He Will Lead the Way Moses led the people of Israel for forty years. He led them out of slavery in Egypt, through the Red Sea, gave them the Ten Commandments from his time on Mount Sinai, and walked with them through the wilderness until they reached the edge of Canaan. But as he neared the end of his life, God showed Moses that it was time to hand off leadership to another. In a final address to the people of Israel, he shares these final words with his successor, Joshua: “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV This is the last record we have of Moses talking to Joshua. Notice he didn’t say, “Good luck, these people are exhausting,” or, “Here’s a situation going on, I would handle it this way.” Moses wasn’t telling Joshua how to do something, but instead, how to see everything. Moses drew Joshua’s attention to the most important person in the story: God. Moses had been a crucial leader, but it was only because of God that Israel could move forward. It was only because of God that they made it this far. And because God is the author of the story, His provision would continue after Moses is gone. Because God was with Israel, Joshua didn’t need to fear anything. And when God is with you, there is nothing to fear. He will lead the way.
Refreshed Do you know someone who constantly pours themselves out? They’re generous with their words, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. And yet, somehow, they always seem to have more to give. The author of Proverbs, a book traditionally attributed to King Solomon, said this: “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 NLT King Solomon knew a thing or two about prospering. Scripture tells us: “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23). But he was also generous, spending years of his life funding and building the temple in Jerusalem, as well as sharing what he had learned with others. Some of the most miserable people on earth are also the most selfish people on earth. But if you’ve ever been generous with your life—whether you’ve given financially, contributed your expertise, invested your time, opened up your home, or offered spiritual, emotional, and physical support—you know from experience: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Of course, we shouldn’t give to get. And we also must apply God’s wisdom when it comes to setting boundaries. But Jesus is the King of an upside-down Kingdom, where: The last will be first. The greatest will be a servant. Those who give up their life will save it. Jesus even told a story of a poor woman who gave more than anyone else—because she gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44). You don’t have to be rich to be generous; you just need a heart that is willing to serve. So today, instead of a scarcity mindset, let’s have a mindset of abundance. Our God has unlimited strength, power, and resources.
With You in the Storm The Sea of Galilee in Israel is known for violent, sudden storms. Strong winds can create huge waves that threaten seafarers, like we see in the book of Mark. The night the disciples and Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee, a storm set in. Violent. Sudden. Terrifying. And while the disciples frantically worked to keep the vessel afloat, there was Jesus, asleep in the boat. The disciples woke him and asked: “Teacher, do you not care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38 NIV) That question might read a little differently for you today: “Jesus, do you not care that my health is falling apart?” “Jesus, do you not care that my finances are draining out?” “Jesus, do you not care that my relationship is in tatters?” But there is more to the story. “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 NIV Jesus didn’t join them in their fear. Instead, He looked right at the storm and brought calm. Then, He asked His disciples why they were so afraid: “Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Have you ever faced a challenge so massive, it threatened to overwhelm you? It can be disorienting, terrifying, heartbreaking, even, when the storm sets in and everything suddenly feels bleak in the face of such a strong force against us. But God went with the disciples because He cared about them. He goes with you because He cares about you. What storm are you facing today? Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine Jesus, unafraid of the storm, bringing everything to a calm. He is with you. You are not alone in this storm.
Help is Near We weren’t created to go through life carrying heavy burdens that weigh us down. Thankfully, we don’t have to. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV When Jesus came to earth, He took our burdens onto Himself. Even though we were far from God, Jesus carried the punishment for our wrongdoing and bore our suffering. And because of that, we have a Savior who understands and has compassion on us. This Savior meets us in our mess, and invites us to find rest in Him. This Savior is God with us. Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalms 68:19 NIV King David wrote that Psalm hundreds of years before Jesus’ arrival. Even then, God was illustrating to people that His character was constant, and He was trustworthy. God watched over Noah when the earth was flooded (Genesis 8:1), and He made a covenant with Abraham to bless, protect, and multiply his descendants (Genesis 17:4-7). He took care of the Israelites when they wandered through the wilderness (Deuteronomy 2:7), and He comforted David when people were trying to kill him. God has never stopped being true to who He is. He is our ever-present help in time of need. He is our constant source of strength. He is our comforter and our provider. The God that David praises in Psalm 68 is our God. He is the One who continually takes care of us, stooping down to meet us in our mess and carry us out of brokenness. He daily bears our burdens. Will we still endure hard times? Yes. But we will never have to go through them alone. The Savior of the world is near. God is with us.
True Humility and Wisdom God granted King Solomon, the great King of Israel, wisdom beyond measure. From this, King Solomon penned much of the book of Proverbs, providing insight and knowledge regarding right living before God. Solomon begins the book of Proverbs with this statement: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 ESV He repeats this truth in our Verse of the Day: “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4 ESV King Solomon had more riches than we can imagine. He was honored among the nations and had a full and prosperous life. We might not be kings, but the truth of this statement is timeless. Hundreds of years later, Paul wrote a prayer for the Christians in his letter to the Ephesians that can provide context for Proverbs 22:4. “…the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe … ” Ephesians 1:17-19 ESV His prayer teaches us that by coming to God and His Word with humility, God will give us spiritual wisdom and knowledge. And because of our faith in Him, God honors us and gives us riches that only come with belonging in Christ Jesus. He blesses us because of His great love. It is through humility and a holy fear of God that we receive His promises of riches, honor, and life. Some of those promises will come to pass on earth, but all of them will be fulfilled when Jesus returns one day. And as we see the fulfillment of God’s promises, our response will be to give God the glory.
Cultivate What Matters Most Imagine putting on shirts of compassion, patience and forgiveness. That might seem ridiculous, but Colossians 3:12 tells us to “clothe ourselves” in traits that match our identity in Christ. In other words, we need to cover ourselves in actions and attitudes that result in us looking more like Jesus every day. So, how do we do this? One way to get started is by thinking of the struggles that keep you from living more like Jesus, and then start to replace them with their opposite action. - If your communication leans sarcastic and cutting, choose to say something kind instead. - If you tend to come across as harsh, choose to do something that requires gentleness. - If you’re holding a grudge, choose to extend forgiveness. As you go about doing that, choose to take part in activities that build you up spiritually. This could look like connecting with friends who will keep you accountable, memorizing Scripture that you can apply to your life, or cultivating compassion by serving in your community. The more you intentionally pursue actions that lead to humility, compassion, and kindness, the more those traits will become a natural part of your life. And as you pursue the qualities mentioned in Colossians 3:12, the changes this produces will be most evident in the way you treat other people. The apostle John said that we can’t claim to love Jesus if we hate each other (1 John 4:20), so a life that reflects Jesus is going to embody love. And according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, love is “patient and kind. … It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. … Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” A life marked by God’s love is going to display the very things the apostle Paul talks about in Colossians 3:12. So if we want to live like Jesus, then we need to receive the new life He’s given to us and accept His unconditional love. Only then can we begin to reflect His love to others by showing people compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.