Verse from Mark

耶稣看着他，就爱他，对他说：“你还缺少一件：去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必定有财宝在天上，而且你要来跟从我。”(马可福音 10:21)

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)

Today, Jesus sees us through eyes of love and invites us to follow Him.

God has both an all-seeing eye and all-forgiving heart.

Verse from Revelation

证明这些事的那一位说：“是的，我必快来！”阿们！主耶稣啊，请你来吧！(启示录 22:20)

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)

Kingdoms may fall, friends may falter, churches may fold, oceans may rise, and mountains may crumble, but we can be at peace.

Because we know the end of the story, we can be centers of peace in the midst of utter chaos, calm in the face of disaster.

No doctrine is more closely linked to practical daily living than that of the Lord’s return.

Verse from Job

这以无知无识的言语使神的旨意模糊不清的是谁呢？所以我说了我所不明白的；这些事太奇妙，是我不晓得的。(约伯记 42:3)

'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." (Job 42:3)

Are we at times approaching our relationship with God in this way: Routine. Bored. Apathetic. Disinterested? Through Christ, we have the privilege of being adopted into the family of the living God, yet often there seems to be little of the sense of wonder that should accompany that remarkable reality.

Let's fill our hearts with the wonder of our God and His love.

Verse from Psalm

你要等候耶和华，要刚强，要坚定你的心，要等候耶和华。(诗篇 27:14)

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

Sometimes we feel that God has let us down because He does not provide an immediate answer to a prayer. Often our attitude becomes, “Answer me speedily, O Lord; my spirit fails!” (Ps. 143:7).

When we become frustrated with God’s apparent delay in answering our prayer, it is good to remember that He is interested in developing faith and perseverance in our character (James 1:2-4). Wait on the Lord!

God stretches our patience to enlarge our soul.

Verse from Proverbs

你要谨守你的心，胜过谨守一切， 因为生命的泉源由此而出。 (箴言 4:23)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

Wearing the right fashions and keeping ourselves looking young are of little importance if our hearts harbor greed, hatred, grumpiness, self-pity, and other counter-productive contents.

So, ask yourself: When others get past the packaging of my life, do they experience a heart full of healthy, Christ-honoring ingredients? By putting in grace, kindness, patience, and compassion, we’ll reflect the wonderful nature of Christ.

The contents in your heart are more important than the outer packaging.

Verse from Romans

唯有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神对我们的爱就在此显明了。(罗马书 5:8)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

There is no greater joy than to know that God loves us.

Verse from 2 Corinthians

如果有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已经过去，你看，都变成新的了！(哥林多后书 5:17)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Following Jesus is beginning a new life under a new Master.

Verse from Psalm

义人虽有许多苦难，但耶和华搭救他脱离这一切。(诗篇 34:19)

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; (Psalm 34:19)

We know that the righteous can have troubles, but how do we understand that God delivers us from them all? Paul demonstrates the answer: whatever happens to him will turn out for his deliverance — whether it is through his death to be with God or whether it is through his release from prison to continue ministry (Phil. 1:19-23). Our deliverance is secure. We are conquerors in Christ. Nothing Satan can do to us can steal us away from God's love, not even death.

Verse from Romans

我们坚强的人，应该担当不坚强的人的软弱，不应该求自己的喜悦。(罗马书 15:1)

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)

Kindness is simply love flowing out in little gentlenesses.

Verse from Luke

因为在神没有一件事是不可能的。” (路加福音 1:37)

For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

Verse from Exodus

于是，摩西回到耶和华那里，说：“唉，这人民犯了大罪，为自己做了金神像。(出埃及记 32:31)

Then Moses returned to the Lord, and said, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. (Exodus 32:31)

God knows that our hearts have a tendency to stray. His Word makes it clear that He is the Lord and that we are to worship “no other gods” (Ex. 20:2-6).

As long as you want anything very much, especially more than you want God, it is an idol. 

—A. B. Simpson

Verse from Psalm

至于我，我倚靠你的慈爱， 我的心必因你的救恩欢呼。 (诗篇 13:5)

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. (Psalm 13:5)

A. W. Thorold writes, “The highest pinnacle of the spiritual life is not happy joy in unbroken sunshine, but absolute and undoubting trust in the love of God.”

Even in our troubles, God’s love can be trusted.

God’s love stands when all else fails.

Verse from Psalm

耶和华亲近心中破碎的人，拯救灵里痛悔的人，(诗篇 34:18)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

The LORD is... ...near! ...present! ...close! How do I know? He came close in the manger. He walked among us in ministry. He suffered with us and for us at Calvary. We know that in tragedy, trial, heartbreak, and brokenness he is near to us to save us. So, will our hearts be open to him and will we be seeking him to come near? Don't let troubles or heartache lead you to pull away from God or doubt his nearness. Let him draw close to you.

Verse from Proverbs

愚昧人不喜欢明白事理，只喜欢显露自己的心意。(箴言 18:2)

A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind. (Proverbs 18:2)

Let's seek Him in His infinite wisdom instead of depending on our finite wisdom.

Verse from 1 Peter

主是活石，虽然被人弃绝，却是神所拣选所珍贵的；你们到他面前来，(彼得前书 2:4)

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— (1 Peter 2:4)

It is only as our lives are built upon His strength that we will be able to endure the harshness of life in a fallen world.

We have nothing to fear if we stay close to the Rock of Ages.

Verse from Matthew

“我实在告诉你们，如果你们不回转，变成像小孩子一样，一定不能进天国。(马太福音 18:3)

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)

For the most part, children live life unfettered by the cares and sorrows that burden adults. Their faith lets them trust God more readily.

God can be trusted, and He longs for us to trust Him the way children do.

Verse from Psalm

耶和华的圣民哪！你们要敬畏他，因为敬畏他的一无所缺。(诗篇 34:9)

Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. (Psalm 34:9)

Do you fear The Lord? 你敬畏耶和华吗？

Verse from 1 Timothy

我从前是亵渎神的、迫害人的、凌辱人的，然而我还蒙了怜悯，因为我是在不信的时候，由于无知而作的。我们主的恩典，随着在基督耶稣里的信心和爱心，在我身上越发增加。 (提摩太前书 1:13, 14)

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:13, 14)

Like Paul, we don’t need to parade our failures or to pretend they didn’t happen. Instead, we can thank the Lord that through His grace and power, our past is forgiven, our present is changed, and our future is bright with hope for all He has prepared for us.

Only Jesus can transform our life.

Verse from Isaiah

疲乏的，他赐气力，无力的，他加力量。(以赛亚书 40:29)

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)

When you’re feeling invisible or disregarded, remember that God does see you and He cares. Wait on Him, and He’ll give you renewed strength.

Even when we don’t sense God’s presence, His loving care is all around us.

Verse from Romans

以肉体为念就是死，以圣灵为念就是生命、平安；(罗马书 8:6)

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Verse from Matthew

你们所有劳苦担重担的人哪，到我这里来吧！我必使你们得安息。(马太福音 11:28)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Jesus invites us to rest in Him. 

Verse from John

耶稣说：“我就是生命的食物，到我这里来的，必定不饿；信我的，永远不渴。 (约翰福音 6:35)

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

If we by faith, apply and take His words and life into our very souls, we will experience everlasting satisfaction.

As first-century Jews could never imagine life without physical bread, may we never attempt to live without Jesus, our spiritual bread!

Verse from Deuteronomy

“你在田间收割庄稼的时候，如果遗留一捆在田里，就不可再回去拾取，要留给寄居的、孤儿和寡妇；好使耶和华你的神，在你手里所办的一切事上，赐福给你。(申命记 24:19)

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 24:19)

Work while we can, save what we can, share what we can, and trust God to meet our needs.

Our needs will never exhaust God’s supply.

Verse from Proverbs

恨能挑起纷争， 爱能遮掩一切过失。 (箴言 10:12)

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12)

Verse from 2 Chronicles

他就说：“全犹大的人、耶路撒冷的居民和约沙法王啊，你们要留意！耶和华这样对你们说：‘你们不要因这大军惧怕和惊慌，因为战争的胜负不是在于你们，而是在于　神。 约沙法和人民商议好了，就指派向耶和华歌唱的人，使他们身穿圣洁的服饰，走在军队的前面，赞美耶和华，说： “你们要称颂耶和华， 因他的慈爱永远长存。” (历代志下 20:15, 21)

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 21)

Praising God in the midst of a challenge may mean overriding our natural instincts. We tend toward self-protection, strategizing, and worry. However, worshiping can guard our hearts against troubling thoughts and self-reliance.

Lord, I praise You, for Your mercy is everlasting.

Help me to remember that every battle in this life is Yours. The outcome belongs to You because You are sovereign.

No matter what is in front of us, God is always behind us.

Verse from Luke

“你们中间谁有一百只羊，失去一只，不把九十九只留下在旷野，去寻找那失落的，直到找着呢？(路加福音 15:4)

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? (Luke 15:4)

The point is clear: We are all of great value to God, who offers us forgiveness and new life through Christ.

I was lost but Jesus found me—

Found the sheep that went astray,

Threw His loving arms around me,

Drew me back into His way. —Rowley

Verse from Ephesians

愿荣耀归给神，就是归给那能照着运行在我们里面的大能，充充足足地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。(以弗所书 3:20)

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, (Ephesians 3:20)

God has the power to do more than we think He can do. 

Verse from Isaiah

因此，耶和华必等候要恩待你们；他必兴起来怜悯你们，因为耶和华是公义的神。 等候他的，都是有福的。 (以赛亚书 30:18)

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! (Isaiah 30:18)

Verse from Proverbs

义人的嘴使人喜悦，恶人的口说乖谬的话。(箴言 10:32)

The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. (Proverbs 10:32)

Verse from Psalm

愿这一切都赞美耶和华的名， 因为独有他的名被尊崇， 他的荣耀超越天地。 (诗篇 148:13)

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. (Psalm 148:13)

Let’s join in saying thanks for His creation. “Praise the Lord!”

Creation displays God’s power.