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Good News Daily

Volume IX
February 8–14, 2009
Number 6

Sunday, February 8
John 7:37-46 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” vv.37-38 NRSV)

There are days when I seem to “run out of steam” as the saying goes, and begin to feel parched and tired. It is then that I realize I’m trying to do certain things in my human strength, and have forgotten that my strength is in Jesus Christ, and that he is with me. At these time I must go to him, be quietly in his holy presence, reconnecting to my Source of strength. It is then that I am reminded to practice his constant presence with me, drinking deeply, allowing his living water to renew and restore me.

As I delve into and feast on His Word, and allow it to permeate my heart and mind, I am refreshed and strengthened. “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1).

Isaiah 57:14-21; Psalms 93, 96; Hebrews 12:1-6

Monday, February 9
Mark 9:30-41 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (v.35)

Here Jesus responded to the disciples who argued about which one of them is the greatest. How like the disciples we are! In our brokenness, we seek to be noticed, affirmed, and recognized for our actions. We desire to have our “glittering images” polished and out there for all to admire. In the church perhaps we seek to cater to the most powerful among us! Jesus repudiates our tendency to seek and strive to be center stage, or an established part of the elite in our midst.

Perhaps the Lord would have us notice the quiet ones who do not stand out, or the everyday servants who help us maintain our lives: the clerks, custodians, teachers, etc., and to respond to them with appreciation and joy at their contributions.

As for ourselves, we must put aside our desire to be affirmed and “never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).

Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 80; Galatians 6:11-18

Saturday, February 14
Mark 10:46-52 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” (v.51)

Have you ever meditated upon this particular Gospel story and said, “Lord, let me see clearly”? This can be a powerful prayer experience as you wait upon the Lord to clarify whatever dilemma with which you are struggling. As you rest in His presence and submit to Him, pray that He will remove the faulty perceptions you hold and reveal the truth to your heart.

I like to practice this discipline when I am stuck in a particular place, holding some negative ideas about someone or something. As I hold the person or situation before the Lord, he allows me to see the hurt of the other individual, the truth about the situation, and/or my own stubbornness and negativity. Then I can go forward prayerfully in love and acceptance, instead of in judgment.

Isaiah 61:10—62:5; Psalms 87, 90; 2 Timothy 4:1-8

by Carolyn Petersen

Used with permission from the BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP
P. O. Box 380, Winter Park, FL 32790
http://www.biblereading.org/

Tuesday, February 10
2 Timothy 1:1-14 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline (vv.6-7)

We tend to want to put God in a box, which we only open at convenient times—when we think it (He) might be acceptable. We fear conversations about God, because we don’t want to offend others. Yet Paul challenges us to not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord (v.8). As followers of Jesus, we are to unabashedly proclaim the Gospel Truth, not in a self-righteous or condemning way, but in love. Wherever we work or reside, there are lonely, hurting people around us.

Years ago, when I was working outside the church, I would pray daily that the Lord would use me to speak to those who needed to hear about Jesus Christ. Many times I had to remind myself that He had not given me a spirit of fear to allow myself the courage to speak out. People responded not to me, but to the Spirit speaking through me.

Isaiah 59:1-15a; Psalm 78:1-39; Mark 9:42-50

Wednesday, February 11
Mark 10:1-16 “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (v.15)

We often approach others with our guard up, i.e., wearing a mask. Sometimes we may pretend we have it all together among our peers and try to articulate faith when we are really hurting inside. Putting on a façade before other people and not being real sometimes carries over into our relationship with God.

Jesus wants us to come to Him as a little child, open and honest, sharing our burdens as well as our thanksgivings. As we pour out our hearts in His Presence, He takes the wounded child within us to His breast, comforts us and heals our hurts. We allow Him to apply the medicine (truth) from His Word to our hearts as a soothing balm which heals and restores us. “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word” (Psalm 119:114).

Isaiah 59:15b-21; Psalm 119:97-120; 2 Timothy 1:15—2:13

Thursday, February 12
2 Timothy 2:14-26 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (vv.24-26)

I’ve learned that sharing the truth is done not only with words, but also through our behavior. Leading someone to Christ is to be done prayerfully, gently, and with love. I’ve seen people attempt to make a point through intimidation, judgment, and harsh words, which only results in a person being resistant. How can one come to know God’s love when the guide is harsh and punitive?

When encountering someone who seems argumentative, I try to look past the behavior to the hurt child within. In a climate of love and acceptance, the person will feel safe to share the hurts and pain behind the mask he or she presents. Then the Lord can touch those hurts and bring healing and hope! “The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind” (Psalm 146:8).

Isaiah 60:1-17; Psalms 83, 146, 147; Mark 10:17-31

Friday, February 13
Psalm 88 O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? (v.14)

We’ve all been there in the depths, lamenting to the Lord. How do we crawl out of this despair, or help someone else escape it? Self-pity and sympathy from others keeps us in bondage. By receiving prayer for the hurts of the past, allowing Jesus to touch and heal the pain, and applying the medicine of God’s Word to our faulty thinking, we can be set free! Jesus understood and proclaimed that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s Prophecy: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners” (Isaiah 1:1).

Come together and pray for one another. Receive God’s precious promises and be healed. Accept that God has for all of us “the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit” (Isaiah 61:3).

Isaiah 61:1-9; 2 Timothy 3:1-17; Mark 10:32-45