TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Peter 2:4-10; Hebrews 10:24-25
You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. - 1 Corinthians 6:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
There's nothing unusual about cars pulling to church parking lots on Sunday morning. But unlike other churches, worshipers remain in their cars at the Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church, listening to the service through speakers attached to their car windows. An average of 700 people choose this as their weekly dose of church. Yet one essential aspect of worship seems to be lacking—the fellowship of believers worshiping together.

Notice the corporate emphasis in 1 Peter 2. First, believers are like living stones, who come to Christ, the Living Stone, to form a new spiritual house. No temple was ever built with just one stone! In fact, this spiritual house can add an infinite number of new stones. Second, notice the group terms in verses 9 and 10: a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. These titles first described the nation Israel and are here also applied to Christians. Finally, notice that one of the privileges that we've received is to offer up spiritual sacrifices (v. 5). We'll talk more about this tomorrow, but for now it's important to realize that few sacrifices were offered in isolation. Instead, the Levitical sacrifices frequently involved the entire community. Using language borrowed from the Old Testament, Peter described the worshiping community in terms of a group, not just individuals.

When we worship as part of a community, God shows us how we've been incorporated into something much bigger than our own self—we've become part of the body of Christ. That's why it's important to meet together with other believers. Many people say that they can have just as meaningful a time with God in their garden on Sunday morning than being in a church. But Hebrews 10 shows us that we can't grow in love and good deeds in isolation. In community, we grow closer to God and to each other than we ever could alone.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's possible to attend a “drive-in church” even if you leave your car and sit in a pew on Sunday morning. Every church has people who show up just after the service has started and leave a few minutes early. But worship is more than a place and a certain time. Worship involves a vibrant community of living stones joined together in Christ. True worship binds believers together as they experience abundant life with each other.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:1-21
Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise. - Hebrews 13:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
A pastor once shared an inspiring testimony about a retired elder from his church. After years of faithfully serving in the church and in his workplace, this man wanted to continue serving the Lord in his retirement. So he began encouraging missionaries around the world by visiting them, loving them, and praying for them. What a great example of living as a sacrificial offering!

We often think of worship as an attitude, which is important. But worship is also an action. The word liturgy usually refers to certain written prayers and confessions, but this word originally came from a Greek word that meant “to serve.” Worship and service together is exactly what we find in Romans 12.

Paul began by making an appeal based on God's mercies (v. 1), which are outlined in the first eleven chapters of Romans. There we read how God justified sinful humans through the blood of Jesus Christ. So Paul's first point was that our proper response to God's merciful work is to give Him our very selves.

Giving our entire life to God isn't popular in a culture that teaches us to look out only for ourselves and live by our own rules. So here's Paul's second point: we must change our thinking (v. 2). When we become Christians, we must stop shaping ourselves by the world around us and allow God to align our will with His perfect will.

Next we need to understand our unique role in the body of Christ. As we saw yesterday, corporate fellowship is essential for worship. No one has every spiritual gift, but also no one is without one (v. 3). This frees us to serve according to the gifts God has given to us, not someone else.

Yet one major obstacle still remains— hypocrisy (v. 9). The rest of this chapter gives numerous examples of what sincere love, expressed in spiritual service, looks like. Verse 21 sums it all up. By offering ourselves to the Lord and conforming to His will, we can transform others by His goodness. We see how our worship has results for those around us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How can we offer up our lives in service to the Lord? First, we should understand how we've been gifted. Helpful passages for this include 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4. Your local Christian bookstore probably has several books on this topic. Second, take some time to meditate on each aspect of sincere love. How can you grow in these as you minister to others? How do you see others demonstrating this type of love?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 51
I will cleanse you from all your impurities. - Ezekiel 36:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Americans are very concerned about purity, at least when it comes to drinking water, organic foods, and air filtration systems. According to the Beverage Marketing Association, sales of bottled water tripled from 1988 to 1998. But what we drink, eat, and breathe can't do anything to cleanse defiled hearts racked by guilt. Moral purity only comes from confession, forgiveness, and restoration from the Lord. This is what David found out.

David never could have anticipated the horrible chain of events set in motion when he lusted after Bathsheba (see 2 Samuel 11-12). When it was all over, David understood that his only option was to cry out to the Lord (v. 1). Notice that David appeals to God's mercy, love, and compassion to remove his transgressions, iniquity, and sin. The threefold repetition stresses God's complete ability to deal with the magnitude of human sin.

Even though David sinned against Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah, his real failure was to turn willfully against God (v. 4) and His commandments. Rather than acting according to our fallen human nature, God wants truth and His wisdom in the core of our beings.

David realized that unless God cleansed him, there could be no joy or gladness. In fact, it felt as if his bones were being crushed by the weight of his guilt. This shows us how powerfully sin and guilt destroy our ability to worship. At the same time, David also knew that, through the Holy Spirit, restoration was possible (vv. 10-12). And notice all that happened when God restored David and created a pure heart within him.

First, David publicly confessed his sin and the mercy that God showed him so that others might learn and be spared. Second, David worshiped God once again, offering praises and a humbled heart as sacrifices. Like crumbled city walls that are rebuilt, God can and does restore a person to purity and opens the way for pure worship. What a blessing from Him!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 51 isn't usually connected with Christmas Eve, but it's actually quite appropriate. God's fullest answer to the problem of human sin was to send a baby . . . a baby who would eventually offer the perfect sacrifice in His body once for all (Heb. 10:10). There is no better way to celebrate Christmas than to worship the One who cleanses us from sin and creates within us a pure heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 95-96
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” - Psalm 96:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
On June 21, 1982, much of the world was abuzz with news of a royal birth. Prince William, son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Great Britain, had entered the world. Schoolchildren celebrated the news by singing “God Save the Queen,” and news bulletins interrupted televised soccer games. Thousands of people converged near Buckingham Palace for the official proclamation of the birth of the boy in line for the throne of the kingdom.

A royal birth is an occasion for celebration and proclamation, and as we focus on the birth of Jesus this Christmas, it's the perfect time to see how this celebration and proclamation come together in Scripture.

Psalm 95 opens with an invitation to worship the Rock of our salvation in song and thanksgiving. The psalm then extols God's vast creation, created through and for Christ (see Dec. 18). But not only did He make the universe, He made all of us. So the perfect response of the creature is to bow down before the Creator! Notice also how active this worship is—singing, shouting, thanking, making music, bowing, and kneeling!

The second part of the psalm (vv. 8-11) shifts to show the seriousness of failing to thank and worship to the Lord. When the wilderness generation grumbled against the Lord (see Num. 14), they missed out on God's rest in the Promised Land. The psalmist urges his listeners to hear God's voice “today” (v. 7)—he doesn't want them to miss God's blessing.

Psalm 96 extends Psalm 95 and emphasizes proclaiming the Lord's goodness to the nations, a term describing those apart from God. Worshipers are exhorted to share His “marvelous deeds,” including His justice and judgment (v. . It might seem odd to link praise and judgment, but a moment's thought about a world without justice should quickly draw us into praise of the perfectly just Lord. We can rejoice and be glad, knowing that the Lord will return and that justice will prevail as His truth and righteousness reign. A hopeless world needs to hear this proclamation!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Unless our Christmas celebration centers on Jesus Christ, the holidays often feel hollow. With all the expectations and preparations, it's no wonder that many people admit to feeling depressed this time of year. If you haven't done so yet in the bustle of the season, be sure to set aside some time to worship Jesus. This isn't another item on a to-do list, but the most important part of this holiday. True Christmas spirit comes from celebrating Christ's saving work and rich mercy and from proclaiming Him to others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 3:16; Psalm 150
How good it is to sing praise to our God. - Psalm 147:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
The history of the church could probably be sung through its thousands of songs and hymns. The beautiful hymn, “Sacred Head Now Wounded,” is nearly 1,000 years old. Martin Luther, the Reformation leader, wrote powerful hymns including “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Brothers John and Charles Wesley were instrumental in the major eighteenth-century English revival and founded the Methodist Church. Charles Wesley wrote nearly 6,500 hymns, including the Christmas favorite “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” But perhaps the most famous hymn writer was Fanny Crosby, who, although blind, wrote an estimated 8,000 to 9,000 hymns!

The early church was no less inclined to sing. It's no coincidence that the first category of songs that Paul listed in Colossians 3:16 is psalms. This “songbook” formed the basis of Israel's praise, just as it has for nearly two millennia for Christians. As we read through Psalm 150, we find ourselves wanting to burst out singing! Paul then mentioned hymns. We're not exactly sure what these compositions were, but they may have echoed some of the beautiful language in John 1, Philippians 2, and Colossians 1. When New Testament writers, such as John and Paul, were describing the person and work of Christ, their style and language often resembled hymns from that time period. The final category is spiritual songs, possibly similar to modern choruses.

Even though we can't be sure about precise historical distinctions between these types of songs, we can be very clear about their purpose. Paul links them first to Christ's word, then to teaching and admonishing, and finally, to gratitude. These songs were meant to uplift as well as to instruct.

Music is a gift from God, so it's understandable that God's truth set to a beautiful melody should powerfully teach, exhort, encourage, and inspire! Clearly worship through singing isn't something haphazardly added to a church service or Bible study. This is an important way that God has provided for us to praise Him and to be encouraged in His truth.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
John MacArthur writes, “Music and liturgy can assist or express a worshipping heart, but they cannot make a non-worshipping heart into a worshipping one.” In other words, beautiful music and songs flow from our worship; they can never substitute for it. As we've seen with other forms of worship, true worship in song involves our hearts responding to God. Ingratitude, resentment, or anything else that separates us from God will block our ability to worship Him truly in this way.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 13:11-16
If I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice. - Philippians 2:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Probably no one would have guessed that a child laborer, working 14 hours a day in a cotton mill, would become a medical doctor, a missionary, an abolitionist, and a fearless explorer! David Livingstone had already explored much of Africa and was about to search for the Nile's source, when the American journalist Henry Stanley found him and asked a famous question, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” But Livingstone wasn't just seeking adventure, he was trying to penetrate Africa's interior for Christ. Grieved by the slave trade, Livingstone sought to overcome it with the gospel and real economic opportunities for Africans. Although he died of illness in a mud hut, Livingstone once said, “If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honour, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?”

Livingstone clearly understood that worship required sacrifice. As in Romans 12 (see Dec. 23), Hebrews 13 shows the link between our worship, our sacrifice, and the Lord's perfect sacrifice. Today's passage is part of a discussion in Hebrews on ceremonial foods and animal sacrifices, Old Testament offerings that pointed forward to the sacrifice of Christ. Verse 11 refers to the burnt offerings made by the high priest on the annual Day of Atonement for the forgiveness of sins. After the bull was sacrificed, its remains were carried outside the camp of the Israelites. In a parallel way, Jesus was taken outside of Jerusalem to Golgotha, where He was sacrificed.

Dying outside the city added further shame to Christ's death on the cross. Yet Jesus willingly endured this so we might be made holy (v. 12). Jesus' death outside the city also showed that Jerusalem had completely rejected Him. In a similar way, Christians must also be willing to suffer the shame of the world's rejection in order to serve Jesus with a sacrifice of praise. But when we leave the city gate of the world, we actually begin to enter the city that is to come, namely the heavenly Zion (Heb. 12:22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
David Livingstone was a wonderful example of a life of worship and sacrifice. As encouragement in your own journey in worship, read one of the numerous biographies of Livingstone, like David Livingstone: The Truth Behind the Legend by Rob Mackenzie.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-15
Honor the Lord with your wealth. - Proverbs 3:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
“As he was teaching, Jesus sat near the Public Treasury . . . and many rich persons, passing while Jesus sat there, had [given] a great deal of money. At last there came a poor widow who dropped in two mites . . . and then went quietly away. Jesus, seeing her . . . called his disciples about him, and said to them that that poor widow had been more truly charitable than all the rest . . . for the others were rich and would never miss what they had given, but she was very poor, and had given those two mites which might have brought her bread to eat.

“Let us never forget what the poor widow did, when we think we are charitable,” wrote Charles Dickens in The Life of Our Lord. The same could be said about the Macedonians. God gave to them grace to give freely and generously (2 Cor. 8:1). They considered it a privilege to help poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem, who likely suffered persecution or crop failures. So Paul encouraged the Corinthians to follow this example. Yet the ultimate example is Jesus (v. 9), who willingly gave up His divine richness to become flesh on our behalf (Phil. 2:5-11).

Paul's main goal here is equity. The Corinthians gave from their material wealth and the Jerusalem Christians gave from their spiritual wealth, what Paul called the “Jews' spiritual blessings” in Romans 15:27.

In 2 Corinthians 9, we see that when we give generously, we can be assured that God will supply all we need. This often goes against the American ideal of self-sufficiency! We like to think we can do everything ourselves. But, as Christians give, others praise God, because they see that generosity is part of the gospel. Giving honors the Lord because ultimately it's linked to the indescribable gift that God has given to us in Jesus Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Second Corinthians encourages us to give freely and cheerfully because God gives us the grace to give and because the most amazing gift is Jesus Christ! One way we can exercise this privilege is through helping a distant congregation during a time of need, knowing that we might face a similar circumstance at some time. If your church has not already done so, perhaps you could help organize a partnership with a congregation that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. You will both be blessed.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:22-33
Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. - 1 Corinthians 14:40
TODAY IN THE WORD
Anyone who's ever gone to a symphony knows that just before the concert begins, the musicians take a few minutes to tune their instruments . . . all together, at the same time! Although it's possible to pick out an occasional instrument here or there, the general effect is one of disharmony and confusion. Certainly no one coming to a symphony would be impressed if this were the entire performance.

In a sense, a worship service is like a symphony. Each believer has something to contribute. The key, however, is order. Worship that's “out of control” doesn't honor the Lord.

Many people read the passage for today and end up focused on a debate about speaking in tongues. While that's an important issue, it can overshadow some of the principles for worship in this passage that go beyond just the issue of tongues in the church. Today we want to examine some of the implications for orderly worship, both for believers and for nonbelievers. We'll start with nonbelievers. Paul was very concerned that the exercise of spiritual gifts results in instruction and growth (v. 26). Admittedly, verse 22 is hard to understand. It seems likely, given the following verses, that Paul was concerned that a nonbeliever, hearing only confusion, wouldn't hear the gospel in such a way as to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. However, with prophesy, which Paul had already linked with edification (v. 4), a nonbeliever might be convicted of sin.

Paul then focused on believers, and again, on orderliness. Notice the expressions such as “one at a time” (v. 27) and “in turn” (v. 31). Spontaneity should never fall into disorderly confusion.

Paul didn't impose a strict set of rules on the Corinthians; rather, he offered guidelines based on God's character. God is intelligible, so worship should be intelligible. God is orderly, so worship should be orderly. Within this, there's much freedom for various expressions of worship in different churches and cultures.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's interesting to note that Paul's concern for orderly worship had a lot to do with nonbelievers. From this we see that worship has serious implications for evangelism and outreach. When outsiders see a community truly worshiping the Lord, they are drawn in and experience the life-changing power of God's presence. It's no surprise that a person who has seen this sincere worship is much more open to receiving the gift of salvation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 6:1-13
Holy and awesome is his name. - Psalm 111:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sometimes people experience their own characteristics most profoundly in the presence of another person with the opposite trait. For instance, a chubby woman is more acutely aware of her weight when with someone very thin, or shy man senses his reticence around a gregarious colleague. The prophet Isaiah had this experience on a much grander and more intense scale when he encountered God.

Scripture tells us that Isaiah was a godly man. Yet even he was immediately aware of his transgressions when he beheld God's glory in a vision. In some way the holy God who can't be seen was manifest to Isaiah. The throne indicates His sovereignty, and His being high and exalted reveals His majesty. To say that the train of His robe filled the temple is another way of saying that His glory is everywhere. Then Isaiah saw the seraphs, who are always associated with God's glory. Yet notice that even they couldn't look directly on God's glory and covered their faces in humility. Their unending song, “Holy! Holy! Holy!,” reveals that holiness is the essential attribute of the God of Glory.

As Isaiah beheld God's glory, he saw clearly his own sin. But the Lord is gracious! The “live coal,” a picture of both God's judgment and sacrifices for atonement, cleansed Isaiah and reconciled him to God. After “overhearing” the Lord, Isaiah jumped to serve Him. But his mission was nearly impossible—to preach to obstinate people who wouldn't repent, and to continue until exile came upon the land. Given this assignment; the Lord knew that Isaiah would need a vision of His glory before he was sent out.

This passage also shows how faithful God is. Judgment shows His faithfulness to justice, and the fact that a stump remained shows His faithfulness to His promises (v. 13). In fact, from this holy stump would eventually come our Lord, a coming we are celebrating this Christmas season.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This passage brings together two opposite things: the glory of God and the uncleanness of humanity. How can we ever hope to experience perfect worship in the presence of a holy God? The answer is found in verse 7. Just as Isaiah had to receive atonement, we also must be cleansed by Jesus' blood before we can enter God's presence. If you have never accepted the work of Jesus to atone for your sins, let today be the day that you receive His salvation and holiness and become reconciled to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 19:1-18
Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! - Revelation 19:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Nearly a half million people will gather tonight in Times Square in New York City to watch the famous thousand-pound Waterford crystal ball drop, counting down the final seconds of 2005. This tradition began 100 years ago and has grown into one of the nation's largest parties.

If you can't get to Times Square, however, don't feel left out. There's a much better celebration awaiting believers of Jesus Christ that marks the passing of this present age. It's heralded by the true Hallelujah Chorus, with the heavenly multitude, the twenty-four elders, and the four living creatures praising God for destroying the evil city, Babylon (Rev. 18).

Dramatic sounds accompany the announcement of the marriage feast of the Lamb (v. 6). The image of marriage to describe believers' relationship with God is found throughout Scripture (see Isa. 54:5-7; Eph. 5:32). Here the bride's dress is made of fine linen, symbolizing the righteous acts of the church. With a feast, a bride, and a bridal gown, we'd certainly expect the Bridegroom to show up. Instead, the victorious Warrior, who is called Faithful and True, arrives! This shows that evil must be conquered before the celebration can begin.

His many crowns indicate His unlimited sovereignty. His robe is dipped in the blood of His enemies, a sign that the battle has already been won. Notice also that His army wears fine linen, perhaps indicating that they aren't going to fight, but to celebrate! As Christ rides onto the battlefield, His sword is poised to strike those who have opposed Him. No wonder He's called “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords” (v. 16).

There's another invitation in this passage. Believers are invited to enjoy the marriage feast, but birds of prey are summoned to partake a very different, gruesome feast. Thus there will be two great feasts at the end; the saints will attend a celebration banquet, but sinners will be the banquet for scavengers.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Ultimately worship involves a choice: either humans worship Christ or they worship the beast (Rev. 13:. There's nothing in-between. So consider now which banquet you want to attend! If you've never asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, today's the perfect time to do so. If you've already put your faith in Him—hallelujah! May you grow in your worship of the Risen Lamb and God of Glory throughout this upcoming new year!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 66
Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. - Psalm 66:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
A tiny Vietnamese baby named Trang had trouble breathing one night. Her parents took her to the hospital, where she was eventually diagnosed with a hole in her heart. She needed immediate surgery to save her life, but the medical expertise wasn't available in Vietnam and the family had no money to take her abroad. Christian friends began to spread the word. Within days, thousands of believers around the globe were praying for baby Trang. Financial support poured in, and quickly the family was on its way to Thailand for the life-saving operation. Today, baby Trang is a normal girl, growing, healthy, and happy!

God answers prayer! This is part of His awesome and trustworthy greatness (vv. 1-7). In today's psalm, this is expressed through imperative verbs, those that give us commands. We and “all the earth” are summoned to praise Him for His wonderful attributes (v. 1). The invitation to “come and see what God has done” is a joy to His people but a warning to the rebellious (v. 5).

God's faithfulness can be seen in how He kept His promises to His people (vv. 8-12). He opened the Red Sea for Israel to pass through. He saved them and freed them from slavery in Egypt. He led them in the wilderness, testing and refining them spiritually. He allowed defeats and other negative experiences, but in the end He gave victory and brought the people to “a place of abundance” (v. 12).

God's greatness can also be seen at a personal level, in how He answered the psalmist's own prayers (vv. 13-20). When in trouble, he called on the Lord; the Lord had responded, and now it was time to joyfully fulfill vows made then. These involved purifying his heart, praising God, and proclaiming to others His love. Why does God answer prayer? Because He loves His children and delights in giving good gifts to them (cf. Matt. 7:7-11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's psalm is devoted to thanking God for answered prayer. When's the last time you spent an entire prayer time thanking God for His answers? Many of us are admirably persistent with our petitions, but seem to think a word or two of gratitude will suffice. Should we aim to be more lavish with our thanks? Our reading of the psalms this month implies yes. So we urge you to get out your prayer list and give additional thanks for the items He's already answered.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 67
God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him. - Psalm 67:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Israelites were God's “chosen people,” but God's plan was never limited to just one group. When He called Abram to leave his country and his father's household and go to an unknown land, He promised not only to make him into a great nation and bless him, but also that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen. 12:1-3).

The writer of today's psalm understood this covenant, for he prayed not only that God would bless Israel, but also that the nation would be a light to other nations. The opening prayer (v. 1) is a call for blessing that intentionally echoes Numbers 6:24-26, where God first instructed Aaron and the priests how to bless the people. A shining face is a picture of favor and blessing—we might imagine the smiling face of a parent beaming down on a child. The reason and intended result of this prayer is that God's name and deeds become known throughout the whole earth (v. 2).

This reason is expanded in verses 3-5: “May all the peoples praise you.” When all the nations praise the Lord, they will be giving Him the worship He alone deserves. God rules and guides with justice and wisdom, which cannot help but bring about gladness and joy. His blessings on Israel are a predecessor of similar blessings for all peoples—the assumption is that all nations will one day be included in the sphere of God's blessing. This prayer to bless Israel is thus not a selfish one, but a request after God's own heart.

The psalm's last two verses restate the main ideas: God will bless His people, seen in the peaceful, ordinary picture of a harvest. And “all the ends of the earth will fear him” (v. 7). The Lord will teach everyone the emptiness of their false gods and the power and glory of Himself, the One and Only (Jer. 16:19-21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's psalm is a corporate prayer for God to bless Israel and use it as an example to other people. Along the same lines, in your prayers today ask God to work in church and use it as a witness to others. Ask Him to make your church a “city on a hill” that calls your community to Christ. Pray that He would cause righteousness and justice to be pursued in the halls of government. Pray for the integrity of national, state, and local leaders.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 3:10-17
All Scripture is God-breathed. - 2 Timothy 3:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
The world's most valuable book is now available to scholars and browsers on the Internet. This two-volume Gutenberg Bible owned by the University of Texas was printed in Germany in the 1450s and used in monasteries as late as the 1760s. The university library carefully scanned the linen pages and used special software to enable good quality viewing online. As one scholar said, “This is probably the most extensively annotated and corrected copy surviving. This is a very great treasure.”

The Word of God is indeed a very great treasure. Our devotional theme for 2006 is “Every Good and Perfect Gift: God Supplies Our Needs.” Throughout the year, we'll consider with grateful hearts the many ways that God provides for our needs and blesses us above all we can ask or imagine. These first few months will focus on some of His greatest gifts, including the Word, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.

This month's study will begin by considering the qualities and effects of the Word, then move forward to our proper relationship and responses to it. Several principles will guide our study: the Bible as we have it today is the text that God intended, and all of Scripture possesses the same qualities. Thus, when a Scripture passage refers to specific parts of the Bible, we may apply what it says to the whole Bible. This month has a theological orientation, but we'll keep our eyes fixed on the fact that the Bible is a gift intended to enrich and transform our lives.

That the Bible is “God-breathed” or “inspired” is the reason for its power (v. 16). This description characterizes the words of Scripture as breathed out by God and emphasizes their divine authorship. While God did not overrule the human authors' unique personalities or distinctive vocabulary, He made certain their words would convey only what He intended. As a result, the Bible is useful for “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” That is, it shows us truth, is the standard to which we conform, and is essential for true discipleship or being “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (v. 17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we begin this month's study on what the Word of God is and how it works in our lives, why not think about upgrading your own knowledge of Scripture? One good way to do this is through Moody online and independent study courses. Check them out by visiting www.moody.edu and clicking on “Distance Learning Center.” One of them just might be a great way for you to learn more about “Every Good and Perfect Gift” of God!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Peter 1:16-2:3
Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. - 2 Peter 1:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
An English businessman is marketing “Sprayonmud” for SUVs that don't actually go anywhere rough or outdoorsy. “Sprayonmud is an urban camouflage designed to give the impression that you are a serious off-roader,” he said. He's been doing brisk business selling it from a Web site for $14.50 per quart, and by the time you read this the product is scheduled to have its own North American distributor.

Sometimes the genuine and the fake are difficult to distinguish. One fact we can count on, though, is that the Bible is the real thing, truthful and reliable from top to bottom. Arguing for the authority of the gospel message preached by himself and the other apostles, Peter appealed first to the fact that they were eyewitnesses (1:16-18). During the Transfiguration especially, God clearly revealed Jesus' identity and glory as His Son.

To strengthen his argument, Peter next appealed to the prophets of the Old Testament (1:19-21). They too had spoken of Christ. How could they have known? Humanly speaking, it was impossible, so Peter explained that their prophecies had in fact originated in the will of God. “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The point is that God is the ultimate Author of the Word, and that Peter's readers can thus have complete faith in its truthfulness. In that case, they would “do well to pay attention to it” and be guided by it until “the morning star rises,” that is, until Christ returns and His truth reigns supreme (cf. Rom. 13:12).

Living in the light of God's truth won't be easy—greedy false teachers will “bring the way of truth into disrepute” (2:1-3). Instead of listening to their made-up tales and taking their road toward destruction, we must take our stand on God's special revelation in Scripture.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you watched a sunrise lately? Try to do so sometime in the near future. As the first fingers of gold and crimson stretch across the sky, reflect on this verse: “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (1:19).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:1-4
I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning. - Luke 1:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Thucydides, author of the History of the Peloponnesian War (written around 424 B.C.) is regarded as the first true historian. He included concise, objective, and detailed descriptions of events in a war between Athens and Sparta, along with analytic commentary. In addition to using his firsthand knowledge as a former army general, Thucydides interviewed eyewitnesses, examined battle sites, and studied war-related documents. He wanted to report the truth as accurately as possible.

Luke approached writing his Gospel narrative with the same attitude. Before writing, he had “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” and was well aware of fulfilled prophecies and oral traditions handed down from eyewitnesses (vv. 1-3). As was the case with Peter yesterday, Luke stressed these first-person accounts, as well as noting his own research, both within the context of the proclamation of the gospel message (the “eyewitnesses” were also “servants of the word”). Though his point here is not to give a detailed description of the process of divine inspiration, we do see part of the human dimension of God's supernatural work of inspiration.

Luke wrote an “orderly account” that would strengthen believers' faith and give them confidence in the “certainty of the things [they] have been taught” (v. 4). “Theophilus” means “friend of God” or “one who loves God” and is almost certainly a general address, as when writers used to begin, “Gentle reader.” New believers might have wondered about the stories and doctrines they'd been taught. Luke wanted them to know that the facts had been checked, that their faith had foundations.

Part of the Bible's overall truthfulness is its historical reliability. Our faith is built on facts, chief among them the fact of the Resurrection. Christ's resurrection from the dead is not just an inspiring concept, symbol, or tradition, but an historical event that occurred at a specific point in space and time.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the classic chapters of Scripture, 1 Corinthians 15, is based on the historicity of Christ's resurrection. If this key event never actually happened, wrote Paul, then we ourselves have no hope of resurrection, and in that case “we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Cor. 15:19). Take a little extra time in your devotions today to read through this entire chapter.