“Christ died for us while we were still sinners.” — Romans 5:8
“I felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under my feet,” Jolie said. “The shock of what I found out was like a physical blow.” Jolie discovered that her fiance was dating someone else. Her previous relationships ended in a similar way. So, when she came to Bible study and heard about God’s love, she thought, “Isn’t this another deception? If I believe that God loves me, won’t I have to cry again?”
Maybe we, like Jolie, have had relationship problems that make us wary (or even fearful) of assurances of love. Perhaps, hearing about God’s love, we also wonder if there is a trap here. But there is no trap. “God proves His love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners,” says the Bible (Rom. 5:8).
“In the end, I realized that God proved His love to me,” says Jolie, “He died for me.” My friend learned that because our sinfulness separated us from God, He gave His Son to die for us (Rom. 5:10; 1 John 2:2). Thanks to this, our sins are forgiven, and we can confidently look forward to eternal life with Him (John 3:16).
If we have doubts about God’s love, let us remember what Christ did for us on the cross. He is faithful, and therefore we can confidently rely on His promises.
Have you found it difficult to believe in God’s love? How can the truth that Jesus Christ died for you change your attitude?
Lord Jesus, thank You for the unfathomable love You showed when You died for me. Let this love change me, heal me and guide me on the right path.
“Blessed is the man who… meditates on His Law day and night.” — Psalm 1:1-2
Andrew and his family went on safari to Kenya, where they had the pleasure of observing a rich variety of animals visiting a small lake in the desert. Giraffes, hippos, animals and birds all yearned for a nourishing source of water. Looking at them, Andrew thought of the Bible, a “divine key” that is not only a source of wisdom and guidance, but also a refreshing oasis where different people can quench their spiritual thirst.
Andrew’s observation resonates with the words of the psalmist, who called “blessed” the person who finds satisfaction in God’s law. Those who meditate on the Holy Scriptures are like “a tree planted by a stream of water, which will bear its fruit in due season” (Ps. 1:3). As the root of a tree penetrates deep into the earth to find nourishing moisture there, so people who believe in God and love Him will take root in His Word to find the strength they need.
God’s wisdom will help us remain rooted in Him, and we will not be “like chaff that the wind blows away” (v. 4). By meditating on what God has revealed to us in the Bible, we receive everything we need to bear abundant fruit.
How does the Bible serve as a foundation for your life? What can help you meditate on the Scriptures throughout the day?
Loving God, You have revealed Your truth to me in the Bible. Help me to appreciate it and reflect on it with gratitude and admiration.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
A restless soul will never be satisfied with wealth and success. The recently deceased popular singer could confirm this truth. His records have been in the top 10 country music albums nearly forty times, and no less number of singles have reached the top of the charts. But he also had several marriages and was in prison. However, having such achievements, he once complained: “There is a restlessness in my soul that I could not overcome either with creativity, marriages, or popularity… I still feel it now. It will probably be with me until my death.” Unfortunately, he is no longer among us, but peace could be found!
The Lord Jesus calls all those tormented by sin and its consequences to turn to Him. “Come to Me,” He says. When we accept His salvation, He removes the burden of sin from us and gives us peace (Matthew 11:28). The only condition is to believe in Him and learn from Him “life with excess” (Jn. 10:10). Having accepted the “yoke” of discipleship in Christ, you will “find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:29).
When we come to Christ, He removes our guilt before God and gives peace to our troubled hearts, revealing a new and less burdensome way of life in Him. He gives us real peace.
What do you feel tired and burdened? To what can you compare the peace that Jesus offers?
Lord Jesus, help my soul to find peace and tranquility in You.
“And the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth.” — Numbers 22:28
Jack knew how to direct the trains to the right track. In his nine years on the job, he never missed a train pulling into the station at Eitenhas in the Republic of South Africa.
By the way, Jack is not a person, but a baboon. He was looked after by the railway signalman James Wide, and Jack in turn helped James. Wide lost both his legs by falling between railroad cars that were moving at the time. He taught Jack to help him with the household chores; soon he was already helping him at work, having learned to respond to the appropriate signals during the movement of trains.
The Bible tells about another animal that helped a person in an unexpected way. This is Balaam’s donkey. Balaam was a pagan prophet who served a king who sought to harm Israel. When the prophet was riding a donkey to the king, “the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth”, and she spoke to Balaam (Numbers 22:28). The speech of the donkey was one of the ways in which God opened “Balaam’s eyes” (v. 31), protected him from danger and forbade him to do evil to God’s people.
A railway baboon? A talking donkey? Why not? If God can use these amazing animals for good, then He can use you and me. By turning to God and seeking His strength, we can achieve much more than we imagined.
Who did God use in an unexpected way? How to make yourself available to God?
God, I want to serve You! Use my hands, feet and mouth as you need! Help me to live for You.
“And all the widows surrounded him, weeping and showing him the dresses and cloaks that Sarna had made.” — Acts 9:39
On one of my father’s last days, a nurse asked me if she could shave him. Gently running the blade across his face, Rachel said, “Older men like to look neat every day.” She saw a need and decided to show kindness, dignity and respect to others in a practical way. Her tender care reminded me of my friend Julia, who still paints her old mother’s nails because it is important to her that she “looks good.”
In the 9th chapter of the book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles, it is told about a disciple named Sarna (Tavita), who showed kindness by sewing clothes for the poor (vv. 36, 39). When she died, many friends gathered in her room to mourn this kind woman who loved to help others.
However, Sarna’s story did not end there. When the apostle Peter was led to the place where her body lay, he bowed his knees and prayed. Then he addressed her by name and said: “Tavitha, get up!” (v. 40). A miracle happened. Tavita opened her eyes and stood up. When her friends learned that she had come back to life, the news about it quickly spread throughout the city and “many believed in the Lord” (v. 42).
How did Sarna spend the next day of her life? Probably, like many previous days, she saw people’s needs and satisfied them.
Who among you knows is always looking for ways to help others? How are you better at being aware of other people’s needs?
Heavenly Father, help me to see poor and needy people every day. Open my heart to actions that will show them Your love.
“I want to do Your will, my God, and Your Law is in my heart.” — Psalm 39:9
The offer seemed attractive. This is exactly what Peter needed. After being fired, this sole breadwinner of a young family prayed desperately for a job. “This is undoubtedly God’s answer to your prayers,” friends said.
However, reading about the potential employer made Peter uneasy. The company invested funds in questionable cases and was accused of corruption. In the end, Peter, despite the pain, refused the offer. “I believe that God wants my actions to be right,” he shared with me. “I have to trust that He will take care of me.”
Peter’s action reminded me of the story when David found himself in the same cave as Saul. It seemed that David had a great opportunity to kill the enemy who was hunting him, but David refused. “Help me, Lord, to do that thing… to the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 24:7). David carefully distinguished between human interpretation of events and God’s command to follow His instructions.
Instead of looking for “signs” in certain situations, let’s turn to God and His truth for wisdom and guidance to understand the essence of things. He will help us do the right thing.
What helped you distinguish between your own interpretation of events and God’s command for you? Who can you turn to for godly counsel?
God, grant me the wisdom to understand the opportunities before me and the faith to follow You so that I may always please You.
“And daily… and… ceaselessly taught and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” — Acts 5:42
In one interview, the musician, a believer in Christ, recalls how he was encouraged to “talk less about Jesus.” Why? It was believed that the music group would be more popular and would raise more funds to help the poor if he stopped saying that all his work is about Jesus. However, he thought and decided: “My goal in music is to share my faith in Christ… I will not be able to remain silent.” Therefore, he said “that his vocation is to spread the news about Jesus Christ.”
While in even more threatening circumstances, the apostles received a similar message. They were imprisoned, but the angel released them and ordered them to continue to preach to others about the new life in Christ (Acts 5:19-20). When the religious leaders learned about the release of the apostles and the subsequent proclamation of the Gospel, they reproached them: “Didn’t we forbid you with a threat not to teach about … the Name [of Jesus]?” (v. 28).
Instead, the apostles answered: “God must be obeyed more than men” (v. 29). The leaders beat them again and “ordered them not to speak about the Name of Jesus” (v. 40). However, the apostles rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer for the Name of Jesus, and “every day… and… they taught and preached the Gospel” (v. 42). Lord, help us to follow their example!
Have you been forbidden to speak about the Lord Jesus and what was your response? How can you tell others about Him?
Dear God, thank you for the example of the apostles and other courageous witnesses. Please give me the courage to follow their example.
“I cry to You from the ends of the earth when my heart fails.” — Psalm 60:3
Author and theologian Russell Moore described how he became aware of the eerie silence in the Russian orphanage where he adopted his boys. It was later explained to him that the babies stopped crying because they knew that no one would respond to their cries.
When we go through hard times, we also feel like no one is listening. And the worst thing is that it seems to us that God does not hear our cries and does not see our tears. However, He both hears and sees! This is why we need the language of petition and supplication reflected in the Psalms. The authors of the psalms asked for God’s help and at the same time complained to Him about their circumstances. David uses similar language in the 60th Psalm, where he says to the Creator: “I cry to You from the ends of the earth, when my heart faints! Lead me to a rock that is higher than me” (v. 3). The psalmist David calls out to God, because he knows that only He is a “refuge” and a “strong tower” for him (v. 4).
The prayerful expression of requests and complaints in the psalms is an affirmation of God’s sovereignty and an appeal to His goodness and faithfulness. They confirm the existence of a close relationship with God. In difficult moments, we can all believe the lie that God does not care about us. However, this is not so. He hears us and is with us.
How does it encourage you to know that God hears your desperate prayers? What requests and complaints will you express to Him today?
Dear Jesus, help me to bring my requests, supplications and praises to You.
“You would ask Him, and He would give you living water.” —John 4:10
Life in the family was turbulent, and Andrea left home at the age of fourteen. She found a job and settled in with friends. Seeking love and affirmation, she later moved in with a man who offered her drugs; to the alcohol she already regularly drank, drug use was added. However, relationships and drugs did not satisfy her aspirations. So Andrea kept looking. After several years, she met believers in Jesus, who offered to pray with her. And after a few months, she finally got to know the One who quenched her thirst – Jesus Christ.
The Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well was also able to quench her spiritual thirst. She came to the well in the heat of the day (Jn. 4:5-7), presumably to avoid prying eyes and gossip from other women who were well aware of her history of relationships with many men (vv. 17-18). Jesus, turning to her and asking for water, violated the social customs of the time, since He, a Jewish teacher, was not supposed to communicate with a Samaritan woman. However, the Lord wanted to give her living water, which was supposed to lead her to eternal life (v. 10). He wanted to quench her thirst.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we also drink living water. We can share this water with others by inviting them to follow Jesus.
How do you think the woman at the well felt when Jesus asked her for water? What does it mean to you to receive His living water?
Heavenly Father, You gladly invite all those who are thirsty to come to the water and drink. Quench my thirst with Your living water.
