Verse from Ephesians

“凡事谦虚、温柔、忍耐，用爱心彼此宽容；”

‭‭以弗所书‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭

“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭

In the book God in the Dock, author C. S. Lewis describes the kind of people we have trouble getting along with. Selfishness, anger, jealousy, or other quirks often sabotage our relationship with them. We sometimes think, Life would be much easier if we didn’t have to contend with such difficult people.

Lewis then turns the tables on us by pointing out that these frustrations are what God has to endure with each of us every day. He writes: “You are just that sort of person. You also have a fatal flaw in your character. All the hopes and plans of others have again and again shipwrecked on your character just as your hopes and plans have shipwrecked on theirs.” This self-awareness should motivate us to try to show the same patience and acceptance to others that God shows to us daily.

In Ephesians, Paul exhorts us to arm ourselves relationally “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (4:2). The one who is patient is better able to deal with a difficult person without becoming provoked to anger and retaliation. Instead, he or she is able to endure, exhibiting grace in spite of upsetting behavior.

Are there difficult people in your life? Ask God to show His love through you.

Some people can be difficult to love,

And so we do not even try to care;

But God says, “Love them just as I’ve loved you—

You’ll bring Me glory as My love you share.” —Cetas

See others as God sees you.

Verse from Isaiah

“他用炭沾我的口，说：“看哪！这炭沾了你的嘴唇，你的罪孽就除掉，你的罪恶就赦免了。””

‭‭以赛亚书‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭

“He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.””

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭

The prophet Isaiah had the sense of awareness about his sin. When he saw God’s glory in a vision, he was overcome by his unworthiness. He recognized that he was “a man of unclean lips” living with people who shared the same problem (Isaiah 6:5). 

What happened next gives hope. An angel touched his lips with a red-hot coal, explaining, “your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (v. 7).

We have moment-by-moment choices to make with our words—both written and spoken. Will they be “hazardous” material, or will we allow God’s glory to convict us and His grace to heal us so we can honor Him with everything we express?

Dear God,

help me to see how my words affect other people. 

Show me how to encourage them.

Verse from Psalms

“耶和华啊！我要全心称谢你，我要述说你一切奇妙的作为。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭9:1‬ ‭

“I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9:1‬ ‭

Saying thanks makes a lasting impact. The psalmists’ heartfelt prayers and grateful worship were preserved in the book of Psalms. Though there are one hundred and fifty psalms, these two verses reflect a message of thankfulness: “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:1–2).

We will never be able to finish expressing our gratitude for all God’s wonderful deeds. But we can start with a sincere thank you through our prayers. We can nurture a lifestyle of grateful worship, praising God and acknowledging all He’s done and all He promises He’ll do.

Generous and loving God, 

please help us acknowledge the countless and wonderful ways You work.

Verse from Ecclesiastes

“一掌盛满安宁，胜过两手抓满劳碌捕风。”

‭‭传道书‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭

“One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭

In the ancient fable The Boy and the Filberts (Nuts), a boy sticks his hand into a jar of nuts and grabs a great fistful. But his hand is so full that it gets stuck in the jar. Unwilling to lose even a little of his bounty, the boy begins to weep. Eventually, he’s counseled to let go of some of the nuts so the jar will let go of his hand. Greed can be a hard boss.

The wise teacher of Ecclesiastes illustrates this moral with a lesson on hands and what they say about us. He compared and contrasted the lazy with the greedy when he wrote: “Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind” (4:5–6). While the lazy procrastinate until they’re ruined, those who pursue wealth come to realize their efforts are “meaningless—a miserable business!” (v. 8).

According to the teacher, the desired state is to relax from the toil of greedy grasping in order to find contentment in what truly belongs to us. For that which is ours will always remain. As Jesus said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul” (Mark 8:36).

God, 

thank You for Your provision and faithful presence in my life. 

Help me to live in a contented way, exhibiting true gratefulness to You.

Verse from 2 Peter

“你们却要在我们的主、救主耶稣基督的恩典和知识上长进。愿荣耀归给他，从现在直到永远。阿们。”

‭‭彼得后书‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭

“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭

Our heavenly Father longs for us to grow up and “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). But spiritual maturity is different from natural maturity. Parents raise their children to become independent, to no longer need them. Our divine Father raises us to daily depend on Him more.

Peter begins his letter by promising “grace and peace . . . through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,” and he ends by urging us to “grow in” that same “grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18). Mature Christians never outgrow their need for Jesus.

Watson warns, “Some of us are busy slapping Jesus’s hands off the handlebars of our life.” As if we didn’t need His strong hands to hold us, to pick us up, and to hug us when we wobble and flop. We can’t grow beyond our dependence on Christ. We only grow by sinking our roots deeper in the grace and knowledge of Him.

Verse from 1 Peter

“然而你们是蒙拣选的族类，是君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国民，是属神的子民，为要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。”

‭‭彼得前书‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭

The Hebrew word for treasure is segulah, and it means “special possession.” That word is found in such Old Testament Scriptures as Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6, and Psalm 135:4, where it refers to the nation of Israel. 

But that same word picture shows up in the New Testament by way of the pen of Peter the apostle. He’s describing the “people of God,” those who “have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10), a collection now beyond the nation of Israel. In other words, he’s talking about those who believe in Jesus, both Jew and gentile. And he writes “But you are . . . God’s special possession” (v. 9).  

Imagine that! The great and powerful King of heaven considers you among His special treasures. He has rescued you from the grip of sin and death. He claims you as His own. The King’s voice says, “This one I love. This one is mine.”

Verse from Deuteronomy

““所以你们要把我这些话放在心里，存在意念中；要系在手上作记号，戴在额上作头带。”

‭‭申命记‬ ‭11:18‬ ‭

““You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11:18‬ ‭

A study conducted by the Barna Group in 2018 found that most Americans don’t like to talk about God. Only seven percent of Americans say they talk about spiritual matters regularly—and practicing believers in Jesus in America aren’t that different. Only thirteen percent of regular churchgoers say they have a spiritual conversation about once a week.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that spiritual conversations are on the decline. Talking about God can be dangerous. Whether because of a polarized political climate, because disagreement might cause a rift in a relationship, or because a spiritual conversation might cause you to realize a change you need to make in your life—these can feel like high-stakes conversations.

But in the instructions given to God’s people, the Israelites, in the book of Deuteronomy, talking about God can be a normal, natural part of everyday life. God’s people were to memorize His words and to display them in places where they’d often be seen. The law said to talk about God’s instructions for life with your children “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (11:19).

God calls us to conversation. Take a chance, rely on the Spirit, and try turning your small talk toward something deeper. God will bless our communities as we talk about His words and practice them.

There’s so much about You, God, that can be shared with others in my life. Lead me as I interact with them.

Verse from 1 Thessalonians

“相反地，神既然考验过我们，把福音委托给我们，我们就传讲，不像是讨人欢心的，而是讨那察验我们心思的神的喜悦。”

‭‭帖撒罗尼迦前书‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭

“but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭

When the legendary composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) was young, a hunger for approval drove him toward success. Warren Wiersbe wrote of him: “When Verdi produced his first opera in Florence, the composer stood by himself in the shadows and kept his eye on the face of one man in the audience—the great Rossini. It mattered not to Verdi whether the people in the hall were cheering him or jeering him; all he wanted was a smile of approval from the master musician.”

Whose approval do we seek? A parent’s? A boss’s?

What does it mean to seek God’s approval? At the very least, it involves two things: turning from the desire for the applause of others and allowing His Spirit to make us more like Christ—the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. As we yield to His perfect purposes in us and through us, we can anticipate a day when we will experience the smile of His approval—the approval of the One who matters most.

Whose approval do you find yourself seeking and why is their validation so important to you? How could God’s approval satisfy even more deeply?

Father, 

it’s far too easy to seek the applause of those around me and to desire their praise. Help me to lift my eyes to You, the One who knows me best and loves me most.

Verse from Isaiah

“耶和华我们的神啊！现在求你拯救我们脱离亚述王的手，使地上万国都知道唯有你耶和华是神。””

‭‭以赛亚书‬ ‭37:20‬ ‭

“Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, LORD, are God."”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭37:20‬ ‭

It began as a distant, foreboding hum, then grew into an ominous, earth-rattling din. Soon hundreds of tanks and thousands of enemy infantrymen swarmed into view of the badly outnumbered soldiers in Finland. Assessing the murderous wave, an anonymous Finn lent some perspective. Courageously, he wondered aloud about the enemy: “Where will we find room to bury them all?”

Some 2,600 years before Finland showed such pluck in that World War II battle, an anxious Judean citizenry reacted quite differently to their own overwhelming situation. The Assyrian armies had trapped the people of Jerusalem inside its walls, where they faced the hopeless prospect of a starvation-inducing siege. Hezekiah nearly panicked. But then he prayed, “Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth” (Isa. 37:16).

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord answered with strong words for Assyria’s King Sennacherib. “Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!” (v. 23). Then God comforted Jerusalem. “I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!” (v. 35). The Lord defeated Sennacherib and destroyed the Assyrian army (vv. 36-38).

No matter what dangers loom on your horizon today, the God of Hezekiah and Isaiah still reigns. He longs to hear from each of us and show Himself powerful.

In what ways has God shown Himself strong in the past?

God is greater than our greatest problem.

But do you believe that or do you have doubts? 

Are you trusting Him or turning away from Him when you face issues in life? 

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。我心里柔和谦卑，你们应当负我的轭，向我学习，你们就必得着心灵的安息；我的轭是容易负的，我的担子是轻省的。””

‭‭马太福音‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭

““Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭

Christ’s words offering rest to the weary (Matthew 11:28–29) seem to be connected to His discussion of oppression. In Judaism, the word yoke was often used as a metaphor for God’s law. A yoke was used to train an inexperienced ox by yoking it to an experienced one; in the same way, the law could function as a training guide. But the word yoke was also used to describe political rule, and rest to describe deliverance from oppressive rule. For example, in Isaiah 14 God promised to remove the Assyrian’s burdensome yoke and bring the land rest (14:7, 25).

Both the Roman Empire and religious teachers of Christ’s day (the scribes and Pharisees) used their authority in burdensome ways (see Matthew 23:4). So Jesus invited those worn and wearied by such burdens to live instead as subjects under His compassionate leadership in God’s life-giving kingdom.

Verse from Psalms

“他们年老的时候仍要结果子，经常保持茂盛青翠，”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭92:14‬ ‭

“They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green,”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92:14‬ ‭

This psalm describes the budding, blossoming, and fruit-bearing of those whose lives are rooted in a right relationship with God (vv. 12–13). The two trees pictured were valued for their fruit and wood, respectively; with these the psalmist captures a sense of vitality, prosperity, and usefulness. When we see in our lives the budding and blossoming fruit of loving, sharing, helping, and leading others to Christ, we should rejoice.

Even for those who may be labeled “senior” or “seasoned,” it’s never too late to take root and bear fruit.

Verse from Mark

“耶稣对他说：“你要我为你作甚么呢？”瞎眼的人对他说：“拉波尼，我要能看见。””

‭‭马可福音‬ ‭10:51‬ ‭

“And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “ Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:51‬ ‭

A mouse with a shrill voice, Reepicheep is perhaps The Chronicles of Narnia’s most valiant character. He charged into battle swinging his tiny sword. He rejected fear as he prodded on the Dawn Treader toward the Island of Darkness. The secret to Reepicheep’s courage? He was deeply connected to his longing to get to Aslan’s country. “That is my heart’s desire,” he said. Reepicheep knew what he truly wanted, and this led him toward his king.

Bartimaeus, a blind man from Jericho, sat in his normal spot jingling his cup for coins when he heard Jesus and the crowd approaching. He yelled out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). The crowd tried to silence him, but Bartimaeus couldn’t be stopped.

“Jesus stopped,” Mark says (v. 49). In the midst of the throng, Jesus wanted to hear Bartimaeus. “What do you want?” Jesus asked (v. 51).

The answer seemed obvious; surely Jesus knew. But He seemed to believe there was power in allowing Bartimaeus to express his deep desire. “I want to see,” Bartimaeus said (v. 51). And Jesus sent Bartimaeus home seeing colors, beauty, and the faces of friends for the first time.

Not all desires are met immediately (and desires must be transformed), but what’s essential here is how Bartimaeus knew his desire and took it to Jesus. If we’ll pay attention, we’ll notice that our true desires and longings always lead us to Him.

Verses from Ephesians

“最后，你们要靠主的大能大力，在他里面刚强。要穿戴神所赐的全副军装，使你们能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。因为我们的争战，对抗的不是有血有肉的人，而是执政的、掌权的、管辖这黑暗世界的和天上的邪灵。”

‭‭以弗所书‬ ‭6:10-12‬ ‭

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10-12‬ ‭

The book of Ephesians reminds us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” In other words, we live in a fallen world, and there are factors beyond our control that contribute to the difficulties we face at work. We shouldn’t expect even the best workplace to be perfect. But we should expect the Spirit of God to be with us all the time.

In response to workplace struggles, Ephesians tells us to put on truth, righteousness, peace and faith. We are to remind ourselves of our salvation and gird ourselves with the word of God. We are to “pray in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

This means that we can always trust God to take care of us, so that we don’t need to be tempted to engage in unethical behavior, slander and anger. The powers of evil may indeed threaten, oppress or even cause us harm at work. But we don’t need to resort to dirty deeds to defend ourselves. Truth, right relationships, honest conflict resolution and faithfulness are the best ways for us, whether we are in good situations or bad. These are things we should request the Holy Spirit to give us.

This approach may not deliver overnight results. However, over time, we may find that we have more patience, fortitude, hope and love than we thought possible. And we know that Christ is victorious over every power of darkness and evil in the end.

Dear Lord, 

I need your help when I experience darkness and evil at work. 

Help me to put on the armor of righteousness, peace, truth, faith, your Word and the joy of your salvation. 

Help me rely on your Spirit daily. I pray for the people who make my work difficult. 

Please bless them. 

I confess my own reluctance to love, and I admit that sometimes I’m the one who is difficult to work with. 

I pray for the ability to submit to you, knowing that you care for me. 

Amen.

Verse from Hebrews

“因为他自己既然经过试探，受了苦，就能够帮助那些被试探的人。”

‭‭希伯来书‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭

“For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭

When we think of Christ’s temptation, we think of His time in the wilderness (see Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4). When Satan attempts to turn Him away from His mission, Jesus combats the tempter with Scripture. 

This confrontation shows us that knowing Scripture and relying on God enables us to stand firm in the face of temptation. 

Jesus felt the allure of temptation in the same way we do, and because of that, He’s able to help us in our weakness.

Verse from Deuteronomy

“耶和华亲自在你前头行，与你同在；他决不撇下你，也不离弃你；你不要害怕，也不要惊慌。””

‭‭申命记‬ ‭31:8‬ ‭

“The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:8‬ ‭

That promise—that God is always with us—remains a cornerstone of our faith today (see Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 13:5). Indeed, Revelation 21:3 culminates with these words: “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.”  

Where is God? He’s right here, right now, right with us—always ready to hear our prayers.

What Scripture brings to mind the truth of God’s presence? Place it somewhere easily visible to remind you.

Verse from Colossians

“所以，你们既然是神所拣选的，是圣洁、蒙爱的人，就要存怜悯的心肠、恩慈、谦卑、温柔和忍耐。”

‭‭歌罗西书‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭

A few years before he became the 26th U.S. president (1901–1909), Theodore Roosevelt got word that his oldest son, Theodore Jr., was ill. While his son would recover, the cause of Ted’s illness hit Roosevelt hard. Doctors told him that hewas the cause of his son’s illness. Ted was suffering from “nervous exhaustion,” having been pressed unmercifully by Theodore to become the “fighter” hero-type he himself had not been during his own frail childhood. Upon hearing this, the elder Roosevelt made a promise to relent: “Hereafter I shall never press Ted either in body or mind.”

The father was true to his word. From then on he paid close attention to how he treated his son—the very same son who would one day bravely lead the landing of Allied soldiers on Utah Beach in World War II. 

God has entrusted each of us with influence in the lives of others. We have a deep responsibility in those relationships, not only to spouses and children, but to friends, employees, and customers. The temptation to press too hard, to demand too much, to force progress, or to orchestrate success can lead us to harm others even when we don’t realize it. 

For this very reason, followers of Christ are urged to be patient and gentle with one another (Col. 3:12). 

What kind of expectations do you have of the people in your life—at home and at work? 

Think about the influence you might have on others. 

How can you reflect more of the character of Jesus?

Verse from 1 Thessalonians

“所以，你们应该彼此劝慰，互相造就，正如你们一向所行的。”

‭‭帖撒罗尼迦前书‬ ‭5:11‬ ‭

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:11‬ ‭

African gazelles instinctively form “alert circles” while resting on the savannah. They gather in groups with each animal facing outward in a slightly different direction. This enables them to scan the horizon a full 360 degrees and to communicate about approaching dangers or opportunities.

Instead of looking out only for themselves, the members of the group take care of one another. This is also God’s wisdom for followers of Jesus. The Bible encourages us, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together” (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Christians were never intended to go it alone, explains the writer of Hebrews. Together we are stronger. We’re able to “[encourage] one another” (v. 25), to “comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:4), and to help each other stay alert to the efforts of our enemy the devil, who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

The goal of our care for each other is so much more than survival. It’s to make us like Jesus: loving and effective servants of God in this world—people who together look forward confidently to the hope of His coming kingdom. All of us need encouragement, and God will help us help each other as together we draw near to Him in love.

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.