archive detailing current religious persecution in his homeland, China. The archive, which he called a “truth bomb,” is a ten-foot-high stack of 22,000 documents, including personal testimonies, court transcripts, government records, and photographs. He said these documents prove that top Communist and government officials are involved in persecution at the highest levels, often under the umbrella of national security.

Li’s organization is documenting more than 100 cases of people who have died in custody, 700 who have been sent to labor camps, and 550 who are in hiding for their lives. The government also harasses leaders, confiscates financial assets, and spies on e-mail and cell phone communications, among other destructive tactics.

To them, and to all who suffer for the name of Christ, Peter said, “Rejoice.” How can this be? Why? “Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed” (v. 13; cf. Matt. 5:11–12). To “participate” does not mean to “add,” since we know Christ’s work of redemption is finished and all-sufficient. Rather, it means that we follow in His footsteps, suffering as He did in order to take the good news of what He did to the world (cf. John 15:18–25). Just as the physical body of Christ suffered on the cross, so we as His spiritual body suffer. Paul said that “the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives” (2 Cor. 1:5).

What are the results of godly suffering? Persecution, difficulties, and trials refine and purify us. The ability to rejoice is itself another blessing, and comes from the presence of God’s Spirit (v. 14). What is more, if we can praise God for suffering, we will be that much more able to praise and enjoy Christ when “His glory is revealed,” that is, when He returns to rule the earth.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In the true spirit of this Thanksgiving holiday, praise God for the privilege of suffering for the name of Christ. Give thanks that He chose you, redeemed you, and will dwell with you forever and ever. Pray the words of Peter and Paul referenced in today’s devotional.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 23:32-43
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. - Luke 23:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
John Piper wrote in Future Grace: “No one was more grievously sinned against than Jesus. Every ounce of animosity against Him was fully undeserved. No one has ever lived who was more worthy of honor than Jesus, and no one has been dishonored more. If anyone had a right to get angry and be bitter and vengeful, it was Jesus. How did He control Himself when scoundrels, whose very lives He sustained, spit in His face? . . . Jesus had faith in the future grace of God’s righteous judgment. He did not need to avenge Himself for all the indignities He suffered, because He entrusted His cause to God. He left vengeance in God’s hands and prayed for His enemies’ repentance.”

Christ overcame bitterness and vengefulness, instead showing us how to love and forgive our enemies. To stand boldly against sin (see Nov. 23–24) may have more of a cultural “cowboy appeal” to us as Americans, but we are equally responsible to take up the counter-cultural charge of loving and forgiving our enemies. To love holiness and one’s enemies are both attributes of our perfect God (see Matt. 5:43–48).

To love an enemy does not mean to work ourselves into an emotional state, or to try to manufacture a warm, fuzzy feeling, but rather to act with the other’s good in mind. A simple example is to pray for an enemy–in doing so, one soon finds that prayer and hatred are totally incompatible.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you holding a grudge against someone? Is the bitterness over what they did still strong in your feelings? Then pray for strength to do the unthinkable and forgive them (Col. 3:13). If Christ could forgive His enemies in the midst of all He was suffering, then with His help we can do the same.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 9:1-19
You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. - Acts 1:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1996, retiree and widower Reese Hurley from Cambridge, Maryland, got up from his rocking chair and headed for Africa. He’d been pondering how best to spend his remaining years, but at first had resisted God’s call to missions.

When he answered the call, he went all-out! He has been on short-term trips to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Guatemala, Albania, and other destinations, working to help orphans and others in need. He has also used his skills as an electrician on missions building projects.

Reese is obeying the Great Commission, doing what Jesus Himself commanded us to do (Acts 1:. To take the gospel to the world is to confront others with Christ’s reality, grace, and glory, a lesson shown in unforgettable fashion in today’s reading. Sometimes we omit the fact that imitating Christ means we can also imitate His one recorded appearance after His Ascension–to Paul on the road to Damascus.

Paul was ignorant, misguided, and zealous, a dangerous combination. But the risen Christ met him personally and powerfully, leaving him physically and spiritually stunned. The blinded man had several days to think things over and completely reorient his spiritual compass. He was transformed from a fervent persecutor to a sold-out believer, from a Pharisee to an apostle, and from a Jesus-hater to a Jesus-lover. He would later share this very testimony before kings (see Acts 26).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How are your witness skills these days? If a friend, co-worker, or neighbor asked you about the gospel, how would you answer? Here are two suggestions:

• Learning an evangelistic method can be helpful. If you’ve never done so, find out how to share the “Romans Road,” the “Bridge,” or another effective gospel presentation. Practice with someone who knows the approach well.