Verse from Isaiah

耶和华说：“你们来，我们彼此辩论；你们的罪虽像朱红，必变成雪白；虽红如丹颜，必白如羊毛。(以赛亚书 1:18)

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Sin may stain our lives, but when we repent and confess it, we have “the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of [God’s] grace” (Eph. 1:7).

Lord, give me courage to confess,

To bare my sinful heart to Thee;

Forgiving love You long to show

And from my sin to set me free. —D. DeHaan

The weight of sin is balanced only by the blood of Christ.

Verses from Philippians

我知道怎样处卑贱，也知道怎样处富裕；我已经得了秘诀，无论在任何情况之下，或是饱足，或是饥饿，或是富裕，或是缺乏，都可以知足。我靠着那加给我能力的，凡事都能作。(腓立比书 4:12, 13)

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12, 13)

No matter what our strengths or weaknesses might be, God’s providential hand can give us what we need to make a difference for Him in our world. Rely on His strength to help you as you take a step of faith.

God’s call to a task includes His strength to complete it.

Verse from Galatians

弟兄们，你们蒙召得了自由；只是不可把这自由当作放纵情欲的机会，总要凭着爱心互相服事。(加拉太书 5:13)m

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13)

Freedom is a wonderful gift when it is handled with responsibility. Not being under law is such a sweet grace, but we want to pass that sweetness on to each other through service, kindness, and care.

Verses from Micah

有何神像你，赦免罪孽，不追究产业之余民的过犯呢？他不永远怀怒，因为他喜爱怜悯。他必再怜爱我们，把我们的罪孽都践踏在脚下，又把我们 的一切罪恶都投在深海里。(弥迦书 7:18, 19)

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18, 19)

The moment we find Jesus, our eternity with Him begins. He walks alongside us so He can change us into the people we long to be and were created to be.

Look up from your failure, and you’ll find God standing ready to receive you.

Verse from John

我就是门，如果有人借着我进来，就必定得救，并且可以出、可以入，也可以找到草场。(约翰福音 10:9)

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)

For believers, the Great Shepherd is the door between us and our enemies. Once we enter the sheepfold, we can “forget” all dangers and threats. We can enjoy divine forgetfulness and rest in the protection of the Great Shepherd.

Thank You, Father, 

for the peace of mind that comes from knowing You are standing watch over the events of our lives. 

Help us to rest securely in Your protection.

Verses from 2 Corinthians

我们主耶稣基督的父神是应当称颂的。他是满有怜悯的父，赐各样安慰的神。我们在一切患难中，神都安慰我们，使我们能用他所赐的安慰，去安慰那些在各样患难中的人。(哥林多后书 1:3, 4)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4)

Father, thank You for letting us share with You our worries and cares. We’re grateful that You stand beside us to comfort and guide. 

Help us to console others as You look out for Your own.

God comforts us so that we can comfort others.

So often we ask why God allows a hurtful experience to come our way. Today’s reading provides us with at least one very plausible reason for the pain. We are comforted in our afflictions so that we might comfort others in theirs (v.4). Hearing of the faithfulness of God in trials uplifts others who suffer.

Verse from Mark

耶稣对他们说：“来，你们自己到旷野去休息一下。”因为来往的人多，他们甚至没有时间吃饭。(马可福音 6:31)

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)

Everyone needs rest, and if we go too long without it, we will suffer physically and emotionally. We also will be unable to carry out our responsibilities as well as we should. Is the Lord encouraging you to “come aside . . . and rest a while”? Sometimes a few more rest stops with Him may be necessary.

To avoid a breakdown, take a break for rest and prayer.

Verse from Proverbs

谨慎口舌的，可保性命；口没遮拦的，自取灭亡。(箴言 13:3)

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3)

Verse from Psalm

他没有按着我们的罪过待我们，也没有照着我们的罪孽报应我们。(诗篇 103:10)

he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:10)

We easily forget how sinful we are at the core of our being. Thinking of ourselves more highly than we should diminishes our sense of deep indebtedness to God for His grace. It discounts the price He paid to rescue us.

Lord, 

thank You for not dealing with me according to my sins. 

I am indebted to You for the love and

grace that You demonstrated on the cross to purchase my pardon and forgiveness—far beyond what I deserve!

If God never does anything more than redeem us, He has already done far more than we deserve.

Verses from Job

约伯的三个朋友，提幔人以利法、书亚人比勒达、拿玛人琐法，听到这一切降在他身上的灾祸，就各从自己的地方出发，相约而来对他表同情，安慰他。 他们从远处举目观望，竟认不出他来，就放声大哭，各自撕裂外袍，向天扬起尘土，落在自己头上。 他们就七天七夜与他一起坐在地上，没有人向他说一句话，因为他们看出他极其痛苦。 (约伯记 2:11-13)

When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. (Job 2:11-13)

Listening says, “What matters to you matters to me.” Sometimes people do want advice. But often they just want to be listened to by someone who loves and cares about them.

Listening is hard work, and it takes time. It takes time to listen long enough to hear the other person’s true heart, so that if we do speak, we speak with gentle wisdom.

Oh, Lord, give us a loving heart and a listening ear.

When I’m thinking about an answer while others are talking—I’m not listening.

Verse from Joshua

我不是吩咐过你要坚强勇敢吗？所以，你不要惧怕，也不要惊慌；因为你无论到哪里去，耶和华你的神必与你同在。”(约书亚记 1:9)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

When we’re in the middle of suffering or when doubts start threatening our faith, what are our anchors? We could start with Joshua 1:5. Although our faith may feel weak, if it’s anchored in God’s promises and presence, He will safely hold us.

When we feel the stress of the storm we learn the strength of the anchor.

Verses from Matthew

因此，你们要警醒，因为不知道你们的主甚么时候要来。

所以，你们也要准备妥当，因为在想不到的时候，人子就来了。(马太福音 24:42, 44)

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:42, 44)

Verse from Psalm

耶和华的谋略永远立定，他心中的计划万代长存。(诗篇 33:11)

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Psalm 33:11)

Jesus’ disciples were accompanying Him on an urgent mission when their trip was interrupted (Mark 5:21-42). The daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, was dying. Time was of the essence, and Jesus was on His way to their home. Then, suddenly, Jesus stopped and said, “Who touched My clothes?” (v.30).

The disciples seemed irritated by this and said, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” (v.31). But Jesus saw it as an opportunity to minister to a suffering woman. Her illness had made her ceremonially unclean and unable to participate in community life for 12 years! (see Lev. 15:25-27).

While Jesus was talking to this woman, Jairus’ daughter died. It was too late—or so it seemed. But the delay allowed Jairus to experience an even deeper knowledge of Jesus and His power—even power over death!

Sometimes our disappointment can be God’s appointment.

Disappointment—His appointment

No good thing will He withhold;

From denials oft we gather

Treasures of His love untold. —Young

Look for God’s purpose in your next interruption.

Verse from Romans

要以手足之爱彼此相亲，用恭敬的心互相礼让。(罗马书 12:10)

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)

Paul exemplified this attitude by including others in his ministry and investing his life in the next generation of believers. Generosity, hospitality, forgiveness, and compassion guided his behavior.

For a healthier spiritual life, exercise humility and care for others.

Verses from Jeremiah

但倚靠耶和华，以耶和华为他所信赖的，这人是有福的。他必像一棵树，栽种在水边，树根伸进河里；炎热来到，并不害怕，树叶仍然繁茂；在荒旱之年，它不挂虑，并且不断结果子。”(耶利米书 17:7, 8)

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7, 8)

Trust. Can we trust in God? Is the Lord really faithful? While we may wish to have been alive when Jesus walked the earth or Jeremiah spoke fearlessly God's hard truth, we are especially blessed to be alive today. We stand at the end of an incredible stream of God's work. We can look at history and know him to be profoundly faithful to his people. We can launch out into the future with boldness because we know God is already there!

Verse from Proverbs

不经商议，计划必定失败；谋士众多，计划就可成功。(箴言 15:22)

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)

In order to determine God’s course for life, the wise person should open up to several avenues of counsel, through which God will bring His guiding wisdom. When a person seeks the wise counsel of others, he shows his realization that he might be overlooking some important factors in his decisions.

The Lord is the Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6), and He desires to protect us through wise advisors. Seek them out and thank God for them. Let them help you discover a clearer picture of His plan for your life.

Verses from Philippians

应当毫无忧虑，只要凡事借着祷告祈求，带着感恩的心，把你们所要的告诉神。这样，神所赐超过人能了解的平安，必在基督耶稣里，保守你们的心思意念。(腓立比书 4:6, 7)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6, 7)

God wants to hear our prayers. But to keep them from becoming too self-focussed, God wants us to always remember to give thanks. It is so easy for us to turn prayer into a request line. We are the ones who are left bereft when thanksgiving and praise are robbed from our prayers. Without praise our hearts grow dim because all we think about are problems and prayer becomes a wish list.

Verse from Matthew

瞎眼的法利赛人哪，先把杯和盘的里面洗净，好使外面也可以干净。(马太福音 23:26)

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. (Matthew 23:26)

Every culture values different religious behaviors and traditions, but God’s values transcend cultures. And what He values isn’t measured by what others see. God values a clean heart and pure motives. Spiritual health is expressed from the inside out.

You know me, Lord, for who I am. My motives and heart are open before You. 

Cleanse me from the inside out. 

And help me to live as Jesus did—with pure and true motives.

We might look good on the outside without really being good on the inside.

Verse from Psalm

我要称谢你，因为我的受造奇妙可畏；你的作为奇妙，这是我深深知道的。(诗篇 139:14)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)

We are a miracle ourselves because God created us from dust, made in His image! 

Verse from Deuteronomy

看哪，我照着耶和华我的神吩咐我的，把律例和典章教训你们，好让你们在将要进去得为业的地上遵行。(申命记 4:5)

See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. (Deuteronomy 4:5)

It is so easy to talk about doing more than we actually do and to speak about truth we’re not living by. We can become bloated with words, yet starved for reality, forgetting that all of God’s commands flow from His heart of love for us.

Help us, Lord, not to be just hearers of the Word;

help us to be doers as well. Teach us to be honest with ourselves about who we really are. 

We want to walk in Your ways and to guide others to You.

The strength of our actions should match the strength of our words.

Verse from 2 Timothy

那美好的仗我已经打过了，当跑的路我已经跑尽了，所持的信仰我已经守住了。(提摩太后书 4:7)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

We are involved in a “long-distance race.” Let’s run in such a way that we may obtain the prize of “an imperishable crown” (1 Cor. 9:25). What could be more desirable than to finish strong for Christ and to be with Him forever.

Run the straight race through God’s good grace,

Lift up your eyes and seek His face;

Life with its way before us lies,

Christ is the path and Christ the prize. —Monsell

The Christian’s race is not a sprint—it’s a marathon.

Verse from 1 Corinthians

你们所受的试探，无非是人受得起的；神是信实的，他必不容许你们受试探过于你们承受得起的，而且在受试探的时候，必定给你们开一条出路，使你们能忍受得住。(哥林多前书 10:13)

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Lord, keep us mindful that Your presence with us in times of temptation means that we need not fall.

Give us the desire to seek Your way out so we can know the joy of living a life that is pleasing to You.

Verse from Genesis

日落天黑的时候，忽然有冒烟的炉和烧着的火把，从那些肉块中经过。(创世记 15:17)

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. (Genesis 15:17)

When Abram asked God how he could be sure His promises would come to pass, God used the culturally significant symbolism of the suzerain treaty to affirm His promises (Gen. 15). When the burning torch passed through the pieces of the sacrifice, Abram understood that God was declaring it was His job to keep the covenant.

God’s covenant with Abram and His assurance of its completion extends to followers of Christ. That is why Paul repeatedly refers to believers as sons of Abraham in his New Testament writings (Rom. 4:11-18; Gal. 3:29). Once we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, God becomes the keeper in our covenant of faith (see John 10:28-29).

Because God is the keeper of our salvation, with renewed confidence in Him we trust Him with our lives.

Verses from 1 Thessalonians

要常常喜乐，不住祷告，凡事谢恩；这就是神在基督耶稣里给你们的旨意。(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:16-18)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Where does your heart live? That's what these verses are all about. It's about where we spend the most time with our hearts. Is there a constant awareness in your life that God is present? Is he the unseen but always present companion in all your ups and downs? Or is God here when it is convenient and gone when things are busy or we feel that everything is going okay? Joy comes from knowing we are never alone. Prayer is the ongoing conversation we have, Spirit to Spirit, child to Abba, human with God. Thanksgiving and joy are the great reminders that we have been blessed no matter what the outward circumstances imply.

Verses from 1 Corinthians

你们不知道不义的人不能承受神的国吗？不要自欺，无论是行淫乱的、拜偶像的、奸淫的、作娈童的、亲男色的、偷窃的、贪心的、醉酒的、辱骂人的或勒索的，都不能承受神的国。你们有些人从前也是这样的，但现在借着我们主耶稣基督的名，靠着我们神的灵，都已经洗净了，圣洁了，称义了。(哥林多前书 6:9-11)

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

We can all find ourselves in Paul’s list in 1 Corinthians. But when we confess our sin and accept the gift of eternal life paid for by the death of Jesus, we become a new creation saved by grace (Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17).

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)

it’s difficult advice to keep. Life will always make demands upon our time and energy that cry out for immediate attention. By comparison, taking time to hear God’s Word and to do what it says may not shout quite so loudly. We may not notice the consequences of neglect right away, but over time it may give way to a spiritual heart attack.

Thankfully God has given us His Word. We need His help not to neglect it, but to use it to align our hearts with His every day.

Verse from Jeremiah

夸口的却要因了解我，认识我而夸口；认识我是耶和华，我在地上施行慈爱、公正、公义；因为我喜悦这些事。”这是耶和华的宣告。(耶利米书 9:24)

but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:24)

If we allow praise to inflate our self-image, we’re forgetting that “every good gift . . . comes down from the Father” (James 1:17). It’s better to give God the glory—not only because it protects our hearts from pride but also because He rightfully deserves it. He is God, the One “who does great things . . . marvelous things without number” (Job 5:9).

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted;

Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard;

Not I, but Christ, in every look and action;

Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word. —Whiddington 

Verses from Proverbs

你要一心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明；在你一切所行的路上，都要承认他，他必使你的路径平坦正直。(箴言 3:5, 6)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

Verses from Psalm

你们要称谢耶和华，因他本是良善

的；他的慈爱永远长存。愿耶和华救赎的子民这样称谢他；这民就是他从敌人的手里救赎出来，(诗篇 107:1, 2)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, (Psalm 107:1, 2)

When we consider the greatness of God’s love, His grace in sending Jesus Christ to die for us and rise again, and what He has delivered us from, we cannot keep from praising Him and wanting to tell others how He changed our lives!

O God, my heart is filled with praise for all that You have done for me. You have changed the focus and purpose of my life because You sent Your Son.

Thank You.

Verse from Ezra

现在，耶和华我们的神恩待我们片时，给我们存留一些逃脱的人，使我们像钉子钉在他的圣所那样的安稳，让我们的神光照我们的眼睛，使我们在所受的奴役中稍得复兴。(以斯拉记 9:8)

“But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. (Ezra 9:8)

At times we find that we alone have survived something, and we don’t know why. Soldiers coming home from combat and patients who’ve survived a life-threatening illness struggle to know why they survived when others did not.

The Old Testament speaks of a remnant of Israelites whom God spared when the nation was sent into exile. The remnant preserved God’s law and later rebuilt the temple (Ezra 9:9). The apostle Paul referred to himself as part of the remnant of God (Rom. 11:1,5). He was spared to become God’s messenger to Gentiles (v.13).

If we stand where others have fallen, it’s to raise our hands to heaven in praise and to spread our arms as shade for the weary. The Lord enables us to be a tree of rest for others.

Verse from Matthew

有一个患痲风的人前来向他跪拜，说：“主啊！如果你肯，必能使我洁净。”(马太福音 8:2)

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2)

What an example this leper is to me, Lord. 

Give me a heart of worship, of confidence in Your power, and

of trust that when I bring my needs to You, You’ll make the best choice. May I surrender to Your will.