Verse from John

“贼来了，不过是要偷窃、杀害、毁坏；我来了，是要使羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。”

约翰福音 10:10 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

John 10:10 

Bill Bright used to tell the story of a man who carefully saved his money until he was finally able to travel on a beautiful cruise ship. It was all he could do just to save enough to buy his ticket. Thinking he wouldn't have enough money to buy meals in the ship's fine dining room, he decided to take along some cheese and crackers for food. 

For several days he sat in his cabin, watching the stewards go by with carts full of luscious lobster, prime rib, fresh fruits and vegetables. Finally, he couldn't stand it any longer. He reached out and grabbed one of the stewards by the arm and begged him for a plate of food. "Please, help me. I'll go to work, I'll scrub the deck. I'll do anything to get something to eat. My cheese and crackers are turning stale, and I'm starving to death."

"But, sir," the steward replied, "don't you know? Your food comes with your ticket." 

Many Christians live the way this passenger did on the cruise ship. They are "cheese and crackers" believers, living off rations when they could be dining on steak and baked potatoes. They don't allow the Holy Spirit to take control of their lives and produce the luscious fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.Instead they live in spiritual poverty. 

When we surrender our lives to Him, we will realise nothing can satisfy us like Him. 

Verse from Mark

“因为他们都看见了他，非常恐惧。耶稣立刻对他们说：“放心吧！是我，不要怕。””

马可福音 6:50 

“for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid."”

Mark 6:50 

Our bodies react to our feelings of dread and fear. A weight in the pit of our stomachs, along with our hearts pounding as we gulp for breath, signal our sense of anxiety. Our physical nature keeps us from ignoring these feelings of unease.

The disciples felt shockwaves of fear one night after Jesus had performed the miracle of feeding more than five thousand people. The Lord had sent them ahead to Bethsaida so He could be alone to pray. During the night, they were rowing against the wind when suddenly they saw Him walking on the water. Thinking He was a ghost, they were terrified (Mark 6:49–50).

But Jesus reassured them, telling them not to be afraid and to take courage. As He entered their vessel, the wind died down and they made it to the shore. I imagine that their feelings of dread calmed as they embraced the peace He bestowed.

When we’re feeling breathless with anxiety, we can rest assured in Jesus’s power. Whether He calms our waves or strengthens us to face them, He will give us the gift of His peace that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). And as He releases us from our fears, our spirits and our bodies can return to a state of rest.

Verse from Malachi

“万军之耶和华说：“你们要把当纳的十分之一，全部送入仓库，使我家中有粮；藉此试验我，看我是不是为你们敞开天窗，把福气倒给你们，直到充足有余呢。””

玛拉基书 3:10 

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

Malachi 3:10 

The command to give a tithe (one-tenth) of one’s income to God was central in ancient Israel (Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 12:5–6; 2 Chronicles 31:4–5). In Israel’s God-ruled government, the tithe helped to provide for the Levitical tribe, which offered sacrifices to the Lord and assisted in temple work (Numbers 18:21, 26), as well as provide for the poor. Today’s passage gives us a stirring warning about the neglect of giving to God, calling it robbery (Malachi 3:8–9).

When Christ came, He fulfilled the demands of the Mosaic law (see Galatians 3:10–13), and there is no longer a required tithe. Instead, believers are encouraged to regularly give to the Lord in proportion to their income and with an attitude of generosity (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6–7). Giving is an act of worship and generous giving can show our confidence in the God of grace.

Verse from Isaiah

“他是你一生一世的保障、丰盛的救恩、智慧和知识；敬畏耶和华就是他的至宝。”

以赛亚书 33:6 

“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”

Isaiah 33:6 

For many years, people in our city built and bought homes in areas subject to landslides. Some knew about the risk of the unstable land, while others were not told. “Forty years of warnings from geologists and city regulations created to ensure safe homebuilding” were unexplained or ignored (The Gazette, Colorado Springs, April 27, 2016). The view from many of those homes was magnificent, but the ground beneath them was a disaster in the making.

Many people in ancient Israel ignored the Lord’s warnings to turn from idols and seek Him, the true and living God. The Old Testament records the tragic results of their disobedience. Yet, with the world crumbling around them, the Lord continued reaching out to His people with a message of forgiveness and hope if they would turn to Him and follow His way.

Today, as in the Old Testament era, God has given us a choice about the foundation on which we will build our lives. We can follow our own desires, or we can embrace His eternal principles revealed in the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ. “On Christ, the solid rock, I stand—all other ground is sinking sand” (Edward Mote).

Verse from 1 Samuel

“于是约拿单与大卫家立盟约，说：“愿耶和华藉大卫仇敌的手追讨违背盟约的罪。””

撒母耳记上 20:16 

“So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.””

1 Samuel 20:16 

Do you ever wonder whether you are in the place God wants you to be? David and Jonathan help us ask a different question. When combined with the story of Jonathan’s father, Saul, they give us reason to ask not about our place in life but about the condition of our hearts.

When Israel rejected the God who delivered them, they asked for the kind of king they saw ruling other nations. So God gave them Saul, a handsome man, head and shoulders above any other man in the land (1 Samuel 9:2). He seemed to be the ideal match for a nation that wanted to be led by men rather than God (8:1–5).

Saul’s successor, David, was also a good-looking man (17:42). But when the personal and family lives of Saul, Jonathan, and David are considered together, they show us that while man looks on the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. 

By trusting his eyes rather than the Lord, Saul became a bitter, violent man. David, though far from perfect, knew what it meant to trust the Lord. As a result, Jonathan learned that being loyal to David and trusting David’s God was far better than being next in line for the place of his father’s ruined life and throne.

Verses from James

“你们既然按着使人自由的律法受审判，就应照着这律法说话行事。因为对不行怜悯的人，审判他们的时候就没有怜悯；怜悯胜过审判。”

雅各书 2:12-13 

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

James 2:12-13 

James reminds us that instead of showing favoritism to the wealthy, or even to one’s self, God desires that we love others as we love ourselves (v. 8). 

Instead of using others for selfish gain, or disregarding anyone whose position doesn’t benefit us, James instructs us to act as people who know how much we’ve been given and forgiven—and to extend that mercy to others.

God has given generously of His mercy. In all our dealings with others, let’s remember the mercy He’s shown us and extend it to others.

Verses 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。所以，我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。”

希伯来书 4:15-16 

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:15-16 

Throughout the Scriptures we are reminded that God cares about our struggles. When David was pursued by the murderous Saul, he sought refuge in a cave (1 Samuel 22:1; 24:3–4). It is likely this is where he penned Psalm 142 as his prayer to God. The despondent David lamented that “no one is concerned for me” and he had no one to turn to for help (v. 4). But David did turn his troubles over to his God: “I cry aloud to the Lord . . . . I tell [him] my trouble” (vv. 1–2).

Like David, we may be “caved in” by our troubles, finding ourselves “in desperate need” (v. 6). We may lament that “no one cares” (v. 4). But we too can turn our troubles over to God. We can make God our refuge, echoing in faith and trust, “You are my refuge” (v. 5), and we can cast our “anxiety on him because he cares for [us]” (1 Peter 5:7).

Father, 

sometimes life is overwhelming. 

Help me to trust You with all the turbulent moments, 

knowing how deeply You care for my life.

Although we cannot anticipate the trials of life, we can pray to our Father who fully understands what we face.

Verse from Ephesians

“求他按着他荣耀的丰盛，借着他的灵，用大能使你们内在的人刚强起来，”

以弗所书 3:16 

“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,”

Ephesians 3:16 

Scripture repeatedly reassures us God is always near (Psalm 145:18; Romans 8:38–39; James 4:7–8), but sometimes we struggle to believe it. Perhaps that’s why Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus to have strength and power to grasp that truth (Ephesians 3:16). 

He knew that when we’re frightened, we can lose track of God’s proximity. Our loving heavenly Father is always as close to us as a prayer.

Lord, 

thank You for always being close by. 

Please give us strength and power in our hearts to remember You are near, 

You love us deeply, 

and we can always call out to You. 

Verse from Matthew

“他的名声传遍了叙利亚全地，人们就把一切患病的，就是患各种疾病、疼痛、鬼附、癫痫、瘫痪的，都带到他面前，他就医好他们。”

马太福音 4:24 

“The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.”

Matthew 4:24 

As Jesus healed those who came to Him (Matthew 4:23–24), He lifted their eyes beyond the need for urgent physical and material care. With His Sermon on the Mount He offered more than a medical miracle (5:1–12). Seven times Jesus described attitudes of mind and heart that reflect a well-being that begins with a new vision and promise of spiritual well-being (vv. 3–9). Two more times he called blessed those who experience relentless persecution and find their hope and home in Him (vv. 10–12).

How aware are we of our need for a well-being that is greater than our urgent need for physical and material relief?

Father in heaven, 

it’s so hard to see beyond our pain. 

Please let us sense Your mercy in this moment. 

Lift our eyes beyond ourselves.

The Great Physician looks deep into our hearts and heals not just our bodies but our souls as well.

Verse from 2 Corinthians

“你们既然凡事富裕，就可以慷慨地捐输，使众人借着我们，对神生出感谢的心。”

哥林多后书 9:11 

“you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:11 

A careful reading of 2 Corinthians 9 is quite eye-opening. One of the things we see is a cycle of giving that includes the gracious giving of God, the generous giving of those who have received from God, and the giving of thanks from those who have received from God through others. The abundant giving of God is prominent (v. 8). His giving is evident in nature and other areas (v. 10). He enriches us so we can be generous (v. 11), and His gifts include grace that cannot be measured (v. 14). His ultimate gift (the gift of His Son) is “indescribable”—words are inadequate to communicate its worth (v. 15). 

Generous givers are next in the cycle. Having been enriched by God, the riches received are to be shared with others, especially with those in the family of God (vv. 1–5; see also Galatians 6:10). Lastly, the giving cycle continues with the giving of thanks—thanksgiving to God, the giver of every good and perfect gift. People are recipients of and conduits for God’s bounty, and God—the ultimate Giver—gets the thanks and the glory!

What are some ways you can participate in the cycle of giving?

Verse from 1 Peter

“就算你们要为义受苦，也是有福的。“不要怕人的恐吓，也不要畏惧。””

彼得前书 3:14 

“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.””

1 Peter 3:14 

Fear is Hadassah’s constant companion. Hadassah, a young Jewish girl living in the first century, is a fictional character in Francine Rivers’ book A Voice in the Wind. After Hadassah becomes a slave in a Roman household, she fears persecution for her faith in Christ. She knows that Christians are despised, and many are sent to their execution or thrown to the lions in the arena. Will she have the courage to stand for the truth when she is tested?

When her worst fear becomes reality, her mistress and other Roman officials who hate Christianity confront her. She has two choices: recant her faith in Christ or be taken to the arena. Then, as she proclaims Jesus as the Christ, her fear falls away and she becomes bold even in the face of death.

The Bible reminds us that sometimes we will suffer for doing what is right—whether for sharing the gospel or for living godly lives that are against today’s values. We are told not to be frightened (1 Peter 3:14), but to “revere Christ as Lord” in our hearts (v. 15). 

Hadassah’s main battle took place in her heart. When she finally made up her mind to choose Jesus, she found the courage to be faithful.

When we make the decision to honor Christ, He will help us to be bold and to overcome our fears in the midst of opposition.

Father, 

give me boldness to stand firm in difficult times.

Verses from Psalms

“因为耶和华的话是正直的，他的一切作为都是诚实的。耶和华喜爱公义和公正，全地充满耶和华的慈爱。”

诗篇 33:4-5 

“For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

Psalms 33:4-5 

God is faithful. We can trust His promises to be kept and His purposes to be good. How do we know? 

The sunrise each morning is a reminder that the Father of heaven and earth is at work keeping His universe in working order. If it is true in nature, it is true in the spiritual realm as well. Greet each sunrise as a reminder of God's faithfulness.

Verse from Leviticus

“与你们一起寄居的外人，要看他像你们中间的本地人一样；你要爱他好象爱自己，因为你们在埃及地也曾作过寄居的人；我是耶和华你们的神。”

利未记 19:34 

“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

Leviticus 19:34 

The story of Ruth (a Moabitess) offers a moving illustration of “loving the foreigner.” The pagan nation of Moab was situated just east of the Dead Sea. The Moabites were descended from Moab, the son of Lot (Genesis 19:37). During the exodus and throughout the reigns of Saul and David, the Moabites were frequently at war with Israel.

In the time of the judges, Naomi and Elimelek and their sons settled in Moab to escape a famine in Israel (Ruth 1). During their stay, Elimelek died, the sons married Moabite women (Ruth and Orpah), and then the sons also died. With no one to care for them, Naomi and Ruth left Moab and returned to Bethlehem, where Ruth was a foreigner (who may have been despised because of her heritage).

When they arrived, “the barley harvest was beginning” (v. 22). As a widow, Ruth was allowed to gather the leftover grain after the harvesters had gone through. “As it turned out,” she ended in the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelek’s (2:3). But it was no coincidence. Boaz’s kindness resulted in Ruth and his place in the ancestry of King David (and Jesus) (Matthew 1:5–16).

May we have God’s heart to love others as ourselves, remembering that we too are sojourners on this earth. Yet we have been loved as God’s people, treated as His own.

Verse from 1 Kings

“以利沙就离开他回去，宰了一对牛，用套牛的器具煮肉给民吃，随后就起身跟随以利亚，服事他。”

列王纪上 19:21 

“So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.”

1 Kings 19:21 

Elisha left many things behind to follow God (1 Kings 19:19–21). Before God called him into service through Elijah, we don’t know much about Elisha—except that he was a farmer. When the prophet Elijah met him in the field where he was plowing, he threw his cloak over Elisha’s shoulders (the symbol of his role as prophet) and called him to follow. With only a request to kiss his mother and father goodbye, Elisha immediately sacrificed his oxen, burned his plowing equipment, said good-bye to his parents—and followed Elijah.

Though not many of us are called to leave family and friends behind to serve God as fulltime missionaries, God wants all of us to follow Him and to “live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to [us], just as God has called [us]” (1 Corinthians 7:17).

God will show us how to serve Him wherever we are.

Verse from Isaiah

“看哪！主万军之耶和华，快要从耶路撒冷和犹大，除掉人所倚靠的和所倚赖的，就是众人所倚靠的粮，众人所倚赖的水；”

以赛亚书 3:1 

“For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah. Both supply and support, the whole supply of bread And the whole supply of water;”

Isaiah 3:1 

What do you think the world looks like when the world stops loving God?

Really, stop and think about that for a second. What do you think that looks like? there are a lot of words we could use to describe it, but we can probably use this to sum it up: Ruin.

Everything falls to pieces, right? When people stop loving God then they stop loving each other. Families break down. Governments become corrupt. Businesses oppress people. Crime rates soar.

The road to ruin happens incrementally, little baby steps at a time. If your marriage is on the road to ruin, it’s not going to be ruined overnight. If your business is on the road to ruin, or if your country is on the road to ruin, it’s because there are many steps that have been taken.

Now, here’s the encouraging thing—each one of these steps provides the opportunity to turn back, to stop going that way, because that way is nothing but misery, catastrophe, heartache, and pain.

Do you realize that God gives us choices? He gives us forks in the road, options that provide an opportunity to come back to Him. In fact, God sent prophets to His people throughout the Old Testament to help them to see their chances to turn around before they ruined themselves. They could have turned around at any moment, and on the rare occasion that they did, God saved them. But when they didn’t, He allowed the disaster to come.

In all of that, do you see the constant? The constant is God’s heart to save us. He never wavers in that. What varies is whether or not we’re listening.

Verse from Philippians

“我每逢想到你们，就感谢我的神；”

腓立比书 1:3 

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,”

Philippians 1:3 

Paul’s letter to the Romans is generally considered his most intensely theological letter. Yet it opens and closes with great warmth, revealing an unexpected affection. 

The opening shows this personal touch through gratitude, and the final chapter displays Paul’s care for the Romans in words of greetings—personally expressing his heart for more than twenty-five different people. 

Included in the list are ministry leaders (Priscilla, Aquila; 16:3), prisoners (Andronicus, Junia; v. 7), and both men and women—all considered fellow workers in the gospel.

In the fellowship of the gospel, there is much to be thankful for, much to celebrate, and many co-laborers whom we can encourage with our gratitude.

How might we thank those who serve in the mission of God with us today?

Verse from Matthew

“所以不要为明天忧虑，因为明天自有明天的忧虑，一天的难处一天当就够了。””

马太福音 6:34 

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:34 

During Elijah’s prophetic ministry, he learned to trust God to meet his daily needs. Shortly after Elijah pronounced God’s judgment of a drought in Israel, God sent him to a deserted place, Kerith Ravine, where He used the ravens to bring Elijah his daily meals and refresh him with water from the brook (1 Kings 17:1–4).

But a drought occurred. The brook shrank to a tiny stream, and slowly became a mere trickle. It was only when the brook had dried up that God said: “Go at once to Zarephath . . . . I have directed a widow there to supply you with food” (v. 9). Zarephath was in Phoenicia, whose inhabitants were enemies of the Israelites. Would anyone offer Elijah shelter? And would a poor widow have food to share?

Most of us would rather God provided in abundance long before our resources were depleted rather than just enough for each day. But our loving Father whispers, Trust Me. Just as He used ravens and a widow to provide for Elijah, nothing is impossible for Him. We can count on His love and power to meet our daily needs.

Faithful Father, 

thank You for knowing exactly what we need before we even ask. Help us to trust You for our daily needs.

Verses from Acts

“叫他们站在使徒面前。使徒祷告后，就为他们按手。神的道传开了；在耶路撒冷，门徒人数大大增加，有很多祭司也信从了真道。”

使徒行传 6:6-7 

“They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

Acts 6:6-7 

Misunderstandings and disagreements occur everywhere we find people. Church is no exception. If we don’t handle our differences in a healthy way, they can harden into divisions.

The early church in Jerusalem was growing when a dispute arose that broke along a cultural fault line. The Greek-speaking Jews (the Hellenists) had a complaint against those Jews who spoke Aramaic. The Hellenist widows “were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food” (Acts 6:1). So the apostles said, “Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (v. 3). The seven chosen all had Greek names (v. 5). In other words, they were Hellenists, members of the group being neglected. They best understood the problem. The apostles prayed over them and the church thrived (vv. 6–7).

Growth brings challenges, in part because it increases interactions across traditional barriers. But as we seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we’ll find creative solutions as potential problems turn into opportunities for more growth.

Verse from Psalms

“我到哪里去躲避你的灵？我往哪里去逃避你的面呢？”

诗篇 139:7 

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”

Psalms 139:7 

In Psalm 139 David describes being overwhelmed by the reality of God’s constant presence—feeling it is “too wonderful” and “too lofty” for him (v. 6), even speculating whether he could hide from God (vv. 7–12). But ultimately David celebrates the wonderful reality that he was personally created by God (vv. 13–16) to be tenderly held and guided by Him (v. 10) and to know Him (vv. 17–18).

We too might have similar feelings when we try to comprehend the glory of the One who is always with us.

As you reflect on the wonderful truth of God’s presence, thank Him that He is there even in the midst of your pain. 

Verse from Isaiah

“豺狼必与绵羊羔同住，豹子要与山羊羔同卧，牛犊、幼狮和肥畜必同群；小孩子要牵引牠们。”

以赛亚书 11:6 

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”

Isaiah 11:6 

In the setting of garden of Eden, Adam and Eve lived in harmony with God and each other. And because God gave them plants for food, I imagine even the animals lived peacefully together (Genesis 1:30). But this idyllic scene was disrupted when Adam and Eve sinned (3:21–23). Now in both human relationships and the creation, we see constant struggle and conflict.

Yet the prophet Isaiah reassures us that one day, “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together” (11:6). Many interpret that future day as when Jesus comes again to reign. When He returns, there will be no more divisions and “no more death . . . or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). On that renewed earth, creation will be restored to its former harmony and people of every tribe, nation, and language will join together to worship God (7:9–10; 22:1–5).

Until then, God can help us to restore broken relationships and to develop new, unlikely friendships.