Verse from Colossians

“无论你们作甚么，都要从心里去作，像是为主作的，不是为人作的，”

‭‭歌罗西书‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭

For answers to our job worries, Paul gives trustworthy instruction. In a letter to the Colossian church, Paul urged believers to work not for approval of people, but for God. As the apostle said, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23–24).

Reflecting on Paul’s wisdom, we can stop struggling to look good in the eyes of our earthly bosses. For certain, we honor them as people and seek to give them our best. But if we work “as for the Lord”—asking Him to lead and anoint our work for Him—He’ll shine a light on our efforts. Our reward? Our job pressures ease and our assignments are completed. Even more, we’ll one day hear Him say, “Well done!”

Verse from 2 Timothy

“你应当逃避年轻人的私欲，要和那些以清洁的心求告主的人，一同追求公义、信心、爱心、和平。”

‭‭提摩太后书‬ ‭2:22‬ ‭

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:22‬ ‭

In the Old Testament story of Joseph, we see modeled the principle of running from sin. When he was living in the home of Egyptian official Potiphar, whose wife tried to seduce him, Joseph didn’t try to get close—he ran.

Although she falsely accused him and had him thrown in prison, Joseph remained pure throughout the episode. And as we see in Genesis 39:21, “The Lord was with him.”

God can help us flee activities and situations that could lead us away from Him—guiding us to run the other way when sin is nearby. In 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul writes, “Flee the evil desires.” And in 1 Corinthians 6:18, he says to “flee from sexual immorality.”

In God’s strength, may we choose to run from those things that could harm us.

Verse from Matthew

““接待你们的，就是接待我；接待我的，就是接待那差我来的。”

‭‭马太福音‬ ‭10:40‬ ‭

““Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:40‬ ‭

It’s hard to imagine a more life-changing offer of friendship. For anyone who would open their house, or even give a cup of cold water to one of His disciples, Jesus assured a place in the heart of God. 

While that moment happened a long time ago, His words remind us that in big and little acts of kindness and hospitality there are still ways of welcoming, and being welcomed, as a friend of the friends of God.

Verse from 2 Kings

“以利沙对他说：“我可以为你作甚么呢？告诉我，你家里有甚么呢？”她说：“婢女家中除了一瓶油以外，甚么也没有。””

‭‭列王纪下‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭

“Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.””

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭

Three-year-old Buddy and his mom went to church each week to help unload groceries from the food ministry truck. When Buddy overheard his mom telling his grandmother that the delivery truck broke down, he said, “Oh, no. How will they do food ministry?” His mom explained that the church would have to raise money to buy a new truck. 

Buddy smiled. “I have money,” he said, leaving the room. He returned with a plastic jar decorated with colorful stickers and filled with coins, which amounted to a little over $38. Though Buddy didn’t have much, God combined his sacrificial offering with gifts from others to provide a new refrigerated truck, so that the church could continue serving their community.

A small amount offered generously is always more than enough when placed in God’s hands. In 2 Kings 4, a poor widow asked the prophet Elisha for financial assistance. He told her to take inventory of her own resources, reach out to her neighbors for help, then follow his instructions (vv. 1–4). 

In a miraculous display of provision, God used the widow’s small amount of oil to fill all the jars she collected from her neighbors (vv. 5–6). Elisha told her, “Sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left” (v. 7).

When we focus on what we don’t have, we risk missing out on watching God do great things with what we do have.

Verse from Romans

“不要欠人的债；但在彼此相爱的事上，要觉得是欠了人的债。爱别人的，就成全了律法。”

‭‭罗马书‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭

Billy, a loving and loyal dog, became an internet star in 2020. His owner, Russell, had broken his ankle and was using crutches to walk. Soon the dog also began to hobble when walking with his owner. Concerned, Russell took Billy to the vet, who said there was nothing wrong with him! He ran freely when he was by himself. It turned out that the dog faked a limp when he walked with his owner. That’s what you call trying to truly identify with someone’s pain!

Coming alongside others is forefront in the apostle Paul’s instructions to the church in Rome.

Author Jenny Albers advises: “When someone is broken, don’t try to fix them. (You can’t.) When someone is hurting, don’t attempt to take away their pain. (You can’t.) Instead, love them by walking beside them in the hurt. (You can.) Because sometimes what people need is simply to know they aren’t alone.”

Because Jesus, our Savior, walks alongside us through all our hurt and pain, we know what it means to walk with others.

Verse from Psalms

“耶和华啊！求你为你名的缘故使我存活，按着你的公义把我从患难中领出来。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭143:11‬ ‭

“For the sake of Your name, Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭143:11‬ ‭

“I had a dark moment.” Those five words capture the internal agony of a popular female celebrity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusting to a new normal was part of her challenge, and in her turmoil, she acknowledged that she wrestled with thoughts of suicide. Pulling out of the downward spiral included sharing her struggle with a friend who cared.

We’re all susceptible to tumultuous hours, days, and seasons. Valleys and hard places aren’t foreign but getting out of such places can be challenging. And seeking the assistance of mental health professionals is sometimes needed.

In Psalm 143, we hear and are instructed by David’s prayer during one of the dark times of his life. The exact situation is unknown, but his prayers to God are honest and hope-filled. Our dark moments can also be times for deep prayers—seeking the light and life only God can bring.

Verse from 1 Corinthians

“因为十字架的道理，对走向灭亡的人来说是愚笨的，但对我们这些得救的人，却是神的大能。”

‭‭哥林多前书‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭

Zhang was raised with, in his words, “no God, no religion, nothing.” In 1989, seeking democracy and freedom for his people, he helped lead students in peaceful protests. But the protests tragically led to the government’s intervention and hundreds of lives lost. For his part in the event, Zhang was placed on his country’s most-wanted list. After a short imprisonment, he fled to an outlying village where he met an elderly farmer who introduced him to Christianity. She had only a handwritten copy of the gospel of John but couldn’t read, so she asked Zhang to read it to her. As he did, she explained it to him—and a year later he became a believer in Jesus.

Through all he endured, Zhang sees that God was powerfully leading him to the cross, where he experienced firsthand what the apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians, “The message of the cross is . . . the power of God” (1:18). What many considered foolishness, a weakness, became Zhang’s strength. For some of us, this too was our thinking before we came to Christ. But through the Spirit, we felt the power and wisdom of God breaking into our lives and leading us to Christ. Today Zhang serves as a pastor spreading the truth of the cross to all who will hear.

Jesus has the power to change even the hardest of hearts. 

Verse from 2 Kings

“王站在柱旁，在耶和华面前立约，要一心一意跟从耶和华，谨守他的诫命、典章和律例，实行这书上所写有关这约的话。众民都一同立约。”

‭‭列王纪下‬ ‭23:3‬ ‭

“And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments, His provisions, and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭23:3‬ ‭

Josiah, king in Jerusalem, grew up with little knowledge of God’s expectations for His people. When the high priest rediscovered the Book of the Law in the long-neglected temple (2 Kings 22:8), Josiah wanted to hear it. As soon as he learned what God had said about idolatry, he ordered sweeping changes to bring Judah into compliance with God’s law—drastic changes (see 2 Kings 23:3–7).

Believers today have more than King Josiah did—much, much more. We have the entire Bible to instruct us. We have each other. And we have the vital filling of the Holy Spirit, who brings things to light, large and small, that we might otherwise overlook

Verse from Romans

“神的丰富、智慧和知识，是多么高深啊！他的判断是多么难测，他的道路是多么难寻！”

‭‭罗马书‬ ‭11:33‬ ‭

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:33‬ ‭

The Bible teaches that “the foolishness of God is wiser” than the cleverest human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness” of the message of a suffering Savior to rescue “those who believe” (v. 21).

God always has ways of surprising us. Instead of the triumphant king the world would expect, the Son of God came as a suffering servant and died a humbling death by crucifixion—before He was raised in unsurpassable glory.

In God’s wisdom, humility is valued over pride and love shows its worth in undeserved mercy and kindness. Through the cross, our unconquerable Messiah became the ultimate victim—in order to “save completely” (Hebrews 7:25) all who place their faith in Him!

When have God’s ways left you confused? 

How does it help to know His ways are not our own?

Verse from Psalms

“他必用自己的羽毛遮盖你，你要投靠在他的翅膀底下；他的信实象盾牌，像坚垒。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭91:4‬ ‭

“He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may take refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and wall.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:4‬ ‭

God tenderly cared for and comforted His people as a mother eagle cares for her young (Deuteronomy 32:10–11; Isaiah 66:13). Also, like a mother who could never forget a nursing child with whom she had built an inseparable bond, God would never forget His people nor forever withhold compassion from them (Isaiah 54:7–8). 

Finally, like a mother bird offering protective cover under her wings for baby birds, God would “cover [His people] with his feathers” and “his faithfulness [would] be [their] shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4).

Sometimes we feel alone, forgotten, and trapped in the grip of all kinds of spiritual predators. May God help us remember that He compassionately cares, comforts, and fights for us.

Verse from Romans

“爱，不可虚伪；恶，要厌恶；善，要持守。”

‭‭罗马书‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭

For love to be trustworthy, it must be sincere. The word rendered “sincere” in Romans 12:9 is the Greek word anypokritos, which features a prefix that negates the root word, hypokrisis, meaning “hypocrisy.” Put together and we get “no hypocrisy” or “sincere.” When anypokritos modifies the word love, what’s in view is love without a mask, without pretense or agenda; it’s the real thing. 

In 2 Corinthians 6:6, the word describes the kind of love on display among true ministers of Christ: “sincere love.” But love isn’t the only virtue that this word describes. In 1 Timothy 1:5 and 2 Timothy 1:5, the word modifies “faith”—the kind of faith that characterizes faithful believers in Jesus: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5).

Verse from Psalms

“神在他的圣居所， 作孤儿的父亲，作寡妇的伸冤者。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭68:5‬ ‭

“A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy dwelling.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68:5‬ ‭

Guy Bryant, single and with no children of his own, worked in New York City’s child welfare department. Daily, he encountered the intense need for foster parents and decided to do something about it. For more than a decade, Bryant fostered more than fifty children, once caring for nine at the same time. “Every time I turned around there was a kid who needed a place to stay,” Bryant explained. “If you have the space in your home and heart, you just do it. You don’t really think about it.” The foster children who've grown and established their own lives still have keys to Bryant’s apartment and often return on Sundays for lunch with “Pops.” Bryant has shown the love of a father to many.

The Scriptures tell us that God pursues all who are forgotten or cast aside. Although some believers will find themselves destitute and vulnerable in this life, He promises to be with them. God is “a father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5). If, through neglect or tragedy, we’re alone, God is still there—reaching out to us, drawing us near, and giving us hope. Indeed, “God sets the lonely in families” (v. 6).

Whatever our challenging family stories, our isolation, our abandonment, or our relational dysfunction may be, we can know that we’re loved. With God, we’re fatherless no more.

Verse from Luke

“耶稣对他们讲一个比喻，论到人必须常常祈祷，不可灰心。”

‭‭路加福音‬ ‭18:1‬ ‭

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, (‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬)

In Luke 18, the widow’s persistent request to the judge for justice against her adversary made her sound like a “squeaky wheel” until she got the result she needed. Luke explains that Jesus told this story to teach us the need to pray continually and not to give up, even if it appears that the answer to our prayer is delayed (vv.1-5).

God is certainly not an unjust judge who must be harassed before He responds to us. He is our loving Father who cares about us and hears us when we cry to Him. Regular, persistent prayer draws us closer to Him. It may feel like we are a squeaky wheel, but the Lord welcomes our prayer and encourages us to approach Him with our cries. He hears us and will come to our aid in ways that we may not expect.

As Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:5-8, constant prayer does not require long periods of “vain repetitions.” Rather, as we bring our needs before God “day and night” (Luke 18:7) and walk with the One who already knows our needs, we learn to trust God and wait patiently for His response.

Don’t give up—God hears you when you pray!

Verse from Jeremiah

“他必像一棵树，栽种在水边， 树根伸进河里； 炎热来到，并不害怕， 树叶仍然繁茂； 在荒旱之年，它不挂虑， 并且不断结果子。””

‭‭耶利米书‬ ‭17:8‬ ‭

“They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.””

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:8‬ ‭

The Bible tells of many people who waited by faith despite adversity. Noah waited for delayed rain. Caleb waited forty years to live in the promised land. Rebekah waited twenty years to conceive a child. Jacob waited seven years to marry Rachel. Simeon waited and waited to see the baby Jesus. Their patience was rewarded.

In contrast, those who look to humans “will be like a bush in the wastelands” (Jeremiah 17:6). But “blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,” rejoiced Jeremiah. “They will be like a tree planted by the water” (vv. 7–8).

The trusting stay planted in God—the One who walks with us through the joys and adversities of life.

Verse from Ephesians

“并且穿上新人。这新人是照着神的形象，在公义和真实的圣洁里创造的。”

‭‭以弗所书‬ ‭4:24‬ ‭

“and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:24‬ ‭

In view of what God has done through Christ in choosing, redeeming, and predestining believers in Jesus to be His children (Ephesians 1:3–14), Paul exhorted the believers in Ephesus and us to “live a life worthy of [His] calling” (4:1). 

The apostle commanded them and us not to live ungodly and immoral lives that defined our past (v. 17). For now that we know Christ, we’ve been given a new life (vv. 21–24); we’re a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Verse from Luke

“在最小的事上忠心的，在大事上也忠心；在最小的事上不义的，在大事上也不义。”

‭‭路加福音‬ ‭16:10‬ ‭

““Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:10‬ ‭

As He crafted His parables, Jesus engaged with real-world situations. This is one reason why His stories often centered on money. His audience plainly understood the necessity of possessing at least some of this world’s resources. 

The lesson here isn’t that we’re to be dishonest or to push the bounds of ethical behavior as this manager did. Rather, Jesus implied that we’re to be “trustworthy in handling worldly wealth” (v. 11). His point is to be generous in a God-honoring way, which begins with our reliability in little things.

Verse from Obadiah

“你心中的傲气欺骗了你； 你这住在岩石的隐密处， 居所在高处的啊！ 你心里说： “谁能把我拉下地呢？””

‭‭俄巴底亚书‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭

“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’”

‭‭Obadiah‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭

The powerful kingdom of Edom received discipline from God for its pride. Edom was located amid mountainous terrain, making her seemingly invulnerable to enemies (Obadiah 1:3). Edom was also a wealthy nation, situated at the center of strategic trade routes and rich in copper, a highly valued commodity in the ancient world. It was full of good things yet also full of pride. Its citizens believed their kingdom was invincible, even as they oppressed God’s people (vv. 10–14). 

But God used the prophet Obadiah to tell them of His judgment. Nations would rise up against Edom, and the once-powerful kingdom would be defenseless and humiliated (vv. 1–2).

Pride deceives us into thinking we can live life on our terms, without God. It makes us feel invulnerable to authority, correction, and weakness. But God calls us to humble ourselves before Him (1 Peter 5:6). As we turn from our pride and choose repentance, God will guide us toward total trust in Him

Verse from 1 Kings

“他张眼一看，只见头旁有用炭火烤的饼和一瓶水。他就起来吃喝，然后又躺下去。”

‭‭列王纪上‬ ‭19:6‬ ‭

“He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19:6‬ ‭

A businessman described his years in college as a time when he often felt “helpless and hopeless” from bouts of depression. Sadly, he never talked to a doctor about these feelings, but instead started making more drastic plans—ordering a book on suicide from his local library and setting a date to take his life.

God cares for the helpless and hopeless. We see this in His treatment of biblical characters during their own dark times. When Jonah wanted to die, God engaged him in tender conversation (Jonah 4:3–10). When Elijah asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4), God provided bread and water to refresh him (vv. 5–9), spoke gently to him (vv. 11–13), and helped him see he wasn’t as alone as he thought (v. 18). God approaches the downhearted with tender, practical help.

The library notified the student when his book on suicide was ready to collect. But in a mix-up, the note went to his parents’ address instead. When his mother called him, distraught, he realized the devastation his suicide would bring. Without that address mix-up, he says, he wouldn’t be here today.

Whether it’s bread and water when we need it, or a timely wrong address, when mysterious intervention saves our lives, we’ve encountered divine tenderness.

Verse from Exodus

“你们就要回答：‘这是献给耶和华逾越节的祭。耶和华击杀埃及人的时候，越过了在埃及的以色列人的房屋，救了我们的家。’”于是人民低头敬拜。”

‭‭出埃及记‬ ‭12:27‬ ‭

“then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’ ” Then the people bowed down and worshiped.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭12:27‬ ‭

The Passover commemorates what God did for the Israelites when they were in Egypt, oppressed by Pharaoh and his crew (Exodus 1:6–14). After they cried out to God, He delivered the people in a mighty way. He told them to put blood on their doorposts so the death angel would “pass over” their firstborn people and animals (12:12–13). Then they would be kept safe from death. 

Centuries later, believers in Jesus regularly take communion as we remember His sacrifice on the cross—providing what we needed to be delivered from sin and death (1 Corinthians 11:23–26). Remembering God’s loving acts in the past gives us hope for today.

Verse from Psalms

“你们要住手，要知道我是神； 我要在列国中被尊崇，我要在全地上被尊崇。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭46:10‬ ‭

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (‭Psalm‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬)

The Hebrew word for “still” means to “cease striving,” or, literally, “to put our hands at our side.” At first glance this seems to be a rather risky piece of advice, since our first instinct in trouble is to keep our hands on the situation and control it to our advantage. God in essence is saying, “Hands off! Let Me deal with your problem, and rest assured that the outcome is in My hands.”

But knowing when to take our hands off and let God work can make us feel vulnerable. Unless, that is, we believe that God is indeed “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (v.1) and that “the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (v.7). In the midst of trouble, we can rest in God’s care.

Lord, 

forgive me for always wanting

to manage my own affairs.

Teach me to trust in Your wise and timely intervention in my life and to keep my hands out of Your way.

When we put our problems in God’s hands, He puts His peace in our hearts.

Verse from Ecclesiastes

“他使万事各按其时，成为美好；他又把永恒的意识放在人的心里；虽然这样，人还是不能察觉　神自始至终的作为。”

‭‭传道书‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭

The first eight verses of Ecclesiastes 3 state a familiar, natural rhythm of the activities of life with some arbitrary choices. No matter what stage of life we find ourselves in, it’s often difficult to find time to do everything we want to do. And to make wise decisions about managing our time, it’s helpful to have a plan (Psalm 90:12).

Time spent with God each day is a priority for our spiritual health. Doing productive work is satisfying to our spirit (Ecclesiastes 3:13). Serving God and helping other people is essential to fulfilling God’s purpose for us (Ephesians 2:10). And times of rest or leisure aren’t wasted but refreshing for body and spirit.

Of course, it’s easy to become too focused on the here and now—finding time for the things that matter most to us. But Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has “set eternity” in our hearts—reminding us to make a priority of things that are eternal. That can bring us face to face with something of the greatest importance—God’s eternal perspective “from beginning to end.”

Verse from Mark

“你们拘守着人的传统，却离弃了神的诫命。””

‭‭马可福音‬ ‭7:8‬ ‭

“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:8‬ ‭

An Atlanta police officer asked a driver if she knew why he’d stopped her. “No idea!” she said in bewilderment. “Ma’am, you were texting while driving,” the officer gently told her. “No, no!” she protested, holding up her cell phone as evidence. “It’s an email.”

Using a cell phone to send an email doesn’t grant us a loophole from a law that prohibits texting while driving! The point of the law isn’t to prevent texting; it’s to prevent distracted driving.

Jesus accused the religious leaders of His day of creating far worse loopholes. “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God,” He said, quoting the command to “Honor your father and mother” as evidence (Mark 7:9–10). 

Under the hypocritical cloak of religious devotion, these wealthy leaders were neglecting their families. They simply declared their money as “devoted to God,” and voila, no need to help Mom and Dad in their old age. Jesus quickly got to the heart of the problem. “You nullify the word of God by your tradition,” He said (v. 13). They weren’t honoring God; they were dishonoring their parents.

Rationalization can be so subtle. With it we avoid responsibilities, explain away selfish behavior, and reject God’s direct commands. If that describes our behavior, we’re merely deceiving ourselves. Jesus offers us the opportunity to exchange our selfish tendencies for the guidance of the Spirit behind His Father’s good instructions.

Verse from 1 Chronicles

“人民因这些人自愿奉献而欢喜，因为他们一心乐意奉献给耶和华，大卫王也非常欢喜。”

‭‭历代志上‬ ‭29:9‬ ‭

“The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭29:9‬ ‭

Scripture links generosity with joy. After giving his own wealth toward building the temple, King David invited the Israelites to also donate (1 Chronicles 29:1–5). The people responded generously, giving gold, silver, and precious stones joyously (vv. 6–8). But notice what their joy was over: “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord” (v. 9, italics added). 

Scripture never tells us to give because it will make us happy but to give willingly and wholeheartedly to meet a need. Joy often follows.

Verse from Jonah

“神看见他们所作的，就是悔改离开恶行，神就转意，不把所说的灾祸降在他们身上了。”

‭‭约拿书‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭

“When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭

What a difference a couple of chapters can make in the tone of Jonah’s prayers! In Jonah 2:2, the desperate prophet prayed, “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.” 

But in Jonah 4:3, he asks God to kill him. God answered the first prayer miraculously, delivering Jonah from death. But with the second prayer, God simply asked, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (4:4). Then Jonah actually repeats his death wish. “I’m so angry I wish I were dead” (v. 9). Even then, God appealed to Jonah by sharing His heart for all of humanity. “Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh?” God even extends His concern to the animals that would have been destroyed in Nineveh (v. 11). 

The book of Jonah provides a fascinating contrast between human nature, which is self-serving, and the profoundly loving and patient character of God.

How do we respond to God’s grace to us? 

Do we resent it when He extends that grace to others we may perceive as “worse” than we are? 

Do we resemble Jonah when things don’t go the way we’d like them to?

Verse from Proverbs

 “膏油和香料使人心畅快，朋友真诚的劝勉也使人觉得甘甜。”

‭‭箴言‬ ‭27:9‬ ‭

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:9‬ ‭

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted,” Solomon wisely wrote, “but an enemy multiplies kisses” (Proverbs 27:6).

Sometimes when someone tells you only what they think you want to hear, it isn’t helpful, because it can keep you from growing and developing in vital ways.   

Candor can be kindness when measured out with genuine, humble love. May God give us the wisdom to receive it and impart it well, and so reflect His caring heart.

Verse from 1 John

“如果我们照着神的旨意祈求，他必听我们；这就是我们对神所存的坦然无惧的心。”

‭‭约翰壹书‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭

“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭

By reading the Bible and storing God’s words in our hearts, we can pray assuredly for things that we know He already desires for us, including peace, wisdom, and faith that He’ll provide what we need (v. 15).

Sometimes it may seem like God doesn’t hear us when our situation doesn’t change. But we build our confidence in God by consistently turning to Him for help in every circumstance (Psalm 116:2). 

This allows us to grow in faith, trusting that although we may not get everything we desire, He’s promised to provide what we need in His perfect timing.

Verse from 1 Timothy

“其实敬虔而又知足，就是得大利的途径，”

‭‭提摩太前书‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭

In 1 Timothy, Paul challenged Timothy to find value in God rather than the things of this world. The world’s promises of fulfillment can never fully deliver. Paul wanted Timothy to instead root his identity in God: “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (6:6). Paul sounds like a satisficer when he adds, “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (v. 8).

When we fixate on the myriad ways the world promises fulfillment, we usually end up restless and unsatisfied. But when we focus on God and relinquish our compulsive urge to maximize, our soul moves toward genuine contentment and rest.

Verse from Psalms

“我的心哪! 你为甚么沮丧呢？为甚么在我里面不安呢？应当等候神；因为我还要称赞他，他是我面前的救助、我的神。”

‭‭诗篇‬ ‭42:5‬ ‭

“Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42:5‬ ‭

Physical or emotional suffering can often drag us down into the depths of despair. Desperate for refreshment, we thirst for reminders of God’s constant presence and infinite power (Psalm 42:1–3). As we recall the countless times God has come through for us and for others in the past, we can trust that our hope is secured in Him no matter how downcast we feel in the moment (vv. 4–6).

When bad attitudes or difficult circumstances dim our vision, God invites us to call on Him, read the Bible, and trust His faithfulness (vv. 7–11). As we seek God, we can rely on Him to help us spot rainbows of hope arched over the darkest days.