Bright Lights

We have made it to the end of the week YES! it's FRIDAY! with only two more days left in the month of March before we step into the fourth month of the New Year which will be April take a moment to reflect on these words of wisdom You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14 READ PHILIPPIANS 2:12–18 In the summer of 2015, a group from our church was sobered by what we saw in Mathare, one of the slums in Nairobi, Kenya. We visited a school with dirt floors, rusting metal walls, and wooden benches. But against the backdrop of extremely humble surroundings, one person stood out. Her name was Brilliant, and the name couldn’t have fit her better. She was an elementary school teacher who possessed joy and determination that matched her mission. Colorfully dressed, her appearance and the joy with which she instructed and encouraged the children were stunning. The bright light Brilliant brought to her surroundings resembles the way Christians in Philippi were to be positioned in their world when Paul wrote to them in the first century. Against the background of a spiritually needy world, believers in the Lord Jesus were to shine “like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15). Our assignment hasn’t changed. Bright lights are needed everywhere! How encouraging it is to know that through the One “who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (v. 13) believers in Jesus can sparkle in ways that fit Jesus’s description of those who follow Him. To us He still says, “You are the light of the world. . . . Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). By Arthur Jackson REFLECT & PRAY Light up your world by reflecting the light of Jesus. To learn more about the world of the Bible, see our course at christianuniversity.org/SF105. How can you reveal the light of Christ to others? What can you do to bring His joy to those who desperately need it? INSIGHT The Philippian Christians are not to work for their salvation, for salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, having received salvation, Paul urged them to live out their Christian life—to “work hard to show the results of [their] salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear” (Philippians 2:12 nlt). They are to follow Christ’s example in servanthood and humility (vv. 3-11). In today’s passage, Paul used two metaphors to describe how we are to live: First, we are to “shine . . . like stars” (v. 15). Pointedly, Jesus said that as “the light of the world” we are to let our “light shine before others, that they may see [our] good deeds and glorify [our] Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Second, as runners in a race (Philippians 2:16), we are to “run with perseverance” (Hebrews 12:1) and “in such a way as to get the prize”—to complete the race (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). K. T. Sim

Bearing the Burden of Wrongs

Well, it's about that time we have made it to the end of the week YES! it is FRIDAY! Welcome to a new season we have now entered into the next season of our life which is Spring as we reflect on the words of wisdom in this season or stage in our life take these words to heart and rejoice in knowing that NO WEAPONS that is formed against you will ever prosper no matter what your enemies throw at you, you have the Victory in Christ JesusDo not repay evil with evil. 1 Peter 3:9 READ 1 PETER 3:8–14 On January 30, 2018, almost thirty-eight years after his conviction, Malcolm Alexander walked out of prison a free man. DNA evidence cleared Alexander, who had steadfastly maintained his innocence amid a myriad of court proceedings that were tragically unjust. An incompetent defense attorney (later disbarred), shoddy evidence, and dubious investigative tactics all put an innocent man in prison for nearly four decades. When he was finally released, however, Alexander showed immense grace. “You cannot be angry,” he said. “There’s not enough time to be angry.” Alexander’s words evidence a deep grace. If injustice robbed us of thirty-eight years of our lives and destroyed our reputations, we would likely be angry, furious. Though Alexander spent many long, heartbreaking years bearing the burden of wrongs inflicted upon him, he wasn’t undone by the evil. Rather than exerting his energy trying to get revenge, he exhibited the posture Peter instructs: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult” (1 Peter 3:9). The Scriptures go a step further: rather than seeking vengeance, the apostle Peter tells us we are to bless (v. 9). We extend forgiveness, the hope of well-being, for those who have unjustly wronged us. Without excusing their evil actions, we can meet them with God’s scandalous mercy. On the cross, Jesus bore the burden of our wrongs, that we might receive grace and extend it to others—even those who have wronged us. By Winn Collier REFLECT & PRAY God, it’s hard not to want those who hurt me to hurt just as much. Help me to live out Your mercy and grace. Without excusing their actions, how can you extend mercy to others who have wronged you? What will it mean for you to “bless” them? SUPPORT INSIGHT When Peter wrote, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult” (1 Peter 3:9), he echoed the words of Jesus Himself, who said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). Jesus added, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them” (v. 32). Why are we to display such supernatural love? It shows the world the heart of our Father. By loving our enemies, Jesus said, “You will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (vv. 35-36). As Peter noted, “To this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). By blessing our enemies, we ourselves are blessed. Such is the counterintuitive nature of the gospel. Tim Gustafson

Joy in Hard Places

As we start this New Week and find our selves in the third week of March lets take these words of wisdom to heart and apply them to our lives that no matter how hard it may be we can rejoice in knowing that Jesus is with us Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:18 READ HABAKKUK 3:16–19 Whenever she was unable to take my phone call, my friend’s voicemail recording invited me to leave her a message. The recording cheerfully concluded, “Make it a great day!” As I reflected on her words, I realized that it’s not within our power to make every day “great”—some circumstances truly are devastating. But a closer look might reveal something redeeming and beautiful in my day, whether things are going well or poorly. Habakkuk wasn’t experiencing easy circumstances. As a prophet, God had shown him coming days when none of the crops or livestock—on which God’s people depended—would be fruitful (3:17). It would take more than mere optimism to endure the coming hardships. As a people group, Israel would be in extreme poverty. Habakkuk experienced heart-pounding, lip-quivering, leg-trembling fear (v. 16). Yet despite that, Habakkuk said he would “rejoice in the Lord” and “be joyful” (v. 18). He proclaimed His hope in the God who provides the strength to walk in difficult places (v. 19). Sometimes we go through seasons of deep pain and hardship. But no matter what we’ve lost, or wanted but never had, we can, like Habakkuk, rejoice in our relationship with a loving God. Even when it feels like we have nothing else, He will never fail or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5). He, the One who “provide[s] for those who grieve,” is our ultimate reason for joy (Isaiah 61:3). By Kirsten Holmberg REFLECT & PRAY Lord, no matter my circumstances, help me to find joy in You. What about your relationship with Jesus brings you the greatest joy? How has He met you recently in a time of hardship or grief? INSIGHT In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet Habakkuk wrestles with God’s justice in disciplining Israel through the actions of a nation even more corrupt than they (1:12-13). Habakkuk’s struggle illustrates a theme seen throughout Scripture of honestly wrestling with God. Anguish, doubt, and even anger at God aren’t seen as problems to be suppressed. Rather, truly walking with God means being willing to place all of our humanity, our whole heart, honestly before Him. Habakkuk’s transformation—from the anguished “how long” of 1:2-4 to the confidence, joy, and awe of 3:16-19—illustrates the biblical principle that honest wrestling with God is rewarded by deeper transformation. Like Job, through honestly bringing his pain and anger before God, Habakkuk was transformed, not so much by easily understandable explanations, but by encountering face-to-face the overwhelming goodness, power, and beauty of God (vv. 3-15). Monica Brands

Swept Away

Now that Spring Break for many of us has just ended or beginning as we start this New Week take a moment to reflect on these words of wisdom while your on your Spring Break be in the moment with your Heavenly Father he wants to speak to you are you willing to sit aside your thoughts and be truly Swept away by his words with I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Isaiah 44:22 READ ISAIAH 43:25; 44:21–23 When he invented the pencil eraser, British engineer Edward Nairne was reaching instead for a piece of bread. Crusts of bread were used then, in 1770, to erase marks on paper. Picking up a piece of latex rubber by mistake, Nairne found it erased his error, leaving rubberized “crumbs” easily swept away by hand. With us too the worst errors of our lives can be swept away. It’s the Lord—the Bread of Life—who cleans them with His own life, promising never to remember our sins. “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake,” says Isaiah 43:25, “and remembers your sins no more.” This can seem to be a remarkable fix—and not deserved. For many, it’s hard to believe our past sins can be swept away by God “like the morning mist.” Does God, who knows everything, forget them so easily? That’s exactly what God does when we accept Jesus as our Savior. Choosing to forgive our sins and to “[remember them] no more,” our heavenly Father frees us to move forward. No longer dragged down by past wrongs, we’re free of debris and cleaned up to serve, now and forever. Yes, consequences may remain. But God sweeps sin itself away, inviting us to return to Him for our clean new life. There’s no better way to be swept away. By Patricia Raybon REFLECT & PRAY Lord, sweep away my old sins, erasing my past for new life in You. Help me understand the reality of Your forgiveness and live in it joyfully. What things from your past do you have trouble forgetting? Ask God to help you take Him at His word. INSIGHT The theme of forgiveness found in Isaiah 44:21-23 beautifully describes the lavish grace and mercy of the God who forgives. Here God speaks to His wayward people and calls them to three important responses. First, they are challenged to remember that they have been made by Him and called to relationship with Him—for He will never forget them (v. 21). In spite of their spiritual drifting, Yahweh has extravagantly poured out forgiveness on them. Their response to this forgiveness? They are to return to Him (v. 22), accepting His gift of redemption. Finally, they are to witness the way that all of creation celebrates the mercy and love of their forgiving God (v. 23). Just as God’s glory is revealed in His creation, He also has chosen to reveal it in His forgiven, restored, and redeemed covenant people. For more on God’s forgiveness, read The Forgiveness of God at discoveryseries.org/q0602. Bill Crowder

Right There with Us

The weekend has come to an end as we start this New Week take a moment to reflect on Gods words of wisdom to help guide you into a deeper relationship with him “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. Matthew 14:17 READ MATTHEW 14:13–21 She was completely focused on the top shelf, where the glass jars of spaghetti sauce sat. I’d been standing beside her in the grocery aisle for a minute or two eyeing that same shelf, trying to decide. But she seemed oblivious to my presence, lost in her own predicament. Now I have no problem with top shelves because I’m a fairly tall man. She, on the other hand, was not tall, not at all. I spoke up and offered to help. Startled, she said, “Goodness, I didn’t even see you standing there. Yes, please help me.” The disciples had quite the situation on their hands—hungry crowds, a remote place, and time slipping away—“It’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food” (Matthew 14:15). When challenged by Jesus to take care of the people themselves, they responded, “We have here only . . .” (v. 17). All they seemed to be aware of was their lack. Yet standing right beside them was Jesus, not just the multiplier of bread but the Bread of Life Himself. We can get so wrapped up in our challenges and trying to figure them out for ourselves with our often-limited perspective that we miss the abiding presence of the risen Christ. From remote hillsides to grocery store aisles and everywhere else in between, He’s Immanuel—God right there with us, an ever-present help in trouble. By John Blase REFLECT & PRAY Wherever we are and whatever the challenge, Immanuel is with us. Learn more about the life of Christ at christianuniversity.org/NT111. How can you increase your awareness of Jesus’s presence? Why is it vital for us to gain His perspective in what we’re facing? INSIGHT A set of three events illustrates the fast-paced, powerful nature of Jesus’s ministry and the emotional roller coaster it must have been for the disciples. First is the recounting of John the Baptist’s death, culminating with John’s disciples reporting his death to Jesus (Matthew 14:1-12). This is followed by the miraculous feeding of 5,000 men, plus women and children (vv. 13-21). After this miracle, Jesus sends the disciples away by boat (vv. 22-33), joining them later that night by walking to them on the stormy Galilee. This appearance prompts His men to worship Him as “the Son of God” (v. 33). Bill Crowder

No Comparison

YES! We have made it to the end of the week it's FRIDAY! Welcome into the third month of the New Year YES! we have now entered in the month of March as we take a moment to reflect on these words of wisdom A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 READ JOHN 21:17–25 “One of these days I’m going to put it all on Facebook—not just the good stuff!” My friend Sue’s comment—made casually over lunch with her husband—caused me to laugh out loud and also to think. Social media can be a good thing, helping us stay in touch with and pray for friends across the years and miles. But if we’re not careful, it can also create an unrealistic outlook on life. When much of what we see posted is a “highlight reel” of “the good stuff,” we can be misled into thinking others’ lives are without trouble, and wonder where our own went wrong. Comparing ourselves with others is a sure recipe for unhappiness. When the disciples compared themselves to each other (see Luke 9:46; 22:24), Jesus quickly discouraged it. Soon after His resurrection, Jesus told Peter how he would suffer for his faith. Peter then turned to John and asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me” (John 21:21-22). Jesus pointed Peter to the best remedy for unhealthy comparisons. When our minds are focused on God and all He’s done for us, self-focused thoughts fall gently away and we long to follow Him. In place of the world’s competitive strain and stress, He gives us His loving presence and peace. Nothing can compare with Him. By James Banks REFLECT & PRAY Comparison is the thief of joy. Theodore Roosevelt How can you use social media in a God-honoring way? How can a real relationship with God keep you from making unhealthy comparisons? INSIGHT Some scholars speculate that John 21 was written (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit) at a later time than the first 20 chapters and was added to clarify a misunderstanding. Apparently, some believed that Jesus had promised John he wouldn’t die until Jesus returned, and that rumor had spread widely. The so-called “second ending” (ch. 21) was intended to address that false idea by clarifying Jesus’s words (vv. 22-23). Bill Crowder