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 Deuteronomy

“我今日吩咐你的这些话，都要记在你的心上；”

申命记 6:6

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.”

Deuteronomy 6:6

The Lord may use a tangible item like a photo, keepsake, or Scripture verse to remind us of His faithfulness and the call to obey His Word. When Moses addressed the Israelites just before they entered the land of Canaan, he urged them to keep all the commands God had given them. “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road . . . . Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates”  (Deut. 6:7, 9). 

Giving God’s Word a visible place of honor in their homes and lives was a powerful daily reminder to “be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you . . . out of the land of slavery” (v. 12).

How do you remember His Word? 

Verse from Hebrews

“你们不要被各样怪异的教训勾引去了。人心靠着恩典，而不是靠着食物得到坚定，才是好的；因为那些拘守食物的人，从来没有得过益处。”

希伯来书 13:9

“Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.”

Hebrews 13:9

The neighborhood fitness center where David have worked out for years closed down last month, and he had to join a new gym. The former place was a warm, friendly facility, patronized by those who liked to socialize while they worked out. They hardly ever broke a sweat. The new gym is a hard-core facility filled with serious men and women, earnestly invested in building better bodies. Their bodies look strong, but he wonders if their hearts are being strengthened with grace.

The heart is a muscle—the muscle that keeps the other muscles going. It’s good to build and tone our other muscles, but the essential thing is doing whatever keeps the heart strong.

So it is with our spiritual heart. We strengthen and tone the heart through the Word of truth by receiving its message of God’s goodness and grace. Keeping our spiritual heart strong and fit must be our first priority, the one thing we do above all others.

God’s training is designed to grow us in faith.

Verse from Exodus

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

出埃及记 17:12

“When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.”

Exodus 17:12

Her thirty classmates and their parents watched as Mi’Asya nervously walked to the podium to speak at her fifth grade graduation ceremony. When the principal adjusted the microphone to Mi’Asya’s height, she turned her back to the microphone and the audience. The crowd whispered words of encouragement: “Come on, honey, you can do it.” But she didn’t budge. Then a classmate walked to the front and stood by her side. With the principal on one side of Mi’Asya and her friend on the other, the three read her speech together. What a beautiful example of support!

Moses needed help and support in the middle of a battle with the Amalekites (Ex. 17:10–16). “As long as Moses held up his hands [with the staff of God in his hands], the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning” (v. 11). When Aaron and Hur saw what was happening, they stood beside Moses, “one on one side, one on the other,” and supported his arms when he grew tired. With their support, victory came by sunset.

We all need the support of one another. 

Who could you help today? Or do you need support yourself? Who could you ask?

Hope can be ignited by a spark of encouragement.

Verse from 2 Peter

“主决不耽延他的应许，像有些人以为他是耽延的一样；其实他是宽容你们，不愿有一人灭亡，却愿人人都悔改。”

彼得后书 3:9

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

Randy was sitting with a group of passengers on an airport shuttle heading to their connecting flight when the bus driver was told to “hold in place.” It looked like they would miss their flight, and this was more than one passenger could handle. He exploded at the driver, insisting he ignore his orders or “risk the wrath of a lawsuit.” 

Just then an airline employee came dashing up carrying a briefcase. Looking at the angry man, the airline employee triumphantly held up the briefcase. When he had caught his breath, he said, “You left your briefcase. I heard you mention how important your meeting was, and I figured you would need this.”

Reflecting on this, Randy found himself sometimes impatient with God, especially about His return. He wondered, What can He be waiting on? The tragedies around us, the suffering of people we love, and even the stresses of daily life all seem bigger than the fixes on the horizon.

Then someone tells their story of having just met Jesus, or he discovers God is still at work in the messes. It reminds him of what he learned that day on the shuttle. There are stories and details God knows that he doesn’t. It reminds him to trust Him and to remember that the story isn’t about him. It’s about God’s plan to give time to others who don’t yet know His Son (2 Peter 3:9).

Verse from Luke

“耶稣到了那里，往上一看，对他说：“撒该，快下来，今天我要住在你家里。””

路加福音 19:5

“When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."”

Luke 19:5

When Dave was a kid, his family made a monthly excursion from Ohio to West Virginia to visit his maternal grandparents. Every time they arrived at the door of their farmhouse, Grandma Lester would greet them with the words, “Come on in and sit a spell.” It was her way of telling them to make themselves comfortable, stay a while, and share in some “catching-up” conversation.

Life can get pretty busy. In our action-oriented world, it’s hard to get to know people. It’s tough to find time to ask someone to “sit a spell” with us. We can get more done if we text each other and get right to the point. 

But look at what Jesus did when He wanted to make a difference in the life of a tax collector. He went to Zacchaeus’s house to “sit a spell.” His words, “I must stay at your house” indicate that this was no quick stopover (Luke 19:5). Jesus spent time with him, and Zacchaeus’s life was turned around because of this time with Jesus.

On the front porch of Dave's grandmother’s house were several chairs—a warm invitation to all visitors to relax and talk. If we’re going to get to know someone and to make a difference in their life—as Jesus did for Zacchaeus—we need to invite them to “come sit a spell.”

The best gift you can give to others may be your time.

Insight

For generations, the government of ancient Rome commissioned generals to conquer and colonize people of various cultures and locations. In governing these conquered people, Rome enlisted the service of the publicani, who are called publicans or tax collectors in Scripture. These publicans were often considered both traitors to their own people and collaborators with the occupying forces, and they would often tax more revenue than required in order to line their own pockets. Today’s reading bears significant meaning because it shows how even a hated publican like Zacchaeus received forgiveness and redemption through Christ. As a result of his repentance, Zacchaeus reimbursed those he had cheated four times the amount he had taken. 

Dennis Fisher

Verse from Job

“他有智慧与能力，又有谋略与聪明。”

约伯记 12:13

“"With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding.”

Job 12:13

In desperation, a woman called the housing assistance center where Tim worked. A heating problem had turned her rental home into a freezer with furniture. Panicked, she asked Tim  how she would care for her children. He hurriedly replied with the scripted official response: “Just move into a hotel and send the landlord the bill.” She angrily hung up on him. 

He knew the textbook answer to her question, but he had completely missed her heart. She wanted someone to understand her fear and desperation. She needed to know she wasn’t alone. In essence, he had left her out in the cold.

After Job had lost everything, he had friends with answers but little understanding. Zophar told him all he needed to do was live wholeheartedly for God. Then “life will be brighter than noonday,” he said (11:17). That counsel wasn’t well received, and Job responded with scathing sarcasm: “Wisdom will die with you!” (12:2). He knew the dissatisfying taste of textbook answers to real-world problems.

It’s easy to be critical of Job’s friends for their failure to see the big picture. But how often are we too quick with answers to questions we don’t truly understand? People do want answers. But more than that, they want to know we hear and understand. They want to know we care.

Father, 

help us to be a friend first before we offer advice to others. 

Thank You for the privilege of sharing our hearts with You in prayer. 

Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit so that we will never be alone.

Before people want to hear what you say, they want to know that you care.

Insight

Many scholars consider the book of Job to be the oldest biblical book, though it does not contain the oldest stories about the creation of the universe and the fall of the human race (see Genesis). It is fitting, therefore, that the oldest biblical book would deal with the most universally experienced human reality—the presence of suffering in the world.