Verse from 1 John

我们若承认自己的罪，神是信实的、公义的，必定赦免我们的罪，洁净我们脱离一切不义。(约翰壹书 1:9)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Confession is the path that leads to restoration

Verse from Galatians

但圣灵的果子是仁爱、喜乐、平安、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制；这样的事，是没有律法禁止的。(加拉太书 5:22, 23)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23)

Verse from Colossians

你们要把握时机，用智慧与外人来往。(歌罗西书 4:5)

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (Colossians 4:5)

If we show kindness, love, and compassion to others, those who observe us will wonder why, and that may give us an opening to tell them about the beauty of God’s love for them.

The beauty of a changed life can attract others to the One who makes us beautiful.

Verse from Romans

爱是不加害于人的，所以爱是成全律法的。 (罗马书 13:10)

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10)

Each day as we follow Jesus Christ our Savior, we are faced with choices that will affect the lives of others. When we choose a course of action, we should ask ourselves, “Does this reflect Christ’s concern for others, or am I only concerned for myself?” Such a sensitivity demonstrates the love of Christ that seeks to heal the broken and help those in need.

Verse from Psalm

神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量， 是我们在患难中随时都可得到的帮助。(诗篇 46:1)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

Our Savior helps by giving us grace to endure, His Word to sustain us, friends to encourage and pray for us, and the confidence that He will ultimately work it all together for our spiritual good.

Verse from James

至于从天上来的智慧，首先是纯洁的，其次是和平的，温柔的，谦逊的，满有恩慈和善果，没有偏袒，没有虚伪。(雅各书 3:17)

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)

People in our lives may sometimes suggest we do what seems most gratifying or practical in the moment. But there is a difference between worldly and spiritual wisdom (1 Cor. 2:6-7). When others are urging us to take a certain course of action, we can invite God to influence our response.

One is truly wise who gains his wisdom from above.

Verse from Proverbs

谦卑和敬畏耶和华的赏赐，就是财富、荣耀和生命。(箴言 22:4)

Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

Verse from Psalm

但从亘古到永远，耶和华的慈爱临到敬畏他的人；他的公义也归于他们的子子孙孙，就是那些谨守他的约，记住他的训词，并且遵行的人。(诗篇 103:17, 18)

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. (Psalm 103:17, 18)

Verse from Proverbs

追求公义与慈爱的，必得着生命、公义和荣耀。(箴言 21:21)

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)

Verse from Luke

她有一个妹妹，名叫马利亚，坐在主的脚前听道。 (路加福音 10:39)

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. (Luke 10:39)

Are you caught up in the frenzy of a busy life? Pause and consider Jesus’ words to Martha: “You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

Notice Jesus’ gentle words. He didn’t rebuke Martha for wanting to be a good host but rather reminded her about her priorities. Martha had allowed the necessary to get out of proportion. And, in the process, she was so busy doing good that she didn’t take time to sit at Jesus’ feet.

In our drive to be productive for the Lord, let’s remember the one thing worth being concerned about—enjoying time with our Savior.

Jesus longs for our fellowship even more than we long for His.

Verse from Psalm

我的心哪！你要称颂耶和华；不可忘记他的一切恩惠。(诗篇 103:2)

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— (Psalm 103:2)

As we make our way on the journey of life, it is easy to forget places, people, and events that have been important to us along the way. Time passes, yesterday fades, and we become obsessed with the concerns of the moment. When this happens, we can also forget just how good God has been to us.

Never is this remembrance more needed than when the heartaches of life crowd in on us. When we are feeling overwhelmed and forgotten, it’s important to recall all that He has done for us. In remembering, we find the encouragement to trust Him in the present and for the future.

Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past strengthens us for the future.

Verse from Ezekiel

“‘因为主耶和华这样说：看哪！我必亲自寻觅我的羊，把牠们找出来。(以西结书 34:11)

“ ‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. (Ezekiel 34:11)

The Lord loves and cares for us all, no matter how much we have grieved Him. 

Verse from Numbers

愿耶和华使他的脸光照你，赐恩给你；(民数记 6:25)

the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; (Numbers 6:25)

In the ancient blessing recorded in the book of Numbers we get an indication that God “smiles”: “The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Num. 6:25-26). Those words are a Hebrew idiom for the favor of God on a person’s life, asking God to smile on His children.

So today, remember that you are loved by God, and that He is pleased to be gracious to you and to shine His face upon you.

Lord, may my life be so pleasing to You that You are pleased to have Your face shine on me. 

And as You graciously smile on my life, may I find someone today with whom I can share Your love through a smile.

Your smile could be a message of cheer from God to a needy soul.

Verse from Revelation

这城不需要日月照明，因为有神的荣耀照明，而羊羔就是城的灯。(启示录 21:23)

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21:23)

In the heavenly city, there will be no darkness for eternity, and we will know no power failure. Are u thrilled to be able to one day live in the light of the Lamb and the glory of God in the heavenly city?

Verse from James

我亲爱的弟兄们，你们要知道，人人都应该快快地听，慢慢地说，慢一点动怒； (雅各书 1:19)

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (James 1:19)

Have a brake on your tongue; hit the throttle on your ears. Let your angry email sit three days before responding and make sure you read it and edit it before you send it. Keep your mouth shut and your ears open. 

Have a blessed Monday everyone! 

Verse from Ephesians

你们作父亲的，不要激怒儿女，却要照着主的教训和劝戒，养育他们。(以弗所书 6:4)

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

We honor fathers who not only gave us life, but who also show us how to live.

Verse from Psalm

耶和华的眼睛看顾义人，他的耳朵垂听他们的呼求。(诗篇 34:15)

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; (Psalm 34:15)

There are times when a dependable presence disappears. Something or someone we’ve relied on is gone, and our life is shaken. Maybe it’s the loss of a loved one, or a job, or good health. The loss makes us feel off-balance, unstable. We might even think that God is no longer watching over us.

God’s presence is real. He continually watches over us. He is rock-solid.

The Rock of Ages stands secure,

He always will be there;

He watches over all His own

To calm their anxious care. —Keith

The question is not where is God, but where isn’t He?

Verse from 1 Peter

可以得着不能朽坏、不能玷污、不能衰残，为你们存留在天上的基业，(彼得前书 1:4)

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4)

Like a safe within a safe, our salvation is protected by God and we’re secure.

Verse from Ezra

他们这样答复我们，说：‘我们是天地之神的仆人，正在重建这多年以前已经建好的殿，就是一位以色列伟大的君王所建成的。(以斯拉记 5:11)

This is the answer they gave us: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. (Ezra 5:11)

When we are engaged in God’s work and we encounter setbacks, we can calmly carry on because, like the Israelites, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth” (5:11). Obstacles and delays may discourage us, but we can rest in Jesus’ promise: “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matt. 16:18 nlt). It is God’s power that enables His work, not our own.

Verses from Psalm

就是行为完全，作事公义，心里说诚实话的人。他不以舌头诋毁人，不恶待朋友，也不毁谤他的邻居。他眼中藐视卑鄙的人，却尊重敬畏耶和华的人。他起了誓，纵然自己吃亏，也不更改。他不拿自己的银子放债取利， 也不收受贿赂陷害无辜；行这些事的人，必永不动摇。(诗篇 15:2-5)

The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken. (Psalm 15:2-5)

Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, spent a lifetime in search of honesty and finally concluded that an honest man could not be found. Honest people are hard to find in any age, but the trait is one that greatly matters. Honesty is not the best policy; it’s the only policy, and one of the marks of a man or woman who lives in God’s presence.

I ask myself: Am I trustworthy and honorable in all my affairs? Do my words ring true? Do I speak the truth in love or do I fudge and fade the facts now and then, or exaggerate for emphasis? If so, I may turn to God with complete confidence and ask for forgiveness and for a good and honest heart—to make truthfulness an integral part of my nature. The One who has begun a good work in me is faithful. He will do it.

Lord, help me to be honest

In all I do and say,

And grant me grace and power

To live for You each day. —Fitzhugh

Live in such a way that when people think of honesty and integrity, they will think of you.

Verse from John

士兵用荆棘编成冠冕，戴在他的头上，又给他披上紫色的外袍，(约翰福音 19:2)

The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe (John 19:2)

That day, the crown, which is normally a symbol of royalty and honor, was turned into a tool of mockery and hate. Yet our Savior willingly wore that crown for us, bearing our sin and shame.

The One who deserved the best of all crowns took the worst for us.

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 immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20)

I’m so grateful that our God is not a stingy God who begrudgingly dishes out His blessings in small portions. Rather, He is the God who pours out forgiveness for the prodigal (Luke 15), and He daily crowns us “with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Ps. 103:4)

At times we think God hasn’t provided for us as we would like. But if He never did anything more than forgive our sins and guarantee heaven for us, He has already been abundantly generous! So today, let’s rejoice in our generous God.

Lord, remind me often that You have been exceedingly generous to me. Help me to extend that generosity of spirit toward those around me, so that they may know who You are and rejoice in You.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Verse from Hebrews

为了接受管教，你们要忍受，因为　神待你们好象待儿子一样；哪有儿子不受父亲管教的呢？(希伯来书 12:7)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? (Hebrews 12:7)

we might not always want to go to God right away when we have a problem or are struggling in a certain area. We know that He could provide immediate relief from our pain, but He is more concerned with dealing with the root of the problem. We may be afraid that He will reveal issues that we are unprepared or unwilling to deal with.

His discipline, though perhaps painful, is wise, and His touch is loving. He loves us too much to let us remain as we are; He wants to conform us to the likeness of His Son, Jesus (Rom. 8:29). God’s purposes of love can be trusted more than any of our emotions of fear.

God’s discipline is much more than just rebuke and punishment. It includes nurture, instruction, and training in holiness and righteousness 

God’s hand of discipline is a hand of love.

Verse from Psalm

除你以外，在天上，我还有谁呢？除你以外，在地上，我也无所爱慕。(诗篇 73:25)

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:25)

Even when we know God, we are often distracted by the prosperity of others. C. S. Lewis wrote, “It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. . . . We are far too easily pleased” with lesser things than Him.

What do we learn about God in this psalm that might help when our desires distract us from God’s best? Well, we see that even though we may be tempted to envy what others have, He is continually guiding us and bringing us back to focus on Him.

Lord, we do believe that You are the place where true satisfaction is found. 

But we’re weak and sinful

and easily distracted from Your best. Teach us to draw near to You, and may You, in turn, draw near to us.

Verse from Joshua

如果你们认为事奉耶和华不好，那么今日你们就可以选择你们所要事奉的：是你们列祖在大河那边事奉的神呢，还是你们现在所住亚摩利人之地的神呢？至于我和我家，我们必事奉耶和华。”(约书亚记 24:15)

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Who do u want to serve today? The Lord who has saved u and will love u for eternity or ? Have u made your choice? 

Verses from Deuteronomy

耶和华在旷野之地遇见了他，在荒凉之地和野兽吼叫的荒野，遇见了他，就环绕他，看顾他，保护他，好象保护自己眼中的瞳人一样。又像老鹰搅动巢窝，飞翔在雏鹰之上，搧展翅膀，接取雏鹰，背在自己的两翼之上。(申命记 32:10, 11)

In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. (Deuteronomy 32:10, 11)

Moses used eagle imagery to describe God. As eagles carry their young, God carries His people (Deut. 32:11-12). Despite how it may seem, the Lord “is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). This is true even when we feel abandoned.

Under His wings I am safely abiding;

Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust Him—I know He will keep me;

He has redeemed me and I am His child. —Cushing

Because the Lord is watching over us, we don’t have to fear the dangers around us.

Verse from Romans

我们各人务要叫邻舍喜悦，好让他得到益处、得到造就。(罗马书 15:2)

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. (Romans 15:2)

Being depressed and dissatisfied with life can be caused by a myriad of things. But for many of us, these are symptoms that we have focused too much on ourselves and are angry with life. We have forgotten to count our blessings, neglected giving thanks to God, become silent in our praise to our Father, and have quit helping those around us. Thinking of others is how Christ lived. When we follow his example, ours actions make a difference in the lives of those we bless and we also find ourselves immensely blessed as well. Let's get our focus off ourselves and look to bless our neighbors!

Verses from Deuteronomy

你也要记念耶和华你的神这四十年在旷野引导你的一切路程，为要使你受苦，要试炼你，要知道你心里怎样，看看你肯守他的诫命不肯。他使你受苦，任你饥饿，把你和你的列祖不认识的吗哪赐给你吃，使你知道人活着，不是单靠食物，更要靠耶和华口里所出的一切话。

“你要自己谨慎，免得忘记耶和华你的神，不守他的诫命、典章、律例，就是我今日吩咐你的；恐怕你吃饱了，建造美好的房屋居住，你的牛羊加多，你的金银增添，你所有的一切都增加了，那时，你就心高气傲，忘记了耶和华你的神，就是把你从埃及地，从为奴之家领出来的那一位。(申命记 8:2, 3, 11-14)

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 8:2, 3, 11-14)

God taught the Israelites that, despite difficult times, He could bless them (v.1). Finally, they learned that adversity is not a sign of abandonment. Moses reminded them that God had been leading throughout their 40 years in the wilderness (v.2).

When we encounter desperate times, we can look for the spiritual lessons embedded in our difficulties

Dear God, 

please give me the faith to believe that You can bring good out of any situation. 

Help me to see what You want to show me during adversity.

The clearest view of everything that happens comes from heaven.

Verse from Ephesians

所以，你们行事为人要谨慎，不要像愚昧人，却要像聪明人。(以弗所书 5:15)

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, (Ephesians 5:15)

Clearly, with all of life’s possible dangers coming our way as we climb through life, it is vital that we take each step with Jesus wisely and cautiously. A fool, the passage says, lives carelessly; a wise person watches each step so he does not stumble or fall.

As we trust God to rule our hearts our feet can walk His way.

Verses from Philippians

弟兄们，我不以为自己已经得着了，我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力前面的事，向着目标竭力追求，为要得着神在基督耶稣里召我往上去得的奖赏。(腓立比书 3:13, 14)

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13, 14)

While it is wise to learn from the past, we shouldn’t live in the past. We cannot redo or undo the past, but by God’s grace we can press forward and serve God faithfully today and in the future. The life of faith is a journey forward as we become like Christ.