The test

Submitted by staff on Sun, 11/01/2020 - 05:00

Read Genesis 22:1-2

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

Why? Why would a good and loving God ask an obedient and faithful man to do this? The answer can be found in the original language of Moses, the inspired,human author of Genesis. The Hebrew word nasah, translated "tested" in Genesis 22:1, has the idea of proving the quality of something, usually by putting it through a trial of some kind. God wanted to prove the validity— the authenticity — of Abraham's faith.

Holding too tightly

Submitted by staff on Sat, 10/31/2020 - 05:00

Read Genesis 22:1-2

ABRAHAM | SAMUEL | SAUL

Each of our children grew to become a self-sustaining, responsible servant of Jesus Christ, in his or her own way. As God intended from the beginning, wereleasedthem to follow their destinies.

An urgent charge

Submitted by staff on Fri, 10/30/2020 - 05:00

 

Read 2 Timothy 4:1-16

PAUL

Paul wrote with urgency, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and ofChrist Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (4:1-2). In other words, stick with the preaching plan God has promised to bless and use. Deliver the biblical goods! Be a man or woman of the Word!

Anchor of reality

Submitted by staff on Thu, 10/29/2020 - 04:24

Read Acts 27:39-44

PAUL

All those going through a storm need to be engaged in the process. No one is promised a magical escape clause. Passivity is faith's enemy. It isn't an acceptable option to fold our arms and wait for the storm to pass.

Anchor of renewal

Submitted by staff on Wed, 10/28/2020 - 05:00

Read Acts 27:33-38

PAUL

Can you imagine fighting a storm for two weeks and getting virtually no nourishment? That's what the men on Paul's ship experienced. Even more amazing, that's how most people respond to life's storms. We run our tanks dry fighting the battles on our own, and we end up physically weak, emotionally drained, and unable to sleep. The anchor of renewal guards against that sort of anatomical depletion. Instead, Paul encouraged the men to eat and be renewed. But first, he prayed. They all prayed!

Anchor of unity

Submitted by staff on Tue, 10/27/2020 - 05:00

Read Acts 27:27-32

PAUL

The scene breathed life-threatening fears. Imaginations ran wild. Paul knew that staying together was the secret to their survival. The temptation was strong to abandon ship and let each person fend for himself. That's no way to survive a storm. As the water grew shallower, fear of shipwreck intensified. But Paul warned that allowing the men to escape meant certain death.

Anchor of stability

Submitted by staff on Mon, 10/26/2020 - 05:00

 

 

Read Acts 27:1-26

PAUL

The anchor of stability holds firm when your navigation system fails. It's easy to lose your bearings in the storm. You can't find your way through the circumstances you face. Life rolls along fairly smoothly until suddenly the seas grow rough. Unseen problems occur. They were not in the forecast. In Luke's words, "All hope of our being saved" is abandoned.

Those are treacherous moments when we reach the point of abandoning hope. At that difficult, gut-wrenching moment, God says, "Don't be afraid, I have a plan."

Subscribe to Daily Devotionals