JOHN 1:14-18

What Message Does Your Life Preach? - Jesus is God in human form. In coming into our world, He revealed the heavenly Father to us. That's what John meant when he said that "the Word became flesh." We call this the doctrine of the incarnation.

F. W. Boreham applied this truth in his book Faces in the Fire. He wrote,

"The Christian man must accompany the Christian message. The Word must be presented in its proper human setting. . . . The Word made flesh is thus pronounced with an accent and an eloquence which are simply irresistible. . . . The words of men become [filled] with passion and with power only when they are made flesh. And in the same way, the thoughts of God to men are only eloquent when they are so expressed."

To emphasize the importance of putting actions behind our words, Boreham quoted English writer George Eliot (pen name for Mary Ann Evans). Speaking of how people's lives convey the meaning of ideas, Eliot said, "Sometimes [words] are made flesh; they breathe upon us with warm breath, they touch us with soft responsive hands, they look at us with sad, sincere eyes, and they speak to us in appealing tones; they are clothed in a living human soul."

Likewise, if people are to "hear" the Word of God, they must "see" it demonstrated in our lives. Jesus said,

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

Christians who live what they believe give flesh to the Word. —R.W.D.

We teach more with our life than with our lips.

JOHN 1:1-14

He Left His Palace - At one time a wise and beloved Shah who cared greatly for his people and desired only the best for them ruled Persia. One day he disguised himself as a poor man and went to visit the public baths. The water for the baths was heated by a furnace in the cellar, and the Shah made his way to that dark place to sit with the man who tended the fire. The two men shared the coarse food, and the Shah befriended him in his loneliness. Day after day the ruler went to visit the man. The worker became attached to this stranger because he "came where he was" (Luke 10:33). The Shah expected the man to ask for a gift when he learned his true identity. Instead, he looked with love and wonder into his leader's face and said,

"You left your palace and your glory to sit with me in this dark place, to eat my coarse food, and to care about what happens to me. On others you may bestow rich gifts, but to me you have given yourself."

As we think of what our Lord has done for us, we can echo that fire tender's sentiments. He stepped from heaven to earth, from the wor­ship of angels to the mocking of cruel men, from glory to humiliation. To provide our salvation, Jesus came in human flesh, took upon Him-self the form of a servant, and "became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8). Our great Creator became our Savior. He deserves our heartfelt worship and humble adoration.—P.R.V.

God's highest Gift should awaken our deepest gratitude.

JOHN 1:1-14

His Steps or Your Steps? - As finite creatures, we sense that our earthly life and eternal destiny are somehow bound up with our Creator. Most religions of the world represent man's effort to reach up to God and become acceptable to Him. In China, for example, devout pilgrims ascend a sacred mountain called Taishan. They climb seven thousand steps to its summit, first passing through the "middle gate," then through "heaven's southern gate." Finally they reach one of the most beautiful buildings in all of China—the Temple of the Azure Cloud. Here they offer sacrifices, which the worshipers believe will gain God's favor. Such effort represents great religious fervor—and futility, for it brings devotees no closer to God than when they mounted the first step.

By contrast, Christianity begins with the Creator of heaven and earth reaching down to us. In His holiness He is beyond the highest mountain peak, so far out of reach of sinners that only He Himself could span the gulf. And that's exactly what He did. By the miracle of the incarnation, He became flesh and offered Himself as a once-and­for-all sacrifice for our sin. Then, after rising from the dead, He went back to Glory. And He did it all for us. Our part is to confess that we are sinners, to renounce all efforts to earn our salvation, and to trust Him as our Savior.

Those still climbing endless steps of self-effort may as well give up. They lead nowhere. Instead, take that all-important step of faith in the Lord Jesus. It's the only step that leads to heaven. —D.J.D.

Salvation is not something we achieve but something we receive.

JOHN 1:1-18

The Masterpiece Revealed - In an article in Moody Monthly, Frank M. Fairchild told of a beautiful fresco on the ceiling of a Roman palace. Painted by Guido Reni in 1614, it was one of the most impressive works of its day. But visitors couldn't fully appreciate the masterpiece because they had to crane their necks to see it. To solve the problem, palace officials placed a large mirror on the floor beneath the painting, enabling viewers to study its reflection and more fully appreciate its beauty.

Fairchild made this observation:

"Jesus Christ does precisely that for us when we try to get some notion of God. . . . He interprets God to our dull hearts. In Him, God becomes visible and intelligible to us. We cannot by any amount of searching find out God. The more we try, the more we are bewildered. Then Jesus Christ appears. He is God stooping down to our level, and He enables our feeble thoughts to get some real hold on God Himself."

Christ came to reveal God to us. But He is more than a reflection of the Father. He is God in human flesh. Hebrews tells us that He is "the express image" of God (1:3). And Jesus Himself said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

As we meditate on the wonder of "the Word made flesh," we will say with the hymnwriter, "0 come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord."—R.W.D.

Christ's birth brings the infinite God within the finite reach of man.

John 1:41

The Greatest Discovery - The renowned physician Sir James Simpson was the first to employ ether in obstetrics and to discover the important qualities and proper use of chloroform. A group of young scientists who highly respected Dr. Simpson asked him, "What do you count as the most outstanding discovery you have ever made?"

With tears welling up in his eyes he lifted his head and said, "Young men, the greatest discovery I have ever made is that Jesus Christ is my Savior; that is by far the most important thing a person can ever come to know!" Yes, one can make no greater discovery than this. Whenever men have "found" Jesus Christ they have learned that He makes good on His promises and by His transforming power does something wonderful for them, in them, and through them.

While it is true that for Andrew, Philip, John, Peter, and the rest of the Twelve, "finding Christ" meant poverty, hardship, suf­fering, persecution, and, in fact, death by execution for most; yet they also discovered in Him a Savior, Lord, Companion and Friend. Those who come to know the Lord today find Him equal­ly precious. As a pastor I have spoken to parents a few moments after a child was suddenly snatched from them by an automobile accident, a drowning, or a brief illness. I have been present as a husband or wife passed from time into eternity, thus disrupting the closest of all human ties; and yet the surviving loved ones experienced God's peace and comfort. I have stood at the bed-side of men who had suffered a severe coronary attack — when their life was still in jeopardy — who have calmly testified to our Lord's keeping and sustaining power. Several have exclaimed, "God's way is best. If He wishes to take me, I am ready." Yes, I have seen Christians experience all kinds of sorrow, heartache, and disappointment; but in every case when they were in fellow-ship with Jesus Christ, I have witnessed in their lives God's strengthening power. The Lord has never failed those who have put their trust in Him. Have you discovered Jesus Christ?

Christ is not valued at all, until He is valued above all! —Augustine

John 3

John 3:1-18

Regeneration Not Reformation - The message of salvation is regeneration—not reformation. Paul says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). The new birth is not an overhaul of the “old wreck,” or a new paint job. The old Adamic nature is so incorrigibly corrupt that even God will not attempt to fix it up. He insists on completely rejecting the old hulk and making a new man. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again’“ (John 3:6,7).

The old nature received at birth is hopeless, and dressing it up with education and culture only makes it more dangerous than before. The more we work on the “old man,” the more deceptive it becomes. Do you know why the sinner must be born anew? Because he was born all wrong the first time. He doesn’t have to be taught to go his own way—it comes naturally to him. But by the new birth he is turned around and headed in the right direction!

Spurgeon told of a missionary who visited a primitive hut and became nauseated by the filthy floor on which he had to sit. He suggested to his host that they scrub the dirty surface with soap and water, but the man replied, “the floor is just clay—packed down and dry. Add water and it turns to mud. The more you try to wash it, the worse the mess becomes!” Yes, the hut needed something besides an earthen floor. So it is with the human heart: it is hard and dirty, and nothing will help it. Man needs a new heart. He must be born again from above!  - MRD

John 3:3

All Show but No Go - The story is told of a wealthy man who, although he was out­wardly religious, was not a Christian. He had in his employ an old gardener, a true believer, who tried to show him the empti­ness of mere religion without Christ. Now it happened that there was one tree on the rich man's estate which never bore any fruit. However, one day as the owner was walking in his orchard, he saw some beautiful apples hanging on it. Imagine his surprise, especially when he went to pick some and found them to be tied on! The gardener by this simple illustration wanted to point out to his employer the difference between real Christianity and pious sham. Religion without Christ is like a barren tree on which the fruit is merely "tied on"!

Many so-called Christians today make an outward show of piety but it is only "tied on" religion. Their heart is not in it. They bring no fruit to perfection because they have never been born again. There is no genuine spiritual life within! They go through the motions, but their outward profession lacks the reality of an inner possession. Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John tells us that "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:12).

As sinners, we are spiritually dead. The only way to experi­ence genuine salvation is through Christ who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. . . ." Personally receiving Him as Savior and Lord, we are born again and made "new creatures."

Have you ever actually trusted Christ, or are you simply going through the motions? Are those so-called "good works" of yours just "tied on," or are they the genuine fruit of a new life? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . ." (Acts 16:31).

The only "works" of unsaved men that will endure in Heaven are the nailprints in Christ's hands! —W. P. Loveless

JOHN 3:14-21

Don't Reject the Pardon! - William McCarrell writes that...

"While Andrew Jackson was President of the United States, a man was given a court trial and condemned to die. President Jackson offered to pardon him but the condemned man refused the pardon. Prison authorities, the Attorney General of the United States, and others earnestly endeavored to convince the man to accept the pardon. They tried to impress upon him that it would not only spare his life, but that if he did not accept the pardon it would be an insult to the President. The man persisted…The Attorney General consulted the Supreme Court, asking whether legal authorities could not force the man to receive the pardon. The court ruled that the pardon was merely a printed statement until the man accepted it. If he rejected the pardon, it remained printed matter" (William McCarrell, My Favorite Illustration).

It is much the same with God's salvation. Even though the Lord Jesus has provided redemption for everyone, only those who accept His pardon actually benefit from His offer. Until we personally trust Christ as Savior, we will never be free from the judgment of God upon sin. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18).

Salvation is offered to all. But to experience it and to benefit from all its rich and enjoyable blessings, we must accept it. —RWD

Salvation is free—but we must receive it.

John 3:20

Life in a Barrel - Someone who visited a large barrel factory gave this description of the inspection department:

"I noticed that the man who makes the final check of those huge containers whirls them around a few times to inspect the outside. Then, rolling them over, he thrusts a small electric light into the hole in their side and with his eye at the same opening gazes quietly for a moment as if looking for something. `What do you do that for?' I asked. 'To see if it's charred correctly, if there's enough glue on the joints, and if there are any visible flaws.' He graciously allowed me to put my eye to the hole in one of the barrels, but all within was black as pitch. 'Here,' he said pushing me aside and putting the electric lamp through the opening, 'now look.' I did so and the inside was now as bright as day. Every joint and irregularity was clearly revealed."

Our lives are much like that barrel! Only the entrance of God's Word can remove our spiritual darkness. When by grace the Holy Spirit sheds His beams into the heart of a sinner, great conviction grips the soul for all the hidden evil and glaring im­perfections show up. The barrel inspector with his light could only discover the flaws, but Christ, the Light of the world, can do far more. He can remedy them and make us anew!

There are many who enjoy sin so much they refuse to come to Christ lest their deeds be reproved by the light of His pres­ence. I pray that you are not numbered among such foolish in­dividuals. If you are not regenerated by His grace, at the final "checkout" your soul will be rejected by Him as not fit for Heaven. Remember the parable of the barrel, and let the search-light of God's Word reveal your sin to you. Then seek the spiri­tual renewing Christ alone can provide!

When the holy light of Jesus
Floods your dark and sinful soul,
You will see how much you're needing
His blest grace to make you whole. — G.W.

The first step toward salvation is to recognize your sin; for he who makes little of his disease will make little of his doctor. —T. Goodwin

John 3:30

The Pointer - In his classic work The Master’s Indwelling, Andrew Murray illustrated this problem of being distracted. He wrote, “When a man is giving a lecture, he often uses a long pointer to indicate places on a map or a chart. Do people look at that pointer? No, that only helps to show them the place on the map, and they do not think of it. It might even be of fine gold, but the pointer cannot satisfy them. They want to see what the pointer points at. And the Bible is a pointer, pointing us to God.”

William Carey - When Alexander Duff was home on furlough from India in 1834, he often visited missionary statesman William Carey. On his last visit before Carey died, Duff spent much of his time talking about Carey’s work. Finally, Carey seemed to tire of it and whispered, “Pray.” After Duff prayed, he arose to leave the room, but Carey called him to return to his side. “Mr. Duff,” he said graciously, “you have been speaking about Dr. Carey, Dr. Carey. When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey. Speak about Dr. Carey’s Savior.”

May we too call attention to Jesus, the One whom God has highly exalted. His is the name to remember.

Beethoven is Everything! - The kind of attitude we need is seen in the following story. After a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the audience gave conductor Arturo Toscanini and the Orchestra a prolonged ovation. Toscanini, filled with emotion, turned to his musicians and whispered, “I am nothing, you are nothing.” Then, in almost adoring tones, Toscanini said, “But Beethoven is everything!”

Likewise, we must recognize that Jesus is everything.

John 4

JOHN 4:5-15

Are You Thirsty? - How simply our Lord presented the gospel. He often depicted the sinner's response to the salvation He offered in terms of everyday activities like eating, drinking, and receiving.

During a gospel meeting in a town in Ohio, a man was greatly convicted of his need of the Lord Jesus. He concealed his feelings even from his wife, who was a lovely Christian. One evening when she was away, he became so anxious about his condition that he began pacing the floor. His daughter, noticing her father's agitation, asked him what was wrong.

"Oh, nothing," he replied, trying in vain to relieve his pangs of conviction.

The youngster, with the profound simplicity of childhood, said, "Daddy, if you were thirsty wouldn't you go and get a drink of water?"

Her words startled the father. He thought of his thirsty soul, so parched and empty. Then he remembered what he had heard in the meeting—that the gospel was like a freely flowing foun­tain. He resisted no longer. That night he asked Jesus to save him.

Nothing can quench our spiritual thirst but Jesus. The wells of the world only make us more thirsty. Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst" (John 4:14). —P.R.V.
No matter how much we drink from the wells of wealth and achievement, we will only become more thirsty.


JOHN 4:9-25

WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH - God, the infinitely holy One, is worthy of our worship. He is our Creator, Sustainer, and Savior. Without His loving care and guidance we would have no hope. We must therefore take the time and put forth the effort to worship Him in a way that brings honor and glory to His name.

When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman, He said, "God is Spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." In the devotional classic The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Law­rence explains what this means.

"To worship God in truth is to recog­nize . . . that God is what He is; that is to say, infinitely perfect, infinitely to be adored, infinitely removed from evil, and thus with every attribute divine."

Brother Lawrence then added,

"What man shall there be, however small the reason he may have, who will not use all his strength to render to this great God his reverence and worship?"

We need to ask ourselves if this is the way we worship the One who made us? Do we reverence and adore Him from the deepest part of our minds and souls—from the heart? Are we totally honest before Him about what we are? Do we acknowledge who He is? To give Almighty God the honor of which He is worthy, we must approach Him "in spirit and truth." —D.C.E.

Christ is not valued at all until He is valued above all

John 6

John 6:11

"A small circle of usefulness is not to be despised," observed Hudson Taylor, the pioneer missionary to China.

When Jesus depicted usefulness, He often startled His listeners. He used a boy's picnic pak to make more than five thousand fish sandwiches for a supper on the grass. We know nothing about the boy except that he shared what he had.

In contrast, the disciples worried about how much it would cost for this unplanned shindig—eight months of salary. The crowd was not exactly a grateful group; Jesus was nothing more to them than a fish-in-every-pot politician. The disciples and crowd both missed the point; perhaps the boy understood. A barley loaf in Jesus' hand became life-giving bread because it pointed to the Bread of Life; only He could take the insignificant and make it important.

In the Old Testament, God did not give Israel water from the rock to promote the use of mineral water; He took common water and gave it uncommon symbolism. Every drop should have re-minded Israel of the everlasting Water of Life.

To paraphrase Paul's words, we are nothing but old jelly jars; yet He takes what we have and who we are and reveals Himself through us (2 Cor. 4:7-12). When we are faithful in giving Him what we have, He increases our circle of usefulness. He takes all things great and small and makes them wise and wonderful.

JOHN 6:1-14

About halfway through a rehearsal conducted by Sir Michael Costa, with trumpets blaring, drums rolling, and violins singing their rich melody, the piccolo player muttered to himself, "What good am I doing? I might just as well not be playing. Nobody can hear me anyway." So he kept the instrument to his mouth, but he made no sound. Within moments, the conductor cried, "Stop! Stop! Where's the piccolo?" The most important person of all missed the piccolo's seemingly unimportant contribution.

At certain times in life we all feel insignificant and useless. Sur-rounded by people with greater talent than ours, we are tempted in our weak moments just to settle back and "let George do it." We reason that what we have to offer won't make much difference anyway. We forget that Jesus used five loaves and two small fish to feed a multitude. Like that young boy on the mountainside, each of us has something important to offer, and we are foolish to hold back because we discount the value of our contribution.

Whether our talent is great or small, the performance isn't com­plete until we do our best with what we have. —R.W.D.

In God's eyes it is a great thing to do a little thing well.

John 6:9

What Good Am I? - Sir Michael Costa was conducting a rehearsal in which the orchestra was joined by a great chorus. About halfway through the session, with trumpets blaring, drums rolling and violins singing their rich melody, the piccolo player muttered to himself, “What good am I doing? I might just as well not be playing. Nobody can hear me anyway.” So he kept the instrument to his mouth, but he made no sound. Within moments, the conductor cried, “Stop! Stop! Where’s the piccolo?” It was missed by the ear of the most important person of all.

It’s much the same way with the Christian and his use of his talents for the Lord. If in the great “Orchestra of life” the cry ever goes out, “Stop! Stop! Where’s the piccolo?” let’s make sure the Divine Conductor isn’t missing you or me! Whether our talent is great or small, the performance isn’t complete until we do our best with what we have.

John 6:27

Better Riches - In the book, Illustrations and Incidents for Preachers and Teachers, the story is told about an Arab who lost his way while traveling across a desert. Toiling for two days without food, he became nearly exhausted. At last he stumbled upon a little oasis where travelers before him had halted. He hoped to find some remnant of food, but only a small bag had been left behind. In eagerness he opened it, but to his disgust and disappointment, he found pearls instead of fruit or dates. He had riches but not bread! If all the wealth of the world had been given to him, it would have meant nothing as far as his most urgent need of the moment was concerned. What he required was food that he might be nourished and strengthened. Money and jewels with-out life were worthless!

So it is with many traveling across the desert of this world. In-tent upon the acquisition of silver and gold, they give no thought to their spiritual needs. Even though someday they might find their hands full of riches, they lack that which alone can satisfy their souls. What a tragedy when they stand before God and dis­cover that wealth is no passport to Heaven. Fame and success will not qualify them to enter the Pearly Gates. In' fact, all such things will be stripped away and left behind.

There is nothing wrong with riches if properly acquired and rightfully used. But the most important thing is partaking of the "Bread of Heaven" and receiving the eternal blessing God im­parts (John 6:35). Accept Christ as your Savior, for "he that eateth of this bread shall live forever" (John 6:58).

The riches of this world are vain;
They vanish in a day.
But sweet the treasures of God's love —
They never pass away!—G.W.

To be rich in God is better than to be rich in goods!

John 7

John 7:38

God's Healthy Trees - A healthy tree consists of up to eighty percent moisture. It draws large quantities of water through its root system or absorbs it from dew and rain. In his book "As a Tree Grows", W. Phillip Keller says,

"the tree does not hoard this moisture for itself. The vast network of running roots beneath the soil often exceeds the outspread canopy of trunk, branches, and leaves spread to the sky. And vast quantities of water are lifted through the framework of the tree to be transpired into the surrounding air. This moisture, along with the discharge of oxygen, is what gives the forest atmosphere such a fresh fragrance."

Christians use the water of life in much the same way. In John 7:38, Jesus said that rivers of living water will flow from the heart of the one who believes in Him. He was referring to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in and through us. The Spirit, who we receive when we trust the Lord Jesus as our Savior, empowers and refreshes us, which enables us to help others. Our part is to read and study God's Word, to receive cleansing and renewal through confession, and to obey the Lord. Then, as we depend on the Holy Spirit, "living water" flows through us and provides refreshment and goodness to people around us. —D.C.E.

Only the Living Water can quench the driving thirst of the soul.

John 7:38

Overflowing Rivers - We are saved to tell others! When the Lord redeems us, He so fills us with "living water" that, if we are normal Christians, we overflow to others in a witness that produces results for God.

There recently came to my attention the true story of an amputee soul winner in Melbourne, Australia, who has a most remarkable ministry. A pastor who visited this crippled woman writes,

"When this girl was 18, she was seized with a dreadful affliction and the doctor said that to save her life he must take off her foot. Next the other foot was removed. The disease continued to spread, and her legs had to be amputated at the hips. Then the malady broke out in her hands. And by the time I saw Miss Higgins, all that remained of her was just the trunk of her body. For 15 years now she has been in this condition. I went to offer comfort, but I did not know how to speak to her or what to say. I found the walls of her room covered with texts, all of them radiating joy, and peace, and power. She explained that one day while lying in bed she inquired of the Lord what a total amputee could possibly do for Him. Then an inspiration came to her. Calling a friend of hers, who was a carpenter, she had him construct a device to fit her shoulder, and attach to it an extension holding a fountain pen. Then she began to write letters witnessing to the grace of God. She had to do it entirely with body movement, yet her penmanship was beautiful. She has now received over 15 hundred replies from individuals who have been brought to Christ through the letters she produced in that way."

The preacher said to her; "How do you do it?" and she smilingly replied, "You know Jesus said of His own that out of them `shall flow rivers of living water.' I believe in Him, and He has helped me to overflow to others."

Does not that amputee soul winner put all of us to shame? Have you tried to bring even one lost sheep into the Savior's fold? If not, why not?

We are not storerooms, but channels,
We are not cisterns, but springs;
Passing our benefits onward,
Fitting our blessings with wings. —Anon.

If "he that winneth souls is wise" what is the implication concerning those who don't? —H.G.B.

John 8

JOHN 8:31-45

The darkest hour - The image of a duck flying through the air with an arrow embedded in her body is still fresh in my memory. A local newspaper carried the story and picture of a mallard duck that had eluded rescuers who wanted to remove the foreign object. A couple of months later a Canada goose flew into Wisconsin with the same problem. A young bow hunter had hit his mark, but his arrow hadn't stopped the bird. She had evaded game wardens, avoided tranquilizer-laced grain, and even dodged cannon-fired nets. After about a month, apparently ex­hausted from her injury, the goose was caught with a fishing net. Soon after surgery, veterinarians returned her to freedom. If geese could think, she probably wondered why she had tried so hard and for so long to elude her captors.

The experience of these reluctant captives reminds me of the men Christ spoke to in John 8. They too were slow to realize the serious­ness of their condition. They didn't understand Christ's motives. To them, He looked like a captor. He wanted them to surrender their lives to Him. He asked them to become His disciples. He implored them to become spiritual bond-slaves. They were unable to com­prehend that by surrendering they could "be made free" (v. 33).

Is it possible we have forgotten that real freedom is found only in being secure in Christ? This relates not only to our ultimate salvation but also to our daily walk with the Lord.

As servants of Christ, we are bound to be free. —M.R.D.II

Salvation produces a change within that releases the chains of sin.
 

John 8:34

Enslavement - When we repeatedly give in to a particular sin, we become a slave to it. A man dying of AIDS admitted that he had felt guilty about his homo­sexual way of life. But he couldn't carry out his resolve to give up his immoral lifestyle. Another young man admitted that his wife left him because of his preoccupation with pornographic literature. He's unhappy, but he can't stay away from smut shops. Similarly, many peo­ple who take cocaine know they are ruining their lives, but they feel powerless to give up the habit.

Samson too had become a slave to sin. He continued an affair with Delilah even though he knew she was bent on betraying him to his enemies. Samson was not stupid, but he was a slave to his lust. Like the homosexual, the pornography addict, and the drug user, he could not do what he knew he should.

Once we start down the wrong path, turning back is difficult. Jesus said that whoever keeps on sinning will become a slave to sin (John 8:34). Some of the most dangerous practices bring temporary plea-sure. That's why they are so ensnaring. Freedom, however, is found in becoming a slave of Jesus Christ.

When we are in the grip of an evil practice that is ruining our life, we can acknowledge our sin and helplessness to the Lord, submit fully to Him, and be assured that He will deliver us. —H.V.L.

The pleasures of sin are for a season, but its wages are for eternity

John 9

JOHN 9:1-7

Did Someone Sin? - When illness strikes someone, we tend to think of it as the result of sin. Since all our woes can be traced to man's original sin, we reason that sin must also be the immediate cause of sickness. Apparently this was how the disciples analyzed the case of the man born blind. But Jesus' reply, "Neither has this man nor his parents," undercuts all pat answers to affliction.

Perhaps emotional illness, more than any other kind of suffering, is subject to shortsighted, judgmental responses. Most physical diseases are socially acceptable, but a stigma still hangs over most psychologi­cal disorders. In her book God's Remedy for Depression, Vivian Clark tells of a discussion on the topic "Is Depression Sin for the Christian?" One person said, "Because it can't coexist with the fruit of the Spirit, which is joy, it must be a sin." Another added, "There is no reason for Christians to be depressed." Just then, a sad-faced woman slipped away from the group. For days she had been despondent and unable to gain victory. Those remarks added to her depression.

Some emotional problems may indeed be caused by wrong attitudes or secret sins. But all of us transgress, and yet not everyone breaks down. The causes of depression and mental illness are so varied and complex that we must not engage in simplistic solutions. To help someone, we shouldn't immediately ask, "Who sinned?" Rather, we should pray, "Lord, help me further Your work in this person's life."—D.J.D.

Compassion invests everything necessary to heal the hurts of others.

John 10

John 10:9

Have You Walked Out? - The renowned magician and escape artist, Houdini, could get out of any set of handcuffs, or any strait jacket that was ever put on him. In fact, he could release himself from almost any enclosure in less than one minute. Only once did he fail. That strange incident occurred when he was touring the British Isles. Arriving at a small town, he agreed to exhibit his ability by escaping from the local jail. The cell door was so ordinary looking that he smiled at the simplicity of the task. On the given signal he began to use all the terrific speed and dexterity he possessed to effect his release. To his great surprise, he was unable to pick the lock! Frantically he tried every device he knew, but nothing happened. For two more hours he worked feverishly. Finally, completely exhausted, he fell against the door and lamented his defeat. Immediately it sprang open. His frustration had been due to the fact that it had never been locked at all! How frequently, by a similar ruse, Satan has deluded poor sin­ners who are seeking to find a way to open the door of salvation! They work, they cry, they fret, they pray — trying in every way possible to bring release to their captive souls. Yet it is only when they fall exhausted from their own efforts, and rest their all against the "Door" — the Lord Jesus Christ — that they find the immediate release they so desperately seek.

You who today are weeping and straining every nerve to escape the clutches of Satan, just let go, and let God do that which your feverish trying will never accomplish. For having done all that is necessary to please God, the Savior now provides the only way to peace and Heaven. Lovingly He still invites men to stop struggling and to enter by faith into the liberating joys of His
free salvation!

Life's uncertain, death is sure;
Sin's the cause; Christ's the cure!
Man can't do it; Hell's in store;
God says, "Trust"; Christ's the Door! —Anon.

The "windows" of Heaven's blessing (Mal. 3:10), can only open to those who have first entered its "Door"!

John 10:22-30

Feelings and Doubting - A NEW Christian confided to another believer that he was doubting his salvation. "Yesterday I was filled with joy, and I thought I would never be in the dark again. But now it's all gone, and I'm in the depths. What's the matter with me?"

"Have you ever passed through a tunnel?" asked his friend.

"Sure," said the new believer.

"When you were in the tunnel, did you think the sun had been blotted out of the sky?"

"No, I knew it was there even though I couldn't see it." "Were you distressed when you were in the tunnel?" "No, I knew I'd soon be out in the light again."

"And did you get out?"

"Of course!" replied the new Christian. Then he paused as the truth dawned on him. "I see what you mean. God's promises remain the same no matter how I feel about myself. I should trust God, not my feelings!"

Emotions change. The tides of enthusiasm are often controlled by daily happenings. But based on what Christ has done and what the Bible says, we can have a settled assurance about our relationship with God. Tunnels are only temporary!

John 11

JOHN 11:17-37

Are You Afraid to Cry? - Tears are stronger than words and more binding than treaties. In 1947, President Harry S. Truman visited Chapaltepec Castle, the West Point of Mexico. A hundred years earlier, when U.S. Troops captured the citadel, only six cadets survived, and they all committed suicide rather than surrender. As Truman placed a wreath on the monument to the heroes and bowed his head, the cadets in the color guard burst into tears. Someone said that nothing did more to help cement the two countries together than the emotion expressed on that occasion.

Christians, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, can express their deepest agonies and noblest desires through tears. When mingled with prayer, trust, or compassion, tears become a most beautiful and ennobling expression of the believer's faith.

I have no doubt that Jesus delighted in life's wholesome joys and pleasures, even though Scripture does not mention His smiles or laughter. Yet He was so in touch with the heartbreaks of sin all around Him that He wept unashamedly at a tomb, shed tears over the unbelief of Jerusalem, and entered fully into the sorrows of sin-laden humanity.

Our Savior's tears encourage us to be true to our emotions, letting the Holy Spirit use them to overcome barriers and heal relationships. Moistened eyes often convey faith, honesty, caring, love. We cry be-cause hurting, hardened, unbelieving people need Jesus. And they just might meet Him through our tears. —D.J.D.

The soul could have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.

John 11:30-44

Miracle or Obedience - Jesus performed a mighty miracle in raising Lazarus from the dead. But He did not take away the stone from the door of the sepulcher, nor did He remove the grave clothes when His resurrected friend came out of the tomb, “bound hand and foot” (John 11:44). Commenting on this fact, J. Boyd Nicholson wrote, “Standing before the grave of Lazarus, whose body was corrupting, the Lord demanded something of those who longed for a miracle. They might have questioned, ‘Lord, You are going to raise the dead; why not move this heavy stone with but a word—a thought?’ Herein lies a great principle: The Lord will not do by a miracle what we are to do by obedience. Is there a stone He wants you to roll away? Is there some hard, unyielding attitude; someone you will not forgive; some unconfessed sin; some step of obedience He awaits? It is ours to obey, it is His to do the miracles.”

John 12

JOHN 12:12-19

Easy Does It! - It's Sunday morning, time for the electronic church in America. Thousands lounge in their living rooms watching television. Almost every channel carries a religious program. Some preachers proclaim a clear-cut gospel message. Others, however, pace before an enraptured audience, telling them that Jesus will heal all their diseases and make them rich. "He wants you well! Poverty is of the devil!" shouts the preacher. And the swelling of applause picks up where he leaves off. People love the "gospel" of prosperity and deliverance from sickness.

Now turn back the calendar to a Sunday morning around 33 A.D. The city is Jerusalem. There's no TV, but there is a preacher who stirs the hopes of an excited crowd. For three years He's been going about Judea and Galilee, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and even raising the dead. Now He rides into Jerusalem on a colt, gladly receiv­ing the acclaim of the crowd. But those who shout "Hosanna!" are accepting Him for what they think He will give them, not for who He is and what He came to do. They want an earthly Messiah who will provide for their material welfare, not a suffering Messiah whose death on the cross will expose their sin, provide forgiveness, and call for a life commitment.

Jesus didn't promise release from all the suffering in the world. But He did offer forgiveness, peace, eternal life, and a cross. Anything less than taking up that cross in serving Him is shallow allegiance.—D.J.D.

The word "easy" appears only once in the New Testament, and then in connection with yoke.

JOHN 12:27-36

"The Shadow of Death"- The Lord Jesus Christ was born into this world to die for our sin. In His youth and during His public ministry, the specter of the cross loomed before Him. He lived in its shadow, knowing that being about His Father's business (Luke 2:49) would lead Him eventually to drink the bitter cup of divine wrath (Luke 22:42).

Holman Hunt depicted the certainty of Christ's death in a painting titled "The Shadow of Death." It shows Jesus standing beside His workbench inside a carpenter's shop in Nazareth. He has laid down His saw and is lifting His eyes to heaven. His face is distorted, appar­ently with pain. He stretches, raising His arms to release the tension in His muscles. The evening sun, coming in through the open door, casts His shadow on the wall behind Him in the form of a cross. The tool rack runs parallel to the shadow of His outstretched arms. He looks as if He has been crucified. A woman, no doubt Mary, kneels on the floor, her hands positioned on a chest containing the precious gifts of the wise men. She seems shocked by the shadow of her Son as if He were on a cross.

This painting expresses the central truth that Jesus Christ came to earth to take away "the sin of the world" (John 1:29). He could do that only through bearing our sin "in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). We can rejoice because Jesus did not turn aside from living under the shadow of the cross. —D.C.E.

The nail-pierced hands of Jesus reveal the love-filled heart of God

JOHN 12:44-50

Are You Drowning? - If a man who couldn't swim fell into deep water and called for help, would you throw him a book called Five Easy Swimming Lessons? Shout encouragement? Or jump into the water and yell, "Just follow my example. I'll teach you to swim"? None of those actions would save the drowning man. He doesn't need a book, a motivational speech, or swimming lessons. He needs a savior, someone to reach him where he is, pull him out of his life-threatening circumstances, and deliver him to safety.

Our spiritual condition demands the same kind of action. The Bible says "all have sinned" (Rom. 3:23), and "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). Everyone born into this world is a sinner doomed to destruction. We cannot redeem ourselves by reading books about re­ligion, by trying harder to do right, nor by following the example of others. Our only hope of escape from sin's deadly embrace is Christ, who stooped down in grace to redeem the dying. The Bible says that "the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). He redeems all who trust in Him for salvation. Just as a drowning person must cease struggling and relax in the arms of his rescuer, we too must trust in the Lord Jesus.—R.W.D.

Christ believed is salvation received.

John 13

John 13:7

Spiritual Vision - The disciples did not always understand what Jesus said and did. Like the blind man of Bethsaida in our Scripture reading for today, their prophetic insight was as distorted as one who sees "men as trees walking." In John 13:7 Jesus tells them not to become confused or bewildered by the heartbreaking events that were to transpire. They were to proceed by faith, resting on the precious promise that "hereafter" they would comprehend His wise purposes.

There is an old Hebrew legend that tells of a rabbi journeying on a mule through a wild country. His only companion was a rooster whose shrill crowing at sunrise awoke him to his devotions. He came to a small town at nightfall and sought shelter, but the inhabitants turned him away. Outside the village he found a cave in which to sleep. He lit his lamp before retiring, but a gust of wind blew out the light. During the night a wolf killed his rooster and a lion devoured his mule. Early in the morning he went to the town to see if he could buy some food. To his surprise he found no one alive. A band of robbers during the night had plundered the settlement and killed all the inhabitants.

"Now I understand my troubles," said the rabbi. "If the townspeople had received me, I would now be dead. Had not my rooster and mule been killed their noise or the light of my lamp would have revealed my hiding place. God has been good to me."

Christian, trust the Lord's wise leading. You may not understand it all now, but you shall know "hereafter."

I know not now why schemes were spoiled
And lofty aspirations foiled;

I know not now why briars and thorn
Should mar ambitions nobly born.

Hereafter I shall know, shall see
These very things were best for me! —A.G.

We must TRUST God even when we cannot TRACE Him!

John 13:14

An Influencing Example - Albert Einstein once remarked, "Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means."

In washing the disciples' feet, Jesus shocked His followers. This was not the beginning of the first valet school; Jesus was not some water-basin wonder. With a towel around His waist, Jesus washed soiled feet, but He was more interested in dirty people than dusty toes.

The disciples had been vying for leadership positions, and Jesus played chief foot washer to clean their hearts rather than their feet. Knowing that He would be going away, Jesus acted as a servant to combat the hotshot attitudes of the disciples. He hoped they would recall and imitate His humility.

The Old Testament writers described Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, and Daniel as servants. Humble and caring leaders before God and others, they led without service charges.

In coming to this earth, Jesus became part of a long-running play, but He was not acting. He took the servant part for some thirty-three years to show people how to live (Philippians 2:7). Those who follow Him lead by example. They never make a grand entrance; they come in the service door, and others soon come after them.

John 13:15

Jesus Christ visibly demonstrated the love of God when He was on earth. In stooping to wash His disciples' feet, He mirrored the submis­sive step He had taken when He left heaven to become a man. He lived with the limitations of humanity, yet He healed the sick, reached out to the despised, and endured bitter hatred as His reward. He died like a criminal on a Roman cross. All of these things reflected God's love, for Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Jesus is no longer with us in His physical body—He now sits at God's right hand in heaven. Therefore, if God's love is to be embodied on earth today, it must be done through those of us who are Christians.

Not long ago, sixteen women from Evanston, Illinois, beautifully demonstrated God's love by rearranging their schedules to give round-the-clock nursing care to Martha, a 26-year-old woman with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease). They bathed her, fed her, talked with her, prayed for her, and witnessed to her. Martha, who had not accepted Christ as her Savior and couldn't under-stand how a loving God could let her get ALS, saw His love in these women and eventually became a Christian. Although feeble and unable to speak clearly, she gave a testimony of her faith and was baptized in a local church. A short time later, she died. She is with the Lord today because sixteen women, following Jesus' example, personified God's love. —H.V.L.

My life helps paint my neighbor's picture of God

John 13:31-35

Love Your Neighbor - In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis wrote, “Do not waste your time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.”

Spirit of Unity - During World War II, Hitler commanded all religious groups to unite so that he could control them. Among the Brethren assemblies, half complied and half refused. Those who went along with the order had a much easier time. Those who did not, faced harsh persecution. In almost every family of those who resisted, someone died in a concentration camp.

When the war was over, feelings of bitterness ran deep between the groups and there was much tension. Finally they decided that the situation had to be healed. Leaders from each group met at a quiet retreat. For several days, each person spent time in prayer, examining his own heart in the light of Christ’s commands. Then they came together.

Francis Schaeffer, who told of the incident, asked a friend who was there, “What did you do then?” “We were just one,” he replied. As they confessed their hostility and bitterness to God and yielded to His control, the Holy Spirit created a spirit of unity among them. Love filled their hearts and dissolved their hatred.

When love prevails among believers, especially in times of strong disagreement, it presents to the world an indisputable mark of a true follower of Jesus Christ.

JOHN 13:35

Do You Need a "Business" Card? - MANY Christians should carry ID cards saying, "I am a Christian." This is because their manner of living is so much like the world's that without some kind of identification you would never recognize them as being citizens of heaven.

C. H. Spurgeon apparently saw this inconsistency in some of the believers in his day, for he wrote,

"When I went to school, we drew such things as houses, horses, and trees, and used to write the word house under the picture of the house, and the word horse under the picture of the horse. Otherwise, some persons might have mistaken the house for a horse. So," Spurgeon continued, "there are some people who need to wear a label around their necks to show they are Christians, or else we might mistake them for sinners."

Jesus told His followers, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). In Matthew 12:33, He said, "a tree is known by its fruit." According to the apostle Paul, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-con­trol" (Galatians 5:22-23).

If we need identification cards to prove we are followers of Christ, maybe we're not.

John 14

JOHN 14:6

DRIVING in England can be stressful for Americans. British drivers sit on the right side of the car and drive on the left side of the road. Intersections called roundabouts are particularly confusing. No stoplights or stop signs. Before turning into one of these traffic circles, you have to know which lane takes you where you want to go. You stay in the outer lane if you are taking the first turn, the middle lane if you go halfway around, and the inside lane if you go three-quarters of the way around. If you get in the wrong lane, you may end up going down the wrong road or in circles.

The Lord spoke to His people Israel as if they were about to enter a British roundabout (Jeremiah 6:16). He told them to consider where they were going. He encouraged them to follow the good way, trusting Him as they had done in the past. But Israel refused to ask where the good way is. The result? Disaster!

Millions of people today make the same mistake. When faced with the decision of whether to live for God or for themselves, they choose themselves. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). After receiving Him as Savior, we must travel through life with Him in the driver's seat. His way is the only way to get where we want to go.

JOHN 14:12-31

God's "Quilt" - A theology student writing a term paper about confession meant to type, "When we confess our sins, He takes away our guilt." But the young man couldn't type too well, and when he came to the word guilt, he typed quilt by mistake. When the professor returned his paper, the student grinned as he read the marginal note: "Never fear, little one, you'll never freeze, because God gave us a Comforter."

Using his sense of humor, the professor had conveyed a marvelous truth. Jesus said that the Father would send the Comforter to abide with us forever. Pentecost fulfilled that promise (Acts 2:1-4). And ever since that historic day, the Holy Spirit has been faithfully carrying on His ministry in the lives of believers.

His comforting activities include: guiding us into truth (John 16:13), assuring us we are God's children (Rom. 8:16), helping us pray (Rom. 8:26), transforming us into Christ's image (2 Cor. 3:18), and strengthening us (Eph. 3:16).

Our response should be to learn all we can about Christ and by the Spirit put into action what we know. The Holy Spirit's purpose is always to glorify Christ, never to call attention to Himself.
Thank you, Father, for our Comforter. Help us not to grieve or quench Him. We face this day with confidence because of His blessed ministry in our lives.—D.J.D.

The Christian's heart is the Holy Spirit's home.

John 14:15

I Love You, Mother - When I was a little boy, my mother often recited to me Joy Allison’s simple yet profound poem. Although a bit old-fashioned, it captures the heart of today’s text about the true test of love:

“I love you, Mother,” said little John;
Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on,
And he was off to the garden swing,
Leaving his mother the wood to bring.

“I love you, Mother,” said little Nell;
“I love you better than tongue can tell!”
Then she teased and pouted half the day,
Till Mother rejoiced when she went to play.

“I love you, Mother,” said little Fran;
“Today I’ll help you all I can.”
To the cradle then she did softly creep,
And rocked the baby till it fell asleep.

Then stepping softly, she took the broom
And swept the floor and dusted the room;
Busy and happy all day was she,
Helpful and cheerful as she could be.

“I love you, Mother,” again they said,
Three little children going to bed.
How do you think that Mother guessed
Which of them really loved her best?

JOHN 14:27

Real Peace - When Australian pastor H. B. Macartney visited Hudson Taylor in China, he was amazed at the missionary's serenity in spite of his many burdens and busy schedule. Macartney finally mustered up the courage to say,

"You are occupied with millions, I with tens. Your letters are pressingly important, mine of comparatively little value. Yet I am worried and distressed while you are always calm. Tell me, what makes the difference?"

Taylor replied,

"I could not possibly get through the work I have to do without the peace of God which passes all understanding keeping my heart and mind."

Macartney later wrote,

"He was in God all the time, and God was in him. It was the true abiding spoken of in John 15."

When life becomes more like Macartney's than Taylor's, when we become tense, troubled, anxious, and fearful, and when we desire the peace Jesus promised, we must learn to abide in Christ as Hudson Taylor did. Abiding in Christ means to be in touch with' Him con­tinually so that the composure He experienced while on earth rules our lives. We need not agonize or plead or try to work up a certain feeling. The path to abiding in Him is that of confessing and rejecting all known sin, surrendering completely, and looking trustfully to the Lord Jesus for strength. It's continual dependence on Him.

We can enjoy the serenity of a peace-filled life if we will learn to abide in Christ. —H.V.L.

Peace floods the soul when Christ rules the heart

JOHN 14:25-31

Peace, A Precious Commodity - When Jesus was with His disciples in the upper room shortly before His crucifixion, He knew they would face turmoil and unrest in the days ahead. They would experience the distressing events of His be­trayal, arrest, execution, and burial. Then, after His resurrection and ascension, they would face long periods of hard work, opposition, ridicule, and persecution. So in the quiet of those final moments together, He gave them words of comfort: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 14:27).

Peace of mind and heart is still one of our most precious and needed commodities. In his book A Time to Heal, former President Gerald R. Ford repeated a story he had heard some years earlier. During the civil war in Greece in 1948, a villager was planning to emigrate to the United States. Before he left, he asked his weary, beleaguered, poverty-stricken neighbors, "What should I send when I get to America? Should I send money? Food? Clothing?" "No," one of his neighbors replied, "you should send us a ton of tranquillity."

When the burdens and pressures of life pile up on us, we, like those Greek patriots and Christ's disciples, need peace. We who know Jesus as Savior can trust Him to make good on His promise (John 14:27). When we stop to remember what He did for us on Calvary and rest in His loving arms, we will begin to experience the power of the Prince of Peace. —D.C.E.

Peace floods the soul when Christ rules the heart.

John 14:27

A dear friend of many years, Ethel La Botz, sent me a letter in which she wrote:

"As I was reading your devotional in Our Daily Bread called `The Peace Corps,' I was reminded of what a missionary in Brazil told me when we were there. Reared in a godless home, she was unhappy and dissatisfied with life. Then one day she noticed an advertisement for the Peace Corps. The thought came to her, that's what's missing in my life—peace. So she joined and was sent to Irian Jaya, but she soon realized she couldn't find what she was lacking. Through her work, however, she came in contact with an old Indian. He was different from anyone she had ever met. She inquired as to what caused his peace, joy, and contentment, and he told her that Jesus was in his heart. So she started reading the Bible. Through the Word and the witness of the Indian friend, she found the peace that only Christ can give."

That same peace is available to all who by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," said Paul in Romans 5:1.

Those who have peace with God can also experience the peace of God. This is what John 14 is all about. The Bible says,

"Let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7).

Yes, in this troubled world we can find peace—the wonderful, satis­fying peace of God! —R.W.D.

No God, no peace. Know God, know peace

John 15

JOHN 15:1-7

Pour it In! - The Word of God has cleansing power. One of the surest ways to live a victorious Christian life is to bathe ourselves daily in the purifying principles of the Bible—by reading it, studying it, and obeying it.

A woman in a pagan area of the world became a believer and began attending Bible classes taught by the missionary who had led her to Christ. The teacher soon became discouraged because the new convert seemed to forget everything she was taught. One day the missionary remarked impatiently to the young Christian, "Sometimes I wonder what's the use trying to teach you anything. You forget it all anyway. You remind me of a strainer. Everything I pour into your mind runs right through." The student quickly responded, "I may not recall everything, but just as water passes through a strainer and makes it clean, what you have taught me from the Bible helps make me clean. I need that. That's why I keep coming back." The forgetful new Chris­tian may not have retained all of the missionary's instruction, but as the truths of the Bible "poured through" her mind, she felt its cleansing effect.

It's important for us to be in God's Word every day—but even more important for the Word to be in us, where its purifying power can do its most effective work. —R.W.D.

If we pore over God's Word, His cleansing power will pour through us.

JOHN 15:7

A MAN purchased a lottery ticket that would pay him $100,000 if it turned out to be the lucky one. He asked my friend, a pastor, to pray that his number would be picked so he could give one-tenth of his winnings to the Lord. My friend hes­itated, then said, "All right, but first let me ask you this: Are you willing to give God the same percentage of your present weekly income?" The fellow looked surprised and dismayed. "B-b-but I need that to live on," he stammered.

This man's seemingly spiritual request was merely a cover-up for selfishness, and God doesn't honor such prayers.

Scripture verses like Matthew 21:22, "whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive," are not sweepstakes prom­ises that cater to our selfish nature, nor are they tickets to wealth and success.

While the Bible contains many statements about God's will­ingness to hear and answer our prayers, John 15:7 defines the condition: We must live in fellowship with Christ and cherish His words in our hearts.

The more we study God's Word, know the mind of Christ, and desire His will, the more we'll pray with right motives—and the more answers to prayer we'll see.

John 15:27

The "Go" in the Gospel? - The other evening I heard a man on the radio emphatically state that he did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I could sense that he had a real feeling of scorn for those who do. Prominent men in public places have also expressed their con-tempt for "born-againers." This is typical of the general attitude toward orthodox Christians and the truths they confess. Although the worldling may not show personal animosity toward a believer, yet he looks upon him as "narrow" or "bigoted." While he may treat Christians in a rather cordial manner, the fact remains that the worldly man is against us. We can never know when this secret hostility will flame out into violent persecution.

In the face of the world's hatred what are we to do? The an­swer is: witness! We are not to return "evil for evil," or retort in scorn to their words of contempt. As graciously and as sweetly as God enables us, we are to give to them a message of life. We will be greatly helped if we bear in mind the words of the Lord Jesus: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). The world rejected Jesus Christ. Few homes opened their doors to Him and His small band of followers. The multitude enjoyed the scene as the Roman soldiers mocked Him, spit upon Him, and pressed the crown of thorns upon His head. They cried out for His death, and taunted Him as He hung in agony on the cross. Let us never forget this, for "the servant is not greater than his Lord!"

By God's grace, let us then be patient with men as they some-times mistreat us. Let us be careful too not to bring down vio­lence upon ourselves by antagonizing the world needlessly through words or actions that do not reflect the spirit of our Lord. Faith-fully, graciously, and tactfully let us witness concerning the trans-forming grace of God which is available through Jesus Christ.

Though the world may scorn and hate us,
And the devil strong oppose,
We must tell the lost of Jesus —
That He died, and for them 'rose! — Anon.

Every Christian must witness, for there is an impelling GO in the Gospel!

John 16

JOHN 16:7

ONE of the ironies of sports is that teams sometimes perform better after a key player gets hurt. In the fall of 1991, the Detroit Lions lost one of their starting offensive linemen, Mike Utley, to a paralyzing spinal injury. Yet even in his absence, he spurred them on.

Wearing T-shirts in Utley's honor under their jerseys and with his number printed on their uniforms, the Lions pounded their next opponent. After the game, the players credited their rousing win to a spirit of unity and determination in honor of their miss­ing teammate.

In the first century, Jesus' departure from this earth could have demoralized His followers. But it didn't. Although Jesus was no longer with them in body, the Christians soon had a power that could defeat any foe. And it was far more significant than the spirit of an injured teammate. It was the energizing presence of the Holy Spirit of God.

We are in a battle every day. Either we can ignore the Spirit's help and let our sinful desires defeat us, or we can walk in the Spirit and enjoy love, joy, peace, and all the other benefits of spir­itual victory.—JDB

John 16:24

Alexander the Great - Among those who served in the court of Alexander the Great was a famous philosopher who had outstanding ability but little money. He asked Alexander for financial help and was told he could draw whatever cash he needed from the imperial treasury. When he submitted to the treasurer a request for an amount equal to $50,000, he was promptly refused. The treasurer had to verify that such a large sum was indeed authorized. But when he asked Alexander, the ruler replied, “Pay the money at once. The philosopher has done me a singular honor. By the largeness of his request he shows that he has understood both my wealth and generosity.”

Our Daily Bread

John 17

John 17:16

The Frogman  - The water spider is an amazing little creature. Called the frogman of the spider world, it lives in rivers and streams. How does this fascinating species survive in its watery environment? It spins a tough basket-like web of silk, a kind of diving bell, and anchors it under water to plants or other objects. Then it captures a surface air bubble, which it pulls down and ejects into it’s underwater house, filling it with air. This combination of web building and bubble trapping allows the water spider to live in an environment that normally would destroy it.

As Christians, we too live in an environment that could destroy us. The world’s values, attitudes, and practices threaten to drown us unless we are able to protect ourselves from them. How are we to survive spiritually in this hostile worldly environment? We must build a “bubble” of protection around ourselves by studying the Scriptures, praying, fellowshipping with believers, communing with the Holy Spirit, trusting God, and obeying His Word. These activities will insulate our minds and help to keep us safe and secure.

As the water spider lives in the water but is not of the water, so we must live in but not be of the world.

John 17:4

Salvation Army - Miriam Booth, daughter of the founder of the Salvation Army, was a brilliant and cultured woman who began her Christian work with great promise and unusual success. Very soon, however, disease brought her to the point of death. A friend told her it seemed a pity that a woman of her capabilities should be hindered by sickness from doing the Lord’s work. With deep insight and gently grace, Miriam replied, “It’s wonderful to do the Lord’s work, but it’s greater still to do the Lord’s will!”

Commenting on John 17:4, blind minister and hymn writer George Matheson said, “Was the work of the Master indeed done? Was not His heaviest task yet to come? He had not yet met the dread hour of death. Why did He say, then, that His work was done? It was because He knew that when the will is given, the battle is ended! . The cup which our Father gives us to drink is a cup of the will. It is easy for the lips to drain it when once the heart has accepted it . The act is easy after the choice.”

John 19

John 19:1-16

Life’s Two Magnitudes - A great mathematician once said that he was not concerned about spiritual matters until he vividly saw life’s “two magnitudes - the shortness of time and the vastness of eternity.” When this truth came home to him, he became a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ.

If Pilate had considered these two realities, he would not have condemned Jesus to die on the cross. He knew that the Savior was innocent of the charged against Him. He even had an uneasy feeling that Jesus was not just an ordinary man. but his desire to keep his high government post was greater than his determination to do right. Actually, he obtained little earthly benefit from his decision. The church father Eusebius, quoting from Greek historians, said that Pilate fell out of favor with his superiors and committed suicide before A.D. 40 - less than 10 years after his fateful decree. Since we have no indication that he ever repented of his sin and trusted Christ as his personal Savior, we must assume he died in a lost and hopeless condition. He had not reckoned with the “shortness of time and the vastness of eternity.”

JOHN 19:25-30

How Will You Finish? - In 1981 Bill Broadhurst entered the Pepsi Challenge 10,000-meter road race in Omaha, Nebraska. Ten years earlier, surgery for a brain aneurysm left him paralyzed on his left side. But on a misty July morning, he stood with 1,200 lithe-looking men and women at the starting line. The gun cracked. The crowd surged ahead. Bill threw his stiff left leg forward and pivoted on it as his right foot hit the ground. His slow plop-plop-plop rhythm seemed to mock him as the pack disappeared into the distance. Sweat rolled down his face, pain pierced his ankle, but he kept going. Six miles, two hours, and twenty-nine minutes later, Bill reached the finish line. A man approached from a small group of bystanders. Bill recognized him from pictures in the newspaper.

"Here," the man said. "You've worked harder for this than I have."

With those words, Bill Rodgers, the famous marathon runner, put his newly won medal around Broadhurst's neck, proclaiming him a winner.

The sight of Jesus hanging "helpless" on a cross looked like a tragic defeat. But three little words from His lips amounted to a victory shout: "It is finished!" Three days later the truth of His words would be known. The empty tomb confirmed His claim. He had finished His work by defeating death and atoning for sin.

The Christian life is not a race to see who comes in first, but an endurance run to see who finishes faithfully. Remaining faithful to the finish makes us true winners. —D.J.D.

We are judged by what we finish, not by what we start.

John 20

JOHN 20:26-31