Verse from Acts

“在异象中他看见一个人，名叫亚拿尼亚，进来为他按手，使他可以再看得见。””

使徒行传 9:12 

“In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.””

Acts 9:12 

Saul was actively punishing and harassing Christians (Acts 9:1–2) when he came face to face with Jesus on the road to Damascus (vv. 3–4). Jesus confronted the soon-to-be-called apostle Paul with his sinful actions. Blinded by the experience, Saul/Paul would need a Christian—Ananias—to restore his sight to him in an act of courage and grace (v. 17).

Saul received unexpected grace.

Most people know they’re messed up. Instead of lectures, they need a hope for redemption. Stern faces or sharp words can block their view of that hope. Like Ananias, followers of Jesus must become the face of grace in these life-changing encounters with others.

Verse from Hebrews

“又要彼此相顾，激发爱心，勉励行善。”

希伯来书 10:24 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 

Hebrews 10:24

When we are a bit more transparent, we may find people who are struggling in a similar situation. And as we enjoy a growing fellowship with God and become more aware of our own brokenness and inadequacy, God is able to use us more fully to help others.

Wearing a mask that shows everything’s fine

Says that life’s struggles are not God’s design;

But when we’re open, transparent, and true,

People will trust God to meet their needs too. —Sper

Believers stand strong when they don’t stand alone.

Verse from Daniel

“即便如此，我们所事奉的上帝能将我们从烈火的窑中救出来。王啊，他也必救我们脱离你的手；”

但以理书 3:17 

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”

Daniel 3:17 

When King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into a blazing furnace if they didn’t turn away from the true God to worship his golden statue (Dan. 3:13–15), these three men displayed courageous and confident faith. They never doubted the Lord was worthy of their worship (v. 17), “even if” He didn’t rescue them from their current predicament (v. 18). And God didn’t leave them alone in their time of need; He joined and protected them in the furnace (vv. 24–25).

God doesn’t leave us alone either. He remains with us through trials that can feel as destructive as Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace. Even if our suffering doesn’t end on this side of eternity, God is and always will be mighty, trustworthy, and good. We can rely on His constant and loving presence.

Lord, 

thank You for being with us, no matter what we’re going through.

Faith relies on our Almighty God’s unchanging character, not on our circumstances.

Verse from 1 John

“不是我们爱上帝，乃是上帝爱我们，差他的儿子为我们的罪作了挽回祭，这就是爱了。”

约翰一书 4:10 

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

1 John 4:10 

Do you believe God loves you? Or does the thought seem childish and self-centered?

John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23), heard his Teacher say that only those who become like a little child would enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:2–4). 

John took those words personally, but didn’t apply them just to himself. He wrote about the Father who loves all of us (John 3:16; 1 John 4:14–16). With great maturity and childlike certainty he reminds us that believing God is love and loves us personally is what gives us reason to love Him and one another.

verse from Luke

“主—以色列的上帝是应当称颂的！因他眷顾他的百姓，为他们施行救赎，”

路加福音 1:68 

“"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,”

Luke 1:68 

One of the great themes of Luke’s gospel record is that it continually affirms that the message of Jesus’s death and resurrection is for everyone—not just for Israel. Today’s devotional declares that Christ’s coming would “cause great joy for all the people” (2:10). This important message continues later in this chapter when Simeon says that salvation is prepared in the “sight of all nations” and that Israel’s Messiah is both “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (vv. 30–32). 

At the conclusion of Luke’s account, the risen Christ tells the two disciples on the Emmaus road that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (24:47). This message was not intended for Israel alone, nor are we to keep it to ourselves. The entire world is the object of God’s love.

Verse from Ephesians

“我们原是神所作成的，是在基督耶稣里创造的，为的是要我们行各样的善事，就是神预先所安排的。”

以弗所书 2:10 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 

Did you know that God is an artisan? Even more importantly, did you know that you are one of His masterpieces? God has designed us to be beautifully useful for doing good things! 

So let's not let anyone, especially not the evil one, convince us that we are not worth anything to others or to God. His grace has made our lives canvases upon which He will provide the world more masterpiece works of His artistry.

You are beautiful, 

You are precious, and

You are unique.

Verse from Psalms

“神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时都可得到的帮助。”

诗篇 46:1 

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

Psalms 46:1 

In Psalm 46, the psalmist uses exaggeration to express his trust in the safety God provides. He tells of feeling safe in circumstances where safety is unimaginable. 

When the very ground under our feet is uncertain, the psalmist expresses confidence in the protection of the Lord. He isn’t saying, “Do not fear” because our circumstances are not fear-worthy, but because our God is bigger than our troubles. 

In uncertain times, He is stable. The mountains crumbling into the sea is a graphic image of the most stable land feature giving way. In what circumstances do you need to remember that God is constant and unchanging? How can you express your trust in Him as your refuge?

Our greatest hope comes from trusting God.