“Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other.” (Colossians 3:16a NLT)

Mission — Every day you teach people about God. You may teach Truth or you may teach mythology; either way you teach. You teach others that God is faithful or that he can’t be trusted, and you do that by reflecting faith in God, or by behaving as if he can’t be trusted.

As if.

Some of us carry a myth in our minds that the only people who can teach are the gifted or the professional, yet the Apostle Paul says, “I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other.” (Romans 15:14b NCV)

Certainly teaching includes unpacking Bible stories and giving theological insight, but we also teach as we model biblical behavior when it comes to the stuff of life, such as how to love/respect your spouse, how to make godly decisions, how to keep our thought-life pure, or how to get out of debt.

That means we become teachers when we tell, show, reflect how God is working in our lives, and we become teachers when we respond, act, walk as if Jesus himself were living through us (and he is – Romans 8:9-11). By watching you, others will see what “Christ in you” looks like in another human being. (Colossians 1:27 NIV)

So what?

· Being a living teacher makes you wise – Paul says, “Let the words of Christ live in your heart.” You need to know God’s Word before you can teach it through study or by living it. By hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the words of Christ, they’ll take root in your heart, and this will make you wise. (Romans 15:14b NCV)

· God’s wisdom over conventional wisdom – Too often we look to the world’s conventional wisdom when we’re seeking answers, yet the Truth is found only in God’s wisdom.

Question: What wisdom has the Lord blessed you with that you can share with others?

About this Author: Jon Walker

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8, NKJV)

God gave Joshua three things to do that would assure him that his way would be prosperous and that he would have good success. First, he was to keep God’s Word in his mouth so he would have the truth and the sure knowledge of the difference between right and wrong.  This would give him guidance and direction in the decisions he would have to make. This same Word was also a plethora of promises that he could draw upon in his time of need, and a weapon (sword of the Word) that he could use in the face of battle.

Secondly, he was to meditate on the Word day and night. Meditating is like a cow chewing on its cud. As we go about the day the Word of God comes back to mind and we further mull it over (chew on it), breaking down its contents, and consider how it applies to our own circumstances. As we digest the Word, revelation and insights are the result, and our understanding is opened up as the Word starts to become part of us, energize us, and give us strength.

Thirdly, God commanded Joshua to “observe to do” what is written in the Word. It is the action in response to the Word that actually demonstrates that we believe what we read, and brings the whole process to fruition in our lives.

So let the Word of God be richly in your mouth, speak it out, read it out, pray it out, declare it over yourself, your family and your community; think on it, digest it, let it become a part of you; and act on it to see the end result of God making your way prosperous and giving you good success.

“Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.” (Psalm 119:92, NJKV)

Question: Which of these three “keys” do you find most difficult, and why?

About this Author: Emmie Stanley

Quiet heroes dot the landscape of our society. They don’t wear ribbons or kiss trophies; they wear spit-up and kiss boo-boos. They don’t make the headlines, but they do sew the hemlines and check the outlines and stand on the sidelines. You won’t find their names on the Nobel Prize short list, but you will find their names on the homeroom, carpool, and Bible teacher lists.

They are parents, both by blood and deed, name and calendar. Heroes. News programs don’t call them. But that’s okay. Because their kids do … They call them Mom. They call them Dad. And these moms and dads, more valuable than all the executives and lawmakers west of the Mississippi, quietly hold the world together.

Be numbered among them. Read books to your kids. Play ball while you can and they want you to. Make it your aim to watch every game they play, read every story they write, hear every recital in which they perform.

Children spell love with four letters: T-I-M-E. Not just quality time, but hang time, downtime, anytime, all the time. Your children are not your hobby; they are your calling.

Your spouse is not your trophy but your treasure.

Don’t pay the price David paid. Look ahead to his final hours. To see the ultimate cost of a neglected family, look at the way our hero dies.

David is hours from the grave. A chill has set in that blankets can’t remove. Servants decide he needs a person to warm him, someone to hold him tight as he takes his final breaths.

Do they turn to one of his wives? No. Do they call on one of his children? No. They seek “for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel … and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her” (1 Kings 1:3–4).

I suspect that David would have traded all his conquered crowns for the tender arms of a wife. But it was too late. He died in the care of a stranger, because he made strangers out of his family.

But it’s not too late for you.

Make your wife the object of your highest devotion. Make your husband the recipient of your deepest passion. Love the one who wears your ring.

And cherish the children who share your name.

Succeed at home first.

Question: What are some of the mundane activities can sometimes come between us and what’s most important in our lives?

About this Author: Max Lucado

Please open your Bible and read John 3:1-15.

Did you ever think of God as “up close and personal”? Instead of being distant and unapproachable, the Creator of the universe has constantly sought to come near to us. In order to save us, He chose to identify with us; He also made it possible for His Spirit to indwell us as our counselor and guide. God extends to everyone a personal invitation for an intimate relationship with Him and to follow Him closely.

If we look at His call to many people throughout Scripture’s recorded history, it’s clear that this is not a general, vague offer. (Jeremiah 1:5) God desires that you seek Him with all your heart so that you would find Him and the future He has planned for you. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

But before anything else, God’s first call to any of us is a call to salvation – He wants us to open the door of our heart so that He can cleanse us and do a transforming work in our lives. He calls you as an individual to receive His love, His forgiveness, and a new identity through spiritual rebirth.

Your eternal destiny depends upon your decision to answer His call with an open heart. To say “yes” is to embark on the adventure of a new life full of purpose – the life with Him that you were created to live. Have you responded to this incredible call on your life? If you have, reaffirm your commitment to Him. If haven’t answered His call yet, make today your spiritual birthday by receiving Jesus as your personal Savior and making Him the Lord of your life.

Question: Do you have an intimate relationship with God?

About this Author: Charles Stanley

Are you confused and have too many responsibilities? One of our mentors would like to listen to you.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

Susan sat by the window with her pen and paper on her lap.  A few quiet moments were hers to contemplate the things going on her life right now!  Today she found herself a bit anxious about the future.  She felt less in control then ever before.  She jotted down some definite actions she would make a point of pursuing.

She made a quick list of the things beyond work and home responsibilities that she had committed to.  She knew she needed to be deliberate in her choices to continue in some and not in others.  She paused to ask God to guide her in her choices and her plans.  He knew every detail of her live and He was the one who could give her direction.

As she prayed a verse came to her mind.  She thumbed through her Bible looking for it.  It brought a perspective to her mind and heart.  A perspective that put life into bite size, manageable pieces.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”  (Colossians 3:17).

Whether the big picture ahead brings you excitement or anxiousness, God gives a formula to live by daily.  He tells us that in whatever we say or do we should consider our words and actions to be representing Jesus and to display a thankful attitude.

Try it. Take your day one conversation and one action at a time.  Recognize yourself as a representative of Jesus and His love and values as you move through your workplace and your home.  Ask Him to cultivate thankfulness in your heart even in the situations that frustrate you.  You will be surprised at the peace He gives as you hold His hand throughout each part of today. It will carry you, step by step and day by day, throughout the planned and the unplanned events of your life. It will revolutionize your days!!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me just the way I am today.  Father God, You know the things that I need to change. You know the things that excite me and the things that worry me.  Thank you that You give me instruction in Your Word about how to face each new day.  I ask You today to help me speak and act in a way that represents You to those around me.  Father, there are people and situations that annoy and frustrate me. Please help me to cultivate a thankful heart even in the midst of frustrating moments. Help me to live, in everything today, in the peace that following You brings to my soul.  Guide me I pray. In Jesus name, Amen.

Questions: Is your life in a state of confusion? Why? How can you start to get your days more manageable and less hectic?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

“Free Flight: Rio de Janeiro to Miami, Florida.”

I wasn’t the only person to hear about the offer but one of the few to phone and request details. The courier service offered an airline ticket to anyone willing to carry a bag of mail to the States.

No company makes such offers anymore. But this was 1985- years before intense airport security. My dad was dying of ALS, and airline tickets were expensive. Free tickets? The offer sounded too good to be true.

So I walked away from it.

Many do the same with John 3:16. Millions read the verse. Only a handful trust it. Wary of a catch perhaps? Not needy enough maybe? Cautioned by guarded friends?

I was. Other Rio residents saw the same offer. Some read it and smelled a rat. “Don’t risk it,” one warned me. “Better to buy your own ticket.”

But I couldn’t afford one. Each call home to Mom brought worse news. “The doctor says it’s time to call hospice.”

So I revisited the flyer. Desperation heightened my interest. Doesn’t it always?

When desperation typhoons into your world, God’s offer of a free flight home demands a second look. John 3:16 morphs from a nice verse into a life vest.

Some of you are wearing it. You can recount the day you put it on. These words have kept you company through multiple windswept winters. I pray they warm you through the ones that remain.

Others of you are still studying the flyer. Still pondering the possibility, wrestling with the promise. One day wondering what kind of fool offer this is, the next wondering what kind of fool would turn it down.

I urge you not to. Don’t walk away from this one. Who else can get you home? Take Jesus’ offer. Get on board. You don’t want to miss the chance to see your Father.

Thanks to the courier folks, I was present at my father’s death. Thanks to God, he’ll be present at yours. He cares too much not to be.

Believe in him and you
will . . .
not . . .
perish.

You will have life, eternal life, forever.

From 3:16, The Numbers of Hope
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2007) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: What do you think causes a lot of people to reject God’s gracious offer of salvation?

About this Author: Max Lucado

Good Health: Body, Soul and Spirit
Did you know that our bodily, emotional and spiritual health are closely connected? Well, they are. If we guard our bodily health, it helps promote clear thinking and good emotional health, which are beneficial to our soul. If we seek to have good spiritual health, the resultant peace and joy will keep our bodies well and our emotions in line. Read more.

Take action: Do you ever find your life unfulfilling? Explore this topic in our online interactive study “Struggling with Contentment“.

You said it: This week Rysheda shared on the Knowing Christ women’s devotional, saying “I need to stop putting everything else in front of Christ and list him to be #1 in my life. I must surrender my life 100% and lean more on Jesus Christ. I need to start prayer and seeking God face more.” Read the rest of the comments on Knowing Christ, and join the conversation on the Devotional for Men and Devotional for Women, each updated daily!

Blog: Thanksgiving Reversal
Even though Thanksgiving is now over (for Canadians, anyways) a word or act of encouragement can uplift the spirit. Read more

Devotional: A Clean Slate
God knew the desire of Kelly’s heart to change. He used a Bible verse that was in a greeting card to remind her how to make a lasting change. The words flew off the card and went straight to her heart. Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Heartfelt Longings” Join us in the chat room October 18th 2009 @ 12:15pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

Two of our three daughters were born in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We lived in the North Zone, separated from our doctor’s office and hospital by a tunnel-pierced mountain range. During Denalyn’s many months of pregnancy, we made the drive often.

We didn’t complain. Signs of life do a samba on every street corner. Copacabana and her bathers. Ipanema and her coffee bars. Gavea and her glamour. We never begrudged the South Zone forays. But they sure did bewilder me. I kept getting lost. I’m directionally challenged anyway, prone to take a wrong turn between the bedroom and the bathroom. Complicate my disorientation with randomly mapped three-hundred-year-old streets, and I don’t stand a chance.

I had one salvation. Jesus. Literally, Jesus. The Christ the Redeemer statue. The figure stands guard over the city, one hundred twenty-five feet tall with an arm span of nearly a hundred feet. More than a thousand tons of reinforced steel. The head alone measures ten feet from chin to scalp. Perched a mile and a half above sea level on Corcovado Mountain, the elevated Jesus is always visible. Especially to those who are looking for it. Since I was often lost, I was often looking. As a sailor seeks land, I searched for the statue, peering between the phone lines and rooftops for the familiar face. Find him and find my bearings.

John 3:16 offers you an identical promise. The verse elevates Christ to thin-air loftiness, crowning him with the most regal of titles: “One and Only Son.”

Do what I did in Rio. Seek him out. Lift up your eyes, and set your sights on Jesus. No passing glances or occasional glimpses. Enroll in his school. Make him your polestar, your point of reference. Search the crowded streets and shadow-casting roofs until you spot his face, and then set your sights on him.

You’ll find more than a hospital.

You’ll find the Only One and Only.

From 3:16, The Numbers of Hope
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2007) Max Lucado
Used by permission.

Question: If you only had a few minutes to share about God with someone, what would you tell them?

About this Author: Max Lucado

“He (David) said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers houses of the Levites, sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.” 1 Chronicles 15:12-13, NKJV

As David was established as king over Israel, it was his heart’s desire to bring the ark of God back to Jerusalem. He gathered together all of the leaders to discuss it with them, and then announced to all of Israel that “if it seemed good to them” they would go and bring back the ark. All the people agreed as it was “right in their eyes.” So they gathered together, placed the ark on a new cart, which was pulled by oxen and driven by Uzza and Ahio. They played music, and sang and praised with all their might. But as they came upon Chidon’s threshing floor, disaster hit! The oxen stumbled, Uzza put out his hand to steady the ark, which aroused the anger of the Lord, who then struck Uzza dead. David was afraid of God after that and wondered how he would be able to bring the ark back (1 Chronicles 13:1-12).

David started out with a good idea, likely it was even an idea that God had set in his heart, and he had the agreement of all the leaders and of all the people. However, he did not consult God on the “when, where, and how” to follow through with this plan, and Uzza ended up dead. Sometimes God sets something in our hearts and we all know it is the right thing to do, but we fail to wait on Him for the right time, and His specific instructions for the task. It can be so easy to see God’s intended end result, and then take it upon ourselves to figure out how we will accomplish it. Properly done, the Ark was to be bore on poles on the shoulders of the Levites, and their brethren (Levites) were to be the appointed singers and musicians (1 Chronicles 15:2, 12, 15, 16). The things of God are holy, and how we handle them can make a significant difference in the outcome. When we wait on Him and do it His way, we will have good success.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12, NJKV

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5, NKJV

Question: Why is it important to consult God’s word before making important decisions?

About this Author: Emmie Stanley

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for January 18th, PM.

Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:27

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus certainly had an unexpectedly rewarding journey! Their companion and teacher was the best of tutors. His interpretation was better than all others, and in his thoughts hide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The Lord Jesus humbled himself to become a preacher of the gospel, and He was not ashamed to preach before an audience of two. Today, he’s still willing and able to do the same, and won’t refuse to become the teacher of even a single individual!

This unrivaled tutor used as His textbook the absolute best of all books. Although able to reveal fresh truth, He preferred to explain the old truths. He knew the most instructive way of teaching, and by starting with Moses and the prophets, He showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reasoning, or reading human books, but meditation on the Word of God. The way to be spiritually rich in heavenly knowledge is to dig in this mine of diamonds. When Jesus wanted to enrich others, He mined the quarry of Holy Scripture.

The pair on the Emmaus road were led to consider the best of subjects, for Jesus spoke of Jesus, and “explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27) The diamond cut the diamond, and what could be more admirable? The Master of the House unlocked His own doors, and led his guests to His favorite table. Our Lord spoke naturally about the sweetest of topics, and He could find none sweeter than His own divine identity and work.

We should always take the time to search God’s Word, for there we will find the Lord Jesus, who is at the same time both our teacher and our lesson!

Question: Have you been spending much time in God’s Word lately? If not, how can you make time or find a better place or way to study God’s word? (We offer short interactive Bible studies if you feel those might help you.)

About this Author: Charles Spurgeon