Verse from 1 Samuel

“耶和华又来站着，像前几次一样呼唤：“撒母耳，撒母耳！”他回答：“请说！仆人敬听。””

‭‭撒母耳记上‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭

Had the wireless radio been on, they would have known the Titanic was sinking. Cyril Evans, the radio operator of another ship, had tried to relay a message to Jack Phillips, the radio operator on the Titanic—letting him know they had encountered an ice field. But Phillips was busy relaying passengers’ messages and rudely told Evans to be quiet. So Evans reluctantly turned off his radio and went to bed. Ten minutes later, the Titanic struck an iceberg. Their distress signals went unanswered because no one was listening.

In 1 Samuel we read that the priests of Israel were corrupt and had lost their spiritual sight and hearing as the nation drifted into danger. “The word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions” (1 Samuel 3:1). Yet God wouldn’t give up on His people. He began to speak to a young boy named Samuel who was being raised in the priest’s household. Samuel’s name means “the Lord hears”—a memorial to God’s answering his mother’s prayer. But Samuel would need to learn how to hear God.

“Speak, for your servant is listening” (v. 10). It’s the servant who hears. May we also choose to listen to and obey what God has revealed in the Scriptures. Let’s submit our lives to Him and take the posture of humble servants—those who have their “radios” turned on.

Verse from Lamentations

“我们要检讨和省察自己的行为，然后归向耶和华。”

‭‭耶利米哀歌‬ ‭3:40‬ ‭

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:40‬ ‭

Several times in Scripture, the writers mention the importance of taking a good long look at ourselves to find what’s not right—not God-honoring. The psalmist, for example, prayed, “Search me, God, and know my heart . . . . See if there is any offensive way in me” (Psalm 139:23–24). 

Paul, speaking of our heart condition at the time of communion, said, “Everyone ought to examine themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:28).

The Holy Spirit can help us turn from any attitudes or actions that don’t please God. 

So before we head out into the world today, let’s stop and seek the Spirit’s help in doing some self-checking so we can “return to the Lord” in fellowship with Him.

Verse from Psalms

“因你的慈爱比生命更好，我的嘴唇要颂赞你。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭63:3‬ ‭

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭63:3‬ ‭

On a recent airline flight the landing was a little rough, jostling the passengers left and right down the runway. Some of the them were visibly nervous, but the tension broke when two little girls cheered, “Yeah! Let’s do that again!”

Children are open to new adventures and see life with humble, wide-eyed wonder. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus had in mind when He said that we have to “receive the kingdom of God like a little child” (Mark 10:15).

Life has its challenges and heartaches. Few knew this better than Jeremiah, who is also called “the weeping prophet.” But in the middle of Jeremiah’s troubles, God encouraged him with an amazing truth: “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lam. 3:22–23 nlt).

God’s fresh mercies can break into our lives at any moment. They are always there, and we see them when we live with childlike expectation—watching and waiting for what only He can do. Jeremiah knew that God’s goodness is not defined only by our immediate circumstances and that His faithfulness is greater than life’s rough places. Look for God’s fresh mercies today.

God is greater than anything that happens to us.

Verse from Ezekiel

“牧人在他的羊群四散的时候，怎样寻找他的羊，我也必照样寻找我的羊。这些羊在密云幽暗的日子四散到各处，我要把牠们从那里救回来。”

‭‭以西结书‬ ‭34:12‬ ‭

“As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭34:12‬ ‭

Whenever life or people threaten to pull us under, as believers in Jesus, we know we have a Rescuer (Ezekiel 34:11–12).

This was the prophet Ezekiel’s assurance to God’s people when they were in exile. Their leaders had neglected and exploited them, plundering their lives and caring “for themselves rather than for [God’s] flock” (v. 8). As a result, the people “were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them” (v. 6).

But “I will rescue my flock,” declared the Lord (v. 10), and His promise still holds.

What do we need to do? Hold fast to almighty God and His promises. “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them,” He says (v. 11). That’s a saving promise worth holding tightly.

Verse from Job

“可是他知道我所行的道路，他试炼我以后，我必像精金出现。”

‭‭约伯记‬ ‭23:10‬ ‭

“"But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭23:10‬ ‭

During an interview, singer and songwriter Meredith Andrews spoke about being overwhelmed as she tried to balance outreach, creative work, marital issues, and motherhood. Reflecting on her distress, she said, “I felt like God was taking me through a refining season, almost through a crushing process.”

Job was overwhelmed after losing his livelihood, his health, and his family. Worse still, although Job had been a daily worshiper of God, he felt that the Lord was ignoring his pleas for help. God seemed absent from the landscape of his life. Job claimed he could not see God whether he looked to the north, south, east, or west (Job 23:2–9).

In the middle of his despair, Job had a moment of clarity. His faith flickered to life like a candle in a dark room (v10). Christians are tried and purified when God uses difficulty to burn away our self-reliance, pride, and earthly wisdom. If it seems as if God is silent during this process and He is not answering our cries for help, He may be giving us an opportunity to grow stronger in our faith.

Pain and problems can produce the shining, rock-solid character that comes from trusting God when life is hard.

Faith-testing times can be faith-strengthening times.

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。要把握时机，因为这时代邪恶。”

‭‭以弗所书‬ ‭5:15-16‬ ‭

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-16‬ ‭

In Ephesians 5, Paul told Ephesian believers, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise, but as wise” (v. 15). Paul knew certain hazards could derail the Ephesians—old ways of living at odds with their new life in Jesus (vv. 8, 10–11). So he instructed the growing church to pay attention.

The words translated “be very careful, then, how you live” literally mean “see how you walk.” In other words, look around. Notice hazards, and avoid personal pitfalls like drunkenness and wild living (v. 18). Instead, the apostle said, we can seek to learn God’s will for our lives (v. 17), while, with fellow believers, we sing to and give Him thanks (vv. 19–20).

No matter what hazards we face—and even when we stumble—we can experience our new life in Christ as we grow in dependence on His boundless power and grace.

Verse from Psalms

“求你开我的眼睛，使我能看出你律法的奇妙。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭119:18‬ ‭

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:18‬ ‭

The psalmist wanted his eyes opened to “see wonderful things” about God (Psalm 119:18). He must have had an understanding that God wants to be known, and so he longed for a deeper closeness to Him. His desire was to see more of who God is, what He’d already given, and how to follow Him more closely (vv. 24, 98). He wrote, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long” (v. 97).

We too have the privilege of taking time to ponder God, His character, and His provisions—to learn about and grow closer to Him. God longs to instruct us, guide us, and open our hearts to who He is. When we search for Him, He rewards us with greater wonder at who He is and the enjoyment of His presence!

Verse from Job

“可是约伯对她说：“你说话像个愚妄的女人。难道我们从神得福，也不应当受祸吗？”在这一切事上，约伯并没有用口犯罪。”

‭‭约伯记‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭

“But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭

Have you found yourself in a place you never expected? You’re too young to have this disease, and there’s no cure. Your last review was excellent; why is your position being eliminated? You were enjoying the best years of your marriage. Now you’re starting over, as a single parent with a part-time job.

How did I get here? Job may have wondered as “he sat among the ashes” (Job 2:8). He’d lost his children, his wealth, and his health, in no time flat. He couldn’t have guessed how he got here; he just knew he had to remember.

Job remembered his Creator and how good He’d been. Job remembered he could count on this good God to be faithful. So he lamented. He screamed at the heavens. And he mourned in hope, “I know that my redeemer lives,” and that “in my flesh I will see God” (19:25–26). Job clung to hope as he remembered how the story began and how it ends.

Verse from Psalms

“但你有赦免之恩，为要使人敬畏你。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭130:4‬ ‭

“But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭130:4‬ ‭

Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom knew the importance of forgiveness. In her book Tramp for the Lord, she says her favorite mental picture was of forgiven sins thrown into the sea. “When we confess our sins, God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever. . . . I believe God then places a sign out there that says No Fishing Allowed.”

She points to an important truth that believers in Jesus can sometimes fail to grasp—when God forgives our wrongdoing, we’re forgiven fully! We don’t have to keep dredging up our shameful deeds, wallowing in any mucky feelings. Rather we can accept His grace and forgiveness, following Him in freedom.

We see this idea of “no fishing allowed” in Psalm 130. The psalmist proclaims that although God is just, He forgives the sin of those who repent: “But with you there is forgiveness” (v. 4). As the psalmist waits for God, putting his trust in Him (v. 5), he states in faith that He “himself will redeem Israel from all their sins” (v. 8). Those who believe will find “full redemption” (v. 7).

When we’re caught in feelings of shame and unworthiness, we can’t serve God with our whole hearts. Instead, we’re restricted by our past. If you feel stymied by the wrong you’ve done, ask God to help you fully believe in His gift of forgiveness and new life. 

Verse from Hosea

“以色列忘记了造他的主，建造了很多宫殿；犹大也增添了很多坚固城。我却要降火在他的众城中，吞灭他的堡垒。””

‭‭何西阿书‬ ‭8:14‬ ‭

“Israel has forgotten their Maker and built palaces; Judah has fortified many towns. But I will send fire on their cities that will consume their fortresses.””

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭8:14‬ ‭

In prosperity, God's people left the LORD and followed their own gods and practiced their own morality. Except neither was "their own." The northern tribes of Israel simply became like the pagan people around them — practicing the same detestable immoral lifestyles, forgetting the poor and the alien, cheating the widows and the powerless. God wanted them to know that he knew what they were doing. 

 The Almighty wanted them to realize that he would act and bring justice. The Sovereign LORD wanted the northern tribes of Israel to realize that they have sown their own destruction, and even though they cannot even fathom its possibility, God made sure it was coming because of their hardness of heart and their refusal to live with character. 

Their destruction is a great reminder to us that our name of Christian, our claim to be God's chosen people and his holy priesthood (1 Peter 2), doesn't matter unless our lives portray his character, our heart displays his compassion, and hands do his will.

Verse from Psalms

“主啊！你是良善，又乐意饶恕人的， 向你呼求的，你都以丰盛的慈爱待他们。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭86:5‬ ‭

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭86:5‬ ‭

Troubles can seem insurmountable, and like the cries of the psalmist David, our prayers sometimes seem to go unheeded: “Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy” (Psalm 86:1). Like him, we too long for joy (v. 4).

But David goes on to declare that we serve a faithful (v. 11), “compassionate and gracious God” (v. 15), who abounds in love for all who call on Him (v. 5). He does answer (v. 7).

Sometimes in bleak places, God sends a sunflower—an encouraging word or note from a friend; a comforting verse or Bible passage; a beautiful sunrise—that helps us to move forward with a lighter step, with hope. 

Even as we await the day we experience God’s deliverance out of our difficulty, may we join the psalmist in proclaiming, “You are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God”! (v. 10).

Verse from Isaiah

 “有人对你们说：“要求问那些交鬼的和行巫术的，就是那些喃喃细语的人。”一族之民不应当求问自己的神吗？他们怎能为活人求问死人呢？”

‭‭以赛亚书‬ ‭8:19‬ ‭

“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭8:19‬ ‭

We live in an age when people want to mix the contents of many mystical faiths into the boiling pot of their own pseudo-Christian religion. Most do not know that the basic claim of Scripture is simple and clear. 

Only God, the Almighty Yahweh, is truly God. Only the one true and living God is to be worshiped. Only this Abba Father is to be trusted. Yes, there are other spiritual powers, but these powers lead to despair, death, and destruction. Jesus triumphed over them for us in the cross (Colossians 2:13-15). 

Seek God, Yahweh, the great "I AM" of Israel, the Almighty, the righteous Father of Jesus and all who follow him. Seek God and live.

Verse from 1 Kings

“她就去照着以利亚所说的作了。她和以利亚，以及她的家人，吃了许多日子。”

‭‭列王纪上‬ ‭17:15‬ ‭

“She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭17:15‬ ‭

It’s normal to experience bouts of worry, anxiety, and self-pity when we lack resources essential to our well-being—food, shelter, health, finances, friendships. 

First Kings 17:8–16 reminds us that God’s help can come through unexpected sources like a needy widow. “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug” (v. 12). Earlier it was ravens that provided for Elijah (vv. 4–6). 

Concerns for our needs to be met can send us searching in many directions. A clear vision of God as the Provider who has promised to supply our needs can be liberating. Before we seek solutions, may we be careful to seek Him first. Doing so can save us time, energy, and frustration.

What’s been your experience when you’ve focused on securing provision before seeking the Provider in prayer? 

What current needs will you bring before God?

Father, 

sharpen my vision of You as the Provider for all my needs. 

Forgive me for times I have futilely sought to find my way without seeking You first.

Verse from 1 Corinthians

“弟兄们，我凭着我们主耶稣基督的名，劝你们大家要同心，在你们中间不要分党，只要在同一的心思、同一的意念上团结起来。”

‭‭哥林多前书‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭

The believers in Corinth may not have drawn a line down their main thoroughfare, but they were divided. They’d been quarreling as a result of their allegiances to those who taught them about Jesus: Paul, Apollos, or Cephas (Peter). Paul called them all to oneness “in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10), reminding them it was Christ who was crucified for them, not their spiritual leaders.

We behave similarly today, don’t we? We sometimes oppose even those who share our singularly important belief—Jesus’ sacrifice for our wrongdoings—making them rivals instead of allies. Just as Christ Himself is not divided, we, as His earthly representation—His body—mustn’t allow differences over nonessentials to divide us. Instead, may we celebrate our oneness in Him.

Verse from 1 Peter

“是要叫你们的信心经过试验，就比那被火炼过，仍会朽坏的金子更宝贵，可以在耶稣基督显现的时候，得着称赞、荣耀和尊贵。”

‭‭彼得前书‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

In Bible times, refiners used fire as a gold purifier. Fire caused impurities to rise to the surface for easier removal. In his first letter to believers in Jesus throughout Asia Minor (northern Turkey), the apostle Peter used the gold-refining process as a metaphor for the way trials work in the life of a believer. At that time, many believers were being persecuted by the Romans for their faith in Christ. Peter knew what that was like firsthand. But persecution, Peter explained, brings out the “genuineness of [our] faith” (1 Peter 1:7).

Perhaps you feel like you’re in a refiner’s fire—feeling the heat of setbacks, illness, or other challenges. But hardship is often the process by which God purifies the gold of our faith. In our pain we might beg God to quickly end the process, but He knows what’s best for us, even when life hurts. Keep connected to the Savior, seeking His comfort and peace.

Verse from Luke

“我实在告诉你们，凡不像小孩子一样接受神的国的，决不能进去。””

‭‭路加福音‬ ‭18:17‬ ‭

“But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:16‬ ‭

In New Testament times, children were loved but not highly valued in society until they “became of age” and could contribute to the home and enter the synagogue with adult privileges. Jesus shattered the standards of His day by welcoming the impoverished, the diseased, and even children. Three gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) tell of parents bringing little children to Jesus so that He might lay hands on them and pray for them (Matthew 19:13; Mark 10:16).

The disciples rebuked the adults for what they saw as an inconvenience. At this, Jesus was “indignant” (Mark 10:14) and opened His arms to the little ones. He elevated their value in His kingdom and challenged all to become like children themselves—to embrace their vulnerability and need for Him in order to know Him (Luke 18:17). It’s our childlike need that makes us “big” enough to receive His love.

Verse from Jeremiah

 “耶和华在古时曾向以色列显现，说：“我以永远的爱爱你，因此，我对你的慈爱延续不息 。”

‭‭耶利米书‬ ‭31:3‬ ‭

“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:3‬ ‭

Nora was tiny, but “Bridget”—the belligerent, six-foot-tall woman glowering down at her—didn’t intimidate her. Bridget couldn’t even say why she had stopped at the crisis pregnancy center; she’d already made up her mind to “get rid of this . . . kid.” So Nora gently asked questions, and Bridget rudely deflected them with profanity-laced tirades. Soon Bridget got up to leave, defiantly declaring her intent to end her pregnancy.

Slipping her small frame between Bridget and the door, Nora asked, “Before you go, may I give you a hug, and may I pray for you?” No one had ever hugged her before—not with healthy intentions, anyway. Suddenly, unexpectedly, the tears came.

Nora beautifully reflects the heart of our God who loved His people Israel “with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). The people had stumbled into the hard consequences of their persistent violation of His guidelines. Yet God told them, “I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. I will build you up again” (vv. 3–4).

Bridget’s history is complex. (Many of us can relate.) Until she ran into real love that day, her belief had been that God and His followers would only condemn her. Nora showed her something different: the God who won’t ignore our sin because He loves us beyond imagination. He welcomes us with open arms. We don’t have to keep running.

What’s your perception of God?

Verses from Isaiah

The downtrodden people of Israel and Judah found fresh hope in the prophet Isaiah’s vision of their beautiful restoration by God. Amid all the doom and judgment Isaiah foretold, this bright promise took root: “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy” (Isaiah 35:1–2).

No matter our situation today, we too can rejoice in the beautiful ways our heavenly Father restores us with fresh hope, including through His creation. When we feel down, reflecting on His glory and splendor will bolster us. “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way,” Isaiah encouraged (v. 3).

Verse from Nehemiah

“于是我差派使者去见他们说：“我正在进行大工程，不能去。我怎能放下这工程，去见你们，使这工程停顿呢？””

‭‭尼希米记‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭

“so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?””

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭

Nehemiah began rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem—a task he took very seriously. Toward the end of the project, neighboring rivals asked him to meet with them in a nearby village. Under the guise of a friendly invitation was an insidious trap (Nehemiah 6:1–2). Yet Nehemiah’s response shows the depth of his conviction (v. 3).

Although he certainly possessed some authority, Nehemiah may not have rated very high on the hero scale. He wasn’t a great warrior, not a poet or a prophet, not a king or a sage. He was a cupbearer-turned-contractor. Yet he believed he was doing something vital for God. May we take seriously what He’s given us to do and do it well in His power and provision.

Verse from Deuteronomy

“你吃饱了，就要称颂耶和华你的神，因为他把那美地赐了给你。”

‭‭申命记‬ ‭8:10‬ ‭

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:10‬ ‭

When the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, Moses urged them to be a grateful people (Deut. 8:10). Thanks to the blessings of God, the land was abundant, but they could easily treat this prosperity as something they deserved (vv. 17–18). From this, the Jews developed a practice of giving thanks for every meal, no matter how small. For them, it was all a gift.

Blessed are You, 

O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. 

A Jewish thanksgiving prayer for meals

Be grateful to God for even the smallest gift.

Why do we sometimes find it difficult to be grateful? 

How can a sense of entitlement hinder a thankful spirit?

Verse from Ruth

“拿俄米对她们说：“不要叫我拿俄米，叫我玛拉吧，因为全能者使我吃尽了苦头。”

‭‭路得记‬ ‭1:20‬ ‭

““Don’t call me Naomi, ” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1:20‬ ‭

The new name Naomi gave herself didn’t stick, however, because those devastating losses were not the end of her story. In the midst of her sorrow, God had blessed her with a loving daughter-in-law, Ruth, who eventually remarried and had a son, creating a family for Naomi again. 

Although we might sometimes be tempted to give ourselves bitter nicknames, like “failure” or “unloved,” based on difficulties we’ve experienced or mistakes we’ve made, those names are not the end of our stories. We can replace those labels with the name God has given each of us, “loved one” (Romans 9:25), and look for the ways He’s providing for us in even the most challenging of times.

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 ‭

We can feel at times that we’re “on the bubble,” uncertain we have what it takes to compete in or finish the race of life. When we’re feeling that way, it’s important to remember that in Jesus we’re never “on the bubble.” As children of God, our place in His kingdom is secure (John 14:3). 

Our confidence flows from Him who chose Jesus to be the “cornerstone” on which our lives are built, and He chose us to be “living stones” filled with the Spirit of God, capable of being the people God created us to be (1 Peter 2:5–6).

In Christ, our future is secure as we hope in and follow Him (v. 6). In Jesus’ eyes we’re not “on the bubble.” We’re precious and loved (v. 4).

Verse from 1 John

“这生命已经显现出来，我们见过了，现在也作见证，并且向你们宣扬这本来与父同在，又向我们显现过的永远的生命。”

‭‭约翰壹书‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭

“The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭

In the Bible, we have a collection of letters that—thanks to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit—have made their way through time to us. As the Christian church grew, Jesus’ disciples wrote to local churches across Europe and Asia Minor to help the people understand their new life in Christ; many of those letters were collected in the Bible we read today.

What did these letter-writers want to convey to readers? John explains, in his first letter, that he’s writing about “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched.” He’s writing about his encounter with the living Christ (1 John 1:1). 

He writes so that his readers may “have fellowship with” one another, and with “the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (v. 3). When we have fellowship together, he writes, our joy will be complete (v. 4). The letters in the Bible draw us into a fellowship that’s beyond time—fellowship with the eternal God.

If God wrote a letter to you today, what would it say? 

If you wrote a letter to a friend telling about how you’ve encountered the living God, what would it say?

Verse from 2 Corinthians

“如果有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已经过去，你看，都变成新的了！”

‭‭哥林多后书‬ ‭5:17‬ 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭

During her ministry to men incarcerated in South Africa’s most violent prison, Joanna Flanders-Thomas witnessed the power of Christ to transform hearts. In Vanishing Grace, Philip Yancey describes her experience: “Joanna started visiting prisoners daily, bringing them a simple gospel message of forgiveness and reconciliation. She earned their trust, got them to talk about their abusive childhoods, and showed them a better way of resolving conflicts. The year before her visits began, the prison recorded 279 acts of violence against inmates and guards; the next year there were two.”

While we may not always see that newness expressed as dramatically as Flanders-Thomas did, the gospel’s power to transform is the greatest hope-providing force in the universe. New creations. What an amazing thought! The death of Jesus launches us on a journey of becoming like Him—a journey that will culminate when we see Him face-to-face (see 1 John 3:1–3).

Verse from Psalms

“你的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭119:105‬ ‭

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:105‬ ‭

During World War II, small compasses saved the lives of 27 sailors 300 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Waldemar Semenov, a retired merchant seaman, was serving as a junior engineer aboard the SS Alcoa Guide when a German submarine surfaced and opened fire on the ship. The ship was hit, caught fire, and began to sink. Semenov and his crew lowered compass-equipped lifeboats into the water and used the compasses to guide them toward the shipping lanes closer to shore. After three days, the men were rescued.

The psalmist reminded God’s people that His Word was a trustworthy “compass.” He likened it to a lamp. In that day, the flickering light cast by an olive oil lamp was only bright enough to show a traveler his next step. To the psalmist, God’s Word was such a lamp, providing enough light to illuminate the path for those pursuing God (Ps. 119:105). When the psalmist was wandering in the dark on a chaotic path of life, he believed that God, through the guidance of His Word, would provide direction.

When we lose our bearings in life, we can trust our God who gives His trustworthy Word as our compass, using it to lead us into deeper fellowship with Him.

God has given us His Word to help us know and follow Him.

Verse from 1 Samuel

“两个儿子都没有行撒母耳的道路，反而转去追求不义之财，收受贿赂，屈枉正直。”

‭‭撒母耳记上‬ ‭8:3‬ ‭

“His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭8:3‬ ‭

Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel, and they were driven by greed. His sons “did not follow his ways” (1 Samuel 8:3). In contrast to Samuel’s integrity, his sons “turned aside after dishonest gain” and used their position to their own advantage. This unjust behavior displeased the elders of Israel and God, putting in motion a cycle of kings that fills the pages of the Old Testament (vv. 4–5).

To refuse to walk in God’s ways allows room for the perversion of those values, and as a result injustice flourishes. To walk in His ways means honesty and justice are clearly seen not only in our words but in our deeds as well. Those good deeds are never an end in themselves but always that others may see and honor our Father in heaven.

Verse from Romans

“圣灵亲自和我们的灵一同证明我们是神的儿女。”

‭‭罗马书‬ ‭8:16‬ ‭

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:16‬ ‭

Malcolm appeared confident as a teenager. But this confidence was a mask. In truth, a turbulent home left him fearful, desperate for approval, and feeling falsely responsible for his family’s problems. “For as far back as I remember,” he says, “every morning I would go into the bathroom, look in the mirror, and say out loud to myself, ‘You are stupid, you are ugly, and it’s your fault.’”

Malcolm’s self-loathing continued until he was twenty-one, when he had a divine revelation of his identity in Jesus. “I realized that God loved me unconditionally and nothing would ever change that,” he recalls. “I could never embarrass God, and He would never reject me.” In time, Malcolm looked in the mirror and spoke to himself differently. “You are loved, you are beautiful, you are gifted,” he said, “and it’s not your fault.”

Malcolm’s experience illustrates what God’s Spirit does for the believer in Jesus—He frees us from fear by revealing how profoundly loved we are (Romans 8:15, 38–39), and confirms that we are children of God with all the benefits that status brings (8:16–17; 12:6–8). As a result, we can begin seeing ourselves correctly by having our thinking renewed (12:2–3).

Years later, Malcolm still whispers those words each day, reinforcing who God says he is. In the Father’s eyes he’s loved, beautiful, and gifted. And so are we.

Verse from 1 Samuel

“愿耶和华在你我之间判断是非；愿耶和华在你身上为我伸冤。我的手却不敢伤害你。”

‭‭撒母耳记上‬ ‭24:12‬ ‭

“May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭24:12‬ ‭

The psalmist David understood the difficulty of trusting God while enduring unfair treatment. Though David did his best to be a loving servant, King Saul succumbed to jealousy and wanted to murder him (1 Samuel 24:1–2). David suffered while God worked things out and prepared him to take the throne, but still he chose to honor God instead of seeking revenge (vv. 3–7). He did his part to reconcile with Saul and left the results in God’s hands (vv. 8–22).

When it seems others are getting away with wrongdoing, we struggle with the injustice. But with God’s mercy at work in our hearts and the hearts of others, we can forgive as He’s forgiven us and receive the blessings He’s prepared for us.

Verse from Romans

“所以我们借着洗礼归入死, 与他同葬，为的是要我们过新生命的生活，像基督借着父的荣耀从死人中复活一样。”

‭‭罗马书‬ ‭6:4‬ ‭

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:4‬ ‭

Paul proclaims the stunning truth that “all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death” (Romans 6:3). On the cross, in a powerful, mysterious way, Jesus put to death Satan’s lies, death’s terror, and sin’s tenacious grip. 

Though we’re “dead to sin” and “alive to God” (v. 11), we often live as though evil still holds the power. We yield to temptation, succumbing to sin’s seduction. We listen to lies, failing to trust Jesus. But we don’t have to yield. We don’t have to live in a false narrative. By God’s grace we can embrace the true story of Christ’s victory.

While we’ll still wrestle with sin, liberation comes as we recognize that Jesus has already won the battle. May we live out that truth in His power.

Verse from James

“你们应该知道，那使罪人从歧途上转回的，就会拯救他的灵魂脱离死亡，也会遮盖许多罪恶。”

‭‭雅各书‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭

“remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

‭‭James‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭

The closing words of James emphasize the importance of correction. Who among us hasn’t needed to be “brought back” by those who care for us from paths or actions, decisions or desires that could’ve been hurtful? Who knows what harm might have been done to ourselves or others had someone not courageously intervened at the right time.

James stresses the value of kind correction with these words, “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (5:20). Correction is an expression of God’s mercy. May our love and concern for the well-being of others compel us to speak and act in ways that He can use to “bring that person back” (v. 19).

Verse from John

“我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。住在我里面的，我也住在他里面，他就结出很多果子；因为离开了我，你们就不能作甚么。”

‭‭约翰福音‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭

Our life in Jesus is much more like a duet than a solo performance. Sometimes, though, we forget that He’s “sitting next to us” and it’s only by His power and guidance that we can “play” at all. We try to hit all the right notes on our own—to obey God in our own strength, but this usually ends up seeming fake and hollow. We try to handle problems with our limited ability, but the result is often discord with others.

Our Teacher’s presence makes all the difference. When we rely on Jesus to help us, we find our life is more honoring to God.

Each day we play a duet with our good Teacher—it’s His grace and power that carry the melody of our spiritual lives.