Read the first verse of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus knew David’s ways. He witnessed the adultery, winced at the murders, and grieved at the dishonesty. But David’s failures didn’t change Jesus’ relation to David. The initial verse of the first chapter of the first gospel calls Christ “the son of David” (Matthew 1:1, KJV). The title contains no disclaimers, explanations, or asterisks. I’d have added a footnote: “This connection in no way offers tacit approval to David’s behavior.” No such words appear. David blew it. Jesus knew it. But he claimed David anyway.

He did for David what my father did for my brother and me.

Back in our elementary school days, my brother received a BB gun for Christmas. We immediately set up a firing range in the backyard and spent the afternoon shooting at an archery target. Growing bored with the ease of hitting the circle, my brother sent me to fetch a hand mirror. He placed the gun backward on his shoulder, spotted the archery bull’s-eye in the mirror, and did his best Buffalo Bill imitation. But he missed the target. He also missed the storehouse behind the target and the fence behind the storehouse. We had no idea where the BB pellet flew. Our neighbor across the alley knew, however. He soon appeared at the back fence, asking who had shot the BB gun and who was going to pay for his sliding-glass door.

At this point I disowned my brother. I changed my last name and claimed to be a holiday visitor from Canada. My father was more noble than I. Hearing the noise, he appeared in the backyard, freshly rousted from his Christmas Day nap, and talked with the neighbor.

Among his words were these:
“Yes, they are my children.”
“Yes, I’ll pay for their mistakes.”

Christ says the same about you. He knows you miss the target. He knows you can’t pay for your mistakes. But he can. “God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins” (Romans 3:25, NLT).

Since he was sinless, he could.

Since he loves you, he did. “This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:10, NLT).

He became one of us to redeem all of us. “Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11, NCV).

He wasn’t ashamed of David. He isn’t ashamed of you. He calls you brother; he calls you sister. The question is, do you call him Savior?

From Facing Your Giants
© (W Publishing Group, 2006) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: Are we sometimes “ashamed of Christ” when we are talking with non-Christians? (See Mark 8:38)

About this Author: Max Lucado

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

Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.

“Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.” Job 10:2, KJV

If today you are tired, worn down, and acutely feeling the pressures of daily life, perhaps the Lord is doing this to develop your graces. Some of your graces would never be discovered if it we didn’t face trials in our lives.

Do you realize that your faith never looks as grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a firefly, showing little light except when it is in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star, not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black foils in which God sets the jewels of His children’s graces, to make them shine even greater.

It may have been only a little while ago that, on your knees, you were saying, “Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith.” Were you not really, though perhaps unknowingly, praying for trials? For how can you know that you have faith until your faith is tested? God often sends us trials so that our graces may be discovered, and that we may know for sure of their existence.

It is not merely discovery. Real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His children, not in dwellings of ease and luxury, but by using them in hard service. He makes them cross through streams, swim through rivers, climb mountains, and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow on their shoulders. Could this sanctification account for the troubles you are facing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why He is contending with you?

“Trials make the promise sweet; Trials give new life to prayer; Trials bring me to His feet, Lay me low, and keep me there.”

Question: Do you know someone who’s been going through trials who might appreciate hearing this message?

About this Author: Charles Spurgeon

Are you struggling with feelings of sadness, loneliness or despair? Facing challenges you think you can’t survive?  Talk to someone who is ready to listen.

Do you get tired of the struggles and challenges in your life? I do, sometimes. It seems like there always are challenges in our lives. Our own agendas, health issues, busy schedules to name a few. Maintaining a home is a never-ending job. You get one thing fixed and then there is another. There are often stressful situations within our families or place of employment.

However, God has given us encouragement in His Word. In Isaiah 41:10, we read, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” It is a comfort to know we don’t have to be afraid or dismayed because God is always with us. He will strengthen us, help us, and hold our hand as He walks with us through the challenges of life.

God may try to get our attention by allowing trials and challenges to come into our lives. They often cause us to be still and listen to God’s voice. Many times, we are so busy with our own agendas, families, responsibilities, and activities that we do not take time for God. Our hearts need nourishment from God’s Word to persevere.

The natural thing is to protect ourselves from pain, disappointment, or discouragement. It does not matter if we are children or adults we all face challenges. They just look different. Humanly, we want to avoid stressful situations and pray, “Don’t let anything bad happen to me.” To which the Lord may say, “I need to allow disappointment, pain, and failure. I want you to learn to trust me more when you are afraid and troubled so I can walk with you. Then I will pour my blessings on you.”

God may allow challenging situations in our lives for a purpose—to develop our character and spiritual growth. Trials and challenges are inevitable. We must learn to expect them, submit to them, and learn from them. The challenges we face are not meant to destroy us. They are exercises designed to make us strong enough to fulfill our God-given assignments. God also wants to reveal His deep love for us through our trials. Trials help us move from theoretical faith to practical faith. Let’s pray we will see our challenges as spiritual exercises designed to make us become stronger spiritually and as a person.

When we are overwhelmed with a challenge, we have material for a miracle. If we invite God to get involved, follow His directions we will see amazing results.

God has created each of us for a unique purpose and given us a God-given assignment. He wants us to trust and obey Him, developing an intimate relationship with Him, as we walk through our journey of life. However, often we walk away from Him and take our own route, which leads to additional trials and challenges.

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to:
•    Expect, submit, and learn from my trials and challenges.
•    Trust You when I am afraid or troubled.
•    Cast all my anxieties on You because You care for me.
•    Understand, accept, and be motivated to pursue my God-given     assignments.
•    Trust You to provide the resources to fulfill my God-given assignments.

Question: Do you see your challenges as steps to spiritual growth for your God-given assignment? Explain.

About the Author Lillian Penner

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

It’s been statistically proven that out of the 162 Major League baseball games that make up a full season of play, every team will win at least 60 games and lose at least 60 games. In other words, the worst team will still manage to win 60 games, and the best team will still manage to lose 60. It’s what happens with the other 42 that makes or breaks a season. It’s an interesting way to think about a baseball season and another reason why I think baseball is a lot like life.

Winning teams experience a lot of losses. Losing teams experience a significant amount of wins. For 120 games out of 162, everybody looks the same. That’s almost 75% of the season. It’s what happens with the remaining 25% that makes the difference between a champion and a cellar-dweller.

Life is all about ups and downs. We’re all going to have good days and bad days. Winners don’t win all the time; losers don’t lose all the time. In fact, most of the time, it’s hard to tell the difference. You can’t make one’s experience the judge of everything. Pretty much all of sports tells us that winning is only a slight edge.

So what’s the point of this for us? Experience isn’t everything. If you’re having a hard day, be patient, things are about to change. If you are cruising on top of things, enjoy it, because things are about to change. Change is the one constant for all of us, and those who are best prepared for it will have the best experience. If you expect things to always go well and get upset when they don’t, you’re in for making tough times tougher. If you are simply grateful for what each day brings, you will fare much better in the long run.

Paul revealed the secret for making it through his “season” of life. “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-13).

It is a way to live that evens out the wins and the losses. It even leaves the wins and losses up to God. Don’t you remember that coach who taught you as a kid that it’s not all about winning or losing, but how you play the game that counts?

Question: How do you measure the “wins” and “loses” in your life?

About this Author: John Fischer

The key question in life is not “How strong am I?” but rather “How strong is God?”

Focus on his strength, not yours. Occupy yourself with the nature of God, not the size of your biceps.

That’s what God told Moses to do. Remember the conversation at the burning bush? The tone was set in the first sentence. “Take off your sandals because you are standing on holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). With these eleven words Moses is enrolled in a class on God. Immediately the roles are defined. God is holy. Approaching him on even a quarter-inch of leather is too pompous. … No time is spent convincing Moses what Moses can do, but much time is spent explaining to Moses what God can do.

You and I tend to do the opposite. We would explain to Moses how he is ideally suited to return to Egypt … Then we’d remind Moses how perfect he is for wilderness travel … We’d spend time reviewing with Moses his résumé and strengths.

But God doesn’t. The strength of Moses is never considered. No pep talk is given, no pats on the backs are offered. Not one word is spoken to recruit Moses. But many words are used to reveal God. The strength of Moses is not the issue; the strength of God is.

From Let the Journey Begin: God’s Roadmap for New Beginnings
Copyright (J Countryman 2009) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: How can God use you, even in your own weakness, for His glory? (See for example 1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

About this Author: Max Lucado

Raising a Basketball Player
Many Christian parents find themselves now faced with the question “how do I support my child’s dream, perhaps even her real ability, while instilling in her the tools she’ll need to live out her Christian faith on and off the court?” There’s no perfect formula, there are some tools you can use early on to expose them to good influences, role models, education and the opportunities to practice living out their faith through their love of basketball. Read the full article.

Take action: We have dozens of free online interactive life lessons available, like the “Growing in Faith” series. Why not try one today?

You said it: This week kanj shared on the “Let Go to Grow” devotional, saying “my walk with God presently would be that of the ‘lingerer’. my journey with God began and for the life of me at the time, I could not understand why? but He did understand, I’m here today and His grace and mercy keep me starving at all times now.” Join the conversation on the daily men’s devotional and women’s devotional!

Article: If God is in Control, then Why …
What do you do when the roof falls in? I hate failure and disappointment. Why does God allow these things to happen to me if He’s really in control? God often allows failure to point us to one critical truth … we can’t live the Christian life on our own. Throughout our lives, there will be times when God will place us in situations that will cause us to realize our insufficiency and make us depend on Him. Some thoughts for when you’re going through difficulty. Read more

Devotional: Let God’s Light Through
Imagine a lamp. God is like the light bulb, the source of light, and we are like the lampshade. While it may seem strange to compare God to a light bulb, we’re told in scripture that “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5). And while I admit it may be difficult to imagine yourself as a lampshade, stay with me. … Continue reading this devo on the men’s devotional blog

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “If someone gave you enough money to start a business of you own, what kind of business would you start?” Join us in the chat room March 21st 2009 @ 12:15 pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

I know I’d read that passage a hundred times. But I’d never seen it. Maybe I’d passed over it in the excitement of the resurrection.

But I won’t miss it again. It’s highlighted in yellow and underlined in red. You might want to do the same. Look in Mark, chapter 16. Read the first five verses about the women’s surprise when they find the stone moved to the side. Then feast on that beautiful phrase spoken by the angel, “He is not here, he is risen,” but don’t pause for too long. Go a bit further. Get your pencil ready and enjoy this jewel in the seventh verse (here it comes). The verse reads like this: “But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.”

Did you see it? Read it again. (This time I highlighted the words.)
“But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.”

Now tell me if that’s not a hidden treasure.

What a line. It’s as if all of heaven had watched Peter fall—and it’s as if all of heaven wanted to help him back up again. “Be sure and tell Peter that he’s not left out. Tell him that one failure doesn’t make a flop.” Whew!

No wonder they call it the gospel of the second chance.

Not many second chances exist in the world today. Just ask the kid who didn’t make the little league team or the fellow who got the pink slip or the mother of three who got dumped for a “pretty little thing.”

Not many second chances. Nowadays it’s more like, “It’s now or never.” “Around here we don’t tolerate incompetence.” “Not much room at the top.” “Three strikes and you’re out.” “It’s a dog-eat-dog world!”

Jesus has a simple answer to our masochistic mania. “It’s a dog-eat-dog world?” he would say. “Then don’t live with the dogs.” That makes sense doesn’t it? Why let a bunch of other failures tell you how much of a failure you are?

Sure you can have a second chance.

Just ask Peter. The message came loud and clear from the celestial Throne Room through the divine courier. “Be sure and tell Peter that he gets to bat again.”

It’s not every day that you get a second chance. Peter must have known that. The next time he saw Jesus, he got so excited that he barely got his britches on before he jumped into the cold water of the Sea of Galilee. It was also enough, so they say, to cause this backwoods Galilean to carry the gospel of the second chance all the way to Rome where they killed him. If you’ve ever wondered what would cause a man to be willing to be crucified upside down, maybe now you know.

It’s not every day that you find someone who will give you a second chance—much less someone who will give you a second chance every day.

But in Jesus, Peter found both.

From No Wonder They Call Him the Savior
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1986, 2004) Max Lucado
Used by permission.

Questions: Is there someone in your life who deserves a second chance? Is it time to find forgiveness for them, regardless of how they’ve hurt you in the past?

About this Author: Max Lucado

Did you see it? Most hurry past it. Let’s not. Pull out a pen and underline this twelve-letter masterpiece.

Nevertheless.

“Nevertheless David took the stronghold …”

Wouldn’t you love God to write a nevertheless in your biography? Born to alcoholics, nevertheless she led a sober life. Never went to college, nevertheless he mastered a trade. Didn’t read the Bible until retirement age, nevertheless he came to a deep and abiding faith.

We all need a nevertheless. And God has plenty to go around. Strongholds mean nothing to him. Remember Paul’s words? “We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4 NLT).

You and I fight with toothpicks; God comes with battering rams and cannons. What he did for David, he can do for us. The question is, will we do what David did? The king models much here.

Two types of thoughts continually vie for your attention. One proclaims God’s strengths; the other lists your failures. One longs to build you up; the other seeks to tear you down. And here’s the great news: you select the voice you hear. Why listen to the mockers? Why heed their voices? Why give ear to pea-brains and scoffers when you can, with the same ear, listen to the voice of God?

Do what David did.

Turn a deaf ear to the old voices.

Open a wide eye to the new choices.

Who knows, you may be a prayer away from a nevertheless. God loves to give them.

Peter stuck his foot in his mouth.

Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt.

The Samaritan woman had been married five times.

Jesus was dead in the grave …

Nevertheless, Peter preached, Joseph ruled, the woman shared, Jesus rose—and you?

You fill in the blank. Your nevertheless awaits you.

From Facing Your Giants
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2006) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: What’s holding you back from achieving your full potential as a reborn child of God?

About this Author: Max Lucado

“The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, “If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!”” Proverbs 22:13, NLT

It’s rare to find people today who are willing to take complete responsibility for their actions. In the victimization that’s present in our culture, our problems are always someone else’s fault.

You can blame whoever you want – the government, your parents, the school you went to, television, your boss, or the rest of society. There’s no need for you to feel bad; anywhere you look there are people to blame.

Sometimes our excuses are quite humorous. Consider these actual statements given to insurance companies by people involved in car accidents:

· “In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole!”
· “Coming home, I drove into the wrong driveway and hit a tree I don’t have.”
· “The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.”
· “I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment.”
· “I was on the way to the doctor’s office with rear-end trouble when my universal joint gave way, causing me to having an accident.”
· “I had been driving my car for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.”
· “The telephone poll was approaching fast. I attempted to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.”
· “The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him!”

Silly? Yes. But so are some of the excuses we offer, instead of taking responsibility for our mistakes, failures, and sins.

The Bible says, “The lazy person is full of excuses” (Proverbs 22:13, NLT). Ben Franklin once observed, “The person who is good at excuse-making is seldom good at anything else.”

Question: What excuses can you remember yourself using in the past week? Are they valid, or merely excuses? And even if valid, should these things be enough to keep you from living out your faith in the world?

About this Author: Rick Warren