“Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never, never fail you nor forsake you’” Hebrews 13:5

Malcolm Muggeridge, one of England’s leading intellectuals, came to our Christian Embassy headquarters for lunch one day. Together we talked about the things of God – the Christian adventure. On that day, he offered little hope for the future of the Western world.

“We are,” he said, “like a pan of frogs in cold water placed over a low flame. As the flame warms the water, the frogs relax. And by the time the water is boiling, it is too late for them to jump out of the pan. They are boiled alive. In contrast, if the frogs were placed in a pan of boiling water, they would leap out instantly.”

He continued by explaining that the average person in America and in Western Europe was being destroyed by materialism, the love of money and the love of things. People are greedy and are grasping for more than they have. Our appetites know no bounds; we have become insatiable.

As a result, no doubt there is more vital Christianity in Eastern Germany than in Western Germany, in Poland than in Italy, in the Soviet Union than in England. The Christians who are willing to pay the price of persecution in these countries have learned to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and to be satisfied with what they have.

With the apostle Paul, they are able to say, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11, KJV). You will observe that the admonition was to stay away from the love of money. There is nothing wrong with money. Thank God for able, dedicated, godly men and women to whom God has given the ability to make money, but who recognize that there is no satisfaction or fulfillment in making money. It is in the stewardship of that which God has entrusted to them that they find fulfillment and true meaning to life.

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:1-5

Today’s Action Point: With the certainty that God will never, never fail me nor forsake me, I will seek to find fulfillment and meaning in my life in Christ and not in materialism. I will encourage others to do the same today.

Question: Consider the wisdom of Proverbs 30:8: “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” Can you examine your life to ensure you are following this admonition today?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for March 17th, PM.

Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 (TNIV)

This is the seventh of the beatitudes, and seven was the number of perfection among the Hebrews. It may be that the Savior placed this blessing seventh on the list because the peaceful child of God is perfected in the person of Jesus Christ.

Anyone who seeks perfect blessedness (as far as it can be experienced here and now on Earth) must grasp this seventh benediction and become a peacemaker. There is significance in the position of this verse. The verse which comes before it speaks of the blessedness of “the pure in heart: for they will see God.”

Understand that we are to be “first pure, then peaceable.” (James 3:17, KJV) Our peaceableness must never permit sinful behavior or toleration of evil. We must set our faces sternly against everything which is contrary to God and His holiness. Once our souls are settled, we can continue on towards peaceableness.

The verse that follows also seems to be positioned on purpose: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10) Regardless of how peaceable we may be, we will be misrepresented and misunderstood. And this should be no surprise, because even the Prince of Peace, by His perfect peacefulness, ended up bringing fire on the earth. Jesus Christ, though He loved humankind and did no harm, was “despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” (Isaiah 53:3) Therefore, the peaceable in heart should not be surprised when they meet with enemies, despite their peacefulness.

Lord, give us grace to climb towards this seventh beatitude! Purify our minds that we may be “first pure, then peaceable,” and fortify our souls, that our peaceableness may not lead us into cowardice and despair when, for Your sake, we are persecuted.

Question: Where in your life can you act as a peacemaker?

About the Author: Charles Spurgeon

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for January 27th, PM.

Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2011.

“It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” Matthew 10:25a (ESV)

No one will dispute that it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, since it would be improper for the servant to be exalted above his Master. When our Lord was on Earth, what sort of treatment did He receive? Were His claims acknowledged, His instructions followed, and His perfections worshipped by those He came to bless? No: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” (Isaiah 53:3)

Outside the camp was His place, and cross-bearing was His occupation. Did the world provide Him with comfort and rest? No: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20)

This inhospitable world offered Him no shelter. It cast Him out and crucified Him. You must expect the same, if you are a follower of Jesus, and maintain a consistent, Christ-like walk and conversation in your spiritual life. Other people, who see your increasing discipleship, will treat you as they treated the Savior: With despisal.

Don’t think that the world will admire you, or that the more holy and the more Christ-like you are, the more peaceably people will act towards you. If people did not prize the polished gem, do you expect that they will value the jewel in the rough? “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” (Matthew 10:25b, ESV)

If we were more like Christ, we would be more hated by His enemies. It would be a sad dishonor for a child of God to be the world’s favorite. It is a troubling omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout “Well done” to the Christian person. We may begin to look to our character (and wonder whether we have not been doing wrong) when the unrighteous give us their admiration.

Let us be true to our Master, and accept no exaltation from a blind and depraved world which scorns and rejects Him. Far be it from us to seek a crown of honor after our Lord received only a crown of thorn!

Question: How can you know with certainty if you are being scorned due to acting sinfully or for following as Jesus’ disciple?

About the Author: Charles Spurgeon

They slept in chains, endured floggings, were chased by mobs, suffered ridicule and cursing, were fastened in stocks, berated by the courts and survived shipwrecks. Some were martyred by stoning, beheading or crucifixion.

And what was the response? Prison chains were used to accompany songs of praise, court hearings became times of teaching, floggings did not squelch the hunger to serve Christ and martyrs praised God with their dying breath.

Fear must have threatened to overwhelm, yet these followers of Christ chose to press forward. Preaching and praising, they found joy in unimaginable circumstances. It seems almost inhuman. Perhaps it is, for the supernatural, perfect love of Christ can seep into every human thought and reaction, transforming gut wrenching fear into unexplainable tranquility.

Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18) and is made whole when we reflect on God’s abundant promises.

Promise of His presence: The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Promise of His peace: His death and resurrection not only assures victory over sin, but also reassure us of Christ’s undying love and commitment (John 15:13).

Promise of His prayers: Christ lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25).

Promises of His protection: While He may not remove us from stressful situations; He will give us His divine protection (John 17:15).

We have nothing to fear! We have a God who offers His presence, peace, prayers and protection. And that’s just for starters. Open your Bible and continue your search for God’s promises. Underline them. Believe them. Experience them.

Thank you, Lord that Your perfect love casts out fear. What a promise! Help me to live today in that love. Amen.

Questions: What circumstance is making you numb with fear? What Godly promise has soothed your soul?

About the Author: Charlene Friesen

Are you experiencing financial concerns? We are here to listen.

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“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” (Isaiah 45:3)

Throughout this last summer a small grey squirrel relentlessly burrowed into the flowers and herbs on my small patio. With upright bushy tail and cocked head, he seemed to almost gleefully resist my shouts and hand clapping, scurrying away to the security of nearby trees, only sneaking back when he sensed I was absent.

Now that the days are growing cooler, however, this neighborhood resident isn’t visiting as often. Has he buried his findings under fallen leaves in someone else’s larger garden where he can peacefully uncover his store when the cold of winter arrives?

Squirrels and other animals know they must prepare for the harsh realities that lie ahead. They work hard to store up what they will need when they can no longer find nutrients in my small garden.

The Apostle Peter told early Christians not to be surprised when difficulties—even severe persecution—arrived in their lives. He told them to be alert and always forward looking, trusting that the one who provided their salvation would see them through the difficulties.

Like those first century Christians, we have the responsibility and privilege to prepare ourselves by always digging into the truths of the Bible, discovering the food that will sustain us not only in the present but in the wintry days of increasing darkness. Peter understood the prophet Isaiah’s words that God could be depended upon to release the treasures, the riches of God when we need them most.

Oh, that we would be as persistent in the discovery endeavor as the squirrel!

Questions: How are you preparing yourself for the winter, spiritually? How do you respond when difficulties arise? Are you prepared?

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Persistence – finding the strength to stand

About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle

Is your marriage satisfying?

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands” (1 John 5:2).

“This is love for God: to obey His commands” (1 John 5:3).

The love that John describes is a love of sacrifice and obedience.

Love is sacrifice. We are called to surrender our desires, our time lines and our comfort for the sake of those around us. Although we may not have experienced persecution for our faith yet, we are to be ready to lay down our lives for Jesus and our fellow believers.

Love is obedience. God commands us to pray for our enemies, to not repay evil with evil, to help orphans and widows in their distress, to give generously and cheerfully, to not worry, to not judge, to not give up meeting together. All these actions are living out love.

In short, real love is costly. Jesus gave up His life for us and asks us to do the same.

Holy God, I can’t love like this on my own. Please teach me through Your Holy Spirit how to live a life of sacrifice and obedience.  Amen.

Questions: How does this kind of love differ from what the world calls love?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Do you believe in life after death? Questions? Ask us.

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Are you facing trouble or hardship or persecution? Is conflict in your marriage, a loss of a job or illness weighing you down? Has your family disowned you or your friend deserted you? Are you experiencing a famine of food or a famine of hope? Is there danger or death gathering on the horizon?

Then let me remind you that:

•    God chose you. (Romans 8:29-30)
•    God is your powerful ally. (Romans 8:31)
•    God gave up His Son for you, so He will look after you. (Romans 8:32)
•    Nothing can separate you from God’s love. (Romans 8:39)

We can be confident of these truths because, “Jesus Christ, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).

Can death separate us from God’s love?
No. Through Jesus we have the promise of eternal life. (John 3:16)

Can life isolate us from God’s love?
No.  God has promised to be with us always. (Matthew 28:20)

Can angels or demons keep us from God’s love?
No. Though there are spiritual forces at work in our world, God is greater than them all. (Matthew 10:28)

Can present troubles or future fears cut us off from God’s love?
No.  God is the great “I AM”; the God who is and was and is to come. (Rev 1:8)

Can any powers that man or Satan exert over us defeat God’s love?
No.  The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

Thank you Holy God that because of Jesus, nothing can separate me from Your love.  Amen.

Questions: What is your best reminder of God’s love for you? How can you encourage others to be confident in God’s love?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Are you feeling ready to walk away from a relationship – are you possibly even considering divorce? We want to pray for you.

“News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (Acts 11:22, 23).

Persecution had scattered the early believers, so they began to preach the good news about Jesus wherever they had been dispersed. Most of them spoke to Jews, but some who went to Antioch preached to Gentile Greeks and a great number of them believed and turned to God. This was the situation that the church leaders sent Barnabas to investigate.

Curiosity filled my mind when I read this story. What exactly did Barnabas see? What was the evidence of God’s grace that was so compelling to him?  God reminded me of the evidence of His grace in my own believing community:

•    A man humbling himself and asking for forgiveness after speaking rashly
•    A community of believers gathering around to love and forgive and support a woman broken by sin
•    Hungry people being fed
•    New life being celebrated
•    A seventy-eight year old woman spending her days discipling new believers
•    Friends gathering together to pray for each others’ children
•    Those of a different language and culture being embraced, accepted and assisted as they entered a new land

God is still at work. And wherever He is, there will be evidence of His grace.

Holy God, Thank you for Your work in my life and the lives of those around me. Thank you for how You encourage us by showing evidence of Your grace. Help me to remain true to You. Amen.

Questions: What evidence of God’s grace have you seen this week? How can we encourage each other to remain true to the Lord?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Throughout history, people have used Christianity as an excuse to persecute others. Were these people actually following what the Bible said, or were they misinterpreting it?

watch video by Michael Horner
Much error has taken place in the name of Christianity. However, who knows if the people doing these things were actually Christians? In any case, yes, the Bible has been taken out of context, misinterpreted, and often not followed at all.

Slavery is talked about in the Bible, but nowhere does it mention that slaves should be treated as anything but equal human beings. “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1). “…Knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him” (Ephesians 6:9). And just because slavery is talked about in the Bible doesn’t mean it was “biblical” to bring people from Africa to America against their wishes and under inhumane circumstances. Remember, God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. If God were for something, why would He deliver people from it?

There are laws in the Old Testament for Israel forbidding witchcraft (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). However, nowhere does it say that Christians are to burn people who engage in witchcraft.

The organized Christian church confiscated land and killed Muslims during the Crusades. But nowhere does the Bible say that Christians are to take Jerusalem by force or murder people in the process. In fact, Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). True members of the church are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20) and are looking to the heavenly Jerusalem, not the earthly one (Hebrews 11:10). And Christians are to fight only with the sword of the Spirit — which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

There is a future for national Israel, but God will accomplish that through the Jews, not through Christians. In fact, He’s already begun the process (1948 – Israel; 1967 – Jerusalem). Plus, it would be wrong for Christians to confiscate the earthly Jerusalem anyway, since it has been promised by God to be the city for the Jews.

The Inquisition, also, certainly was not biblically mandated. In fact, many real Christians were called heretics because they believed in the supremacy of Scripture over the traditions of man and/or refused to vow allegiance to Rome or become Roman Catholic. As a result, these Christians were burned at the stake, tortured, etc. during the Inquisition. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that one denomination is supreme over another, and certainly there’s no mandate for Christians to kill other Christians.

Closely linked to the Inquisition was the expulsion of Jews from Spain. This happened about the same time that America was discovered by Columbus (1492). The same royalty that commissioned Columbus, along with the church in Spain, kicked Jews out of the country unless they surrendered to becoming Catholics (by reciting a creed and being sprinkled with water). But nowhere does God give Christians the charge to do such a thing. In fact, the Bible says that Gentile Christians are to live closely to non-believing Jews and love them — so that they will become jealous over Gentiles receiving the benefits of knowing their Messiah (Romans 11:11).

Having said all this, it should be pointed out that many people have used “religion” as an excuse to do horrible things to other people, not just “Christians.”

Also — and this is even more important to realize — the test for Christianity is not Christians, but Christ. The whole point of true, biblical Christianity is that all of us are screwed up, whether we’re Christians or not. That’s why we need Jesus. So ultimately it comes down to who Jesus Christ is, not what His screwed-up followers have done (if they really were His followers).

The real question is one Jesus asked His disciple Peter, “But who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20)

Used with permission © 2001 EveryStudent.com.

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“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

In the letter to the church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) we discover a people who were poor by the world’s standards and who faced great trouble. They weren’t reprimanded for any shortcomings, but were commended for their rich faith in God.

While still on earth, Jesus warned us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Later, Peter reminded believers that suffering wasn’t unusual, but rather the norm. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

You see, we will face trouble; we will suffer; we will be persecuted for our beliefs.

Therefore, the message to Smyrna is a message to us. When trouble comes, don’t be afraid, be faithful.
•    Don’t be afraid of those who slander you for your poverty, you have riches in Christ.
•    Don’t be afraid of suffering because Jesus is the First and the Last. He is with you.
•    Don’t be afraid of death because Jesus died and came to life again. He has conquered death.

The promise God that gave to the faithful in Smyrna, can be ours as well, if we are faithful. “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Revelation 2:11)

Almighty God, thank you that I have a secure future in You. Help me not to be afraid of suffering or even of death, because I have eternal life in You.

Questions: Why are we surprised at suffering? How has God helped you not to be afraid?

About the Author Suzanne Benner