‘How Great is the Father’s Love for Us’

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)

Consider the magnitude of the Father’s love, for He loved us even while we were still sinners. The Scriptures reveal, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). God’s love didn’t wait until we became our best; rather, He loved us at our worst.

‘Giving It All to the Lord’

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” (Luke 21:1-4)

According to one Bible commentary, a mite was considered the smallest coin among the Jewish people, perhaps worth little more than 1/3 of a cent. When compared to the substantial sums offered by the wealthy, the widow’s two mites may have seemed insignificant. However, Jesus declared that her offering surpassed all the others. But how could such a meager amount hold more value than the larger contributions?

‘The Danger of Unguarded Moments’

Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. Someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers and took her; she came to him, and he lay with her…(2 Samuel 11:2-4)

During a period when multiple kings were engaged in warfare, David made the decision to stay at home and rest. Resting is not wrong, and in fact, it is something that many of us could greatly benefit from amidst our busy lives. However, David’s actions during his time of rest proved to be unwise. In moments when he let his guard down, his mind began to wander, and unfortunately, it led him down a destructive path of sin. 

‘What Do You Think About When You Are All Alone?’

Sleep comes naturally to some, while others find it difficult to quiet their minds. Those who struggle to go to sleep may also wake up during the night. Sleepless nights can leave us feeling alone in the darkness, allowing troubling thoughts to enter our minds. What do you think about at night? Consider this portion of scripture –

Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. (Psalm 4:1, 8 NLT)

‘DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD’

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  (Psalms 37:4)

I remember a man visiting my office one day, seeking to understand what this verse meant. Despite his efforts to serve the Lord, he continued to struggle in life. “Why can’t I get a better job?” he asked. “The Bible says, ‘delight thyself in the Lord; and he will give thee the desires of thine heart.’ I have and He hasn’t. Why?”

‘SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE SAFE’

Over the years, our family has done a lot of traveling, and during our journeys, we have seen our fair share of highway construction. However, there was one particular day when the situation was exceptionally bad.

It all began with a sign that warned us of road construction up ahead. In a moment, traffic went from seventy miles per hour to a screeching halt, and for what felt like an eternity, we found ourselves inching forward at a mere five miles per hour. After several minutes of enduring this torture, we discovered the cause of our delay. The right-hand lane was blocked by several orange barrels placed there to guard something, yet not a single piece of road construction equipment was in sight.

‘THE THRONE OF GRACE’

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Life is filled with its ups and downs. Therefore, it is comforting to know that we have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who fully understands both our weaknesses and the many temptations we face. Our passage for today tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He remained without sin. Jesus not only knows what we are facing but also how to find victory. As the old song says, “Jesus knows all about our struggles. He will guide till the day is done. There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus—no, not one, no, not one” (There’s Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus, Johnson Oatman, 1895).

‘NAVIGATING TODAY’S CULTURE’

As believers, we must constantly try to navigate our way through a culture that often opposes God and His Word. These opposing viewpoints include issues concerning sexuality, materialism, individualism, relativism, and the rejection of absolute truth. The challenge to navigate our way through culture is especially difficult for our children, who are more susceptible to the pressure to conform in order to fit in.

Why are children more vulnerable to the pressures of culture? Here are some possible reasons:

‘CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM’

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by worry and anxiety? Do the problems of life sometimes weigh you down? If so, 1^st Peter 5:7 has  a powerful message of hope and comfort for you.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  (1 Peter 5:7)

‘The Applause of Heaven’

Have you ever dreamed of being an Olympic athlete representing our country? I have every time I have watched the Olympic Games. It’s hard to decide what would be more exhilarating – winning the gold medal or standing on the podium while our national anthem plays. Just recently, I came across an inspiring story from the Winter Olympics of 1964 that I’d love to share with you.

The British two-man bobsled team had just completed their first run and were in second place. However, they faced a major setback as they discovered a broken bolt that disabled part of their bobsled. This meant they couldn’t make their next run and would be disqualified from the competition.