ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (MARCH 1, 2012)

Invited to Come
Matthew 14:22-36;
Psalm 65




"Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. ...God has surely 
listened and heard my voice in prayer."
(Psalm 66:16, 19)
I was in a replica first-century boat on the Sea of Galilee. With the waves of this ancient lake gently lapping against the vessel, I imagined the night when Jesus walked on these waters, churning and stormy. I'm not surprised that with their boat heaving back and forth and a "ghost" walking towards them, the disciples were afraid. But then they heard the familiar voice of Jesus calling: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." What must they have thought?
And what of Peter's reply: "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." I wonder if he anticipated hearing, "Come!" Did he consider the storm before he climbed out of the boat?
Responding to Jesus' invitation to "come" was an instant faith-developer for Peter - as it is for us. What is Jesus calling us into? No matter what it is, or what fearful storm it is wrapped in, remember when Jesus says "come," He will always be watching and holding us up. Knowing that, are you ready to grow? Then step out of the boat and come to Him!
INSIGHT
Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "Come down. I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus obeyed and found Jesus to be his Savior. (Luke 19)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 19-20
Psalm 89
Acts 13
Matthew 14:22-36;
Jesus Walks on Water
22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning[a] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It’s a ghost!"

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don’t be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here![b]"

28 Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water."

29 "Yes, come," Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong[c] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"

32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed.

34 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. 36 They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 14:25 Greek In the fourth watch of the night.
b. Matthew 14:27 Or The ‘I Am’ is here; Greek reads I am. See Exod 3:14.
c. Matthew 14:30 Some manuscripts do not include strong.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Psalm 65
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.
1 What mighty praise, O God,
belongs to you in Zion.
We will fulfill our vows to you,
2 for you answer our prayers.
All of us must come to you.
3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,
you forgive them all.
4 What joy for those you choose to bring near,
those who live in your holy courts.
What festivities await us
inside your holy Temple.
5 You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
O God our savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas.
6 You formed the mountains by your power
and armed yourself with mighty strength.
7 You quieted the raging oceans
with their pounding waves
and silenced the shouting of the nations.
8 Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.
9 You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.
10 You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
11 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
13 The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy!



BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE [PART 5]
with Laura Story
Most people are blind to at least some of God's blessings in their lives, but it doesn't have to stay that way. There is one simple thing you can do to help you see your life through God's eyes.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 28, 2012)

When Jesus Speaks
Luke 11:37–12:3

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his 
conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.'"
(Jeremiah 17:9-10)
Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to follow Jesus while He walked this earth - hearing Him teach with parables, seeing Him bless children, confront Pharisees, and do miracles? I think if we had been there we would have found it hard to listen at times because He always spoke the truth about the condition of the human heart. In this Luke 11 passage Jesus confronted the Pharisees about their hypocrisy. They were upset that He hadn't washed His hands before eating (a law they had made part of God's law). So He challenged them: you're all upset about my hands not being clean, but what about your hearts? Look how filthy they are!
Jesus never backed down from the hard-core issues of our hearts: jealousy, lust, greed, lying, pride, unfaithfulness. He knew it was out of our hearts that our actions and words flow, and He constantly calls us to holy living - being so transformed by Him on our inside that we reflect Him differently on the outside.
Ask yourself every day, How is my heart doing?
INSIGHT
Are we listening to God and responding honestly to what we hear Him say? If so, it will show through our heart transformation. Amazing!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 17-18
Psalm 88
Acts 11-12

Luke 11:37–12:3
Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders
37 As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table.[a] 38 His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. 39 Then the Lord said to him, "You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! 40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.

42 "What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens,[b] but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

43 "What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces. 44 Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on."

45 "Teacher," said an expert in religious law, "you have insulted us, too, in what you just said."

46 "Yes," said Jesus, "what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden. 47 What sorrow awaits you! For you build monuments for the prophets your own ancestors killed long ago. 48 But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments! 49 This is what God in his wisdom said about you:[c] ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.’

50 "As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world— 51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.

52 "What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering."

53 As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions. 54 They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.
A Warning against Hypocrisy
12 Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
Footnotes:
a. Luke 11:37 Or and reclined.
b. Luke 11:42 Greek tithe the mint, the rue, and every herb.
c. Luke 11:49 Greek Therefore, the wisdom of God said.

BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE [PART 4]
with Laura Story
Who doesn't want a little glory? At some level we are all glory-seekers who will take it all for ourselves if it is within our grasp. When we do this, we are stealing what belongs to God alone.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 27, 2012)

Alone to Pray
Matthew 26:36-46

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Why do the nations say, 'Where is their God?' Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him."
(Psalm 115:1-3)
Several years ago on a trip I was sitting alone on the Mount of Olives. "I'm praying here in the Garden of Gethsemane," I wrote in a journal. "The Muslim call to prayer is hauntingly broadcast over this great city of Jerusalem, traffic noise surrounding, but here I am in a quiet, holy place." What tender moments of worship those were. Though the loud city sounds were near, I was alone with Him.
Two thousand years before, Jesus was on that very hillside, hours away from facing the Cross. Scripture tells us He was deeply troubled. There are many places we may turn to at such a time, but Jesus turned to His Father. As His disciples slept just a stone's throw away, He prayed alone.
When our hearts are heavy, we can find our deepest peace in being alone with God. There, in that safe place, we pour out all our anguish, questions and fear, knowing He hears. Those are the tender moments when we are quiet enough to hear the Spirit whisper, "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him."
INSIGHT
"Alone" does not have to mean "lonely." It means God has our undivided attention. Listen as He speaks!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 13-14
Psalm 86
Acts 9
Matthew 26:36-46
Matthew 26:36-46
New International Version (NIV)
Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 26, 2012)

He Hears my Voice
Exodus 32:1-14

"But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. 
Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, 
and he hears my voice."
(Psalm 55:16-17)
My heart melts when my grandchildren speak to me. Their tiny voices might be asking a question or, more than likely, requesting a snack, but no matter what the reason, I want to stop and listen. Because they are so precious to me, I can't imagine hurting them by ignoring their voice.
All through Scripture we read of people crying out to God. The intimate interchange between Moses and God in Exodus 32 is a great example. Just as God was ready to destroy the Israelites because of their sin, Moses "sought the favor of the Lord his God" (v.10) and "the Lord relented and didn't bring on his people the disaster he had threatened" (v.14).
God's love for us is as full and as great as that! He listens when we speak and when we cry out. Imagine! As deeply as I love my grandchildren and drop everything to listen to them, God's love for us is so much greater. He does hear our voice; He does compassionately and wisely answer our prayers; and He does know our needs, meeting them perfectly in His providential ways.
INSIGHT
In ancient societies, gods were neither personal nor relational. Not 
so with the one true God who sent His Son to 
die for our sins.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 11-12
Psalm 85
Acts 8
Exodus 32:1-14

X
Exodus 32:1-14
New Living Translation (NLT)
The Gold Calf
32 When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. "Come on," they said, "make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt."
2 So Aaron said, "Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me."
3 All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, "O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!"
5 Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, "Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!"
6 The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.
7 The Lord told Moses, "Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’"
9 Then the Lord said, "I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. 10 Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation."
11 But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. "O Lord!" he said. "Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? 12 Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.[a] You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’"
14 So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.
Footnotes:
a. Exodus 32:13 Hebrew Israel. The names "Jacob" and "Israel" are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.

BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE [PART 1]
with Laura Story
God's blessings are often unrecognized. Many people miss out on life's greatest blessings and never realize it. Why? Because God often sends blessings in disguise and only eyes of faith can see them.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 25, 2012)

Invitation to Rest
Exodus 31:12-18

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...."
(Matthew 11:28-29)
The phone rings. It's not a solicitor, business call or emergency. Instead it's the familiar voice of a friend asking if I have time for a visit. It's an invitation to step away from the demands around me and rest in the comfort of a trusted friendship for just a little while.
Rest comes to us in through sleep, relaxation, distraction, comfort. It refreshes our bodies, minds and souls, as rain brings refreshing to the desert. When we are experiencing exhaustion, an invitation to rest can be life-giving.
Jesus has gently spoken an invitation for us to rest with Him. "Come to me," He says, "and I will give you rest." There's no time limit on His invitation, no cost to us, no hidden agendas or misunderstood motives. Just an honest invitation, right in the middle of our messy lives, to experience deep rest. Even if this life holds little relief for you, He will not withhold His promised rest forever. Listen to His invitation, rejoicing that His rest is not just for a little while, but for all eternity.
INSIGHT
God provided restoration for all creation through the gift of rest. The earth experiences it through the seasons. Mankind knows it through keeping the Sabbath.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 9-10
Psalm 84
Acts 7

Exodus 31:12-18
Exodus 31:12-18
New International Version (NIV)
The Sabbath
12 Then the LORD said to Moses, 13 "Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. 14 "‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’"
18 When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.


HONOR THE SACRIFICE
God promises those who honor Him, He will honor. But how does God want us to honor Him?

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 24, 2012)

The Master Teacher
Luke 15

The Master Teacher
Luke 15
"'Which of these do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?' The expert in law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.' Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'"
(Luke 10:36-37)
Jesus was a master teacher. Brilliantly He wove together stories and theology, custom and truth, heaven and earth. Our English word "parable" is formed from two Greek words: "para," beside, and "bole," to throw, and meant to put two things side by side and compare them. Using parables Jesus would take what His listeners were familiar with on earth and compare it to something about heaven with which they were unfamiliar.
Imagine being in the crowd, listening to Jesus, the Son of God, tell the story of the Lost Son or the Good Samaritan. Tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, women, children and priests all were listening and responding to the truth in their own way. People today also have a myriad of responses to Jesus. Things haven't changed much! We read through the Gospels and we, too, can listen to Jesus as He unravels some of the mysteries of eternity for us. "Go and do likewise," He says to the lawyer after telling him the parable of the Good Samaritan. "Go and show mercy," He says to us now.
INSIGHT
Not everything Jesus taught about was unfamiliar to His listeners. But understanding from God's perspective - through the filter of holiness - was.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 3-4
Psalm 81
Acts 2
Luke 15
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 "But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 "‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’"
Footnotes:
a.Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages
GOD IS NEAR [PART 4]
There is nothing worse than being far from God and nothing better than experiencing his nearness. If you are in Christ, then regardless of how you feel today, there is one promise you can cling to.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 23, 2012)

In the Wilderness
Luke 4:1-13,
Matthew 4,
Mark 1

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. ...he will also provide a way out ...."
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
Luke's account of Christ's temptation by Satan opens with these words: "Jesus ... was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil." The Judean wilderness where Jesus was taken is foreboding, hot and dangerous. Why would the Spirit bring Him there? And why should He be tempted?
In that desolate place Jesus faced Satan head-on without being able to find His strength in water or food, in others who'd rescue Him, or in His accomplishments (all things we value). However, where He did find His strength to overcome temptation was in listening to God's Truth.
God knew we would all face the same tempter and that he would entice us to follow him, rather than righteousness. If we were going to be able to know victory over Satan, Jesus would need to defeat him completely. By relying on and using the Truth of God's Word, He did. And we can, too! In any temptation we face, our strength comes by listening to God's voice of Truth through the Bible. No other voice will do.
INSIGHT
By listening only to the Father's Truth, Jesus regained what Adam and Eve lost when they listened to Satan's lies: Life.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 1-2
Psalm 80
Acts 1
Luke 4:1-13
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]"
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours."
8 Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]"
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
"‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]"
12 Jesus answered, "It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]"
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Footnotes:
a.Luke 4:2 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
b.Luke 4:4 Deut. 8:3
c.Luke 4:8 Deut. 6:13
d.Luke 4:11 Psalm 91:11,12
e.Luke 4:12 Deut. 6:16

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 22, 2012)

When Peace Speaks
John 14:15-31

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
(John 14:27)
Peace. Centuries before Jesus was born Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would be the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). On the evening of His birth, an angel chorus proclaimed "peace to men" (Luke 2:14). Why? God knew that broken humanity was in desperate need of it. But what is peace? It's union, not division; being at rest, not at war; wholeness, not brokenness. It's hope and life, not death.
Jesus spoke peace to the sick woman who touched His cloak believing that He could heal her (Luke 8:48); to His disciples as He told them He would soon be leaving them (John 14:27); and as He appeared to them following His death and resurrection (John 20:19, 21). He knew their heart needs and met them with peace.
Life often speaks the language of chaos, pain, destruction and division. When we hear that harsh language, we need to remember that God's peace can transform it all into rest, clarity, healing, joy, love, and Life. That's His promise to us through the Holy Spirit. Listen as He speaks peace to you.

INSIGHT
When troubled, remember Philippians 4:7: "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 5-6
Psalm 82
Acts 3-4
John 14:15-31
New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 "If you love me, obey[a] my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[b] who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.[c] 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them."
22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, "Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?"
23 Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
27 "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
30 "I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.
Footnotes:
a. John 14:15 Other manuscripts read you will obey; still others read you should obey.
b. John 14:16 Or Comforter, or Encourager, or Counselor. Greek reads Paraclete; also in 14:26.
c. John 14:17 Some manuscripts read and is in you.
ACCEPTANCE IN CHRIST [PART 5]
God forgives sinners. This is an essential truth of Christianity, but is often misunderstood. And that is the greatest mistake anyone could make.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 21, 2012)

A Word Aptly Spoken
James 3: 1-12


"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ...The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."
(Proverbs 15:1, 4)
The Commonwealth gained courage when Winston Churchill spoke; Martin Luther King stirred hope in weary hearts; Mother Theresa lifted downcast souls with gentle speech; but the world convulsed at the sound of Hitler's voice. What we say can change the course of history! What is your own speech like? Do people hear gossip, ridicule or foul language when you open your mouth? Or do they hear respect, love, courage, and hope?
Solomon frequently addressed our speech in Proverbs. "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver," (25:11) he wrote. As the wisest man in the world, he knew the impact speech would have on listeners. Jesus, the King of kings, also spoke directly to this same issue, but added another layer of understanding: "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). Our words reveal what is in our hearts. Praise God that out of the overflow of His heart of love for us, Jesus has spoken words of life and hope that we may in turn speak His love to others.

INSIGHT
Proverbs 25:12 tells us that even a rebuke can be beautiful if done in love. All our words can bring hope and healing!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 7-8
Psalm 83
Acts 5-6
James 3:1-12
New Living Translation (NLT)
Controlling the Tongue
3 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.[b]
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.[c]
Footnotes:
a. James 3:1 Greek brothers; also in 3:10.
b. James 3:6 Or for it will burn in hell (Greek Gehenna).
c. James 3:12 Greek from salt.

HONOR THE SACRIFICE
God promises those who honor Him, He will honor. But how does God want us to honor Him?

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 20, 2012)

Call to Me
Colossians 1:15-23

"This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth... 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'"
(Jeremiah 33:2-3)
During the time of the Old Testament kings, Israel was a mess. In ruins because of her sin, she was a people not enjoying God's best for her. Her rejection broke His heart, and He longed to restore her so they could be in relationship once again. Into this moment God speaks some of the most hope-filled verses in Scripture. Communicating through His prophet-spokesman, Jeremiah, the Creator of the universe said, "Call to me." These words are for us today, too! "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Imagine, the Creator-God sharing His great and unsearchable mysteries with His creation. Why would we not want to step into that place of intimacy and trust with Him? Is it even still possible? Yes, because He has made us, has loved us, and has drawn our hearts to Him (Romans 8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.). He urges us to call out to Him, and He lovingly shares the mysteries of His love with us through His Word and through His Son, Jesus. Will you call out to Him today?

INSIGHT
In Jesus we find "all the fullness of the Deity" in a human body (Colossians 2:9). Call to Him, and you are calling to God.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 35-36
Psalm 79
John 21
Colossians 1:15-23
Colossians 1:15-23
New Living Translation (NLT)
Christ Is Supreme
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,[a]
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.[b]
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
Footnotes:
a. Colossians 1:15 Or He is the firstborn of all creation.
b. Colossians 1:18 Or the firstborn from the dead.

GOD'S UNCHANGING LOVE [PART 2]
Fear can be a powerful motivation to take action, but hope is a better one. Though we are commanded to fear God, he also calls us to live our lives in light of our hope in Christ.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 19, 2012)

Stop and Listen
Luke 10:38-42; Psalm 27




"Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, 
'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek. 
Do not hide your face from me..."
(Psalm 27:7-8)
Georgia's life was like a treadmill programmed to run faster than she could. A crash was imminent. In her early years she had rebelliously made choices that were far from wise. Then as life continued to speed out of control, everything careened off course and her husband divorced her. Quite literally, her life fell apart.
In the following months Georgia made the drastic decision to walk away from her life as it existed, completely breaking the cycle. She chose to go the opposite direction, into the arms of Jesus who called her. She truly wanted to stop and listen to God speak to her, hearing His call to cast her burdens upon Him. Creating space for Him in her life became her passion and daily pursuit as she began reading the Bible, chapter by chapter, day after day. What a difference the stopping made for her! At the core of her decision was a longing to know God again like she had as a child. When she stopped long enough, she found herself face to face with Jesus once again. Could it be that we too need to stop in order to listen?
INSIGHT
Remembering Mary and Martha, are you better at "doing" or "being"? Stopping and listening to God is all about "being".
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 33-34
Psalm 78
John 20
Luke 10:38-42
New International Version (NIV)
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Footnotes:
a. Luke 10:42 Some manuscripts but only one thing is needed
Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 27:2 Or slander

HONOR THE SACRIFICE [PART 1]
God promises those who honor Him, He will honor. But how does God want us to honor Him?

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 18, 2012)

Listening in the Storm
Luke 8:22-25

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
(1 Peter 5:6-7)
As I listened during the night to the furious storm outside, I found myself thinking of the day the disciples made their way across the Sea of Galilee when a sudden squall came up, "swamping" the boat. This must have been quite a storm to churn the water so and put them in such danger. Where was Jesus? Asleep in that same boat! Did He not hear the wind and rain or feel the chilly water? Did He not sense the danger?
I love what happened after they frantically wakened Him: He simply got up, rebuked the wind and watched the raging waters settle. "The storm subsided, and all was calm" (Luke 8:24). But then Jesus asked the men this penetrating question: "Where is your faith?"
Life is filled with terrible storms and their rauc-ous, howling, fearful noise. Sickness, rebellion, deceit, hurt, disappointment, failures, broken trust scream at us. But in the midst of life's storms, Jesus longs for us to have faith that believes He can and will rebuke them, bringing calm. Consider today, 
Where is your faith?
INSIGHT
Squalls on the Sea of Galilee come up quickly, with little warning, like 
the storms in 
our lives. Be prepared to encounter them.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 31-32
Psalm 77
John 19

Luke 8:22-25
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we’re going to drown!"
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

THREE REASONS FOR JOY
The human heart longs for joy, but our experience of it is always temporary and tainted by sin. By contrast, the joy of Jesus is perfect, lasting, and meant to be shared. He offers his joy to us!

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 18, 2012)

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 17, 2012)

Big Listening Ears
Psalm 78:1-8

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
(Lamentations 3:22-23)
When our three year old granddaughter awoke, she greeted her mommy with, "My have big listening ears today!" Happy words for a mother of young ones to hear!
I must confess, I don't always have "big listening ears" when it comes to God's voice. The tyranny of the urgent and the gratification of the immediate constantly tempt me to think about and do everything other than listen. Yet it is in that quiet place with God, away from all the distractions of life, where His transforming power often does its greatest work.
Isaiah 50:4b-5 says, "He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears...." Imagine the kind of impact we can have on the world if we engage in listening to God with "big ears" morning by morning. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:3). Let's listen for our Savior's call as we start the new day.
INSIGHT
By His Spirit, God wants to transform us, using us to build Christ's Kingdom on earth. That is being a true disciple of Jesus!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 29-30
Psalm 76
John 18

Psalm 78
A psalm[a] of Asaph. 1 O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
2 for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
3 stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the LORD,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
6 so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.
8 Then they will not be like their ancestors—
stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,
refusing to give their hearts to God.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 78:1 Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.

THREE REASONS FOR JOY
The human heart longs for joy, but our experience of it is always temporary and tainted by sin. By contrast, the joy of Jesus is perfect, lasting, and meant to be shared. He offers his joy to us!

JOY COMES FROM THE SPIRIT
Where do you find your joy? The earliest Christians were filled with an overflowing joy that caused others to wonder where it came from. Learn how this kind of joy can be present in your life as well!

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 16, 2012)

In the Silence
John 1:1-18

"To you I call, O Lord my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit."
(Psalm 28:1)
In 1964 Simon and Garfunkel recorded their blockbuster hit, "The Sound of Silence", catapulting their career into music history. Pure silence actually is deafening. It feels thick, heavy, even disturbing. Imagine no humming refrigerator, no crickets, no traffic - just deep, penetrating silence. Many of us are so numb to the constant noise around us that we feel uncomfortable with silence.
Has it ever seemed to you as if God is silent? We're desperate for direction, or encouragement or just a sense that He is there. We long to hear from Him, but no sound makes its way to us. The Psalmist, David, cried to God to not be silent when all around him was in turmoil. He well knew how intimacy with God could steady his soul, so when his enemies pursued him, he longed to hear from the Almighty.
In John 1 we read, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." When Jesus came to earth, God's spoken word became His Living Word. Never again would there be silence, for His Word was and is with us.
INSIGHT
Even when our spirits sense a deafening silence from God, we must not stop listening. It's His nature to communicate His love to us.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 27-28
Psalm 75
John 17
John 1
Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a]
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,[c] 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[e] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’"
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.[f] 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God,[g] is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Footnotes:
a. John 1:4 Or and nothing that was created was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything.
b. John 1:5 Or and the darkness has not understood it.
c. John 1:6 Greek a man named John.
d. John 1:14 Greek became flesh.
e. John 1:14 Or grace and truth; also in 1:17.
f. John 1:16 Or received the grace of Christ rather than the grace of the law; Greek reads received grace upon grace.
g. John 1:18 Some manuscripts read But the one and only Son.
New Living Translation (NLT)

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 15, 2012)

Listening in Our Pain
Psalm 55

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
(1 Peter 2:24)
In 1990 Barbara Johnson wrote a book titled, "Pain is Inevitable, But Misery is Optional, So Stick A Geranium In Your Hat and Be Happy!" It's a crazy title by a very funny woman, but this was, in actuality, an open window into her soul. She had encountered her share of pain and found she could survive in the midst of it through God's grace. There will always be pain, or the possibility of it, in our lives. This is the reality of our broken humanity. The Psalmist, David, often wrote about it as he tried to understand its purpose. In Psalm 55 alone he speaks of the enemy, the wicked, suffering, anger, anguish, death and storms.
However, equal reality is that we can give our pain to our Savior, Jesus. He is the One who carried our "wounds" on the Cross. And it is through His triumph over Satan that sin and death have been conquered! Let His words speak into your pain today: "I have come that they might have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10). His words hold true in the inevitable agonies of life, bringing hope into misery.

INSIGHT
Written to believers being persecuted for their faith, Peter's words give us hope: "Cast all your anxiety on 
him because he cares for you"
(1 Peter 5:7).
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 21-22
Psalm 72
John 13
Psalm 55
For the choir director: A psalm[a] of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 Listen to my prayer, O God.
Do not ignore my cry for help!
2 Please listen and answer me,
for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
3 My enemies shout at me,
making loud and wicked threats.
They bring trouble on me
and angrily hunt me down.
4 My heart pounds in my chest.
The terror of death assaults me.
5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me,
and I can’t stop shaking.
6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove;
then I would fly away and rest!
7 I would fly far away
to the quiet of the wilderness.
Interlude
8 How quickly I would escape—
far from this wild storm of hatred.
9 Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans,
for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
but the real danger is wickedness within the city.
11 Everything is falling apart;
threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.
12 It is not an enemy who taunts me—
I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—
I could have hidden from them.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal,
my companion and close friend.
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed
as we walked together to the house of God.
15 Let death stalk my enemies;
let the grave[b] swallow them alive,
for evil makes its home within them.
16 But I will call on God,
and the LORD will rescue me.
17 Morning, noon, and night
I cry out in my distress,
and the LORD hears my voice.
18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe
from the battle waged against me,
though many still oppose me.
19 God, who has ruled forever,
will hear me and humble them.
Interlude
For my enemies refuse to change their ways;
they do not fear God.
20 As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;
he broke his promises.
21 His words are as smooth as butter,
but in his heart is war.
His words are as soothing as lotion,
but underneath are daggers!
22 Give your burdens to the LORD,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
23 But you, O God, will send the wicked
down to the pit of destruction.
Murderers and liars will die young,
but I am trusting you to save me.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 55:1 Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
b. Psalm 55:15 Hebrew let Sheol.
New Living Translation (NLT)

JESUS IN THE VALLEYS [PART 2]
with Kay Warren
Valleys are part of life. We have to walk through them, but we have a Shepherd who tells us that he walks with us. Is Jesus your comfort today? Listen and be encouraged in Christ!

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 14, 2012)

Listen to His Touch
Mark 5:21-42

"...a man came along who was covered with leprosy. ....Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 
'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!'
 And immediately the leprosy left him."
(Luke 5:12-13)
The musical genius embodied in Ludwig van Beethoven astounds me. When only 20 years old, he began going deaf, yet continued to compose some of the world's most magnificent classical works. It is understood he attached a wooden pole to his piano's soundboard so he could "listen" to the vibrations by clenching the rod with his teeth. He listened through touch.
One day, surrounded by a noisy crowd, Jesus "heard" the desperate touch of a very sick woman. She believed if she could just make contact with the miracle worker's cloak, she would be healed. At the very moment she did, Jesus "realized that power had gone out from him" (Mark 5:30) and did not disregard it. He knew her touch had been filled with both need and faith, so He pronounced complete healing over her. Over and over again we read in the Gospels of Jesus touching those in need, even the leprous "untouchables," and how their bodies responded to Him.
Jesus touches our deepest need, too. Trust Him, and know the healing of His touch.
INSIGHT
When Jesus passed a leper colony, He heard them shout, "Unclean, unclean!" His righteous life and payment on the cross wiped them - and us - clean!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 19-20
Psalm 71
John 12
Mark 5:21-42
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." 24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31 "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ "
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"
36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, "Don’t be afraid; just believe."
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.
Footnotes:
a. Mark 5:36 Or Ignoring
New International Version (NIV)

JESUS IN THE VALLEYS [PART 1]
with Kay Warren
We look forward to mountaintop experiences, but we live most of our lives on the valleys. Jesus promises that he is with us even in the darkest of days and desires to use those times to shape us.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 13, 2012)

A Whisper of Hope
Psalm 42

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
(Psalm 42:5)
I recently attended the funeral of a young mother who died in a tragic car accident. The grief of her husband, children, family and friends was intensely deep. My heart ached as I watched their little five year old daughter climb up onto daddy's lap, and the way their eight year old son tenderly reached up to comfort him. The large assembly of people gathered was hushed throughout much of the service, but in the stillness - in spite of the depth of grief - a profound and radical hope was present. Hope, knowing their friend, wife, mother was safe with Jesus. Hope, that one day there will be a grand reunion in heaven. Hope, because God knows and is in control.
We've all been in those dark places where we longed to know that we will get through; that we are not alone; that joy will come again. Whatever our hurt, whatever our pain, our raw wounds desperately need the tender healing of Jesus. He is our only Hope-Giver, for He is the One who has crushed Satan. He's the One who whispers true hope to our grieving hearts.
INSIGHT
"Christ in you, the hope of glory," Paul writes 
(Colossians 1:27). Amazing! Christ is our source of 
hope for today 
and eternity.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 17-18
Psalm 70
John 11
Psalm 42
BOOK TWO (Psalms 42–72)
Psalm 42
For the choir director: A psalm[a] of the descendants of Korah.
1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
"Where is this God of yours?"
4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and 6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
9 "O God my rock," I cry,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?"
10 Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, "Where is this God of yours?"
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 42:1 Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
New Living Translation (NLT)

THE RISING OF THE SON
The world watched helplessly as the deadly wall of water slammed into the coast of Japan devastating countless lives. In the wake of tragedy, the church began to grow for the first time in decades.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 12, 2012)

You can be Restored
II Kings 25:1-21

"'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when 
I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from 
captivity and restore them to the land I gave their 
forefathers to possess,' says the Lord."
(Jeremiah 30:3)
God's chosen people, His beloved Israel, were split in two. In both Israel (to the north) and Judah (to the south), sin was rampant and, as a result, both ended up exiled in captivity. During this horrible time God sent prophets to speak His words, His truth, His warnings to the people. These were men and women whose hearts were tuned in to hear God speak to them and then obediently pass those messages on.
Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah. He spoke of their destruction, but he also spoke God's words of hope: "I will bring my people back from captivity." Restoration... was it really possible? Is it possible for me? Is there a chance to start again after I have sinned? Absolutely yes, for God is in the business of rebuilding and restoring. That's why He sent His Son, Jesus, the One who brought us back from captivity. Through faith in His life, death and resurrection, our relationship with God can be restored and eternal life given! That's a message worth listening to over and over again.

INSIGHT
"Restore to me the joy of my salvation," David cries out in Psalm 51. He knew that confession, forgiveness and restoration 
go together.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 16
Psalm 69
John 10
II Kings 25:1-21
2 Kings 25
1 So on January 15,[a] during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. 2 Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign.
3 By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign,[b] the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone. 4 Then a section of the city wall was broken down, and all the soldiers fled. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians,[c] they waited for nightfall. Then they slipped through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden and headed toward the Jordan Valley.[d]
5 But the Babylonian[e] troops chased the king and caught him on the plains of Jericho, for his men had all deserted him and scattered. 6 They took him to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah. 7 They made Zedekiah watch as they slaughtered his sons. Then they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.
The Temple Destroyed
8 On August 14 of that year,[f] which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard and an official of the Babylonian king, arrived in Jerusalem. 9 He burned down the Temple of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings[g] in the city. 10 Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side. 11 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, then took as exiles the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had declared their allegiance to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population. 12 But the captain of the guard allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind in Judah to care for the vineyards and fields.
13 The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars in front of the LORD’s Temple, the bronze water carts, and the great bronze basin called the Sea, and they carried all the bronze away to Babylon. 14 They also took all the ash buckets, shovels, lamp snuffers, dishes, and all the other bronze articles used for making sacrifices at the Temple. 15 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, also took the incense burners and basins, and all the other articles made of pure gold or silver.
16 The weight of the bronze from the two pillars, the Sea, and the water carts was too great to be measured. These things had been made for the LORD’s Temple in the days of King Solomon. 17 Each of the pillars was 27 feet[h] tall. The bronze capital on top of each pillar was 71/2 feet[i] high and was decorated with a network of bronze pomegranates all the way around.
18 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took with him as prisoners Seraiah the high priest, Zephaniah the priest of the second rank, and the three chief gatekeepers. 19 And from among the people still hiding in the city, he took an officer who had been in charge of the Judean army; five of the king’s personal advisers; the army commander’s chief secretary, who was in charge of recruitment; and sixty other citizens. 20 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took them all to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 And there at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon had them all put to death. So the people of Judah were sent into exile from their land.
Footnotes:
a. 2 Kings 25:1 Hebrew on the tenth day of the tenth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. A number of events in 2 Kings can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Babylonian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This day was January 15, 588 B.C.
b. 2 Kings 25:3 Hebrew By the ninth day of the [fourth] month [in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign] (compare Jer 52:6 and the note there). This day was July 18, 586 B.C.; also see note on 25:1.
c. 2 Kings 25:4 Or the Chaldeans; also in 25:13, 25, 26.
d. 2 Kings 25:4 Hebrew the Arabah.
e. 2 Kings 25:5 Or Chaldean; also in 25:10, 24.
f. 2 Kings 25:8 Hebrew On the seventh day of the fifth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was August 14, 586 B.C.; also see note on 25:1.
g. 2 Kings 25:9 Or destroyed the houses of all the important people.
h. 2 Kings 25:17 Hebrew 18 cubits [8.1 meters].
i. 2 Kings 25:17 As in parallel texts at 1 Kgs 7:16, 2 Chr 3:15, and Jer 52:22, all of which read 5 cubits [2.3 meters]; Hebrew reads 3 cubits, which is 4.5 feet or 1.4 meters.
New Living Translation (NLT)

THE RISING OF THE SON
The world watched helplessly as the deadly wall of water slammed into the coast of Japan devastating countless lives. In the wake of tragedy, the church began to grow for the first time in decades.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 11, 2012)

The Quiet Place
I Kings 19

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.'"
(Isaiah 30:15)
Elijah had some very intimate, personal encounters with God. Once, when Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him, Elijah ran for his life, enduring alone a forty days' journey through the desert. As his epic sojourn ended, he climbed into a cave on Mt. Horeb, and there God spoke: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" There followed a blasting wind, a violent earthquake and a raging fire. Imagine the deafening, frightening noise! But then we read, "after the fire came a gentle whisper... " (1 Kings 19:12). Into Elijah's deepest place of absolute solitude came this intimate moment with deity. God whispered, and they communed together.
It's God's nature to communicate with us, to be in relationship with us. That's precisely and wondrously why He sent His Son, Jesus - to show us the Father and to provide an eternal relationship with Him. Our lives are filled with distractions, the deafening noises of diversions. Perhaps today could be the day when we step into the quiet and listen for that gentle whisper from Him.

INSIGHT
In the union of quietness and trust we find strength. In the union of repentance and God's love through Jesus we find forgiveness and eternal life.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 14-15
Psalm 68
John 9

1 Kings 19
Elijah Flees to Sinai
1 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: "May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them."
3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died."
5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!" 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you."
8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai,[a] the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.
The LORD Speaks to Elijah
But the LORD said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
10 Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."
11 "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
14 He replied again, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."
15 Then the LORD told him, "Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. 16 Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi[b] to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. 17 Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! 18 Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!"
The Call of Elisha
19 So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, "First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!"
Elijah replied, "Go on back, but think about what I have done to you."
21 So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Kings 19:8 Hebrew to Horeb, another name for Sinai.
b. 1 Kings 19:16 Hebrew descendant of Nimshi; compare 2 Kgs 9:2, 14.
New Living Translation (NLT)

THE RISING OF THE SON
The world watched helplessly as the deadly wall of water slammed into the coast of Japan devastating countless lives. In the wake of tragedy, the church began to grow for the first time in decades.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 10, 2012)

A Child Listens
1 Samuel 3



"The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'"
(1 Samuel 3:10)
God places such value on children. Jesus clearly spoke of this when He said, "whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18:5). There was a time in Israel's history when God was silent to His disobedient, faltering people. Silent, that is, until the night we read of in 1 Samuel 3. God had an urgent message to deliver, and the one He chose to deliver it to was the child Samuel. In him God found something rare: a heart that loved Him wholly and obeyed Him completely.
"Samuel," God called. Samuel had never experienced anything like this before and thought it was the old priest, Eli, calling him. Three times he went to see what he wanted. Finally, with Eli's prompting, Samuel answered the divine call of his name with, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." In that moment, Samuel learned the interweaving of listening and obedience and its impact on our lives. Oh, to have a heart so eager for God. Praise God that our hearts are drawn to Him through Jesus!
INSIGHT
Both Moses and Samuel listened to God's call and responded with "Here I am." Jesus responded with, "Your will, not mine"
(Luke 22:42).
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 12-13
Psalm 67
John 8

1 Samuel 3
The LORD Calls Samuel
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple[a] of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
11 And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible,[b] and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’"
15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son."
Samuel answered, "Here I am."
17 "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."
19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Samuel 3:3 That is, tabernacle
b. 1 Samuel 3:13 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition and Septuagint sons blasphemed God


JUST KEEP MOVING
Obedience to God is not something human beings are naturally good at, but Jesus was. In his final moments in the garden we see Jesus model what true obedience means.

ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (FEBRUARY 09, 2012)

Pay Attention!
Deuteronomy 6

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
(Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
The Hebrew language is rich in its clarity of meaning. One important Old Testament verb is "shama," found 1,160 times in the Bible. We translate it as "listen" or "hear", its use implying that the speaker wants the hearer to listen carefully. In other words, pay attention; this is important!
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is called the shama because it begins with, "Hear, O Israel". After leading the Hebrew nation for 40 years, Moses was soon to die. During those years he had taught them all he knew about God and now was delivering his final speech. Can you hear his passion for them to follow God completely? "Listen up, people," he says. "Pay attention! This is most important!"
God longs for us today to pay attention to the importance of His commands and blessings. "Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight," He says "so that it may go well with you ...." (Deuteronomy 6:18). Today's troubles may convince you that life is not going well at all. Stand firm in the Lord your God; He will see you through.
INSIGHT
The child Jesus would have been taught the shama. Not surprising, then, that when asked what the greatest commandment 
was, He quoted it
(Mark 12:30).
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 10-11
Psalm 66
John 7
Deuteronomy 6
Love the LORD Your God
1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.[a] 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
10 When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.
20 In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?" 21 tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders—great and terrible—upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. 24 The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness."
Footnotes:
a. Deuteronomy 6:4 Or The LORD our God is one LORD; or The LORD is our God, the LORD is one; or The LORD is our God, the LORD alone

THE TOMB IS EMPTY
People say that death is just a part of life. And while it is true that death touches us all, there is nothing good or right about it. Our one hope that death is not the end begins with an empty tomb.