Tuesday, 31 January 2017

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 toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭

Interestingly, the Bible doesn't ever just say that God loves us. Instead, it says: "God demonstrated His love..." "In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us and gave..." "For God so loved the world that He gave..."

Love is more than emotion or intention. True love, redemptive love, God-styled love is active; it does something. For us, Jesus did more than something; He sacrificed everything. What's more, He did it when we most needed it. He demonstrated His love when we were sinners!

Monday, 30 January 2017

Verse from Nehemiah

“后来我对他们说:“你们都看见我们遭遇的患难:耶路撒冷成了荒芜之地,城门被火焚毁,你们都来吧!让我们重建耶路撒冷的城墙,免得我们再受凌辱。””
‭‭尼希米记‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭

“Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach."”
‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭

When Edward Klee returned to Berlin after being away for many years, the city he remembered and loved was no longer there. It had changed dramatically, and so had he. Writing in Hemispheres magazine, Klee said, “Returning to a city you once loved tends to be a hit-or-miss proposition . . . . It can be a letdown.” Going back to the places of our past may produce a feeling of sorrow and loss. We are not the same person we were then, nor is the place that was so significant in our lives exactly as it was.

Nehemiah had been in exile from the land of Israel for many years when he learned of the desperate plight of his people and the devastation in the city of Jerusalem. He received permission from Artaxerxes, the Persian king, to return and rebuild the walls.

Nehemiah did not return to reminisce but to rebuild. It’s a powerful lesson for us as we consider the damaged parts of our past that need repair. It is our faith in Christ and His power that enables us to look ahead, move forward, and rebuild.

Thank You, Lord,
for the work You are doing in us and through us.

We cannot change the past, but God is changing us for the future.

Sunday, 29 January 2017

Verse from John

“耶稣说:“我实实在在告诉你们,亚伯拉罕出生以前,我已经存在了。””
‭‭约翰福音‬ ‭8:58‬ ‭

“Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:58‬ ‭

Jeralean Talley died in June 2015 as the world’s oldest living person—116 years of age. In 1995, the city of Jerusalem celebrated its 3,000th birthday. One hundred sixteen is old for a person, and 3,000 is old for a city, but there are trees that grow even older. A bristlecone pine in California’s White Mountains has been determined to be older than 4,800 years. That precedes the patriarch Abraham by 800 years!

Jesus, when challenged by the Jewish religious leaders about His identity, also claimed to pre-date Abraham (John 8:58). His bold assertion shocked those who were confronting Him, and they sought to stone Him. They knew He wasn’t referring to a chronological age but was actually claiming to be eternal by taking the ancient name of God, “I am” (see Ex. 3:14). But as a member of the Trinity, He could make that claim legitimately.

In John 17:3, Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” The timeless One entered into time so we could live forever. He accomplished that mission by dying in our place and rising again. Because of His sacrifice, we anticipate a future not bound by time, where we will spend eternity with Him. He is the timeless one.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine; but God, who called me here below, will be forever mine.  John Newton

Saturday, 28 January 2017

Verses from Romans

“谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝呢?是患难吗?是困苦吗?是迫害吗?是饥饿吗?是赤身露体吗?是危险吗?是刀剑吗?

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‬ ‭8:35, 39‬ ‭

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:35, 39‬ ‭

We serve a God who loves us more than our work.

We must never forget this because there may come a time when our ability to “do for God” is torn from us by health or failure or unforeseen catastrophe. It is in those hours that God wants us to remember that He loves us not for what we do for Him but because of who we are: His children.

When all we can do or all we have is taken from us, then all He wants us to do is rest in our identity in Him.

Father,
help us never lose sight of the unconditional love You have for us,
and let us hold on to that hope when our labor—and the fruit of our labor—are gone.

The reason we exist is to be in fellowship with God.

Friday, 27 January 2017

Verse from Exodus

“可是摩西的两手疲乏了,他们就搬块石头来,放在摩西下面,他就坐在上面;亚伦和户珥,一边一个,扶着摩西的两手;这样,他的两手就稳住,直到日落的时候。”
‭‭出埃及记‬ ‭17:12‬ ‭

“But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17:12‬ ‭

In Exodus 17, it’s interesting that the task of holding Moses’s hands in the air did not fall only to Moses. Moses needed Aaron and Hur’s aid. It seems that the need for help is part of the point of the story. The entire army and the nation of Israel itself were depending on him. If he had failed—and on his own, this was virtually a guarantee—Israel would have lost the battle and many people would have died.

Perhaps the dramatic moment when Moses realized his need for help prepared him for applying this lesson to his life. The leadership of the nation was too much responsibility for him alone. He needed help (see Exodus 18).

The battle with the Amalekites reminds us of the reality that we do not, cannot, and need not stand alone.

Thursday, 26 January 2017

Verse from Romans

“我们知道律法是属灵的,我却是属肉体的,已经卖给罪了。”
‭‭罗马书‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭

“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭

British writer Evelyn Waugh wielded his words in a way that accentuated his character flaws. Eventually the novelist converted to Christianity, yet he still struggled. One day a woman asked him, “Mr. Waugh, how can you behave as you do and still call yourself a Christian?” He replied, “Madam, I may be as bad as you say. But believe me, were it not for my religion, I would scarcely be a human being.”

Waugh was waging the internal battle the apostle Paul describes: “I want to do what is right, but I can’t” (Rom. 7:18 nlt). He also says, “The trouble is not with the law . . . [It] is with me, for I am all too human” (v. 14 nlt). He further explains, “In my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me . . . . Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (vv. 22–24). And then the exultant answer: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v. 25).

When we come in faith to Christ, admitting our wrongdoing and need of a Savior, we immediately become a new creation. But our spiritual formation remains a lifelong journey. As John the disciple observed: “Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But . . . when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

Father,
we bring our struggles to You because You know all about them,
yet You love us anyway.
Teach us to rely on Your Holy Spirit.
Make us more like Your Son each day.

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Verse from Psalm

"愿耶和华赐力量给他的子民,愿耶和华赐平安的福给他的子民。”
‭‭诗篇‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭

“The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭

He gives strength to endure, to be patient, to be kind, to sit quietly, to get up and go, to do nothing at all.

May the God of peace be with you.

Calm my spirit in the storms, Lord.
Grant me Your peace and the strength to walk through this day.

Faith connects our weakness to God's strength.

Have you fully surrender your struggles to Him or do you try to do things on your own without Him?

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Verse from 1 Corinthians

“所以,我亲爱的弟兄们,你们务要坚固,不可动摇,常常竭力多作主工,因为知道你们的劳苦,在主里面不是徒然的。”
‭‭哥林多前书‬ ‭15:58‬ ‭

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:58‬ ‭

The apostle Paul spent a year with the followers of Jesus in Corinth, a city known for its moral corruption. After he left, he urged them in a follow-up letter not to be discouraged or feel that their witness for Christ was of no value. He assured them that a day is coming when the Lord will return and even death will be swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:52–55).

Remaining true to Jesus may be difficult, discouraging, and even dangerous, but it is never pointless or wasted. As we walk with the Lord and witness to His presence and power, our lives are not in vain! We can be sure of that.

Monday, 23 January 2017

Verse from 2 Corinthians

“神能把各样的恩惠多多地加给你们,使你们凡事常常充足,多作各样的善事。”
‭‭哥林多后书‬ ‭9:8‬ ‭

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:8‬ ‭

Imagine going on a trip without luggage. No basic necessities. No change of clothing. No money or credit cards. Sounds both unwise and terrifying, doesn’t it?

But that’s exactly what Jesus told His twelve disciples to do when He sent them out on their first mission to preach and heal. “Take nothing for the journey except a staff,” said Jesus. “No bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt” (Mark 6:8–9).

Yet later on when Jesus was preparing them for their work after He was gone, He told His disciples, “If you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36).

So, what’s the point here? It’s about trusting God to supply.

When Jesus referred back to that first trip, He asked the disciples, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” And they answered, “Nothing” (v. 35). The disciples had everything they needed to carry out what God had called them to do. He was able to supply them with the power to do His work (Mark 6:7).

Do we trust God to supply our needs? Are we also taking personal responsibility and planning? Let’s have faith that He will give us what we need to carry out His work.

You are good, Lord,
and all You do is good.
Help us in our endeavors to pray and to plan and to trust You.

God’s will done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission

Sunday, 22 January 2017

Verse from 2 Corinthians

“因为那说“要有光从黑暗里照出来”的神,已经照在我们的心里,要我们把神的荣光照出去,就是使人可以认识那在基督脸上的荣光。”
‭‭哥林多后书‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭

“For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭

Does God care about what we go through in life? Yes. In Jesus, God gave us a face. If you wonder how God feels about the suffering on this groaning planet, look at that face.

Does God care? His Son’s death on our behalf, which will ultimately destroy all pain, sorrow, suffering, and death for eternity, answers that question in 2 Cor 4:6 as above.

Saturday, 21 January 2017

Verse from Romans

“所以弟兄们,我凭着神的仁慈劝你们,要把身体献上,作圣洁而蒙神悦纳的活祭;这是你们理所当然的事奉 。”
‭‭罗马书‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭

Every successful athlete has to trust the coach enough to do whatever the coach asks them to do for the good of the team.

We say to our Savior and Lord: “I trust You. Whatever You want me to do, I am willing.” Then He “transforms” us by renewing our minds to focus on the things that please Him.
It’s helpful to know that God will never call on us to do something for which He has not already equipped us. As Paul reminds us, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (v. 6).

Knowing that we can trust God with our lives, we can abandon ourselves to Him, strengthened by the knowledge that He created us and is helping us to make this effort in Him.

Heavenly Father,
no one deserves our sacrifice and dedication more than You.
Help us to realize the joy that comes from abandoning ourselves to You.

Friday, 20 January 2017

Verse from Genesis

“耶和华神用地上的尘土造成人形,把生气吹进他的鼻孔里,那人就成了有生命的活人,名叫亚当。”
‭‭创世记‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭

“Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭

Who hasn’t found themselves taking the unexplainable mysteries of life for granted?

Who doesn’t obsess from time to time over what we don’t have, rather than treasuring the breath of life given to us by an all-wise God who has chosen to share His life and joy with us?

We may be tempted, living with today’s conveniences and technology, to forget our beginnings and that God is the one who gives us life. But when we pause to remember that God is our Creator, we can build an attitude of thankfulness into our daily routines.

We can ask Him for help and acknowledge the gift of life with humble, thankful hearts. May our gratitude spill out and touch others, so that they also may give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness.

Thursday, 19 January 2017

Verse from Proverbs

“秉公行义,比献祭更蒙耶和华悦纳。”
‭‭箴言‬ ‭21:3‬ ‭

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3

What God wants is obedience, which no amount of offering in forms of money etc can compare to.

Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Verse from Isaiah

“你们不要倚靠世人,他的鼻孔里只有一口气息,他实在算得甚么呢?”
‭‭以赛亚书‬ ‭2:22‬ ‭

“Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed?”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭2:22‬ ‭

"If only I had a friend." "If only my father hadn't left." "If only she was more supportive." "If only..." People can fail us, but we still pin so many of our hopes on them. They are fallible and mortal just like we are.

So while we are involved in the lives of other people, let's also remember to keep our hopes connected to the Son of God, who "defeated death and brought immortality and life to light" and who will "never leave or forsake" us.

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Verse from John

“...因为我活着,你们也要活着。”
‭‭约翰福音‬ ‭14:19‬ ‭

“...because I live, you will live also.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:19‬ ‭

The words of Ravi’s father cut deep. “You’re a complete failure. You’re an embarrassment to the family.” Compared to his talented siblings, Ravi was viewed as a disgrace. He tried excelling in sports, and he did, but he still felt like a loser. He wondered, What is going to become of me? Am I a complete failure? Can I get out of life some way, painlessly? These thoughts haunted him, but he talked to no one. That simply wasn’t done in his culture. He had been taught to “keep your private heartache private; keep your collapsing world propped up.”

So Ravi struggled alone. Then while he was recovering in the hospital after a failed suicide attempt, a visitor brought him a Bible opened to John 14. His mother read these words of Jesus to Ravi: “Because I live, you also will live” (v. 19). This may be my only hope, he thought. A new way of living. Life as defined by the Author of life. So he prayed, “Jesus, if You are the one who gives life as it is meant to be, I want it.”

Life can present despairing moments. But, like Ravi, we can find hope in Jesus who is “the way and the truth and the life” (v. 6).

Monday, 16 January 2017

Verse from 2 Chronicles

“...信靠耶和华你们的神...”
‭‭历代志下‬ ‭20:20‬ ‭

“...put your trust in the LORD your God...”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:20‬ ‭

French artist Henri Matisse felt his work in the last years of his life best represented him. During that time he experimented with a new style, creating colorful, large-scale pictures with paper instead of paint. He decorated the walls of his room with these bright images. This was important to him because he had been diagnosed with cancer and was often confined to his bed.

Becoming ill, losing a job, or enduring heartbreak are examples of what some call “being in the valley,” where dread overshadows everything else. The people of Judah experienced this when they heard an invading army was approaching (2 Chron. 20:2–3). Their king prayed, “If calamity comes . . . [we] will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us” (v. 9). God responded, “Go out to face [your enemies] tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you” (v. 17).

When Judah’s army arrived at the battlefield, their enemies had already destroyed each other. God’s people spent three days collecting the abandoned equipment, clothing, and valuables. Before leaving, they assembled to praise God and named the place “The Valley of Berakah,” which means “blessing.”

God walks with us through the lowest points in our lives. He can make it possible to discover blessings in the valleys.

Dear God,
help me not to be afraid when I encounter difficulty.
Help me to believe that Your goodness and love will follow me.

God is the master of turning burdens into blessings.

Sunday, 15 January 2017

Verse from Matthew

“顾惜自己生命的,必要丧掉生命;但为我牺牲生命的,必要得着生命。”
‭‭马太福音‬ ‭10:39‬ ‭

“He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:39‬ ‭

When we choose to follow Christ, we won’t necessarily be popular. Our highest calling is not self-promotion or self-preservation. A hero jumps into deep water to save someone who is drowning, but that same person could well lose his or her life (to quote Jesus) in the process of seeking to save someone else.

Jesus indicated that even family members (normally our closest natural connection) may be squared off against us. While others may become our obstinate opponents because of Christ, we are obligated to show unselfishness because of Him (Phil. 2:3–5). “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (1:21). It’s a profound paradox.

To lose our life for Him means to find it. Has there been a time when the choice to follow Christ has cost you?

Saturday, 14 January 2017

Verse from Mark

“门徒非常惧怕,彼此说:“这到底是谁,连风和海都听从他?””
‭‭马可福音‬ ‭4:41‬ ‭

“They became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:41‬ ‭

Imagine a world without wind. Lakes would be calm. Falling leaves wouldn’t blow in the streets. But in still air, who would expect trees to suddenly fall over? That’s what happened in a three-acre glass dome built in the Arizona desert. Trees growing inside a huge windless bubble called Biosphere 2 grew faster than normal until suddenly collapsing under their own weight. Project researchers eventually came up with an explanation. These trees needed wind stress to grow strong.

Jesus let His disciples experience gale-force winds to strengthen their faith (Mark 4:36–41). During a night crossing of familiar waters, a sudden storm proved too much even for these seasoned fishermen. Wind and waves were swamping their boat while an exhausted Jesus slept in the stern. In a panic they woke Him. Didn’t it bother their Teacher that they were about to die? What was He thinking? Then they began to find out. Jesus told the wind and waves to be quiet—and asked His friends why they still had no faith in Him.

If the wind had not blown, these disciples would never have asked, “Who is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41).
Today, life in a protective bubble might sound good. But how strong would our faith be if we couldn’t discover for ourselves His reassuring “be still” when the winds of circumstance howl?

Friday, 13 January 2017

Verse from Psalms

“耶和华为我们行了大事,我们就欢喜。”
‭‭诗篇‬ ‭126:3‬ ‭

“The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126:3‬ ‭

James's son wrestled with drug addiction for seven years, and during that time both he and his wife experienced many difficult days. As they prayed and waited for his recovery, they learned to celebrate small victories. If nothing bad happened in a twenty-four-hour period, they would tell each other, “Today was a good day.” That short sentence became a reminder to be thankful for God’s help with the smallest things.

The difficulties of any given day cannot change the truth that come what may, our Lord has already shown us unfathomable kindness, and “His love endures forever” (Ps. 136:1).
When we have lived through a difficult circumstance and discovered that God was faithful, keeping that in mind helps greatly the next time life’s waters turn rough. We may not know how God will get us through our circumstances, but His kindness to us in the past helps us trust that He will.

Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. Robert Grant

When we cannot see God’s hand, we can trust His heart.

Thursday, 12 January 2017

Verse from Hebrews

“被造的在神面前没有一样不是显明的,万有在他的眼前都是赤露敞开的;我们必须向他交帐。”
‭‭希伯来书‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭

In 2015 an international research company stated that there were 245 million surveillance cameras installed worldwide, and the number was growing by 15 percent every year. In addition, multiplied millions of people with smartphones capture daily images ranging from birthday parties to bank robberies. Whether we applaud the increased security or denounce the diminished privacy, we live in a global, cameras-everywhere society.

The New Testament book of Hebrews says that in our relationship with God, we experience a far greater level of exposure and accountability than anything surveillance cameras may see. His Word, like a sharp, two-edged sword, penetrates to the deepest level of our being where it “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:12–13).

Because Jesus our Savior experienced our weaknesses and temptations but did not sin, we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (vv. 15–16). We don’t need to fear Him but can be assured we’ll find grace when we come to Him.

Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. Nothing is greater than God’s love. Nothing is stronger than God’s mercy and grace. Nothing is too hard for God’s power.

Wednesday, 11 January 2017

Verse from Romans

“我们知道,为了爱神的人,就是按他旨意蒙召的人的益处,万事都一同效力。”
‭‭罗马书‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭

When Paul used the phrase “work together” in the context of suffering, he used the word from which we get our word synergy. He wanted the Romans to know that God, who didn’t cause their suffering, would cause all their circumstances to cooperate with His divine plan—for their ultimate good. The good to which Paul referred was not the temporal blessings of health, wealth, admiration, or success, but being “conformed to the image of [God’s] Son” (v. 29).

May we wait patiently and confidently because our heavenly Father is taking all the suffering, all the distress, all the evil, and causing them to work together for His glory and our spiritual good. He wants to make us like Jesus.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 1:6, and 1 Peter 5:10. What encouragement did you find for tough times?

The growth we gain from waiting on God is often greater than the answer or result we desire.

Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Verse from Ruth

“路得就俯伏在地叩拜,对他说:“我是个外族人,为甚么会在你眼前蒙恩,蒙你关照呢?””
‭‭路得记‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭

“Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"”
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭

Some say that the American writer Anne Herbert scribbled the phrase “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” on a placemat at a restaurant in 1982. The sentiment has since been popularized through film and literature and has become a part of our vocabulary.

The question is “Why?” Why should we show kindness? For those who follow Jesus, the answer is clear: To show the tender mercy and kindness of God.

There’s an Old Testament example of that principle in the story of Ruth, the emigrant from Moab. She was a foreigner, living in a strange land whose language and culture she did not understand. Furthermore, she was desperately poor, utterly dependent on the charity of a people who took little notice of her.

There was one Israelite, however, who showed Ruth grace and spoke to her heart (Ruth 2:13). He allowed her to glean in his fields, but more than simple charity, he showed her by his compassion the tender mercy of God, the One under whose wings she could take refuge. She became Boaz’s bride, part of the family of God, and one in a line of ancestors that led to Jesus, who brought salvation to the world (see Matt. 1:1–16).

We never know what one act of kindness, done in Jesus’s name, will do.

Monday, 9 January 2017

Verse from Proverbs

“说实话的嘴唇,永远坚立;撒谎的舌头,眨眼间消失。”
‭‭箴言‬ ‭12:19‬ ‭

“Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:19‬ ‭

"Tell the truth the first time, then you won't have to remember what you said." This truism by the famous Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn, is good medicine for us today.

Telling a lie seems gratifying at the time, but it nearly always catches up with us and gives us the added burden of trying to remember what we said and why. Truth endures; a lie is a momentary illusion that ends up a trap filled with burdens.

Sunday, 8 January 2017

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 who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭

A man driving his pickup truck on a country track saw a woman carrying a heavy load, so he stopped and offered her a lift. The woman expressed her gratitude and climbed into the back of the truck.

A moment later, the man noticed a strange thing: the woman was still holding onto her heavy load despite sitting in the vehicle! Astonished, he pleaded, “Please, Madam, put down your load and take your rest. My truck can carry you and your stuff. Just relax.”

What do we do with the load of fear, worry, and anxiety we often carry as we go through life's many challenges? Instead of relaxing in the Lord, we sometimes behave like that woman.

We put down our burdens when we bring them to the Lord in prayer. The apostle Peter says, “Cast all your anxiety on [Jesus] because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Because He cares for us, we can rest and relax as we learn to trust Him. Instead of carrying the burdens that weigh us down and weary us, we can give them to the Lord and let Him carry them.

I’m tired, Lord.
I bring You my burdens today.
Please keep them and carry them for me.

Saturday, 7 January 2017

Verse from Psalms

“凡是求告耶和华的,耶和华都和他们接近,就是和所有真诚求告他的人接近。”
‭‭诗篇‬ ‭145:18‬ ‭

“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145:18‬ ‭

In August 2010, the attention of the world was focused on a mine shaft near Copiapó, Chile. Thirty-three miners huddled in the dark, trapped 2,300 feet underground. They had no idea if help would ever arrive. After seventeen days of waiting, they heard drilling. Rescuers produced a small hole in the mine shaft ceiling, and that hole was followed by three more, establishing a delivery path for water, food, and medicine. The miners depended on those conduits to the surface above ground, where rescuers had the provisions they would need to survive. On day sixty-nine, rescuers pulled the last miner to safety.

None of us can survive in this world apart from provisions that are outside of ourselves. God, the Creator of the universe, is the one who provides us with everything we need. Like the drill holes for those miners, prayer connects us to the God of all supply.

Jesus encouraged us to pray, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). In His day, bread was the basic staple of life and pictured all the daily needs of the people. Jesus was teaching us to pray not only for our physical needs but also for everything we need—comfort, healing, courage, wisdom.

Through prayer we have access to Him at any moment, and He knows what we need before we even ask (v. 8). What might you be struggling with today?

Friday, 6 January 2017

Verse from Proverbs

“妇女美丽而无见识,就像金环带在猪鼻上一样。”
‭‭箴言‬ ‭11:22‬ ‭

“As a ring of gold in a swine's snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:22‬ ‭

To take what is physically beautiful and then profane it with sin is to waste a great gift to bless someone who doesn't even have a clue why God gave it to her or him. No matter what gifts we have been given, whether physical beauty, athletic talent, keen intellect, a charming personality, or anything else, we must remember that God blessed us with these things so we could bless others and honor Him!

Thursday, 5 January 2017

Verse from Genesis

“耶和华神呼唤那人,对他说:“你在哪里?””
‭‭创世记‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭

“Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭

Adam and Eve were used to hearing God’s voice in the garden. However, after they disobeyed Him by eating the forbidden fruit, they hid from Him when they heard Him calling them (v. 9). They didn’t want to face God because they knew they had done something wrong—something He had told them not to do (v. 11).

When God called for Adam and Eve and found them in the garden, His words did include correction and consequence (vv. 13–19). But God also showed them kindness and gave them hope for mankind in the promise of the Savior (v. 15).

God doesn’t have to look for us. He knows where we are and what we are trying to hide. But as a loving Father, He wants to speak to our hearts and bring us forgiveness and restoration. He longs for us to hear His voice—and to listen.

Wednesday, 4 January 2017

Verse from 1 John

“爱神的,也应当爱弟兄,这就是我们从神领受的命令。”
‭‭约翰壹书‬ ‭4:21‬ ‭

“And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:21‬ ‭

When a woman in Karen’s church was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), things looked bad. This cruel disease affects nerves and muscles, eventually leading to paralysis. The family’s insurance wouldn’t cover home care, and the stricken woman’s husband couldn’t bear the thought of putting her in a nursing home.

As a nurse, Karen had the expertise to help and began going to the woman’s home to care for her. But she soon realized she couldn’t take care of her own family while meeting the needs of her friend, so she started teaching others in the church to help. As the disease ran its course over the next seven years, Karen trained thirty-one additional volunteers who surrounded that family with love, prayer, and practical assistance.

She had the skills, compassion, and vision to rally a church family around a hurting friend. Her love for one person in need became a multiplied love lived out by many.

How might God use your talents and abilities to serve others in need?
Ask God to show you how He wants you to use your gifts for His kingdom.

Love your neighbor as yourself.  —Jesus

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

Verse from 2 Kings

“神人说:“不要惧怕,因为和我们在一起的比和他们在一起的更多。””
‭‭列王纪下‬ ‭6:16‬ ‭

“So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭6:16‬ ‭

Don is a border collie who lives on a farm in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. One morning, he and his owner, Tom, set out to check on some animals. They rode together in a small farm utility truck. When they arrived, Tom left the vehicle but forgot to put the brake on. With Don in the driver’s seat, the vehicle rolled down a hill and across two lanes of traffic before it stopped safely. To watching motorists, it appeared the dog was out for a morning drive. Indeed, things are not always as they seem.

It seemed as if Elisha and his servant were about to be captured and carried off to the King of Aram. The king’s forces had surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant were staying. The servant believed they were doomed, but when Elisha prayed, the servant was able to see the multitudes of supernatural forces that were in place to protect them.

Situations that seem hopeless are not always the way we perceive them to be. When we feel overwhelmed and outnumbered, we can remember that God is by our side. He can “command his angels . . . to guard [us] in all [our] ways” (Ps. 91:11).

Dear God,
please give me a glimpse of Your power today.
Help me to believe that You are willing and able to help me in any situation I encounter.

Things are always better than they seem to be when we remember that God is by our side.

Monday, 2 January 2017

Verses from Romans

“所以弟兄们,我凭着神的仁慈劝你们,要把身体献上,作圣洁而蒙神悦纳的活祭;这是你们理所当然的事奉。不要模仿这个世代,倒要借着心意的更新而改变过来,使你们可以察验出甚么是 神的旨意,就是察验出甚么是美好的、蒙他悦纳的和完全的事。”
‭‭罗马书‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭

The weeks after Christmas are the busiest time of year in the US for merchandise returns as people trade unwanted gifts for what they really want. Yet you probably know a few people who always seem to give the perfect gift. How do they know just what another person values and what is right for the occasion? The key to successful gift-giving is not money; it’s listening to others and taking a personal interest in what they enjoy and appreciate.

This is true for family and friends. But what about God? Is there anything meaningful or valuable that we can give to God? What’s the best gift we can give to God today? In gratitude, humility, and love we can give ourselves completely to Him—heart, mind, and will. It’s just what the Lord is longing to receive from each of us.

Dear Lord,
I’m Yours.
I want to offer myself to You—heart, mind, and will—in humble service and in thankful worship for all You have done for me.

The best gift we can give to God is ourselves.

Sunday, 1 January 2017

Verse from Psalms

“我一生的日子,必有恩惠慈爱紧随着我;我也要住在耶和华的殿中,直到永远。”
‭‭诗篇‬ ‭23:6‬ ‭

“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:6‬ ‭

Wanting to mature in her spiritual life and become more thankful, Sue started what she called a Thanks-Living jar. Each evening she wrote on a small piece of paper one thing she thanked God for and dropped it in the jar. Some days she had many praises; other difficult days she struggled to find one. At the end of the year she emptied her jar and read through all of the notes. She found herself thanking God again for everything He had done. He had given simple things like a beautiful sunset or a cool evening for a walk in the park, and other times He had provided grace to handle a difficult situation or had answered a prayer.

Sue’s discovery is like what the psalmist David says he experienced (Ps. 23). God refreshed him with “green pastures” and “quiet waters” (vv. 2–3). He gave him guidance, protection, and comfort (vv. 3–4). David concluded: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (v. 6).

Maybe you’d like to start a thanksgiving jar as well. We’ll see we have many reasons to thank God—including His gifts of friends and family and His provisions for our physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. We’ll see that the goodness and love of God follow us all the days of our lives.

Dear Lord,
You bless me in more ways than I can count.
Thank You for Your love for me.

When you think of all that’s good, give thanks to God.