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Posted on 10/31/2019 8:53:22 PM PDT by JustAmy
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LOL!!
Thank you.
Bible in a Year:
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 2 Corinthians 3:2
As a professor, I’m often asked by students to write letters of recommendation for them—for leadership positions, study-abroad programs, graduate schools, and even jobs. In each letter, I have a chance to praise the student’s character and qualifications.
When Christians traveled in the ancient world, they often carried with them similar “letters of commendation” from their churches. Such a letter ensured that the traveling brother or sister would be welcomed hospitably.
The apostle Paul didn’t need a letter of recommendation when he spoke to the church in Corinth—they knew him. In his second letter to that church, Paul wrote that he preached the gospel out of sincerity, not for personal gain (2 Corinthians 2:17). But then he wondered if his readers would think that in defending his motives in preaching, he was trying to write a letter of recommendation for himself.
He didn’t need such a letter, he said, because the people in the church in Corinth were themselves like letters of recommendation. The visible work of Christ in their lives was like a letter “written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God” (3:3). Their lives testified to the true gospel Paul had preached to them—their lives were letters of reference that could be “known and read by everyone” (3:2). As we follow Jesus, this becomes true of us too—our lives tell the story of the goodness of the gospel.
When people read the “letter” of your life, what do they see of Jesus? Who are the teachers who have left their imprint on you?
Jesus, I want others to see You in my life. May I decrease and You increase.
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Thank you.
Bible in a Year:
This work had been done with the help of our God. Nehemiah 6:16
“Failure is impossible!” These words were spoken by Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906), known for her immovable stance on women’s rights in the US. Though she faced constant criticism and later an arrest, trial, and guilty verdict for voting illegally, Anthony vowed to never give up the fight to gain women the right to vote, believing her cause was just. Though she didn’t live to see the fruit of her labor, her declaration proved true. In 1920, the nineteenth amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote.
Failure wasn’t an option for Nehemiah either, mainly because he had a Powerful Helper: God. After asking Him to bless his cause—rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem—Nehemiah and those who had returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon worked to make that happen. The wall was needed to keep the people safe from enemies. But opposition to the cause came in the form of deception and threats. Nehemiah refused to let opposition deter him. He informed those who opposed the work, “I am carrying on a great project” (Nehemiah 6:3). After that, he prayed, “Now strengthen my hands” (v. 9). Thanks to perseverance, the work was completed (v. 15).
God gave Nehemiah the strength to persevere in the face of opposition. Is there a task for which you’re tempted to give up? Ask God to provide whatever you need to keep going.
How do you normally handle opposition? What cause are you willing to fight for, no matter how tough the opposition?
Precious God, I need Your help to keep going with the work You’ve given me to do, no matter what the cost may be.
Thank you.
I’ll Bach she can!
She’s fine until you put a vocal score in front of her. Then she’ll be Haydn.
She might Zimmer with disgust.
I’m going to have to put THAT one on my Liszt of musical puns!
LOL! It was Perti good, huh.
Well, I picked up my musician friend who is eighty and has a fractured disc in her back, and we drove all the way to the church where the concert was being held, (30 miles on icy roads) and it was CANCELLED! So I took the long way home through the south shore cranberry country and we looked at the Christmas Lights instead.
I don’t know why it was cancelled. Maybe the organist was Haydn. Or maybe he was out Christmas Chopin. Whatever the issue was, I’m putting then on the “Naughty Liszt”.
Bible in a Year:
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Remember Tickle Me Elmo? Cabbage Patch Kids? The Furby? What do they have in common? Each rank among the twenty most popular Christmas gifts of all time. Also included on the list are familiar favorites such as Monopoly, the Nintendo Game Boy, and Wii.
We all delight in giving gifts at Christmas, but that’s nothing compared to God’s delight in giving the first Christmas gift. This gift came in the form of a baby, born in a Bethlehem manger (Luke 2:7).
Despite His humble birth, the Child’s arrival was proclaimed by an angel who declared, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (vv. 10–11). Following this magnificent news, a “heavenly host” appeared, “praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests’” (vv. 13–14).
This Christmas, enjoy giving gifts to your loved ones, but never lose sight of the reason for the giving—the spectacular favor of God on His creation crystallized in the gift of His own Son to save us from our sin. We give because He gave. May we worship Him in gratitude!
Why is Jesus the greatest Christmas gift you ever received? How can you share this gift with others more effectively?
Father, thank You for Jesus—the greatest gift of all!
Well that had to be a disappointing drive Bach.
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