TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 8:6-7
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death. - Song of Solomon 8:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1948, De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd., the now world-renowned diamond company, launched an advertising campaign in national magazines to promote diamond engagement rings. The slogan unveiled by their Philadelphia ad agency is still in use more than 60 years later: “A diamond is forever.” The power of that phrase is the unspoken connection it conjures in people's minds: if you want your love to last forever, you should symbolize it with a diamond.

In brilliance and endurance, true love is like a diamond. The Song of Solomon is filled with other images that capture the various aspects of love between a husband and wife. Today's passage, just two poetic verses, is loaded with descriptive imagery about love, particularly its enduring strength.

One great thing about this book on the whole is that it isolates the love relationship from external factors that could taint our understanding of this love. The conflict, the sin, and the jealousy that may have entered the picture before or after this expression of love between Solomon and the Shulammite woman are excluded, allowing us to savor only the purity of God-given romance. In this book, we see that love is good and valuable and true.

The seal of verse 6 would have been a jewel-encrusted design uniquely crafted for its owner. It was the cultural equivalent a modern signature, used to impress the owner's seal onto clay or wax. Worn either around the neck or wrist, not only would such a seal be kept as close as possible to the owner, it was used to express his very identity. The woman desired to be that close to her husband, protected with his life.

True love is immeasurable and boundless, a fire that burns so hot it cannot be quenched. The picture of a diamond is effective, but it can't begin to express the value of being loved so deeply. The mere notion of putting a dollar amount on love is preposterous. It is not a possession, but rather a fundamental part of who you are.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
An aspect of this romantic love is true for any close personal love. People whom you truly love, and who love you back, are invaluable parts of your identity. Don't ever take for granted the people God has placed in your life, because not a single moment is guaranteed beyond what you have experienced thus far. Take some time to write down—not an email or a phone call, but in written form—what the people who are closest to you mean to you. Make sure to let them read it. You'll both be glad you did.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 1:18-25
And you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. - Matthew 1:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
Every couple expecting a baby hears the same cliché: The baby is going to change everything. After the little one's arrival, the couple quickly learns that they spend an awful lot of time changing the baby! But the baby does change the parents' schedule, their sleep patterns, their priorities, and so much more than any advice can prepare them to handle.

For Joseph and Mary, the baby really did change everything. The history of the world has been formally divided into two sections: before their baby and after. Even before the angel came, Joseph handled the news of Mary's pregnancy with great dignity and self-control. No culture in the history of the world would lightly dismiss a fiancée becoming pregnant by someone other than her betrothed. But in this culture, the degree of their commitment at this state surpassed the modern sense of engagement—a divorce was required to dissolve the union. Joseph had ample reason to be angry, but he had two distinct motivations, neither of which involved anger. He planned to divorce Mary because he was righteous, which shows he loved God. He planned to do so quietly to spare her shame, which shows he loved Mary.

After the angel's revelation to him in a dream, Joseph's love for Mary and his faith in God both proved genuine. Of all the hardships the Son of God would face—being born in a stable, attacked by Herod, persecuted, tortured, and executed—God ensured He had one advantage that relatively few children ever enjoy. Jesus had two godly parents who loved each other deeply. The Bible doesn't say either parent was perfect, but it clearly depicts a love that provided a wonderful family environment for rearing a child.

God entrusted His Son into the care of people who knew how to love and obey. We have seen repeatedly through Scripture just how vital those traits are in any love story—even the love story between Jesus and the world began with two loving, God-honoring parents.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Of all the things God has asked His followers to do—to give birth as a virgin, lead a million people through the middle of a sea, build a boat that can survive a global flood, invade a land inhabited by giants, and spend a week marching around a fortified city—the commands to love and obey God sound fairly easy to follow, and yet are so often ignored. They are so important. Throughout the day, ask yourself two simple questions: Am I loving? Am I obeying? Stay in regular communication with God and seek His help.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 3:1-21
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. - John 3:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Socrates claimed that if he was wise in any respect, it was in the knowledge of his own ignorance. For this reason, many believe the Socratic Method of interrogation was designed essentially to reveal the areas of the human mind in which certainty had been created out of ignorance. Socrates questioned his students, not to reveal new truths to them, but to expose how little they really knew.

Jesus took a similar approach to Nicodemus, with one major variation. Jesus revealed the ignorance of Nicodemus and his fellow Jewish leaders about matters they should have understood. Instead of using probing questions, Jesus brought authoritative truth. Socrates may have been wise to admit his ignorance, but Jesus had no such need. He came from heaven, and He was more than a teacher.

The pattern of this passage mimics many other accounts in the Gospel of John in which Jesus baffled His audience with word pictures and word play, then clarified His message with a straightforward statement of fact. By verse 16, the confusion is gone. Jesus stated plainly that God loved the world and that He gave His Son to save the world.

So far, the love stories of people in the Bible have been intricately woven into the big picture of the love story between God and His people. God's Son didn't merely descend from the clouds in majesty; He entered the world as a baby born into a loving family. Every couple in the biblical record lacked something that prevented their love from being perfect. In Jesus, people could go from a fleeting, imperfect life to inheriting eternal life. Men and women were incapable of living lives of light, of completely good deeds. Even the greatest teachers of the day lacked a thorough understanding of the truth because they were desperately limited without Jesus. But because of God's love, the death sentence passed down to every generation since Adam and Eve had an escape clause. When He came into the world, He brought the hope of actually living out a true love story—anyone who did so would know it was by the power of God (v. 21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There is hope. No matter how discouraged you may be about love's place in your life, no matter what troubles you face, and no matter how limited you feel, God's love brings you hope. His love brings you His Son. His love brings you the opportunity to believe in Him so that you may have eternal life. Whether you are coming to believe this for the first time or you recognized that truth years ago, the promise of God's love applies to you today. Jesus Christ has brought what you lack, life from above!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 15:1-17
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. - John 15:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Scientists estimate that a flock of geese flying in V-formation can fly up to 70 percent farther than a single goose flying on its own. The lead goose absorbs the brunt of the air resistance while the trailers fly easier in the leader's wake. For a goose, flying solo can be the difference between safe migration and a one-way trip—it doesn't pay to fly alone. When it comes to following Christ, the need to stay close to the Leader is even more crucial—it is a matter of life and death.

Up to this point, our study of the love stories of the Bible has predominantly been a narrative throughout Scripture. We now turn from telling various examples of biblical love stories to exploring the Bible's “how-to” chapters about love. Today we're focusing on a theme that has appeared in many stories so far, the need to stay united to God in order for love to truly flourish. Jesus says as much in today's key verse. The picture of the vine and the branches is a crystal-clear image that portrays the importance of abiding in Christ to bear heavenly fruit.

The substance of that fruit is explained in the second half of this reading. The fruit of abiding in Christ is the love of God, and the key to abiding in Him is obeying His commands, including His command to love. We have seen it in example after example throughout the Bible: love and obedience go hand in hand. When love isn't accompanied by obedience to God, the love is tainted and weak. On the other hand, when obedience is on display, love always seems to be bountiful.

Keep in mind, however, that connection to Christ isn't merely a matter of following a set of rules, a task humans are unable to do without God's help (John 3:21). By faith in Christ through His gospel, the Holy Spirit empowers us to obey (1 Thess. 1:5). As Jesus describes it, the secret of life for the believer is very simple. Obey and love, and you will abide in Christ. Could there be anything more important to enjoying the life of serving Christ than to love each other, even to the point of laying down our very lives?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When you look at a vine, it is obvious which branches are alive and which are dead. You probably don't have to look too hard at your own life to know which type of branch you are. Is your life overflowing with the love you have for God and for others, or is it dry, stale, and shriveled up in selfishness? If you are in need of the abiding love of Christ, don't solve the problem backwards. Go straight to the source—ask Christ to fill you with His loving Spirit and submit to His will. The fruit of love will follow.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 23:33-47
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. - Luke 23:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
No picture can adequately mirror Christ's forgiveness of our sins. No person in the history of time ever had more reason to be furious and more power to exact revenge than Jesus Christ had as He was led to Golgotha. He was crucified—a torturous execution of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual anguish. Descriptions of the suffering that Christ endured shock us; we simply cannot fathom what the Son of God went through as He hung beside criminals on a cross.

But we certainly can imagine what we would not have felt had we been in His place, and that's forgiveness. For Jesus, that was at the forefront of His mind, forgiveness for the very people who were ridiculing and crucifying Him. After hearing the story told and reading it for ourselves countless times, the significance of Christ's mindset on the cross often escapes us. But Christ had escaped the threat of violence many times before. When the Jewish authorities mockingly called for the Christ to save Himself, He could have. When the soldiers mocked Him as a so-called king, He could have displayed His power. When the criminal insulted Him and invited Him to stage their escape, He could have done that too. They all knew who He said He was, and they all had their own ideas about what He should do to prove it.

Jesus did the most illogical thing of all from a human perspective. He showed mercy to the mocking. When the crowds hurled insults, Jesus offered forgiveness. In the secrecy of Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus in John 3, it sounded like a lovely notion to consider that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.” But here on the cross, the full weight of what it meant for the Son of Man to be lifted up is nothing short of appalling (John 3:14).

Almost like a calm eye in a hurricane of ruthlessness, the criminal's faithful request and Jesus' assurance of salvation remind us that Jesus had not slipped into a shocked state. As the pain mounted and the shame piled high, Jesus never stopped loving. Truly, greater love had no man than this.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If we want to love like Christ does, there's no escaping forgiveness. We can't be involved with other human beings without being offended, slighted, and sinned against. And while today's passage may not center completely on the topic of forgiveness, it provides the most powerful reminder of our need to forgive. If Christ could willingly endure that moment so that we could be saved, what right do we have to hold a grudge against anyone. Consider the sins for which Jesus has forgiven you—thank Him and imitate Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:7-8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Earlier this week you may have noticed a lot of buzz about a switch in the television industry, although for the average person it's difficult to understand a word of it. The same analog transmission system that carried Texaco Star Theater into America's living rooms has been replaced by an all-digital network of more stations than you'd care to count. The rabbit ears are obsolete.

If you think the digital transition was a big deal, imagine when this world system is abolished! When we worship Christ in our eternal home, what will there be left to hope for? What unseen promise will require our faith? What use will we have for faith or hope, let alone Greek lexicons and Bible commentaries? As Paul made the case for the supremacy of love, he pointed out that many valid pursuits in the Christian life will fade away in the coming age. But love endures forever.

Paul wasn't dismissing the value of ministries within the church. But he was illustrating how love resides on a higher level than any other endeavor. Everything else that we do is limited by sin. Even the greatest Bible scholar in the world is limited in what he or she can understand about God's Word. Whatever anyone's role in the church may be, everyone has limits to how well and for how long they can perform their duties.

It is not so with love. There's no maximum capacity for love. Love has no expiration date, and into eternity we will never cease to love. It only makes sense that no matter what we do for Christ, no matter what specific niche we find in the service to the church, love will always be the most important aspect of what we do and who we are. That's one reason why love is the greatest—it isn't bound by time and will never be outdated!

The love checklist of verses 4 through 8 is extremely fascinating when we compare it to our roles within the church or our behaviors in relationships. Are all of those statements true of us in our work, our leisure, our friendships?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Run the various parts of your life through the love checklist as you conclude today's study. If your job is a success but is overridden with pride and selfish ambition, what is it worth? If a ministry in church focuses solely on sustaining a program at the expense of compassion for people, it's an investment in the wrong commodity. Love should be evident in every area of our lives—find the area where love isn't prevalent, and you've found the source of a great deal of misery with very little meaning.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 3:12-4:6
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jean Twenge, author of the book Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before, led a team of psychologists conducting a study on Narcissism. The report showed that college students were becoming alarmingly self-centered, marking a 30 percent increase in egotistical responses compared to a 1982 survey. Today's young people are more likely to be unfaithful and “to exhibit game-playing, dishonesty, and overcontrolling and violent behaviors.”

People of all ages are geared toward self-centeredness, which is why Paul's admonition to the Colossians is so crucial. Our passage begins with a general call to the virtues prevalent in loving relationships. The command to love one another sums it up, but Paul issued charges specific to the various roles within the culture.

Eliminating self-centeredness in the family is crucial for the health of society at large. But we tend to adopt an “I will if you will” mentality. Wives condition submission on the love of their husbands. Husbands love their wives according to the level of submission they perceive. Parents would be more encouraging to their children . . . if they would only obey. Such is the essence of self-centeredness—we make our obedience to God and love for others contingent on our satisfaction. But Paul directed each person to be responsible for their own obedience, not that of their family members. He issued a similar charge to slaves and masters, a directive with a correlation to any working relationship. Working with Jesus Christ in mind can bring honor to any task for an employer or an employee.

Paul stressed the importance of communication to God and others. Paul wanted his readers to be watchful and thankful in prayer. He then prescribes another interesting tandem of traits: talking to nonbelievers with words of grace and truth. Loving them required kindness and the courage to assert the truth.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Your words (and the tone in which you say them) reveal a lot about how well you are showing love to others. To be sure you're showing more love than frustration, commit to communicating lovingly to the people in your life. By deciding in advance to say something positive and encouraging, you can be proactive about love instead of reacting to the faults of others. Don't wait for other people to meet your needs—meet theirs, and put them at the center of your attention.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 1:1-14
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world. - Ephesians 1:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Fifteen minutes. That's the length of a typical meeting between a man and a woman in India before they decide to get married. Arranged marriages are the norm in India, though the couples aren't forced to follow the suggestions their parents set up. The couple briefly meets and decides whether to marry. The notion may not sit well in a culture where love traditionally precedes the wedding, but the success rate of arranged marriages in India is quite high.

Western culture puts a premium on the choice of the individual. When something important is on the line, we demand to be in control. So today's passage stirs up the occasional objection, especially when we arrive at verse 4 and read words like “He chose us before creation” and “predestined.” Reading that God chose us before we were even born almost makes it sound as if we didn't have a choice in the matter. Predestination seems like an arranged marriage . . . and maybe it should. It's not a forced union, but God had our destiny in mind long before we did.

The passage describes such a rich reward—being regarded as blameless, adopted according to God's will and pleasure, given grace and redemption and forgiveness, and lavished with good wisdom—where's the controversy? Ultimately, people just want to make sure they have a choice in the matter.

But in the heart of God, before the world was even formed, we had no choice, no say, and no escape. He loved us. Our love story with God began before we did. Still, in the beauty of this arrangement, we had to believe the gospel. But reading these verses and understanding the depths of all God bestows upon us, what choice did we really have? And the love story isn't over. The seal of the Holy Spirit gives us boundless assurance that we will enjoy eternal life as children of God. Paul also made it clear that the fullness of our inheritance has yet to come. And we have a great deal of control over how we will live our lives as the return of Christ comes ever nearer. As for God's love, though, there's nothing we can do to stop it.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The question of predestination turns troubling when we think about those who don't believe in Jesus Christ or don't know about His love. Much debate is waged over the destiny of these people and whether God chooses for people to perish. Think about it in a different way: if your neighbors have been loved by God since before the earth was created and they still don't know about it, that message is long overdue. What will you do today—debate the issues or deliver the good news?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 8:31-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? - Romans 8:35
TODAY IN THE WORD
There's really only one acceptable ending for any love story: And they lived happily ever after. That line signifies that no matter what horrible events transpired in the story, the central issues were all resolved. We don't expect the protagonists to live the rest of their lives free from any hardships or catastrophes, but we can safely assume that their love was never endangered.

For believers, this passage is our Happily Ever After. It isn't that every moment after our salvation is dripping with sweetness—trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and the sword aren't especially cheery. But nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Whatever comes along, we will never have to worry about losing the love of Christ. From this point on, the drama of our love story with God is settled. If God is on our side, what opposition can threaten us (v. 31)?

This month we've studied many couples and people who were missing some crucial quality or element that prevented them from growing in love. But after receiving the gift of Christ, what could we possibly lack? God was willing to give His own Son to die for us. He paid the highest price—is there anything we could possibly need that God would be unwilling to give? No.

Look at Paul. His life was in danger on a daily basis, but with Christ he considered himself more than a conqueror. The battle was won, because the love of Christ was secure. Verses 38 and 39 stand out as one of the most encouraging verses in all of Scripture because of their totality and finality. Paul declared that nothing imagined or real, seen or unseen, could come between us and the love of Christ.

Trials are inevitable. Conflict is, for most people, a daily occurrence in one way or another. Suffering is something we can't avoid if we truly live. But whatever pain or trouble might befall us, our happily ever after has already been written. There are many valuable things we can lose in this world, but the most valuable is also the most secure: the love of Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Memorize verses 38 and 39 of today's passage and recite it to yourself throughout the day. As worries arise, insert the name of that worry into the verses to remind you of what you can never lose. “I am convinced that neither wealth nor money problems will separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You might be concerned about sickness or loneliness, or any number of things—whatever it may be, it will never cause Christ to love you any less.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 4:7-21
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. - 1 John 4:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Have you ever heard of Beatles theology: All you need is love? Many well-intended people believe that Paul, John, George, and Ringo had the right idea when they sang those words, but really, “All you need is love” reveals a skepticism toward faith. These people would point out that the details of religion—the specifics about who God is, which commandments should be followed, and what is really required to enter heaven—serve only to disrupt unity and instigate violence. If all the world would abandon those petty differences and simply love each other, wouldn't that be enough?

The Bible has no shortage of examples of people who attempted to love according to the impulse of their own hearts with no allegiance specifically to God. The results were always disastrous. There's no question that love is vital in this life, nor that all the commandments of the Bible are summed up in the commands to love God and love others (Matt. 22:37-40; Rom. 13:9). Beatles' “theologians” might even cite today's passage as support of their beliefs. God is love—it's right there in the Bible (vv. 8, 16)!

There's a reason God gave us the whole Bible. The law may be easily summarized, but God is not. Elsewhere in the Bible, John uses simple “God is” phrases to describe God, but not in totality. When he wrote, “God is Spirit,” he wasn't implying that all things spiritual equal God (John 4:24), nor did “God is light” imply that every time you light a candle, you fill the room with God (1 John 1:5). Love is essential to the very nature of God, but He is so much more than that. Much of what people have come to believe about love is far from God's true character.

John's point in this passage was that love must be essential to our very natures as believers if we are to be associated with God. Jesus Christ, being the epitome of human and divine love, was not to be considered just one in a catalog of options (v. 15). Love is the defining test of our association with Christ—if we don't love, we can't claim to be His followers.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our love story with God doesn't end with us. It can't, or it wouldn't be true. Hate has no place in the heart of a believer, especially toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. Yet, God doesn't always choose His followers based on who will get along with us best. If you are finding it difficult to love a brother or sister in Christ, turn your attention away from their faults. Focus on their positive qualities, with their status as children of God chief among them!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 5:25-33
Who, being in very nature God . . . made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. - Philippians 2:6-7
TODAY IN THE WORD
The letter began with the introduction, “I, Edward the Eighth, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Emperor of India,” but the signature read simply, “Edward, Duke of Windsor.” In 1936, the king of England abdicated his throne because he married a woman who had been divorced. It wasn't noble—he is considered one of England's very worst monarchs—but still, he was willing to make an incredible sacrifice for the hand of his bride.

That may be the end of the comparisons between King Edward VIII and Jesus Christ, but it points us to an important biblical connection to the very first day of this study. When Adam and Eve were united as man and wife, it set a precedent that a man would leave the home of his birth to create a new home with his bride. We regularly refer to that original marriage in wedding ceremonies today, but we don't often associate it with Jesus and his pending nuptials with His bride, the church. But that's essentially what Christ did, leaving His place in heaven to pursue His bride.

It is indeed “a profound mystery,” given the complex nature of the man Jesus, God incarnate. The divine nature of the Son of God remains unchanged, but today's key verse helps us picture what was involved when He gave Himself up for us (v. 25). Christ emptied Himself and was born as a human, a servant whose obedience led Him to be crucified so that we, whom He loved, might be brought up to His holy level (v. 27; cf. Phil. 2:8).

In light of that sacrifice, note the responsibility on a husband's shoulders. A man loves his wife as his own body, as Christ loves His body the church. That correlation wipes away any notion that a wife's submission relegates her to a lesser role in the family. Christ empowers His church to achieve His plans! A man's love for His wife is not limited to kindness or chivalry—it supports her with purpose and encourages full utilization of her gifts.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The need for wives to respect their husbands mustn't be overlooked. Showing respect can be a powerful tool of encouragement and an excellent way for a wife to show love to her husband, even when he acts less than respectably. In fact, showing unconditional respect is a powerful way for us all to show love to people in authority. Show respect to someone today who has not earned it. They just might live up to your gesture of love. And husbands . . . please try to earn it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 13:1-21
Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners. - Hebrews 13:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his Meditation XVII, John Donne writes, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main,” a beautiful and celebrated expression of the belief that all men are united—the suffering of one demands the response of another. We all are our brothers' keepers. The love story between you and God wraps its arms around the entire world.

At the conclusion of a substantial, complex letter, the author of Hebrews gives a summation of how a believer is supposed to live. It is a call to show love to everyone imaginable, from strangers to angels and everyone in between. Follow the instructions of these verses, and you will find yourself participating in a global love story, which brings fulfillment to your life and glory to your God.

In addition to the command to love fellow believers, this chapter calls us to show love to several groups that don't immediately come to mind when we think of that age-old question, “Who is my neighbor?” Strangers, for one. We might not know much about a person we've never met, but we do know that everyone needs love. We're also called to love those who are suffering because of their faith. In segments of society where we don't face serious persecution, we should never grow ignorant of those who are imprisoned for following Christ. They should be as prominent in our thoughts and prayers as if we were there with them. And the final group who too often go unnoticed is a set of believers we should know very well: our church leaders! Pastors who feel burdened in their work are probably the rule rather than the exception—expressing love and appreciation for what they do as spiritual shepherds is crucial for their encouragement and the health of the church (v. 17).

The closing benediction is a fitting description of the ideal Christian life lived in love, because it is a prayer for God to work through us and in us. The chief end of our love story is to please God and to glorify Jesus Christ. What a marvelous privilege we have to be included in that eternal story!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There have been many recurring themes that have emerged in the best examples of godly love and the instructions given to us in Scripture—obedience, selflessness, faithfulness . . . and prayer. Prayer is the language of our love for God. If you don't already do it, formalize a time of prayer every day consisting of nothing but praying on behalf of others and in praise, worship, and gratitude to our Heavenly Father, His glorious Son, and His Holy Spirit. Tell the story of His love for us through your prayers to Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 2:1-13
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. - Acts 2:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
These days, English is the language of the entire world. In business, education, diplomacy, entertainment, and the media, it reigns supreme. One might find a Singaporean corporation negotiating with a Vietnamese supplier in English. Or a Brazilian businessman on a plane, reading a newspaper and watching a movie in English. Or German tourists in China, ordering from restaurant menus translated into English. Literally billions of people around the globe speak, or are learning to speak, English.

The ability to use language is empowering, as the events of Pentecost attest. We know this day as the “birthday of the church,” and the doctrine of the church is our topic this month. Jesus had told His disciples to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who would inaugurate an age of witness (1:8). They obeyed, and fifty days after the Passover Sabbath they were gathered together, probably still trying to make sense of all that had happened. Suddenly the Spirit came upon them, manifested as a strong wind (cf. John 3:5-8) and as “tongues of fire.” His power was also shown by their immediate ability to “speak in other tongues,” that is, foreign languages (vv. 2-4).

The miracle was appropriate to the context, for Jews from throughout the known world were still in Jerusalem for the festival (vv. 5, 9-11). Furthermore, the miracle was not just a display of power but had meaningful content, for the incredulous listeners heard the gospel preached in their native languages (vv. 6-8). Most everyone would have understood Greek or Aramaic, but God chose to proclaim the good news in the “heart languages” of everyone present. This removal of the language barrier is the counterpart to what happened at the Tower of Babel (see Gen. 11:1-9). Then God multiplied languages to undercut human pride; here, He used the multiplicity of languages to bring glory to Himself. Such multilingualism will one day be part of believers' praise in heaven (Rev. 5:9)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To honor the spirit of Pentecost, consider getting more involved in your church. Specifically, you could volunteer in a ministry that reaches out to international students or immigrant English language learners that may be in your community. It's a way to serve people by helping them get a key that opens doors to education and employment, and such a ministry includes loving our neighbor, hospitality, diversity, and mutual service—all beautiful aspects of the body of Christ!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 2:14-41
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. - Acts 2:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of evangelist Billy Graham's sermons was reprinted as a tract in the early 1950s. A missionary in Thailand accidentally dropped a copy of that tract on a road, where a young Buddhist woman picked it up. She read it and put her faith in Christ. Later, she married a Christian man from India. They had a son, whom she named “Billy Graham” in honor of the author of the tract that had led her to the Lord. This Billy Graham is now serving God at a Christian college in India.

A series of random occurrences? Not at all. God orchestrated these events according to His divine plan. God's sovereign plan of salvation is the main theme of the church's first sermon, preached by Peter in today's reading. The only explanation onlookers could come up with for the events of Pentecost was that the apostles were drunk, which, given the time of day, was clearly an absurd idea. The stories people had earlier come up with to explain away the Resurrection were similarly absurd. The truth was that Jesus died and rose again, winning the victory over death, for our redemption. The truth was that God orchestrated all these events according to His divine plan (vv. 22-24).

Speaking to Jews, Peter emphasized fulfilled prophecy. Joel had clearly predicted the events of Pentecost in association with the coming of the Messiah (vv. 16-21; Joel 2:28-32). King David had likewise anticipated Christ's advent, including a specific prophecy of His resurrection (vv. 25-36; Ps. 16:8-11; 110:1). Plenty of fresh historical evidence existed for listeners to consider. Many “miracles, wonders, and signs” proved Jesus' identity as the Son of God, culminating in His resurrection from the dead. The eyewitnesses to these incredible events stood right there before them, miraculously preaching the gospel in languages they had never studied! Three thousand people were “cut to the heart” by Peter's sermon, repented of their sins, and accepted Christ as their Messiah and Savior (vv. 37-41).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Peter's sermon in today's reading should inspire us to look for opportunities for evangelism in our own lives. Perhaps a neighbor, friend, coworker, or family member needs to hear about the faith at the center of your life. Pray that the Lord will put a person on your heart, and that He will show you the right time and give you the right words to share the good news with that person. After all, the fruit of evangelism is God's work, not ours (1 Cor. 3:7).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 24:13-35
Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. - Luke 24:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Intelligent reading in America is on the decline, noted pastor and author Philip Ryken. “According to some estimates, less than one third of all college graduates have the ability to read and understand a text that demands deep thought or careful interpretation. . . . The reason for all this literary illiteracy is not hard to guess. We are living in an accelerated culture of perpetual distraction, the multimedia age of the sound bite and the instant message.” This also has implications for biblical literacy, he added, as the trend is toward shorter sermons, simplified Bible translations, and less patience for in-depth study by the average layperson.

As Christians, we should be “people of the Book.” The church is built upon a foundation of Scripture and prophecy. Jesus Himself taught this lesson to two unknown followers in the days between Resurrection and Ascension. When He joined them on a short walking trip, His identity was hidden from them. Though surprised that the stranger hadn't heard about recent events, they filled Him in on the trial, crucifixion, and puzzling empty tomb found that very morning (vv. 18-24). These two followers were people of faith who understood that Jesus was a messenger from God. They also understood the injustice of their leaders' actions toward Him. They had hoped He was the Messiah, but now they didn't know what to think.

In response, Jesus gave them a Scripture lesson for the ages (vv. 25-27)! His text was the entire Old Testament, especially the Pentateuch and the prophets. His topic was Himself, and how all that had happened was exactly what had been foretold and planned by God. Since they had failed to see what was right before their eyes, they were “foolish” and “slow of heart.” But since they were people of faith, their hearts responded passionately and gave inner witness to the truths Jesus taught (v. 32; cf. 1 Thess. 2:13). The Word of God and God's Final Word, Jesus Christ, form a single text!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Since Scripture is foundational to the church, make a renewed commitment to regular Bible study. Perhaps you made a New Year's resolution for daily Bible reading that you're now finding difficult to keep. Or maybe you'd like to dig deeper for more extensive study of the Word. Many tools exist, including group studies, study Bibles, Bible reading plans, and of course, devotional Bible studies like Today in the Word. But first, we must be convinced that this truly is important, and then make the commitment (see Luke 10:38-42).