TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ruth 1:1-22
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. - Ruth 1:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
As we near the halfway point of our study of “Wise Characters of Faith,” you might be reflecting on the essence of faith. What does it look like to live by trusting God?

Judging by the characters we’ve examined so far, let us suggest two elements that are often central to the life of faith: going and suffering. Most of the stories we’ve studied involve someone being called to go somewhere or leave somewhere. To obey, they must move out. In addition, they all suffered– physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The life of faith is not an easy one!

The story of Ruth certainly confirms this. God sovereignly used a famine to move an Israelite family to Moab. The two sons took foreign wives there, then died, along with their father. The grieving mother, Naomi, whose name means “pleasant,” wanted to change her name to Mara, meaning “bitter.” She felt the Lord’s hand was against her and decided to return home (vv. 13, 20–21).

Faced with a crossroads, the two daughters-in-law at first wanted to go with her. But normal human considerations–staying in her home culture, the chance for a new husband–caused Orpah to give up her intention, whereas Ruth held fast. Her choice sprang from deeper reasons of faith–she chose a new people and a new God. Her commitment was holistic and unconditional, and the fact that she took an oath in the name of the Lord further revealed the profound change in her heart (vv. 16–17).

Despite Ruth’s dramatic pronouncement, Naomi probably didn’t regard a childless Moabite daughter-in-law as much of a prize (little did she know). At first, Ruth may not have felt much benefit either. Her choice brought her pity and poverty in her strange new hometown of Bethlehem. Yet in the end God gave her romance and a new husband and family in Boaz, and in doing so He renewed the joy and faith of Naomi (Ruth 4:13-17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Reading the story of Elimelech’s rather sorry-seeming clan in Moab, one wonders why Ruth accepted their God as hers! What about you? Do nonbelievers see in your life something that would draw them to Christ?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 16:1-11
You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing. - Psalm 16:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
The New York Philharmonic is the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States. Founded in 1842, it was the first to play Dvorak’s “New World” Symphony No. 9, and the first to broadcast a live concert on the radio. Scores of distinguished conductors, soloists, and instrumentalists have performed with the Philharmonic over the years, which now does about two hundred concerts annually. In more than a century and a half, it has performed nearly 14,000 concerts altogether.

Music is a wonderful gift, one which the psalmist David knew how best to use. It’s no surprise to find David in this month’s study–as with Moses, the only problem is which episode from his life to focus on. Rather than choose, we’ve read one of his psalms as a sample of the spirit of worship which permeated his life. We can see clearly here the faith and godly wisdom by which he lived.

How does God treat David in this psalm? As if at a banquet, He assigns him a pleasant portion. As if a divine surveyor, He draws the boundary lines in pleasant places (vv. 5-6). Delight, joy, and security characterize all that David receives from the Lord, who also counsels and instructs him. God is his teacher, and from Him he learns the “path of life.”

How does David respond? He takes refuge in God, praising Him in the fellowship of faithful believers (v. 3). He sets the Lord always before him as the highest reality and priority of his life (v. . He rests in safety and waits eagerly for eternity (v. 11). Compared with the Lord, the rest of his life is nothing: “Apart from you I have no good thing” (v. 2; cf. Phil. 3:.

In context, verse 10 expresses David’s faith that God will sustain, preserve, and protect him, even beyond death. In the New Testament, this verse is applied to the Resurrection of Christ as well (see, for example, Acts 2:25-28).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Let your creativity flow today: Write a poem or praise song of your own. “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Ps. 98:1)! If you’re better with words, try a poem–if you feel more comfortable at a keyboard or strumming a guitar, try a song. Your poem or song should exalt God and express faith in Him through the ups and downs of life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 20:1-42
Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord. - 1 Samuel 20:42
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Companions for Your Spiritual Journey, Mark Harris wrote, “Only the presence of the indwelling Christ can transform one’s character and affections, making that person capable of the high standards of fidelity and selflessness that mark the deepest friendships. What ultimately distinguishes a spiritual friendship from a natural friendship is the presence of Christ. He becomes the initiator, sustainer, the very end itself of a spiritual friendship. Aelred asks, 'What more sublime can be said of friendship, what more true, what more profitable, than that it ought to, and is proved to, begin in Christ, continue in Christ, and be perfected in Christ?’ ”

God was certainly present in the biblical friendship of Jonathan and David. He was its foundation (vv. 23, 42). From a human perspective, the barriers to friendship were insurmountable; Jonathan was heir to the throne of Israel, but David was God’s chosen replacement. Jonathan’s father, Saul, was trying to kill David. Jonathan had everything to lose, including his family and his future (vv. 30-31). Yet in faith, like Rahab and Ruth, he chose God’s side above what was near and dear. He showed wisdom in choosing a godly friend.

In today’s reading, Jonathan acted in a practical way to meet an urgent need. He carried out a risky plan to test Saul’s mood and secretly inform David. He could have betrayed him, but he kept his promise. He had initiated a covenant of friendship. His integrity was on the line, and he stood ready to serve and sacrifice (vv. 16-17).

David was not yet in a position to reciprocate, but he accepted Jonathan’s blessing and later showed “kindness” (covenant love) to his descendants (vv. 13-15). Such mercy was dangerous, as it left alive potential rivals to his kingship, but he did it anyway.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we did about a week ago, today we suggest that you do additional Bible study, this time on the topic of friendship. What is the scriptural definition of and foundation for godly friendship? How did friends in the Bible act toward one another and why?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 20:14-22
Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. - James 3:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
The olive branch is a famous symbol of peace. Its origins date back to Noah. After the Flood, he sent out a dove and it came back with an olive branch in its beak–it was then that he knew that judgment was over and God had brought reconciliation and peace back to the earth.

In Roman legends, Hercules was kept safe in battle by wearing an olive wreath, and the Roman goddess Concordia, representing agreement, is often depicted holding an olive branch in her right hand. Today, the Great Seal of the United States features an eagle holding an olive branch in its right talon.

When the wise woman of Abel Beth Maacah called over the wall, she held an olive branch in her hand, figuratively speaking. After the collapse of Absalom’s rebellion, conflict between Israel and Judah had arisen, and a troublemaker named Sheba capitalized on it to start his own rebellion. David’s army pursued him to Abel Beth Maacah, in the far north of Israel, and besieged the city.

The woman asked Joab what it was he wanted. Abel Beth Maacah was famous for its wisdom, which implied that whatever the problem was, it could be solved by dialogue and diplomacy rather than war and destruction. The city had a reputation for peace and faithfulness, and was known metaphorically as a “mother” of the nation (vv. 18-19).

When Joab explained the situation, the wise woman advised the city leaders to submit to the king and execute Sheba. This they did, honoring God by honoring His anointed ruler. As the only cool head in the midst of a violent and volatile situation, the wise woman saved her city. At a time when David’s troops were preoccupied with internal strife (Joab had killed Amasa earlier in the chapter), and when the political landscape remained cloudy and unsettled, her peaceful, persuasive wisdom influenced the decisions and actions of all involved.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we know, when Christ returns He will bring peace: “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire” (Ps. 46:9). He is the ultimate Peacemaker.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 3:1-15
I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. - 1 Kings 3:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the 1950s, Nelle Harper Lee moved to New York City to make her way as a writer. By day, she worked as an airline reservations agent.

One Christmas, she was invited to a friend’s house to share in the holiday celebrations. On the tree she found an envelope with her name on it. The note inside read: “You have one year off from your job to write whatever you please. Merry Christmas.” Her friends believed in her talent and wanted to give her a chance. That year, Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the best-loved novels of the twentieth century.

The right gift can transform an entire life. That’s what happened to Solomon in today’s reading. He had just taken the throne of Israel. In a dream, God offered him any gift he wanted–anything at all. Feeling the weight of kingly responsibility, he asked for wisdom and discernment (v. 9; cf. Ps. 72). He knew his own inadequacy for the task of governing justly, but he trusted God to provide.

Solomon’s request demonstrated that he understood God’s character. Specifically, he understood God’s kindness, especially as shown to his father David. He understood that God had a special covenant relationship with His people, Israel. And he knew that to have a close relationship with God one must be faithful, righteous, and upright in heart (cf. 1 Kings 2:1-4).

Pleased with Solomon’s request and its motivation, God granted the king incomparable wisdom, then added the things he hadn’t mentioned, such as riches, a long life, and victory in battle (vv. 11-14). There was only one little cloud on the horizon–the “except” of verse 3. Contrary to the Law, he offered sacrifices on the high places. These “excepts” would increase as he left the path of faith and obedience during his lifetime.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Solomon knew that without God’s wisdom, he would never succeed at kingship. Hopefully, you also know that without God’s wisdom, you’ll make bad choices and get nowhere in life. If you’re facing a big decision these days–or even a small one–the best place to be is on your knees!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 10:1-13
Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness. - 1 Kings 10:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
B. Wayne Hopkins, former dean of Moody Graduate School, wrote in an article, “America is in trouble because of its addiction to pleasure. Sadly, the world covets her trinkets, tizzies, and trash.” He identified several goals we mistakenly seek as the highest good or pleasure in life. One is physical satisfaction–food, drink, and sex. Another is material satisfaction, the thrill of accumulating possessions. Social status can be another idol, as can education.

Like all human beings, we are in search of a “magnum delectamentum”–an all-sufficient good or pleasure. But ultimately, nothing satisfies apart from the Lord, as Hopkins noted: “God refuses to permit contentment without yieldedness to Him.”

When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon to seek answers to her questions about life, no doubt he shared with her the secret of “magnum delectamentum,” God Himself. After all, he had been a seeker like her, and the God-centered results can be found in the book of Ecclesiastes (see Eccl. 12:9-14).

Sheba, modern-day Yemen, was more than 1,000 miles from Israel. But both nations traded many goods by sea, and this was probably how the prosperous queen heard about Solomon and his God (v. 1). Though it’s not recorded, she may have come for diplomatic and economic talks as well as philosophical quizzing. How fascinating to overhear those conversations!

In the end, the queen felt “overwhelmed” by Solomon’s wisdom and wealth. The reports of him had underestimated the reality, and she perceived that this was no merely human phenomenon. The one true God was at work (v. 9). She saw that He had sovereignly placed Solomon on the throne to rule justly, and she observed the loving personal and national relationship He maintained with the king and Israel.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
“Apologetics” is the ability to defend the faith. When the Queen of Sheba put Solomon to the test, he handled her questions and overcame her intellectual skepticism.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 18:16-46
Answer me, O Lord, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. - 1 Kings 18:37
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jesus strongly condemned Jewish treatment of the Old Testament prophets: “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them. So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs . . . Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all” (Luke 11:47-51).

Biblical prophets often suffered for proclaiming the word of God. Case in point: Elijah. Opposed to him in today’s reading stood King Ahab, who had abandoned the Law and covenant. There were also 850 false prophets for Baal and Asherah. Then there was Queen Jezebel, who provided financially and politically for these false priests. And finally, the people of Israel, who also committed idolatry, had steadfastly refused to change despite a God-sent drought.

To all these, Elijah delivered a simple challenge: Follow the true God (v. 21). The proof of Him would come in action–lighting the sacrificial fire–before their very eyes. The false prophets tried first, shouting prayers, dancing, and slashing themselves for most of the day. No doubt they were egged on by Elijah’s mockery–knowledgeable mockery, as evidently he knew the myths of their religion. But there was no response. Surely even the Israelites had plenty of time to get the point that Baal did nothing (v. 29).

Then, alone on Mount Carmel, Elijah stepped forward to call upon the Lord. He fixed the altar, added seawater to the sacrifice to increase the “degree of difficulty,” and prayed quietly, asking God to honor his obedience and glorify His name. God’s answer was immediate and total (vv. 36-38).

At last, the people responded. They worshiped the Lord and purged the land of the false prophets. One man had the boldness to declare God’s worthiness, and he carried the day!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
On your own or with a believing friend or family member, take some time today to brainstorm ways that you can stand for God in your workplace or neighborhood.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Chronicles 18:1-27
As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what my God says. - 2 Chronicles 18:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Fake goods do serious damage to world economies. The International Chamber of Commerce estimates that about $375 billion worth of goods were pirated or counterfeited last year, amounting to about eight percent of all world trade. American businesses alone lose between $200–$250 billion per year.

Drugs and medicines, shoes, toys, cosmetics, electronics, and auto parts are just some of the items being ripped off and sold as the genuine article. “It affects virtually every type of product made,” said one leader.

Fake goods hurt legitimate businesses, and false prophets undercut true religion. There were plenty of them doting on King Ahab in today’s reading. He and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were discussing military plans when Jehoshaphat suggested that they seek the Lord’s will from a prophet. Obligingly, Ahab’s “yes men” tickled their ears with promises of victory. But Jehoshaphat was not satisfied, and even Ahab saw right through their shameless flattery. So a real prophet of God, Micaiah, was sent for. His reputation at the palace showed that today’s encounter was not a one-time episode but typical of his entire ministry.

Micaiah arrived to find two kings in their royal robes in a public setting near the city gate, and a gaggle of false prophets, including the dramatic and creative Zedekiah, foretelling victory. Even the messenger tried to hint which way the wind was blowing. But Micaiah, as a man of integrity and purity of purpose, could speak only what God said (v. 13). He prophesied that the battle would be lost and Ahab killed. He even laid bare the spiritual dynamics of the situation, labeling the false prophets as demonic agents permitted by God to entice Ahab to his doom (v. 22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Micaiah knew that as a prophet of the Lord he could speak nothing else but the words that God gave him. That was his calling and his purpose.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Chronicles 26:11-23
You are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. - Psalm 86:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Identity theft is on the rise in America. This is when people steal Social Security, driver’s license, passport, credit card, or bank account numbers. One research firm estimated that seven million people fell victim to identity theft in 2002, and the Federal Trade Commission put the number even higher, at ten million. The FTC added that one in eight adults have suffered identity theft in the past five years, and calculated that in 2002 it cost individuals and businesses about $53 billion. New state and federal laws have been passed to cope with the situation, but many victims are not even aware of the crime until a year or more later. Identity thieves are caught in only one out of 700 cases.

In today’s reading, Uzziah tried to masquerade as a priest–identity theft that amounted to blasphemy! He had walked with the Lord in his younger days (see 2 Chron. 26:4-5), but after some impressive military victories and rebuilding projects, he evidently couldn’t get enough of himself. Fame brought pride, and pride brought on his downfall (v. 16; cf. Prov. 16:18).

Uzziah entered the temple to burn incense, a privilege and responsibility that belonged solely to the priests. By doing so, he disobeyed and dishonored God’s law and His instructions for worship. He should have remembered that two of Aaron’s sons had been struck down for the very thing he did (see Lev. 10).

Azariah and eighty courageous priests–another example of collective faith in action–had the guts to confront this powerful king, tell him he was doing wrong, and warn him to leave the temple. He responded with self-righteous anger, but God instantly showed whose side He was on. He judged the conceited Uzziah, inflicting him with leprosy and leaving no doubt that His name, temple, priests, and worship were serious business!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As Uzziah’s actions demonstrate, pride is indeed a deadly sin. To get a fully biblical perspective on it, you might do a cross-reference search today. Using a concordance or topical notes, look for verses that define or describe pride, explain its roots and consequences, warn against it, or contrast it with proper humility.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 6:1-28
May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! - Daniel 6:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Lou Brock was one of the most outstanding baseball players of the 1960s and 70s. Playing mostly with the St. Louis Cardinals, he made the All-Star team six times, collected more than 3,000 hits, and set a record of twelve straight seasons with more than fifty stolen bases, including one season with a then-record 118 steals. He helped lead his team to three league pennants and two World Series championships. In 1985, Brock was rightfully inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Anyone can have one good season–it takes someone special to have a truly excellent career. In exile, Daniel lived a life of consistently visible faith and wisdom. That’s why King Darius promoted him to a high position. His abilities and integrity made enemies, though, and since they couldn’t find any skeletons in his closet they decided to get him by using his faith against him (v. 5). He had not kept his faith a secret in order to climb the career ladder in this pagan palace.

They brought the unwitting king on board by flattering him, and he signed an irrevocable “god-of-the-month” decree with a death penalty attached. Daniel ignored it and continued to pray three times daily facing Jerusalem. Why? Worship was too important a principle to compromise. He wasn’t ashamed of his God. If his enemies wanted to catch him praying, let them. They knew exactly when and where to find him. His witness was bright and clear to his peers.

King Darius finally clued in, realizing that his favorite official had been set up, but there was nothing he could do (vv. 14–16, 20). God, however, was not bound by “the law of the Medes and Persians,” and honored Daniel’s faith by miraculously saving his life in the lions’ den (vv. 22–23). The ravenous animals had to wait until morning to make a meal of Daniel’s enemies!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Daniel shone like a bright light against the dark, pagan background of Media-Persia. We can do the same! As believers who follow the Light when most of the world lives in darkness, we can “shine like stars.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Nehemiah 2:11-20
In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. - Psalm 51:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
China recently found a new section of its famous Great Wall. Covered by sand for centuries in northwestern Ningxia Province, it was uncovered by archaeologists in the fall of 2002. It’s fifty miles long and was built in the 1530s. One of its watchtowers was said to still be in good condition.

Constructed from the seventh century B.C. onwards, the Great Wall stretches for 3,700 miles and was built to protect the country from northern invaders. The section north of Beijing is a popular tourist destination these days. Nehemiah would have loved it!

There was no human reason for Nehemiah to jeopardize his career. But when he heard the news of Jerusalem in ruins, he mourned, fasted, and prayed, then risked everything by showing his feelings in the king’s presence. God rewarded his faith by giving him favor in Artaxerxes’ eyes–he was granted a leave of absence, a voucher for building supplies, and an armed escort (Neh. 1).

Nehemiah showed faith by pursuing the vision God had put in his heart (v. 12). The vision was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Once he arrived, he pursued it with patience and wisdom, first scouting out the situation. Then he went to the people with a persuasive presentation. To their credit, when he cast the vision and recounted how God had already worked (v. 18), they responded in faith.

They took on a challenge! Jerusalem had been sacked and burned (cf. Jer. 52:12-16). Local Gentiles mocked and opposed their efforts. Geshem apparently ran a profitable spice trade in the region, and may have feared that a revived Israel would interfere with it. There were only a relative handful of Jews to do the work. And Artaxerxes could have interpreted strengthening the city as a prelude to rebellion.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Nehemiah and the returned exiles faced a situation similar to that of Christian workers and local believers in closed countries today. A “closed country” is one where missionaries are not allowed or Christians may not practice their faith openly or freely, such as in Muslim or Communist countries.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 7:1-10
I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel. - Luke 7:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Naaman was a powerful general in ancient Syria. Yet when he fell ill with leprosy, he put his trust in the God of Israel.

He listened to an Israelite slave girl in his household and paid a visit to the prophet Elisha. Though the prophet’s instructions frustrated him, he was encouraged by his servants to obey them, and he did. He washed in the Jordan River and was healed. He hurried back to Elisha’s house and proclaimed: “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15).

If you look closely, you’ll find in Scripture a number of stories about Gentile faith. Naaman and the Roman centurion in today’s reading are just two examples (cf. Matt. 8:11).

The centurion clearly had a close relationship with the Jewish community, since the local leaders came to Jesus to plead on his behalf (vv. 3–5). He showed sensitivity to cultural issues, such as Jews not entering Gentile houses. His heart was inclined to God, for he gave money to the synagogue and treated his slaves humanely.

Furthermore, he recognized the Messiah when many Jews had not. He believed that Jesus had the power and authority to heal, and wisely understood that distance didn’t matter. He had a high respect for Christ, coupled with a sense of his own unworthiness (v. 7).

Jesus commended the centurion’s faith in glowing terms–“I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel” (v. 9)–no doubt annoying or even angering His Jewish listeners. It’s the only time in the Gospels the term amazed is used positively–Jesus “marveled” (nasb) at the depth and accuracy of the soldier’s understanding and faith.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Roman centurion in today’s reading demonstrated faith that astonished Jesus. Have you expressed this kind of belief in Him?

The final goal of faith is our eternal salvation (1 Peter 1:9). If you have never trusted Christ for salvation, we invite you to do so today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 10:46-52
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” - Mark 10:52
TODAY IN THE WORD
Scientists are looking to the oceans to find tips for human healing. For example, they’re studying the swim bladder muscle of the toadfish. It can vibrate an amazing 200 times per second and may teach researchers much about muscle physiology, with possible practical applications to treatments for heart disease and nerve illnesses. They’re also investigating the skate fish, its eyes in particular, and learning lessons that may help cure retinal diseases in the future.

If the created world can give clues for healing, how much more can our Creator! God holds nature in the palm of His hand, and His power over it is on display in today’s reading. We see in this story another example of the critical link in Christ’s ministry between faith and healing.

How did Bartimaeus show faith? First, he addressed Jesus as the “Son of David,” a messianic title referring to God’s promise that David’s throne would be eternal (2 Sam. 7:16). Significantly, he’s the only person in Mark’s Gospel to recognize Jesus with this title. Second, he called persistently. Despite his low social status and the crowd’s desire to ignore him and keep him quiet, he didn’t give up. He kept calling out to Jesus because his faith in God’s mercy and power was strong: “Rabbi, I want to see” (v. 51). A final dimension of Bartimaeus’ faith was seen in his response. After his healing, he followed Jesus. Luke adds the vivid detail that he followed praising God and spurring others to praise Him as well (Luke 18:43).

Jesus commended him, “Your faith has healed you” (v. 52). This was simply a recognition that the formerly blind man had believed rightly. Faith is not a feeling–it is only as valuable as the object in which it is placed. Bartimaeus’ faith was pure gold, for he’d trusted the Messiah to do exactly what God had said He would do (Isa. 35:5; 42:7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus often healed the sick, and we’re exhorted to visit them (see Matt. 25:34-40). Does someone in your church need an encouraging visitor today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 14:22-33
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. - Matthew 14:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author and apologist C. S. Lewis once wrote, “If we wish to be rational, not now and then, but constantly, we must pray for the gift of Faith, for the power to go on believing not in the teeth of reason but in the teeth of lust and terror and jealousy and boredom and indifference that which reason, authority, or experience, or all three, have once delivered to us for truth.”

In other words, reason might recognize something as true, but many factors can keep us from acting on that truth. That’s what happened to Peter in today’s reading.

The disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee at night in the middle of a storm. Naturally, they felt nervous and edgy, and when they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water, in their fright they at first thought He was a ghost.

Peter was the first to recover and take Jesus’ comforting admonition to heart (v. 27). Perhaps he remembered the time Jesus calmed the storm (see Matt. 8:23–27), or the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 from the previous day. He wanted to show he understood, so he asked permission to take a bold step of faith. Surely he was impetuous, but we should give Peter some credit here. He wanted to imitate Jesus, to do as He did. He believed that within the will and power of Christ, He could do the impossible. That’s part of the essence of faith!

Jesus gave permission, so Peter’s request must not have been a bad one. The fisherman stepped out of the boat and onto the water. For a few glorious moments, he was walking on it! Then he took his eyes off Jesus, looked at the storm around him, and listened to the fearful voice telling him, “This is impossible.” He began to sink. His instincts were right: “Lord, save me!” But he deserved the Lord’s rebuke, “You of little faith” (vv. 30-31).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you going through some tough times in your life lately? Are the waves crashing and the winds blowing around your little boat?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 10:38-42
Mary has chosen what is better. - Luke 10:42
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a famous sonnet, the poet John Milton meditated on his blindness: “When I consider how my light is spent.” He was eager to serve his Maker, but how? How could God possibly expect him to accomplish anything with such a disability? “Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?”

Patience answers in the second part of the poem: God doesn’t need human contributions to His work. He is the King, infinite in power. What then should the poet do? “Who best bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. . . . They also serve who only stand and wait.”

Waiting is hard. Being rather than doing is very hard. But as the psalmist wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Ps. 46:10). Mary understood this.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were friends of Jesus and often welcomed Him into their home. In today’s story, Martha serves as a foil or contrast. She enjoyed hospitality, but here she let herself get distracted by it. When Jesus is in the room, He should be the focus and center of attention–but she put practical, pressing concerns ahead of Him. She compounded this error with a sarcastic complaint, no doubt directed more at Mary than at Jesus, but still wrong-headed. Martha was venting her anger and throwing a pity party for herself. Because her priorities were out of order, she was worried and upset.

Jesus gently rebuked Martha, “Only one thing is needed” (v. 42). The implication is Christ Himself. Within faith in Him all other needs and anxieties are met. Mary had chosen correctly by choosing to sit and listen to Jesus. She rested in His presence and paid attention to His teaching. That was a wiser choice than hospitality, serving, helping, or even showing care for her sister. She put the Best Thing ahead of all these other good things.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you have the “Martha syndrome”? Too often we want to be doing something for Christ rather than sitting at His feet, just listening.