“So let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” — Romans 13:12
I was so excited when I first put on my new glasses, but after a few hours I wanted to throw them away. My eyes were watering and my head was throbbing. The ears hurt from the uncomfortable frame. The next day I groaned when I remembered that I had to wear them. I had to decide several times a day whether to use glasses, so that my body would adapt to them. This process lasted several weeks, but after that I hardly noticed that I was wearing them.
Wearing something new takes some getting used to, but over time we get used to it and feel better. We can even see things we have not seen before. In the Epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul instructed the followers of Christ: “Let us put on the armor of light” (Rom. 13:12). They had already believed in Jesus, but they seemed to have fallen into a “slumber” and calmed down. Instead, they had to “wake up” and start acting, behave decently and reject any sin (vv. 11-12). Paul encouraged them to put on Jesus and be like him in thought and deed (v. 14).
We do not begin to reflect the loving, gentle, kind, grace-filled and faithful ways of Jesus overnight. It is a long process of daily choosing to “put on the armor of light”, even if we don’t want to, because it’s inconvenient. However, over time, God changes us for the better.
What does “clothing” look like in Jesus? How does Christ-likeness become more comfortable over time?
Lord Jesus, thank you for changing me every day.
Author: Karen Pimpo
“The city rejoices in the goodness of the righteous.” — Proverbs 11:10
In 2022, France and Argentina met in the final of the World Cup. It was an incredible match. In the last seconds of extra time, the score was tied at 3:3, and the football teams were forced to shoot post-match penalties. After Argentina scored the winning goal, the country erupted in celebration. More than a million Argentines filled the center of Buenos Aires. Drone footage of the tumultuous scene surfaced on social media. In one of the reports of the BBC, it is described how the city trembled with an “explosion of joy”.
Joy is always a wonderful gift. The Book of Proverbs describes how the city can experience even deeper and longer joy: “The city rejoices in the goodness of the righteous” (Prov. 11:10). When those who truly live according to God’s design for humanity begin to influence society, it is good news because it means that God’s justice is gaining strength. Greed decreases. The poor find support. The oppressed are protected. When God’s right way of life flourishes, then joy and “blessing” reign in the city (v. 11).
If we really walk in God’s ways, the result will be good news for everyone. The way we live will make the society around us better and more whole. God invites us to join His work of healing the world. He invites us to bring joy to the city.
Where do you see the need for joy in your city? How can you bring God’s joy there?
Dear God, help me to join You in bringing joy to others.
Author: Wynn Collier
“Thank the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever!” — Psalm 106:1
According to research, people who are consciously grateful for what they have have better sleep, fewer symptoms of illness and a greater sense of happiness. These are impressive benefits. Psychologists even suggest keeping a “gratitude journal” to improve our well-being, writing down five things for which we are grateful each week.
The Holy Scriptures have long encouraged people to show gratitude. The Bible calls us: everything, from food and marriage (1 Tim. 4:3-5) to the beauty of creation (Ps. 103), to accept as gifts and thank the Giver for them. Psalm 106 lists five things for which Israel can be especially thankful: deliverance from the wilderness (vv. 4-9), freedom from captivity (vv. 10-16), healing from sickness (vv. 18-22), safety at sea (vv. 23-32), and prosperity in a barren land (vv. 33-42). “Let them give thanks to the Lord,” the psalm repeats, because all these are signs of God’s mercy (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31).
Do you have a notebook at hand? Why not write down five good things you are grateful for right now? It could be the food you just enjoyed, your marriage, or God’s salvation in your life today. Give thanks for the birds singing outside the window, for the aroma from the kitchen, for the comfort of your chair, for the whispers of loved ones. All this is a gift and a sign of God’s mercy.
Why do you think the Scriptures so often exhort us to be thankful? What five good things are you grateful for today?
Heavenly Father, I am grateful for every good thing you have brought into my life. But most of all I am grateful for You.
Author: Sheridan Voysey
“Put on the new man, created according to God.” — Ephesians 4:24
Our blue spruce was dropping cones and needles. A specialist in tree diseases looked at her and explained what the problem was: “It’s just a spruce.” I was hoping for a better explanation or medicine. But the forester shrugged his shoulders and repeated: “It’s just a spruce.” By its very nature, a tree sheds its needles, and this cannot be changed.
Fortunately, our spiritual life is not limited to fixed actions or attitudes. The apostle Paul emphasized this liberating truth to the new converts in Ephesus. Gentiles were “dizzy in mind”, closed to God. They were hard-hearted, committed “all kinds of wickedness”, sought only pleasure and were greedy (Eph. 4:18-19).
However, since the believers came to know Jesus, the apostle called to “reject… the old man who fades away” (v. 22). Paul said that our old nature “melts away in seductive lusts.” Therefore, he encourages “to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, created according to God in justice and holiness of truth” (vv. 22-24).
He then listed ways to live in a new way. Don’t cheat. Do not give in to anger. Do not curse. Do not steal. “It is better for him to work and do good with his hands, so that he may give to the needy” (v. 28). Our new nature in Christ enables us to live up to our calling.
What does it mean to “put on a new man”? How to strive to follow the path of the Savior?
Dear Jesus, renew my nature. I aspire to be like You.
Author: Patricia Raybon
“And he put eternity in their hearts.” — Ecclesiastes 3:11
Monica hesitated. She had friends who believed in Jesus, and she respected the way they dealt with life’s challenges. She was even a little jealous of them. However, Monica believed that she could not live like them, because she thought that faith in Christ consisted in following the rules. In the end, a fellow student helped her understand that God does not want to ruin her life, on the contrary – He wants the best for her, despite her ups and downs. Realizing this, Monica was ready to trust Jesus as her Savior and accepted the wonderful truth about God’s love for her.
King Solomon expresses similar thoughts in the book of Ecclesiastes. He recognized that in this world there are sorrows and “for everything there is a time” (Eccl. 3:1). “A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to sob and a time to dance” (v. 4). However, there is something more. God “put eternity in [people’s] hearts” (v. 11). Eternity means living in His presence.
Trusting in Jesus Christ, Monica received life, and received it “in abundance” (Jn. 10:10). At the same time, she received much more! Thanks to faith, “eternity” in her heart (Eccl. 3:11) became the promise of a future without any suffering in life (Isa. 65:17), a future in the glorious presence of God.
How have you experienced the fullness of life that Jesus offers? What are you thankful for in your life with Him?
Dear Jesus, Solomon was right. Life is changeable. Thank you for making this life worthwhile and worthwhile. And thank you for the eternal joys that lie ahead.
Author: David Brenon
“I will be in trouble with him.” — Psalm 90:15
The sound of the drill scared the five-year-old Sarah. She jumped out of the dental chair and refused to go back. Then the dentist said to her father: “Please sit in the chair.” Jason thought he wanted to show his daughter how easy it was. But then the doctor turned to the girl and said: “Now sit on daddy’s lap.” When her father held her close, Sarah completely relaxed and the dentist was able to continue working.
Jason learned a wonderful lesson that day about the comforting presence of Heavenly Father. “Sometimes God chooses not to take on Himself what we have to go through,” said Jason. “But the Lord showed me, ‘I will be with you.'”
Psalm 90 speaks of God’s comforting presence and strength to help us overcome our trials. The realization that we can rest in His strong arms gives us great confidence, as does God’s promise to those who love Him: “If he calls to Me, I will answer him, I will be with him in adversity” (v. 15).
There are many inevitable challenges and trials in life, and we have to go through pain and suffering. However, in God’s comforting arms, we can endure our crises and life circumstances and allow Him to strengthen our faith through it.
What trials are you going through now? How to remind ourselves that God is always with us?
Merciful Father, thank you for your comforting presence in my circumstances. Please help me get through them, knowing that You are always with me.
Author: Leslie Koh
“The gatekeeper opens to him, and the sheep listen to his voice.” — John 10:3
Baby Graham fussed and whimpered on his mother’s lap as doctors fitted him with his first hearing aid. Graham stopped crying moments after the doctor turned on the device. His eyes widened and he smiled as he heard his mother’s voice soothing him, encouraging him and calling his name.
Baby Graham could hear his mother talking to him, but he needed help learning to recognize her voice and understand the meaning of her words. The Lord Jesus invites people to such a learning process. Having accepted Christ as our Savior, we become sheep whom He knows well and whom He directs personally (Jn. 10:3). We can grow in trust and obedience to Him by listening to His voice (v. 4).
In the Old Testament, God spoke through prophets. In the New Testament, Jesus, God incarnate, spoke directly to people. Christians today have access to the power of the Holy Spirit, who helps us understand and obey God’s words, which He inspired and preserved in the Bible. We can communicate directly with Jesus through our prayers, and He speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures and through His people. When we learn to recognize God’s voice, which always corresponds to His words in the Bible, then we will be able to shout with grateful praise: “I hear You, God!”
How has God revealed Himself to you through the Scriptures this week? How to announce His wisdom to those who need comfort and encouragement today?
I hear You, God! Please help me to receive and share the truth and love that You reveal to me when I read the Bible.
Author: Sosheel Dixon
“He will come down like rain, like drops that water the earth.” — Psalm 71:6
In July 2022, the Prime Minister of Great Britain was forced out of office after what many believed to be a breach of integrity (the newly appointed Prime Minister also resigned after just a few months!). This event was caused by the fact that the Minister of Health, having taken part in the annual prayer breakfast in Parliament, felt an inner conviction of the need to maintain integrity in public life and resigned. When other ministers also submitted their resignations, the prime minister realized that he too had to leave. It was a significant event, the beginning of which was laid at a prayer meeting.
Christians are called to pray for their political leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-2), and Psalm 71 is a good guide for this, being both a description of the ruler’s job and a prayer to help him do that job. The psalm describes an ideal leader (vv. 1-2) who protects the vulnerable (vv. 4), serves the needy (vv. 12-13), and opposes violence (v. 14). The time of such a leader in office is so refreshing that it seems as if it is the rains that “irrigate the earth” and bring it prosperity (vv. 3, 7, 16). Although only the Messiah can fulfill this role perfectly (v. 11).
The health of a country depends on the integrity of its rulers. Let’s look for the “leaders of Psalm 71” for our peoples and, praying for them, let’s help them to embody in life those traits that are spoken about in the psalm.
What traits do you want to see in a leader? How often do you pray for local and national leaders?
Heavenly Father, please help our leaders to be fair, honest and good people.
Author: Sheridan Voysey
“Let us not abandon our congregation, as is the custom of some, but let us be encouraged.” — Hebrews 10:25
When I was in emotional and spiritual pain for a long time due to difficult life circumstances, it was easy for me to leave the church. Sometimes I really thought: “Why all this?” But I felt that I should continue to attend church every Sunday.
Although the circumstances remained the same for many years, worship and fellowship with other believers at worship services, prayer meetings, and small Bible study groups gave me the support I needed to persevere and not lose hope. Often, I received not only verbal encouragement, but also the comfort, listening, and hugs I needed from others.
In the Epistle to the Hebrews it is said: “Let us not forsake our congregation, as is the custom of some, but let us be encouraged, and all the more so as you see that day approaching” (Heb. 10:25). The author knew that in the case of life’s difficulties, we will need encouragement from others, just as others will need it from us. Therefore, the author reminded the readers of the need to keep “an unshakable confession of hope” and to encourage one another “to love and to good deeds” (vv. 23-24). And this is an essential component of encouragement. That is why God encourages us to continue meeting together. Someone needs your loving support, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you get in return.
When did you feel inspired after the service? For what reason? Who needs your support and encouragement?
Loving God, help me not to miss joint meetings with other believers, but to be filled with Your peace and love all together.
Author: Alison Kieda | See other authors
“He is not here, because he has risen, as he said. Come, look at the place where he was.” — Matthew 28:6
Before entering Cambridge University, Charles Simeon loved horses and clothes, spending huge sums of money each year on his outfit. However, as his studies required him to attend religious services regularly, he began to investigate what he believed. After reading books written by believers in Jesus Christ, he experienced an amazing conversion on Easter Sunday. Waking up early in the morning on April 4, 1779, he exclaimed: “Jesus Christ is risen! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” Growing in faith in God, he devoted himself to Bible study, prayer, and attending chapel services.
On the first Easter, the lives of two women who came to the tomb of Jesus changed. They witnessed a great earthquake when the angel rolled away the stone. He told them: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for the crucified Jesus. He is not here, because he has risen, as he said” (Mt. 28:5-6). Filled with joy, the women bowed to Jesus and ran back to tell their friends the good news.
The meeting with the resurrected Christ was not intended only for ancient times. He promises to meet us here and now. We can experience an extraordinary encounter, like the women at the tomb or like Charles Simeon. In whatever way Jesus reveals Himself to us, we can trust that He loves us.
How has God revealed Himself to you? How has your life changed since meeting Him?
Risen Jesus, thank You for coming and dying on the cross so that I may have eternal life. I worship You!
Author: Amy Buescher
