AMAZING FACT: DEVOTION

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A Satisfied Soul

AN AMAZING FACT: Born on June 15, 1950, Michel Lotito was a Frenchman with a very unusual diet. He consumed large quantities of metal and glass since he was nine years old. He was known to have eaten supermarket carts, television sets, bicycles, chandeliers, razor blades, bullets, nuts and bolts, lengths of chain, phonograph records, computers, and an entire Cessna 150 light aircraft (which took him nearly two years to consume).
Mr. Lotito was an entertainer nicknamed Monsieur Mangetout, or “Mister Eat All Things.” It seems that his body adjusted to this unusual diet, as he ate nearly two pounds of metal every day. His technique included lubricating his digestive tract with mineral oil, cutting the parts into bite-size pieces, and then consuming a large quantity of water while eating this junk.

What is most amazing is that he didn’t seem to suffer any unusual side effects from eating materials usually considered poisonous. He did once say that bananas and hard-boiled eggs made him sick. Some believe that between 1959 and 1997, Mr. Lotito consumed about one ton of metal. He said he had a complex as a child about being thin. He started eating nails, bottles, and plates to win bets. He once said while eating a bicycle chain that he liked it because it had “taste.” Michel died of natural causes on June 25, 2007, ten days after his 57th birthday.

The Bible says, “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb. But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet” (Proverbs 27:7). Is your soul satisfied? Is your heart so filled with contentment in your relationship with Jesus that you do not need to be driven by appetite or passion to fill the longings deep within? When you are at peace with God, addictions to external things like drugs, sex, money, food, or power will have no appeal. If you are really hungry in your soul, do not turn to nails and glass. Turn to Jesus. He will fill you with bread that will satisfy.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
- John 6:35

 

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Buried Alive by Laziness

AN AMAZING FACT: On November 19, 1856, The New York Times ran a story on a man named Thomas Burns, who was semi-buried as a punishment for laziness. Burns was a prisoner at a penitentiary in New York City and was expected to work in the quarry. The article reports that Burns’ consistent refusal to work at anything but a snail’s pace so irritated the quarry-master that Burns was buried up to six inches above his knees and then left there for two days!
According to the deputy warden, Burns was so lazy that he had “tired out” the superintendents of all the prison work departments. It was reported that Burns seemed to enjoy the irritation of his supervisors, appeared in good health, and was quite active when it was mealtime. Burns himself admitted that he felt the world “owed him” food and lodging and that the only thing he owed in return was to wear the prison’s “striped pantaloons.” He’d been in and out of prison several times—his repeated crime was “vagrancy” or wandering idly. The article made no mention of whether the punishment had any effect on his work ethic.

As harsh and unconventional as this punishment might sound to our ears today, Solomon seems to understand the feeling of Burns’ supervisors: “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy man to those who send him” (Proverbs 10:26). Proverbs even predicted Burns’ situation: “The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor” (Proverbs 12:24).

Solomon presents to us the alternative to laziness—diligence. He says that those who are diligent in their work “shall have enough … for the food of [their] household” (Proverbs 27:27). How much better it is to be considered one of the diligent than one of the slothful!
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
- Proverbs 27:23

For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
- Proverbs 27:24

 

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The Unrecognized King

AN AMAZING FACT: Naples was on the verge of insurrection against the Italian monarchy when King Humbert took the throne. Politicians urged violent measures to force the city into submission, but King Humbert refused. However, in 1884, Naples was soon hit by an outbreak of cholera, and the dreaded disease raged with deadly fury. Ignoring his advisors, the young king made an amazing move of devotion toward even his disloyal subjects.
Shocking his counselors, Humbert left the palace and went alone through the crowded hospitals of Naples, ministering to his subjects. He ventured without a guard into the slums and among the sick. Many of the suffering breathed prayers of gratitude for this young medical servant, not knowing it was the very king they’d spurned. When the plague was finally checked, many learned his true identity. Naples then became a conquered city—conquered by the love of a monarch it once refused. From that time forward, the people of Naples were among Humbert’s most loyal subjects.

Another King once left His throne to walk among the sick and dying. Jesus came from heaven’s royal kingdom to pass unrecognized through the streets of our world and reach out with love. The Bible says, “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (Isaiah 53:3). He loved and served many, yet Christ was not accepted by the powers of His day. The religious politicians despised him and eventually had Him killed.

Today, Jesus calls us to walk the road of servanthood, even though we might be despised and rejected. Someday, when heaven’s gates open, we will be forever accepted.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
- Matthew 27:30

 

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The Empty Tomb

AN AMAZING FACT: In 1980, an archeological dig in Israel unearthed the Talpiot Tomb, which contained several ossuaries (bone boxes) dating back to biblical times. In 2007, a documentary produced by acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron asserted that this tomb was, in fact, the family tomb of Jesus of Nazareth.
Neither the archeological team that found the tomb nor the filmmakers behind the first documentary on the subject, released in 1996, found anything of special merit in this tomb. The more recent documentary, however, calls into question the death and resurrection of Jesus as recorded in the Bible. In the wake of some claims made in the popular novel The Da Vinci Code, the Talpiot Tomb discovery suddenly seemed relevant and popular.

Many archeological and theological scholars have disputed the claims made by the documentary. Even the author of the original excavation report, Amos Kloner, said of the documentary, “I think it is very unserious work. I do scholarly work … [This film] is all nonsense.” William Dever, an expert on near eastern archaeology and anthropology, who has worked with Israeli archeologists for five decades, said that the film “would be amusing if it didn’t mislead so many people.”

As Christians, we don’t need to be misled. A world tainted by sin will always try to discredit and malign God, but the faithful can stand strongly on the sure Word of God. The Gospels clearly testify of an empty tomb where Jesus had been laid before His resurrection. They record a group of women first bearing witness to it, followed by Peter’s corroboration later on. The Bible also tells us that more than 500 people saw the risen Christ with their own eyes, including many of the authors of the Bible itself.

The world will become increasingly false and misleading as we approach the return of Jesus, but we will never be misled if we put our faith in the Bible and trust what it says.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
- 1 Corinthians 15:6

 

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A Better Promise

AN AMAZING FACT: Each year, 171,000 Christians are martyred for their faith, and 100 million Christians endure arrest and interrogation. Persecution is especially severe in North Korea. Worship of anyone other than the “dear leader” is illegal. Parents are unable to share their faith at home until their children are old enough to understand the risks. There are an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 Christians in labor camps. Yet Christianity is growing there, with an estimated 400,000 believers.
Hebrews 11, commonly called the faith chapter, ends its chronicle of Bible heroes with this statement: “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and” (Hebrews 11:32). The author goes on to catalog the things that have been done to people of faith, including persecution and death: “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. … They were stoned, sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword” (vs. 35, 37). Yet in spite of the things these faith heroes suffered, Hebrews makes it clear that they haven’t received their reward quite yet: “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise” (v. 39). The promise referred to is what God promised Abram: the land of Canaan. The land of Canaan never became the paradise for the Jews that God intended. Why would God make these faithful wait?

The answer becomes clear when we consider how the persecution of God’s people continues today. God chose not to reward some of the faithful until all of the faithful could enjoy the promise together, and thus decided on an even better promise than the earthly land of Canaan: “God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (vs. 39, 40). Instead of the earthly Canaan, God has prepared the heavenly New Jerusalem.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
- Hebrews 11:16

 

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High and Holy Places

AN AMAZING FACT: The bristlecone pine is the oldest living single organism on our planet. One tree called “Methuselah” is estimated to be 4,789 years old. Its location in the White Mountains of eastern California is undisclosed to protect the tree from vandalism.
Bristlecone pines are a group of small trees believed to live for about 5,000 years. There are three species: Rocky Mountain (Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona), Great Basin (Utah, Nevada, and eastern California), and the Foxtail (California). They grow in isolated groves at or just below the tree line. Because of high winds, dry soils, and cold temperatures, seasons are very short and the trees grow very slowly. The bristlecone’s wood is dense and resinous, so it is resistant to pests like insects and fungus.

These special trees can remind us of a Bible verse about the Lord: “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

Perhaps we can learn from the humble bristlecone pine. It can live at such a high elevation because it stays low and close to the rock, sending its roots deep down so it can hang on during the storms that strike the mountain. We, too, can come close to the “High and Holy One” when we are humble. When you are blown about by winds of strife, bow down like the bristlecone pine. Send your roots deep down into Jesus and hang on to Him as you grow slowly and strongly.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
- Psalms 92:13

 

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Destruction by Fire

AN AMAZING FACT: On April 18, 1906, a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of San Francisco. While the quake was felt from Oregon to Los Angeles and as far inland as Nevada, it was the resulting fires that did most of the damage. The fires raged for four days and nights and left 490 city blocks charred—a total area of about 4.5 square miles.
According to the San Francisco Museum, the fires initially started because of ruptured gas lines and toppled stoves resulting from the earthquake. However, subsequent fires were started by firefighters improperly demolishing buildings to create firebreaks and by property owners burning their own buildings in an attempt to collect insurance money that would otherwise be denied if the damage had been caused only by the quake. Thus, already horrifying destruction was exacerbated both by greed and by well-intentioned but poorly executed attempts to stop the fires’ progression.

The Bible tells us that “scoffers set a city aflame” while “wise men turn away wrath” (Proverbs 29:8). The San Francisco fires demonstrate mankind’s natural tendency toward destruction, both by accident and on purpose, but this Proverb warns us that “scoffing” can make that tendency worse and result in total destruction. Scoffing is a form of mocking or jeering. Such behavior often stirs up the wrath of the person being scoffed at, and the results can be violent.

God calls us to behave wisely by turning away wrath whenever possible. This means avoiding mockery and scoffing in our own lives but also speaking gently toward others to diffuse potentially disastrous situations. This kind of wisdom comes only through the process of sanctification, when we surrender our hearts to Jesus and allow Him to live through us. We must surrender anew each day. Have you surrendered to God today?
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 2:20

 

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By His Stripes

AN AMAZING FACT: As many as 2.5 percent of people suffer from prosopagnosia, or face blindness. Someone with prosopagnosia might not be able to recognize his or her spouse, long-time colleagues, or his or her own children. For example, author Heather Sellers once tried to kiss the wrong man at the airport—she thought she recognized her husband’s distinctive gait.
On another occasion, Sellers introduced herself to a new professor at the university where she taught, only to find that he’d been working across the hall from her for 15 years. People with prosopagnosia often work very hard to recognize people based on their clothing, hair color, body shape, voice, and other characteristics.

It seems that quite a few Bible characters had momentary face blindness when first meeting Jesus after His resurrection. Mary Magdalene met Jesus at the tomb but didn’t recognize Him until He spoke her name (John 20:14). The disciples saw Him on the shore while they were fishing and didn’t know it was Him until their nets were miraculously filled with fish (John 21:4). And the two disciples on the road to Emmaus didn’t recognize Him until they saw Him break the bread. What was it about that simple act of breaking bread that opened their eyes?

Let’s consider the story closely. Jesus reached out for the bread, took it in His hands, broke it into pieces, and then handed it to each disciple. As they took the bread, the disciples must have taken a second look at His hands … and the scars from the nails of His crucifixion. Perhaps they knew Him when they saw His scars.

Then and for all eternity, Jesus’ scars are a reminder of what He suffered for our sake.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
- Isaiah 53:5

 

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The Perfect Home

AN AMAZING FACT: Biosphere 2 was a state-of-the-art greenhouse built on three acres in the Arizona desert. It was a giant, computer-controlled environment intended to be a miniature version of the much larger biosphere 1, better known as Earth. Completed in 1991 at a cost of $200 million, it included five wilderness areas, ranging from a rainforest to a desert, and was stocked with thousands of exotic plants and animals.
Eight humans (“biospherians”) were to learn how to live off the land, isolated from the outside world except for communications. The designers envisioned Biosphere 2 as the first step toward human colonization of Mars.

But when this landlocked Noah’s Ark set sail for its two-year voyage of discovery from 1991 to 1993, it ran aground from a host of unforeseen environmental and human disasters. Oxygen levels inside the complex dropped so low that emergency oxygen was pumped in—violating the main tenet of isolation. And crop production was so poor that the starving crew got hungry enough to steal food from one another or have it smuggled in. Nearly all the birds and animals that were supposed to thrive inside died—except for “crazy ants” and cockroaches that now fill the place. Their proud vision of man making utopia on Earth became a joke—today Biosphere 2 is a tourist attraction masquerading as science.

The Bible describes the restoration of God’s people and land. It depicts the perfect home for us in which to thrive. “The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I will make the place of My feet glorious” (Isaiah 60:13).

Someday, when Jesus returns, He will restore our planet to its state before the fall of mankind. We will enjoy the ideal environment, where all of our needs will be abundantly provided. There will be no need for stealing food. Death will be gone. The air will be pure. And we will live forever.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
- Isaiah 35:1

 

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An Amazing Fact: The rock hyrax is a terrestrial mammal that resembles a guinea pig and is found in Israel. As its name reveals, it lives among rocks in which it can quickly escape from predators. The animals are especially known for using sentries that send out alarm calls from high points if a predator comes close.

Hyraxes (called “conies” or “rock badgers” in the Bible) typically live in groups of 10 to 80. Their ability to regulate body temperature is limited, so their activity is related to seasons and times of day. They are short and squatty with a weight of about nine pounds and a length of almost 20 inches. Their thick fur ranges from a dark brown color to a lighter gray, depending on the climate.

Hyrax herds are often subdivided into smaller groups of 5 to 15, with a dominant male who defends and watches over the group. In Africa they are preyed upon by leopards, cobras, adders, wild dogs, and eagles. Yet in Israel the rock hyrax is rarely preyed upon by terrestrial predators because of their excellent system of sentries. This combined with living among the rocks and crags gives them considerable protection.

The Bible says, “There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise” (Proverbs 30:24). Besides the ant, locust, and spider, the hyrax is listed: “The rock badgers (hyrax) are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags” (v. 26).

If you have ever felt small, take heart! Wisdom has nothing to do with our size or strength. We can learn a few lessons from the rock hyrax. The first is to live for others. Be willing to be a “sentry” and share warnings to those you love. And second, learn to live in the shelter of the Rock. Jesus will protect you from the predator (Satan) who is seeking to take you down.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
- 2 Samuel 22:2

 

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Clay Fit for a King

An Amazing Fact: Ceramics are classified based on the temperature used to fire them—the higher the heat, the more durable the ceramic piece will be. Porcelain is a high-fire ceramic, fired at temperatures ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, it is pressure resistant to 5,000 kilograms per centimeter squared. In other words, a railroad car weighing around 11 tons could be placed on top of a two centimeter square piece of porcelain without breaking the porcelain.


The process of making a piece of fine porcelain—a product as strong as it is beautiful—is anything but comfortable. First, a piece is molded or turned on a wheel. Then an artisan removes sharp edges, such as seams, from a mold. Next a piece is annealed (heated and gradually cooled), which leaves it as hard as leather. Then it is glazed and fired in the kiln. After firing, rough patches are polished. Sometimes accents are added, like a metallic trim on fine china.

The results of this uncomfortable process are fantastic! Porcelain tiles have graced the walls of palaces, and fine china has decorated the tables of kings.

God’s process with His people is similar. Just as the artisan is in complete control of the clay, God is in complete control of our lives: “O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8). Just as the clay must be fired before it is useful, God’s people must repent of their sins before they can become all He intends. Isaiah recognized this and pled with God: “Do not be furious, O Lord, Nor remember iniquity forever; Indeed, please look—we are all Your people!” (Isaiah 64: 9). Just as fine porcelain eventually becomes both beautiful and strong, God will not give up on His people until they have become what He desires for them.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
- Philippians 1:6

 

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Treasure You Never Lose

AN AMAZING FACT: In December 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama signed the December 2010 Tax Relief Act, which established the estate tax code for fiscal years 2011 and 2012. Under this law, estates of deceased persons with values of $5 million or greater would be subject to 35 percent taxation before their remainder is passed on to beneficiaries.
The federal estate tax has been around for a long time, although the various rates and rules of the tax keep changing. Some states also levy an estate tax in addition to the one imposed by the federal government. Moreover, some states have an additional inheritance tax levied against the amount received by the heirs, meaning a given estate might be taxed up to three times before the various governments are finished taking their shares.

The author of Ecclesiastes understood very well that a man’s wealth stays behind after his death and is enjoyed by other people. The thought of his wealth, the fruit of his life’s labors, belonging to someone else who could be “wise or a fool” (Ecclesiastes 2:19) deeply troubled him, so much so that he considered the accumulation of wealth as “vanity”—and this was before federal or state estate taxes or inheritance taxes!

Jesus knows how deeply many people value their worldly treasures, despite the knowledge that it remains behind after death. Instead of spending our lives accumulating wealth, which can be stolen or destroyed and which will pass to another person after we die, Jesus asks us to focus on heavenly wealth: eternal life and freedom from sin. These are the divine treasures that, once we have them, can never be lost or taxed.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
- Matthew 6:19-21

 

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Eternity in Their Hearts
AN AMAZING FACT: Our bodies run on a complex internal clock that affects more than just waking and sleeping. Almost every bodily function works according to this circadian rhythm. For example, certain medications are more effective at certain times of day: aspirin and antihistamines are best in the morning, while some chemotherapy might be best at night.
But humans aren’t the only life form with an internal clock; animals, plants, and even fungi have them too! For instance, the only time flies come out of their pupae is the early morning. Some plants will continue to move as if tracking the sun even in a dark room. Animals’ heartbeats, body temperatures, and hormonal changes have a daily rhythm as well.

It seems Solomon’s observation in Ecclesiastes is just as true for the animal kingdom as it is for humanity: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). In this poetic passage, Solomon describes a cycle of life than is inescapable. The harvest can’t come before planting, a new building can only be erected after the old one has been torn down, and, of course, each individual has both a “time to be born, And a time to die” (v. 2). All God’s creation is orderly and logical—everything is “appropriate in its time” (v. 11 NASB).

Nevertheless, God has given humanity something that supersedes this cycle: “He has put eternity in their hearts” (v. 11). In spite of internal clocks and the inevitability of death, some part of us knows that there is something more out there. We have been created in God’s image, and, without being told, something inside us knows that there is more to life than gaining and losing, keeping and throwing away. There is eternity to be won.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
- 1 Timothy 6:12

 

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Good Eyesight

AN AMAZING FACT: Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind. In fact, many bats have exceptionally good eyesight designed for low levels of light.
Bats are nocturnal creatures and can be found all over the world, from Canada to warm tropical climates. To get around in the dark, many bats rely on a sophisticated form of sonar known as echolocation. With this detection method, bats emit short pulses of high-frequency sounds that are usually well above the threshold of human hearing. The sound waves spread out in front of the bat, striking any objects in its flight path and bouncing back in the form of an echo. By using this God-given radar, bats are able to discern the direction, distance, speed, and in some instances, the size and density of the objects around them.

Jesus surprised His disciples when they discovered the Lord’s ability to see things beyond what they could see. Philip invited Nathanael to meet Jesus. Though skeptical, he went and met Christ, who said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” (John 1:47). Nathaniel asked, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you” (v. 48).

God is not blind. He does not lose track of us. Jesus still sees us in the secret places of our lives. Even in the darkest night, when we cry out to our heavenly Father, the Lord sees us … even in the dark.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
- Psalms 139:11

 

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Taming the Tongue

AN AMAZING FACT: Walter Mondale, a vice president under Jimmy Carter, ran for president in 1984 against incumbent Ronald Reagan. Upon accepting the Democratic Party nomination for president, he said, “Mr. Reagan will raise taxes, and so will I. He won’t tell you. I just did.” He proceeded to lose the election by one of the worst Electoral College landslides in history, gaining electoral votes only from Minnesota and the District of Columbia.
The United States had a massive budget deficit under the first Reagan administration, and Mr. Mondale pledged to cut it by two-thirds. To do this, he anticipated having to raise taxes. He issued the statement at his nomination in an effort to demonstrate his honesty with the voters, implying that his opponent would not be as honest. However, it was largely understood as a pledge to raise taxes. This was one of the factors that led to his massive defeat.

What would have happened if Mr. Mondale had said something different? We will never know. The story only shows us how important it is to carefully consider the words we use and how easy it is for our tongues to get us into trouble!

The apostle James has strong words of warning about the danger of having an untamed tongue. He says it is an “unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). Without God’s help, we can never tame our tongues, but even converted Christians must be careful. If we turn away from the Lord’s guidance for even a moment, our words can harm us in unimaginable ways.

When you are tempted to speak rashly, consider saying nothing at all. Silence is often the wisest choice you can make. By holding your tongue, you may spare yourself and others from a lot of pain.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
- Proverbs 10:19

 

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Cleansing the Temple




AN AMAZING FACT: As church attendance has dropped and the population has shifted from cities to suburbs, hundreds of church buildings worldwide have been turned into community centers, museums, offices, and residences. In Pittsburgh, the St. John the Baptist Church has been turned into the Church Brew Works. Pews were shortened to fit next to tables, and merchandise is sold from the old confessional. The steel and copper brewing tanks are located on the altar.
It would be distressing to almost anyone to see his or her old church turned into a bar. In Jesus’ time, although the temple hadn’t been closed or converted, the presence of the moneychangers and merchants changed the worshipful atmosphere to one of a busy marketplace. Jesus was incensed. After making a whip, he chased out the merchants with their animals and overturned the moneychanger’s tables. When the Jews asked Him to give a sign of His authority to do this, Jesus spoke in a parable: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). He wasn’t talking about the physical temple, but Himself—the Jewish leaders would have Him killed, and He would be resurrected three days later. As the Messiah, He had the authority to cleanse the temple.

But the temple is not only symbolic of Jesus’ mission. It is also a symbol of the Christian: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Just as the merchants and shoppers crowded the temple of old, sin can crowd the worship from our hearts, and only Christ can cleanse the heart.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
- Malachi 3:1-3

 

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Twice Saved

Posted: 09 Oct 2013 12:00 AM PDT

An Amazing Fact: A wealthy family in England took their children to the country where they went swimming. When one of their boys began to drown, the son of a local gardener bravely jumped in to rescue him. The parents were so grateful for this deed, they asked the gardener what they could do for the young hero. The gardener said that his son desperately wanted to go to college to become a doctor, but he could not afford the tuition. The family gladly agreed to pay the courageous boy’s way through school for saving their son.


Years later, after the Teheran Conference, the prime minister was stricken with pneumonia. The King of England instructed that the best doctor be found to save the gravely ill leader. The doctor chosen was Sir Alexander Fleming, the developer of penicillin and Nobel laureate, who nursed Winston Churchill back to health. “Rarely,” said Churchill to Fleming, “has one man owed his life twice to the same rescuer.” You see, it was Fleming who had saved Churchill from drowning in his youth.

This incredible story can remind us of something Jesus once said to a famous leader in Israel who needed to be saved. The curious teacher complimented Christ, but the Lord turned the subject to a message that Nicodemus needed to hear. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). The teacher missed the point. He asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (v. 4). For a man who supposedly was a master of ideas, Nicodemus was lost on this one.

Christ was patient in leading His student to truth. “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’” (v. 7). We have all been “born” once. But in order to receive salvation, we must be born twice. It’s like Winston Churchill’s experience of being saved twice. It seems like a rare and impossible experience, but with God, it is the doorway to life everlasting. Have you been rescued from sin and been born again?

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- 1 John 3:9

 

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Wealthy Oppressors

AN AMAZING FACT: The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. This is an old truism, but a 2010 study by Norton and Ariely shows that people don’t realize how true it is. Researchers asked more than 5,000 respondents to identify a pie chart that looked like it represented wealth distribution in America. About 90 percent of respondents thought the top 20 percent of society owned 60 percent of the wealth, and most said the bottom 40 percent owned 8 to 10 percent. They were wildly incorrect. The top 20 percent of society actually controls 85 percent of wealth, and the bottom 40 percent—120 million Americans—control only 0.3 percent.
Being wealthy is not a sin, but the Bible does have some strong words for those who have gotten their wealth dishonestly: “The wages of the laborers … which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth” (James 5:4). Literally, that last phrase is “the Lord of Hosts” or “armies”—in other words, wealthy oppressors should watch out because the cries of the oppressed have been heard by the commander of a great army.

How does this apply to those who aren’t among the richest 20 percent of Americans? Consider this: Even the poorest five percent of Americans are still wealthier than almost 70 percent of the world population. Do we contribute to the relief of the poor from their oppression? Are we content with what we have or have we been drawn to the “pleasure and luxury” of the rich? After all, James compares their luxury to the fattening of an animal for slaughter and says the inevitable corrosion of their wealth is a “witness against them” (v. 5). How much better it is to store up treasure in the heavenly bank!
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
- Matthew 6:19-21

 

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Perseverance

AN AMAZING FACT: In 2005, an unlikely dance team was formed when ballerina Ma Li met bicyclist Zhai Xiaowei and the two practiced to perform together for a national dance competition. The amazing part? Ma Li is missing her right arm, and Zhai Xiaowei is missing his left leg, yet the two performed in beautiful unity!
When ballerina Ma Li lost her right arm in a car accident as a teenager, her life was shattered. Her boyfriend left her, and she was forced to suddenly re-learn everyday physical tasks. Life was not easy, but she persevered and eventually returned to ballet. In 2005, she met Special Olympics bicyclist Zhai Xiaowei, who had lost his left leg as a child in a farming accident. The two came together and, with incredible perseverance and hours of practice, began preparing to compete nationally. Their performance was an inspiration to thousands, not only for its beauty, but also for their example of persistence in the face of difficult odds.

In scripture, the apostle James also reminds us to persevere. He points to our examples in biblical history, from the prophets to Job. “We count them blessed who endure,” he says. The blessings of persistence aren’t immediate. As Christians walking with God in a sinful world, we often face frustration, temptation, and even suffering. It requires perseverance to choose right in the face of wrong, especially when wrong seems like the easy choice. But God promises compassion and mercy. When we choose persistence like Mai Li and Zhai Xiaowei in the face of difficult odds, we will also see a beautiful ending to our story.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
- James 5:10

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
- James 5:11

 

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Thirsting for Truth

AN AMAZING FACT: An adult human body is made up of approximately 70 percent water. The recommended water intake is about eight cups per day, though a healthy person can drink up to three gallons depending on the environment and activity. By the time a person feels thirsty, more than one percent of the total amount of water in the body has been lost.
It is very difficult to drink too much water. Although you can be seriously harmed and even killed by drinking too much water too quickly, it is rare. Water intoxication occurs when the amount of water coming into your body dilutes the sodium levels in your bloodstream and causes an imbalance of water in your brain. This happens mostly during periods of intense athletic activity because of the rapid loss and replenishing of water.

Most people do not drink too much water; they drink too little. Everyone has been thirsty at one time or another, and many people in the world do not have enough fresh water to drink on a regular basis. Most people would love to never thirst again. This was the case with the woman at the well in Samaria.

Christ promised her a kind of water that would keep her from thirsting again. He told her that God the Father desires honest worship from the heart, not from a specific location like Jerusalem. All “true” worshipers, according to Jesus, worship “in spirit and truth.” Such worship will spring forth into everlasting life. When we have Jesus, we will never spiritually thirst again.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
- Revelation 22:17

 

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How Do I Accept Jesus Into My Life?

When I accept Christ’s death, as a gift, I become a child of God. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

What does Jesus death on the cross mean in my life? “To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (John 1: 12 RSV). If you would like to receive Christ into your life right now, follow these simple steps:
Recognize you must die. “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).
Realize you cannot save yourself. “Without Me (God) you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Repent and confess to God that you are a sinner. “All have sinned…” (Romans 3:23).
Believe Jesus died for your sins. “For God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16).
Believe that Jesus forgives you of sin. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)
Believe that you have eternal life. “He who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47).
Now live in faith everyday in your new way of life. “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2:6).

Read Less -
Gift of SalvationIf someone gives you a gift, it is not yours until you receive it. Jesus holds out before you the gift of salvation, but how do you take it? The Bible tells us that we must first sense our need of Christ. This comes as the Holy Spirit speaks to our conscience and we realize our sins have separated us from God. Then we are led to repent of our sins, which means we acknowledge in our hearts that our wrong choices have been put on Christ and destroyed His life on the cross.

Repenting means to be so disgusted with our old way of life that we turn away from it and seek a new way in Jesus. We confess our sinfulness to God in prayer and tell the Lord we are very sorry. When we come before God, broken in heart because of our sinful choices, and confess our sinfulness, we may claim the Lord’s promise to forgive us and make our hearts clean. We may be restored back into a right relationship with God, a friendship that brings us life and love and joy.

You can know you have received this gift of salvation when you accept it by faith.

 

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Message in a Bottle

AN AMAZING FACT: In 1493, while in the West Indies, Christopher Columbus tossed a bottle overboard that contained a message for Queen Isabella I of Spain. In 1852, 359 years later, the bottle was found by the captain of an American ship and delivered to Queen Isabella II of Spain.
Putting a message in a bottle and tossing it into the ocean is nothing new. The first record of messages in bottles is found in 310 B.C., when Greek philosopher Theophrastus conducted an experiment to show that the Mediterranean Sea was formed by the inflowing of the Atlantic Ocean.

An amazing story of a message in a bottle was a letter written by Private Thomas Hughes, a British World War I soldier. In 1914 he wrote a letter to his wife, placed it in a green ginger beer bottle, and tossed it into the English Channel. In 1999 a fisherman found the bottle. Hughes wife had died in 1979, but they located his 86-year-old daughter in New Zealand and sent her the message.

The Bible tells of a message, not in a bottle, that was written on a scroll. Jeremiah had a message from God for Jehoiakim, King of Judah. As it was read to the king, he took a scribe’s knife, cut up the message, and burned it in a fire. God then instructed Jeremiah, “Take yet another scroll, and write on it all the former words … which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned” (Jeremiah 36:28).

God has a message in Scripture sent for us to read. It is an old yet personal message. Rather than destroying the message, we would do well to think of it as a treasured letter in a bottle. Open the message today. Take it to heart.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
- Jeremiah 36:2

 

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The Meaning of Life

AN AMAZING FACT: Dr. William Breitbart of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center of New York developed a psychological treatment program for stage 3 and 4 cancer patients called “meaning-centered psychotherapy.” The purpose of the program is to help cancer patients find meaning and purpose for their lives during the time between their diagnoses and their eventual deaths, whenever that might be.
Dr. Breitbart’s program is based in part on the writings of Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. Dr. Frankl emerged from his horrific experience with the conviction that people can endure any type of suffering if they know their lives have meaning. When applied to cancer patients, this principle helps them endure the physically and emotionally draining experiences of chemotherapy, strained relationships, and facing their own mortality.

The question of life’s true meaning has perplexed many people throughout time, but the Christian should know without hesitation that his or her life has meaning. The author of Ecclesiastes spends the entire book lamenting about the futility of life, because no matter what happens during a person’s life, death eventually comes. Death comes to the proud and humble alike. Death is the great equalizer. However, after 12 chapters of lamentations, the author sums up the book with a powerful declaration about life’s meaning: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

The Bible’s position on the meaning of life is simple. Our purpose is to obey God. Why? Without this, we are all subject to death and will be erased from memory forever. With God, however, we have the hope of a life to come that begins at Christ’s return. Therefore, the biggest purpose of this life is to ensure, as much as possible, that our death will not be our end.

Today, why don’t you ask Jesus to strengthen your relationship with Him? Having the assurance of salvation and eternal life is the greatest achievement this world has to offer.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- Romans 8:28

 

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I Do Nothing of Myself
AN AMAZING FACT: Rick Hoyt has participated in 68 marathons, six Ironman triathlons, and nearly 1,000 other endurance events. What’s even more incredible is that Rick has cerebral palsy, is confined to a wheelchair, and speaks through a computer system that he operates with his head. What makes this possible is the other member of Team Hoyt: Dick Hoyt, Rick’s father.
Team Hoyt began when 15-year-old Rick told his dad how much he wanted to run in a five-mile benefit event for an athlete who had been paralyzed. After the race, Rick said, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.” Now, more than 30 years and 1,000 races later, Team Hoyt is dedicated to the inclusion of the disabled in all parts of daily life. Their motto is “Yes You Can!”

Just as Rick’s ability to run in a marathon is because of his relationship with his father, Jesus attributed His works to His Father: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19). The book of John returns often to the theme of oneness between Father and Son, and Christ’s sacrifice is offered as proof that the Son relies completely on the Father: “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know … that I do nothing of Myself” (John 8:28).

The oneness between the Father and Son is an example of how we can be one with Christ. Jesus says, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:9, 10). Though disabled by sin, with Jesus we can finish the race!
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- Hebrews 12:1

 

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God’s Eyes

AN AMAZING FACT: To simulate one-hundredth of a second of the complete processing of even a single nerve cell from the human eye requires several minutes of processing time on a supercomputer. The human eye has 10 million or more such cells constantly interacting with each other in complex ways. This means it would take a minimum of 100 years of supercomputer processing to simulate what takes place in your eye many times every second.
The visual cortex is the part of the brain that processes visual information. It is located in the occipital lobe in the back of the brain. Though computers are getting faster, there is still a level of complexity in processing that doesn’t even come close to the fascinating combination of input from the retina into the visual cortex. The average number of neurons in an adult’s primary visual cortex in each hemisphere is estimated at 140 million. In reality, your eye does not see; it is your brain that “sees!”

Let’s think for a moment about the partnership of the brain and the eye. This helps us understand just how intricate these two organs work together. The brain receives images from both retinas, combines these two pictures, calculates depth of field, recognizes lines and boundaries, analyzes color, determines luminosity, controls the pupil’s diameter, controls eye movement with muscles, reassembles all the pieces into a visual image that is then compared with visual memory, reverses the upside-down image, and even fills in blank spots to make sense of the picture!

As one studies the details of eye/brain function, it affirms the role of a Great Designer in the creation of vision. It would seem utterly impossible to imagine all of these pieces and processes randomly coming together by chance and working. Thank God for our eyesight!

This same loving Creator sees you. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous” (1 Peter 3:12). Isn’t it good to know that we are watched by One who can see all things?
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
- Psalms 32:8

 

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Bread From Heaven

AN AMAZING FACT: In medieval times, bakers who sold bread that was lighter than they claimed could be severely punished. In England, on a first offense, the baker would be paraded through the dirtiest streets from the town hall to his home with the loaf tied around his neck. A second offense would earn him an hour in the pillory. A third offense meant he would be unable to sell bread in that town again. But it was worse still in Turkey and Egypt—where the baker’s ear would be nailed to the doorpost of his shop.
The feeding of the 5,000 inspired the people around Jesus—they hoped He could feed them just like their forefathers had been fed with manna. But Jesus wanted them to know that eternal life is more important than physical life: “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. … I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:49–51).

Jesus did not want this symbol of Himself to be misunderstood, so He gave them the interpretation of His actions as well: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. … He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in Him” (John 6:47, 48, 56). “Eating” Christ’s flesh really meant to abide in Him—to believe in Him as their Savior from sin.

In spite of the plainness of His message, many of His disciples complained that “this [was] a hard saying; who can understand it?” (John 6:60). Many of Jesus’ followers were not ready to accept this kind of Messiah. They would rather have kept their sins and got rid of the Romans. What kind of Savior do we want today?
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
- 1 John 3:23

 

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Beloved
AN AMAZING FACT: According to one contest and survey, the longest-married couple in the United States has been married for 82 years!
Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a faith-based marriage enrichment program, recently sponsored this contest to find the longest-married couple in America. More than 300 couples were nominated. About 150 couples had been married for 60 to 69 years; 100 couples had been married for 70 to 79 years; and three couples had been married for more than 80 years! The winning couple, Marshall and Winnie Kuykendall, has been married for 82 years. They reside in New Mexico where they celebrated their 82nd anniversary on February 14, 2011. In our divorce-ridden culture, their marriage stands out as an example of faithfulness!

In the Song of Solomon, the Shulamite woman is asked by her friends, “What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women?” In other words, how is your love different than anyone else? Her response is certain: “My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand.” She goes on to describe her beloved’s beauty and ends by stating that he is her friend. There are many men, but for the Shulamite woman, hers stood out among ten thousand. She had made her choice, and her eyes did not stray from him. Her beloved was hers, and none could compare. It is this kind of faithfulness that God can give a marriage that has built its foundation on Him.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
- Song of Solomon 5:9

My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
- Song of Solomon 5:10

 

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Betraying Love

Posted: 25 Oct 2013 12:00 AM PDT

An Amazing Fact: In October 1950, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin led a persecution against the people of the Russian city Leningrad. The political leadership of the city was disbanded, and around 2,000 people were exiled or imprisoned. This treatment by a leader against his own people was brutal, but it helped him consolidate his political position.


The reasons for Stalin’s betrayal of Leningrad are varied and complex, dating back to a Nazi siege of Leningrad during World War II and even before. But regardless of his motivations, the bottom line is that Stalin turned on his own people for his personal and political gain, without being provoked.

Betrayals are sometimes baffling, and they always lead to hardship for the person or people being betrayed. Betrayal involves the abuse of trust. If someone knows he will be betrayed, he normally would not enter into a position of trust with the would-be betrayer.

But Jesus Christ was no ordinary person. As the Son of God, He was in constant connection with the Holy Spirit and often knew the future before it came to pass. In order to fulfill the prophecies concerning Himself and to demonstrate God’s love for even the worst sinners, Christ chose Judas Iscariot to be one of His 12 disciples. Despite His knowledge that His association with Judas would result in death, He allowed Judas to learn the principles of heaven and salvation and treated Him with love and kindness for several years.

Like Judas, we all have a choice to accept Christ or reject Him, and Christ is willing to dwell with us and teach us even if He knows in advance that we will reject Him and betray His love for us. Today, let’s ask Jesus to come into our lives and prevent Satan from leading us astray.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
- John 13:26

And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
- John 13:27

 

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Celebrating Suffering

Posted: 26 Oct 2013 12:00 AM PDT

An Amazing Fact: When Steven Pete was a toddler, he broke his foot at a hospital—but no one noticed until more than a day later. Steven and his brother have congenital analgesia, meaning they don’t feel pain. Parenting was a monumental challenge for their mother, Janette Pete. As children, they had to be watched 24 hours a day to make sure that they didn’t injure themselves. Janette recalls how she had to take away their bikes because Steven would lie on the ground and let his brother ride over him. Sometimes Steven would melt keys in electrical outlets because he liked the vibrations in his arm.


Just as pain is a necessary warning system for the body, suffering for Christ is a sign that a person has chosen to turn their backs on sin. Before a person is converted, they spend their time seeking earthly pleasure and gain: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh” (Romans 8:5).

When a person who used to live for pleasure begins to “suffer for righteousness’ sake” it is a clear sign that they are not living the way they used to live (1 Peter 3:14). Peter puts it this way: “For he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1, 2).

Christians know what the worldly do not: The rewards of living for God are worth any price. When we consider it this way, suffering for God is no longer a burden but a celebration—it is evidence of a changed life.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
- Romans 8:6

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
- Romans 8:18

 

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Perfect Time
AN AMAZING FACT: Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have built the world’s most accurate clock. Since aluminum is known to be a better timekeeper than mercury, the team based the clock on a single atom of aluminum. It’s accurate to one second in about 3.7 billion years.
Atomic clocks are the most accurate measurements of time in the world. Basically, they use the microwave signal that electrons give off when they change energy levels. The first atomic clock was built in 1949 and was less accurate than a quartz clock. They have become much more accurate since, especially through cooling the atoms to near absolute zero so that they move more slowly and can be measured more accurately.

The new clock is the second version of NIST’s quantum logic clock. It beats the NIST-F1 cesium fountain clock—the U.S. civilian time standard—which loses a second every 100 million years. But because the international definition of the second is based on the cesium atom, cesium remains the ‘ruler’ for official timekeeping. The new clock is based on a single aluminum ion, trapped by electric fields and vibrating at ultraviolet light frequencies that are 100,000 times higher than the microwave frequencies used in NIST-F1.

Jesus’ brothers once encouraged Him to go to Judea during the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus knew the Jewish leaders sought to kill Him. His unbelieving brothers pressed Him to “show Yourself to the world” (John 7:4). But Jesus said, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready” (v. 6). Jesus had perfect time. He knew when to show Himself and when to hold back. His brothers were not driven by the same clock. The frequency by which Christ measured His steps was based on the signals of His Father in heaven.

How tuned in are you to the timing of God’s plans for your life?
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
- Romans 5:6