TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 34:28-35
He was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. - Exodus 34:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
Moses took several spiritual tumbles on his way to “sainthood.” The odds were against him, since he grew up in a pagan palace household in Egypt. When he first chose to act on behalf of God's people, he murdered a man and fled for his life. His later career featured such memorable incidents as arguing with a burning bush that he was unfit for his calling, complaining often about the people he was trying to lead, breaking the original stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, and publicly disobeying the Lord's instructions during a miraculous provision of water.

Yet God's grace worked in, through, and despite Moses. Indeed, in today's reading God's presence and glory were reflected in Moses' very face (v. 29). He met with God for a special, extended time of forty days and forty nights, during which he received the Law. He must have been supernaturally sustained, for during this time he ate no food and drank no water.

When he finally came back down the mountain, the people responded with holy fear. They were afraid to come near him, even though the priests and leaders eventually did approach to receive the word of the Lord. After that, as an empathetic nod to the humanity of the Israelites and a sign of respect for the special privilege of meeting with God, Moses wore a veil over his face to conceal the radiance, that is, the glory of God reflected in his face. Like the moon, he generated no light of his own but reflected the glory of God to the people.

Later, Paul used Moses' radiant face to symbolize the contrast between the old and new covenants (2 Cor. 3:12-18). In the old covenant, Moses had to put a veil over his face, but in the new covenant established by Christ, all believers reflect the Lord's glory openly, with unveiled faces, as part of the glory of redemption. We are being transformed into the likeness of Christ—bringing God glory!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If someone as imperfect as Moses could reflect God's glory, then there's hope for us all! If we live righteously, we can “shine like stars in the universe” against the dark backdrop of a “crooked and depraved generation” (Phil. 2:15). If we do good deeds, our light can shine before others and bring God praise and glory (Matt. 5:16). If we follow in the footsteps of Christ, our “radiance” can spread the gospel throughout the world, just as God planned for His glory from ages past.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 100
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! - 2 Corinthians 9:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Some visitors to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, are gaining a new appreciation for the thank-you note. Instead of coming back to an expired parking meter to find a $15 parking ticket, these first-time violators find a note that reads, “Thank you for visiting downtown Chapel Hill”! When the city council realized that about one third of parking citations were issued to first-time visitors and that some of these visitors weren't inclined to come back for another visit after getting a ticket, they decided that thanks might be a better approach. No doubt these fortunate people were uttering a few thank-you's of their own!

From a young age, children are taught to say “thank-you” when someone gives them something. This is certainly appropriate! The same is true for our relationship with God. But a biblical understanding of thanksgiving, which is our focus for this month, goes beyond giving thanks for specifics to being grateful in any circumstance. It doesn't mean thanking the Lord for things that are wrong or unjust in our lives. It means intentionally cultivating a grateful heart. And the key to cultivating such a heart begins with focusing on who God is and who we are in relationship to Him.

This kind of thanksgiving is what we see in Psalm 100. Together, Psalms 96 through 100 form a small praise hymnal that calls God's people to worship. The opening two verses in Psalm 100 invite us to enter God's presence with joy and singing. Verse 3 reminds us that we have been made by God—we are His sheep! The next two verses continue the call to praise and worship. Then in verse 5, we are reminded that the Lord's loving kindness is everlasting.

In this short psalm, we find two important principles for cultivating a grateful heart. First, we begin with the core truth that we have been made by God—we belong to Him (v. 3). Second, we focus on His nature—He is good and His love never ends.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
November is certainly an appropriate month to focus on thanksgiving. Yet too often thanks- giving is limited to specific blessings or a holiday once a year. Psalm 100, however, shows us that gratitude is a way of life. So to prepare for our study this month, list some things for which you're thankful. Then list some things that are hard to be grateful for. Throughout this month, take a look back at this list and see how the Lord has been challenging and reshaping your thinking on this important topic.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 1:27-31; 2:8-25
God . . . richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. - 1 Timothy 6:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
On May 9, 2009, Ben Southall found that he was about to start a new job. But if you were thinking business suits and ties, you'd be wrong. How about shorts and sun block instead? Ben beat out nearly 35,000 other applicants to become the “caretaker” for Hamilton Island, off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. For six months, Ben will live in an oceanfront villa on a beautiful tropical island, with a job description that includes snorkeling, exploring the island, and enjoying beautiful sunsets. For many people, this so-called job sounds like paradise!

Many people might imagine paradise to look a lot like Hamilton Island. But as beautiful and lush as this island is, it would pale in comparison with the Garden of Eden. Notice the repetition of every and all in Genesis 1 and 2 . . . every seed-bearing plant, every green plant, all the beasts on the earth, all the birds in the air. This emphasis underscores God's abundance and provision.

Genesis 1 summarizes creation, focusing on the totality of God's work. Genesis 2, however, presents the creation account again, only this time focusing on God's creation of humanity. Notice how intimately God guides Adam through all creation to show him his need for human companionship. And notice how gratefully Adam received God's provision!

As we read these two accounts, it's easy to see that every human need was met in the garden. The garden's abundance guaranteed no lack of food. Intimacy with God ensured spiritual fulfillment. The gift of Eve meant companionship. What a picture of a loving God faithfully, lovingly, and generously providing all that humanity needed. How could Adam and Eve have wanted more than what they had in the garden? In our study tomorrow, we'll see that the serpent took advantage of a powerful vulnerability within humans—the tendency to be ungrateful for what they have.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Genesis 1 and 2 make it clear that humans are created with certain needs. In addition to basics, such as food, we need to be valued, have purpose for our lives, and connect with God and others. Sometimes we try to deny these needs, especially when we can't see how they're being met. But to deny these needs is to deny our humanity! Instead, Genesis 1 and 2 encourage us to thank God for how He has created us. These passages also assure us that God does faithfully provide what we need—when we need it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 3:1-19
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. - Psalm 103:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
The classic novel, Robinson Crusoe, chronicles the tale of a young Englishman who defiantly heads off against his parents' wishes to find adventure and fortune. Crusoe eventually finds himself marooned on a deserted island, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. All alone, he begins to reflect on his life and to turn to God. During his years on the island, Crusoe keeps a journal of his reflections. At one point, he observes, “All our Discontents about what we want, appeared to me, to spring from the Want of Thankfulness for what we have.”

Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, could not have found truer words to describe humanity's failure to be thankful for what God has given. Recall from yesterday's study that Genesis 1 and 2 make clear that God provided everything—in abundance!—that humans needed to thrive in the garden. Yet today's passage shows that they were still vulnerable to temptation because they shifted their focus away from God's provision.

We're not told where the serpent came from. We can, however, learn a lot about his strategies by looking at how he approached Eve. First, he immediately cast doubt on what God said (v. 1). We know that God told Adam directly not to eat from the tree of knowledge (Gen. 2:17). It's likely that Adam then instructed Eve about this tree. But notice how the serpent directly refuted this command (v. 4). He then went on to suggest that God was withholding something desirable from Adam and Eve. Once doubt was sown, Eve suddenly looked at the forbidden fruit in a different light.

It seems safe to say that before her conversation with the serpent, Eve delighted in gazing upon all the beautiful trees throughout the garden, perhaps marveling at their seemingly endless variety. All of a sudden, her focus was riveted on the one tree that was off-limits. Then, using her own wisdom, not God's, she ate it—and Adam ate with her.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you're like most people, it's probably not hard to list the “discontents” in your life. Maybe you've unhappy in your job. Maybe you've had it with your out-dated kitchen appliances. Maybe you're frustrated with your spouse or kids. It's often easier to focus on what we don't have, rather than be thankful for what we do have. But Genesis 3 shows us how dangerous this attitude can be. Now would be a good time to ask the Lord to redirect your focus to what He has already given to you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 1:18-32
They have perverted their ways and have forgotten the Lord their God. - Jeremiah 3:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
If ever someone had a bright future, it would have to be Solomon. When he became the king of Israel, the kingdom was at its zenith. His father, David, left large sums of money and supplies so that Solomon could build the temple. His request for wisdom was amply supplied by God. What could go wrong. But something did go horribly wrong. Solomon ended up with a thousand wives and concubines and a kingdom poised to split. Even worse, he worshiped foreign gods and “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (1 Kings 11:6).

In today's passage from Romans, we find a similar spiral into idolatry. Although Romans 1 describes nonbelievers, and Solomon apparently knew the Lord, it's remarkable how the refusal to acknowledge God and to give Him thanks ultimately leads to idolatry in both cases.

Romans shows the power of the gospel to save all people. It begins by explaining that all are sinners. Romans 2 points out that even Jews who have God's Word are not saved apart from faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 1 focuses on those who have not had God's written revelation, but who are still accountable because of the ways God has revealed Himself throughout His Creation (v. 20).

The progression through increasing perversity is difficult to read. It's easy to miss, however, that this decline begins by failing to give God glory and thanks (v. 21). Even nonbelievers are without excuse for not looking gratefully upon the evidence of God's hand all around them in creation. Seeing God in creation does not have the ability to save someone apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet the sure evidence of God in the created realm should evoke a sense of gratitude that prepares hearts for the gospel. When the truth of God as Creator is suppressed (v. 17), the mind becomes darkened and idolatry follows.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In his commentary on Romans, Martin Luther wrote, “See, then, how great an evil ingratitude is: it produces a love for vanity, and this results in blindness, and blindness in idolatry, and idolatry brings about a whole whirlpool of vices.” His observation certainly applies to Solomon's life and to those in Romans 1. How about your life? Are there areas where ingratitude is leading to idolatry? What about the “discontents” that you identified from yesterday's study? Could they shift your focus away from the one true God?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Nehemiah 9:1-37
You forgot the God who gave you birth. - Deuteronomy 32:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
On March 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln wrote the following words: “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!”

These words proclaimed a day when the nation would come together for remembrance. This preceded the proclamation for a day of Thanksgiving, which came a few months later (see November 26). There's a solid precedent for declaring special days to commemorate God's faithfulness through repentance and then thanks- giving. The Israelites were commanded to observe several annual feasts, all of which gave thanks for God's faithful provision and protection.

Today's passage records the prayer that followed Ezra's reading of the Law and the celebration of the Feast of Booths (Neh. 8:13-18). This feast reminded the people of God's protection for the nation as they wandered in the wilderness before their children entered the land. This beautiful prayer retraces Israel's history, beginning with Abraham until Nehemiah's time, when the exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem. Notice the focus on God's utter faithfulness (vv. 5-15; 19-25) and the people's forgetfulness (vv. 16-18; 26-31). Implicit throughout this survey of Israel's history is the clear connection between forgetfulness and ingratitude. When the people stopped thanking God for His provision, they ended up forgetting God altogether. After confessing their ingratitude, Nehemiah 10 then records the covenant renewal ceremony in which the people rededicated themselves to God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Several times in our study we've seen the link between forgetting who God is, or what He has done, and ingratitude. This is why God commanded annual feasts, such as Passover and the Feast of Booths. Similarly, we celebrate Thanksgiving to remember God's faithfulness. But there's no need to limit ourselves to this holiday. Consider having monthly gatherings with friends or family to remember God's faithfulness through the past month. Or, perhaps, make time during weekly Bible studies for offering thanks to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 17:11-19
He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. - Luke 17:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
n September 8, 1860, a crowded passenger steamer, the Lady Elgin, ran into problems just off the shore of Evanston, Illinois. Although hundreds of passengers died, several survivors clung to the ship's wreckage. As horrified observers on the shore watched, a seminary student name Edward Spencer, part of the volunteer lifesaving team and a committed Christian, swam out to save these survivors. Despite rough waves and cold water, Spencer eventually brought seventeen passengers to safety. His bravery took a heavy toll on his body, however, and he never fully recovered. Spencer died at age 81 in California. According to his funeral notice, not one of the people that he had rescued ever thanked him for saving their lives.

What a striking parallel to the account in today's passage! Levitical law required lepers not to associate with others (Lev. 13:45-46). The term leprosy in Scripture is used for a number of infectious skin diseases, all of which made the afflicted person socially ostracized and spiritually isolated from religious life. Supernatural healing of lepers was one of the evidences of Jesus' divinity. Once healed, a leper appeared before a priest, both to confirm the healing and to be made ceremonially clean. Then the person could return to the community.

Leprosy and other infectious skin diseases were dreaded in the ancient world, just as they are today. Gratitude would have been a natural response for anyone healed from such a disease. Yet today's passage tells us that only one of the ten who were healed gave thanks to Jesus. Even more remarkably, this person was a Samaritan. You may recall from previous Bible studies that Jews did not associate with Samaritans, mainly because the Samaritans accepted only the first five books of the Bible and had their own center of worship away from Jerusalem. Today's account occurs in a larger section of Luke's Gospel that shows that many foreigners were coming to know Jesus, even though many Jews were rejecting Him. Salvation comes to those who come to Jesus, regardless of their religious heritage.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Giving thanks is always a good thing to do. Is there someone who was instrumental in your becoming a Christian? Or someone who has been a significant part of your maturity as a believer? Now might be a good time to send a note or e-mail to that person, letting him or her know how grateful you are for the way the Lord used them in your life. Now is also a great time to thank the Lord for the people and circumstances that He used to bring you into the kingdom.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 3:1-5
They neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. - Romans 1:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
The sixth-century church leader, Gregory the Great, is often credited with listing the “seven deadly sins,” which include pride, anger, envy, greed, sloth, gluttony, and lust. In 2005, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) conducted a poll asking respondents if this list was still relevant for today's society. Of Gregory's original list of seven sins, only greed was still considered a “relevant sin.” The survey then asked respondents to identify which so-called modern sins should be on the list instead. Respondents listed cruelty, hypocrisy, selfishness, wastefulness, dishonesty, bigotry, and adultery.

While we probably don't agree with the trend away from seeing pride and lust as sinful, we can note that the “modern” sins are also blameworthy. In fact, there's significant overlap between these lists and the one in today's passage. What is surprising, is the appearance of “ungrateful” in the middle of this passage. We've already seen the unexpected connection between ingratitude and those sins we're tempted to consider more serious in Romans 1. Like that passage, 2 Timothy 3 also shows that failing to be thankful ultimately indicates a failure to worship God.

Today's passage is set within the context of the end times, when the true nature of those who have rejected the Lord will be even more apparent. Notice that this passage really concerns love, specifically loving oneself more than loving God. Because these individuals have turned away from the true God, they have placed themselves at the disposal of the Evil One. With this in mind, it is not surprising to find that failing to give thanks to God is associated with more serious evil. We also saw this in our study on Genesis 3.

It follows logically from this passage that those who love God will be characterized by gratitude. This is exactly what we'll see in our studies for the next few days. We will also find that being grateful is one of the primary ways that we can deepen our love for God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
For the past few days we've been considering just how serious a sin of ingratitude is. Now might be a good time to go back to the list that you made at the beginning of our study and see if your thinking has changed regarding those things for which you are not thankful. How might you give thanks to God for even these items? Are there now things for which you are thankful that you hadn't thought about before? Has your understanding of ingratitude changed?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 15:1-18; 19:3-8
I will give thanks to him in song. - Psalm 28:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Yesterday we noted that gratitude is a characteristic of those who love God. We find a wonderful example of this in the life of a German pastor named Martin Rinckart, who was born in 1586. For three decades, he faithfully ministered to his own congregation as well as the entire town of Eilenburg, in Saxony, during the terrors of plague, severe famine, and war. During one particularly horrific year, Rinckart buried an estimated 5,000 people. In response to the peace agreement that ended the Thirty Years' War in 1636, Rinckart wrote the following words: “Now thank we all our God / With heart and hands and voices;/ Who wondrous things had done,/ In whom His world rejoices.” To this day, the outpouring of Rinckart's gratitude, expressed in this beloved hymn, continues to bless and encourage believers.

A similar expression of gratitude is found in Exodus 15. Moses' spontaneous praise song follows God's miraculous deliverance from Pharaoh's army as the Israelites left Egypt. Notice how Moses moves from thanking God for what He has done to crying out, “Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?” (v. 11). As we noted in several previous studies, failing to thank God went hand in hand with forgetting God and worshiping idols. Here we see just the opposite. Focusing on what God has done and praising Him leads naturally to worshiping Him. This passage also shows that there's a strong connection between praising and thanking God.

Soon after the Red Sea miracle, the people arrived at Mount Sinai to worship the Lord. In Exodus 19, we read of God's purposes for His people. They are to be a holy nation in the midst of all the nations on the earth. The reminder that God delivered them from Egypt (v. 4) indicates that part of this calling includes gratefully remembering God's great act of deliverance. As Bible scholar David Pao writes, “Thanksgiving is a way of life and it characterizes the covenant people.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's study shows that thanksgiving is an essential characteristic of God's people. As believers, we have the opportunity to bear witness to our faithful, loving God by giving thanks to Him. Perhaps you feel intimidated about sharing your faith with others, or you don't really know what to say. One way to get started might be to share with a nonbelieving friend or coworker how thankful you are to God for something in your life. An “attitude of gratitude” is often a powerful witness in a frequently ungrateful world.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 6:4-12
I rejoice in following your statutes. - Psalm 119:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Wresh family in Champlin, Minnesota, is thankful for a newly passed law that requires Minnesotans, whether drivers or passengers, to wear seat belts in cars. In July 2008, their son, Nick, was driving and apparently fell asleep at the wheel. He missed a curve in the road and hit some railroad tracks. After being ejected from the car, Nick was killed on impact. Authorities believe that Nick might have lived if he had been wearing a seat belt. Since Nick's death, his family has advocated for the new seat-belt law.

It's easy to see why the Wresh family is thankful for this new law, which is clearly intended to protect life. In today's passages we read about a far more important set of laws, the Ten Commandments. These laws are also intended to protect human life, although we don't always think about them in this way.

Notice that these commandments begin with the reminder of how God delivered the people from their slavery in Egypt.

This shows us that the Ten Commandments are much more than a legal code. They're an expression of a loving God who wants to give abundant life. When the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, they were confronted by pagan religions. They were also leaving behind numerous Egyptian gods and goddesses. So the first three commandments protect people from the horrors of idol worship, which is actually another type of slavery. We've already seen the dangers of forgetting what God has done, so the fourth commandment ensures that the people cease from their labors and intentionally focus on God's mighty acts, especially the Exodus.

The remaining six commandments all concern our relationships with other people. It's evident that the command not to murder protects life, but the other commandments are also designed to promote the fullness of life that God intended for his people. That's why Deuteronomy 6 puts so much emphasis on remembering God's laws.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps you've never associated the Ten Commandments with gratitude before. Read through each commandment and list some reasons why you can be thankful that God has given this command. For example, consider the last commandment. Think about the spiritual and emotional death that comes with coveting something that someone else has. Think about how this takes your focus away from what God has given you. This commandment protects you from a number of destructive emotions and experiences.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 6:4-12
I rejoice in following your statutes. - Psalm 119:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Wresh family in Champlin, Minnesota, is thankful for a newly passed law that requires Minnesotans, whether drivers or passengers, to wear seat belts in cars. In July 2008, their son, Nick, was driving and apparently fell asleep at the wheel. He missed a curve in the road and hit some railroad tracks. After being ejected from the car, Nick was killed on impact. Authorities believe that Nick might have lived if he had been wearing a seat belt. Since Nick's death, his family has advocated for the new seat-belt law.

It's easy to see why the Wresh family is thankful for this new law, which is clearly intended to protect life. In today's passages we read about a far more important set of laws, the Ten Commandments. These laws are also intended to protect human life, although we don't always think about them in this way.

Notice that these commandments begin with the reminder of how God delivered the people from their slavery in Egypt.

This shows us that the Ten Commandments are much more than a legal code. They're an expression of a loving God who wants to give abundant life. When the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, they were confronted by pagan religions. They were also leaving behind numerous Egyptian gods and goddesses. So the first three commandments protect people from the horrors of idol worship, which is actually another type of slavery. We've already seen the dangers of forgetting what God has done, so the fourth commandment ensures that the people cease from their labors and intentionally focus on God's mighty acts, especially the Exodus.

The remaining six commandments all concern our relationships with other people. It's evident that the command not to murder protects life, but the other commandments are also designed to promote the fullness of life that God intended for his people. That's why Deuteronomy 6 puts so much emphasis on remembering God's laws.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps you've never associated the Ten Commandments with gratitude before. Read through each commandment and list some reasons why you can be thankful that God has given this command. For example, consider the last commandment. Think about the spiritual and emotional death that comes with coveting something that someone else has. Think about how this takes your focus away from what God has given you. This commandment protects you from a number of destructive emotions and experiences.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 4:10-19
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. - Philippians 4:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author and breast-cancer survivor Erma Bombeck once said, "An estimated 1.5 million people are living today after bouts with breast cancer. Every time I forget to feel grateful to be among them, I hear the voice of an eight-year-old named Christina, who had cancer of the nervous system. When asked what she wanted for her birthday, she thought long and hard and finally said, 'I don't know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything!' The kid is right."

This little girl's attitude is a good reminder to focus on what we already have, and not what we want. This has been a recurrent theme in this month's study. Today's verse well summarizes this attitude. It's even more remarkable to learn that Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while in prison, most likely in Rome during Nero's reign.

The church in Philippi was the first church that Paul established in Europe. Overall, this congregation appears to have been spiritually healthy and strong. Much of the letter to the Philippians focuses on rejoicing in Christ.

Today's passage comes at the end of Paul's letter. It's clear that the Philippian church had been active in supporting Paul's missionary work and had previously sent him gifts (vv. 15-16). In the ancient world, prisoners relied upon family and friends for provisions while in prison. Thus the book of Philippians is, in part, Paul's “thank-you note” for the Philippians' continued support during his imprisonment. Even though he is grateful, Paul also wants to assure the Philippians that the many trials that he has endured for the gospel have taught him to be content regardless of his circumstances. Although verse 13 is sometimes quoted out of context, Paul's statement further affirms that there is no situation for which God will not supply what is needed. This is true not only for Paul, but also for the Philippians—and us—as well (v. 19).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Learning to be thankful in all circumstances is not the same as giving God thanks for cancer or some other terrible event. God uses tragedies, but His purposes are always for healing and wholeness, not for disease or destruction. So being content and thankful in all circumstances means seeing God's hand and provision even, or especially, in the midst of hard, or even terrible, situations. The “secret” of contentment therefore is to focus on our faithful, merciful God and the way He redeems the worst situations in our lives.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 18:8-11; Acts 16:11-34
I will praise you among the nations, O Lord. - Psalm 18:49
TODAY IN THE WORD
Several days ago (see November 8), we read Moses' great song of praise after the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. Then we read how God called the Israelites to be a holy nation that would bear witness to God. Sandwiched in between these passages is today's account of Moses' father-in-law. Notice Jethro's response when Moses recounted God's actions: “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods” (v. 11). This is a confession of faith! In other words, Jethro came to know who the Lord truly is because of Moses' gratitude. In today's passage from Acts, we see a similar connection between thanksgiving and witness.

Yesterday we read that Paul wrote to the Philippians while in prison. This was certainly not Paul's first imprisonment. Paul had even been in the jail in Philippi! In Acts 16, we read about the first convert in Philippi, Lydia. As Paul and Silas continued to share the gospel, they were followed by a girl possessed by some spirit that enabled her to predict the future.

After several days of being followed by her, Paul rebuked the evil spirit within her. Although this poor girl was set free, those profiting from her were very angry. Eventually, Paul and Silas were flogged and bound in leg irons. For many people, such circum- stances would not prompt praise songs! But this is exactly what Paul and Silas were doing.

Under Roman law, the jailor could have been executed had any of the prisoners escaped. This is why Paul assured him that none have fled (v. 29). The jailor's question to Paul about how to be saved reflects his understanding that his own life had been spared because the prisoners were all present. It seems that he had also been affected by Paul's and Silas's praise. Like the example of Jethro and Moses, gratitude to the Lord opened the way for others to respond to the Lord.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Several days ago, we suggested that sharing your gratitude for something that the Lord had done in your life with a nonbeliever might be a good way to share the gospel. Today's passages, especially Acts 16, also encourage us that when we respond to our circumstances, particularly the difficult ones, with gratitude to our Lord, we bear witness to others around us of His existence and His goodness. For many, gratitude to God and hardship do not go together, so our unexpected attitude offers food for thought.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 6:1-15, 22-51
Looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. - Matthew 14:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Last November, Joe and Chris Miller opened up the fields on their 600-acre farm in Platteville, Colorado, to “gleaners.” They had expected from 5,000 to 10,000 people to come for free potatoes, carrots, and leeks. Instead, over 40,000 people showed up in an estimated 11,000 vehicles! Chris said, “Overwhelmed is putting it mildly. People obviously need food.”

Some things never really change. In today's passage we read about another group of hungry people. As Jesus' fame spread, large crowds followed Him to see what miraculous things He might do (v. 2). After Jesus had spent the afternoon teaching this crowd, they were getting hungry. Although the disciples wanted to send the crowd away, Jesus had another idea (v. 6). Once the crowd was divided into smaller groupings, Jesus took the small amount of food that He had and gave thanks. By publicly giving thanks, Jesus reminded the people that everything is ultimately from the hand of God. His miraculous provision for more than 5,000 people also revealed His full deity.

Jesus responded with compassion to the people's obvious need for food, although He knew that they had other significant need. He also knew that the ability to provide free food could lead some to seek Him for the wrong reasons—reasons that would never fulfill their spiritual hunger.

The desire to have physical needs met is legitimate, but it can also blind people to their deeper needs. The day after Jesus fed the 5,000, some of these same people returned, probably hoping for more food. But when Jesus spoke of their deeper spiritual needs, they began to grumble (v. 41). They were willing to have one need met, but their lack of gratitude kept them from seeing that they had more serious unmet needs. They wanted a king who had power (v. 15), not the Son of God who would offer up His own body and blood to give eternal life.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The reference to Jesus' giving thanks in today's passage might not seem all that remarkable. After all, we're probably used to the idea of saying grace before meals. But the fact that Jesus, Himself fully God, gave thanks to the Father offers us a powerful reminder of just how important it is to receive everything with gratitude from the Lord. Today's passage also suggests that when we're thankful for everyday things like meals we open ourselves to receiving the spiritual food for which our souls hunger.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. - 2 Corinthians 9:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Moody Bible Institute alumni Tim and Jerenne Block had an unusual start to their marriage. Their original wedding date had to be moved up so that Jerenne could provide live-in care to Tim as he recovered from a near-fatal car accident. After further education, Tim became the junior-high pastor at Grace Church in Edina, Minnesota. Throughout their years with students, they scarcely could have imagined the far-reaching impact of their ministry. Several years after the Blocks left Edina to minister in Arizona, former students decided to honor them by establishing the Block Scholarship for Youth Ministry at Moody. For one former student, Dan Berglund, his appreciation for the Block's ministry has deepened over the years: “I've realized that they are exceptionally rare, and I thank the Lord for my time in their ministry.”

The health trials that the Blocks faced early in their marriage contributed to their ability to minister to others. The gratitude of their former students has resulted in a scholarship fund that will bless future generations of youth ministers. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul writes, “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God” (v. 15).

In today's passage, Paul exhorts the Corinthian church to give generously to the fund for impoverished believers in Jerusalem. We find several remarkable principles of ministry at work in this passage. First, God wants us to be generous in our ministry because the harvest we reap is the abundant joy that comes from being a part of God's work. Second, we need not worry about coming up short when we give, because God will generously supply our own needs when we are generous. Third, when we minister to others, we not only help meet their needs (v. 12), but we also cause others to give thanks to God in the process.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Some people wrongly think that today's passage teaches us to give so that we can get something back in return. As we read carefully, however, it's clear that Paul has in mind a generosity of spirit that involves both our resources and our selves. It's amazing to think that our generous response to the gospel provides opportunities for others to give thanks to God. This brings an added dimension to our giving. All giving ultimately points back to the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 9:15).