LHM Daily Devotion - "Satan's Scripture"

 January 14, 2017

(Jesus said) "And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."  - Mark 16:17-18

In his play, The Merchant of Venice , Shakespeare wrote:

"The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villain with a smiling cheek, a goodly apple rotten at the heart. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!"

Shakespeare was merely underlining a fact that was shown at Jesus' wilderness temptation: the devil knows Scripture and is willing to quote it and bend it to his purpose. It was a technique he has used in the past and which he still employs today.

Case in point: 24-year-old Sandra Summaya of Uganda. This past Christmas Day she publicly confessed her faith in the Savior. But that was not all she did on that festival occasion. She told the newspapers: "I later shared my testimony with my brother, who outrightly accused me of being an infidel and an outcast from the family and the Muslim community."

Summaya confessed: "I felt great pain inside me because of the insults."

The following Sunday, Summaya's family gathered together to celebrate the New Year with a meal. At the high point of the gathering, one of Summaya's uncles read a Bible verse, the verse at the head of this devotion, and suggested it meant God would protect her from harm, including illness from ingesting poison.

The uncle asked, "Do you believe that Issa (Jesus) is able to protect you from poison as written in the Bible?" Summaya answered, "Yes." With that confession, the family forced her to ingest rat poison to confirm her faith in Scripture.

In a few moments, Summaya became ill and asked to be taken to a doctor. Instead of helping her, the family took her outside the home, tied her with ropes to a tree, and left her to die. Eventually, her cries were heard by a Christian who rescued her and took her for emergency attention.

Summaya is expected to live.

My friends, it is important for us to realize that the devil is constantly taking Scripture, ripping it out of context, subverting God's Words, and turning them to his own purpose. In some cases -- like the one reported above -- he is blatant and bold. In the Western world, he is more subtle as He twists God's Words to say something completely contrary to what the Lord has intended.

By God's grace, may we know and cling to the true Word and help those who are confused by Satan's lies to see the truth and love of God, which is begun and finished in the Savior, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, bless and protect new Christians like Sandra Summaya. Send Your angels to preserve the faith and lives of those who are being persecuted. At the same time, I ask You will keep all believers strong in the faith and safe from the lies of Satan. This I ask in my Savior's Name. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

Our Daily Bread - Growing in the Wind

By Mart DeHaan

Read: Mark 4:36–41 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 33–35; Matthew 10:1–20

Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him! Mark 4:41

Imagine a world without wind. Lakes would be calm. Falling leaves wouldn’t blow in the streets. But in still air, who would expect trees to suddenly fall over? That’s what happened in a three-acre glass dome built in the Arizona desert. Trees growing inside a huge windless bubble called Biosphere 2 grew faster than normal until suddenly collapsing under their own weight. Project researchers eventually came up with an explanation. These trees needed wind stress to grow strong.

Jesus let His disciples experience gale-force winds to strengthen their faith ( Mark 4:36–41). During a night crossing of familiar waters, a sudden storm proved too much even for these seasoned fishermen. Wind and waves were swamping their boat while an exhausted Jesus slept in the stern. In a panic they woke Him. Didn’t it bother their Teacher that they were about to die? What was He thinking? Then they began to find out. Jesus told the wind and waves to be quiet—and asked His friends why they still had no faith in Him.

If the wind had not blown, these disciples would never have asked, “Who is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41).

Today, life in a protective bubble might sound good. But how strong would our faith be if we couldn’t discover for ourselves His reassuring “be still” when the winds of circumstance howl?

Father in heaven, please help us to remember that anything that frightens us comes with an invitation to find the strength of knowing and trusting You.

God never sleeps.

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Nuestro Pan Diario - Crecer en el viento

Por Mart De Haan

Leer: Marcos 4:36-41 | La Biblia en un año: Mateo 10:1-20

… ¿Quién es éste, que aun el viento y el mar le obedecen? (Marcos 4:41).

Imagina un mundo sin viento. Lagos calmos; hojas caídas que no vuelan. ¿Esperaría alguien que un árbol cayera de repente? Sin embargo, esto fue lo que sucedió en un gran domo de vidrio construido en un desierto. Los árboles dentro de esa burbuja sin viento, llamada Bioesfera 2, crecían más rápido de lo normal, hasta que, repentinamente, colapsaban por su propio peso. Los investigadores explicaron la razón: esos árboles necesitaban la presión del viento para crecer fuertes.

Jesús permitió que sus discípulos enfrentaran vientos fuertes para que su fe se fortaleciera (Marcos 4:36-41). Mientras cruzaban aguas conocidas, una tormenta repentina fue demasiado aun para estos pescadores experimentados. El viento y las olas agitaban la barca, mientras Jesús, exhausto, dormía en la popa. Aterrorizados, lo despertaron. ¿No le importaba a su Maestro que murieran? Entonces, Jesús ordenó al viento y las olas que se aquietaran, y les preguntó a sus amigos por qué aún no tenían fe en Él.

Si el viento no hubiese soplado, jamás habrían preguntado: «¿Quién es éste, que aun el viento y el mar le obedecen?» (Marcos 4:41).

Vivir en una burbuja puede parecer bueno, pero ¿sería firme nuestra fe si no aprendiéramos a superar circunstancias tormentosas?

Señor, ayúdame a recordar tu propósito en las dificultades.

Dios no duerme nunca.

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Vom Winde verweht?

Von Mart DeHaan

Lesen: Markus 4,36-41 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 1.Mose 33–35; Matthäus 10,1-20

Wer ist der? Auch Wind und Meer sind ihm gehorsam! Markus 4,41

Was wäre, wenn es keinen Wind gäbe? Die See wäre ruhig und in den Straßen würden keine Blätter herumwirbeln. Wer würde erwarten, dass bei völliger Windstille ein Baum umfällt? Genau das aber passierte unter einer riesigen Glaskuppel in der Wüste von Arizona. Die Bäume in Biosphäre 2, einem in sich geschlossenen Ökosystem, wuchsen zwar schneller als normal, aber dann brachen sie unter ihrem eigenen Gewicht zusammen. Als Ursache fanden Forscher heraus, dass Bäume Wind brauchen, um stark zu werden.

Jesus ließ seine Jünger einen heftigen Sturm erleben, um ihren Glauben zu stärken (Markus 4,36-41). Während einer nächtlichen Überfahrt über den vertrauten See kam plötzlich ein Wind auf, wie ihn selbst die erfahrenen Fischer noch nicht erlebt hatten. Wind und Wellen schlugen über das Boot, und Jesus schlief. Voller Panik rüttelten sie ihn wach. War es ihm egal, ob sie umkamen? Was dachte er denn? Sie erfuhren es bald. Jesus befahl Wind und Wellen, still zu sein—und fragte sie, wieso sie ihm noch immer nicht glaubten.

Hätte der Wind nicht geblasen, hätten sie nie gefragt: „Wer ist der? Auch Wind und Meer sind ihm gehorsam!“ (Markus 4,41).

Ein Leben in einem geschützten Raum mag uns verlockend erscheinen. Aber wie stark wäre unser Glaube, wenn wir nicht selbst Gottes „Schweig“ erleben würden, wenn die Winde um uns toben?

Himmlischer Vater, bitte erinnere uns immer wieder daran, dass Dinge, die uns Angst machen, jedes mal auch eine Einladung sind, dir zu vertrauen.

Gott schläft nie.

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Хлеб наш насущный - Рост на ветру

автор: Мартин де Гаан

Читать сейчас: Марка 4:36-41 | Библия за год: Бытие 33-35; Матфея 10:1-20

Кто же Сей, что и ветер, и море повинуются Ему? — Марка 4:41

Представьте себе мир без ветра. На поверхности озер не будет ряби. Опадающие листья не будут носиться по улицам. В таком безветрии кто будет ожидать, что деревья начнут падать? Но именно это произошло в оранжерее в Аризонской пустыне. Деревья, посаженные в огромном стеклянном пузыре, названном «Биосфера 2», росли быстрее обычного, пока вдруг не стали валиться под собственным весом. Вскоре появилось и объяснение: деревьям был необходим ветер, чтобы развить прочный ствол.

Иисус допустил Своим ученикам пережить бурный ветер, чтобы укрепить их веру (Мк. 4:36-41). Во время ночного плавания по знакомым водам на них внезапно обрушился шторм, приведя в ужас бывалых рыбаков. Волны захлестывали лодку, а утомленный Иисус спал на корме. В панике они разбудили Его. «Разве их Учителя не беспокоит, что они почти утонули? О чем Он думает?» А затем случилось чудо. Иисус приказал ветру и волнам утихнуть, после чего обратился к ученикам с вопросом, почему они до сих пор не верят в Него.

Если бы ветер не поднялся в ту ночь, ученики не спросили бы: «Кто же Сей, что и ветер, и море повинуются Ему?» (Мк. 4:41).

Сегодня жизнь под защитным колпаком может казаться привлекательной. Но насколько твердой будет наша вера, если мы не откроем для себя Его силу, когда ветры обстоятельств умолкнут?

Отче Небесный, помоги нам помнить, что все, что нас пугает, позволяет нам обрести силу знания Тебя и упования на Тебя.

В дополнение к рассуждению, посмотрите видеоролик: «Я – Бог». 

Бог никогда не спит.

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

Notre Pain Quotidien - Grandir sous le vent

par Mart DeHaan

Lisez : Marc 4.36‑41 | La Bible en un an : Genèse 33 – 35 et Matthieu 10.1-20

Quel est donc celui‑ci, à qui obéissent même le vent et la mer ? (Marc 4.41)

Imaginez un monde sans vent. Les lacs seraient calmes et les feuilles mortes n’envahiraient pas les rues. Reste que, dans ce cas, qui s’attendrait à ce que des arbres tombent soudain ? Or, c’est précisément ce qui est arrivé dans un dôme forestier de verre bâti dans le désert de l’Arizona. Des arbres grandissant dans une énorme bulle sans vent, la Biosphère 2, poussaient plus vite que la normale avant de s’écrouler subitement sous leur propre poids. Les chercheurs de ce projet ont fini par en trouver l’explication. Ces arbres avaient besoin de subir le stress des vents pour se fortifier.

Jésus a permis à ses disciples de faire l’expérience de bourrasques pour affermir leur foi (MC 4.36‑41). Pendant la traversée tardive d’un lac qui leur était familier, une tempête s’est soudain levée, trop forte même pour ces pêcheurs aguerris. Vents et vagues s’engouffraient dans leur barque tandis que Jésus, épuisé, dormait paisiblement. Paniqués, ils l’ont réveillé. Cela ne dérangeait‑il pas leur Maître qu’ils risquent la mort ? À quoi pensait‑il donc ? Puis ils ont commencé à découvrir le fin mot de l’histoire. Jésus a ordonné au vent et aux vagues de se calmer, pour ensuite demander à ses amis pourquoi ils n’avaient toujours pas confiance en lui.

Si le vent ne s’était pas levé, ils ne lui auraient jamais demandé : « Quel est donc celui‑ci, à qui obéissent même le vent et la mer ? » (MC 4.41.)

Il se peut que la vie dans une bulle protectrice nous semble avantageuse, mais combien notre foi grandirait‑elle dans pareil contexte ?

Dieu ne sommeille jamais.

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

The Daily Readings for FRIDAY, January 13, 2017

First Reading

Isaiah 42:1-17
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth! Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants. Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the tops of the mountains. Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare his praise in the coastlands. The LORD goes forth like a soldier, like a warrior he stirs up his fury; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes. For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant. I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbage; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them. They shall be turned back and utterly put to shame-- those who trust in carved images, who say to cast images, "You are our gods."

Second Reading

Ephesians 3:1-13
This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.

The Holy Gospel

Mark 2:13-22
Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples-- for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. "No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."

Morning Psalms

Psalm 16 Conserva me, Domine
1   Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; I have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, my good above all other."
2   All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, upon those who are noble among the people.
3   But those who run after other gods shall have their troubles multiplied.
4   Their libations of blood I will not offer, nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
5   O LORD, you are my portion and my cup; it is you who uphold my lot.
6   My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7   I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after night.
8   I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9   My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also shall rest in hope.
10   For you will not abandon me to the grave, nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11   You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 17 Exaudi, Domine
1   Hear my plea of innocence, O LORD; give heed to my cry; listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.
2   Let my vindication come forth from your presence; let your eyes be fixed on justice.
3   Weigh my heart, summon me by night, melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.
4   I give no offense with my mouth as others do; I have heeded the words of your lips.
5   My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; in your paths my feet shall not stumble.
6   I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; incline your ear to me and hear my words.
7   Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand from those who rise up against them.
8   Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9   From the wicked who assault me, from my deadly enemies who surround me.
10   They have closed their heart to pity, and their mouth speaks proud things.
11   They press me hard, now they surround me, watching how they may cast me to the ground,
12   Like a lion, greedy for its prey, and like a young lion lurking in secret places.
13   Arise, O LORD; confront them and bring them down; deliver me from the wicked by your sword.
14   Deliver me, O LORD, by your hand from those whose portion in life is this world;
15   Whose bellies you fill with your treasure, who are well supplied with children and leave their wealth to their little ones.
16   But at my vindication I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 22 Deus, Deus meu
1   My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?
2   O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; by night as well, but I find no rest.
3   Yet you are the Holy One, enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4   Our forefathers put their trust in you; they trusted, and you delivered them.
5   They cried out to you and were delivered; they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
6   But as for me, I am a worm and no man, scorned by all and despised by the people.
7   All who see me laugh me to scorn; they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
8   He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, if he delights in him.
9   Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.
10   I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb.
11   Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
12   Many young bulls encircle me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
13   They open wide their jaws at me, like a ravening and a roaring lion.
14   I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; my heart within my breast is melting wax.
15   My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
16   Packs of dogs close me in, and gangs of evildoers circle around me; they pierce my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones.
17   They stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.
18   Be not far away, O LORD; you are my strength; hasten to help me.
19   Save me from the sword, my life from the power of the dog.
20   Save me from the lion's mouth, my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
21   I will declare your Name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
22   Praise the LORD, you that fear him; stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel; all you of Jacob's line, give glory.
23   For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither does he hide his face from them; but when they cry to him he hears them.
24   My praise is of him in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.
25   The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: "May your heart live for ever!"
26   All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations bow before him.
27   For kingship belongs to the LORD; he rules over the nations.
28   To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; all who go down to the dust fall before him.
29   My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; they shall be known as the LORD'S for ever.
30   They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn the saving deeds that he has done.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

Verse of the Day - January 13, 2017

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NIV) that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 5

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - Designed and Built by God

For he [Abraham]was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10, NIV)

Think for a moment about cities you've visited. Certain cities have unique qualities, don't they? For example, Jerusalem, a city with so much biblical history, is a beautiful place at sunset. There's a golden hue to it. Cities also have certain restaurants, stores, activities, and entertainment that are exclusive to them.

Heaven, too, is a city, and it is unique. The Bible tells us that it's a city "with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Hebrews 11:10).

A while ago a church was working on a new building. They had an architect, and they looked at the plans and walked through the building. Then they submitted the plans to the city, and the city sent them back with revisions. They sent them back again, and eventually they were approved. Then the builders came in and followed the plans the architect had laid down.

The Bible says that heaven is a city and that God is the architect and builder. So when I think of heaven, I think of a real city. I don't know why some people imagine heaven as a cloud where we sit and pluck away at harps. That description isn't in the Bible. But is it possible that we could have things in heaven that earthly cities do? My answer is, why not? Maybe we will. Maybe we won't. But I do know this much: whatever heaven will be like, it will be great.

C. S. Lewis described earth as the shadowlands, because earth is a shadow of the real thing. Earth is a pale version of heaven, not the other way around. Heaven is the original. Earth is the copy.

Compared to whatever city you may have visited or lived in, even if it was the best city imaginable, heaven will be far better.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny

Un Dia a la Vez - Recibe lo mejor de Dios

El que atiende a la palabra, prospera. ¡Dichoso el que confía en el Señor! Proverbios 16:20

No comiences tu año pensando que eres un fracasado, que ya no hay nada que hacer. Siempre hay lago que hacer. Siempre Dios no da la oportunidad de levantarnos, cambiar y apoderarnos de las promesas que nos dejó Él. ¿Por qué no crees en ellas? ¿En serio piensas que esos beneficios son solo para algunos?

No es bueno que tengas problemas. Aun así, que no todo en la vida te haya salido como esperabas no quiere decir que no levantarás cabeza nunca más.

Antes debes creer en ti mismo y, con esa mentalidad, levantarte cada día a conquistar todo lo que esté a tu alcance.

No te rindas, ánimo, que aún no ha llegado lo mejor.

Recibe lo mejor de Dios en este día. Cambia tu actitud y verás cómo empiezan a suceder las cosas. Además, de un cielo gris pasas a un hermoso cielo azul, con algunas nubes quizá, pero bonito.

Men of the Bible - Noah

His name means: "To Rest"

His work: We don't know what Noah did for a living before he heard from God, but following that encounter, he became an accomplished carpenter.
His character: Noah was a righteous man, obedient and faithful.
His sorrow: In spite of his admonitions and warnings, Noah was unable to convince his neighbors, friends, and extended family to repent. As a result, they were all drowned in the flood.
His triumph: Noah's obedience saved not only his life but the lives of his wife and children.
Key Scriptures: Genesis 6-7 

A Look at the Man

Once in a while a man comes along who's not afraid to obey.

We cannot imagine what it must have been like to be Noah. He lived in a culture that was corrupted by immorality and violence. According to the story, the earth was literally "full" of it.

So reprehensible were people's lives that God regretted having created these divine image-bearers. So much so that he decided to remove every living thing from the face of the earth, like a man clearing a table with the back of his hand. Can you imagine?

But on his way to starting all over again, the Lord looked at Noah. His life was so exemplary that in the middle of all this debauchery, he found favor in God's eyes. This man, Noah, was righteous and blameless among the people of his time. Because of his faithfulness, he was the one man whom the Lord chose not to destroy.

We don't have to look very far to find a lesson in this man's life. Like Noah's culture, the one that surrounds us is drowning in immorality, corruption, and violence. And like Noah, we can choose to quietly capitulate or to stand against it. Once we decide to stand firm—to live in obedience to God—the tricky part comes with trying to understand how. What does submission to him look like? And what should we expect as the result of this obedience?

Tucked away in this story is the secret to Noah's success. Noah walked with God. For Noah, surrender was not a single decision or noteworthy event; it was a process. A routine. A journey. A walk. Obedience was the natural result of this methodical approach. Walking with God meant knowing him. Knowing God meant loving him. Loving meant hearing. Hearing, obeying.

And obeying God meant salvation.

We can imagine that decades of subtle and overt ridicule may have led Noah to question God. There had to have been moments of loneliness and genuine doubt. But taking one step at a time along the path God had laid out for him kept Noah on track.

Noah's obedience led to the preservation of not only his own life, but of the lives of his wife and children. Once the project was complete and everyone around him had rejected the notion that God would actually destroy the earth with a catastrophic flood, Noah and his whole family entered the safety of the ark. Then the Lord shut him in. Noah's obedience not only led to the preservation of his own life but the lives of his wife and children.

In fact, Noah's faithfulness—in the form of a great ark—became one of the early church's symbols for refuge. The interiors of many great cathedrals were built to resemble the inside of a boat—a shelter in the time of storm, a reminder of an obedient man who went before us and was saved.

Reflect On: Genesis 8
Praise God: For using his followers to accomplish his purposes.
Offer Thanks: For God’s mercy toward the human race.
Confess: Any tendency to care more about what the world thinks of you than about what God thinks.
Ask God: To show you what it means, not just to obey a set of laws, but to stay close to him throughout your life—to walk with him.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - NO FEAR WHEN THE HEAT COMES

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 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…” Jeremiah 17:7-8a

Trees were not plentiful in Israel and most grew by sources of water like an oasis or a stream. Jeremiah’s simile indicates a person with confidence in the Lord is like a deep-rooted tree by the stream (see Psalm 1 also) that is not afraid of heat.

Samuel Lamb is a well-known house church pastor in southern China in the city of Guangzhou. He spent time in prison for his faith as a young pastor on two occasions totalling almost twenty years. He was forced to work in a coal mine where the work was hard and dangerous. He is convinced that God’s protection is the only reason he survived.

Upon his release after the second imprisonment, he returned home to find out that his dear wife had just passed away. Now in his seventies, he threw himself fully into the ministry again opening an unregistered house church on the second and third storey of his home while the local police utilized the ground floor for their office. His congregation grew rapidly. He could pack in two hundred sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the third floor where he preached and another two hundred listening via a speaker system on the second floor. Soon he had to have five services a week to get everyone in. Each person had to walk past the police post to climb the stairs to his meeting.

He soon became the best-known unregistered house church pastor in China. United States President Ronald Regan sent him a monographed pen set. Billy and Ruth Graham visited the location with many photos taken.

Because of his refusal to register with the government Three Self Patriotic Movement Church, the authorities were constantly irritated. Unhappy with his boldness and the growth of his church, they harassed him repeatedly and often threatened to return him to prison. Each time this threat occurred, Samuel Lamb would hold up two fingers and say, “I’ve been to prison twice already. My bag is packed and I’m ready to go again!” Intimidation would not work against him as he had no fear and his trust was completely in the Lord. And each time the authorities would leave to consider what other tactics they could use against him.

Pastor Lamb continues his unofficial, growing church ministry to this day. As an elderly pastor, he does not fear when the “heat” comes.

RESPONSE: Today I will trust completely in the Lord and rely on His wisdom when pressures arise.

PRAYER: Pray other pastors in China will have the fearlessness and church growth of Samuel Lamb.

Our Global Lead - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 4

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Psalm 79:1-7.

God cannot be limited by tribalism or nationalism. He is Lord of the whole world and all its people, and He rules with love, power, justice, and sovereignty.

The Book of Psalms reflects this international scope of God’s activity and involvement with the world. One of the book’s primary themes is His rule over creation (Ps. 8:1; 19:1–6; 24:1, 2). A related theme shows His heart reaching beyond Israel to other tribes and nations (96:1–10; 100:1; 105:1). Sometimes God judges the nations (2:1–9), especially for their mistreatment of His people (79:1–7; 124:1–8), but His wrath results from His justice and righteousness. He demonstrates the same character toward the Israelites when they turn from Him and engage in habitual sin (50:4–23; 78:21, 22).

During the centuries following the Jews’ return from captivity in Babylon, God’s people suffered an increasing spirit of separation that interpreted the world in terms of “us against them.” By the time of Jesus, this national isolation and antagonism toward outsiders had become entrenched in the Israelites’ cultural identity. It took the power of the Holy Spirit to break this barrier so that the gospel could spread throughout the world.

The psalms display wonderful humility about the fact that the Israelites are not the only people God loves. Every nation is invited to worship and serve Him. The Book of Psalms anticipates both the global message of Jesus (John 3:16, 17) and His final rule over all the peoples of the earth (Rev. 5:9–14).