TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 3:21-31
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. - Romans 3:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
Credit card owners, retail shoppers, sweepstakes contestants, mortgage customers, and even Web site visitors have all learned the same lesson, but Bishop Fulton Sheen summed it up most succinctly. He was reviewing a contract for a television deal when he said with a sigh, “The big print giveth, and the fine print taketh away.”

It's understandable when people unfamiliar with the Bible balk at the simple offer of salvation in verses like John 3:16—they want to know, where's the fine print? While the Bible does have more to say about salvation than simply, “believe and be saved,” the terms of salvation outlined in the Bible don't constitute a complex web of misleading promises. If anything, Scripture reveals why the principle offer of salvation is so simple: Jesus Christ actually delivers on His promises.

Today's passage explains how faith in Christ is the decisive human component in salvation. It is the channel through which true righteousness is issued from God (v. 22), the atoning work of Christ's crucifixion is imparted, and the justification of our sins is received (v. 30). These overwhelming tasks need to be accomplished for us to have a relationship with God, and faith in Christ makes it possible.

All three of those results are woven together in Jesus Christ. Justification is a pardon from our sin. Despite our guilt, God views us as not guilty—He can do that because of Christ's atoning sacrifice, which propitiates or satisfies God's wrath against sin. We can be justified because God has meted out justice through the suffering of Christ (Isa. 53:12). In fact, Paul revealed that before Christ's death, the sins of the world had yet to be punished—truly we serve a patient God (v. 25)! But God doesn't merely wipe away the record of sin. He also provides the righteousness we are unable to manufacture through our own efforts. We'll explore this reality much further in the coming days: faith isn't just the means to earn a salvation merit badge.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe in the saving work of Jesus Christ? That kind of faith should result in humility and obedience. Righteousness comes from God, and it's a gift that doesn't allow us to look down on anyone. Spend time this week memorizing this passage if you can, or at least select a key verse. Recite it to yourself daily as a reminder that there is no room for arrogance in the body of Christ. And praise God for His patience, mercy, and grace that allow a sinner to receive righteousness!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 1:5-2:6
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The topic of salvation requires that we first address the reality of sin. Most people don't like to discuss sin, especially their own. As Mark Twain put it, “A sin takes on a new and real terror when there seems a chance that it is going to be found out.” Unfortunately for those of us who would like to pretend we're pristinely righteous while keeping our sins hidden, confession goes hand-in-hand with salvation.

In fact, confession of our sins is intertwined with our faith in Jesus. The word Paul used to describe a proclamation of belief in today's key verse is the same compound Greek word John used in reference to admission of sins (1:9). Translated in both places as “confess,” the word is formed from the combination of the Greek words for “same” and “word.” A confession is an acknowledgment of the truth, expressing words that match reality.

It is impossible, as John wrote, to have a truthful understanding of our holy God without acknowledging how sinful we are. And by John's reasoning, without confessing our sins, we can't hope to walk in righteousness, and neither can we enjoy a relationship with God. We have quite a lot riding on confession! The implication of not confessing is to accuse God of lying— not a wise decision. But the results of confession are extremely desirable: fellowship with each other and purification of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ (1:7).

John's goal was to help believers stop their sinful lifestyles (2:1), filling his simple statements with deep complexity. John rejoiced in the assurance that Jesus testifies in our favor before God (2:1). While God offered forgiveness for confessing sinners, John stressed God's divine priority on righteous living. Confession is not a means for getting off the hook—confession is a gateway to an intimate relationship with God and a true life in Him!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
All our thoughts about the legitimacy of our beliefs will go for naught if they don't appear in our actions and in our words. Pay close attention to confession today in two directions. Privately confess your sins to God and freely receive His forgiveness—and be specific in your confession so as to avoid an inward denial of certain sins. But also make it a point to confess the name of Jesus to those around you. Words have a powerful effect on our actions. See what a difference speaking the truth can make!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 2:1-9
It is by grace you have been saved. - Ephesians 2:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
In ten major league seasons, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays finished at the very bottom of their division every year but one, when they climbed to second-to-last place. They never won more than 70 games in a season (and never lost fewer than 90). But after the 2007 season, the Devil Rays ceased to exist and the Tampa Bay Rays were born. They changed the team colors, the logo, and the mascot—a ray of light instead of a tropical fish. The biggest change, though, was winning. Their remarkable transformation culminated with an appearance in the 2008 World Series.

Paul told the Ephesians of a much more dramatic turnaround—their own. The narrative in Ephesians 2 is succinct and powerful, and it is the story of every believer in Christ. But Paul's story ventures into territory modern Christians rarely explore. Not many stories today begin with the focal character being dead, but Paul told the conversion experience from a spiritual perspective. Spiritually speaking, a person without faith is dead in sin. Such a person isn't merely dead, but also controlled by wicked forces, presumably under the authority and influence of Satan (v. 2). That dreadful background of sin, death, and wicked subservience is common to us all, and we all deserved destruction (v. 3).

The process from death to life isn't very complicated, according to Paul's telling of the story. According to Ephesians 2, the conversion story of believers is essentially as basic and glorious as Paul's was—God loved us, and in His mercy He gave us life. As we see it unfold, the details vary and the timeline can be extended. But from God's perspective, He has already raised us up and given us a heavenly seat next to Jesus (v. 6)!

From lowly beginning to exultant conclusion, the story of a believer's salvation is much bigger than we tend to realize, encompassing the reign of Satan and the conquering victory of Jesus Christ. And not a bit of that story has anything to do with our own merits. We are saved by the grace of God. We are living examples of God's loving-kindness at work.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It is relatively easy to think that God's grace is responsible for our salvation, but it is much more difficult to believe in our hearts and apply in our attitudes. Pride stirs within us waiting for an opportunity to erupt—the best way to defeat it is to praise God for what He has done. Verbally give Him credit for everything He has given you, especially your salvation. And don't just praise Him on Sunday mornings; incorporate praise of God into your everyday conversation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 14:1-11
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1941, the whooping crane was on the brink of extinction; a single migrating flock of 15 birds comprised the entire population of the species. To help introduce more flocks into the wild, a group called Operation Migration trains whooping cranes that have been raised in captivity to fly south for the winter using a human-guided aircraft. The birds trust one human alone, recognizing him as a parent from the moment they hatch. They will follow him and only him to a migration spot thousands of miles away—and after the winter, they return home.

The technique that is saving the whooping crane resembles, in a sense, Christ's method for leading us to our heavenly home. Jesus' message to the disciples in this passage begins with the thought of a home in heaven. He gave them assurance that He was going to prepare a heavenly residence where they would join the Father. But He mystified them with the notion that they already knew how to get there.

Christ's explanation was profound for His audience then and remains so today. He alone is the way to the Father; He alone portrays the truth of who the Father is; and He alone gives eternal life in communion with the Father. We may not be able to plot our eternal destiny on a map, but we know exactly how to get there—Jesus is the Way.

This passage refutes two common heresies. One is the belief that many paths will get to God. Jesus allowed for no such multiplicity (v. 6). He followed up His exclusive claim with an even bolder one: that seeing Him was tantamount to seeing the Father. This claim speaks against the heresy that Jesus merely has a close relationship with God but does not possess a divine nature. Philip missed the gravity of Jesus' statement, probably expecting Jesus to unveil the glory of the Father in a separate grand display. He echoed Moses' request in Exodus 33:18-23 when God told him, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” But Jesus was the unveiling. They had seen God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Pondering the exclusive claims of Jesus triggers feelings of sorrow for those who have never heard His name or refuse to believe He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Sometimes this sorrow provokes our fears of being narrow-minded or cruel, but that's the wrong perspective. Look through the eyes of Christ, not through the darkness of this world. Introduce someone to Jesus today, and trust Him to open eyes. To do so is to reflect His compassion and love; it is not close-minded, but open-hearted.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 5:1-11
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. - Romans 5:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Katherine Harmon's book, You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination, differs greatly from a standard atlas. She compiled instead a great variety of essays, illustrations, and pictures that map out emotions, life stories, and philosophical concepts, including a “Geographical Guide to a Man's Heart with Obstacles and Entrances Clearly Marked.”

In Romans 5, Paul gives readers another unconventional map: a “You Are Here” guide to the course of salvation. He reminds them about where their faith had taken them in the heavenly realms, where they stood in the grace of God, and where they were headed in eternal glory. It is a helpful resource for any believer who feels lost, confused, or discouraged by their current circumstances.

The first two verses give us a quick synopsis of past, present, and future salvation while the rest of the passage expounds upon those stages. The first point on the map was God's love for us, even while we were sinners (v. ; indeed we were His enemies (v. 10)! Despite our lowly status, God gave His Son to die for the ungodly. Paul emphasized that it was God, and not us, who originated this journey. Then, at the moment we first believed in Christ, we were declared righteous in God's eyes. That path brought us into a state of peace with God as our relationship with Him was restored or reconciled.

Our current state of reconciliation with God was one reason Paul gave for us to rejoice right now (v. 11). The other cause for celebration in the here and now was actually our lack of peace with the world. Our present sufferings cause us to persevere toward the future, shaping us into the people God wants us to be and creating in us a longing for the glory that awaits (v. 4). We have a hope that is emboldened by the Spirit of God pouring the love of God straight into our hearts (v. 5)! Our hope points toward the ultimate destination on the salvation map: being spared from the wrath of God and sharing instead in His eternal glory (vv. 2, 9).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Why not spend some time today mapping out the course of your salvation? You don't need to draw out an actual map (although doing so would certainly make for an interesting illustration). At the very least, write down some of the key points in your journey of faith. Include among them God's love for you from the beginning, the sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross, and the eternal glory that awaits you in heaven. Be encouraged that your present situation is a part of that glorious path toward Christ!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 10:22-30
They shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. - John 10:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
People suffering from hypochondria are overcome with fear that they have contracted a serious disease despite all assurances to the contrary. The stress and anxiety can be so acute that the fear of sickness can cause real symptoms such as heart palpitations, stomach pain, and tingling in the extremities. One of the only treatments for this irrational fear of disease is cognitive behavioral therapy, a process of reconfiguring the way people think about and act toward their health.

The question of eternal security can induce a form of spiritual hypochondria. When we concentrate on our sins rather than on our Savior, we can be overcome with fear about our eternal destiny. We begin to ask the question about ourselves or others, “Would a true believer really do that?” But sin is a condition that afflicts us all. For our spiritual health, we should turn our eyes to the One who can heal us.

The Jews in today's passage were asking the more appropriate question: Was Jesus the Christ? Unfortunately, they were oblivious to the answer. If they truly believed in who Jesus was, they would have recognized what His miraculous works had said about Him and followed Him—not just by following His example of righteousness, but with entirety of purpose. Those who are truly His sheep know His calling and would follow only Him. They are still vulnerable to wandering, as sheep are prone to do, but they never forget the Shepherd. What's more, He never forgets them (v. 27).

The process of salvation as Jesus described it is fascinating. The Father gives believers to Jesus, believers follow Him, and it is Jesus who gives them eternal life. The security of the believer then rests entirely in the almighty grip of Jesus and His Father, who are one in unity (while remaining distinct Persons). Jesus managed to give believers supreme hope that nothing could take their eternal life away while at the same time dashing the hopes of anyone who rejected Him. The Jews understood the implication of Jesus' statement, even though they didn't believe it. They tried to stone Him for blasphemy.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe your salvation in Christ is secure? Remember that your faith is not in the doctrine of eternal security—it's in the One from whose hand we can never be snatched! You are not saved by your lack of sin, your good works, or anything other than faith in Christ. If you truly believe in Christ, live for Him and obey Him. Instead of counting the sins of other believers, we should be more concerned with people who appear to do good but fail to recognize Christ as their Savior.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 10:4-13
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. - Joel 2:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
In one of his final addresses to the people of Israel, Moses laid out before them a simple choice: life or death, blessing or curse, obedience or wickedness, loyalty or rebellion (Deut. 30:19). The Israelites could either remain with God and enjoy life or abandon Him and reap death. It wasn't a test of their abilities but a question of their will. Moses informed them that the Word was not out of their reach (Deut. 30:11-14) and that God would impart unto them the ability to obey it (Deut. 30:6).

Moses was speaking about the Word of God that was delivered to His people in the form of the law. In today's reading, Paul overlaid the image of Christ against the backdrop of Moses' well-known speech. He quoted the passage three times (vv. 6-8 use excerpts from Deut. 30:12-14) to draw a parallel between the written Word of God (the law) and the Word made flesh (Christ). Just as God had made His law available to the people, He also made His Son accessible.

No one needed to ascend to the heavens, because the Son of God was born on earth. And no one needed to cross over into the world of the dead, for Christ had risen! Believing in your heart in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is to be saved, with Him and through Him, from death. It's a simple choice: life or death, Jesus or anything else. And believing in Jesus' true identity as the Son of God is equally important.

In his address in Deuteronomy 30, Moses used the word Lord or the Lord your God 15 times in 20 verses. Paul wasn't just drawing a connection between the law of the Old Testament and the Word of the New; he was identifying Jesus Christ with Yahweh, the Lord of Israel. To a Jewish audience, this was no small statement. Confessing with their mouths that Jesus is Lord was to acknowledge that He was more than just a man. Jesus the Nazarene was and is one with the God of Heaven. That confession, speaking the truth about who Jesus is, brings justification and permission to enter God's presence.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? If you are saying “yes” for the first time or the four hundredth time, you will find salvation through that belief. You are not on your own now to produce righteousness. Unlike physical birth, upon which a baby is separated from its mother, spiritual birth brings you into life in connection with Christ. Don't let a day go by without acknowledging that Jesus is Lord. Let that truth be the beginning of a day of serving Him in obedience.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 5:1-10
Once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. - Hebrews 5:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The word monopoly usually carries a negative connotation, but sometimes it's really a good thing. A patent is a sort of monopoly that protects an inventor from having his idea stolen and copied. Natural monopolies mean only one entity can provide goods or services. Typically public utilities have been natural monopolies, and some small towns might have only one doctor. In these cases, one option is better than none at all, especially when your well being is at stake.

Christians are often accused of unfairly believing that Jesus has a monopoly on salvation. But other objects of faith aren't able to give people access to heaven for the simple reason that they lack the power to do it. Jesus Christ has a supernatural monopoly on salvation because He alone has the unique capability to usher sinful people into communion with a holy God. The writer of Hebrews called Him “the source of eternal salvation,” (v. 9) and explained how He is superior to every high priest before Him.

As a bridge between God and man, a high priest had to be connected to both. Despite his lofty position, a high priest was chosen from among the people and was guilty of sins just like they were. He needed to identify with the weaknesses of the people he was representing. His connection with God and the opportunity to intercede came not from his own merits but from the fact that God bestowed the honor upon him (v. 4). In that sense, Christ was no different.

Jesus didn't bypass the procedure for becoming high priest. He was born as a man. He was appointed by God. He endured the sufferings and weaknesses of human form, and although He never sinned, He was tempted as we are (Heb. 4:15). The One who needed no sacrifice became ours, and He who demands our obedience was obedient Himself. In so doing, He became the perfect High Priest who can both fully identify with our role as followers and yet perfectly commune with our Holy Father. Jesus is the sole source of salvation because He alone was able to pay the price (v. 9).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe that Jesus can completely identify with your sufferings? Do you really accept that He is also divine? And given those two amazing truths, do you also believe that He represents you before God? If so, things like worry, selfishness, and pride have no place in the equation. Respond to that truth in two ways. First, be humbled that you have a place in the divine plan; second, be empowered to serve Christ in whatever way He asks.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 2:10-22
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. - Ephesians 2:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2003, representatives from the Hatfield and McCoy families signed a truce to put an official end to the feud that had ended practically a century ago. The once embattled relationship has now become the center of an annual co-family reunion with attendance in the thousands, echoing the prayer included in the treaty: “We ask by God's grace and love that we be forever remembered as those that bound together the hearts of two families to form a family of freedom in America.” Israel might be known today for conflict with Palestinians, but in Paul's day a different division took center stage. Today's reading begins with the results of salvation for the individual, but it culminates in a much broader result of salvation: the unification of Israel and the church, two groups who have been divided by history, controversy, and a principal disagreement on the identity of Christ. As we begin studying the results of salvation, we see quickly that salvation leads to the impossible becoming not only possible but also expected. Before our salvation, doing good works to please God was futile (Isa. 64:6), but after salvation good works become our preordained purpose. We are also saved unto unity both with God and with other believers—most notably, God's chosen nation of Israel. In our current global climate, the heart of today's passage might still appear to be impossible. How could Jesus both divide and unite these two groups? But we mustn't make the mistake of confusing popular opinion with the will of God. The truth is, there are many people of Jewish descent who believe in Christ—Paul being a notable example. And through Christ we have all been brought near to God and together with each other. Now all who believe in the name of Christ are united under the same head and the same covenant. We are saved from division and are united in Christ, created unto good works and constantly being built together as one (v. 22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Upon the moment of faith, a believer is indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), but the individual is not His only dwelling place. Paul also described the body of believers from all backgrounds as part of a holy temple being built together as His dwelling place. Unity is a must in the house of the Lord. Put aside any petty divisions both in your church and outside your denomination and long and pray to be united with all believers by the One who brings us peace, Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 2:14-26
Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. - Philippians 2:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Near the end of the nineteenth century, a young doctor abandoned his general practice to specialize in ophthalmology. His status as an eye doctor, though, soon became a matter of philosophical debate: is a doctor with no patients really a doctor? Without any patients calling or visiting, the so-called doctor had plenty of spare time to focus on other things, like writing. And that is why the failed ophthalmologist, Arthur Conan Doyle, is better known as an author than a doctor.

Such is the problem of a Christian whose faith never results in good works—he is like a doctor who doesn't practice medicine. Just as Sir Conan Doyle was fully capable of treating patients, a believer is empowered by faith unto righteousness (Eph. 2:10). But without good works, our faith becomes little more than a work of fiction. James called that kind of faith useless and dead, asking rhetorically if such faith is truly saving faith (v. 14).

This passage is controversial in light of Paul's assertion that justification comes not by works but by faith. For the sake of argument, he presented faith and works as separate and distinct elements. The book of James makes an important clarification: practically, faith and works form a connection as vital as the spirit and the body. Just as the spirit departs when a body dies, the absence of good works signifies a dead faith.

James referred to the example of Abraham, who was commended for his faith—and his faith was substantiated by his actions. Imagine what the book of Genesis would look like had Abraham believed God but stayed home. A Christian who does no more good works than a demon can hardly take heart in the merit of their faith! Still, we must remember that faith is a prerequisite to doing anything pleasing to God (Heb. 11:6). Works without faith is like a doctor who has never attended medical school—without faith, we completely lack the qualifications for righteousness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This topic has provoked difficult debate, but it's remarkably simple to live out. Doctors practice medicine. Lawyers practice law. Writers write. Builders build. In the same manner, Christians live like Christ. We shouldn't wonder how many good works we have to do or try to gauge the quality of other believers' good deeds. Focus instead on obeying God's Word. Following Christ is what you do. If you believe in Him, carry out the mission and the purpose He laid out for you. That's no mystery.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 4:17-32
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. - Romans 12:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
There's an old saying about ideas that are straightforward to some people but incomprehensible to others: “For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't understand, no explanation is possible.” Many Bible passages fall into this category, as a lack of understanding often has to do more with the will than the intellect.

Today's passage is a good example. You could gain a lifetime's worth of wisdom by reading Paul's instructions to the Ephesians in these verses without additional commentary. The truth is easy to follow and simple to understand. Were it not for that matter of our old selves residing in our flesh, Paul's exhortation would be extremely easy to apply as well. But someone who doesn't believe that this is the Word of God might not understand this text.

The opening three verses read like a commentary on today's society. Paul put a particularly strong emphasis on the importance of the mind. The Gentile culture was so desensitized and steeped in spiritual ignorance that people had an insatiable addiction to gross sensual indulgence. Their minds were clouded and their hearts hardened. It's interesting that their downfall was mental and spiritual before the physical aspect ever came into play.

Believers were not immune to that same kind of lust—in fact, they were saved from it. Paul insisted on a simple internal adjustment that would result in a complete lifestyle transformation: cast aside the old self and put on the new by accepting a new, godly mindset. His portrait of what their new lives should look like is not the stuff of advanced theology. Any believer can understand these commandments. By God's grace we are saved from the darkness of a worldly mindset and the hardened hearts bred by skepticism and self-sufficiency. The new life God has for us is one of righteousness, holiness, and service that benefits others.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Don't ever believe the accusation that Christianity forbids thinking. A mind clouded in ignorance is just another feature of the old self that Paul insists we do away with. Today, try to make a connection between the things you do, feel, and say and the mindset behind each one of them. Are your activities based on biblical truth or personal desires? Is your conversation or emotional state fueled by anger or governed by the Word and Spirit of God? Ask God to renew your mind where it is most needed.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. - 1 Corinthians 15:42-43
TODAY IN THE WORD
To children familiar with the Bible, John 11:35 may be a helpful bit of trivia as the shortest verse in the Bible. But to anyone whose spirit is bending under the load of grief from losing a loved one, the two-word verse can be a source of immense encouragement. Because the death of a good friend, even one who would be raised to life in mere moments, deeply affected even our Lord and Savior. When He visited the grave of Lazarus, “Jesus wept.”

As bottomless as our mourning over death may be, there is no limit to the joy of knowing that God gives us the ultimate victory over death through Jesus Christ (v. 57)! To capture the monumental significance of Jesus' power, Paul quoted from two Old Testament prophets. The first was Isaiah 25:8, which contains a promise of salvation; the second, Hosea 13:14, originally served as a proclamation of death and judgment. The ironic interplay of these passages shows how the fulfilled promise of grace ultimately absorbed and conquered the penalty of man's original sin, “You will surely die” (Gen. 2:17).

Every sickness, injury, and sign of aging we feel in our bones is a reminder of our mortality. Weakness and suffering have no place in the kingdom of God, and by His grace we will be free of all those impurities when we receive our inheritance, even the lethal impurity of sin (v. 56). Unlike the raising of Lazarus, we won't just return to life when the angelic trumpet calls us home (1 Thess. 4:16-17); rather, we will be changed into a incorruptible form superior to our fallen flesh.

Some may wonder if the promise of future glory makes our current struggles in this sinful world a moot point, but the exact opposite is true. While our work toward earthly goals may have little bearing in eternity, our service of Christ for the kingdom of God has effects that will last forever! We are working on the side of victory, and spiritual treasure is an investment that bears everlasting fruit.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 is filled with uplifting, challenging teaching about the resurrection in which we share through our faith in Christ. Read through the chapter and observe the dual purpose of Paul's exhortation to the church at Corinth, and indeed to all who believe. First, the teaching gives us peace of mind when circumstances might cause us grief or worry. But secondly, the truth of eternal resurrection dramatically affects the way we live—ask God for an eternal focus and the purity of heart that it demands.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Peter 1:14-25
“Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” - Leviticus 19:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the third book in his series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams introduced a strategy for flying that just might be the definition of “easier said than done.” He wrote that the knack of flight “lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

Unfortunately for believers, sin often seems to be as irresistible a force as gravity. Yet Peter issued the simple command without reservation: be holy as God is holy. The holiness that Peter described was more than just living a life of good works, another product of our salvation. Peter was calling believers to be distinct or set apart from the world and the worldly desires that had dominated their lives. Rather than desiring to succeed in this material world, we should be looking to break free from it. Believers should live in this world as outsiders who fear the sovereign God more than the status quo (v. 17). But is that easier said than done?

It helps to remember that we have “outside” help, in that we were purchased with currency that is absolutely foreign to this world. In that sense, we already have been made strangers by faith in the perfect Lamb sent from heaven to redeem us (vv. 19-21). And we have been purified and reborn, not through our own ideas or the wisdom of this world, but instead by the Word of God. The lives left for us to live are the product of heavenly fruit, and remembering that truth can help us avoid falling into earthly temptation.

“Be holy, because I am holy,” may seem at first glance as an oversimplified approach to life, but ultimately, it is a straightforward decision. With whom will we identify? With the world surrounding us, all the entertainment, possessions, and pleasures that it offers? Or will we identify with God, who bought us with the blood of Christ and gave us life through power of His Word? If our hearts truly long for Him instead of for the things of this world, holiness will be the end result. It is God's holiness that actually makes it possible for us, His followers, to follow in this way.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Practically speaking, it's important to recognize what holiness isn't. It isn't a life away from those below your superior qualifications. The main practical application of holiness given in this passage is love. If you believe God calls you to holiness, then you should follow God's example of holiness. Although He wanted no part of the world system, He loved the world so much that He would give the life of His Son to redeem us. Practice holiness today by loving people in an unlovely world, no matter the cost.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of a dream: a world in which his children would be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. This dream seemed almost unattainable, because people often evaluated each other using superficial criteria like skin color and labels instead of morality and truth. While racism is not as prominent now as it once was, society still attaches too much value to the surface and too little on the heart.

As Paul wrote in the second half of today's reading, we have an answer for those who take pride in what is seen (v. 12). We have an answer for those who think a believer is a mad man (v. 13). We received an answer to our own ignorance. Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself, and now we are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation (vv. 19-20)! The world is operating on a gross misapprehension, and it is our duty to plead with them to change their minds. Our mission, our dream, is more than the worthy goals of social justice or racial reconciliation—we are called to bring about worldwide spiritual reconciliation!

Now let's look back at the beginning of today's reading, where the contrast of the visible and the invisible weighs heavily in Paul's writing. Our earthly bodies are crumbling like homes in ill repair, we fear death, yet we long to be with the Lord. It is in this broken dwelling place that we are forced to ignore what we see and live by faith. What we don't yet see, what we wait for with hopeful anticipation, is our heavenly dwelling place, our resurrected spiritual body, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Despite our outward appearance, we are new creations in Christ. To the naked eye, nothing about a believer is visibly different. But we believe that from an eternal perspective, our old selves are gone and replaced with newly born creations in the image of Christ. Our mission to change the world begins with a personal transformation—we are saved from sin and we offer that salvation to the world!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you believe that you are a new creation in Christ? Then you know what you need to do. You can face the fear of death and suffering with assurance of your heavenly home. You can endure the taunts of an unbelieving world with confidence in the spiritual truth you understand so plainly. You can, and together we must, plead with nonbelievers to accept the truth about salvation: that Christ died for the world and was raised again, so that we might have eternal life and live for Him!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Micah 1:1-2
Hear, O peoples, all of you, listen, O earth, and all who are in it. - Micah 1:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some people tend to like their spirituality quick and easy. After all, there's work to do, places to go, people to see. Holiness? I'll listen to a podcast while I exercise. Servanthood? Our Sunday school class is doing a DVD series on that. Bible study? The One-Minute Bible—and yes, there really is such a thing—is a lifesaver. Patience? Who's got time for that? Products abound to feed us Christianity in bite-size servings, especially while we do other activities such as commuting, cooking, and answering e-mail.

Treating our faith as eat-and-run fast food does not do it justice, and certainly leaves no room for appreciating the “minor prophets.” But Micah, Habakkuk, and Malachi, the three books we'll study this month, are “minor” only in the sense that they are short. In fact, they are as Spirit-inspired as every other book of the Bible. Micah's name means “Who is like the Lord?”, a rhetorical question that indicates God's incomparable greatness. Micah prophesied during the same general period as Isaiah (v. 1). His themes include judgment, hope, salvation, idolatry, injustice, worship, covenant faithfulness, leadership, repentance, and the coming of the Messiah.

During his ministry, the kings were mostly disappointing—Jotham was weak, Ahaz was wicked, and only Hezekiah initiated spiritual reforms. Micah may not have seen these bear fruit, however, since it is believed he died early in Hezekiah's reign. Other than his hometown of Moresheth, a village 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem, nothing is known of his biography.

The summons to listen in verse 2 is repeated two other places in the book (3:1; 6:1). These calls serve to divide Micah into three main sections, each of which communicates a message built around the main themes of judgment and salvation. Interestingly, the call is to all the peoples of the world, not only Israel and Judah. “Holy temple” is a figurative expression for heaven and a reminder of the covenant. Through this book, heaven is calling earth to come and witness the justice of God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear” Jesus said (Luke 8:. As we study Micah, Habakkuk, and Malachi this month, pray for ears to hear and a heart open to receive God's words as given through these three “minor prophets.” God was speaking for the benefit not only of the original audience, but also to believers like us. Pray that the Holy Spirit will teach you key truths and show you how to apply them in your daily spiritual walk.