God's Glory Church

The film “Ben-Hur”, released in 2016, failed miserably at the box office

But the 1959 blockbuster was a huge success. The book it was based on is also incredibly exciting. This is Lewis Wallace’s novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, written in 1880 after a chance meeting on a train.

Wallace’s interlocutor was Robert Ingersoll, a famous orator and atheist. The conversation turned to faith. Ingersoll’s arguments against the existence of God made a strong impression on the writer. Wallace realized that he had never really delved deeply into spiritual matters. He decided not to rush to agree with Ingersoll, but to learn as much as possible about Christianity.
“Ingersoll made me ashamed of my ignorance… I decided to study the subject… Having carried out my intention, I got the result. It is, first, the novel “Ben-Hur”, and secondly, the conviction of the existence of a Creator and the divinity of Christ.”

After seven years of research, Wallace was convinced that the Gospel story about Jesus was true. Thanks to this, the book “Ben-Hur: The Story of Christ” saw the light of day.

And what do we find if we look at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? Are we ready, like Lewis Wallace, to really think about Christ? After all, if the biblical story is true, then He really resurrected. And everyone who has returned from the world of the dead deserves to know as much about him as possible…

“And seeing a fig tree from afar, covered with leaves, He came to see if He would find anything on it.” — Mark 11:13

Cindy was excited about her new job with the charity. What an opportunity to change the world for the better! However, she soon discovered that her colleagues did not share her enthusiasm. They ridiculed the purpose of the organization and justified their poor performance by seeking more lucrative positions. Cindy regretted applying for the job. What looked great from a distance was disappointing up close.

A similar situation arose with Jesus with the fig tree, which is mentioned in today’s story (Mark 11:13). It was the beginning of the season, but the leaves on the tree indicated that it could already have early fruits. But no. The tree has not yet borne fruit. Disappointed, Jesus said: “So that no one else eats your fruit forever” (v. 14). The next morning the tree was completely dry (v. 20).

Once Christ fasted for forty days, so He knew how to do without food. The curse of the fig tree had nothing to do with His appetite. It was an object lesson. The tree represented Israel, which had the trappings of true religion, but had lost its meaning. The people planned to kill their Messiah, the Son of God. Could there be anything more barren than this?

We may look good from afar, but Jesus draws near to us, seeking spiritual fruit. Our fruit should not be spectacular. However, it must be supernatural, such as love, joy, and peace in troubled times (Gal. 5:22). By relying on the Spirit, we can even then bear fruit for Jesus.

What fruits do others see in you? How can you be more fruitful?

Holy Spirit, help me to bear more fruit.

Author: Mike Whittmer

“You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures or God’s power.” — Matthew 22:29

For decades, McDonald’s dominated the fast food industry thanks to its Quarter Pounder burger. In the 1980s, a rival chain came up with the idea of ​​dethroning the company with the golden arches. A&W offered a burger called the “Third Pound,” which was larger than a McDonald’s burger, but sold it at the same price. In addition, the A&W burger won numerous tastings. However, this idea failed. Nobody bought it. The study found that consumers got the math wrong and thought that a third of a pound was less than a quarter of a pound. A grandiose idea failed: people did not understand the basics.

Jesus warned about how easy it is to forget the basics. The religious leaders, trying to trap and discredit Him, put forward a strange, hypothetical scenario about a woman who became a widow seven times (Matt. 22:23-28). Jesus responded by saying that the problem was that the religious leaders “did not [know] the scriptures, nor the power of God” (v. 29). Scripture is not meant to answer logical or philosophical conundrums. On the contrary, its main purpose is to bring us to the knowledge and love of Jesus and to eternal life in Him (Jn. 5:39). These are the basics that leaders lacked in understanding.

We often miss the basics too. The main purpose of the Bible is our encounter with the living Jesus. And it would be very painful to miss her.

Are you missing the basics of scripture? How to get back to basics… to Jesus?

Dear God, sometimes I get lost even in the midst of good things. Please help me.

Author: Wynn Collier

“I tell you the truth: whatever you did to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.” — Matthew 25:40

A rare case happened in the Alba family – they had two pairs of twins with a difference of thirteen months. How did they manage to combine their parental responsibilities with work? Their friends and relatives intervened in the matter. The grandparents would take in a pair of twins a day so the parents could work and pay for health insurance. One company provided a year’s supply of diapers. Colleagues of the couple donated their sick leave. “We wouldn’t be able to do it without our community,” they admitted. There was even one presenter who took off her microphone during a live interview and ran after one of their naughty kids, continuing to invest in the community!

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus tells a parable emphasizing that when we serve others, we serve God. After listing the acts of service, including giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, shelter for the homeless, clothing for the naked, and healing for the sick (vv. 35-36), Jesus says: “Truly I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these My brothers, you did it for Me” (v. 40).

Perceiving Jesus as the ultimate recipient of our kindness is the true motivation for service to neighbors, families, churches, and the world. When we sacrificially invest in meeting the needs of others, we are serving Him. By loving others, we love God.

How can you serve Jesus in your community? How to love God while loving others?

Loving God, help me to see the needs of other people so that I can contribute to meeting those needs and thus love You more.

Author: Eliza Morgan

“If a grain of wheat falls into the ground and does not die, then it remains alone; if it dies, it will bear abundant fruit.” —John 12:24

We know Leonardo da Vinci as a representative of the Renaissance. His intellectual abilities led to progress in many fields of science and art. However, he wrote about “these unfortunate days of ours” and lamented that we die “without leaving behind anything in human memory.”

“While I thought I was learning to live,” said Leonardo, “I was learning to die.” He was closer to the truth than he could have imagined. Learning to die is the way to life. After His glorious entry into Jerusalem (what we now celebrate as Palm Sunday; see John 12:12-19), Jesus said: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (v. 24). First of all, He said this about His death, but then He extended it to all of us: “Whoever loves his soul will lose it, but whoever hates his soul in this world will save it for eternal life” (v. 25).

The Apostle Paul wrote about “burial” with Christ through “baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we were united in the likeness of His death, we will also be united in the likeness of the resurrection” (Rom. 6:4-5).

Through His death, Jesus offers us a new birth, which is the essence of regeneration. He paved the way for us to eternal life with His Father.

How do you define the value of your life? How might you need to change these values?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that in You I can find meaning and purpose.

Author: Tim Gustavson

“Behave … well, so that … they … seeing good works, glorify God.” — 1 Peter 2:12

My seatmate on the plane told me that she is a non-religious person, but immigrated to a city where many Christians live. When she mentioned that most of her neighbors go to church, I asked about her own experience. The woman said she could never thank them enough for their generosity. When she brought her disabled father to a new country, neighbors built a ramp to her house and donated a hospital bed and medicine. “If Christianity makes people so good, then everyone should be a Christian,” she said.

The Lord Jesus told His disciples: “So let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:16). Peter heard Christ’s command and passed it on: “Behave well among the Gentiles, so that for what they slander you, as if criminals, seeing good deeds, they will glorify God” (1 Pet. 2:12).

Our neighbors who do not believe in Jesus may not understand what we believe and why we believe it. Don’t worry about that, because there’s one more thing they can’t understand: the immensity of our love. My neighbor on the plane was surprised that her Christian neighbors continued to care for her, even though she was, she said, “not one of them.” She knows that she is loved because of Jesus, and she thanks God for that. She may not yet believe in Him, but she is grateful that others do.

Who do you know who needs Jesus? How can you love them for Him?

Heavenly Father, let Your light shine through me.

Author: Mike Whittmer

“Let us love not with word or tongue, but with deed and truth!” — 1 John 3:18

What would make someone help a competitor? A restaurant owner named Adolfo in Wisconsin decided to support other local restaurant owners who were trying to adapt to the demands of Covid-19. Adolfo knew first hand about the challenges during the pandemic. Inspired by the generosity of another local entrepreneur, Adolfo used his own funds to purchase over two thousand dollars worth of gift cards to give to his customers to use at other restaurants in his community. This is a manifestation of love not only in words, but also in action.

Based on the supreme manifestation of love demonstrated by Jesus in His willingness to lay down His life for humanity (1 John 3:16), the Apostle John encouraged his readers to also take the next step and show love in action. For John, “laying down our souls for the brothers” (v. 16) meant showing the same love that Jesus showed. This love most often takes the form of everyday, practical actions, for example, sharing material goods. It is not enough to love with words. Love requires sincere, meaningful actions (v. 18).

Putting love into practice can be difficult because it often requires sacrificing something or putting yourself at a disadvantage for the sake of another person. However, with God’s Spirit and with the thought of His generous love for us, we can take the next step of love.

How have you experienced love in action? How to take the next step for a practical expression of love?

Dear Jesus, help me to follow Your example and take the next step to show true love in my actions.

Author: Lisa Samra

“You will satiate the wretched soul – then your light will shine in the darkness.” — Isaiah 58:10

Ole Kassov from Copenhagen likes to ride a bike. One morning, seeing an elderly man sitting alone with a walker in the park, he was ignited by a simple idea: why not offer the elderly the joy and freedom of cycling. And so, one sunny day, he stopped by a home for the elderly and offered everyone a ride on a rented tricycle. Ole was very happy when one of the employees and an elderly woman became the first participants in the “Bike Without Age” cycling race.

More than 20 years have passed since then. During this period, Ole made 2.5 million trips with the participation of about 575,000 elderly people. Where did he take them? See a friend, eat ice cream or just “feel the wind blowing in your hair”. Participants of these bike rides say that they now sleep better, eat better and feel less lonely.

Such a gift brings to life the beautiful words of God recorded in Isaiah 58:10-11: “You will satiate the poor soul, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your darkness will be like noonday, and the Lord will always guide you, and will feed your soul in drought, strengthen your bones, and you will become like a watered garden, and like a spring that does not water it.” dry up!”

God also said: “And your eternal sons will rebuild the ruins” (v. 12). What can God do through us? Let us always be ready to help others as God helps us.

Who needs help in your city? What can you do to help them today?

Dear God, show me a simple way to help others find life in You.

Author: Patricia Raybon

“Blessed is the man who has made God his stronghold.” — Psalm 39:5

A woman rescued Rudy from an animal shelter a few days before euthanasia, and the dog became her companion. For ten years, Rudy slept peacefully by Linda’s bed, but then he started jumping next to her and licking her face. Linda scolded him, but every night Rudy repeated his behavior. “Then he started jumping on my lap to lick my face every time I sat down,” the woman said.

Linda began to wonder how persistent Rudy was and how he always licked the same spot on her jaw. Eventually, she went to see a doctor who found a microscopic tumor (bone cancer). The doctor said if she had waited any longer it probably would have killed her. Linda trusted Rudy’s instincts and was glad she did.

The Holy Scriptures repeatedly say that trust in God leads to life and joy. The psalmist says: “Blessed is the man who has made God his stronghold” (Ps. 39:5). In some translations, the text sounds even more expressive: “Happy are those who trust in the Lord” (v. 5). The word “happy” means abundance and great joy.

If we trust God, the end result is deep, true happiness. This trust may not come easily, and the results may not be what we imagine. However, if we trust God, we will be very happy.

What prevents you from trusting God? How will your life change if you begin to truly trust the Lord?

Dear God, I want the kind of happiness that only You can give. But it’s hard for me to trust. Help me!

“So that Christ… dwells in your hearts.” — Ephesians 3:17

When a blizzard hit the western United States, my widowed mother agreed to stay with us to wait out the storm. However, after the blizzard, she never returned to her house. Mom moved in with us and lived with us until the end of her life. Her presence has changed our family in many positive ways. She was available every day to share wisdom and advice with family members and to tell the stories of her ancestors. My mother and my husband became best friends, sharing a common sense of humor and love of sports. She was no longer a guest, but a permanent and important resident, forever changing our hearts, even after God called her home.

Thinking about this, I remember the text from the Gospel of John that Christ “was among us” (John 1:14). In the original Greek, the word “stay” means “to pitch a tent.” In another translation, for example, it is said that He “settled among us.”

We accept Jesus by faith as the One who lives in our hearts. The Apostle Paul prayed: “For this I bow my knees… that He may give you according to the riches of His glory with strength through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…” (Eph. 3:14, 16-17).

Jesus is not an occasional visitor, but a permanent resident of all His followers. Let us open wide the doors of our hearts and welcome Him.

What does it mean for you to open your heart to Christ? How can you make Him more desirable to you?

Loving Jesus, living in my heart, liken me to Yourself.

Author: Patricia Raybon