Verses from Joshua

百姓离开帐棚要过约旦河的时候，抬约柜的祭司乃在百姓的前头。

抬耶和华约柜的祭司在约旦河中的干地上站定，以色列众人都从干地上过去，直到国民尽都过了约旦河 。(约书亚记 3:14, 17)

So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.

The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. (Joshua 3:14, 17)

The Israelites may have wondered what would happen when they crossed the Jordan River. Could they trust God to make dry ground appear in the riverbed? Was God guiding their new leader, Joshua, as He had led Moses? Would God help His people defeat the threatening Canaanites who lived just across the river?

To learn the answers to these questions, the Israelites had to engage in a test of faith—they had to act. So they “set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before [them]” (v.14). Exercising their faith allowed them to see that God was with them. He was still directing Joshua, and He would help them settle in Canaan (vv.7,10,17).

If you are facing a test of faith, you too can move forward based on God’s character and His unfailing promises. Relying on Him will help you move from where you are to where He wants you to be.

Lord, 

we’re prone to quickly forget Your goodness and care for us. 

May we trust You today and into the new year—whatever uncertainties we

face. 

You are the God who can be trusted.

Fear fades when we trust our Father.

Verses from Psalms

耶和华是我的牧者，我必不致缺乏。他使我躺卧在青草地上，领我在可安歇的水边。(诗篇 23:1-2)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. (Psalms 23:1-2)

Psalm 23 describes the trustworthiness of our Good Shepherd. He cares for us (v.1); He provides for our physical needs (v.2); He shows us how to live holy lives (v.3); He restores us, comforts us, heals us, and bountifully blesses us (vv.3-5); and He will not abandon us (v.6).

Do u trust Him to lead you in your life?

Verse from John

他听说拉撒路病了，仍然在原来的地方住了两天，(约翰福音 11:6)

So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, (John 11:6)

It was natural for Martha and Mary to send for Jesus when Lazarus became seriously ill (John 11:1-3). Perhaps they looked anxiously along the road for signs of His arrival, but Jesus didn’t come. The funeral service had been over for 4 days when Jesus finally walked into town (v.17).

Martha was blunt. “If You had been here,” she said, “my brother would not have died” (v.21). Then her faith flickered into certainty, “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You” (v.22). What was she expecting? Lazarus was dead, and she was wary about opening the tomb. And yet at a word from Jesus, Lazarus’ spirit returned to his decaying body (vv.41-44). Jesus had bypassed simply healing His sick friend, in order to perform the far greater miracle of bringing him back to life.

Waiting for God’s timing may also give us a greater miracle than we had hoped for.

My Savior hears me when I pray,

Upon His Word I calmly rest;

In His own time, in His own way,

I know He’ll give me what is best. —Hewitt

Delay doesn't necessarily mean denial

Verses from Romans

因为我深信：无论是死、是生，是天使、是掌权的，是现在的事，是将来的事，是有能力的，是高天的、是深渊的，或是任何别的被造之物，都不能叫我们与神的爱隔绝，这爱是在我们的主耶稣基督里的。(罗马书 8:38-39)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

When our lives are rocked by disappointment and loss, we may wonder if Jesus is still here with us. The Bible’s answer is a resounding Yes!

Is Jesus still here? He is indeed, and that is the everlasting wonder of Christmas.

When all around me is darkness

And earthly joys have flown,

My Savior whispers His promise

Never to leave me alone. —Anon.

If you know Jesus, you’ll never walk alone.

Verse from Matthew

他们去后，有主的使者向约瑟梦中显现，说：「起来！带着小孩子同他母亲逃往埃及，住在那里，等我吩咐你；因为希律必寻找小孩子，要除灭他。」(马太福音 2:13)

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." (Matthew 2:13)

Imagine what it was like for Joseph’s family as he, Mary, and their young child traveled to Egypt. Herod threatened them as he sought to kill their little boy. Imagine how frightening it was for them, knowing that “Herod [sought] the young Child to destroy Him” (Matt. 2:13).

We usually take a more idyllic view of Christmastime—lowing cattle and kneeling shepherds in a peaceful scene. But there was no peace for Jesus’ family as they sought to escape Herod’s horror. Only when an angel told them it was safe did the family go out of Egypt and back home to Nazareth (vv.20-23).

Consider the awe we should feel for the incarnation. Jesus, who enjoyed the majesty of heaven in partnership with the Father, set it all aside to be born in poverty, to face many dangers, and to be crucified for us. Coming out of Egypt is one thing, but leaving heaven for us—that’s the grand and amazing part of this story!

Jesus came to earth for us so we could go to heaven with Him.

Verse from John

道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典有真理。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。(约翰福音 1:14)

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Imagine this: Jesus—the Lord of the universe and Creator of all things—chose to dwell among us! He left heaven and came to this earth. As John says, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). Jesus chose to become intimately involved with all who will come to Him. And, even more significant, for those of us who have received His redeeming love, the Holy Spirit has now set up residence in our hearts to comfort, counsel, convict, lead, and teach us.

Take advantage of the gift of God’s presence.

Verse from Matthew

“必有童女怀孕生子，他的名要叫以马内利。”以马内利就是“神与我们同在”的意思。(马太福音 1:23)

"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR AS ON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." (Matthew 1:23)

Jesus came to know human loss and sorrow, the doubts his brothers and family had about Him, and the pain His mother experienced as she saw Him tortured and killed.

All these hardships—and so much more—awaited the baby trying to sleep that first night. Yet from His very first moments, Jesus was “God with us” (Matt. 1:23), and He knew what it meant to be human. This would continue for over three decades, ending at His death on the cross.

Because of His love for you and me, Jesus became fully human. And being human allows Him to identify with us. Never again can we say that no one understands us. Jesus does.

May the Light that entered the world that night cast its brilliance into the deepest corners of our souls this Christmas, giving us the peace on Earth of which the angels spoke so long ago.

Jesus understands.

Verse from Ephesians

基督就是我们的和平：他使双方合而为一，拆毁了隔在中间的墙，就是以自己的身体除掉双方的仇恨，(以弗所书 2:14)

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (Ephesians 2:14)

In Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah we read, “His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). By His death on the cross, Jesus removed the “no man’s land” between us and God. “For He Himself is our peace” (Eph. 2:14).

In Jesus we can find lasting peace with God and harmony with each other. This is the life-changing message of Christmas!

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!” —Wesley

Only in Christ can true peace be realized.

Verse from 2 Corinthians

感谢神，他的恩赐难以形容。(哥林多后书 9:15)

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Nothing could ever match the gift God has given us in His Son, a reality which echoes in Paul’s words to the church at Corinth, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15).

Clearly, God’s willingness to send His Son to be our rescue is a gift that words cannot fully comprehend. This is the gift that we celebrate at Christmas—for Christ Himself is truly what matters most.

Jesus Himself is the greatest Christmas gift ever given.

Verse from Philippians

反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形象，成为人的样式；(腓立比书 2:7)

rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:7)

Jesus could have wrapped Himself in a mind-boggling show of power, lighting up the sky with His presence in a celestial show of glory. Instead, in a beautiful reversal of Genesis 1:26, He chose to wrap Himself “in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7).

So why is this wrapping so important? Because, being like us, He is no stranger to our struggles. He experienced deep loneliness and the betrayal of a dear friend. He was publicly shamed, misunderstood, and falsely accused. In short, He feels our pain. As a result, the writer of Hebrews tells us that we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

When you think of the gift of Jesus this Christmas, remember to keep the “wrapping” in mind!

Verses from Matthew

他一直想着这些事，主的使者就在梦中向他显现，说：“大卫的子孙约瑟，只管放胆把你的妻子马利亚迎娶过来，因为她怀的孕是从圣灵来的。她必生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫耶稣，因为他要把自己的子民从罪恶中拯救出来。”(马太福音 1:20-21)

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)

Jesus first had to become the sins of the people before he could save them (us) from those sins (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 4:10). His own people rejected him before his forgiveness could be received. Jesus' gift of salvation! was incredibly costly to him. It is a reminder of two great truths: God loves us incredibly and salvation is a precious gift. 

Verse from John

向来你们没有奉我的名求什么，如今你们求，就必得着，叫你们的喜乐可以满足。」(约翰福音 16:24)

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:24)

Jesus taught us to pray in His name. The night before He was crucified, He gave a promise to His disciples: “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). But the promise of asking in Jesus’ name is not a blank check that we might get anything to fulfill our personal whims.

Earlier that evening, Jesus taught that He answers requests made in His name so that He will bring glory to the Father (John 14:13). And later that night, Jesus Himself prayed in anguish, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).

As we pray, we yield to God’s wisdom, love, and sovereignty, and we confidently ask “in Jesus’ name.”

Father in heaven, 

help us worry less about what we can get from You and more about what we can learn from You. 

As Your followers said, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).

Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.

Verse from 1 Timothy

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 1:14)

The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:14)

Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol was released on December 19, 1843, and has never been out of print. It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy, sour, stingy man who says, “Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas,’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding!” Yet, one Christmas Eve, Scrooge is radically changed into a generous and happy man. With great humor and insight, Dickens’ book captures the universal longing for inner peace.

As a young man, the apostle Paul opposed Jesus and His followers with a vengeful spirit. He “made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:3). But one day he encountered the risen Christ, and his life became a different story (9:1-16).

In a letter to Timothy, his son in the faith, Paul described that life-changing event by saying, even though he was “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man . . . the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 1:13-14).

Jesus was born into our world and gave His life so that we can be forgiven and transformed through faith in Him. This is the heart of Christmas!

A change in behavior begins with Jesus changing our heart.

Verse from 1 Samuel

约拿单爱大卫如同爱自己的性命，就与他结盟。(撒母耳记上 18:3)

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. (1 Samuel 18:3)

John Chrysostom (347–407), archbishop of Constantinople, said this about friendship: “Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as . . . flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favor even to the places where they dwell.”

Jonathan and David illustrate the sweetness of a true friendship. The Bible records an intimate and immediate bond between them (1 Sam. 18:1). They kept their friendship alive by demonstrating their loyalty to each other (18:3; 20:16, 42; 23:18), as well as nurturing it by expressions of concern. Jonathan gave gifts to David (18:4) and watched out for him through many difficulties (19:1-2; 20:12-13).

In 1 Samuel 23:16, we see the highest moment of their friendship. When David was a fugitive on the run from Jonathan’s father, “Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.” Friends help you find strength in God during the low points of life.

In a world where most relationships are about what we can get, let us be the type of friends who focus on what we can give. Jesus, our perfect Friend, demonstrated for us that “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

The glory of life is to love, not to be loved; to give, not to get; to serve, not to be served.

Verse from Philippians

我深信那在你们中间开始了美好工作的，到了基督耶稣的日子，必成全这工作。(腓立比书 1:6)

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

We will always be molded for the better till the day we die or when He comes again. 

Verse from Matthew

使人和睦的人有福了！ 因为他们必称为上帝的儿子。(马太福音 5:9)

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)

Verse from Deuteronomy

「你只要谨慎，殷勤保守你的心灵，免得忘记你亲眼所看见的事，又免得你一生、这事离开你的心；总要传给你的子子孙孙。(申命记 4:9)

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. (Deuteronomy 4:9)

God has given each of us a unique story. His plan for our lives is individualized. Do others know what you believe and why? Do they know the story of how you came to faith and how God has worked in your life to strengthen your faith? Do they know how God has shown Himself faithful and has helped you through doubts and disappointments?

The faithfulness of God is a story that we have the privilege to pass on. Record it in some way and share it. Be a good steward of the story that God is telling through you.

A life lived for God leaves a lasting legacy.

Verse from Isaiah

因此主自己必给你们一个兆头：看哪！必有童女怀孕生子；她要给他起名叫‘以马内利’。(以赛亚书 7:14)

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Christ is the greatest gift known to man.

Verses from Matthew

约瑟睡醒了，就照着主的使者所吩咐的，把妻子迎娶过来；只是在孩子出生以前，并没有与她同房。约瑟给孩子起名叫耶稣。(马太福音 1:24-25)

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)

His obedience and humility are to be admired, as he not only did what the angel told him (v.24) but also refrained from physical intimacy with Mary until after Jesus was born (v.25). Later we learn that Joseph was willing to flee his home to protect Jesus (2:13-23).

Imagine the pressure Joseph and Mary must have felt when they learned that Jesus would be theirs to raise and nurture! Imagine the complexity and pressure of having the Son of God living with you every moment of every day; a constant call to holiness by His very presence. What a man Joseph must have been to be trusted by God for this task! What a wonderful example for us to follow, whether we’re raising our own children or those born to others who are now entrusted to us.

May God grant us the strength to be faithful like Joseph, even if we don’t fully understand God’s plan.

Verses from Psalm

因他要为你吩咐他的使者，在你行的一切道路上保护你。

上帝说：因为他专心爱我，我就要搭救他；因为他知道我的名，我要把他安置在高处。他若求告我，我就应允他；他在急难中，我要与他同在；我要搭救他，使他尊贵。(诗篇 91:11, 14-15)

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (Psalm 91:11, 14-15)

No one is more secure than those who are in God’s hands.

Verses from Isaiah

却要以公义审判贫穷人，以正直判断世上的谦卑人，以口中的杖击打世界，以嘴里的气杀戮恶人。

在我圣山的遍处，这一切都不伤人，不害物；因为认识耶和华的知识要充满遍地，好像水充满洋海一般。(以赛亚书 11:4, 9)

but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:4, 9)

The Lord will establish this safe environment when He restores the world with His wisdom, might, and knowledge. At that time, He will judge the world with righteousness and justice (11:4). And everyone will acknowledge His greatness: “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” (11:9).

We live in a broken world. Unfairness and discord, fear and pain are a very real part of our daily lives. But one day God will change everything, and “the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings” (Mal. 4:2). Then Jesus will rule the world in righteousness.

Leave final justice in the hands of a just God.

Verse from John

耶稣对她说：「复活在我，生命也在我。信我的人虽然死了，也必复活； 凡活着信我的人必永远不死。你信这话吗？」(约翰福音 11:25-26)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

This is the most important question you will ever answer. Do you really believe this? Do you believe that when you died with Christ in baptism through faith, that you died the most significant death and that your physical death will not separate you from Jesus? All of life, even all of eternity for you, hangs on this one question.

Verse from Deuteronomy

你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华—你的上帝。(申命记 6:5)

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

A simple commandment and yet is one of the hardest to follow when we have the desires and loves of the world to pull us in the other direction. Are you willing to obey this simple commandment, amidst mockery from others who do not understand your faith and love for Christ? 

Verse from Luke

耶稣说：「我告诉你们，若是他们闭口不说，这些石头必要呼叫起来。」(路加福音 19:40)

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40)

Every year it seems that Christmas becomes more and more commercialized. Even in nations where the majority of people call themselves “Christian,” the season has become more about shopping than worshiping. The pressure to buy gifts and plan elaborate parties makes it increasingly difficult to stay focused on the real meaning of the holiday—the birth of Jesus, God’s only Son, the Savior of the world.

At the same time, we also hear Christmas carols such as 'Joy to the world'.

At Christmas we hear stones cry out. Even people spiritually dead sing carols written by Christians long dead, reminding us that no matter how hard people try to squelch the real message of Christmas, they will never succeed.

Despite the commercialism that threatens to muddle the message of Christ’s birth, God will make His good news known as “far as the curse is found.”

Verse from Hebrews

又要彼此相顾，激发爱心，勉励行善。(希伯来书 10:24)

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, (Hebrews 10:24)

As we model the love of our Savior (John 13:34-35), imagine the difference it could make if we all set out to encourage each other—if we always knew that behind us we had a group of friends cheering us on. If we took the words “comfort each other and edify one another” (1 Thess. 5:11) seriously, the race would be easier for all of us.

Help us, Lord, 

not to think that we can go through

life without others. 

Cure us of our independent spirit. 

Use us to bless others and humble

us to accept encouragement.

A word of encouragement can make the difference between giving up or going on.

Verses from 2 Kings

于是他下去，在约旦河里浸了七趟，正如神人所吩咐的。他的肌肉就复原，好象小孩子的肌肉，他就得了洁净。乃缦和他的随员又回到神人那里，他进去，站在他面前，说：“看哪！现在我知道除了在以色列以外，全地都没有神。现在，请你收下你仆人一点礼物吧。”(列王纪下 5:14-15)

So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” (2 Kings 5:14-15)

As a mighty warrior and the commander of the Syrian army, Naaman may have had scuffed skin and battle scars, but he also had a serious skin disease—leprosy. When a servant suggested that the prophet Elisha could heal him, Naaman visited him. He followed Elisha’s instructions, and his diseased flesh became “like the flesh of a little child” (2 Kings 5:14). This cure left Naaman better off both physically and spiritually. After being healed, he proclaimed, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel” (v.15). Through this miraculous experience, he learned that there is only one true God (1 Cor. 8:6).

Like Naaman, we can learn important lessons about God as a result of our life experiences. Receiving a blessing may show us about His mercy and goodness (Matt. 7:11). Surviving or enduring a trial may help us see God’s sufficiency and care. Growing in knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18) will always leave us better off spiritually than we were before.

Lessons about God are embedded in life experiences.

Verse from 1 John

亲爱的，我们应当彼此相爱，因为爱是从神那里来的。凡是爱人的，都是从神生的，并且认识神。(约翰壹书 4:7)

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

Chess is an ancient game of strategy. Each player begins with 16 pieces on the chessboard with the goal of cornering his opponent’s king. It has taken different forms over the years. One form is human chess, which was introduced around ad 735 by Charles Martel, duke of Austrasia. Martel would play the game on giant boards with real people as the pieces. The human pieces were costumed to reflect their status on the board and moved at the whim of the players—manipulating them to their own ends.

Could this human version of the game of Chess be one that we sometimes play? We can easily become so driven by our goals that people become just one more pawn that we use to achieve them. The Scriptures, however, call us to a different view of those around us. We are to see people as created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). They are objects of God’s love (John 3:16) and deserving of ours as well.

The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). Because God first loved us, we are to respond by loving Him and the people He created in His image.

Open my eyes, Lord, 

to people around me,

Help me to see them as You do above;

Give me the wisdom and strength to take action,

So others may see the depth of Your love. —Kurt DeHaan

People are to be loved, not used.

Verse from Luke

耶稣到了那里，往上一看，对他说：“撒该，快下来，今天我要住在你家里。”(路加福音 19:5)

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5)

The story of Zacchaeus and Jesus (Luke 19:1-10) contains a surprising element of personal recognition. As Jesus passed through the city of Jericho, a wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus climbed a tree in order to see Him. “When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house’” (v.5). Instead of ignoring Zacchaeus or saying “Hey, you in the tree,” Jesus called him by name. From that moment on, his life began to change.

When it seems that no one knows you or cares who you are, remember Jesus. He knows us by name and longs for us to know Him in a personal way. Our Father in heaven sees us through His eyes of love and cares about every detail of our lives.

Verse from Psalm

对我来说，亲近神是美好的，我以主耶和华为我的避难所；我要述说你的一切作为。(诗篇 73:28)

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (Psalm 73:28)

In the heat of the American Civil War, one of President Lincoln’s advisors said he was grateful that God was on the side of the Union. Lincoln replied, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”

What a great challenge for us who assume that God is there to support our plans, our perspectives, our decisions, and our desires. However, Lincoln’s reply reminds us that even our best plans may not be near to what God desires.

Clearly the psalmist wants to be on God’s side when he pleads, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; . . . and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24). When we follow the psalmist’s example to “draw near to God” (73:28), we can be certain that we are on His side, as His Spirit helps us measure every thought and action by His ways that are always right.

So, let’s ask ourselves: Are we on the Lord’s side? Being on His side means that we will reflect His love to the world around us in the way we interact with others. We will forgive, treat others justly, and seek peace. God’s ways are always best.

Verse from 1 Timothy

因为贪财是万恶之根。有人贪爱钱财，就被引诱离开真道，用许多痛苦把自己刺透了。(提摩太前书 6:10)

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)

An online survey conducted by a New York law firm reveals that 52 percent of Wall Street traders, brokers, investment bankers, and other financial service professionals have either engaged in illegal activity or believe they may need to do so in order to be successful. The survey concludes that these financial leaders “have lost their moral compass” and “accept corporate wrongdoing as a necessary evil.”

In mentoring young Timothy, the apostle Paul warned that the love of money and the desire to get rich had caused some to lose their way. They had yielded to temptations and embraced many “foolish and harmful” desires (1 Tim. 6:9). Paul saw “the love of money” (not money itself) as a source of “all kinds of evil” (v.10), especially the evil of trusting in money rather than depending on Christ.

As we learn to see that Christ is the source of all we have, we will find contentment in Him rather than in material possessions. 

To love money is to lose sight of the Source of life.

Verse from Hebrews

因我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱。他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。 (希伯来书 4:15)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Eric was struggling with an addiction, and he knew it. His friends and family members encouraged him to stop. He agreed that it would be best for his health and relationships, but he felt helpless. When others told him how they had quit their bad habits, he replied, “I’m happy for you, but I can’t seem to stop! I wish I had never been tempted in the first place. I want God to take the desire away right now.”

Immediate deliverance may happen for some, but most face a daily battle. While we don’t always understand why the temptation doesn’t go away, we can turn to God on whatever path we find ourselves. And perhaps that is the most important part of our struggle. We learn to exchange our futile efforts to change for complete dependence on God.

Jesus was tempted also, just as we are, so He understands what we’re feeling (Mark 1:13). He sympathizes with our struggles (Heb. 4:15), and we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (v.16). He also uses others, including trained professionals, to lean on along the way.

Whatever battles we may be facing today, we know this—God loves us much more than we can imagine, and He is faithful to come to our assistance.

We are not tempted because we are evil; we are tempted because we are human.

Verse from Psalm

我要一心称谢耶和华；我要传扬你一切奇妙的作为。(诗篇 9:1)

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1)

Verse from 2 Timothy

因为上帝赐给我们，不是胆怯的心，乃是刚强、仁爱、谨守的心。(提摩太后书 1:7)

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

We crave refreshment and well-being when we are plagued by anger, fear, or sadness. The God of the Bible is a “God of peace” (Heb. 13:20-21), One who gives His Holy Spirit to everyone who believes in Him. When we’re agitated or anxious, we can remember that God’s Spirit produces power, love, and self-control (2 Tim. 1:7). God’s influence in our lives can create a calming effect—one that leads to comfort and wholeness.

We’re grateful, 

Father, for the peace that You offer for our hearts. 

Nothing has the power to take that away. 

Thank You that Your peace has come to stay.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” —Jesus

Verses from 1 Corinthians

我因着神在基督耶稣里赐给你们的恩典，常常为你们感谢我的神，因为你们在他里面凡事都富足，很有口才，知识丰富，(哥林多前书 1:4-5)

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— (1 Corinthians 1:4-5)

The apostle Paul was amazing. He is writing one of the most problematic churches and yet finds reasons to give thanks for them. First, he is thankful for them because Jesus died for them. When God extends his grace to others, how can we not do the same? Second, he recognizes the areas of their abuse are also a reason to give thanks - they may have distorted it, but when reigned in to honor God, these gifts could bless their church. Even though he has tough words to follow, Paul's example reminds us that a child of God is something to be cherished, even if that child has problems.

Verse from Psalm

求你开我的眼睛，使我能看出你律法的奇妙。(诗篇 119:18)

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (Psalm 119:18)

From our perspective of grace and having been liberated from law-keeping as a means of justification and righteousness, this is a very fitting prayer. We can look around our world and see the anarchy and brutality when there is no principle of law undergirding the soul of a society. God's law provided so many wonderful blessings, and can still bless us today if we will let it. 

Verses from Romans

并且仰望上帝的应许，总没有因不信心里起疑惑，反倒因信心里得坚固，将荣耀归给上帝，且满心相信上帝所应许的必能做成。(罗马书 4:20-21)

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:20-21)

Abraham stumbled but never failed in his trust in the promise he’d received (Gen. 15:5-6; Rom. 4:20-21).

Through years of waiting and mistaken attempts to help things along, Abraham hung on to God’s promise until Isaac was born.

I find this reminder to trust encouraging. We tell God our request. We remember that He cares. We know He is powerful. We thank Him for His faithfulness.

Lord, 

my patience is often lacking and my timetable often does not match Yours. 

Forgive me for my times of doubt, and help me to trust You more.

Thank You for Your faithfulness.

Some lessons of patience take a long time to learn.

Verse from 1 Peter

因此，你们是大有喜乐；但如今，在百般的试炼中暂时忧愁，(彼得前书 1:6)

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (1 Peter 1:6)

Even though the way of sorrow is hard, God sends reminders of His enduring presence. To the Israelites expelled from the Promised Land due to disobedience, God made His presence known by sending prophets like Jeremiah to offer them hope—hope for reconciliation through repentance. And to those He leads through times of testing, He shows His presence through a community of believers who “love one another fervently with a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). These indications of God’s presence during trials on earth affirm God’s promise of the living hope awaiting us at the resurrection.

The apostle Peter wrote his letters to a church that was enduring persecution for their faith. Though the “various trials” they were experiencing (1 Peter 1:6) may not be the same type of trials we must endure, the source of the strength to endure is the same. We are not alone in our trials, and our endurance in them is not due to our inner strength. It is God Himself who strengthens us to endure.

Verse from Colossians

倘若这人与那人有嫌隙，总要彼此包容，彼此饶恕；主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人。(歌罗西书 3:13)

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)

During the Second World War, Corrie ten Boom’s family owned a watchmaking business in the Netherlands, and they actively worked to protect Jewish families. Eventually, the entire ten Boom family was sent to a concentration camp, where Corrie’s father died 10 days later. Her sister Betsie also died in the camp. While Betsie and Corrie were in the camp together, Betsie’s faith helped to strengthen Corrie’s.

That faith led Corrie to forgive even the ruthless men who served as guards during her concentration camp days. While hate and the desire for revenge continued to destroy many lives long after the concentration camps were gone, Corrie knew the truth: Hate hurts the hater more than the hated, no matter how justified it may seem.

Like Corrie, we each have the opportunity to love our enemy and choose forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse the offense but when we forgive we show Christ to the world. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).

God will help you let go of every angry grudge as you watch the Spirit build into you a place where others see the Savior.

It's not easy but when you choose to forgive and let God work through you, you will be filled with peace.

Verses from Psalm

我因唉哼而困乏；我每夜流泪，把床榻漂起，把褥子湿透。

耶和华听了我的恳求；耶和华必收纳我的祷告。(诗篇 6:6, 9)

I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. (Psalm 6:6, 9)

In his grief, David not only found a song, he also found reason to trust God, whose faithfulness bridges all of life’s hard seasons. In the warmth of His presence, our sorrows gain a hopeful perspective.

Heavenly Father, 

life can be so wonderful, but also so hard. 

Help us to seek You in the good times as well as the bad. 

Help us to always be mindful that

You are our sure hope in a world that doesn’t always seem to care.

A song of sadness can turn our hearts to the God whose joy for us is forever.

Verse from Matthew

撒在荆棘里的，就是人听了道，后来有世上的思虑、钱财的迷惑把道挤住了，不能结实。(马太福音 13:22)

And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22)

A restaurant owner in the village of Abu Ghosh, just outside Jerusalem, offered a 50-percent discount for patrons who turned off their cell phones. Jawdat Ibrahim believes that smartphones have shifted the focus of meals from companionship and conversation to surfing, texting, and business calls. “Technology is very good,” Ibrahim says. “But . . . when you are with your family and your friends, you can just wait for half an hour and enjoy the food and enjoy the company.”

How easily we can be distracted by many things, whether in our relationship with others or with the Lord.

Jesus told His followers that spiritual distraction begins with hearts that have grown dull, ears that are hard of hearing, and eyes that are closed (Matt. 13:15). Using the illustration of a farmer scattering seed, Jesus compared the seed that fell among thorns to a person who hears God’s Word but whose heart is focused on other things. 

There is great value in having times throughout each day when we turn off the distractions of mind and heart and focus on the Lord.

Focusing on Christ puts everything else in perspective.

Verse from James

这样，信心若没有行为就是死的。(雅各书 2:17)

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17)

The apostle James reminds us that we demonstrate our faith by our actions (2:18). The needs in our world are varied and overwhelming but when we love our neighbor as ourselves, as Jesus said (Mark 12:31), we reach people with God’s love.

Open your heart to God to learn compassion and open your hand to give help.

Verse from Numbers

人民发怨言，恶声达到耶和华的耳中；耶和华听见了，就发烈怒；耶和华的火就在他们中间焚烧，烧毁了营地的边界。(民数记 11:1)

Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. (Numbers 11:1)

Among the Israelites, too many people listened too long to complaints and began to agree with them. This displeased God, and for good reason. God had delivered the Israelites from slavery, and agreed to live in their midst, but they still complained. Beyond the hardship of the desert, they were dissatisfied with God’s provision of manna. In their complaint, Israel forgot that the manna was a gift to them from God’s loving hand (Num. 11:6). Because complaining poisons the heart with ingratitude and can be a contagion, God had to judge it.

There is a sure way to say “goodbye” to complaining and ingratitude: Each day, let’s rehearse the faithfulness and goodness of God to us.

Proclaiming God’s faithfulness silences discontentment.

Verse from Hebrews

你们也不要忘记行善和捐输，这样的祭是神所喜悦的。(希伯来书 13:16)

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)

Our ability to stand tall in spite of the buffeting winds of life is directly related to the love and support we receive from God and one another. And then, as the writer of Hebrews says, we are to “do good and to share” (13:16). Think of how tough it would be to withstand adversity if someone were not sharing the roots of their strength with us.

There is great power in the entwining gifts of words of encouragement, prayers of intercession, weeping together, holding each other, and sometimes just sitting with one another sharing the presence of our love.

Let the roots of God’s love in your life be entwined with others who need your support.

Verse from Mark

人就是赚得全世界，却赔上自己的生命，有甚么好处呢？(马可福音 8:36)

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36)

Verses from Joshua

你一生的日子必没有一人能在你面前立得住；我怎样与摩西同在，也必照样与你同在；我决不离开你，也不离弃你。

你只要坚强，十分勇敢，谨守遵行我仆人摩西吩咐你的一切律法，不可偏离左右，好使你无论到哪里去，都可以亨通。这律法书不可离开你的口，要昼夜默诵，好使你谨守遵行书中所记的一切；这样，你的道路就必顺利，你必一路亨通。(约书亚记 1:5, 7-8)

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:5, 7-8)

In today’s Scripture passage, the newly commissioned leader of Israel is standing at the threshold of the Promised Land. More than 2 million Israelites are looking to him to lead them. How would he do it? God didn’t give him a detailed script, but He gave him the assurance that He would go with him.

He promised to be with Joshua wherever he went. Joshua responded with complete devotion and surrender to his amazing Guide, and “not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken” (21:45).

We can abandon ourselves to our Director and rest in His faithfulness.

Faith never knows where it is being led; it knows and loves the One who is leading. —Oswald Chambers

Verses from Proverbs

求你使虚假和谎言远离我；不要使我贫穷，也不要使我富裕，只要给我需用的食物。免得我吃饱了，就不认你，说：‘耶和华是谁？’又恐怕我贫穷，就偷窃，污渎了我神的名。(箴言 30:8-9)

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9)

Upon winning $314 million in a 2002 lottery, a happy business owner expressed noble desires. He wanted to start a charitable foundation, put laid-off workers back on the job, and do nice things for his family. Already wealthy, he told reporters the big win wouldn’t change him.

A few years later, a follow-up article described a different outcome. Since winning the biggest of all lotteries, the man had run into legal problems, lost his personal reputation, and gambled away all of his money.

A thoughtful man by the name of Agur wrote words that anticipate such heartbreak. Brought low by the awareness of his own natural inclinations (Prov. 30:2-3), Agur saw the dangers of having too much or too little.

Agur saw the special challenges that come both with wealth and poverty, but also with our own tendencies. Each gives us reason for caution. Together they show our need for the One who taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Discontentment makes rich people poor, while contentment makes poor people rich.