TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Chronicles 24:20-27
The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. - Proverbs 21:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
George Santayana said it best: “When experience is not retained, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The leadership of the divided kingdom of Israel evidently had no concept of the history of their nation, the faith or sins of their forefathers, or the mighty works of their God. Joash failed to remember even the most recent history in his life, let alone that of his nation. As a result, his reign came to a swift and shameful end.

Joash forgot the faith and kindness of Jehoiada, his foremost advisor. He had already rejected the covenant to remain faithful to God, but he didn't even have the decency to pay respect to Jehoiada's son, Zechariah. When Zechariah chastised him for his wickedness, he had him stoned in the courtyard of the temple, desecrating what should have been a holy place. Ironically, Zechariah's father had spared Athaliah (Joash's childhood attacker) the same indignity when he was ushering Joash to the throne (2 Chron. 23:14).

It didn't take long for Joash to experience the penalty for his wickedness, and the form of retribution was reminiscent of the stories we've studied so far. The Aramean army resembled the army of Gideon, but this time it was the large army of Judah that was overtaken by a much smaller one. Just as Joash had conspired against Zechariah, his own officials turned to conspire against him. But the identity of the conspirators reminds us of yet another grievous deed: they were the sons of a Moabite woman and an Ammonite woman, descendants of the daughters of Lot.

The consequences of the sins of God's people had a way of revisiting generation after generation of Israelites. The quantity and quality of faith appeared to be dwindling, and the magnitude of their sins grew exponentially. Clearly, Israel needed a better plan, a better ruler, and a better way to preserve their faith in the one true God. Tomorrow we will examine that coming hope in the King of Kings.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The more we study the effects of sin, the more reasons we have to stay pure and true in obedience to God. Sin multiplies the more we engage in it, and time alone never heals the wounds it causes. On the contrary, the punishment for sin grows in severity and scope the longer we wait to confess and repent. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of any sin abiding in your heart. Don't wait another day to turn your heart toward Him. We have seen how merciful God is. Sin, however, is relentless.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 7:9-17
Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. - Revelation 7:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
The eye of a hurricane is one of the most intriguing phenomena in nature. It can measure anywhere from a few miles to over one hundred miles across. No matter how large, inside the eye, the winds are low, precipitation is not a factor, and in some cases the sky above it is completely clear. But the boundary of the eye (the eyewall) features the most intense wind and powerful storms in the entire hurricane.

In the book of Revelation, today's passage is like the eye of the storm. The chapters before and after this describe the great turmoil of the end times, but this passage is serene and joyful. The calamity being poured out upon the earth had no place in the throne room of the Lamb, before whom an adoring multitude from around the world worshiped. In the context of the book, this passage is an oasis of peace.

We have seen the recurring failures of the leadership of Israel, but here is the perfect leader. Jesus Christ is symbolized as the Lamb, because He was sacrificed like a lamb on behalf of us all. Yet He is also the shepherd of the people He saved from tribulation (v. 17). Revelation itself is the culmination of the history of sin building into an intense torrent of destruction and suffering. Jesus Christ is the one who brings it to an abrupt end.

The multitudes dressed in white robes had a purpose: to serve the Lord continuously. The benefits were eternal. Gone was their hunger. Gone was their thirst. Gone were the wearying effects of natural effort and trials. Their tears didn't just vanish, either. God Himself wiped them from their very eyes. And the Lamb, Jesus Christ, led them to drink from the waters of everlasting life.

As we have been studying the crimes of man and the unending consequences building over time, this scene gives us a cleansing breath of hope. The failures of thousands of years will be washed from the robes of God's children, and the suffering of mankind will come to an end. Truly, He is worthy of our praise!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Be encouraged in the storms of life. On this earth, no matter how righteous our own hearts and actions may or may not be, with Jesus Christ at the center of our lives, we will always have a harbor of peace. Depression, fear, anger, hostility—they can't touch our Savior. In our worship of Him at the foot of His throne, we find calm reassurance of exactly who is in charge. Be sure to take time today simply to praise the Lord for all that He is and all that He has done.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 26:1-25
Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! - Matthew 26:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Marcus Junius Brutus secured his place in history when he joined the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar. Brutus and a number of other senators attacked the freshly appointed dictator for life because they feared his power had exceeded its appropriate bounds. The surprise attack as Caesar arrived at the Senate ended his life on the Ides of March.

But not even a century later, Brutus's act of treachery was surpassed. Judas Iscariot delivered Jesus into the hands of the chief priests who wanted Jesus killed. But this betrayal was unique in that Jesus wasn't at all surprised by it. From the very beginning of this passage, Jesus told His disciples He would be crucified. Ironically, He knew more about His death than His attackers did—they still didn't know how they could reach Him (v. 5).

In Matthew, the story of the woman (Mary) who anointed Jesus with perfume is out of sequence chronologically, but it is situated perfectly for showing the motivation of Judas. The anointing occurred the day before the Triumphal Entry (John 12:12; cf. Matt. 21). But the Gospel of John also informs us that it was Judas who voiced his displeasure for the so-called waste of perfume—he had been stealing from the disciples' money bag (John 12:6). After this incident Judas sold his allegiance to the chief priests and began looking for the chance to betray Jesus.

Again, Jesus knew what Judas was going to do before Judas did. He recognized that the hour of His crucifixion was drawing closer, but this did not excuse the betrayal. Jesus issued the most severe warning of woe to His traitor, and He pointed him out. The crime of selling Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver could not have been worse—but Jesus didn't stop it from happening. The table of the Last Supper presented a portrait that contrasted the ultimate obedient act and the most depraved sin. Both Jesus' obedience to the will of God and Judas's wicked submission to his own selfish desires would result in death. But one would translate into eternal life for all who believed. The other offered no help to anyone, not even Judas.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Judas's betrayal wasn't the only act that led Jesus to the cross. Judas didn't really have the power to take Jesus down. Our Lord gave Himself willingly to pay the price for our sins. That includes everything you've ever done wrong—and it includes what you'll be tempted to do today. It's a question with an obvious answer, but still worth asking: Whom do you want your actions to resemble? To be more like Christ than like Judas, we have to put other people's needs and desires ahead of our own. Begin as soon as you can.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 27:1-5
My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. - Psalm 38:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bernie Madoff enacted an enormous Ponzi scheme, an investment fraud that affected more people and lasted longer than any other such scam in history. His crime affected the sensibilities of the public especially acutely because it came to light during a major, global economic downturn. He was sentenced to 150 years in federal prison, and his response to the news showed unbearable remorse: “I live in a tormented state now, knowing of all the pain and suffering that I have created.”

The perpetrator of the crime we studied yesterday did not receive his sentence in the courts of men, but he did buckle under the weight of unimaginable guilt. Judas could not live with what he had done. The Bible doesn't definitively state Judas's reasoning for betraying Jesus. We established yesterday that he had been greedily stealing from the disciples' treasury, and to some extent Satan influenced his actions (see John 13:2). But when Jesus was sentenced to be crucified, not even Judas could explain or defend what he had done.

Judas hoped returning the money would alleviate his guilt, but the payment for his betrayal could not be refunded. Judas refused to hold on to the money, and then he lost the will to live. The weight of his sin never fully crossed his mind until it was much too late.

Obviously, betraying the Messiah to the point of death was an evil and inexcusable act, but the chief priests and elders who wanted Jesus dead very likely would have found another way to apprehend Him. And Jesus certainly had the power to escape at any moment. It wasn't the end that made the means employed by Judas so despicable.

No, the thing that made Judas's sin even more appalling was that when Jesus was showing the greatest love the world had ever known, Judas was rejecting Him. Jesus would have given up His life with or without Judas, but the betrayal was a slap in the face of God. Thirty pieces of silver was nothing; when he realized his sin, Judas deemed his very life to be worthless.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Every sin is, in a sense, a betrayal against God and against His Son—and for believers, sin grieves the Holy Spirit within us. From the fruit of the forbidden tree to the wrongdoings we commit today, every violation of God's commands and God's character carries a death sentence (Rom. 6:23). Jesus Christ paid that sentence. In the face of what Christ did for us, how can we choose to serve our own desires instead of the will of God? Let us never take lightly our duty to obey the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 5:1-11
You have not lied to men but to God. - Acts 5:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the Philippines, gift giving is extremely popular regardless of the occasion, and it has very little to do with materialism or monetary value. In fact, it is customary for the recipient of the gift to wait until the giver has left before opening the present, and discussing the cost of a gift is considered extremely rude. The Filipino culture simply values gift giving as a way to express a single thought of appreciation.

In terms of financial value, the gift that Ananias laid at Peter's feet was quite generous. But the thought behind the contribution from him and his wife Sapphira was more self-serving than selfless. The text doesn't describe the motives of Ananias and Sapphira at any length, but we can judge by the results that they weren't pure.

The gift in question was given in the context of an intertwined, supportive community among the believers in Jerusalem. No one was required to forfeit their possessions, but the general spirit among them was that ownership didn't matter. They placed a priority on sharing everything they had (Acts 4:32). On occasion, landowners would sell their real estate and bring the proceeds to the apostles for distribution to the needy. Land ownership wasn't forbidden or even frowned upon—lying, however, was another matter.

When giving is discussed in church, today's believers hear the term “ten percent” quite frequently, and businesses frequently promise to give “a portion of the proceeds” to charity. There's nothing wrong with giving any percentage to God, but Peter knew that was not the message Ananias and Sapphira were trying to send. The gesture of laying the gift at the apostles' feet rather than giving in private may have been understood to signify a total release of a piece of property's sale. Sapphira, at least, verbalized the lie, claiming that the gift represented the entire profit.

For Ananias and Sapphira, the consequence of their crime—lying to God, particularly the Holy Spirit—was immediate death. But the additional result was the spread of fear throughout the church.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Undoubtedly some believers in Jerusalem had nothing to give. Others gave all they had. The amount given by a believer does not represent a scale of righteousness. We should be very careful when giving based on percentages to do so honestly and generously and without regard to who knows or how much. It is better not to give at all than to give out of selfish motives. Humble yourself before God and ask Him to make your giving selfless, generous, and true.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25
We share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. - Romans 8:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Fyodor Dostoevsky was imprisoned for the kind of thinking that made his writing so famous and so wonderful. His crime was adopting a mindset that differed from the reigning regime, and the initial sentence was death. As he stood with his compatriots before a firing squad, his sentence was commuted to four years in Siberian exile. He didn't view his trials as inherently negative but a necessary part of the human experience. He wrote, “On our earth we can truly love only with suffering and through suffering! We know not how to love otherwise.”

All the crimes through the ages, every infraction we’ve studied so far, converged on a moment of ultimate suffering in the body of the only truly innocent man who ever lived—and His suffering is our definition of love. Today’s passage is filled with both theological substance and emotional truth. Verse 24 is a compact dissertation on the power of the crucifixion and the purpose of the Christian life. We sinned; His body absorbed the punishment. He was wounded; we were healed. He died for our sins; we die to sin and live for righteousness.

But this passage also represents a shift in logic from what we’ve come to understand. An overarching theme of this study has been that disobedience results in punishment, suffering, fear, etc., and that obedience results in blessing. But Peter draws our attention to a different focus. In Christ, obedience involves sharing in the sufferings of Christ. We aren't called to go out of our way to bring punishment on ourselves (v. 20). But we shouldn’t be surprised if doing good results in pain.

The final point in today’s reading reminds us that the question of sin and obedience, crime and punishment is not simply a matter of following the rules—it’s a relationship between us and our Father, like sheep returning to the Shepherd. As Peter wrote, He is the Overseer of our souls, and His suffering brought us back into a right relationship with Him. There is no greater love than that.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may not feel like you live in a society where doing the right thing results in suffering, and that is true to a certain extent. We may not face legal penalties for exercising our faith, but being true to Christ could cost you in the court of popularity. We don’t often have to fear what others will do to us because of our faith, but what they think of us can feel equally damaging. Keep in mind that your relationship with God involves obeying His Word and sharing in His suffering. Don’t be afraid to do either.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. - 1 Corinthians 15:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dostoevsky wrote, “The most pressing question on the problem of faith is whether a man as a civilized being can believe in the divinity of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, for therein rests the whole of our faith.” The final focal point of our study on crime and punishment in the Bible is the one who committed no crime and who rose victorious over all punishment, for He is the central figure in the destruction of sin and the end of death. The discussion of sin cannot be complete without considering the resurrection of Christ.

Most of the consequences we’ve studied have been natural repercussions of ungodly actions, the act that dealt a death blow to sin was entirely supernatural. Today’s key verse speaks not only to the miraculous nature of the resurrection of Christ, but also to the hope that those who have died will follow Him back to life. Jesus is the undoing of the curse of Adam’s original sin.

To our great anxiety, the progression is not immediate. We wait and serve patiently until Christ’s return. It’s encouraging to know that the problems that plague followers of Christ, which have been the product of thousands of years of disobedience, will be overthrown by the hand of Christ. Jesus will reign over all. The philosophical questions such as “Why does God allow evil?” or “Why is there suffering in the world?” will be answered once and for all when it all is subject to the rule of Christ and the dominion of God.

There is a perfect completion in God’s plan through Jesus Christ. God has given His Son the authority to rule and judge (John 5:27) over that which God already had sovereign power on a supernatural level. By inserting His Son into the realm of creation, sending His Spirit to indwell the hearts of believers, and establishing His reign within that realm as well, God has become all in all. He is not merely ruling over us, He reigns within us as well. We long for that day when there is no crime and no punishment, only a perfect relationship with God in the service of His Son, Jesus Christ.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The promise of the resurrection gives us reason to live holy lives in God’s service. Death is not the finish line but a milestone along the eternal road. Later in this chapter, Paul exhorted his readers to “come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning” (v. 34). We are approaching a day when all of creation lives happily under the reign of Christ—why delay that reality in our hearts? There is so much pain that erupts from sin and so much promise ahead in Christ. Recommit your heart to obedience.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 90
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. - Psalm 90:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
“There is a joy in the journey,” sings musician Michael Card. “There’s a light we can love on the way. There is a wonder and wildness to life, and freedom for those who obey . . . Forget not the hope that’s before you, and never stop counting the cost. Remember the hopelessness when you were lost. There is a joy in the journey.”

“Joy in the journey,” despite struggles along the way, is a theme of Moses in Psalm 90 and of this month’s devotional study. How can we find joy? As we’ll learn this month from Scripture, joy is part of our relationship with God. The more clearly we see His character and work, the more we rejoice. Because we trust in His goodness, we can rejoice not only in His blessings but also when we’re suffering, for even then He remains in loving control.

Furthermore, we have more than just an individual relationship with our God—our spiritual walk and worship happen in the midst of a community of others who also seek joy on their journeys. Sometimes joy is a spontaneous, overflowing response to these realities, while at other times it requires more effort to practice joy as a spiritual discipline. Most of all, we find joy in Jesus, the Son of God who became a man to redeem us from the power of sin so we can live righteous lives for His glory.

In today’s reading, Moses meditated on the nature of life, a passing breeze full of trouble and sorrow (vv. 5–6, 10). To make matters worse, we sin against God, incurring His wrath (v. 8). The only hope of a meaningful life is to make Him our “dwelling place,” staking all on His power and faithfulness (vv. 1, 17). If we keep all this in perspective, we can “gain a heart of wisdom” (v. 12). There can even be joy in the journey, a glad and praise-filled satisfaction born of His unfailing love (v. 14).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How much do you remember about the life of Moses? You might recall his leadership and faith and how God used those qualities in mighty ways. But Moses had flaws as well. He murdered a man. He was afraid of speaking in public. He once disobeyed God in such a way that he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Yet even a man with this biography could write about experiencing joy and gladness all of his days (v. 14). Take courage—thanks be to God, joy is within our grasp!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 94
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. - Psalm 94:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the closing days of World War II, a trainload of 2,500 Jews, many of them children, were en route from Bergen-Belsen to another Nazi concentration camp for “termination.” Fortunately for them, the U.S. Army’s 30th Infantry Division found the train, rescued the starving prisoners, and evacuated them to safety. This stirring episode was forgotten until a few years ago, when a high school history teacher sent his students to interview World War II veterans for an oral history project. When the class posted their project on the Internet, including photos taken by the soldiers, the survivors from that train contacted the school and arranged for a reunion with their rescuers. The long-delayed reunion took place at the high school.

Rescue and justice inspire great joy, as Psalm 94 also shows. The psalmist was experiencing a discouraging situation. The wicked seemed to be getting off scot-free! They spoke and acted arrogantly, using their power to exploit and oppress others and boasting they had pulled the wool over God’s eyes (vv. 4–7). How long would He wait to punish them? When would justice be restored (v. 2)? Why did He not come to help those who were obedient and faithful?

No matter how long the delay, the psalmist knew, God would not be mocked. He sees all, knows all, and will certainly act with righteousness and justice (vv. 8–11; Gal. 6:7). From the perspective of those who love Him, such actions are a blessing, even when it means discipline for them (v. 12). God delights in instructing those with teachable hearts how better to obey. For the wicked, though, His actions are a judgment on their pride. Today, believers can still relate to this “anxiety”—that the wicked are triumphing and the righteous are failing. But there is “consolation”—that God cannot be corrupted or fooled and never forsakes His people. These truths bring joy to our hearts (v. 19; see Prov. 21:15)!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What truths about God bring joy to your heart and soul? Is it His power and awesomeness? His perfect justice and pure holiness? His sweet mercy and lovingkindness? Where would we be without His greatness and goodness in our lives? Sometimes it’s easy to get bogged down in circumstances and our own shortsightedness and forget who God is and all He’s done for us. Restoring our joy, then, can be a matter of refocusing on truths that endure, rather than fixating on how things seem at the moment.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 30
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. - Psalm 30:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
For many high school students, prom is a special event, second only to graduation. But for low-income girls who cannot afford a prom dress, it can be a painful reminder that they don’t have the resources enjoyed by their classmates. For ten years, the Glass Slipper Project in Chicago has stepped forward to offer free prom dresses to girls who could not otherwise afford to go. Deserving students with valid high school IDs come to “Boutique Days” at designated locations and take home dresses, shoes, purses, and cosmetics. Volunteers help the girls find just the right gowns and accessories.

With even greater generosity, God steps forward to clothe us with His joy. In our own strength and with our own resources, genuine joy is out of reach, but God delights to clothe us from the riches of His wardrobe (v. 11; see Gal. 3:27). Today’s reading is a psalm of thanksgiving for this gift of joy.

How was David doing on his own? He was in the depths, and his enemies were gloating. We don’t know if the pictures of being sick and near death are literal or metaphors for desperation, but either way the situation was hopeless, humanly speaking. He felt far from the Lord even as he prayed for His help and mercy (vv. 7–8). What did God do? He stepped in and lifted the psalmist out of the depths, silenced his enemies, healed him, and saved his life. For this, David determined to exalt and rejoice in theLord (vv. 1–3, 12).

Even more, the psalmist called on the congregation of the faithful to join him in praise and worship. It’s not just about one specific act of rescue. It’s about the bedrock reality of God’s faithfulness and love for His people. Based on this, we can say that “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (v. 5). God’s work in our lives leads to wailing being transformed into dancing and sorrow into joy.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Embedded in this psalm is an excellent model for an effective narrative hook in a personal testimony. Verses 6–7a are the before, when David was standing firm and things were going well. Verses 7b–10 are the during, when he was dismayed and depressed, praying but feeling on the verge of death. Verses 11–12 are the after, when the climax of God’s deliverance turns night into day and spurs fervent rejoicing. Do you have a personal testimony that could be narrated in this way?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 12
Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you. - Isaiah 12:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
The book of Esther contains one of many great rescue stories in the Bible. A prideful official in the imperial Persian court plotted the murder of all Jews. God, however, had placed a Jewish woman named Esther in the position of queen, though no one at court was aware of her ethnic identity. At a key moment, in a daring step of faith, Esther revealed her identity and the evil plot against her people to the king, who issued decrees encouraging the Jews to defend themselves. A day of intended genocide became instead a day of salvation, joy, feasting, and celebration (Esther 8:15–17; 9:16–28). Known as Purim, it remains a festive celebration to this day.

Joy is found in God’s rescue and deliverance, as we’ve seen already this month. That’s what the prophet Isaiah wrote about in today’s reading as well. These two short psalms (vv. 1–3 and 4–6) are seen by many commentators as a worshipful conclusion to Isaiah 7 through 11. These chapters deal with God’s protection of Israel based on His covenant with David, as well as His judgments on the sin of Israel and Assyria and the coming of His kingdom. The overall themes are God’s just and loving control of history and His care for His people.

Specifically, the first psalm acknowledges the justice of God’s judgment, but even more, Isaiah rejoiced in the miracle of God’s forgiveness and the restoration of the covenant relationship. The core truth is that God is our salvation, strength, and song (v. 2; see Ex. 15:2). The core response is fearless trust. The core image is “wells of salvation,” from which we draw spiritual life and rejoice in His goodness to us (v. 3; cf. John 4:10–14).

The second psalm is essentially a list of actions, framed as imperative verbs. That is, hearers are called to give thanks, to worship, to pray, and to witness. God’s character and actions fill our hearts to overflowing with joy—we cannot help but sing and shout!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you have a personal hymnbook? A personal collection of favorite Christian songs might be low-tech—a three-ring binder full of photocopied pages. It might be high-tech—a special playlist on your mp3 player. It might be personal, music for you and God alone. It might be a group compilation done by your family or small group. In any case, the purpose of a personal hymnbook is to “Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world” (v. 5).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Lamentations 5
Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. - Lamentations 5:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Horatio Spafford was a wealthy Chicago lawyer. A family man with a wife and children, he was also a strong supporter of D. L. Moody’s evangelistic campaigns. In 1870, his only son died of scarlet fever at age four. Then in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, he was financially devastated. Did he lose faith? No. Instead, in 1873 he decided to go with his family to Great Britain to join Moody for one of his crusades. Detained by business, he sent his family ahead. Their ship collided with another ship, and 226 people were drowned, including all four of Spafford’s daughters. Although devastated by grief, amazingly, he still did not lose faith. He penned the classic hymn, “It Is Well wth My Soul,” to express steadfast trust in God’s goodness.

This hymn story echoes the heart of the prophet Jeremiah in today’s reading. How can we pray when the joy is gone? It’s only possible by taking comfort in God’s greatness and love, even—or especially—when we wrestle with grief and pain. The book of Lamentations was written about the conquest of Jerusalem, including the destruction of Solomon’s temple and the exile of the Israelites. Jeremiah wrote five lament poems about this devastating chapter in national history. Judah had brought disaster on itself by sinning and incurring God’s just judgment, but this fifth lament contains the cry of a faithful remnant who acknowledged national responsibility and prayed for forgiveness (vv. 7, 16).

The prophet’s picture of his people’s sorrow and desperation is moving. The Promised Land, their inheritance from the Lord, “has been turned over to aliens, our homes to foreigners” (v. 2). Losing the land feels like losing family (v. 3); the land and the people have been brutalized and humiliated (v. 11). They scrape along as a homeless and devastated people, suffering from physical need, illness, and crushed spirits. “Joy is gone from our hearts” (v. 15). Despite the situation, they have faith that God can restore the relationship and renew their joy (vv. 19–22).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jeremiah’s poem shows us how to pray when the joy is gone, especially when it’s our fault. As with the Israelites, our sin can lead God to discipline us, allowing us to experience the consequences of our choices. We reap what we sow. In such cases, our prayers or personal laments can imitate the heart of the prophet by including two main ingredients: (1) Full expression of grief and desperation. Sin cuts us off from the Lord and ruins our lives. (2) Plea for forgiveness. This includes taking responsibility and vowing to change.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 13:42-52
The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. - Acts 13:52
TODAY IN THE WORD
For more than a decade, a radical Hindu group has been persecuting Christians in India, aiming to destroy the church there. Its members target poor believers and threaten them with the loss of their homes if they do not convert to Hinduism. Visits and leaflets are followed by warnings of violence and death. The group calls its campaign “homecoming” and holds reconversion ceremonies at which people burn their Bibles and vow to pray only to Hindu gods. Last year it claimed to have converted 50,000 Christians in the state of Uttar Pradesh alone and plans to push out all pastors there within the next five years.

Keeping the faith in the midst of persecution is a formidable challenge. Even in the midst of suffering, however, believers can experience joy as a gift from the Holy Spirit. Today’s reading is from Paul’s first missionary journey. He and Barnabas had stopped at Pisidian Antioch, a Roman colony and crossroads city. He preached an evangelistic sermon at the local synagogue, and the results were positive. Many were interested in discussing the gospel, and Paul was invited to preach again the following week. Paul’s desire was for the Jews to know that their Messiah had come (v. 43).

By the next week, however, the Jews felt such hatred for Paul that they drove him out of the city as a heretic. What had changed? The missionaries had shared the good news of Jesus with the Gentiles as well. Many were attracted to the gospel, and the Jews felt jealous. Just as the Pharisees condemned Jesus for associating with tax collectors and prostitutes, so these Jews abused Paul and opposed his message. This attitude prompted him to point out that God loved the Gentiles as well, as Scripture itself made clear (vv. 46–48). When push came to shove and Paul and Barnabas were sent on their way, they were “filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” because the word of the Lord was taking root in new soil (v. 52).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In our hands, verse 52 might read differently. The two missionaries were exhausted, no doubt; faithful, definitely; courageous, certainly. Those qualities are easy to see. But “filled with joy”? What an unexpected phrase! Of course they didn’t like being persecuted, but there was no greater joy than the spread of the gospel and the gift of life to those who were spiritually dead. The world does not understand our joy. Our joy is not a natural response to circumstances but rather a supernatural celebration of God’s work.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 12:1-11
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. - Hebrews 12:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
For the ancient church, the anchor symbolized hope. Archaeologists have found depictions of anchors on believers’ graves as far back as the late first century. The writer of Hebrews said of God’s redemptive purposes, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Heb. 6:17–20). There is also a story from about A.D. 100 about an early church martyr, Clement, whom the Roman emperor Trajan ordered to be executed by tying him to an anchor and throwing him into the sea. According to legend, the water receded to reveal Clement’s tomb, built by angels. The anchor was thus transmuted from an instrument of death into a symbol of hope and joy.

Joy motivates us, as it did Christ Himself, to endure suffering and discipline. Today’s verse is the key: The focus of our faith is Jesus, “who for the joy set before him endured the cross” (v. 2). What was the “joy set before him”? It was the joy of obedience and subsequent vindication by God. Sent by the Father, He perfectly completed His mission of redemption. He submitted unto death and then triumphed over it, undoing and transcending the Fall. Upon completing His atoning work, He now sits at God’s right hand as our great High Priest and Savior forever. There is no pretense that the cross was anything but shame and suffering, but it was not the end of the story. His suffering pales in comparison to the glorious salvation He accomplished through His obedience. The “joy set before him” was and is a joy rooted in eternal life and love!

Given that Jesus was the Son of God on a unique mission of salvation, how can we imitate His example? What is the joy set before us? It is the joy of His work of redemption being fulfilled in our lives. One day, because of what He did, we will be made perfect! It is the joy of our own obedience in the face of suffering. Our impurities are being purged and our shape hammered into what He intends (vv. 5–11).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Based on Hebrews 12, what are the characteristics of believers who imitate Christ? First, we have a sense of history and of the “great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us. Second, we pursue holiness and struggle against sin. Third, we have perseverance; we’re in it for the long haul. Fourth, we exercise all-out effort—there are no cruise control settings in the Christian life. Fifth, in faith, we need to fix our eyes on Christ. And sixth, we have a close relationship with God, our loving Father who guides our every step.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 1:2-8
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. - James 1:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Death Valley, California, is one of the hottest, most barren places on earth; it averages less than two inches of rain per year. In the spring of 2005, a once-in-a-lifetime event happened—six inches of rain fell! The result was astonishing. Colorful wildflowers—pink, purple, orange, white, blue, and golden—bloomed in the desert. Where there had been only sand, salt flats, and black basalt mountainsides, there sprang up a kaleidoscopic rush of blossoms. These flowers’ seeds have coatings so thick they can lie dormant for decades, waiting patiently for enough moisture to grow. When they do, for a few months Death Valley becomes a showcase for the beauty of God’s creation.

What a striking picture of today’s reading! Christians who “consider it pure joy” in the midst of trials and sufferings are, from the world’s perspective, as unexpected as flowers in the desert. James’s instructions go against all reason and emotion.

How and why are we supposed to do this? To “consider” or “count” (ESV) is like putting a label on something. We’re not being told to fake a feeling, but rather to rejoice in the results of a spiritual process. As with yesterday’s reading, when Christ endured the cross for “the joy set before him” (Heb. 12:2), we are to count trials as “pure joy”—uncorrupted by cynicism or doubt—because testing develops perseverance and perseverance leads to maturity (vv. 3–4). The experience doesn’t feel pleasant, and it might even involve shame and suffering, but the spiritual outcome can transcend the feelings and inspire present joy.

In this reading, James has two other pieces of advice for getting through trials. One is to ask God for wisdom (v. 5). Wisdom is practical knowledge about how to live in godly ways, especially under difficult circumstances. The other is to “believe and not doubt” (v. 6). Affirming what we know to be true about God is faith, a rock that cannot be moved by any storm of life.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you undergoing trials and suffering? It need not be as dramatic as the persecution recounted at the beginning of the devotion two days ago. It might be a neighbor who spreads the word to stay away from the “crazy religious person” next door. It might be malicious workplace gossip prompted by resentment of your integrity. It might be a child who is straying from the Lord. To be able to consider such things “pure joy” goes against our grain and requires complete dependence on the Lord.