LookingtoJesus

December 12

Bible Reading: Isaiah 6:1-7; Isaiah 57:15.

Sinclair B. Ferguson describes God’s holiness as both a separation from sin and a wholeness that reflects God’s complete “God-ness.” To encounter God in His holiness is to be overwhelmed by the realization that He is utterly distinct from man.

Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6 vividly illustrates this. While Isaiah was a righteous man by human standards, nothing could prepare him for what he witnessed. Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Above Him were seraphim, angelic beings with six wings, covering their feet and eyes in reverence, acknowledging the sacredness of God’s presence.

What struck Isaiah most was the seraphim’s cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” The repeated use of “holy” emphasizes God’s perfection. The foundations of the temple shook, and smoke filled the house. Overwhelmed, Isaiah cries, “Woe is me! For I am lost; I am a man of unclean lips…” His vision of God’s holiness forced him to confront his own sinfulness and that of his people.

Isaiah’s response was one of humility and repentance. R.C. Sproul explains that the Bible emphasizes God’s holiness more than any other attribute— “the Bible doesn’t say that God is mercy, mercy, mercy or love, love, love or justice, justice, justice or wrath, wrath, wrath, but that He is holy, holy, holy.” Even the lifeless doorposts trembled at God’s holiness. How, then, can we, made in His image, remain indifferent to His majesty?

In encountering God’s holiness, we are exposed for who we truly are, sinful and in need of salvation. Yet, it is in this encounter that we are drawn to seek Jesus, the only way to be reconciled to the holy God.

“Until we have seen ourselves as God sees us, we are not likely to be much disturbed over conditions around us.”—A. W. Tozer

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
Unto everlasting days our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy, Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy! all the saints adore Thee;
Heaven’s elders cast their crowns down by the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim worship too before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

December 11

Bible Reading: Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

To think rightly about God, we must grapple with the doctrine of the Trinity—a truth that is both profound and challenging to fully understand. Though the Bible does not contain the word “Trinity,” Scripture and church history clearly teach and affirm the truth.

The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there is One God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These persons are not parts of God, nor are they three modes of God, but co-equal, distinct persons who share the same divine essence, nature, and will.

The foundation of this doctrine rests on the clear teaching of the oneness of God. Deuteronomy 6:4 affirms, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (also 1 Timothy 2:5). However, the Bible also teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each God. For example, the Father is God (John 6:27; 1 Peter 1:2), the Son is God (John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 1:8), and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

Throughout Scripture, we see the three persons of the Trinity working together in unity to accomplish great acts: creation (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16), the incarnation (Luke 1:35), the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17), atonement (Hebrews 9:14), resurrection (Romans 1:4), and salvation (Ephesians 1:3-14).

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commissions His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The singular “name” points to the oneness of God, while the three persons are distinguished. This concept is reflected again in 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Some reject the doctrine of the Trinity, unable to reconcile how God can be both one and three. A. W. Tozer noted that those who deny this mystery often forget that life itself is filled with mysteries beyond human understanding. He writes, “Any real explanation of even the simplest phenomenon in nature lies hidden in obscurity,” and so it is with the Godhead. Praise God that we worship a Being whose ways and thoughts transcend our own (Isaiah 55:8-9).

“In one sense the doctrine of the Trinity is a mystery that we will never be able to understand fully. However, we can understand something of its truth by summarizing the teaching of Scripture in three statements: 1. God is three persons. 2. Each person is fully God. 3. There is one God.”—Wayne Grudem

PRAISE YE THE TRIUNE GOD
Praise ye the Father for His loving-kindness,
tenderly caring for His erring children;
praise Him, ye angels; praise Him in the heavens;
praise to the Savior!

Praise ye the Savior for His deep compassion,
graciously caring for His chosen people;
young men and maidens, ye old men and children,
praise to the Savior!

Praise ye the Spirit, Comforter of Israel,
sent from the Father and the Son to bless us;
praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Praise to the triune God!

December 10

Bible Reading: Psalm 19

While stationed as a submariner in Pearl Harbor, I received a gift in the mail: a book titled Knowing God by J. I. Packer. My Uncle Bob Emrich sent it, along with a note that read: “Jerry…Believing the most important thing about a man is his thinking about God, I hope this will be profitable for you. With love and prayers for a Merry Christmas, Bob.” The book was indeed beneficial, but it was the note that truly impacted me—it introduced an important thought that God used to change me.

Uncle Bob’s statement was correct—but how are we to know God? At that time, I knew little about God. I did not know how to grow in my understanding of His nature. Theologians speak of God’s revelation to mankind in two categories: general revelation and special revelation. Psalm 19, which we read today, highlights both.

In Psalm 19:1-6, we see how God communicates truths about Himself through His creation. David, the Psalmist, observes the stars, moon, and sun, and declares, “the heavens declare the glory of God” (19:1). While these created things don’t speak literally, their “voice” is heard throughout the earth (19:4). The Apostle Paul echoes this idea, writing that we can see “God’s invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature,” in His creation (Romans 1:20). As powerful as general revelation is, it’s not sufficient on its own to bring a person into a saving knowledge of God through Jesus.

Psalm 19:7-11 shifts focus to special revelation, which is God’s direct manifestation of Himself through His Word. David makes six bold statements about the value of God’s Word, emphasizing its ability to revive the soul, make the simple wise, rejoice the heart, and enlighten the eyes. Through the gospel message, the Word leads us to salvation. Once born of the Spirit, we are indwelt to understand truths that were once beyond us (1 Corinthians 2:12-16).

As believers in Christ, how privileged we are! We have ready access to the Scriptures and are indwelt by the Divine Teacher (1 John 2:27). In the pursuit of knowing God, we have an inexhaustible source of study that can transform our thinking and, in turn, our lives—to the glory of God!

“What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we have in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? To know God. What is the best thing in life? To know God. What in humans gives God most pleasure? Knowledge of himself.”—J. I. Packer

O WORSHIP THE KING
O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing God’s power and God’s love;
our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of God’s might, O sing of God’s grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,
whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is God’s path on the wings of the storm.

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

December 9

Bible Reading: Genesis 1

My heart resonates with the quote by A. W. Tozer: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” He also said, “We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God.” For the sake of both our worship and walk it is imperative that we respond to God according to how He has revealed Himself in His Word. For the rest of this month, our devotionals will focus on the attributes of God, and we will begin by considering a fundamental truth: God is our Creator.

The Bible begins with this powerful affirmation: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). From nothing, the self-existent God brought everything into being. Theologians describe this miraculous act of creation using the Latin term “ex nihilo,” meaning “out of nothing.” God created the universe, the stars, the sun, the moon, the sky, the seas, the land, all living creatures, and humanity itself. He simply spoke them into existence and called it all “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Since that moment, God’s “eternal power and divine nature” has been clear to all (Romans 1:20).

One of my favorite places is on the bank of the scenic North Umpqua River. After a mile-long hike through towering old-growth fir trees, I reach a stunning spot above a 30-foot drop where the river roars into a place called the Narrows. The sound of the rushing water, the beauty of the landscape, and the stillness of nature never fail to fill me with awe. On more than one occasion, I’ve found myself singing “How Great Thou Art” as I marvels at the grandeur of God’s handiwork. But you don’t need to travel to a special place to experience the wonder of creation. Wherever you are, you can look around and praise God for His incredible creation.

Take a moment to look around you. God created everything you see. If you are alive and breathing, give thanks! He created you as well. As the Psalmist declares, you are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Consider the magnitude of it all—those stars above are countless! The same God who created the vastness of the universe also crafted the tiniest particles in the heart of an atom. Scientists estimate there are over two million species of animals on Earth and over 300,000 species of flowering plants. All of this exists on a perfectly positioned blue planet—neither too hot nor too cold—revolving around the sun. The more we reflect on the wonders of God’s creation, the more we find to praise Him for.

The wonder of creation calls for us to worship our creator!

HOW GREAT THOU ART
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars; I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze: [Refrain]

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin. [Refrain]

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, My God, how great thou art! [Refrain]

December 6

Bible Reading: Acts 28:30-31

Acts 28:30-31, “He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”

The Miliarium Aureum, a monument erected by Emperor Caesar Augustus in 20 BC, stood near the Temple of Saturn in the central Forum of Ancient Rome. It was considered the starting point of all roads in the Roman Empire, with distances measured from this central point. The phrase “all roads lead to Rome” is thought to refer to this monument.

Paul’s journey to Rome, though long and arduous, was part of God’s divine plan. After experiencing God’s grace in salvation, Paul was called to “carry (Christ’s) name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). He faithfully followed this mission, traveling over 10,000 miles during his three missionary journeys and a subsequent voyage to Rome. Along the way, he preached the gospel, established churches, and encouraged believers.  Though he faced fierce and relentless opposition, nothing could work to deter him from his mission.

God had ordained that Paul would travel to Jerusalem and then to Rome (Acts 20:22; 27:24), and no obstacle could change this plan. Rome, the heart of the empire, was the destination—home to Caesar, the most powerful man on earth, and the center of imperial authority. When Paul finally arrived, he was “allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him” (Acts 28:16).

By bringing Paul to Rome in chains, God placed him at the very center of the empire, where the gospel could spread throughout the known world. The phrase “all roads lead to Rome” became even more meaningful, as roads fanned out from the city, extending the reach of the gospel to distant lands. The command to preach the gospel to the “end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) was being fulfilled, even through Paul’s imprisonment.  During his time in prison, Paul continued his ministry by writing letters to churches in Colossae, Philippi, and Ephesus.

Though Paul was imprisoned for two years, nothing could stop the spread of the Word of God. The final words of Acts, “without hindrance,” are a fitting conclusion. Despite opposition from the forces of evil, both the church and Paul’s ministry triumphed. Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18), and this promise held true. Today, Paul’s letters, written from a prison cell, continue to spread the gospel worldwide. The Word of God went forth “without hindrance,” and God’s plan for the spread of the gospel unfolded in ways beyond human expectation—demonstrating God’s sovereignty and the unstoppable advance of His kingdom.

“Your cross is lifted o’er us, we journey in its light; the crown awaits the conquest;lead on, O God of might.”—Ernest W. Shurtleff

LEAD ON, O KING ETERNAL
Lead on, O King eternal,
the day of march has come;
henceforth in fields of conquest
your tents will be our home.
Through days of preparation
your grace has made us strong;
and now, O King eternal,
we lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
and holiness shall whisper
the sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords’ loud clashing
or roll of stirring drums
with deeds of love and mercy
the heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal;
we follow, not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning
where’er your face appears.
Your cross is lifted o’er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.

December 5

Bible Reading: Acts 28:17-28

Acts 28:28, “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

The Apostle Paul loved his Jewish brethren.  His heart’s desire and prayer was for their salvation (Romans 10:1).  Their rejection of Christ caused him “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” (Romans 9:2).  For that reason, it had been his practice on his missionary journeys to first visit the local synagogue, but when the Jews rejected his message, they turned their focus to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46).

It was henceforth the Jews who antagonized Paul.  And, despite an attempt by church leaders to mediate their concerns, their hatred for Paul only escalated (Acts 21:17-36).  Their pursuit of Paul led to murderous plots, unfair trials, and a lengthy imprisonment.  That then led to the ill-fated voyage.  Despite all that, Paul made it to Rome, where he once again reached out to the Jews.

Paul gathered together the local leaders of the Jews.  From morning to evening, he expounded from Scriptures, trying to convince them about Jesus (Acts 28:23).  “Some were convinced but others disbelieved” (Acts 28:24).  Paul then explained how their rejection fulfilled that spoken by the prophet Isaiah (Acts 28:26-28).  They were rejecting Christ because they were hard of heart and hearing.  Stephen was stoned for saying much the same (Acts 7:51), but in this case, Paul’s hearers simply departed.

Theologically, Paul understood what was happening, for he had written about it: “A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25).  But, as with the prophets of old, that did not stop him from declaring the truth.  On the other side of the coin is the opening of a door for the salvation of the Gentiles, and the spread of the gospel to the remotest parts of the earth.  And you’ve personally benefitted from that.  We are warned to not be prideful (Romans 11:17-25), but to focus instead on the kindness and mercy of God that has worked to graft us to God.  By His grace, God opened your eyes and ears to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:3-6), and that is an incredible blessing!

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.”—Matthew 13:16

THE LOVE OF GOD
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky. [Refrain]

December 4

Bible Reading: Acts 28:11-16

Acts 28:15, “And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.”

That the Apostle Paul would arrive in Rome was never in question, for Jesus had decreed it so (Acts 23:11).  But the journey there was an incredibly arduous one, in which Paul faced false accusations, hostile courts, murderous plots, lengthy imprisonment, utter shipwreck, venomous snakebite, and who knows what other kinds of troubles.  There was no vacation to look forward to.  No home to rest in, for he had no home.  But God worked through his people to refresh his spirit.

Three years earlier Paul had written these words to the church in Rome: “For I long to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to you—that is, that we might be mutually encouraged by each others’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:11-12).  He reiterated that desire in the conclusion of his epistle: “…that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company” (Romans 15:32).  So, having arrived, Paul takes courage in the refreshing presence of the brethren.  They longed to see him and came from afar.  But as much as they yearned to see the beloved Apostle, Paul yearned for their refreshing presence.

Fellow believers are like rays of light shining in this dark world.  As the darkness grows, they shine even brighter.  When the journey grows long and the burdens increase, there is no substitute for the encouraging presence of those who are traveling along the same path.  The choir of voices that sing in faith of the glory and grace of God mutually inspire all to persevere.  Hands reach out to weary travelers, keeping a watchful eye over those who are prone to wander and lifting those who have fallen.  Courage is availed to each in the presence of the many.

Believers are mutually encouraged on the Lord’s Day and once again sent out into a dark and hostile world.  The yearning for fellowship is Spirit-borne in us with the full realization that it is impossible for any of us to survive spiritually on our own.  The brethren refreshed Paul, and we need the same with each other (Hebrews 10:24-25).

“…but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”—Hebrews 10:25

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.

When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
our courage by the way;
while each in expectation lives
and waits to see the day.

December 3

Bible Reading: Acts 28:7-10

Acts 28:9, “And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.”

God is sovereign over the affairs of our lives.  Nothing occurs by accident, and by God’s design “it happened” that the father of the chief man of the island of Malta became seriously ill.  Being an apostle, the Apostle Paul, was gifted with the “signs of a true apostle” (2 Corinthians 12:12).  Thereby gifted, Paul healed the man.  The term “healed” translates a Greek term that usually speaks of an instantaneous healing.  Paul was not the source of the miracle, only the vehicle through which God supernaturally worked.

Through Paul, God did a miracle in the immediate healing of Publius’ father.  As a result, others flocked to the scene to receive medical help. I’ve seen a similar thing on my trips to Uganda.  The medical folks who accompanied us would set up a clinic and folks would line up day-after-day to get help.

The text speaks of how these other folks were “cured,” a different Greek term than the one found in verse 8.  The term here speaks of recovering to health.  Instead of a miraculous healing, these folks received medical assistance, likely at the hands of Luke, the physician who was accompanying Paul.  The latter term is broad enough to include the more vital restoration of the soul that is made possible only through the gospel. 

Different kinds of healings are spoken of in our text.  Though God can miraculously heal anyone at any time, it’s not always His will to do so.  A lack of such healing is not indicative of some hidden sin or lack of faith or any such thing.  Alleged healers have confused and harmed the faith of lots of folks.  Joni Eareckson Tada, paralyzed as a teenager, longed for physical healing. Despite attending a healing conference in Washington DC, no physical healings occurred, leaving her discouraged and bitter. But later, when she cried out to Jesus for help, she found a deeper healing from sin (Psalm 139:23-24).  For decades since she has testified to Jesus’ ability to grant such healing to those who look to Him!

Sometimes healing is instantaneous, as with Publius’ father.  More often, it takes time to heal under the watchful care of a competent physician.  In all cases, be it physical or spiritual, healing is ultimately from the hands of the Great Physician! 

The One who made us has the power to mend us!

THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD
Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged
and think my work’s in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again. Refrain

If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus
and say, “He died for all.” Refrain

December 2

Bible Reading: Acts 28:1-6

Acts 28:3, “When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.”

Every year, our family would go camping at Whistler’s Bend Campground, located along the scenic banks of the North Umpqua River. It was a place of natural beauty that held many fond memories. However, one summer, our oldest daughter, who was in her early teens at the time, voiced a concern that had never crossed my mind: the possibility of encountering rattlesnakes.

“Don’t worry,” I reassured her, “I’ve been coming here for years and have never seen a rattlesnake or even heard of anyone spotting one.” But she remained unconvinced. So we went to the nearby library for further reassurance and found a book with a map detailing the range of western rattlesnakes. To my surprise, the map showed that the area of our campground was located right on the edge of their territory. Neither of us could definitively prove our point.

The next morning, I went fishing, trying to put the snake worry out of my mind. When I returned, my kids rushed up to me with urgent news—someone had spotted a rattlesnake in our campsite, and a lady had run over it with her car! Later, the campground hosts informed us that they had discovered an entire den of rattlesnakes on the hill behind the campground.  Like my daughter, I’ve always had a deep fear of snakes. The problem is, of course, that the venom of a poisonous snake can kill you.  Just as in the case of the snake that bit the Apostle Paul.

After all he’d been through, imagine how it must have felt for the Apostle Paul to be bitten by a snake.  Since leaving Jerusalem, it had been one trial (some literal court trials) after another.  Then he worked amid the violent storm, to ensure the safety of all his fellow passengers.  Safely ashore, native people kindled a fire to keep them warm.  Reaching to grab a bundle of sticks to put on the fire, a viper bit Paul.  The term “snakebit” is sometimes used to describe someone who is doomed to misfortune.  It certainly seemed so for Paul, as he was snakebit both literally and figuratively.

The natives assumed the misfortunate snakebite to be the hand of “Justice,” assuming that Paul must have murdered someone.  People tend to think that way about bad circumstances, and though difficulties can be of our making, it’s sometimes simply because we live in a broken world.  Paul understood God to be sovereign.  He wrote Romans 8:28 and to the Philippians of how God used even his bad circumstances for good (Philippians 1:12-18). 

The natives watched expectedly, waiting to see Paul swell up or die, but that’s not what happened.  God had promised to get Paul to Rome and nothing, not even the venom of a viper, was going to prevent that.  When it became apparent that Paul would not die, the natives changed their mind.  Paul was not a murderer, in their minds he was a god (Acts 28:6). 

The snakebit and pending miracle worked to endear Paul to the island folks, leading undoubtedly to many opportunities to share the gospel.  From a human perspective, it indeed appeared as if Paul was “snakebit,” but God was with him, and the trials he faced worked both to glorify God and further the gospel.

Bad things open the door to good opportunities.

NO, NOT ONE!
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases–
No, not one! no, not one!

Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one!

No friend like Him is so high and holy–
No, not one! no, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly–
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]

There’s not an hour that He is not near us –
No, not one! no, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us–
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]

Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! no, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]

November 29

Bible Reading: Acts 27:39-44

Acts 27:44, “And so it was that all were brought safely to land.”

What is true success? Success is often defined by the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. From a purely human perspective, the voyage described in Acts 27 could be considered an utter failure. The goal was to bring the ship and its cargo safely to its destination. However, due to a violent storm, the cargo was jettisoned, and the ship itself was wrecked.

But how should we measure success? What seemed like a victory for the devil in Jesus’ death on the cross was, in reality, his ultimate defeat, as Jesus triumphed through the resurrection. God has a remarkable way of flipping the script, turning what seems like a bad ending into something good (Romans 8:28). Any understanding of success that fails to include God’s involvement is flawed and short-sighted. By one measure, the voyage was a failure, but by another, it was a success.

Though the ship was doomed to crash, Paul’s presence aboard made all the difference. Ultimately, it was God who preserved the lives of everyone on board, but He worked through Paul to accomplish this. Paul trusted God amid the storm. He prayed for the safety of his shipmates, and God answered his prayers (Acts 27:24).

Paul remained faithful to the task God had given him. Even amidst the chaos, he continued to trust in Jesus, to love Jesus, and to serve Jesus. God measures success in terms of faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2). It is by this standard that Paul would ultimately consider his life successful (2 Timothy 4:7).

Paul’s faithfulness benefited others. There’s a saying that goes, “When in trouble and in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.” While some aboard the ship panicked, Paul remained calm and resolute. He continued to trust Jesus and showed genuine care for those around him. Everyone on that ship was better off because Paul was on board. Although he wasn’t a sailor and lacked navigational experience, Paul was in direct communication with the One who rules over the seas.

Life is both precious and unpredictable. We are here on earth for a brief time, and we are called to “make the best use of the time” (Ephesians 5:16). True success in life, then, equates to being faithful, in one’s walk with Jesus, to do that which He has given to do. When we are faithful, others will inevitably benefit.

We do not know what happened to Paul’s fellow shipmates after the shipwreck. However, it’s reasonable to assume that some—if not many—were encouraged by Paul’s example to turn to Jesus for salvation. No matter our circumstances, we’ve opportunity to bear witness to Jesus. In fact, it’s often amid life’s storms that our witness to Him becomes even more powerful.

“Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God’s plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins…He comes in and takes the calamity and uses it victoriously, working out his wonderful plan of love.” –Eric Liddell

SO SEND I YOU
So send I you to labour unrewarded
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown
To bear rebuke, ot suffer scorn and scoffing
So send I you to toil for Me alone

So send I you to bind the bruised and broken
Over wandering souls to work, to weep, to wake
To bear the burdens of a world a-weary
So send I you to suffer for My sake

So send I you to loneliness and longing
With hart a-hungering for the loved and known
Forsaking kin and kindred, friend and dear one
So send I you to know My love alone

So send I you to leave your life’s ambition
To die to dear desire, self-will resign
To labour long, and love where men revile you
So send I you to lose you life in Mine

So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred
To eyes made blind because they will not see
To spend, though it be blood to spend and spare not
So send I you to taste of Calvary

“As the Father hath sent me, so send I you”