TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 20:11-15
Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. - Exodus 32:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
A popular evangelistic approach asks two penetrating hypothetical questions: 1) If you were to die today, are you absolutely sure you would go to heaven? 2) If God were to ask why you should be allowed into heaven, what answer would you give? These questions force us to balance our surest certainty (that we will one day die) with our deepest uncertainty (that we can't prove what awaits us after we die). The questions point to the issue of eternal judgment.

Because there isn't material evidence of the afterlife, we must rely on God's Word to reveal what we can't see for ourselves. Much of what is believed and taught in our culture and even in our churches is the product of embellishment of the Word and imaginative (but unbiblical) literature on the subject.

The biblical descriptions of eternal judgment can be difficult to comprehend, but today's reading is perhaps the clearest account of a comprehensive judgment pronounced against all who have died. It takes place in a supernatural setting far removed from our Earth and sky (v. 11). Those in attendance are the dead who have been extracted from their places of burial and their state of death (v. 13). Death as we know it and the place of residence for dead souls are thrown into the lake of fire, the second death (v. 14). But the key component of this judgment is the writing in the books.

The acts of all who had died appear in one set of books, but the names of those who will be saved are found in the Book of Life. This Book is named a few times in the Bible, as early as Exodus by Moses (32:32) when he offered to have his name removed from the Lord's Book so that Israel would be saved. Paul mentions it in his letter to the Philippians to refer to fellow believers and servants of Christ (4:3). The Book of Life emerges as a theme in Revelation, referring to a roster of those spared from God's judgment. The bottom line: only those whose names are recorded in the Book of Life will be spared from the lake of fire.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's interesting to note that the Book of Life is separate from the books recording the works of mankind, and in other places it is referred to as the Lamb's Book of Life. Do you believe such a book exists? Because if you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son and sacrificial Lamb, you aren't depending on your works to save you—you're depending on your identification with Him! If you truly believe this, have the courage today to tell someone about this glorious reality.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 3:9-20
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. - James 2:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Innocent until proven guilty,” is a maxim that serves as an underlying premise of the American legal system—and many Americans believe it should be part of the court of public opinion as well. Actually, innocence never enters into the discussion during a criminal trial. The best an accused offender can hope for is to be found not guilty of the particular crime for which a charge is levied. True innocence is something no human court could honestly declare.

Everyone sins. We don't all break every rule God has established, but we all sin. Today's verse from James sets a high standard—in the eyes of God, if you have broken one rule, you've broken them all. We've established that sin causes death and that it demands judgment. Today we'll take a look at the reality that sin infects us all.

In Romans 3, Paul argued that all people share the same spiritual foundation—depravity. After admitting that being a Jew was not without its benefits, he reinforced his general assertion that sin at its very worst was common to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul quoted something like a lowlight reel of Old Testament pronouncements against the wicked, taking excerpts from various psalms and Isaiah 59—then he applied those general comments about wicked and evil men to everyone. God made His law known to mankind, and mankind could not keep it. In the end, the law doesn't help us attain righteousness.

Our need for salvation could not be any clearer than it is stated in verse 20: “No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law.” Any attempt to reverse the tide of sin in your life simply by obeying all the rules of the Bible would be fruitless. The law can't make us righteous any more than a plumb line can straighten the Tower of Pisa. The law proves that we are unrighteous. What the Bible teaches, our eyes and minds confirm. We can tell by looking at the world, the people we know, and our own inward reflections that sin is present in us all.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe that all the world is sinful, even yourself? If so, here are two things that should be ever-present in your consciousness: prayer and confession. If the world is filled with sinners who are hopeless to cure their own condition, we must ask God for help on their behalf. And since you are one of those sinners, confession is an absolute necessity for maintaining a right relationship with God. He is holy; we are sinful. He can help; we should ask.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 7:7-25
I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. - Romans 7:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Clara Harris claimed she was in a dreamlike state, almost like a blackout. According to her court testimony, she didn't mean to drive her Mercedes directly at her unfaithful husband. She didn't mean to strike him. She had no intention of running over his body—three times. Despite her professed intentions to the contrary, Ms. Harris was convicted of murder.

The typical response to a story like this is bewildered disgust. How can someone commit a brutal act if they didn't fully, knowingly, willingly want to do it? Paul has an answer to that question. We are slaves to sin.

Today's passage can be a difficult one to follow both on the surface (with the do /not do tongue twister in vv. 15-20) and in deeper analysis (was Paul speaking of his life as a believer, his struggles before conversion, or the history of humanity in relation to sin?). But Paul's key message is clear. Sin infects the flesh and makes it impossible to obey God's law, even when you want to. Like a plant that grows toward the light to sustain its life, sin seeks out commandments to bring about disobedience and death.

The inevitability of sin can be discouraging, especially since Paul appears to be confessing his own propensity for sin. He was an apostle of Christ who longed in his heart to do good. His mind was a slave to the law of God (v. 25). Yet sin continued to live in him and act as a separate person from himself (v. 17). Paul reacted to his own sin in the same way we might react to a tabloid-news criminal: with utter disgust. What hope is there if the best of us considers himself “a wretched man” of sin?

Our hope is in Jesus. We will spend more time this month discussing how He saves us from the presence of sin in our lives, but first we must understand that we continually need saving. We need to cry out as Paul did in desperation, “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Even for those who believe in Christ, the presence of sin in our bodies is an active threat we must acknowledge.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe the flesh is a slave to sin? Or do you put faith in your own ability to conquer sin, perhaps even praising yourself for all the rules you adhere to? Pride is probably the most relentless of sins because it multiplies in us when we see others fall. Repeat this short prayer from time to time throughout the day to remind yourself of your need: “Lord, save me now from my own sinful nature.” Then praise Him in each moment when He gives you victory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. - John 9:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
C. S. Lewis is considered one of the great Christian thinkers of the modern era. His writings, both fiction and nonfiction, continue to be influential in Christianity and culture. But his death, less than ten years after the publication of the last volume of the popular Chronicles of Narnia, received little media attention. It was November 22, 1963, the same day John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Lewis's death is a picture of how fragile life and the glory of livelihood can be, even for the famous. Life slipped from his grasp, and the world barely took notice. That aspect of death may have been King Solomon's greatest fear. He had accumulated incomparable wealth, renown, and wisdom . . . and wives. His accomplishments in building, writing, agriculture, and art stagger the senses. But as recorded in Ecclesiastes, he realized that his final resting place would be no better than that of a slave.

Ecclesiastes 9 is not exactly a pick-me-up. Solomon bemoans the grave's robbery of every aspect of life. Religion, evil, reward, memory, consciousness, love, hate, envy, celebration, work, food, drink, planning, knowledge, wisdom, and hope all cease at the point of death. How ironic that the great king of God's chosen people and the ancient author of several books in the inspired Word of God would come to the same basic logical conclusion as a modern atheist. No one knows how or when they will die, they only know that it will come; so enjoy life while it lasts (vv. 7-10).

Of all the things from which we need salvation, is not this hopelessness the greatest and most relevant to our lives today? We can learn to accept sin. We can avoid thinking about eternal judgment. We can even allay our fears about the afterlife with manufactured hopes of reincarnation, nirvana, or automatic entry into heaven. But the fleeting nature of life is evident to all. There is much more to existence than life “under the sun.” These words are honest—our time on earth is short, and it ends suddenly and mercilessly.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe in the certainty of death? Everyone knows of its truth, but people generally refuse to accept it. Whether you are assured of heaven or you are skeptical of eternal life, each day is precious. There is much wisdom in Solomon's advice: whatever task you have before you, give it your all. Whatever opportunities you have to celebrate, enjoy them. Most of all, do not delay your decision to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved from the otherwise hopeless finality of death.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 15:1-21
That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians. - Exodus 14:30
TODAY IN THE WORD
Steve Comisar placed a magazine ad offering readers a “scientifically proven, space age” solar-powered clothes dryer for the low, low price of $49.95. Those who couldn't resist the eco-friendly innovation found they had spent fifty bucks on a clothesline.

Sometimes when you get exactly what you ask for, it's still less than you imagined. When we hear of salvation that comes from the Lord, it's understandable to wonder what the nature of that salvation will be. Is it a figurative salvation, a mere state of mind or freedom from worry? Does God offer salvation only in some ethereal alternate universe? Or is it a simple con, like a $50 clothesline? As the Israelites could attest in today's reading (and many more times throughout the Bible) the salvation of the Lord is very real, and it pertains to physical protection as well as spiritual.

Today's passage is a song the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea. The Israelites saw with their eyes as God parted the waters. They felt the dry land with their feet as they walked to safety. And they could hear for themselves as the waters crashed down upon the Egyptian army, washing the enemy casualties to the shore. Many in Israel might have wondered about the God of their fathers when they were enslaved in Egypt, but after the display of His awesome power, they sang His praises with gusto. Still, they would not have experienced this salvation had they not crossed the sea by faith (Heb. 11:29).

The song features imagery of human characteristics to describe God's works—His right hand, mighty arm, breath, and nostrils. The Israelites didn't think of some higher tier of consciousness or mystic force; they pictured God as a warrior, and they called Him their salvation (vv. 2, 3). But they didn't have to imagine His power, because they witnessed it for themselves. Skeptics argue that no such proof is offered today, but no amount of proof can remove all doubt about God. Case in point: just a few short months after this instance of salvation, the Israelites lost faith and worshiped a god of their own making.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you believe that God is a real force in this world and the next, that belief should greatly affect your prayer life. At the Red Sea, God proved not only that He could intervene in the affairs of men but also that He cared about the physical well being of His people. Why do we so often depend exclusively on ourselves? In a world plagued by sin, we can't expect total comfort and ease. But this world is also governed by our sovereign Lord, and we can ask for His help!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 17:1-22
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith. - Romans 4:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
It is a common misconception that the Bible teaches circumcision as a religious fertility ritual. Since the practice is first introduced in today's reading in which God promised to make a great nation from Abraham and his descendants, some readers conclude that circumcision was the prescribed solution to Abraham and Sarah's quest to have a baby. Ironically, a parallel to that mistaken notion appeared in the era of God's new covenant. Some heretical teachers believed circumcision was necessary for salvation and required it of male converts.

Paul's teaching in Romans 4 refutes both errors. He pointed out that Abraham's faith preceded his circumcision. It was Abraham's faith that was credited as righteousness (Gen. 15:6) and his faith that enabled him and Sarah to conceive (Heb. 11:11). Circumcision was a sign, a seal of the covenant between God and Abraham. No child of Abraham was ever born because of circumcision, neither was any child of faith born again because of it. We must understand that salvation is not a product of ceremony and ritual—it is a product of faith according to God.

God's covenant with Abraham informs us about the nature of salvation in that it shows man's utter dependence upon God. The Lord spelled out both sides of the covenant, and His promises far outweighed Abraham's responsibilities. He had yet to give Abraham a law or a code of conduct. This eternal covenant with Abraham preceded the Law. All God required of Abraham and his household was that they remain identified with Him. God would make a great nation from Abraham. God would establish an everlasting covenant. God would give the land of Canaan to Abraham's descendants. He would be their God.

The idea that Abraham could make a nation on his own is laughable, literally (v. 17). God chose to give Abraham and Sarah offspring when it was impossible for them to do so. In this covenant, God did all the work.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our salvation is the blessing of a new covenant in Christ's blood (cf. Luke 22:20; Heb. 9:15), but it is still rooted in faith. And it is still easy to confuse our acts of obedience with God's saving work of grace. If you believe that salvation is the work of God, you have great hope for living a life that glorifies Him. If God can make a thriving nation out of a one-hundred-year-old man and a ninety-year-old woman with no children, surely He can produce great spiritual fruit in you!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:1-40
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But in 1490, the Spanish commission reviewing Columbus's proposal declared that ocean infinite and unnavigable. They thought a journey to Asia would take four years and that discovery of new land was impossible. In a now infamous rejection, the committee reasoned, “so many centuries after the Creation, it is unlikely that anyone could find hitherto unknown lands of any value.”

Columbus had something in common with the men and women described in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith.” They, too, longed for life in another country. They firmly believed in the existence of what they could not see. They all pursued action that defied conventional wisdom. And, just as Columbus fell well short of Asia, they died before reaching the place they had envisioned (Enoch being the miraculous exception, v. 5). As believers, we tend to associate the names in this chapter with highly successful faith—but our results-minded culture would label them foolish failures. If these people received salvation, is that something any of us really want to have?

This is a truth about saving faith that we don't like to think about: faith rarely yields immediate, tangible results. A true living faith will lead us to do things that don't make sense to a watching world. Noah built an ark. Abraham left his home to wander with no clear destination in mind. When he was one hundred years old and his wife was ninety and barren, he accepted a name that meant “Father of a Multitude.” Next, he was willing to kill his son. Israel's battle plan was to walk around Jericho for a week.

Would we live like this? Would we choose a faith that results in flogging, imprisonment, stoning, being sawed in half, and living in desolation in caves and holes in the ground? Many Bible-believing people view financial success as a fringe benefit of salvation. The Bible doesn't support that view. The reward of faith lies beyond this life, and it is better than what this world can offer (v. 40).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe in a life beyond this one, in another country with Jesus Christ as its King? Are you pursuing that life or living comfortably in this one? Material wealth is not evil, but it is far less valuable than what Christ offers, even if we cannot see it. If we are satisfied by this world, how can we hope to be saved from it? Make a list of goals today that have nothing to do with earthly accomplishments or tangible results. Make following Christ your measure of success.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 49:1-13
All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. - Psalm 72:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
French statesman Charles de Gaulle said, “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.” Throughout the course of human history it has been common for the fear of foreign nations to develop into hatred. Perhaps no country in the history of the world has been the object of as much nationalistic hatred as Israel.

The irony of anti-Israel ideology is that God's true intent for Israel was to conquer all such nationalism. He promised to use the descendants of Abraham to bless all nations, not to destroy them. Today's passage is one of many biblical accounts confirming such a role for Israel.

Interpreting this passage can be difficult, particularly in identifying the servant. It is often understood as a messianic prophecy that predicts the rejection of Christ (v. 7), the controversial nature of His message (v. 2), His role as a servant-king (v. 3), His mediation of God's covenant (v. , His restoration of Israel (v. 6), and the salvation He brings to all people (v. 6). These claims about the Messiah aren't unique to this passage, but using the name Israel in a messianic context (v. 3) is an interesting twist. The text identifies the Messiah as a representation of Israel as it was originally intended; the Messiah will fulfill Israel's purpose.

There are many parallels between Jesus and Israel. Israel was despised by other nations; Jesus was despised, even by His own people. The nation of Israel began through a divinely orchestrated birth; Jesus' birth was miraculous. God planned to use Israel to bless all nations (Gen. 18:18); God used Jesus to bring salvation to all nations (v. 6). The repeated references to birth (“before I was born,” “from my birth,” and “formed me in the womb”) emphasize the forethought and design in God's plan of salvation. From the very beginning, God planned to use Israel—and through Israel, Jesus—to bring salvation to the world. And the ultimate fulfillment of those plans comes in His timing (v. .
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If we truly believe that God's plan of salvation is for all nations, we won't let nationalism sneak into our faith. Every country, every people group, and every segment of society needs the light of salvation that only Christ can bring. Pick one world country that you can commit to pray for beginning today. Perhaps you could choose one toward which you've harbored negative feelings. Pray for the people of that country and consider supporting a missionary who reaches out to them.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 1:1-14
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure. - Ephesians 1:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
So-called 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds give prospective parents an unprecedented look at their babies before they are born. Through high-resolution sonic imagery, parents can watch real-time video of their unborn children as they kick, hiccup, and sleep. The technology can reveal not just the gender of the baby, but also details such as the expression on the child's face!

Science can reveal quite a bit to parents about their unborn children—but imagine how much God knows about His children well in advance of their birth! And if human parents are overcome with love and excitement at the first sight of their children, how much love has God had for those who belong to Him even before the world was created? This isn't just fanciful speculation, either. God tells us in His Word that He chose us and loved us before we were born—even before creation!

It's somewhat curious that this subject has provoked such controversy in the church. Ephesians 1 discloses an inspiring truth that adds a layer of depth and insight to the John 3:16 phrase, “For God so loved the world.” He loved us before we existed. He loved us so much that He provided a way for us to be His children, a way that included the death of His own Son, Jesus Christ. For a human father, such a decision would be heart-wrenching. For God, the ultimate sacrifice was in full accordance with His will and pleasure (vv. 5, 9). God took pleasure in appointing our eternal destiny as His adopted children. That is cause for rejoicing.

This passage provides the big picture of our personal salvation—it began before the world was formed, it was consummated through belief in Christ (v. 13), and it was sealed by the Holy Spirit until the final fulfillment in the reign of our Savior (v. 10). In one sense, the eternal perspective can make us feel very small on the landscape of God's glory. But in another sense, God's timeless love for us imparts tremendous value on each human life. He knew us and loved us before time began—how can we feel insignificant?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Coming to grips with the reality of being predestined in God's love is a cure for a host of ills. If you feel you're unworthy to be saved, God's eternal love and abundant grace should change your mind. If you think you have the right to live your life however you see fit, you're fighting against God's destiny for you to be holy in His sight. And if your faith is in your own works, you're believing in something far smaller and limited than the true source of salvation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Peter 3:1-18
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation. - 2 Peter 3:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Waiting is a matter of perspective. The old proverb says, “The early bird gets the worm.” But Franklin Roosevelt once quipped, “I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm.” And BBC journalist Jeremy Paxman added, “The early bird may get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese.”

Peter understood that different people had very different feelings about waiting on God, and he spoke to each one in turn to give his readers a godly understanding of the timing of salvation. The first point of view he addressed was the skeptical scoffer who would ask, “If Jesus is coming back, what's taking Him so long?” For this type of person, waiting was evidence that Christians believed in a farce. Such people were intentionally ignorant of the truth (v. 5) and destined for destruction (v. 7).

The next perspective Peter presented was God's. To Him, waiting is nothing. One day and one millennium are equivalent on His timetable (v. . His patience is reason for joy, not sorrow, since that patience extends to us all and allows for the salvation of those who do not yet know Him. Verse 9 is a vital statement about God's love for the world. He wants everyone to repent and no one to perish. Given the perpetual sinfulness of humankind, this level of patience defies comprehension.

But during the wait for the Lord's coming, Peter reminded his readers that the day of the Lord would come swiftly and without warning. So for those of us who do believe, Peter prescribed holy living and commitment to the truth. His words were helpful for those who were suffering from oppression or ridicule, as well as those who were tempted to lapse in their pursuit of holiness. Peter's dedication was impressive, given that his death by crucifixion had been prophesied directly (John 21:18-19). He was able to focus on life with Christ in a new heaven and earth despite being aware of the painful end that was awaiting him in this present world.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe God is patient? If you're living with a selfish mindset, you will never understand and accept this attribute of God. To clear up an attitude of impatience, list the things that are making you anxious. Mark an X through the concerns that are your desires but not God's. If the remaining items are truly on God's agenda, thank God for the plan He has to accomplish His goals in His timing. Ask Him to give you the strength to remain faithful as you wait on Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 3:1-21
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable. - 1 Peter 1:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
At the age of 23, the genius physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer earned his Ph.D. at the University of Göttingen—it took him three weeks. After administering the prodigy's oral exam, renowned physicist James Franck declared, “I got out of there just in time. He was beginning to ask me questions.”

In similar fashion, Nicodemus didn't get very far into his conversation with Jesus before realizing he was out of his league in the realm of spiritual knowledge. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest position any Jewish teacher could have hoped to achieve at the time. But he mistakenly spoke of Jesus as a colleague, concluding that the miracles He performed confirmed only that He was a godly teacher. For any other Jew, that would have been high praise, but for Jesus it was an insult. It was like calling the sun a reading lamp. Jesus proceeded to show Nicodemus how miscalculated Nicodemus' appraisal of Him was by revealing a mystery, the first in a series we'll study over the next few days.

Jesus described salvation with a phrase familiar in modern evangelism, though it appears nowhere in the Old Testament and in only one other place in the New Testament: today's key verse. The Greek phrase most often translated “born again” can also mean “born from above,” and both meanings are applicable. Spiritual rebirth comes from on high, a concept new to Nicodemus. He had a hard time believing in a birth that came from God—probably because he did not yet believe Jesus was anything more than just another man.

Jesus demonstrated the incompetence of the Sanhedrin as the teachers of Israel, and also displayed His superiority to any teacher. Jesus identified Himself as the One who had come from heaven, and He foretold His death by crucifixion that would bring salvation to all who believed in Him. The image of the brass serpent in the wilderness was something Nicodemus couldn't miss. Jesus wasn't just a teacher sent by God in the prophetic sense—He was, in fact, divine.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The end of today's passage lays out the importance of belief in no uncertain terms. Believe, and you will be born again and saved from condemnation. The decision not to believe ultimately becomes a question of the will, not a lack of information. And even those who do believe in Christ often fail to believe in the new life He brings. Refuse to go on living in the flesh. Put your faith in the Spirit and live in submission to His power and control.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 5:12-21
The result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. - Romans 5:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Great Chicago Fire is an example of how a solitary act can cause widespread damage. It's well documented that the blaze that wiped out three and a half square miles of the city began with a small fire at the O'Leary barn. But the story about a cow igniting the blaze by kicking over a lantern—the rumor that circulated nationally and remains legendary to this day—was started by a reporter who decided to invent his own explanation and publish it as fact. One small mistake can have large repercussions.

When Adam sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, he sparked an inferno that destroyed all of mankind. He ushered death into the world. One man ruining the lives of many is not unique. We've seen it happen throughout history. But the idea that one man could singlehandedly undo the damage—that's a mystery.

Paul wrote that the victory of life in Jesus actually outweighs the destructive force of sin and death. The gift of righteousness reigns in the life of believers more powerfully than death reigns throughout humanity (v. 17)!

Salvation came through a single act of righteousness (v. 18), a truth which counters a common belief about salvation. Many think that if their good deeds outweigh the bad, they'll be considered righteous by God. But according to the first three verses of this passage, there was a long period of time in which people couldn't be accused of breaking a single law because there were no God-given rules (v. 14). They still sinned against God and incurred the penalty of death, but it wasn't because of some ledger of good and bad deeds.

As verse 16 says, the gift is not like the penalty. One broken command was enough to condemn the world. One act of obedience, coupled with an abundant outpouring of God's grace, was enough to redeem it. Christ's death on the cross declared us righteous in God's eyes and enabled us to live righteously as His children.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Truly believing that life and righteousness come only through Jesus Christ is more difficult than we think. Do you expect nonbelievers to live a somewhat righteous life? Do you base your approval of a person on whether they share your opinions on topics of faith? Do you feel less compelled to tell the gospel to someone who seems to have his or her life together? We can't believe that righteousness springs from those who don't know Christ—we should communicate His truth with urgency. Tell someone about Christ today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Peter 1:10-13
Even angels long to look into these things. - 1 Peter 1:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Betty Jane Narver Reading Room in Seattle's Central Library is named for a woman with a passion for education, reading, and civic service. She was known for working tirelessly and lobbying graciously to make the $165.5 million building an innovative place that informed, enlightened, and enriched the lives of the millions of people who would pass through its doors (and ride its shocking-yellow escalators). Unfortunately, Betty Jane Narver died three years before the completion of the library she so faithfully promoted.

When such people devote their lives to an objective that lies beyond their own death, the people who benefit from their work owe them a debt of honor. That is especially true when we consider the Old Testament prophets who foretold the coming Savior and longed to know more about Him. The source of their longing is one of two revelations you may find surprising in this passage. It is amazing to think that the Spirit of Christ Himself revealed His own sufferings to prophets who wouldn't even live to see His coming.

The second surprise is that yet another group cannot explore the mystery of salvation: angels. They couldn't appreciate the full weight of their message when they announced the conception (Matt. 1:20-21), the birth (Luke 2:11), and the resurrection (Matt. 28:6) of Jesus Christ! The purpose of these angels appears to have been centered on delivering the news about Jesus Christ, but like the prophets of the Old Testament their communication was not for their own understanding, but for ours.

Our privilege of knowing the mystery of salvation demands our humble obedience and gratitude. Great men of God and angels in heaven deeply desired to more fully understand the salvation about which we can study endlessly and experience personally. The most important mystery of all time has been revealed to us, which ought to compel us toward holiness and a greater understanding of the precious Word of God. Also note that the truth of salvation has always been a mystery to be revealed rather than an outcome yet to be decided. Our salvation is sure!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Peter stated the practical application of this passage directly in verse 13, but we can hope to follow his command to holiness only if we believe in the grace that awaits us in Jesus Christ. The comforts of our present life can lure our eyes away from the grace that has yet to come. Consider taking an extended break from all of the worldly distractions surrounding you and dedicate the time to prayer. Set your heart and mind on Christ and thank Him for disclosing His truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The wisdom of the wise will perish. - Isaiah 29:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
It's a common device in literature, television, and movies—pitting a man of science against a man of faith. In a time of intense conflict or danger, the man of science will seek a resolution using reason and human effort. The man of faith will tend to rely on some outside force to intervene. Depending on the views of the author, one philosophy eventually wins out over the other.

But the stereotypical men of science and faith can agree on one thing—the Cross makes no sense at all. To the man of science who believes only in what he can observe and measure, the death of one man has no hope of accomplishing anything. To the man of faith looking for God to step in and save the day, the death of His Son is cause for doubt. In the conventional wisdom, as observed in our passage today, the crucifixion of Christ boggles the mind.

In Paul's day, the man of science was the Greek. They valued logic, reason, and wisdom. On the other side of the spectrum were the Jews. Throughout their history, God had demonstrated His glory with miraculous displays of power. For the Jew, crucifixion was a demonstration of a curse; death was confirmation of defeat. These people of contrary philosophies came to an identical conclusion because both made the same mistake: they didn't believe in Jesus.

In a sense, God created the ultimate litmus test for belief in Him to demolish the belief systems of those who expected God to conform to their expectations. To the Greek, Jesus made known the reality of the invisible God (John 1:18), and to the Jews He gave more than enough signs to prove His identity (John 10:31). The only way to make sense of the Cross is to believe in the One who died upon it, a leap of faith that condemns the conclusions of the skeptics and the Jews. Those who believe receive salvation. That is foolishness to a man of science or of misplaced faith, but to the man of God it is the most powerful truth in the world.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever debated with someone who didn't believe Christianity? It can be immensely frustrating to argue with someone who obstinately rejects your views. A gifted apologist might change people's minds, but don't depend on logic alone. People who reject Christ in their hearts won't readily open their minds to the truth. State your case in a spiritual way with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—against such things there can be no argument.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:25-31
God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. - 1 Corinthians 1:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Johnny Damon of the 2004 Boston Red Sox dubbed his own team “The Idiots.” They were known for their long hair, scruffy beards, and carefree spirits. These traits stood in contrast to the clean-cut rival Yankees, who were poised to sweep Boston on their way to the World Series. But Boston's failure to come to grips with reality helped them stage one of the most improbable comebacks in baseball history—those so-called idiots won the championship!

Surprisingly, Paul used similar terminology to describe the believers in Corinth, saying they were not wise, influential, or noble. They were foolish, week, lowly, and despised. Yesterday we studied the apparent foolishness of the Cross in a world that valued miraculous signs and logic. Today we'll examine the fact that not only was the message foolishness—the recipients of the message were fools.

If the realization of their lowliness was cause for sorrow, the Corinthians could take solace in the two words Paul repeats in verses 27 and 28: God chose. The believers were chosen by God, and that gave them significance. It wasn't as if every Corinthian met all the negative criteria. Some of them were wise; some of them may have been of noble birth; but God's choice of the foolish and lowly nullified the significance of any wisdom or strength any members may have possessed. No one earned their salvation by being wise, nor did anyone earn their salvation by being poor. The sole cause of the people's salvation in Christ was God Himself (v. 30).

Paul's purpose wasn't to discourage the Corinthians, but to set their minds and affix their pride on Christ. Faith should not serve as a wellspring of pride and self-centered applause. God used a plan that made no human sense to save humans of no earthly consequence to prove that the efforts of man and the quality of their character or social standing had no role in the saving power of God. Salvation comes from God. The wisdom, holiness, and righteousness we have comes from Christ—that is reason to be proud!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you truly believe that God chooses the foolish to be His servants? To take it one step further, do you accept His choices? Rare is the person who does not complain about the church, and that probably comes from our pride. There is nothing wrong with holding the church to a high standard, but we must recognize Christ as the means to achieving that standard. We must trust in His power to overcome our obvious shortcomings—ask Him to start with you. Confess your weakness and praise His strength.