VIDEO How to Please God

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Jesus “marveled” twice when it came to faith. The first was when a Roman soldier said that a simple word from Jesus could heal the soldier’s servant. Jesus “marveled” at this, saying, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Luke 7:9) The second was when Jesus found little faith in Nazareth: “And He marveled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:6).

Hebrews 11:6 says that faith is required to please God—faith in His existence and His rewarding of faith. Seeking God diligently is not easy—Solomon compared it to digging for hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:1-5). And Jesus said it begins with our will: “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know…whether [My teaching] is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17). Building faith begins with our desire to know God, which leads to seeking Him and results in trusting Him.

God rewards the faith of those who seek Him; Jesus’ ministry of healing and compassion is evidence of that. Seek Him today, knowing your faith pleases Him.

Nothing but faith can comprehend the truth. Martin Luther

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Enoch: Fact-Checking Your Walk – Hebrews 11:5-6 – Skip Heitzig

Learning from Each Other

I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. Ruth 2:11

Years before Zoom was an accessible communication tool, a friend asked me to join her on a video call to discuss a project. Through the tone of my emails, she could tell I was baffled, so she suggested I find a teenager to help me figure out how to set up a video call.

Her suggestion points to the value of intergenerational relationships. It’s something observed in Ruth and Naomi’s story. Ruth is often celebrated for being a loyal daughter-in-law, deciding to leave her land to accompany Naomi back to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:16-17). When they arrived in the town, the younger woman said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain [for us]” (2:2). She helped the older woman, who then helped the younger woman marry Boaz. Naomi’s advice for Ruth prompted Boaz to take action in purchasing her deceased in-laws’ property and to take her “as [his] wife” (4:9-10).

We certainly respect the advice of those who share their seasoned wisdom with younger generations. But Ruth and Naomi remind us that the exchange can go both ways. There’s something to be learned from those younger than us as well as those who are older. Let’s seek to develop loving and loyal intergenerational relationships. It will bless us and others and help us learn something we don’t know.

By:  Katara Patton

Reflect & Pray

What have you learned from someone younger? How might you reach out to someone of another generation today?

Dear God, thank You for the wisdom found in the young and in the old. Teach me to value intergenerational exchanges.

When We Question God

In seasons of suffering, draw close to God for comfort and the answers you need Job 13:15-25

Is it possible to draw closer to the Father through our doubts? The life of Job suggests an answer. Verse 15 of today’s passage is key to understanding his mindset: “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.” No matter what happened, Job was determined to keep hoping and trusting in God, even while struggling to understand why he suffered. Both hoping and questioning can be expressions of faith. 

Knowing that the Lord was the only one who could answer him, Job wanted an opportunity to pose his questions. Then, in chapters 38-41, the Lord responded, leaving His servant both humbled and astonished (Job 42:2-6).

In seasons of suffering, we, too, may have questions for God, such as “What have I done wrong?” “Why are You treating me this way?” and “Don’t You see my brokenness?” When that happens, we can be comforted to know we’re in good company. In fact, Jesus Himself faithfully inquired of God. From the cross, our Savior asked, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

And how will God respond when we have earnest questions for Him? He’ll keep us close and—in His infinite, awe-inspiring love and mercy—carry us through.

Long Shadows

The Lord is good and his love . . . continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5

Several years ago, my wife and I stayed in a rustic bed-and-breakfast in the remote Yorkshire Dales of England. We were there with four other couples, all British, whom we had never met before. Sitting in the living room with our after-dinner coffees, the conversation turned to occupations with the question “What do you do?” At the time I was serving as the president of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and I assumed that no one there knew of MBI or its founder, D. L. Moody. When I mentioned the name of the school, their response was immediate and surprising. “Of Moody and Sankey . . . that Moody?” Another guest added, “We have a Sankey hymnal and our family often gathers around the piano to sing from it.” I was amazed! The evangelist Dwight Moody and his musician Ira Sankey had held meetings in the British Isles more than 120 years ago, and their influence was still being felt.

I left the room that night thinking of the ways our lives can cast long shadows of influence for God—a praying mother’s influence on her children, an encouraging coworker’s words, the support and challenge of a teacher or a mentor, the loving but corrective words of a friend. It’s a high privilege to play a role in the wonderful promise that “His love . . . continues through all generations” (Ps. 100:5).

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Lord, help us to remember that while our lives are short, what we do for You now can have an impact long after we are home with You. Lead me today to invest in the lives of others.

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

INSIGHT:

Many scholars believe Psalm 100 was sung at Israel’s festivals and possibly in connection with a thank offering. It likely functioned as a liturgical conclusion to Psalms 96–99, which proclaim Yahweh’s kingship.Each of the psalms in this section extols one attribute of God and then leads God’s people to worship Him in light of this attribute. Psalm 96 praises the Lord for His righteous judgment; He will not allow evil and injustice to reign forever. Psalm 97 praises God that He is sovereign, Psalm 98 praises Him for His salvation, and Psalm 99 for His holiness.

Together, Psalms 96–100 construct a movement of praise that culminates with a call for the whole earth to sing praise to God—the sovereign, holy, and righteous One who will judge the earth. How can you express praise today for God’s faithfulness that will bear witness for future generations?

By Joe Stowell

On Being A Dad, Two Approaches

Yesterday I had coffee with a dad who excitedly told me his son was flying home from college that night to join the family for vacation. Struck by his sense of anticipation and what obviously was an unusual “bond” between father and son, I queried him as to how this friendship “happened.“

So he proceeded to relate how every night for 21 years he had put his son to bed, kissing and affirming him, praying with him, and talking things over, etc.. He recounted that if his boy came in late at night, he would make a concerted effort to stay up and meet him at the door, chat with him for a little while before they both retired for the night.

Then, in the morning, he would go into his son’s room and spend a few minutes with him as he started his day.

“The last 10 minutes of the day and the first 10 minutes in the morning are the most important in raising your kids,“he said with deep conviction. Today, this young man strongly embraces the family’s values, is doing well in school, and, along with his parents, is a sincere follower of Christ.

As I was musing over this remarkable father-son relationship, I recalled another conversation I recently had with another dad, who by contrast is anguished over his estranged relationship with his 21 year old son.

Years ago, when his offspring was but a lad, he had “neglected“him for his career. Speaking with angst over his son’s intense contempt for him, he explained how this young man is now punishing him by pursuing a defiant lifestyle that includes a live-in girlfriend, and a casual approach to work and career, etc..

QUESTION: As a father, what practical, thought-out, and consistent steps are you taking to insure the fact that you and your children are developing a healthy, inseparable bond?

We often quote Proverbs 22:6 as a guarantee that our children will turn out “right”. Surely a concerted effort at bonding would help ensure the fulfillment of this verse of Scripture:

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

“Who is this?”

Matthew 21:1-16

Matthew 21:1-3

He had the hearts of all men under his control, and at once moved the owner to lend his ass. The colt came and its mother at its side, for Jesus would not cause even the meanest creature a needless pain by separating it from its young.

Matthew 21:4, 5

He came in state as a judge, but it was in fitting state, and such as was becoming in a true ruler in Israel; for he did not ride upon the horse which was the boast of Egypt, but on the humbler ass, which ancient lawgivers had been content with.

Matthew 21:9

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David or, “Save now, we beseech thee”

Matthew 21:10

Bishop Hall has well said: “The attending disciples need be at no loss for an answer. Which of the prophets has not put it into their mouths? Who is this? Ask Moses, and he shall tell you, the seed of the woman who shall bruise the serpent’s head. Ask your father Jacob, and he shall tell you, the Shiloh of the tribe of Judah. Ask David, and he shall tell you, the King of Glory. Ask Isaiah, and he shall tell you, Emmanuel, Wonderful, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace. Ask Jeremiah, and he shall tell you, the righteous Branch. Ask Daniel, and he shall tell you, the Messiah. Ask John the Baptist, he shall tell you, the Lamb of God. The God of the prophets hath told you, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Yea, the very devils themselves have been forced to confess, I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. On no side hath Christ left himself without a full and plain testimony.”

Matthew 21:11-13

This was his second purgation of the temple. He had cleansed it once before in his earlier ministry. A las! when good things begin to be perverted they need many cleansings before they are set right again.

Matthew 21:14-16

Let children learn from this that Jesus values their praises, and let them give him their hearts while they are yet young.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die:

O Christ! thy triumphs now begin

O’er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh:

The Father, on his sapphire throne,

Expects his own anointed Son.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die:

Bow thy meek head to mortal pain;

Then, take, O God, thy power, and reign!

Lord of Our Living

Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:10)

I have studied the New Testament enough to know that our Lord Jesus Christ never made the sharp distinctions between “secular” and “sacred” that we do!

I think it is wrong to place our physical necessities on one side, and put praying and singing and giving and Bible reading and testifying on the other.

When we are living for the Lord and living to please and honor Him, eating our breakfast can be just as spiritual as having our family prayers. There is no reason for a committed Christian to apologize: “Lord, I am awfully sorry but you know I have to eat now. I will be with you again just as soon as I am through.”

Well, we have a better way than that in our living for God, and we see as we consider His feeding of the 5,000 the meaning of His Lordship. Jesus Christ is Lord—Lord of our bread and Lord of our eating and Lord of our sleeping, and Lord of our working!

Brethren, our Lord is with us, sanctifying everything we do, provided it is honest and good.