TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Running the Race

It sounded like something straight out of the Jetsons. For this year's Boston Marathon, one of the runners participated from outer space.

U.S. Navy Commander Suni Williams, age 41, qualified for the Boston race by completing the Houston Marathon in 3 hours, 29 minutes and 57 seconds. However, in December she blasted into space on the space shuttle Discovery and would not return in time to run in Boston.

Instead, Williams ran the equivalent distance on a treadmill located in the international space station—210 miles above earth. Because of the lack of gravity, Williams was tethered by bungee cords. Her sister, Dina, ran the race at the same time in Boston. Although separated by miles and space, the sisters expressed their desire to encourage one another to finish well.

As believers, we also run a race and can be encouraged by our co-runners to keep the faith and to finish well. We may be separated by age, by location, and even by centuries. In both the Old and the New Testaments, we read of men and women who ran the race steadfastly.

Hebrews 12:1-2 records those examples of faithfulness: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”

Runners usually have some personal motivation for enduring a grueling race. We, too, must find motivation to have faith that endures earthly suffering. Hebrews tells us not to look to ourselves, but to Jesus. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus,” says verse 2, “the author and perfector of our faith.” Jesus is the author, the reason we run. Through Him, we are able to finish.

The apostle Paul relied on God's power to finish well. Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).

Sometimes the race is difficult. When we feel weak or stumble, we can be encouraged by that “great cloud of witnesses”—those who have triumphed over adversity and doubt. Through the pages of Scripture, we read their stories and are encouraged by God's final reward.

Paul encourages us to finish the race well: “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8 ).

[Soldier4Christ]

Why Faith?

“There is no love without hope, no hope without love, and neither hope nor love without faith,” St. Augustine wrote. Faith is the foundational principle of the Christian life. Eternal life begins and ends in faith. Why is faith so important to God? According to the apostle Paul, it is a matter of grace.

Paul illustrates this by using Abraham as an example and contrasting the gospel with the law in Romans 4:13-16. Abraham did not receive all that God promised because of his own efforts—they were granted on the basis of faith. Abraham was credited as righteous because he believed God would do as He said (Rom. 4:9-10). This was for our benefit as much as for Abraham's. God made righteousness a result of faith so that He could offer His righteousness to us as a gift of grace through faith in Christ (Rom. 4:16).

Why grace? Because it was the only way to make certain that those who need righteousness would be able to obtain it. God could have made righteousness a result of human effort. If He had, the guilt of our sin and the weakness of our sinful nature would have ensured that righteousness would always remain beyond our grasp (Gal. 2:16). God's law, as good as it is, can never be a means of earning God's favor. The best the law can do is point to our sin. For this reason, the law can only condemn; it cannot make anyone righteous (Rom. 4:15). By offering His righteousness as a gift of grace, God guarantees it to all who believe in Christ.

The importance of faith cannot be overemphasized. It is not merely a component of the gospel but its very heart. Faith is the conduit through which the righteousness of Christ flows to us. It is the wellspring of all obedience. When faith is removed from the gospel or is subordinated to human effort, the gospel message is distorted and the believer's hope is destroyed. Salvation in Christ is received by faith because it is a gift of grace. Since salvation comes to us by God's grace and not our own works, we can be secure in the knowledge that it is guaranteed. Faith, then, is the lynchpin in the church's theology of grace and its ability to offer assurance of salvation to those who believe in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:32-12:3
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. - Hebrews 10:39
TODAY IN THE WORD
The legendary runner, John A. Kelly (1907-2004), started a record 61 Boston Marathons, completed 58, finished as runner-up 7 times, and won 2 of these grueling 26.2-mile races. He was a three-time Olympic athlete and named Runner of the Century by Runner's World magazine. Boston honored him with a larger-than-life statue in his likeness, commemorating his longevity in the marathon and life.

The race of faith marked out for us is not a sprint, but rather a marathon that requires our endurance. As we read the record of faith heroes in verses 32 through 37, we sense it could go on indefinitely—and that is precisely the author's intent. This catalogue only begins the attendance list of witnesses who testify that God is faithful and commendable faith is possible (12:1). If faith is possible for Jephthah, for example, despite his imprudence (cf. Judg. 11:29-40), then faith is possible for us, despite our shortcomings. If God's people of the past remained faithful in the face of great suffering, Hebrews encourages us to be faithful when we face suffering.

Verse 40 links the first readers of Hebrews—and us today!—with people of faith from the Old Testament. God's “better” plan is Christ, who through His death and resurrection offers us eternal life and unites people from every tongue, nation, and generation.

Hebrews directs us to rid ourselves of sin and everything that impedes commitment to Christ, such as love of wealth, fixation with image, or sexual impurity (v. 1; cf. 12:14-17; 13:4-5). We are inspired not only by the faithful witnesses of the past, but most effectively by the victory of Christ (vv. 2-3). His perseverance and faithfulness is not only exemplary but also empowering! The author of Hebrews knew how we can become exhausted in the journey of faith. When life's struggles are disheartening and seem never-ending, and when the alternative tempts us with a quick fix, the remedy is a resolute gazing upon Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
John Chrysostom, an early church leader in the fourth century A.D., once observed, “Faith both accomplishes great things and suffers great things.” Many people throughout history have proved him right. Foxe's Book of Martyrs recounts the stories of the earliest Christians who died triumphantly for the name of Jesus. By Their Blood tells of twentieth-century Christians who have died for their faith. These books are available in bookstores or online. They will encourage you to gaze on Christ even through difficult times.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 4:18-25; Genesis 15:1-6
He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed. - Romans 4:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Father Abraham had many sons; many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them, and so are you, so let's just praise the Lord. . . .This song has been a favorite for countless children who have flapped arms and legs, spun around, sat down, and paid tribute to Father Abraham. Today's texts reveal that Abraham is the father of our faith, because his life-giving God is the same God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11 highlights the faith of Abraham three times. In Romans 4, five times Abraham is called the father of all who believe, and his faith is acclaimed ten times. What makes his faith so exemplary? God called Abram to leave his homeland, friends, and family and move to a foreign land. He promised to bless Abram's posterity and honor him among nations (Genesis 12). We can only imagine receiving this call upon our lives at 75 years old! But without hesitation, “Abram left, as the Lord had told him” (v. 4).

By Genesis 15, ten years had passed since Abram and Sarai first obeyed the Lord's demanding call. They still had no child, and Sarai was barren. In response to God's comforting words, Abram asked hard questions about His promises (vv. 1-3). God replied with reassurance and a sign (vv. 4-5). Once again, without wavering, Abram believed God (v. 6). Abraham and Sarah waited 15 more years before bearing the promised son, Isaac (Gen. 21:1-7). Trusting God is not an easy journey; it is a hard-fought battle where deep conviction faces hopelessness and patiently replies, “Nothing is too hard for the Lord” (cf. Gen. 18:14).

Romans 4 draws attention to the quality and motivation of his faith. The description of Abraham's faith paints a picture of persistent, ever-growing, unbendable trust in God's power to fulfill His promises (vv. 18-21). The character of God, on which Abraham waged his whole life, was specifically His creative, life-giving power. Abraham was confident that God could bring life from their dead, aged bodies. Thus “it was credited to him as righteousness” (v. 22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Verse 24 says that we are called to faith in God whose ultimate life-giving act was to raise Jesus from the dead. The resurrection of Christ is central and essential to our faith. Apart from Him, we are dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1). Through Christ's resurrection, we are given new life. If you have not yet begun the journey of faith through trusting in the work of Jesus, you can do that today. Through faith that His work on the cross paid the penalty for your sin and accepting the forgiveness of God, you can have eternal life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 22:1-19
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this. - Psalm 37:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
The previous challenges to Abraham's faith pale in comparison to the one presented in Genesis 22. Verse 1 introduces the narrative as God's testing of Abraham; verse 2 presents the incomprehensible test. Abraham never dreamed of sacrificing his beloved child, but the tension was heightened because Isaac was the answer to God's promise of an heir. Surely it was contradictory that God would fulfill His promise and then immediately command its demise. Remarkably, Abraham again responded to God's word with undivided loyalty (vv. 3-5).

The structure of today's passage points readers toward the central point. There are three noteworthy conversations: the first between God and Abraham (vv. 1-2); the second between Isaac and Abraham (vv. 7-8); the third between the angel and Abraham (vv. 11-12). The middle dialogue is the only one in which the second speaker speaks twice, and thus verse 8 stands out. Abraham's answer to Isaac's keen curiosity demonstrates the solid foundation of his extraordinary faith—namely, the character of God. Abraham believed that the God who promises is the God who provides. Abraham relinquished control and expressed his dependence on the Lord to fulfill His promise according to His will. Abraham's readiness to obey God (vv. 9-10) proved his steadfast faith. The verdict of the test is given (v. 12), and God indeed provides (v. 13).

The angel's words in verse 12 are echoed in Romans 8:32. This time, it is God himself who did not withhold His only Son. There was no substitute for Jesus as there was for Isaac. The crucifixion of Jesus was the greatest test of faith. Jesus walked obediently to the cross, and for three days death seemed the victor. The God of Abraham who gives new life (Genesis 15) and provides (Genesis 22) proved ultimately faithful through Christ's resurrection. In the end, Abraham is found faithful because God is found faithful, and we learn to face God's testing and expect His provision through the lens of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Two statements frame the Genesis 22 story: God tests (v. 1) and God provides (v. 14). Often it is easier to affirm the God who provides, yet not welcome the God who tests. Or we despair to endure God's tests and find it hopeless to believe He actually provides. If you feel burdened by a trial that seems unbearable, pray today that the Holy Spirit would strengthen your heart to trust God and respond to Him with faith like Abraham.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 22:1-19
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this. - Psalm 37:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
The previous challenges to Abraham's faith pale in comparison to the one presented in Genesis 22. Verse 1 introduces the narrative as God's testing of Abraham; verse 2 presents the incomprehensible test. Abraham never dreamed of sacrificing his beloved child, but the tension was heightened because Isaac was the answer to God's promise of an heir. Surely it was contradictory that God would fulfill His promise and then immediately command its demise. Remarkably, Abraham again responded to God's word with undivided loyalty (vv. 3-5).

The structure of today's passage points readers toward the central point. There are three noteworthy conversations: the first between God and Abraham (vv. 1-2); the second between Isaac and Abraham (vv. 7-8); the third between the angel and Abraham (vv. 11-12). The middle dialogue is the only one in which the second speaker speaks twice, and thus verse 8 stands out. Abraham's answer to Isaac's keen curiosity demonstrates the solid foundation of his extraordinary faith—namely, the character of God. Abraham believed that the God who promises is the God who provides. Abraham relinquished control and expressed his dependence on the Lord to fulfill His promise according to His will. Abraham's readiness to obey God (vv. 9-10) proved his steadfast faith. The verdict of the test is given (v. 12), and God indeed provides (v. 13).

The angel's words in verse 12 are echoed in Romans 8:32. This time, it is God himself who did not withhold His only Son. There was no substitute for Jesus as there was for Isaac. The crucifixion of Jesus was the greatest test of faith. Jesus walked obediently to the cross, and for three days death seemed the victor. The God of Abraham who gives new life (Genesis 15) and provides (Genesis 22) proved ultimately faithful through Christ's resurrection. In the end, Abraham is found faithful because God is found faithful, and we learn to face God's testing and expect His provision through the lens of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Two statements frame the Genesis 22 story: God tests (v. 1) and God provides (v. 14). Often it is easier to affirm the God who provides, yet not welcome the God who tests. Or we despair to endure God's tests and find it hopeless to believe He actually provides. If you feel burdened by a trial that seems unbearable, pray today that the Holy Spirit would strengthen your heart to trust God and respond to Him with faith like Abraham.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 13:26-14:24
Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. - Matthew 7:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
The final lines of Robert Frost's famous poem, “The Road Not Taken,” read: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Jesus preached a similar message (Matt. 7:13-14). A mass of unfaithful people choose the wide and well-beaten road, but God always preserves a faithful remnant that walks the less popular path to life. Our text today also displays the salvation of the faithful few.

The Israelites whom God had rescued out of Egypt (Exodus 12-14) and with whom He had made a covenant (Exodus 19-20) obeyed His instruction to send spies into Canaan before entering the Promised Land (Numbers 13). After forty days of exploration, they returned to Moses and the people with a full report.

Following a brief confirmation that Canaan did flow with milk and honey, their testimony changed to fear and disbelief. Upon measuring their opponents' strength and the insurmountable situation, the majority of spies persuaded the people that victory was impossible and invasion of Canaan should be avoided. The Lord called their fear unbelief, which had a severe penalty (14:11-24).

Only two spies—Caleb and Joshua—chose the less-trodden path. In the middle of the negative report, Caleb boldly spoke to encourage the people to have faith (13:30). Both men wept for the community's lack of faith and tried to convince Israel of God's faithfulness to secure conquest (14:6-9). Despite these efforts, their minority report was shunned and the two men threatened.While the community ignored them, the Lord praised these two men of courageous faith (vv. 24, 30).

Caleb and Joshua represent the remnant who kept the faith. They were not blind to the challenges witnessed by their fellow spies, yet they responded differently. Caleb and Joshua placed their confidence in God's presence and faithfulness, and so they alone from their generation entered the Promised Land.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
“He followed the Lord wholeheartedly.” The Lord says this of Caleb three times in the Old Testament (cf. Num. 14:24; 32:12; Deut. 1:36). Despite opposition and challenge, he maintained trust in God's faithfulness to keep His promises. Though his eyes saw difficult circumstances, his heart rested in God's powerful presence. Perhaps you have surveyed the landscape around you and feel defeated. Ask God for assurance like Caleb's so that you may respond to your giants with wholehearted reliance on His faithfulness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 3:1-4:24
Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
A theme of many Holocaust memorials is “Never forget.” The goal is to use memory of the past to encourage attitudes and behavior in the present. This principle is important for our walk of faith as well. Our memory of God's past actions and promises motivate our current obedience and trust. As we see in our text today (forty years after the reconnaissance episode discussed yesterday), a new generation of God's people waited at the brink of the Promised Land. Moses' successor, Joshua, is another leader full of faith.

The book of Joshua reminds us of the prominence of God's presence at the center of great faith (1:9). Joshua himself encouraged the Israelites regarding God's guiding presence as they set out for Canaan, and he exhorted them to prepare for God's work among them (v. 5).

God revealed His faith-building purposes for the day. He wanted the people to know He had appointed Joshua to lead them and that He was with them to defeat their enemies and guide them into the land. Joshua did not question God's manner of accomplishing these goals, despite the high waters of the Jordan River and the colossal miracle needed to restrain them. Rather, he gave the people the Lord's instructions without hesitation.

God reinforced the outpouring of His presence and power by invoking memory, and the people lingered at the Jordan River in order to erect a memorial (4:1-9). Joshua recognized that the crossing of the Jordan River was reminiscent of the Exodus out of Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea, and so he saw in these acts God's revelation of His continued faithfulness and power.

Joshua trusted God and boldly pointed the Israelites toward the same unwavering faith. He obeyed God fully, and the Lord affirmed His approval of Joshua as promised (v. 14). Joshua's lifetime of faithful service to God as leader over His people inspired the faithfulness of Israel (see 24:31), who entered the long-awaited Promised Land.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the greatest enemies of faith is forgetfulness. Remembering God's faithfulness in times of testing is often the life raft for sinking faith. Recall the words of the hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”: “Here I raise mine Ebenezer . . .” An Ebenezer is a memorial stone, like the ones erected by God's people in Joshua 4 (cf. 1 Sam. 7:12-14). Today, think about a time in your life when God was faithful. Establish your own Ebenezer—perhaps through recording it in your journal—to encourage you to trust in Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ruth 1:1-2:23
You are a woman of noble character. - Ruth 3:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2004, almost 55 percent of all paperback books sold were romance novels, and the romance category accounted for 39 percent of all fiction sold that year. This broad genre includes classics like Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen as well as the pulpy Harlequin novels. The Bible includes the book of Ruth, a beautiful story of romance, love, and faithfulness. While the man and woman meet, fall in love, and get married, Ruth has an even deeper love story. We see the loving-kindness of God lived out in ordinary people.

Ruth is set during the period of the judges (1:1). Circumstances for Elimelech's family changed dramatically in one decade (1:5). Widowed and without means of social or economic stability, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem after hearing that God was providing food for His people. Understanding the hopeless situation for her daughters-in-law, she urged them to return to their families in Moab. Ruth did the unexpected and extraordinary—she wholeheartedly committed herself to Naomi until death, declaring that in everything she would fully identify with her mother-in-law.

Chapter 2 showcases Ruth's extravagant loving-kindness. Even before the harvest ended, Ruth determined to glean in order to provide food for Naomi and herself (2:2; cf. Deut. 24:19). The field owner was Boaz, the relative of Elimelech. Verse 11 reveals that he responded with astonishing generosity in response to what he had heard about Ruth's sacrifice for Naomi. Her loving-kindness inspired his loving-kindness, and Naomi recognized this when Ruth arrived home with so much food (2:20). In fact, Boaz was so impressed by Ruth that he wasted no time in securing his ability to marry her! (see Ruth 3-4).

Ruth's loyal loving-kindness caused her to go above and beyond expectations. This kind of love and commitment only comes from God Himself. The Lord blessed the faithfulness of Ruth and remained faithful to His covenant promise (Gen. 15:1-7) by continuing the line of Abraham's descendents leading to David (Ruth 4:13-22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Ruth made a lasting impression on God's redemptive story not because she gave eloquent lectures about the meaning of His loyal loving-kindness, but because she was an extraordinary embodiment of His great love. What would it look like if God's people all over the world exploded with this love above and beyond the expectations of family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors? People expect courtesy and commitment with qualifications. They do not expect to see the sacrificial and devoted love of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 22:1-51
He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. - 2 Samuel 22:19-20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Poet, warrior, father, king . . . adulterer, murderer—David was all of these things. And yet he is also called a man after God's own heart. Perhaps more than any other biblical character, David embodies the tension of fallen man in a relationship with a holy God. As we examine his song of praise, we see the interaction between God's faithfulness and David's faithful finish.

God chose David, a lowly shepherd boy, to be king over His people, and David represented the Lord well in the beginning (1 Samuel 16-2 Samuel 6). God also initiated an unconditional, everlasting covenant with David (2 Sam. 7:4-17). This didn't, however, mean that David was exempt from temptation and sin. The consequences of his sin with Bathsheba reverberated for years. Despite monumental failure, David repented and the Lord remained loyal to His promises (2 Samuel 12; cf. Psalm 51).

Our reading today is a song of praise that David offered at the end of his life. The sections of the song reflect the relationship between this fallen-yet-faithful man and an always-faithful God. The first portion boasts of God's deliverance (vv. 2-20). David depicted his enemies as powerful waters overtaking him and the vise grip of death strangling him. The Lord, however, is sovereign over the forces of creation, and He is mighty to save.

The second section, verses 21-30, reminds us that our faithfulness matters to God. He responds to our obedience and righteousness. This is not some sort of innate goodness or a salvation by works. It does mean that our response to God's work of salvation is important. Those who seek to serve the Lord will experience His faithfulness (v. 26).

In the third part of the song, David praises the character and provision of God (vv. 31-51). There is a cause-and-effect portrayed here: because there is no God besides the Lord, therefore David is able to defeat his enemies (vv. 32-33). We can have victory because God is with us—“and who is the Rock except our God?” (v. 32).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Many find in David's words our own desperation for God's help as we encounter torrents of destruction in our lives. His song heartens us that victory is possible because of God's faithfulness, not our greatness, and through Christ, we experience the steadfast promises of Romans 8:35-39. Verse 34 of today's text compares God's gift of strength to that of a deer standing in the heights. To further contemplate the victories over trials available through Christ, consider reading Hannah Hurnard's Hinds' Feet on High Places.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Jeremiah 1:4-19
They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you. - Jeremiah 1:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
In August 2006, Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne celebrated the birth of its first male heir in forty years. This young boy is the designated heir to the imperial throne, only third in line after his uncle and father.

Even before his birth, God had designated Jeremiah for a purpose (v. 5). He was commissioned as God's spokesman to His people during a time of crisis. Because of their idolatry, God's people were threatened by invasion from the Babylonians. Jeremiah was also called to be a prophet to the nations, a reminder that God is sovereign over the whole world. Feelings of inadequacy colored Jeremiah's initial response to the Lord (v. 6). He felt inexperienced and unprepared, but God resounded with reassurance. He qualified and equipped Jeremiah for this task. God promised His presence (vv. 8, 19); He gave Jeremiah words to say (v. 9); and He strengthened him like a fortified city (v. 18).

Jeremiah was God's mouthpiece to preach the message of judgment and restoration. Through visions, God clarified two things: first, like the almond tree, which blooms first and watches spring's arrival, so God would watch over His word to bring it to fruition (vv. 11-12); second, like the tilting boiling pot, there was disaster brewing for God's people in Judah because they had forsaken the Lord, and Jeremiah was to warn them (vv. 13-16). The Lord warned Jeremiah that he would face great resistance, but also bolstered his confidence with promise of His deliverance (v. 19).

God made a decisive call on Jeremiah's life, and he responded in great faith. He followed the Lord in a very dangerous environment with a very offensive message. He was able to keep the faith, because God remained faithful to him to prepare, equip, and protect him. God's character does not change—the judgments against the seven churches in Revelation echo Jeremiah's message (Rev. 2:4, 14, 20). Keeping the faith is first and foremost about maintaining uncompromising loyalty to God alone.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps you can relate to Jeremiah's sense of inadequacy, or you feel guilty for falling short of expectations. God encouraged Jeremiah to look beyond his personal capacity to His abundant resources. The Lord has given us everything we need to serve Him faithfully. Prayerfully consider this verse today: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). We will not be perfect, but we can be faithful!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Esther 4:1-17; 9:1-4
Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? - Esther 4:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1956 five missionaries were killed by the Auca Indians (now called Waodani) in Ecuador. Afterwards, family members of the murdered men forgave the tribe and even spent time living with them in the jungle. James Boster, an anthropologist from the University of Connecticut who studied the history of the Waodani, determined that the Christian conversion of many in the tribe prevented the Waodani from extinction. The deadly practice of revenge killing was halted when the families of men they had killed responded with friendship and forgiveness. He estimates that the tribe is nearly four times larger today than in 1956.

In our reading today we have excerpts from the story of Esther, a woman whose faith prevented the extinction of her own people. The source of the danger is revealed in chapter 3. King Xerxes of Persia had elevated the nobleman Haman to a high position and instructed the other officials to kneel down and honor him. Mordecai the Jew, Esther's cousin, refused. The specific reason is not given for Mordecai's defiance; it could have been a spiritual commitment or an ethnic-political response against the Agagites (3:1; cf. 1 Samuel 15). Mordecai's actions incited Haman's hatred of the Jews, and he convinced King Xerxes to order the extermination.

Mordecai requested that Esther use her position to influence King Xerxes to renege, but she felt constrained by palace rules for approaching the king. Mordecai responded with two powerful points, challenging her to act in faith. He reminded her that the question was not whether or not God would deliver them, but rather through whom God would act to save. He also proposed that God did not make her queen to protect her, but rather so that through her He would redeem His people.

Esther demonstrated her strength of faith and did not defer her responsibility or make excuses. She decisively identified herself with God's people and bravely made her request to the king. God worked through her to preserve His people.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you'd like to know more about the story of the Waodani tribe, several excellent books and DVDs are available. Elizabeth Elliot's classic, Through Gates of Splendor and the story of Nate Saint, Jungle Pilot, have encouraged generations of believers. End of the Spear (both a book and DVD) and the film Beyond the Gates of Splendor recount what has happened to the missionary families and the tribe in the past fifty years. These stories of faithfulness will inspire you to remain faithful in your own life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Nehemiah 1:1-2:8
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant. - Nehemiah 1:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1964, Kitty Genovese was murdered in her apartment building in New York City. The story made national headlines because it appeared that none of her neighbors had responded, despite her cries for help. Though subsequent investigations have disproved some of the earliest stories of her apathetic neighbors, the case led psychologists to describe “Genovese Syndrome,” or “bystander effect.” The larger the crowd, the more likely it is for individuals to think, “Someone else will do something.”

Almost a century after the Persian Empire ascended to power, God appointed Nehemiah to ensure the rebuilding of the Jerusalem walls (around 445 b.c.). In the face of this weighty task, Nehemiah did not exhibit “bystander effect” in this time of crisis for God's people. He answered with great faith and completed the rebuilding (6:15). Moreover, Nehemiah did not retire after gazing at the fortified city. In great faith he continued his commitment to God's purposes.

The book opens as Nehemiah was informed of Jerusalem's vulnerability and decadence (1:1-3). For days, he grieved the news. Then he offered a prayer of confession and surrendered himself as God's instrument to rectify the situation. The elements of Nehemiah's prayer indicate a heart that pleased God. He sought the Lord wholeheartedly; he revealed an attitude of true confession and repentance for the sins of his people; and he demonstrated desperate dependence on God's enduring faithfulness.

Nehemiah's prominent position in the royal court meant trusted access to the king, yet he wisely spent five months in preparation before approaching King Artaxerxes with his request (2:1). When the king desired details of Nehemiah's plans, he was thoroughly organized. God was pleased and blessed Nehemiah's work. We have examined numerous heroes of faith throughout the Old Testament. At every point the Lord raised up people of faith to carry on His purposes. His faithfulness was the buttress of their great faith.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Prayer saturates Nehemiah's autobiography. He beseeched the Lord to guide him at every step. In order to pray effectively, we must grow in the discipline of prayer. If you feel like your prayer life needs to grow deeper, you might try praying through the Psalms or Paul's prayers in his letters. As you pray more biblically, you'll find that your heart is shaped to seek God and understand His will more fully. A prayer partner or group can also encourage you to have regular times of prayer.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalms 15; 126; 127
Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? - Psalm 15:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Kevin and Jill introduced “time-out” discipline to their twenty-month-old son who was increasingly testing boundaries. They quickly observed an interesting dynamic: Ethan started to understand better what pleased his parents and what did not, and he also discovered the joy of restoration when “time-out” was over.

The past two weeks we've looked at heroes of faith and their endurance in faith. We now turn to examples of faithfulness that Scripture describes as blessed. Our key verse today reflects the hearts of faithful people yearning to live in union with God. The answer to the question teaches that great faith is not simply an outer shell (15:2-5). Faith begins in a transformed heart and permeates the whole person; it produces good fruit seen in relationships with others. Conditions of moral integrity must be met in order to abide in God's presence (cf. Rev. 21:8 ). We are dependent upon God's renovation through Christ to make us worthy to dwell with Him. Psalm 15 concludes with encouragement: these people will not be shaken by life's trials.

Psalm 15 forces us to examine our hearts. Perhaps we remember “little lies” told from dark places in our hearts (v. 2), wronging friends through gossip (v. 3), retracting promises when situations became costly (v. 4), or demanding more from a neighbor than we originally loaned (v. 5). Where is hope for those who deeply desire great faith and fellowship with God yet who also know the pain of moral failure?

Hope is found in Psalms 126. God's people looked to Him to renew their feeble hearts (vv. 4-6). The psalmist employs the familiar image of the dry channels in the Negev desert transformed into overflowing streams at flood stage during periods of torrential rainfall. Like the rain drenches the parched ground, so God's healing work revives us. Words of laughter and joy saturate Psalm 126 as the Israelites sing about God's restoration of their once unfaithful hearts. God's people who had been banished from His presence find hope and anticipate joy in His gracious gift of renewal.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you have been drowning in feelings of guilt and despair, seek God in repentance and ask Him to restore you and make you fit to dwell in His presence. As you journey through the process of renewal, like the Israelites who made their pilgrimage back to Jerusalem from captivity, meditate on Psalm 127. Your journey will be in vain without God's presence and His power (127:1). He is your guardian and provider, so rest in Him (v. 2), and remember that committing yourself to God's purposes results in blessing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:26-45
I am the Lord’s servant. . . . May it be to me as you have said. - Luke 1:38
TODAY IN THE WORD
When told at the age of eleven that she was the next in line to the British crown, reportedly the future Queen Victoria responded solemnly, “I will be good.” Her reaction is reminiscent of the response of another adolescent who was informed by the angel Gabriel that God had chosen her for the unprecedented responsibility of bearing the Son of God.

Today's text depicts the extraordinary faith of Mary. From a human perspective, Mary was not noteworthy. As a young, unmarried woman from a small village, she stands in contrast to Elizabeth, the wife of a priest in Jerusalem (see 1:5-25). This illustrates that God doesn't select people to do His work simply based on status. Indeed, the emphasis in the text is on God's divine favor (vv. 28-30; cf. 1 Cor. 1:26-31). Verses 31 through 33 predict the glorious advent of Jesus, the long-awaited Savior and King and announce Mary's matchless call to give birth to the Holy One.

Mary does not question if this will happen, but rather how (v. 34). Her reply differs fundamentally from Zechariah's (v. 18). In unbelief, Zechariah requests a sign, but is not given one; Mary, full of faith, never seeks a sign, yet is given one immediately (vv. 36-37). The magnitude of God's call makes Mary's faith shine all the more brightly. Verse 38 is the climax of this passage. Mary acknowledges her submission to God's will and His plan for her life. This is the heartbeat of her great faith.

Her encounter with Elizabeth affirms Mary's faith. From the womb, the Spirit testifies to God's work and holiness of Jesus. Elizabeth recognized the blessing from God that was bestowed on Mary through her willingness to bear this child, and verse 45 accents Mary's faith and the certainty of the upcoming birth.

Mary's exemplary faith inspires us when tempted to doubt God's goodness or power, reluctant to entrust our whole lives to Him, and anxious about relinquishing control over the details of our day-to-day lives. Because she accepted God's will, she experienced His tremendous blessing.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Meditate on the words of Mary's song (vv. 46-55) and share in her worship of God's gracious and powerful salvation. Concentrate on the prevailing message of her hymn: God overturns the social structures of pride and wealth, and rejoice that He does this through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Finally, remember that “His mercy extends to those who fear Him,” and He is forever faithful from generation to generation.