VIDEO The Voice

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27

On April 9, 1860, a French inventor recorded a ten-second snippet of the song “Au Clair de la Lune” on what he called a phonautograph. It was the first time the human voice had ever been recorded. Oh, don’t you wish we had a recording of the voice of Jesus Christ? One day we’ll hear those clarion tones, but even now, His words reverberate through the Bible, through history, and into eternity.

When Jesus cast out demons in Mark 3, we see that even the most ferocious demons fled at the word of Jesus. When He spoke the words, “Peace, be still!” in Mark 4:39, the wind and the sea instantly calmed. He told Pontius Pilate in John 18:37, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” When He comes at the Rapture, it will be with a shout; and when He comes to end the Battle of Armageddon and usher in His Kingdom, the voice from His mouth will be like a sword to defeat His enemies (Revelation 19:15).

How wonderful to experience the power of Christ’s voice today every time we open our Bibles and listen with our hearts.

A voice, a heavenly voice, I hear! Arise, O soul, come and draw near. Johan Wallin

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I and the Father Are One, Part 1 (John 10:22-42)

Use Me

Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:31

James Morris was once described as “an illiterate but warmhearted layman,” but God used him to draw Augustus Toplady to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Toplady, the eighteenth-century author of the timeless hymn “Rock of Ages,” described hearing Morris preach: “Strange that I . . . should be brought nigh unto God . . . amidst a handful of God’s people met together in a barn, and under the ministry of one who could hardly spell his name. Surely this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous.”

Indeed, God does marvelous things in unlikely places and through those we may rank as “unqualified” or ordinary. In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul reminded believers in Jesus that they were an unimpressive lot. “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth” (v. 26). Though the Corinthian believers were quite ordinary, by God’s grace they weren’t lacking in giftedness and usefulness (see v. 7). And God—who knows how to put boasters in their place (vv. 27-29)—was at work among them and through them.

Do you see yourself as “plain,” “ordinary,” or even “less than”? Don’t fret. If you have Jesus and are willing to be used by Him, you have enough. May your heart’s prayer be, “God, use me!”

By:  Arthur Jackson

James Morris was once described as “an illiterate but warmhearted layman,” but God used him to draw Augustus Toplady to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Toplady, the eighteenth-century author of the timeless hymn “Rock of Ages,” described hearing Morris preach: “Strange that I . . . should be brought nigh unto God . . . amidst a handful of God’s people met together in a barn, and under the ministry of one who could hardly spell his name. Surely this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous.”

Indeed, God does marvelous things in unlikely places and through those we may rank as “unqualified” or ordinary. In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul reminded believers in Jesus that they were an unimpressive lot. “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth” (v. 26). Though the Corinthian believers were quite ordinary, by God’s grace they weren’t lacking in giftedness and usefulness (see v. 7). And God—who knows how to put boasters in their place (vv. 27-29)—was at work among them and through them.

Do you see yourself as “plain,” “ordinary,” or even “less than”? Don’t fret. If you have Jesus and are willing to be used by Him, you have enough. May your heart’s prayer be, “God, use me!”

By:  Arthur Jackson

The Gospel of God’s Grace

Eternal love and security belong to all who believe Jesus died and rose again. Acts 20:16-24

The apostle Paul had a ministry to fulfill and a message to deliver— about faith that saves. His words in today’s passage from Acts 20 help us understand the foundational concept involved in our salvation. Paul called it “the gospel of God’s grace” (v. 24).

We’re saved simply because God is gracious. We could never do enough righteous works to bridge the gap between our sin and His holiness. That’s why you’ll never hear of “the gospel of the Law of God.” Can you imagine singing, “Amazing law, how strict the sound that saved a wretch like me”? We could never fulfill the requirements, especially when you consider how Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount expanded the law’s meaning (Matthew 5:1-48; Matthew 6:1-34; Matthew 7:1-29). But grace is totally different. It has nothing to do with our worthiness or performance but is based solely on God’s favor and love.

What’s most remarkable is that the avenue for our salvation is through faith alone. The grace God extends is His gift—not anything we can add to with our works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Praise God for His wonderful plan. Christ paid our sin debt with His death, and all we have to do is believe it. Even after salvation, God’s grace keeps flowing. We never have to worry that we aren’t good enough and will fall out of favor. His grace is forever.

How Christ Learned Obedience

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)

This is a very difficult verse. The Lord Jesus Christ is the very Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the omniscient God, perfect wisdom and complete truth. How could it be that one who knows all things would have to learn anything? Even more particularly, how would He have to learn obedience? He was always obedient to His heavenly Father. “I do always those things that please him,” Christ said (John 8:29). He surely did not have to be chastised like a disobedient child in order to learn obedience, as the verse seems on the surface to be telling us.

He was indeed a Son, and He was never disobedient, but He had to become obedient through actual experience. He “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). The “things which he suffered” as the innocent Lamb of God are beyond all human understanding, and His willingness to obey His Father even in this (“nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”—Luke 22:42) demonstrates the ultimate obedience.

There are many things that one can learn in theory but that are only really learned in practice. The Lord Jesus Christ knew all things by omniscience; nevertheless, He had to learn obedience by actual experience. “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things,…to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10).

Once having passed this test, He had been “made perfect,” as the succeeding verse assures us, and thus has become “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). No act of obedience that He urges upon us can ever be as difficult as the things He was willing to suffer to provide forgiveness and salvation for us. HMM

Obeying God May Seem Illogical And Prove To Be Costly

“I’m going to sue that #@*&+|$^ company into the 4th Century! I’m taking them to court for giving me one month’s severance instead of the six we agreed upon in the contract!”

So said Sam in his fiery reaction to the mind games his boss had been imposing on him in order to force his resignation. As I listened, I could feel the hair rising on the back of my neck. Managing to keep my composure, I suggested we look at a few passages of Scripture:

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners‘ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners‘ do that… But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.“(Luke 6:27b-33, 35) (See Romans 12:18-21)

“Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh… Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, HE ENTRUSTED HIMSELF TO HIM WHO JUDGES JUSTLY.“(1 Peter 2:18, 21b-23)

Later, after Sam and his wife had carefully analyzed the above passages, they decided to leave the company graciously, and accept whatever compensation package the management decided upon. What surprised them was the strong opposition they received from “Christian” relatives who insisted they go to court and demand their “rights”.

Could the key to how we respond to injustices be determined by our understanding of that little phrase, “HE ENTRUSTED HIMSELF TO HIM WHO JUDGES JUSTLY”? Isn’t it only as we see God as the One with the final word that we are able to obey Biblical imperatives that may seem to defy human logic?

It is important for us to understand that at some point God will equalize the books for the injustices visited upon us, and that He will reward us for our uncompromising obedience to His Word, difficult as that obedience may appear at the time. (2 Thessalonians 1:6; Acts 17:31; Revelation 16:5, 6; Matthew 25:34; 1 Peter 1:4)

QUESTIONS: Have you settled it in your heart that you will obey Christ and His teachings, whether they “makes sense” or not? Are you willing to pay the price of that obedience, whatever the cost?

“Why stand ye here all the day idle?”

Matthew 20:1-16

Matthew 20:1, 2

Each man is called upon to work for the Lord, and in doing so he will find an abundant reward. The penny promised was sufficient maintenance for the day, and was regarded as a fair wage. No man shall ever have cause to complain that he served God for nought. Those are happiest who enter his service early in the morning.

Matthew 20:3, 4

Till we serve God we are idlers. However busy we may be we do nothing till we live for God.

Matthew 20:5

The half of the day was gone, yea, three-fourths of it, and yet this patient householder engaged the labourers. If half our life, or even three-fourths, be gone, the Lord will still receive us, for his hirings are not after the manner of men.

Matthew 20:7

This showed that the hiring of labourers in this case was not an act of necessity but of bounty, or surely the householder would not have hired men just as the sun was setting. In the Lord’s vineyard grace alone chooses, calls, hires, and pays the workers.

Matthew 20:9

However late in life a man may be converted he shall enjoy the same privileges and promises as others. Free grace gives freely and does not upbraid.

Matthew 20:12

This ungenerous spirit will creep in even among the servants of God, but it deserves to be cast out with detestation. We ought to rejoice in the richness of divine love to aged converts. Envy of another’s spiritual privileges is most unseemly in a child of God.

Matthew 20:13-15

The sovereignty of God is vindicated as much in the enjoyments and privileges of saints as in their election to eternal life. In making all his people equally dear to his heart, equally safe in Christ, and equal in justification and adoption, the Lord as much displays his undoubted right to do as he wills with his own, as when he chooses a certain number of sinners, and allows others to continue in their sins.

Matthew 20:16

Those who start in religion and promise great things frequently disappoint us, while others of whom we despaired bring forth good fruit. Many are called by the Gospel, but few are really elect of God, and so obey the call from the heart; and out of these only a remnant become eminent for grace. Choice men are rare even among the chosen.

While our days on earth are lengthen’d,

May we give them, Lord, to thee;

Cheer’d by hope, and daily strengthen’d,

May we run, nor weary be;

Till thy glory,

Without clouds in heaven we see.

God Understands Us

God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)

We should revel in the joy of believing that God is the sum of all patience and the true essence of kindly good will!

Because He is what He is, we please Him most, not by frantically trying to make ourselves good, but by throwing ourselves into His arms with all our imperfections and believing that He understands everything—and loves us still!

The God who desires our fellowship and communion is not hard to please, although He may be hard to satisfy. He expects from us only what He has Himself supplied. When He must chasten us, He even does this with a smile—the proud, tender smile of a Father who is bursting with pleasure over an imperfect son who is coming every day to look more and more like the One whose child he is!

This is the best of good news: God loves us for ourselves. He values our love more than He values galaxies of newly created worlds.

He remembers our frame and knows that we are dust!

VIDEO Saying vs. Knowing

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Psalm 66:18-19

Why are witnesses in a courtroom required to swear to tell “the whole truth” when they testify? So that what they say is true matches up with what they know to be true. If they are found to be lying—saying one thing but knowing another—they can be convicted of perjury and suffer serious penalties.

A judge and jury cannot see into a witness’ heart or mind to tell whether or not the truth is being presented. But God can. In the Old Testament, there were clear warnings about coming before God in prayer while hiding sin in one’s heart. That is, attempting to act holy in prayer while being unholy in practice. In such cases, God turns a deaf ear to the prayers (Proverbs 15:29; 28:9; Isaiah 1:15; 59:1-2). And the same is said in the New Testament (1 Peter 3:12). The first step in prayer is confession leading to cleansing.

When you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that would hinder your prayers.

Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer. John Bunyan

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Psalm 66 • Shout for joy to God, all the earth

New and Certain

His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

For three years, apart from household necessities, Susan didn’t buy anything for herself. The Covid-19 pandemic affected my friend’s income, and she embraced a simple lifestyle. “One day, while cleaning my apartment, I noticed how shabby and faded my things looked,” she shared. “That’s when I started to miss having new things—the sense of freshness and excitement. My surroundings seemed tired and stale. I felt as if there was nothing to look forward to.”

Susan found encouragement in an unlikely book in the Bible. Written by Jeremiah after Jerusalem fell to Babylon, Lamentations describes the open wound of grief suffered by the prophet and the people. In the midst of grief’s despair, however, lies sure ground for hope─God’s love. “His compassions never fail,” Jeremiah wrote. “They are new every morning” (3:22-23).

Susan was reminded that God’s deep love relentlessly breaks through anew each day. When circumstances make us feel there’s no longer anything to look forward to, we can call to mind His faithfulness and look forward to how He’ll provide for us. We can confidently hope in God, knowing our hoping is never in vain (vv. 24-25) because it’s secured in His steadfast love and compassion.

“God’s love is my ‘something new’ each day,” Susan says. “I can look ahead with hope.”

By:  Karen Huang

Reflect & Pray

When have you felt unable to see any hope in your situation? How does the promise of God’s love as “new every morning” give you hope?

Thank You, dear God, because each day brings with it Your certain, steadfast love.

Deal head-on with pain and pressure in this study.

Equipping by Example

If you want to lead well, follow Jesus 1 Peter 2:21-24

There’s an adage about parenting that says more things are caught than taught. In other words, our children will pick up more from what we do than what we say. To lead those in our care well, two things are required: right teaching and a right attitude. While the principles we work to instill in our children are vital, the attitude with which we approach those lessons (and all of life, in fact) is key. For the best example of the right attitude to have, we need look no further than Jesus.

Parents are called to lead those in their home, modeling Jesus’ love and sacrifice for the people entrusted to their care. Our kids need to see us spending time with God, turning to Scripture when making decisions, being generous with our resources, and showing love to the people around us. Children learn to walk with God as they watch us apply His principles in daily life. Our right example will build their confidence and trust in His ways.

Even if you aren’t a parent, it’s likely you’re leading others in your circle of influence. Remember that Jesus is the perfect model for us to emulate as we share God’s truth with those around us (Mark 10:42-45). Lean into His example of servant leadership as you teach, train, and love others well. And ask Him to help you grow in godliness each and every day.