Charles Stanley (In Touch Ministries)

de c e m b e r 2 0 1 0 j a n u a r y 2 0 0 9

Arctic Wonder I N TO U C H A L A SK A C RU I S E J u ly 22-29, 2011

Dust off your binoculars and pack your walking shoes, because this cruise is about getting out and seeing God’s magnificent creation. On this excursion, you’ll spend seven days touring the spectacular scenes of Alaska’s inside passage. From hiking through the Sitka National Historical Park to flying over glacier fields, there are a multitude of opportunities to experience the beauty of our Creator’s world.

Dr. Charles F. Stanley Featured Speaker

Visit www.templetontours.com, or call 800-334-2630 for more information.

features our prince of peace by

c h a r l e s

f.

s ta n l e y

D E C E M B E R

2 0 1 0

6

How can we celebrate God’s promise of peace on earth when there is so much war and turmoil in the world?

12

god in a manger

b y

d a n

s c h a e f f e r

Our Creator surrendered His divine privileges so that He might come and live among us.

early light

34

Celebrate the birth of our Savior with the help of these devotions from Dr. Stanley’s sermons.

departments

16 solving problems

In Search of Shalom b y

c h r i s

t i e g r e e n

We may believe in the goodness of God, but do we believe He is good to us?

20 family room

Life Beyond the Brady Bunch b y

d e b b i e

a l s d o r f

By choosing to show family members compassion and encouragement, you create hope for the future of your home.

26 by faith

The Hound of Heaven b y

t o n y a

s t o n e m a n

How far would you go to share the love of Christ with someone?

30 strong in spirit

Remembering Mary b y

c a m e r o n

l a w r e n c e

She had the honor of being the Savior’s earthly mother and was the first to truly experience Immanuel—“God with us.”

IN TOUCH MINISTRIES® INC., P.O. Box 7900, Atlanta, GA 30357 IN TOUCH MINISTRIES OF CANADA, Box 4900, Markham, Ontario L3R 6G9 NEW ZEALAND OFFICE, Box 33-1260 Takapuna, Auckland 1332 0-800-446868 www.intouch.org All prices are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. E-mail magazine-related comments to [email protected]. For Customer Care, call 800-789-1473 Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.– 8 p.m. (et)­. For Canadian telephone orders, call 800-323-3747.

Dr. Stanley portraits by David smith.

EVANGELICAL PRESS A SSOCIATION

To discontinue receiving this magazine, or to report receiving multiple issues, call 800-789-1473, or e-mail [email protected]. Please include your name and address. In Touch ® magazine, DECEMBER 2010, Vol. 33 No. 12. © 2010; all rights reserved. No unsolicited manuscripts accepted. Printed in the USA. In Touch magazine is neither responsible nor liable for any part of the production or distribution of international editions, whether translated or in English, unless the edition has been licensed and authorized by the governing staff of the domestic In Touch magazine. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise notated or quoted from a secondary source, are from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update. ©Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1994. Quotations marked “NIV” are from the New International Version, ©International Bible Society 1973, 1978, 1984.

_______ on earth, good will to men. { Missing something this holiday season? }

A Publication of

to the Glory of God

Dr. Charles F. Stanley PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

C. Phillip Bowen chie f e x ecuti v e o f f icer

John E. Courtney, Jr. VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT

Tonya Stoneman EDITOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS

Linda M. Canup A ssistant E ditor

Sandy Feit SENIOR COPY EDITOR

Erin Gieschen A c q uisitions E ditor

Order Dr. Stanley’s series In Search of Peace today. u6-CD

set | $20 (U.S.)

See order form or visit www.intouch.org.

Cameron Lawrence copy editor / W riter

Lisa Dyches C reati v e D I R E C T O R

Jeff Gregory ART DIRECTOR

Joey Tindell

Have you chosen to believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him? Would you like to have an intimate eternal relationship with the One who made you and loves you unconditionally? If so, tell Him in your own words or use this simple prayer:

Father God, I know I need You but can never get to You on my own. I surrender my heart to You and receive Jesus as my personal Savior. I believe He took all my sins onto Himself when He died on the cross, conquering death for my sake and giving me access to You. Thank You for forgiving me and for sending the Holy Spirit to transform my life. In Jesus’ name, amen. We will gladly send you our New Believer’s Kit to help you take the next step in your walk with God. Contact our customer care department at 800-789-1473, or visit www.intouch.org.

MARKETING PROMOTIONS PLANNER

Steve R. Lindsey DIRECTOR RESOURCES AND FULFILLMENT

David Blahnik P roduction M anager

the mission of in touch ministries To lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church

“

a word from Charles F. Stanley

m

The Gift of God’s Love

>>Freely Given to the Undeserving

“

Most of us have a mental image of Jesus Christ. Some see Him as a mighty God who has come to save us from sin and death. Others worship Him as their Prince of Peace and eternal hope. Many see Him as their healer—spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Jesus is each of these and much more. However, especially at this season of the year, our thoughts turn to a tiny baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. It is here that we are reminded of a profound truth: Jesus Christ is our Immanuel—our Savior and living Lord. Mere words are not adequate when it comes to expressing the depth of love that was demonstrated by God on the night of His Son’s birth. Had Jesus not come to earth, we never would have experienced the eternal gift of God’s love. But He did come, and with Him came the true joy of Christmas and a wondrous opportunity to know God in a personal and intimate way. No matter who you are or what turns your life has taken, God is aware of you, and He loves you with an everlasting love. (Jer. 31:3) It was love that prompted God to send His Son as atonement for our sins. And it is this same love that motivates Him to draw us closer to Himself each day. Love as true as this reaches out to be shared over and over again. The apostle John wrote, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). His words remind us that Jesus is the Father’s eternal gift of hope to a lost and dying world. This Christmas, as you give gifts to those you love, think of the love that was given to you that first Christmas. Though none of us deserves His love, God gives it freely and without any regrets. Life’s greatest gift is not contained in a beautifully wrapped package, but in the humble clothes of a baby who came to earth more than 2,000 years ago.

No matter who you are or what turns your life has taken, God is aware of you, and He loves you with an everlasting love.”

E

Experiencing Christ ’s Calm Stability in the Midst of a T roubled World

Each year

around

Christmastime, we hear songs and watch pageants that repeat the angelic proclamation, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14). But have you ever wondered where this blessed peace is? If God promised it, why do we see so little of it in our world? In fact, why don’t we see more of it in our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and churches? And on an even more personal note, how much inner tranquility are you experiencing this Christmas season? Either God has let us down, or we haven’t understood what He meant. I am here to tell you that God never fails to fulfill His Word, so the problem is not with Him but with us. The angels were not proclaiming that world peace would arrive with the appearance of the Messiah. That is clear from Matthew 10:34, when Jesus said, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” In fact, His ministry would not result in harmony even among family members: “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household” (vv. 35-36). These hardly sound like appropriate words for the proclaimed Prince of Peace. If present earthly harmony was what God had in mind, Jesus’ ministry would never have ended as it did—in hatred, betrayal, cruelty, and b y

c h arles

f .

stanle y www.intouch.org

| 7

crucifixion. Although Scripture predicts the ultimate end of all world conflict and war, this utopia will not come until Jesus returns as sovereign King over all the earth. However, world conquest was not the reason Christ came the first time as a tiny babe in a manger. There was a greater issue to be settled before His physical reign could be established on earth. The angels’ message announced the solution to man’s biggest problem: hostility toward God.

Peace with God

Now, you may be saying, “I’m not hostile toward God.” But every one of us started out alienated from the Lord simply because we are all sinners by nature and by choice. Since God is holy, sin separates us from Him and makes us His enemies, whether we feel we are or not (Isa. 59:2). The only way to solve this problem is through reconciliation. The Greek word for peace in Luke 2:14 is derived from a root word meaning “to bind together.” Jesus came to bind us back together with the Father. While we were still estranged from Him, Christ came to earth as Deity clothed in human flesh, and He paid the penalty for our sins by dying in our place. Now all who receive Him as Savior can be reconciled to God through justification, which simply means He declares them “not guilty!” Since the cause for our separation from Him is removed, we’re no longer His enemies but instead are His beloved sons and daughters.

Peace with Others

Christ not only reconciled us to the Father, but He also made it possible for us to enjoy harmonious relationships with others. For many people, Christmas is an occasion for happy gatherings of family and friends, but holidays can also be opportunities for old grievances to reappear, arguments to start, and tempers to flare. At times like 8 |

DECEMBER 2 0 1 0

I n T o u ch

this, the peace proclaimed by the angels can seem far from our reality. However, when Christ becomes our Savior, He commits Himself to transform every area of our lives, including our relationships. He can heal our emotional wounds and break down walls of prejudice, indifference, hurt, and anger, which keep us from loving each other. Relationships are two-way streets, though, so we may not be able to reconcile every conflict. And yet through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can forgive and even love those who are antagonistic toward us.

Peace within Ourselves

Christ’s first coming did not change all the externals of our environment in such a way that all conflict and stressful situations are eliminated. The peace that Jesus gives His followers is an internal calm which produces confident stability no matter what is going on around them. What does it take for you to have tranquility? If it’s wrapped up in good relationships, financial security, material possessions, or fulfilled plans and dreams, then you have fallen for the world’s definition of peace, which is based on external circumstances. If that’s the case, whenever your situation changes, your serenity vanishes and is replaced with anxiety, frustration, or fear. Experiencing the incomprehensible. God’s peace is superior to anything the world can offer, because it is based on a relationship with Christ and has nothing to do with circumstances. Unlike our environment, our position in Christ cannot be altered. We are eternally secure and completely covered by His sovereign hand of protection and guidance. According to Philippians 4:7, God’s peace surpasses all human comprehension and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We have all been through tough trials and

W e m ust choose to r e c e i ve stillness i n o u r spirit.

valleys of tears while our dreams were shattered and everything was falling apart around us. Yet inside our hearts, how many times did we feel this overwhelming sense of incomprehensible serenity and trust as God’s grace overflowed in our time of need? Apart from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, this would be impossible. I will always remember speaking to a woman whose son was lying at death’s door after a terrible accident. She told me that throughout her ordeal, the peace of God covered her like a holy cloud. Although the circumstances were horrendous and stressful, the Lord just surrounded her with His quiet assurance. I’ve experienced similar significant times in my life when I had every reason in the world to be anxious. Though God desires unity among His followers (Eph. 4:1-3), even Christians can yield to the temptation of taking sides. I still recall finding myself in a tense situation, where one faction supported me but the other was strenuously opposed. As I wrestled with this before the Lord, He gave me a scripture that stabilized me throughout the three-day meeting. Each time I walked out of a session, I’d tell Him, “I feel so calm inside. When am I going to get scared?” But Christ’s surpassing peace filled me, and I never became afraid. The verse God gave me guarded my heart and mind: “I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand” (Isa. 51:16).

My friend, as long as you and I are covered by God’s omnipotent hand there is no reason to be afraid, anxious, or disturbed about anything. That hand covers each difficult situation we face and provides for every need we encounter. Living in turmoil. Knowing that such amazing peace is available to every believer, why don’t we experience it more consistently? One obvious reason is sin—choosing to act independently of God’s will. Every time we resist His instructions or convictions and go our own way, we are in conflict with Him. Believers cannot have tranquility when walking in opposition to the Lord. The conviction of the Holy Spirit will cause internal commotion in their hearts. Another reason for emotional turmoil is a lack of faith. Remember the meaning of the word peace—“to bind together.” Sometimes we fail to connect what the Lord says is true of us with what we feel about ourselves. Then, feelings of inadequacy can overrule the truth of His Word, which says, “Our adequacy is from God” (2 Cor. 3:4-6). Thoughts of worthlessness outweigh His promise of value and acceptance (Eph. 1:4-5), and fears overtake His guarantee to provide for all our needs (Phil. 4:19). In the same way, when we look at the suffering and difficulty in our lives and perceive God as uncaring or unable to help, we’re relying on our own understanding instead of on the truth of Scripture. Anytime we begin to distrust and doubt God, our confident assurance will be shaken. Making a choice. So, how can we move from anxiety and distress to a sense of assurance and stillness in our spirits? There is only one way. We must choose to receive it—and not just once, but every day. Our first decision must be to raise the white flag of surrender. Those who insist on having their own way will never know serenity. Let God win the battle for your will. The outcome will be surprising. In most wars, the www.intouch.org

| 9

side that surrenders, loses. But when you submit to the Lord, you don’t lose; you win! Inner turmoil is replaced with quiet trust. The second decision we must make is to focus on Christ and His Word, not on the impossible situation, conflict, or fear. “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You” (Isa. 26:3). Since our emotions follow our thoughts, we must pay careful attention to what we allow to dominate our thinking. When our minds are fixed on God and we trust in His sovereignty and love for us, we can face stressful circumstances with a settled assurance— despite appearances, we know that He has our best interests at heart and is working all things out for our good and for His glory. One of my most precious memories involves a time when I was experiencing great turmoil. Knowing my distress, an elderly lady in my church showed me a picture on her wall and asked me to tell her what I saw. It was a picture of Daniel in the lions’ den, so I described the hungry lions with closed mouths and Daniel standing with his hands behind his back. But I missed the most important detail. This perceptive woman put her arm around me and said, “Son, what I want you to see is that Daniel doesn’t have his eyes on the lions, but on God.” That was one of the greatest sermons I’ve ever heard in my life. Christians are not victims of their circumstances. The Lord made it clear that we do not have to live in anxiety but can choose a better way. Shortly before His death, Jesus promised to give the disciples His peace, and He concluded with these instructions: “Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). We, too, have been given this promise and have the same responsibility not to let our hearts become distressed. This Christmas, choose peace. Don’t allow the busyness of the season to shift your focus from Christ. Let Him be your Prince of Peace in every situation. 10 |

DECEMBER 2 0 1 0

I n T o u ch

further study

Questions for

1. How does Jesus describe His peace in John 14:27 and 16:33? On what is it based? What surprising contrast is pre- sented? According to 2 Thessalonians 3:16, when and how often can we experience this peace? 2. Who produces Christ’s peace within us (Gal. 5:22-23)? What choice do we make that determines whether or not this fruit is generated in us (Gal. 5:16-17)? How important is our mindset in this process (Rom. 8:5-8)?

3. Philippians 4:4-9 is packed with information that can help us understand how to experi- ence an inner sense of calm assurance. Make a list of all the commands Paul gives in this passage. What is the promise that is sandwiched between all these instruc tions (v. 7)? What condition for its fulfillment is given in verse 6? How would practicing all of Paul’s recommendations contribute to the fulfillment of this promise? 4. When Christ’s peace takes root in our hearts, it affects us personally, but it also impacts the way we relate to others. Read Colossians 3:12-17. In verse 15, what evidence do you see of personal inner peace influencing the harmony of an entire church? What attitudes and prac- tices in this passage could help you achieve a spirit of unity with others? People, Get Ready Dr. Stanley explains how to wait joyfully for Jesus’ glorious return. The Coming of Christ u4-CD set | $14 (U.S.) See order form or visit www.intouch.org.

“

15-minute Bible study

Lessons from Jesus’ Parents >> Help for Perplexed and Inadequate Parents

j “

lu k e 2 : 3 9 - 5 2

Just imagine what it must have been like to be Jesus’ parents. They probably felt totally inadequate for the task, yet God specifically appointed them to raise His Son. If you’re a parent, the Lord has also personally chosen you to care for the children He’s entrusted to you. No matter how unqualified we may feel for the role of parenting, God will always equip us for this demanding assignment. Joseph and Mary were both very young when they were called to the greatest challenge of their lives. The character qualities and godly practices they displayed are the same ones all parents still need today. Character Qualities and Godly Practices: uJoseph was righteous, kind, unselfish, and self-controlled (Matt. 1:18-25). uMary was teachable, submissive, joyful, and wise (Luke 1:26-56). uThey both believed God and responded with obedience (Matt. 1:24; Luke 1:38, 45). uJoseph relied on the Lord for guidance and carefully followed His instructions (Matt. 2:13-15, 19-23). uJesus’ parents faithfully worshipped Questions for Reflection the Lord and obeyed His Law 1. Why are godly character qualities and (Luke 2:21-24, 39-42). practices vitally important for parents? Parenting Challenges: What happens when they’re missing? uMary and Joseph were not perfect parents. In fact, at one point, they Which ones do you need to let the Lord develop in you? actually lost Jesus (Luke 2:41-45). uThey experienced times of confu- 2. Throughout every stage of Jesus’ life, His sion and misunderstanding parents experienced times of perplexity. (Luke 2:46-50) yet never abdicated What is your biggest struggle in parenting? In times of confusion, have you ever taken their parental responsibilities or the time to ponder what the Lord is doing authority (Luke 2:51-52). in your children’s lives? What parenting uMary treasured her mothering experiences do you treasure in your heart? experiences, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:18-19, 51). Changing Roles: uAs Jesus reached adulthood, Mary learned to respect the change in their relationship (John 2:1-5). uShe didn’t always understand Him and His ministry (Mark 3:20-21, 31-35). uEven when her heart was pierced with pain, Jesus’ mother remained faithful to Him (John 19:25).

God will always equip us for this demanding assignment.”

www.intouch.org

| 11

C

The power of the Messiah’s humility might be the most surprising thing about Christmas. b y

D an

S c h aeffer

Christmas

has become such an monumental event

that it’s almost too big to define. But for Christians, it’s still about remembering the time in history when God entered our little corner of the universe in an amazing way. In theological terms, we use the word “incarnation” to describe this event. Or we try to simplify the phenomenon the season commemorates by merely saying, “This is when God became a man.” Then we turn from the manger, thinking, Ah, now I understand—and go on with our festivities. But no. We don’t understand. Not even a little. It’s actually impossible to understand in our human minds what happened 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, Palestine—that tiny corner of Rome’s empire. Trying to understand the reality of Jesus’ birth by just looking at the nativity scene is a little like trying to give an insightful synopsis of a football game after missing the whole first half and then studying the halftime show. Unless you understand who “little baby Jesus” was and what He was up to before the day of His birth, you’ll never understand the angels’ glorious celebration of what the average person would have seen as simply the unimportant (and even depressing) experiences of a young Jewish family.

The Mystery of the Incarnation

In his letter to the Christians in Philippi, the apostle Paul wrote some amazing Christmas commentary that often flies under our Advent radar, yet tells us more about the real meaning of Christmas than many verses more commonly associated with the season. Speaking about humility, he urged the believers to “have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and [was] made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:5-7). When Paul refers to Christ’s incarnation as

a human being on this earth, he prefaces the idea with the reminder that He eternally existed before as God, not man. The word “incarnation” comes from the Greek word keno (from which we get the theological term Kenosis), which refers to an “emptying.” It describes someone of great position who is brought low, voluntarily laying aside his high rank and becoming as nothing in comparison with his prior dignity. Compare this to the President of the United States or another leader of a wealthy country leaving behind all authority, rank, power, and bodyguards, and moving to an impoverished Third-World www.intouch.org

| 13

country as an unknown homeless vagrant. In choosing to subsist in near-starvation and subjecting himself to the perils of roving bands of thieves and murderers, he would be “emptying” himself. That’s an everyday example of selfemptying transformation—but it wouldn’t even be close to what Paul is talking about. When he says that Jesus “existed in the form of God,” he uses the Greek word morphe. It means that what you look like on the outside corresponds perfectly to what you really are. You are in essence what you are in appearance. If we see a zebra at a zoo, we’re looking at the morphe of the zebra; what it looks like is what it truly is. Whereas if someone dresses up in even a very convincing zebra costume, we are seeing the appearance of a zebra, not its morphe. Jesus didn’t just look like God; He was always God. As Paul tells us, before that amazing day when everything changed—before becoming a tiny fetus within a young woman—Jesus was in every way and eternally God. The infant Messiah was a Being of another kind and place who took on a new nature—a human one—yet without changing who He was innately and eternally. In a hypostatic union, the two natures of humanity and divinity combined to form one. Jesus, God from all eternity, whom angels worship, who dwelt in unapproachable light and whom no human had ever truly seen (1 Tim. 6:16), left behind His infinitely glorious state by choice and humbled Himself. And that is what the Christmas fuss is really all about. What does it mean that God became a man—that He who created everything by His power, and in whom all creation reflects His personal glory, emptied Himself?

In the Beginning

The first words of John’s gospel tell us that Jesus, the Word of God, was one with the 14 |

DECEMBER 2 0 1 0

I n T o u ch

Father in the beginning of time; that “all things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (1:1-2). All that we see with our eyes, our microscopes, our telescopes, and far beyond was spoken into existence through His omnipotence. We know through current scientific data that the visible universe contains an estimated 100 billion galaxies, each with a diameter millions of trillions of miles wide, and each galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars. That means the universe is home to more Jesus left than a billion behind His trillion infinitely stars. glorious state To put by choice and those humbled astroHimself. nomical numbers in perspective, circling the earth seven times in one second would require traveling at the speed of light (186,000 miles/second)—but even at that speed, crossing the known universe would take at least 28 billion years! Even more mindboggling is that most scientists agree the universe is expanding. The energy and power in those trillions of stars is unfathomable. Our own solar system’s rather modest star, the sun, heats the earth and creates all the energy that drives our weather systems—with only one-billionth of its energy. Over one million earths would fit inside it, yet it’s only average in size; the largest known star, VY Canis Majoris, is about 2,100

times larger. That means 9,200,000,000 of our suns would fit inside it. The Son of God made these; He gave them their power! And we’re looking only at creative power—just a tiny fraction of all the power belonging to the Creator, who is infinitely greater and more glorious than the wonderful things He made. It was this Creator who emptied Himself of all that glory and power so that He might enter a tiny planet in the Milky Way, in an insignificant backwater part of the Middle East—coming into the world just like us: as a vulnerable baby. That tiny infant, struggling out of His mother and sleeping His first night in a feed trough, was still truly and completely God—having set aside His glory, but not His essence. He who was “the image of the invisible God” also became “the firstborn of all creation” (Col. 1:15-17). He who holds all things together by His power allowed Himself to be so helpless that His very existence depended upon a humble human being. It may not be hard for some to believe that our Creator loved us and wanted us closer to Him, even while our sin had created a deep rift between us. But what should be an absolute wonder to us all is the lengths to which He was willing to go to bridge that chasm so He could be with us. The manger scene is a shocking monument to the love of our God and His commitment to bringing His creation back to Him.

Another Kind of Power

Though Jesus came to us in the mantle of weakness, there was no weakness in the way He came to us. Only infinite power could work this miracle. Our human bodies contain an estimated 100 trillion complex cells. We are marvels of the most complex kind of engineering. Just imagine trying to humble yourself into becoming the single microscopic cell you began life as.

What kind of knowledge, creativity, and power did it take for the eternal Creator to become an infant, without becoming one less bit God than He was before? How would you fit all the massive oceans of the world into a miniature thimble? How would you fit all the power of the universe into a strand of DNA? How could He “who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23) confine Himself to a human womb and yet still be able to fill everything? There is power in His humility. Was this act any less of a miracle than when He made everything out of nothing? In Jesus, humility and weakness aren’t the same thing. In us they often are; we must be humble enough to acknowledge our weakness so that God’s power can be made complete in us. Yet from the beginning, Christ’s human frailty was born of His great strength. He who is immeasurable in His greatness was willing to be contained in a bundle so light you could have lifted Him with one hand. He who knows all things and sees every activity in galaxies invisible to us, allowed His mind to be limited to an infant’s. He whose very spoken word caused the universe to come into existence allowed Himself to cry out in unintelligible phrases, unable to communicate even His most basic needs. He who has legions of mighty angels under His control entrusted His well-being to a poor carpenter and his teenaged wife. This is your Creator! So on Christmas, as you contemplate the tiny baby in the center of the Nativity scene, consider the heights from which He came and the breadth of the power He wielded from before all time. Consider that no one in all of history has ever given up more or gone to such lengths for the sake of love. Even before He lived His life beside us— and then sacrificed it for us in yet another miraculous act of grace—He showed us the mystery of His matchless love, even as a crying newborn lying in a manger. www.intouch.org

| 15

solvingproblems

in search of

p

shalom

letting go of the things that weigh us down

p b y

C h ris

T iegreen

eter slept. That in itself wasn’t especially unusual, but on this particular night it was. He was heavily guarded in an uncomfortable prison and would stand trial the next day—which everyone knew would just be for show. King Herod’s popularity had soared when he began cracking down on followers of Jesus and executed one of their other leaders, James. Peter’s arrest was clearly a political strategy that would end the same way, so the young Jerusalem church prayed desperately. The situation didn’t look good at all. Still, somehow Peter was able to rest. I don’t know many people who would sleep the night before their trial and almost certain execution. My mind would be filled with concerns about what to say in my defense, what it feels like when you die, how my loved ones would get along without me, and endless questions about what might happen. I often can’t sleep even when I’m dealing with more minor issues, like a heavy workload, financial stress, or maybe the dysfunctional behavior of a certain friend or family member. As for lying on a stone floor in chains the night before my impending public execution? I’m pretty sure I’d be wide awake. But Peter, chained to his prison guards (to make sure he couldn’t escape), had to be awakened by the angel who appeared in his cell to dramatically rescue him. Even the bright light that filled the cell wasn’t enough to disrupt his sleep—the angel actually struck

him on his side. On the night before his probable death, Peter was completely at peace.

the anxiety problem Most of us crave that kind of peace, but few of us live in it consistently—and many of us have some pretty valid reasons for that. At this moment, I have a friend who’s been unemployed for well over a year, another has been caring for his now-dying mother for the last 15 years; several friends have lived on the verge of foreclosure for months, and some deal with children in crises ranging from unplanned pregnancy to criminal charges to leukemia. I myself am a guy with a brain-injured son, a long family history of depression, off-and-on financial pressures, and the list goes on. Like many, I’ve been through job loss, broken relationships, and long hours in hospital waiting rooms. So I well know that all of these are serious issues. But I have to face the fact that “serious issues” and “valid reasons” just do not trump God’s intentions for us. In the midst of life’s difficulties, He promises peace. He says He wants us to be free from the weight of our burdens. We have to ask ourselves whether or not we really believe what He says. Jesus wasn’t speaking figuratively when He said not to worry about our lives (Matt. 6:25), and His words are echoed time and again (i.e., Phil. 4:6). In fact, the most frequently repeated command in Scripture is “fear not.” But it’s also one of www.intouch.org

| 17

the most often disobeyed. Anxious thoughts easily creep into our minds and dominate our attention. We lie awake, stressing and obsessing over concerns far less earth-shattering than the situation Peter faced in prison that night. And before we object that Peter was a super-Christian, let’s consider his track record as a disciple. He was a man just like us, who struggled but ultimately learned to fully receive the Holy Spirit’s peace that Jesus promised to give His followers (John 14:27; 16:33). The same kind of all-transcending rest Peter experienced that night in jail is available to us.

Within shalom, there is no anxiety, no discontent or emptiness, no endless loops of “what ifs”

robbing us of sleep.



why do we worry? God designed us for peace. The Hebrew for “peace” is shalom (the same word used for “hello” and “goodbye”), but it means so much more than the English translation we often read throughout Scripture. Shalom is fullness, wholeness, completeness, abundance, safety— basically, life as God intended before the fall: a garden-of-Eden sense of well-being. And this isn’t just some faraway notion. When the Bible calls Jesus our Prince of Peace, it’s referring to our shalom, the One who fulfills us and offers us wholeness in every area of life. And part of our life of peace in Him is freedom from worry. Within shalom, there is no anxiety, no discontent or emptiness, no endless loops of “what ifs” robbing us of sleep. We can rest in who God says He is, the breadth of what He’s done for us, and what He’s promised—even when we’re dealing with stressful, serious issues. But ever since the fall, we’ve lived in a broken reality. In Eden, our first parents had all the provision, approval, and security they needed. They didn’t wonder if 18 |

DECEMBER 2 0 1 0

I n T o u ch

they were loved, try to impress God or each other, stockpile wealth in attempts to ensure they’d never be lacking, or think constantly about all the things that might go wrong. But when perfect communion with the Creator was severed, we lost sight of the innate assurances with which He created us. We began striving. Ever since, we’ve taken the enormous burdens of a secure life upon ourselves, all the while desperately seeking shalom. People have long sought that place of rest with counterfeits and shoddy substitutes, whether substances or habits that saddle us with the crushing weight of addiction. We’ve tried to buy our way to comfort and ended up with heavy debts. We’ve manipulated our way into desired relationships that have resulted in life-sapping dysfunction. We’ve tried to impress our way into positions that, instead of giving us security, impose grinding responsibilities we can barely keep up with. And the list goes on. There’s no end to the ways we complicate our lives by trying to uncomplicate them. Our best efforts weigh us down. All of this maneuvering becomes an

endless source of stress. It’s hard to maintain enough material security to never fear lack, enough status to constantly feel approved of, or enough relationships to feel genuinely loved. And whatever we gain in these areas is always subject to loss—a prospect that keeps us preoccupied with all kinds of anxieties. So when Jesus tells us, “Do not be worried about your life” or Paul tells us to “be anxious for nothing,” we nod our heads at this wonderful advice and deep down wonder if it’s even possible. I, for one, have no trouble trusting the Lord in theory, but there are times when I struggle to trust Him in practice. I’ve read the Bible closely enough to know that He often lets godly people go through difficulties. So it’s easy for me to worry that He might allow such a thing in my case—and to forget that He promises to be with me even in those trials and work them together for good. I take great comfort in the fact that Jesus told His disciples that “not a hair of your head will perish” (Luke 21:18). But two verses earlier, He warned that some of them would be put to death. Obviously, He defines “protection” differently than we do. Yet it’s clear that He wants us to live in freedom from the oppressive weight of worry and stress. He urges us to trust Him in every circumstance, and He doesn’t do so with empty words. There’s a reason we can depend on Him with our lives: He is trustworthy.

the battle for our trust Still, this truth doesn’t easily make the journey from our heads to our hearts, so we live as striving subjects of a King who’s already promised to give us all things generously. And something’s very wrong with that picture. I think one of the biggest challenges we face in life is the struggle to genuinely believe in God’s goodness. It’s not that

we have trouble believing in this at an intellectual level; every Christian would agree that God is good. But deep within— particularly when we’re going through a crisis—we struggle to believe He is good to us. Is this God truly worthy of our trust? This is actually the question the serpent posed in the garden to the first couple. “Maybe God is holding out on you,” he suggested, and Eve wondered if he was right. In one way or another, we all go through seasons of wrestling with this same question. It may be the key battle of our spiritual life. And until we’ve settled it, shalom remains elusive and our burdens weigh us down. When we resolve that internal battle of whether we can trust Him, we can stop striving. The Lord’s admonition to cease from worry isn’t just a placating pat on the back; He says this because we have sound, authentic reasons to place our confidence in Him. He really is watching out for us. He is a very present help in trouble, even when He doesn’t spare us from all tribulation. He really does offer shalom to those who choose to rest in Him. And that’s why it is possible to live an unburdened life—to take respite in the goodness of God, no matter what circumstances look like or how our security and plans feel threatened. We can give up our faulty efforts to find wholeness on our own and instead choose to believe that He is all we need. When situations provoke us to worry, we can take Him at His word. Then, even in the worst of trials, we can lie down and sleep in peace. God promises us freedom from worry. What would happen if we really believed Him? Unburdened uSoftcover | $13

(U.S.)

See order form or visit www.intouch.org. www.intouch.org

| 19

familyroom

life beyond the

Brady Bunch

cultivating hope in your blended family b y

20 |

DECEMBER 2 0 1 0

D ebbie

I n T o u ch

A lsdorf

it

was a regular weekday morning. I’d just finished running the carpool and was mentally going over my holiday to-do list. Suddenly, my thoughts became negative. We aren’t all going to be together for the holidays— what kind of family is that? Who are we, anyway? In a newly blended family, even something as simple as sending Christmas cards can become a complicated issue. How should we print our names on the card? We aren’t just “The Alsdorf Family,” because my sons have different last names. And if we all have different last names, doesn’t that prove we aren’t a real family? The truth was, we didn’t feel like a “real” family yet—not in name, not in tradition, and not even in photographs. What were we thinking, trying to cram a picture-perfect life into a broken frame? Maybe you can relate. What once started out with fresh hope and eager promises can quickly spiral into the exhausting complexities of hurt feelings, custody battles, and children who don’t know which parent to be loyal to. While adults are trying to “begin again,” children are suffering from hurts so deep they can’t even articulate them. And that’s a very common reality none of us ever saw on The Brady Bunch! The ideals I grew up with did not prepare me for living in a blended family, where differences are magnified, hurts are multiplied, and the idea of what’s fair or “normal” more often than not gets thrown out the window! In real life, there’s no TV producer to make sure every conflict is neatly resolved, and there are no rehearsals or retakes. Before becoming a modern-day Brady Bunch, we all had high hopes. But the reality was that we brought to the family varying backgrounds and traditions. We had different rules, different habits—even different dinner menus! And the holidays brought us face-to-face with another com-

mon reality: we felt like foreigners who had been transported to an alien country, whose hearts yearned to go back to our homeland and the familiarity of our own “culture” and traditions. But we had made a commitment to this new life, and since there was no going back, we had to learn to thrive in our “new normal.”

high hopes meet real life

Being a Christian in a blended family doesn’t protect you from the difficulty of adjustment or the pain that can come with it. What once feels like a gift of hope often gets clouded by the challenging details of a new family dynamic. But being a Christ-follower makes all the difference, because you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. In a blended family, love must be learned, and the Holy Spirit can be your teacher. When you choose, day by day, to offer each member of your family His compassion and encouragement—even if certain relationships are harder than others—you choose to cultivate new hope in your home. But that requires a choice on our part. Though the Lord offers hope freely, we must choose to receive it, live in it, breathe in its fragrance, and walk in its grace. God gives us second, third, and forth chances. His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23). He never changes; we are the ones who must adjust, as He’s called us to a life of holiness. For me, the more difficult aspects of our blended family have been a crucible of personal change. Any situation that forces us to look at our selfishness and confront our attitudes and expectations is one that has enormous spiritual value attached to it. And I’ve found my hope sustained as I take encouragement with each opportunity to confront my self-life through more painful seasons—isn’t it in these times that God becomes more real to us? www.intouch.org

| 21

a new

a new heart

Jesus came for broken people like us—those who are tired and desperately need rest, whose lives are messy and fragmented, and whose hearts need healing. He came to bring restoration to our hurts with a love that’s bigger than any of our struggles. He came to make a real difference in our lives, even in the nitty-gritty details of each day. But for many of us, when the Lord asks us to follow Him into uncharted territory, fear takes hold. Vulnerability is hard when we’ve been hurt before, and it’s easier to close ourselves off when things get tough. But this can eventually leave us with hard hearts—and empty lives. It’s easy to completely overlook the state of your heart in all the busyness, stress, and desire to meet your family’s many needs. So take a moment to look deep within. Are you hurting? Frustrated with trying so hard to blend yet meeting with obstacle after obstacle? Do you sometimes feel like an outsider in your own home, a stranger in your own life? Are you stressed out by the financial obligations and custody arrangements, still bitter toward your former spouse, or holding on to past hurts the Lord desires to heal? God’s plan from the beginning was to give us new hearts—ones that are alive, whole, and beating in rhythm with His, so that we can love with His love (Ezek. 36:26-27). It’s His Spirit that enables us to go beyond ourselves each day; to forgive, extend grace, trust again, and never lose hope in His bigger picture. Even if your family’s situation seems out of control right now, remember that nothing is too hard for God. And this Christmas is an appropriate time to consider the precious gift that is available to each one of us—Christ Himself. He holds out to us the promise of communion, healing, and restoration. More than anything else, it’s this gift of love that we all need. Prepare room for Jesus in your home, and welcome Him to stay. 22 |

DECEMBER 2 0 1 0

I n T o u ch

Holiday

normal

Holidays can overwhelm us with expectations, and as adults, we may have to lay our personal expectations down at the altar, putting the needs of others before our own. But you can still make the very best of the season and enjoy creating a “new normal.” Work on merging family traditions by keeping some special things from each, while deliberately building new ones together. Learn to compromise. Recognize what matters and what really doesn’t, and be willing to let the little things go. Be fair and reasonable with gifts—do all you can to avoid competition. Check your emotions frequently so your kids won’t be torn between appeasing you and their other parent. Take your children shopping to pick out a gift for their other parent. This helps them feel you support their relationship with their mom or dad and goes a long way in helping them heal. Stay connected with God. You might feel you don’t have time for prayer and Bible reading, but you can’t afford not to be nourished and empowered by Him. When you’re spiritually dry, it’s hard not to operate in “the flesh.” Keep sight of why you are celebrating Christmas, and draw strength from this hope! Blending a family isn’t easy. Debbie and Ray Alsdorf share how God can bring together broken pieces and make a whole. Beyond the Brady Bunch uSoftcover | $14 (U.S.) See order form or visit www.intouch.org.



A poem by Luci Shaw

modernpsalms

This time each year, it’s the same wonderful story we retell: In His infinite love, the Creator of the Universe condescended to take on human flesh—to become what we are so that we might share in His life and be saved. Luci Shaw’s poem “Simeon” draws us into deeper consideration of an often-overlooked aspect of this story—the presentation of Christ in the Temple and Simeon, the servant of God who received Him there. As we reflect upon Simeon’s fervent longing to see the Lord, may we be reminded of our own. —CL

Simeon “You are to give to the Lord the firstborn of every womb” Exodus 13:2, 12

“The Lord makes his life an offering for sin . . .” Isaiah 53:10

reading tip If it’s been a while since you’ve read the story of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple, reacquaint yourself with the details in chapter 2 of Luke.

Expectant, though never knowing quite what he was watching for, the old man had waited out the years of a long life to be in the right place, at the right time. How many generations of crying babies brought by new parents into the holy precincts for dedication? How many innocent doves wrung by the neck for their blood, and burned on the altar? Yet, when they came with their child and their pigeons, and when the man Simeon, seized by Spirit, took the infant in his arms, his eyes looked into the eyes of God; there was that flash of absolute knowing.

Luci Shaw is Writer in Residence at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. She is the author of Accompanied by Angels  (Eerdmans, 2006), in which “Simeon” appears. Poem reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. www.intouch.org

| 23

resourcecenter

Life Principles Coloring Books Packed with word puzzles, activities, and delightful illustrations, this 56-page coloring book teaching kids biblical wisdom in a way they can understand. uVolume

1 | $5 (U.S.)

uVolume

2 | $5 (U.S.)

uVolume

1, Spanish | $5 (U.S.)

Christmas with Dr. Stanley In this unique four-CD series, Dr. Stanley gives you the big picture of Christmas— starting in Genesis! u4-CD

set | $14 (U.S.)

Tracking Your Spiritual Growth Sermons aren’t just for Sundays. Jotting message highlights and insights from Scripture reading will help you apply God’s principles all week. With space for notes, a Bible reading plan, prayer lists, and more, this journal is a valuable tool for growing in Christ. In Touch Notetaker’s Journal uJournal | $19 (U.S.)

U.S. 800-333-5849

Canada 800-323-3747

www.intouch.org

2011 Calendars If a picture is worth a thousand words, Dr. Stanley’s photographs say a lot about God’s power and serene majesty. Taken in Hawaii, each image features a corresponding scripture on peace. *While supplies last. uWall

calendar | $12 (U.S.) calendar | $8 (U.S.)

uSmall

Daily Devotional by Dr. Stanley The most important thing you can do is to spend time with Christ. This devotional offers 365 daily readings to take you into the Word— and presence—of God. I Lift Up My Soul | $19 (U.S.)

uHardcover

2010 Christmas Ornament Baldwin Brass (designer of the acclaimed White House ornaments) created this season’s decoration. Beautiful brass filigree displays Life Principle #11: “God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him.” *While supplies last. uBrass

U.S. 800-333-5849

ornament | $16 (U.S.)

Canada 800-323-3747

www.intouch.org

byfaith

Two Strangers Brought Together by God’s Relent

F

Chr is Plekenpol

or as long as James can remember, his sole purpose in life was to stay alive any way he could—to say what he had to say and do what he had to do to get what he needed to get. At the age of nine, he lost his father to double pneumonia and began a descent into drugs, homosexuality, and homelessness. James is 45 years old now, and he hasn’t had a consistent roof over his head for more than two years running. Five years ago, he walked into a church in Austin, Texas, and bumped into Chris Plekenpol. Chris had given his heart to Jesus when he was six years old, although his parents were not churchgoers. Later, he attended West Point and commanded troops in Iraq at the height of the war. When he finished his obligation to the Army, Chris enrolled in Dallas Theological Seminary to pursue his life’s passion: serving others. That’s when he met James. “I saw a homeless man walking away from our church alone,” Chris recalls. “When I see people in need, I don’t know, something inside me just weeps. I don’t even know how to describe that. We look at these people but don’t do anything.” Chris says things got interesting when James began attending the men’s weekly Bible study. He was homeless, drug addicted, and HIV positive. At first, the group reached out to James by listening intently to his woes of life on

less Pursuit of His Children

the streets and committing to pray for him. But each evening after the study concluded, someone drove James to the sidewalk corner where he slept and left him there. A restlessness built within Chris’s heart. Knowing James was no longer convenient. “God allows us to experience things because He wants to show us how to live out His Word, as opposed to just talking about it,” Chris says. “Here’s a person in need and he’s not going away. What are you going to do about that?” Eventually, Chris stepped out on a limb and invited James to live with him. The adjustment was awkward, stressful, and even expensive, but Chris wanted more than anything else to identify with the life of Jesus and, to him, this was a way to do that. He looked after James, drove him where he needed to go, worked to get him a valid ID card, and saw to it that he was in Bible study every week. Each morning he handed his new housemate ten dollars. At first, he resented the practice, but later he took joy in it. And so did others. As he blogged about his new experience, friends and strangers alike gave money to the homeless man they’d never met. People rallied around James to support him and help him overcome obstacles in his life. Eventually, someone even gave him

B y

T on y a

S toneman

James Rudolph www.intouch.org

| 27

a good job. All of this increased Chris’s faith and made him expect great things. But two days after starting his new job, James didn’t show up for work. A probe into his daily activities revealed that he had been doing drugs the entire time he’d been living with Chris. He deceived the people who cared for him most. He lied to them and took advantage of their generosity. As James tells it, he saw his first encounter with Chris as “a pity lunch for a homeless man—a free meal.” He’d been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, lived in the Superdome, and witnessed things worse than death. He arrived in Dallas on a bus full of refugees. He’d been homeless, off and on, for most of his life and knew a cash cow when he found one. “I saw Chris as a guy with stuff,” James says. “My main thing was to manipulate him as much as possible to feed my addiction. But I spiraled down to a point where I got caught.” When the truth came to light, Chris told his new friend to move out. The entire experience left Chris feeling deflated, confused, and beaten down. It took him a long time to work through these feelings. Asked if he felt used when he discovered James’ true intentions, he answers, “Of course. But whatever happens, I’m going to serve the Lord 100 percent—whatever that looks like. If I rely on Him, He won’t let me be made a fool. Faith doesn’t make sense. It’s like smelling a color. You just know it when you see it. You can catch a glimpse of God when you lose yourself to being used. I was exhausted from serving James. It’s not easy and it’s not always fun, but it’s worth it. You’ve gotta have spiritual eyes to see stuff. You see lost people as those who Jesus died for, as opposed to scenery.” After the confrontation, James disappeared completely. Two years passed. Chris sent e-mails regularly and tried to track him down just to know if he was 28 |

DECEMBER 2 0 1 0

I n T o u ch

still alive. Then, on a day like any other, Chris received the following e-mail: “Well, I’m checking my e-mail and who do I come across but you!!! I’ve been out of the loop because I’m in a discipleship program called Denton Freedom House!!!!! This place is awesome!!!!! I really would like to touch base with you. There is some stuff that I need to tell you that needs to be said face to face!!!! My graduation ceremony is Saturday and I would like for you to be here!!!!” Chris nearly dropped his laptop. He called James right away. When they were reunited, James apologized to him and thanked him for everything he’d done. “When I lived with Chris, deep down in my heart there was a motive,” he recalls. “I used the situation to my advantage. But when I got to Freedom House and God told me how to treat others, I was genuinely sorry.” Although Chris still wonders if he did enough to help his friend, James sees it differently. “The Bible study stuff stuck with me,” he says. “It’s like God says something, and then I say ‘Objection. Strike the comment.’ But really I’ll always remember what was said. I heard it. I overruled Chris, but I still heard what he said.” It’s been four years since the worlds of these two perfect strangers collided, and James has been sober for three months. But he’s stayed sober longer, at times. Chris has decided he will never let go of his friend. He takes inspiration from the book of Hosea, who always remained faithful to his wife Gomer. “I have to continue to search James out,” he says. “Sin takes you back to the very thing that entices you. It’s a continuing saga. But the neat thing is, I get to be the constant because I’m never going to give up on him. He uses and abuses people. But I’m not going to give up.” Asked what James has taught him through all of this time, Chris says, “I know what it feels like to love somebody and have him not love you back. I want to know

really is.

I want them to know that there really is freedom. There Christ through the power of His sufferings. I’ve never been tortured, but I’ve been betrayed. That’s where we grow and get to know who God is and share the suffering in a small microcosm.” If he can point to one thing that’s different in his life today because of his relationship with James, it is a resolute decision to stop living cultural Christianity. “Christ died for people who mistreated Him and didn’t love Him,” he says. “I don’t want to live like I’m gonna leave a good legacy; I want to live like I’m gonna see Jesus.” James is working every day to stay sober and walk with God. He hopes to work in ministry some day. He says that because of what he’s come out of, he knows how guys who are addicted live. And he has a heart to help them. “I want them to know that there really is freedom. There really is. It’s not just freedom from what you’re not supposed to do. There’s a freedom to do what you’re supposed to do. If you accept that, then you won’t do what you’re not supposed to. God will show you how.” Although James is not a poster boy for the redeemed Christian and he didn’t respond to the gospel in the way Chris had hoped he would, Chris still believes earnestly in spiritual transformation.

“I have been transformed,” he says. “There are dark parts of me that God is still working on. I have pride. I’m still in the process of growing closer to God. And the closer I get, the more I realize how far away I am. I see James make small steps forward and get yanked back, but there’s a continual pushing forward. I don’t know how sanctification works. I know there’s a point where the Holy Spirit begins to control you, but that takes an incredible amount of faith. What I’ve seen in us is that we trust in God and move closer to him.” For now, Chris is resting on Jesus’ words from Matthew 25:40: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (niv). And James is enjoying true freedom. “It feels like my head is over water,” he says. “I’m not trying to make it. It’s already made. I don’t have anxiety. It’s liberating. I don’t have to work as hard at this. I just walk in what God has already done.” A former Army Captain invites a homeless man to live with him. They are both transformed by grace they never imagined. Stumbling Souls uSoftcover | $14 (U.S.) See order form or visit www.intouch.org. www.intouch.org

| 29

stronginspirit

a

rememberingMary

a

celebrating the mother of Christ b y

C am er o n

As trees shed the last of their leaves and the thermostat dips, my wife and I are in preparation mode. Amid the usual changes of the season, we’re expecting our first child—a Christmas baby. My wife’s belly has grown beyond recognition. I’ve felt the baby’s kick against my palm, only a thin veil of flesh between us. One day soon, we’ll see each other face to face. Having a child at Christmas brings home the reality of the nativity. God became human in the form of a child, born to a virgin. And this happened for the salvation of humankind and the redemption of all creation. It’s the same story we remember every year. But as I watch my wife around the house—unable to easily bend down or rise from a chair—I’m moved to consider an aspect of the incarnation I tend to neglect: Christ has a mother. It’s not that I ever fully overlooked Mary in the past, but rather had a tendency to downplay her importance in the story of salvation. Maybe you can relate. Not wanting to take any glory away from the Lord, I swung so far the other way that I ignored the plain teaching of Scripture: Mary was honored by God Himself. The Bible’s portrayal of the young Mary, barely a woman by the standards of her day, is one of humility and obedience. Consider the annunciation of Christ’s birth. Scripture tells us that the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, saying, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you . . . Do not be afraid, Mary; for you

L a w re n ce

have found favor with God” (Luke 1:28-30). The Scriptures also show that the people closest to her had little trouble identifying Mary’s special role. Just look at her visit to Elizabeth—the soon-to-be mother of John the Baptist: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She cried out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?’ (Luke 1:41-43). Luke tells us that, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth was moved to proclaim the special honor and blessing bestowed upon Mary by God. Far from seeing Mary as a passive receptacle or utilitarian vessel, the early pastors and theologians of the church accorded her fuller importance. They noted salient parallels between her life and many Old Testament persons and wonders. For example, like the bush Moses saw burning in the desert, so did Mary bear the all-holy Lord within her womb without being consumed. She could be likened to a basket of manna, for she carried the Bread of Life. Or just as the Ark of the Covenant was the seat of God’s presence in ancient Israel, so they saw in Mary the “Ark of the New Covenant.” She carried the presence of the uncontainable God within her. Those whom she visited were blessed, just like the house of Obed-edom when David brought the original ark to his home (2 Sam. 6:1-11). www.intouch.org

| 31

Parallels abound. But perhaps the most striking correlation of all is one between Mary—known by the early Christians as Theotokos (Greek for “Mother of God”)— and Eve, the mother of humankind. Ireneaus of Lyons, writing in the second century, explains the connection: “. . . the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith” (Against Heresies, Book III, 22.4). If the apostle Paul thought of Christ as the second Adam, Ireneaus thought of Mary as the second Eve. Where Eve through childbirth passed on a fallen nature to humanity, Mary gave birth to its redemption—the promised Messiah. In a way, this implies a role of spiritual motherhood for Mary, akin to the sort of motherhood we attribute to Eve as our oldest ancestor. Just as women give life to their children, and by extension to generations of grandchildren that follow, so we inherit the benefits of Mary’s faithfulness— life in Christ and eternal rest with Him. Through her faithful cooperation with God, the church was made possible, which is the body of Christ. As Augustine put it in the fourth century, “Plainly (Mary) is, in spirit, Mother of us who are His members, because by love she has cooperated so that the faithful, who are the members of that Head might be born in the Church. In body, indeed, she is mother of that very Head” (On Holy Virginity, 6.6). With that in mind, we have a lot to be thankful for. We all can be grateful for the people in our lives: parents, friends, pastors, coaches, and even strangers. Others play an undeniable role in our salvation. We could say that through them, by God’s grace, we have found life in Him. And how much more is it true of the woman from whom God took the flesh that would be crucified, laid in a tomb, and resurrected? 32 |

DECEMBER 2 0 1 0

I n T o u ch

There are many lessons we can learn from Mary. For instance, we can learn to respond in faith and obedience when God brings something unexpected into our lives. We can also learn to remain humble, letting the Lord honor us as He chooses, rather than make it a pursuit of our will. Mary was an example of being teachable. Although she was Christ’s mother and an authority figure in His life, she learned from her Son and pondered those lessons in her heart. And as we see at the wedding in Cana, she had unflinching faith in Jesus to provide and work miracles. Perhaps Mary’s most important example to us is her willingness to become the first Christian. In faith and humility, she received the Lord into her life—her very body. While pregnant, she nurtured the Lord within her, and through her, the Truth was made incarnate in the world. And so it is with you and me. By coming to faith in Jesus, we receive His presence through the Holy Spirit. He makes our hearts His dwelling place, and through us makes Himself known. We are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), and it’s our job to nurture His presence through right living, prayer, service, and worship. Just like Mary, we are called to make the Truth incarnate in the world through our entire beings. Beyond learning from Mary, remembering and celebrating her life as the mother of Jesus is a means of protection against heresies that would deny Christ’s humanity. In her remembrance, we find a way to put the incarnation of Jesus on center stage with the crucifixion and resurrection, where it rightly belongs. Acknowledging the full importance of Mary’s unique role in the story of redemption doesn’t take anything away from the Lord. It only further underscores the truth of who He is, what He’s done and will do. And just as I’ll meet my baby, one day soon we’ll see Him face to face—the flesh, the scars, the glory.

“

p

building wisely

Opportunities to Maximize Year-End Gifts >> Wise Ways to Give By

“

wa y ne

jones ,

cfp

®

 Proverbs 3:9-10 says, “Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.” That is, when we give to the Lord’s work, He blesses us. Remember, not only can God maximize what we give; He can also stretch our remaining money better than we can. With that in mind, let’s review some information that may be helpful in year-end charitable gift planning. Gifts by Check. Gifts made by check must be postmarked by December 31st to be credited for this year. It’s worth noting that some corporations will match their employees’ charitable gifts, up to a specific amount. Contact your employer’s human resources or payroll department to find out if the company will match your contributions to In Touch. This can be a great way to multiply the impact of your gift.

Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce . . .”

Gifts of Stock. A charitable gift of appreciated stock can benefit you more than a gift of cash, because you avoid capital gains tax on the stock. You also receive a deduction for the full market value of the security if you held it longer than one year. The deduction is limited to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income, but you can carry forward any unused portion of the deduction for five subsequent years. Normally, it’s easy to transfer stock to charity. IRA Charitable Rollover. If IRA charitable rollovers are permitted this year, those aged 70½ and older can make a direct transfer, up to $100,000, from their IRA to qualified public charities such as In Touch Ministries. This qualified charitable distribution is not included in taxable income and counts toward an IRA owner’s [email protected] www.intouchfoundation.org mandatory withdrawal amount. Individuals who take 800-967-2200 the standard deduction on their tax return benefit as well. Contact your financial or tax advisor for further details. We hope this information helps you in your efforts to support the Lord’s work. Please contact us if we may assist you. This article is not intended to provide specific legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult with qualified professional advisors regarding your individual situation.

www.intouch.org

| 33

1

read

|

wednesday

The Vacillating Battle of Faith

James 1:2-8

H Though the incarnation is celebrated during the month of December, believers should be mindful of this amazing gift all year long.

ave you ever felt as if your Christian life swings back and forth like a pendulum between faith and doubt? This is a fairly common problem, especially when trying situations come our way. Although we know what God’s Word says, our feelings tell us something totally different. The question is not if we will experience this, but rather, how long we will remain on one side or the other. Three factors determine whether we lean toward faith or doubt: the strength of our faith at the time of the trial; our knowledge and understanding of God; and our experience with failure or success in past trials, especially those of the same nature. To help you grow in faith, it’s important to change not only your focus but also your thinking and listening practices. • Set your mind on God’s promises, not on the impossibility of your situation. • Trust in His divine nature instead of your feelings about the circumstances. • Seek to view the difficulty from His perspective instead of giving it your own limited interpretation. • Listen to the Holy Spirit—not Satan’s whispered lies, which stir up uncertainties. • Rehearse the Lord’s past faithfulness to you instead of dwelling on your previous failures. e a r l y

l i g h t

The key to stabilizing faith lies in choosing to believe God, regardless of the situation. Only then will it be possible to bring natural feelings of doubt, anxiety, fear, anger, or confusion into submission to what we know to be true—that the Lord is faithful and will see us through every situation. One Year the

bible

in

1 Corinthians 9-12

2 read

S

|

3

thursday

An End to Habitual Sin

Ephesians 6:10-11

atan looks for weak spots in a believer’s life where he can set up a stronghold. Once his fortress is established, he knows that the person will justify it, defend it, and keep adding bricks to it, one sin at a time. The appeal can be so strong that we return to a habitual sin even after confessing before God. Satan whispers, “One more time won’t hurt,” and we fall to temptation again. Just as in medieval times when armies warred over high rock fortresses, a sin stronghold is usually the ground for a skirmish. We might expect the fight to be primarily between God and Satan, but that’s not the case—the Lord can knock down the Devil’s walls instantly. Instead, the struggle goes on within our spirit: Do we want God to break our habit or not? Giving up habitual sin is hard. The sinner finds comfort, pleasure, and/or satisfaction in the practice. Hot on the heels of those emotions, however, are guilt, shame, and despair, which drive a person to plead for help. But holy God cannot cleanse unrighteousness until people genuinely repent. True repentance means that a believer sees a sin for the wickedness that it is and turns his back on it. And we turn away as often as it takes—one time, a hundred times, or every single day for the rest of our lives. e a r l y

read

G

|

friday

The Power Within

Ac t s 1 : 8

od’s Spirit works in every believer. He does not limit Himself to pastors and missionaries. If you’ve received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then residing within you is the same great power that raised Christ from the dead (Rom 8:11) The Holy Spirit pours His energy into creating godly character in all who follow the Lord. The fruit of the Spirit is so named because it is the character and conduct that the Holy Spirit produces in believers. These are qualities that we can’t generate consistently on our own. The most powerful message we can give isn’t a testimony or sermon; it is the life we live when the pressure is on, temptation is tremendous, or we are buried under an avalanche of problems. What the world most needs to see in this modern culture is godly families loving one another, business people working with integrity and frugality, and young men and women who choose moral purity. In a word, the world needs to be exposed to believers who are obedient. By showing peace instead of anxiety or practicing patience rather than speaking a sharp word, a Christian bears witness to the beauty of the gospel. We attract unbelievers to Christ through our words and deeds. They may turn down a doctrine, but they cannot ignore a righteous life. e a r l y

l i g h t

l i g h t

Just thinking about giving up a sinful habit brings some people to the brink of despair. They want to be free of a stronghold, but the thought of resisting temptation makes them feel weak. Here is good news: the Holy Spirit’s power is enough to enable any believer to walk away. That includes you.

The strongest gospel message does not come from a pulpit. The most powerful witness for Jesus Christ where you work, where you live, and where you relax is you. Submit to the Holy Spirit’s work, and He will produce a great harvest of spiritual fruit in your life.

One Year

One Year

the

bible

the

in

1 C o r i n t h i ans 13-16

bible

in

2 Corinthians 1-4 www.intouch.org

| 35

the weekend

Our Partnership with God read

|

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

I

don’t know how some in today’s church got the false idea that the preacher is a servant and the folks in the pews are just members. No one is a bystander in God’s kingdom! All believers are in partnership with the Lord (2 Cor. 6:1). He chose to work through mankind to accomplish the gospel mission on earth. To borrow a biblical metaphor, we are the workers cultivating and harvesting His fields (Matt. 9:37-38). God gave one or more spiritual gifts to every single believer to aid in the work for His kingdom. We each need this special “wiring” to carry out our unique role in His plan. He knits that spiritual gift into our personality and inborn talents to create a useful and effective servant. And just to be clear, there is no such thing as a non-gifted believer. Believers are the Lord’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works (Eph. 2:10). Spiritual gifts are not our own abilities. The Holy Spirit manifests them through us. Remember, it is the sap running from the vine into the branches that produces fruit (John 15:5). In the same way, the Spirit lives and works through God’s followers to bring forth acts of service. The Lord’s power is behind it all. Think of that when you are tempted to shy away from God-given opportunities. e a r l y

6

read

|

monday

Confidence in the Midst of Distress Psalm 46:1-11

O

ftentimes, we use the word “stress” to describe the pressure we are feeling. It can come from something as simple as traffic or from more complex situations or underlying issues, such as insecurity. Stress becomes distress when it creates deep emotional and mental anxiety. Unfortunately, in today’s world, living with a fairly constant level of such tension is not unusual. I remember 1944 being a year of tremendous turmoil in our country because of World War II. Many people would watch the evening news and hear reports of bloodshed in various locations. Those with loved ones overseas listened anxiously. I can’t recall the name of my social studies teacher that year, but I have never forgotten something she said. One day, after tearfully announcing that we would take a break from the normal routine, she pulled out a Bible and read Psalm 46. The woman explained that her husband’s division had been mentioned on the news the previous night. Though fearful, she found comfort in the Scriptures. Since then, I turn to that Psalm when I am troubled or afraid. We all face uncertain times when, in our humanness, we feel alone and scared. Yet there is confidence to gain in Jesus.

l i g h t

e a r l y

l i g h t

God’s awesome power is present in and available to every believer. The Holy Spirit equips us to obey the Lord in whatever He calls us to do. Don’t waste your life sitting in a pew! Get busy using that spiritual gift. The fields of this world are ripe for harvest (John 4:35).

Today’s verse holds the key to releasing stress and finding peace. What is causing you mental anguish? Stop striving, and rest in our loving, almighty God. He wants you to trust Him, lean on Him, and allow Him to carry the burden for you. His desire is for His children to be relieved of worry.

One Year

One Year

the

36 |

bible

in

the

2 C o r i n t hians 5-8

D ecember 2 0 1 0

In Touch

bible

in

2 Corinthians 9-13

7 read

W

|

8

tuesday

Resting in Jesus Isaiah 26:2-4

ars, economic crisis, and daily responsibilities are just a few common sources of stress that we encounter. Allowing ourselves to dwell on such things would invite anxiety to overwhelm us. The Lord has a better way. Jesus assured us that, though we would face difficulty, we could rest in Him (John 16:33). But we cannot trust someone we don’t know. For this reason, we should first seek to find out who He is. Truths from Scripture are a good place to start. For example, our God is Lord and Master. He is omnipresent, omniscient, faithful, and powerful. He loves unconditionally and offers forgiveness to all who trust His Son as Savior. He adopts believers as His own children and wants the best for every Christian’s life—so much so that He chastises us when we disobey. And He desires that we love Him above everyone and everything else. Knowing these facts is only the beginning. As in any relationship, time together fosters closeness. We can read the Bible, pray, meditate on God’s Word and listen quietly for His Spirit to speak to our hearts. This helps us to understand how He thinks. What’s more, watching the way God works in other people’s lives helps us to know His ways. e a r l y

read

W

|

wednesday

Eternally Secure in Christ

Colossians 2:13-14

hile many Christians know they are saved, they wonder about their eternal security. Does our behavior play a role in keeping our salvation? Examining what happened when we received Jesus as our Savior will bring us reassurance of our security in Him. Prior to salvation, we had a spiritual problem. We were born with a nature inclined to rebel against God. Our inner self consistently rejected His rule and took charge. Because of our sinful state, we were spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1), under God’s judgment, and destined for eternal separation from Him. No amount of good works, repentance, or improved behavior could have changed our sinful condition. We required a divine solution. Knowing this, our heavenly Father provided what we needed through His Son Jesus (John 3:16). On the day we trusted in Christ, our condition was changed from condemnation and death to forgiveness and life (John 5:24). We were given a new nature—one that wanted to please God—and adopted into His family (2 Cor. 5:17). God’s gift of salvation delivered us from eternal death, made us spiritually alive, and gave us eternal life. We cannot return to our dead, unforgiven state. Our new status as His children is permanent because it is based on what Jesus has done. e a r l y

l i g h t

l i g h t

Jesus is trustworthy, and He offers rest in the midst of a troubled world. He wants you to lay your burdens upon Him and experience His peace. Do you know this amazing God? Carve out time in your schedule to be in His presence every day so you can know Him better and better.

While our behavior may not always reflect our new nature, any mistakes we make do not jeopardize our salvation. Remember, it’s not our actions but Christ’s work on the cross that changed our condition. And nothing can undo a spiritual rebirth that came about through faith in Jesus (John 3:3).

One Year

One Year

the

bible

the

in

G a l a t i a n s 1-3

bible

in

Gal. 4-6; Eph. 1 www.intouch.org

| 37

9

read

|

thursday

Eternal Security: Can We Be Sure? 1 John 5:1-13

O

ur loving heavenly Father wants us to know with certainty that we have eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. What assurances do we have that we are permanently secure? God’s love. One reason that we can be sure of unending salvation is our heavenly Father’s unconditional love. At the cross, He demonstrated just how much we mean to Him: He sent His Son to die so that we might have eternal life. (1 John 4:9-10). Christ’s life and death. Because Jesus was without sin, He qualified to serve as our substitute and take our place on the cross. By dying for us, He paid for all our sins and finished the work necessary to secure our salvation (John 19:30). Jesus’ promise. We have our Lord’s assurance that we will spend eternity with Him. He promised that we can never be separated from Him and that no one can snatch us from His hand (John 10:28). He has gone ahead to prepare a place for us and will return to bring us there (John 14:2-3). The Indwelling Holy Spirit. Another assurance of eternal security is the presence of God’s Spirit within each believer. The Holy Spirit acts as a seal, guaranteeing that we belong to the Lord and serving as a pledge of our future in heaven with Him (2 Cor. 1:21-22). e a r l y

10 read

|

friday

Faith versus Reason

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

T

he first battle between faith and human reason took place in the garden of Eden. Spurred on by the lies of the serpent, Eve began to look at her situation from a purely logical perspective and decided she was being cheated by God out of something good. Her faith faltered as “reasonable” thoughts of self-interest filled her mind. I am not saying that the way of faith is never logical, but by operating only on the basis of reason, a conflict with the Lord is inevitable. The reason is that His instructions and actions don’t always appear reasonable from a human perspective. Although Isaiah 55:8-9 describes God’s thoughts and ways as higher than man’s, many people judge divine ideas to be lower than human intelligence. Paul emphasizes this when he points out that God’s choices are illogical by the world’s standards. His message of salvation seems foolish, and His messengers appear weak and unimpressive. In an age that thrives on recognition, admiration, and importance, a person who believes the Bible is considered a weakling in need of a religious crutch to cope with life. While this description is given in derision, it’s actually quite accurate. Recognizing their helplessness, believers lean on Christ so He can raise them to stand with Him in righteousness.

l i g h t

e a r l y

l i g h t

The Bible is filled with God’s promises that those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior will spend eternity with Him. If you struggle with doubt, meditate on the Scriptures, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into scriptural understanding about your salvation.

That day in Eden, sin and self-importance entered the human heart. But all the worldly wisdom that fuels our pride is nullified by God. He is looking not for great and impressive people but for weak, humble servants who can boast only in Christ. The Savior alone is their strength and wisdom.

One Year

One Year

the

38 |

bible

in

the

E p h e s i a ns 2-6

D ecember 2 0 1 0

In Touch

bible

in

P hilippians 1-4

the weekend

God’s Wisdom Revealed read

A

|

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

fter exposing the futility of worldly thinking in 1 Corinthians 1, Paul introduces Christians to the higher realm of godly wisdom. This kind of knowledge and understanding isn’t available through human intelligence and reasoning; it comes strictly through divine revelation. Only those indwelt by God’s Spirit have “the mind of Christ” (v. 16) and access to “the things freely given” to them by God (v. 12). Without this supernatural insight, no one can accurately know the Lord or His ways. Many people say they believe in God yet may not have a correct understanding of Him because their perceptions are based on their own thoughts and ideas. It’s easier to custom-design a god to fit our preferences than to make the required adjustments that worship of the one true God demands. Even believers need to guard against trying to fit God into their preconceived image of Him. The Bible is the only reliable source of divine revelation, but we must be careful to consider the Scriptures as a whole—it’s critical that we don’t just pick and choose the verses we want to believe. For example, by focusing only on passages that emphasize the Lord’s lovingkindness while excluding those that speak of His holiness and justice, we misunderstand His true nature. e a r l y

13 read

W

|

monday

Letting Go of a Troubled Heart

John 14:1, 27

hat has a grip on your heart? Think about the things that trouble you. Perhaps you’re dealing with financial need, relational stress, difficult circumstances, or lingering illness. What are we supposed to do with all the challenging situations we face? Jesus’ words can seem like a pat answer to our very real dilemma because saying, “Do not let your heart be troubled” doesn’t change our feelings. However, a more accurate interpretation is, “Be troubled no longer.” Jesus isn’t saying that we are to deny our feelings and put on a happy face, but rather that we’re not to let anxiety conquer us. Yes, we will experience trials, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can endure struggles with the peace of Christ. But how do we move from overwhelming distress to undisturbed tranquility? Begin by focusing immediately on the Lord, not on the circumstance, trusting Him to help you through it. Read the Scriptures so you can understand His perspective on the problem and search out His promises. Then believe God and do whatever He says, because you can never have His peace without obedience. And lastly, present your troubles to the Lord in prayer, not just with requests for their removal, but with thanks for His strength to endure them. e a r l y

l i g h t

l i g h t

Let’s seek to know the Lord in truth by considering the entire counsel of Scripture. Divine wisdom is available to every believer through the Holy Spirit, who searches the depths of God. May we never try to limit Him to fit our preferences. Instead, may He enlarge our minds to embrace His thoughts.

The next time you feel a rush of fear or anxiety, remember Jesus’ remedy: “Believe Me!” (vv. 1, 11). If you trust that He loves you and has a good purpose for allowing that difficulty in your life, you can thank Him no matter what you feel or what the outcome may be. Faith always ushers in His peace.

One Year

One Year

the

bible

the

in

C o l o s s i a n s 1-4

bible

in

1 Thessalonians 1-5 www.intouch.org

| 39

14 read

|2

tuesday

The Fragrance of Christ Corinthians 2:14-16

H

ave you ever had a negative experience when trying to share the good news of Christ? Some people just don’t want to hear about Jesus. Although your concern is for their eternal life, they may think you are trying to shove your religion down their throats. To help us understand why some people will have such a negative reaction to our faith, the apostle Paul used the analogy of a Roman celebration of victory. In his day, when a general returned to Rome after conquering the enemy, he made a triumphal entry and led a parade through town. He rode in a golden chariot surrounded by his officers and followed by his troops. At the end of the procession were the chained captives. During this pageantry, clouds of incense floated among the participants and the assembled onlookers as pagan priests carried their censors. To the conquerors, this was the sweet aroma of victory. But to the captives, it was the smell of death, because they would soon be killed by wild animals in the arena. In the same way, believers are a sweet fragrance of Christ to one another as we follow in His victory over sin and death. However, to those who don’t know Him as Savior, we are a reminder of the judgment they dread. e a r l y

15 read

|

wednesday

Walking by Faith 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

W

e perceive our world through sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch— and respond according to the information gained by these five senses. Yet God tells us that there is a higher reality, even though our perceptions appear as truth. And our Father commands us to walk by faith, not according to what we see. So, what is this Christian faith? It is the confident conviction that God is all He claims to be in His Word. The truth of who He is depends only on the Almighty—it is not based on our opinions, circumstances, or feelings. Nor is it something we can scientifically measure. And remember, belief is a gift from the Lord, not something we create (Eph. 2:8). Therefore, we can ask Him to help us if we find our faith faltering. The way we walk by faith is through our conduct, lifestyle, and choices. The Holy Spirit guides our steps, and we purposefully follow. It is important that we ask for direction and wisdom, expect that He will answer and meet our needs, and trust that He knows what is best. At times, of course, we’ll make mistakes. But God is always there to forgive our repentant hearts and help us back on track. As we grow into a deeper relationship with Christ, we become more focused on Him, and our trust increases.

l i g h t

e a r l y

l i g h t

Although some people will be repulsed by us and our message, we must continue to share our hope with gentleness and grace (1 Pet. 3:15-16). At one time Paul hated Christians, yet he would be the first to affirm that the Lord can reach a hardened heart and change a captive into a victor.

When we try to handle life on our own, the stress can be overwhelming. How wonderful that our Creator offers us rest and peace as we trust Him to lead in all we do. Our infinitely wise, perfectly loving, and completely sovereign Father is supremely capable to care for His children.

One Year

One Year

the

40 |

bible

in

the

2 T h e s s a lonians 1-3

D ecember 2 0 1 0

In Touch

bible

in

1 Timothy 1-6

16 read

Y

|

thursday

Walking with Greater Confidence Hebrews 11:1-31

esterday, we learned about the Lord’s desire that we walk by faith. Yet if we consider our lives honestly, most of us will find a number of areas where we struggle to trust. Some days it is easier to relinquish control, while at other times we quickly take matters into our own hands. Thankfully, our heavenly Father is patient and loving. His Word clearly teaches that sanctification is the process of making us holy, and not just the end result. Children are a great illustration of how this works. When toddlers learn to walk, they start by pulling up on something, standing, and then taking a step. Inevitably, they will fall, at which point we help them back up so that they can keep progressing. In the same way, God shows us how to live according to our faith in Him, but we will make mistakes. Falling and getting up again are part of the learning process. The Lord teaches us, but we also have a role in learning. Our responsibility is to study Scripture, to get to know God’s nature, and to learn His promises. As we do these things, our confidence in God grows, enabling us to make choices that require us to believe in and lean on Him. When we step out in faith and experience Christ’s provision and dependability, our trust grows. e a r l y

17 read

A

|

friday

A Lifestyle of Obedience John 14:15-21

ccording to John 14:21, we express love for Jesus by obeying His commands. To love Him wholeheartedly, we must develop a lifestyle of obedience. Let’s look at four aspects of such a lifestyle. 1. Our trust in the Father grows. This confidence comes from believing that the Lord is who Scripture says He is. And God’s Word tells us that He is good—as well as faithful to keep His promises (2 Cor. 1:20). Psalm 86:15 calls Him merciful, gracious, loving, and slow to anger. His character remains unchanged by difficult or hardto-understand circumstances (Heb. 13:8). 2. We develop a deepening ability to wait on the Lord. Delays can be hard in our I-want-it-now culture. But we must resist temptation and wait on Him instead of running ahead. 3. We commit to obey God. Without such a resolve, we’ll vacillate at decision time or allow fear to prevent us from choosing His way. 4. Our study of Scripture becomes consistent. The Bible reveals God’s priorities, commands, and warnings. It acts as a light, illuminating His chosen path for us while revealing obstacles and dangers along the way (Ps. 119:105). Without it, we are like a person who walks in the woods at night without a flashlight. e a r l y

l i g h t

l i g h t

Consider the responses, actions, and decisions you’ve made this week. How many of those were led by the Spirit? And how many were human reactions done out of self-reliance? Living on the basis of trust in Christ requires belief and action. As you allow Him to lead, faith will grow.

Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean that obedience to the Lord is automatic. It’s a lifelong process of growing in our trust and patiently waiting on Him before we act. This requires a steadfast commitment to obey so that we can say no to ungodly choices and yes to God.

One Year

One Year

the

bible

the

in

2 T i m . 1 - 4 ; T itus 1-3

bible

in

P hilem.; Heb. 1-4 www.intouch.org

| 41

the weekend

God’s School of Obedience read

|

1 John 1:3-6

S

tarting at age five, our children are enrolled in school and given lessons to learn each year. We are students too. At salvation, we became participants in the Lord’s school of obedience. There, we are discovering the necessity of trusting Him and waiting for His direction. We are taught the importance of commitment and learn to search His Word for guidance. God also wants us to learn these lessons: • Listen attentively to the Spirit’s promptings. Our God does not speak in an audible voice, but He makes Himself heard quite clearly through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Spirit is our Helper who will bring to mind Scripture passages we have studied (John 14:26) and show us how they apply. • Obey the next step. Abraham was called to leave his home and journey to an unknown destination (Gen. 12:1). He obeyed even though the way was unclear to his human mind. We, too, must step out in faith even when we do not know all the details of the itinerary. • Expect conflict. We can’t live obedient lives without having trouble with the world (John 16:33). Our friends or family may drift away when they realize certain interests of ours have changed. Some may hurl criticism our way or call us unkind names, while others may reject us completely. e a r l y

20 read

|

monday

Learning to Trust and Obey

Proverbs 3:5-6

A

s a newly saved boy of 12, I didn’t automatically know how to trust and follow God. For more than 60 years, the Lord has been training me in His “School of Obedience.” The most basic principle I learned there is also an essential key to spiritual maturity: Believers must trust God. People do not obey a God whom they do not trust. In fact, I would say that most rebellion happens when a believer says, “I know what the Lord says, but . . . ” When we hang a “but” at the end of a biblical promise, we’re about to make an excuse to disobey. The key lesson for trusting the Lord is recognizing His identity. God is the loving Creator and sovereign Ruler of the universe (Ps. 33; Ps. 103:19). His nature prevents Him from making promises that He will not fulfill (Ps. 89:34). And His ancient scriptural statutes apply to modern lives because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Men and women who believe that the Lord is who He claims to be are willing to surrender to Him. They’ll commit to obey Him in all things and then observe the results. (Hint: Obedience = Blessing, whereas Rebellion = Sorrow.) If you need assurance that the trust principle works, take a look at the lives of other believers, including biblical saints like David and Paul.

l i g h t

e a r l y

l i g h t

Practicing a lifestyle of obedience doesn’t mean we’ll never make mistakes. But it does require diligence if we are to succeed. Obeying the Father was Jesus’ priority and purpose in life, and we should make it ours as well. Which of these lessons do you want to tackle first?

We cannot follow God on a case-by-case basis. Either we trust and obey or we don’t. The Sovereign of the universe invites us to depend upon Him to direct our path. Since He is in charge anyway, isn’t it better to walk beside Him than to resist His efforts to steer us right?

One Year

One Year

the

42 |

bible

in

the

H e b r e w s 5-9

D ecember 2 0 1 0

In Touch

bible

in

Hebrews 10-13

21 read

T

|

tuesday

A Necessary but Challenging Lesson

Psalm 27:14

here are many lessons for us to learn in God’s School of Obedience. With space for just two, I have chosen principles that aren’t easy. Yesterday, we learned that Christians must trust the Lord. Today, let’s tackle patience: Believers must learn to wait upon Him. Have you ever wondered why the psalmist coupled the admonition to wait upon God with encouragement to be strong and courageous? The reason is that sometimes delaying is the hardest thing to do. Modern culture is in such a hurry. Gotta have it now! Gotta do it now! Can’t wait! We’ve been primed to stay in a permanent state of readiness. It takes courage to be still when the world is rushing past. Everything in us hollers, “Go!” while God whispers, “Wait.” But people are quick to act, because they are afraid of missing out on something. Believers who buy into that attitude make a move and then hope God will bless them. God leaves nothing to chance. He does not place a decision before us with the hope that we’ll make the right choice. That would be irresponsible and out of character. The Father is more than willing to show His children what to do, because He is personally interested in their welfare. But until the Lord makes clear what is the way forward, we’ve got to pause and wait. e a r l y

Savior Understands 22 Our

wednesday

read

W

|

Hebrews 4:14-16

e do not have a Savior who’s isolated in heaven with no idea what it feels like to have human struggles. No, our Lord left the glories of heaven behind and added humanity to His deity. He temporarily gave up the use of some of His attributes, applying them only as the Father directed Him. Jesus understands precisely how we feel because He went through the same types of situations we do. Though details of our lives may not match His, the experiences and feelings are alike. Let’s look at several examples of how He identifies with us: • Misunderstanding: People constantly misunderstood His claims to be the Son of God. • Rejection: He was unappreciated by the ones He came to love and die for. • Pressure: Crowds surrounded Him, begging for help and demanding His attention. • Exhaustion: He experienced all the weakness of humanity. • Loneliness: At Gethsemane, when He needed human companionship the most, His closest friends fell asleep. • Temptation: Satan hit Him with every imaginable type of attack and temptation. • Hatred: Religious leaders despised Him. • Injustice: Though Jesus lived a sinless life, He died a criminal’s death. • Pain: He suffered the excruciating pain of scourging and crucifixion. e a r l y

l i g h t

l i g h t

Waiting upon God is not passive. It is not lazy. It is not an excuse to be careless. In fact, the opposite is true. Those who pause are seeking His will—which means that they are praying, searching Scripture, perhaps even fasting. And they are still serving the Lord wherever they can.

Whatever you’re going through right now, remember that Jesus knows how you feel and sympathizes with your pain and weakness. He may not remove the anguish or change your situation, but He’ll always give you the grace to resist temptation, endure suffering, and grow in spiritual maturity.

One Year

One Year

the

bible

the

in

James 1-5

bible

in

1 P eter 1-5 www.intouch.org

| 43

23 read

|

thursday

Learning Obedience through Suffering

Hebrews 5:7-8

H

ave you ever wondered why Jesus had to suffer so much when He came to earth as a man? One might expect that the Son of the living God would live a comfortable life and die a peaceful death. After all, wouldn’t His blood have paid for our sins whether it was shed painlessly or torturously? But Jesus took on human flesh and came to earth not just to die for our transgressions but also—with the exception of sin—to identify with us in every area of our lives. And that includes suffering (Heb. 2:17-18). How would a Savior who had no experience with pain help us when we hurt? Also, when it’s difficult for us to obey the Lord, we need the help of One who learned obedience from the things He suffered. Unlike us, Jesus didn’t move from being rebellious to becoming obedient. Rather, He learned by personal experience the pathway we have to walk when God calls us to do something difficult or painful. In His humanity, Christ struggled with the assignment that lay before Him: death on the cross. Even though the Father heard His cries, the plan was not changed, and Jesus walked through all of it in complete submission, just as He had done with every divine “assignment” throughout His earthly life. e a r l y

24 read

|

friday

Christmas: A Time for Giving

Luke 2:1-20

C

hristmas is one of the happiest holidays because during this season, people are more generous than at any other time of the year. The practice of giving is not a recent innovation—it began on the first Christmas when Jesus was born. Everyone in the story had something to give. • When Mary submitted to God’s plan, she gave her body to be the first home of the incarnated Savior (Luke 1:30-38). • She also surrendered her good reputation in order to fulfill the Lord’s calling for her life. • Joseph offered his love and protection to Mary and the child who was not his own (Matt. 1:18-25). • An angel gave an announcement of the Messiah’s birth to some lowly shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. • A heavenly host of angels offered praise and glory to God. • The shepherds shared the first personal testimony about the Messiah. • The wise men relinquished the comfort of home to seek the newborn King and give Him gifts worthy of royalty (Matt. 2:1-11). At first glance, these gifts may seem to pertain only to the first Christmas, but they each have application for us today. Believers are called to give of themselves to the Lord and to one another in similar ways. e a r l y

l i g h t

l i g h t

The only reason you and I have salvation is because Jesus always did what pleased His Father—had He rebelled in that one area, all hope for lost humanity would be cancelled. If His obedience in suffering resulted in such a great benefit, just imagine what is in store for us when we do what God wants.

Look at this list again. What gifts could you give to Christ today? Maybe you need to submit to His will in a difficult area or endure misunderstanding in order to obey Him. And how about others? Who needs your protection, love, or perhaps the good news of salvation in Christ?

One Year

One Year

the

44 |

bible

in

the

2 P e t e r 1-3

D ecember 2 0 1 0

In Touch

bible

in

1 John 1-5

the weekend

The Ultimate Giver read

A

|

Romans 11:33-36

mid all the preparations, decorations, and celebrations of the Christmas season, we need to set aside some quiet time to reflect upon the divine gifts that forever changed the course of human destiny. When that tiny baby entered our world in Bethlehem, the first of a neverending stream of blessings was unleashed from heaven. We generally focus on the Father’s gift: He gave His Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14). But all three members of the Trinity have a part in this divine display of generosity, which continues into eternity. Jesus came to offer His life as a ransom for many, and after His death and resurrection, He and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to live inside believers forever (Mark 10:45; John 14:16; 16:7) . The Spirit in turn gives spiritual gifts to all believers and produces His marvelous fruit in their lives (1 Cor. 12:7-11; Gal. 5:22-23). The divine presents don’t end on earth. They continue in heaven when the Lord judges Christians and grants them rewards for good works that they could never have accomplished apart from His strength (1 Cor. 3:13-14; John 15:5). All the credit and glory belong to Him, and yet He graciously showers praise on His followers (1 Cor. 4:5). e a r l y

27 read

I

|

monday

The Pattern for Servanthood

Matthew 20:25-28

n the world’s thinking, great men are the ones with authority, prominence, and power. Though Jesus Christ had all that, He gave it up to become a servant (Isa. 42:1). Jesus gave Himself completely to fulfill the Father’s plan of redemption, even though the beneficiaries—namely, each of us—were undeserving. God is holy and righteous, and He cannot be in the presence of sin. Therefore, He must separate Himself from those who are stained by wrongdoing. That includes all of humanity (Rom. 3:23). Everybody is born captive to the desires of the flesh (Rom. 6:16-18). When someone claims to be living on his “own terms,” he is actually serving whatever his human nature craves. The penalty for that false sense of liberty is death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus’ ultimate act of service was to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). The word describes the price paid to set a slave free—Christ voluntarily purchased our liberation. There was only one way our holy God could remove our guilt yet remain true to His own law: Someone sinless had to pay our sin debt for us. Jesus’ sacrifice spared us the penalty we deserve. Instead, we receive the gift of grace and have been declared no longer guilty. Moreover, we are elevated from slaves to sons and daughters of the Almighty! e a r l y

l i g h t

l i g h t

We serve a caring, generous God. Think about the nonstop outpouring of blessings from His throne, and ask, How will I respond today? He needs nothing from you, but He wants every part of you—not to ruthlessly control but to show you the “surpassing riches of His grace in kindness” (Eph. 2:4-7).

Jesus served the Father’s purpose faithfully. He gave up His righteousness to carry the weight of all our wickedness—and endured a crushing separation from His Father. To meet our needs, the Savior held nothing of Himself back, and thereby set a powerful example of servanthood for us to follow.

One Year

One Year

the

bible

the

in

2 J o h n ; 3 J ohn; Jude

bible

in

Revelation 1-4 www.intouch.org

| 45

28 read

|

tuesday

Clean Feet, Clean Heart John 13:3-15

I

srael can be a dusty place, and sandaled feet get filthy walking to and fro. In ancient times, a person entering a home removed his sandals and cleaned his feet. Or if the homeowners were wealthy, servants would do the washing. This distasteful but necessary task fell to the worker of lowest position in the household. Imagine the disciples’ surprise when the Son of God put Himself in the role of a lowly servant and knelt to wash their feet. The need for such a service was great, as they had been traveling for some time. But not one of them offered to do it. Jesus did more than fill a need; He offered an object lesson. As He explained, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:15 nlt). Some churches have incorrectly interpreted this as a command to make foot washing an ordinance. But it’s possible to clean someone else’s skin without contemplating the significance of Christ’s actions. In fact, the act itself is not the main point; attitude is what counts. Jesus desires that we be willing to humble ourselves to serve others. He is looking for men and women who will ignore pride, position, and power in order to do whatever must be done, wherever it needs doing, and for whoever requires assistance. e a r l y

29 read

|

wednesday

The God Who Speaks

Hebrews 1:1-2

T

hroughout human history, God has been speaking to mankind in various ways. His prophets were moved by the Spirit to proclaim and write His words, but His ultimate expression came through His Son. Today most believers acknowledge that God speaks primarily through His written Word, yet the voice that dictated the Bible has not ceased. Through His Holy Spirit, the Lord still communicates to every Christian who takes the time to listen with an open and receptive heart. Stop to consider the wonder of having a God who speaks—not just a distant deity who thunders orders and admonishments from heaven, but one who actually wants to have a conversation with you! Why would the Lord of all creation go to such lengths to communicate personally with each of us? Consider the following reasons: • God loves you and desires a relationship with you. • He wants you to know Him personally through intimate communication. • He longs to encourage you to trust Him. As you experience the fulfillment of His words, your faith grows strong. • He wants to guide you. The Lord has a good purpose for your life and is willing to direct your decisions and ways so you can experience all that He has planned.

l i g h t

e a r l y

l i g h t

Jesus performed His greatest and most humble acts of service within 24 hours of each other. He washed dirty feet using two hands that would be pierced by nails in less than a day. The message here is that every task God gives us is important to His kingdom.

In our busy world, it’s easy to take for granted this invaluable privilege of communication with God. If we are too busy or distracted to hear, His voice will not stop—but we’ll miss out on the riches of an intimate relationship available only to those with receptive hearts and ears.

One Year

One Year

the

46 |

bible

in

the

R e v e l a t i on 5-8

D ecember 2 0 1 0

In Touch

bible

in

Revelation 9-12

30 read

G

|

thursday

Learning to Listen to God

Psalm 81:8-16

od clearly calls us to listen to Him, but like the nation of Israel, we sometimes ignore His voice and miss His blessings. Learning to listen to the Lord is far more important than learning to talk to Him. Generally, we find it much easier to rattle off a prayer than to sit quietly with our Bibles open in our laps, waiting to hear what He has to say. Since two-way conversation is essential in developing a relationship, being able to hear the Lord’s voice is a vital part of the Christian life. Sometimes we have the notion that after being saved, we just automatically know Him. But that is not true in any kind of relationship. Just as we grow to know another person through communication, so we become more intimately acquainted with the Lord through listening and talking to Him. Not only do we need ears to hear His voice; we also must have discernment to accurately understand what He is saying. He’s not the only one who wants our attention. People around us readily offer us advice, Satan whispers his lies in our minds, and the world shouts loudly from almost every electronic device and form of media. Grounding in the Scriptures sharpens our discernment and protects us from deception. e a r l y

31 read

T

|

friday

God Is for Us

Romans 8:31-34

hroughout life, there will be times when our sins and failures lead us to conclude that God is disappointed or angry with us. How can He still love me after what I’ve done? If I’m really forgiven, why do I still feel so guilty? At such tiimes, we need to fix our eyes on the truth of Scripture and ask the questions Paul posed in Romans 8. If God is for us, who is against us (v. 31)? Our heavenly Father proved His loyalty to us when He delivered His own Son over to death in order to save us. Without Christ’s atoning death on our behalf, we would face eternal separation from God. Who will bring a charge against God’s elect (v. 33)? No accusation against us can stand, since at the moment of salvation, the Lord justified us. This means we were legally declared righteous, while still in our sinning condition. No one can reverse this transaction and make us guilty again. To doubt our blameless standing in Christ is to declare His atonement insufficient to cover our sin. Who is the one who condemns (v. 34)? Although Satan rails against us, Jesus’ death and resurrection are proof that we are right with God. Christ took our condemnation and gave us His righteousness in return. Now He sits at the Father’s right hand, interceding for us. e a r l y

l i g h t

l i g h t

Have you ever considered that neglect of God’s Word is a rejection of Him? He continually calls out, “Oh that My people would listen to Me” (Ps. 81:13). He is ready and willing to speak to those who will humble themselves, take the time to listen, and respond obediently to whatever He says.

When doubts about the Lord’s love and faithfulness arise, focus on truth. If we judge His loyalty to us by our circumstances or feelings, we will never get an accurate view of God. True security lies not in our good performance, but in our relationship with Christ, and no one can take that from us.

One Year

One Year

the

bible

the

in

R e v e l a t i o n 13-17

bible

in

Revelation 18-22 www.intouch.org

| 47

Free PO Box 7900 Atlanta, GA 30357

Life Principles Series, Volume 5 u6-CD set | $20 (U.S.) u6-DVD set | $30 (U.S.)

God hasn’t left us to chart our own paths in this world. Through Scripture, He’s provided the guidance we need to experience abundant life in Christ. In Dr. Stanley’s series Life Principles to Live By, Volume 5, discover how to lead a life of Spirit-filled obedience and service, to the glory of God.

Growth is a choice. What will you choose?

has always been

our magazine NON-PROFIT ORG. U. S. POSTAGE PAID IN TOUCH MINISTRIES, INC

Free PO Box 7900 Atlanta, GA 30357

Life Principles Series, Volume 5 u6-CD set | $20 (U.S.) u6-DVD set | $30 (U.S.)

God hasn’t left us to chart our own paths in this world. Through Scripture, He’s provided the guidance we need to experience abundant life in Christ. In Dr. Stanley’s series Life Principles to Live By, Volume 5, discover how to lead a life of Spirit-filled obedience and service, to the glory of God.

Growth is a choice. What will you choose?

has always been

our magazine

Free of Canada P. O. Box 4900 MARKHAM, ON L3R 6G9

Life Principles Series, Volume 5 u6-CD set | $20 (U.S.) u6-DVD set | $30 (U.S.)

God hasn’t left us to chart our own paths in this world. Through Scripture, He’s provided the guidance we need to experience abundant life in Christ. In Dr. Stanley’s series Life Principles to Live By, Volume 5, discover how to lead a life of Spirit-filled obedience and service, to the glory of God.

Growth is a choice. What will you choose?

has always been

our magazine