DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

  February 26: Patiently Waiting Leviticus 20:1–22:33; John 9:35–41; Song of Solomon 8:1–5 Delayed gratification is a foreign concept to our natural instincts. Our culture doesn’t encourage patience or contentment; we prefer to have our desires met when they arise. The woman in Song of Solomon tells us that she is delighted in her beloved. She praises his attributes and means of the wonders of their love. But throughout the poem, at seemingly random moments, she also warns the daughters of Jerusalem about love: “I adjure you … do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!” (Song 8:4). This is not the first time she has “adjured” them to wait and have patience: the same refrain is found elsewhere in the poem, and it acts like an oath (Song 2:7; 3:5). Although the elevated poetry glories in love, delight, and fulfillment, it also warns about immediate gratification. The woman urges us not to force love. It must be anticipated and protected, not enjoyed before its time. It doesn...

  February 6: Student or Scholar? Exodus 14:1–15:27; John 3:1–21 ; Song of Solomon 2:4–7 Sometimes we approach God with curiosity, but not with a spirit of humility. We enjoy participating in religious discussions, but forging the link between interpretation and application is complex. We have certain expectations of who He should be for us, but we don’t think about aligning our lives with Him. Was Jesus a Messiah, like Moses or David, who would restore Israel? Nicodemus—a Pharisee, a leader of his fellow Jews, and a teacher of Israel—wanted answers from Jesus. He told Him, “we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can perform these signs that you are performing unless God were with him” (John 3:2). The scholar quickly became a student. He was a teacher of Israel, but he didn’t really understand Jesus’ teaching; his questions showed that he was hesitant to believe Him, despite all the signs. Through His answers, Jesus showed Nicodemus that he wasn’t in a...

  February 2: The Problem with Power Exodus 4–6; John 1:19–34 ; Song of Solomon 1:5–7 Grasping for power is one of the easiest sins to fall into. At first, it looks like ambition, then it looks like success, and then it quickly becomes about your success and your power. This can be costly—not just to you, but to all the people you hurt in the process. If anything is done for the purpose of power, it’s not worth achieving. And don’t let the snazzy word “influence” fool you; it’s just a synonym for the same empty desire. John the Baptist is an example of ambition; he is fueled by passion but constantly checked by God’s calling. He is firm in his words, confident in what he must do, but humble in his understanding of his relationship to God. He is not in it for himself but for Jesus. When asked, “Who are you?” (a leading question, since many believed him to be the Messiah the people expected), he replied, “I am not the Christ!” (John 1:19–20). When further questioned, “Then who a...

February 1: God’s Ideas: More than Good Exodus 1–3 ; John 1:1–18 ; Song of Solomon 1:1–4 It’s exciting to see ideas take shape and then become a reality. Even more exciting, though, is when God’s thoughts take form. As the reader, we’ve given glimpses into what God is really doing—events the characters are unaware of. Or we have a hint all along that God is up to something unexpected and that He will make good out of the evil that’s happening. The Bible shows us these events repeatedly. The story of Moses is like this. God’s people are terribly oppressed, but many (Exod 1). And we all know there is power in numbers. When baby Moses comes along, we’re ready for something amazing to happen. It will be from this unassuming moment that God will do the least expected (Exod 2:1–10): He will help those on the underside of power. Our suspicion is confirmed when Moses is willing to kill for justice (Exod 2:11–12). Moses flees, and then God hears Israel’s complaints about the pain they’re end...

  January 31: Discipline Genesis 49–50; Hebrews 12–13; Ecclesiastes 12:9–14 I was a stubborn child. When disciplined by my parents, I would sulk for hours afterward. I didn’t see discipline from my parents’ perspective—as something that would mold me into a mature, loving person. Hebrews 12 teaches people like me with a history of wallowing in self-pity when disciplined. Here, the writer of Hebrews tells us that God, a Father to us through the work of Jesus, disciplines us for our good. To emphasize this, the writer of Hebrews draws on the book of Proverbs, where the Father instructs His own Son. “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or give up when you are corrected by him. For the Lord disciplines the one who he loves, and punishes every son whom he accepts” (Heb 12:6; compare Prov 3:11–12). The author tells us that being disciplined is a sign of God’s love. It means He is working and active in our lives (Heb 12:8). Like a chastised child, we might not always ...

  January 30: Difficult Definitions Genesis 47–48; Hebrews 11 ; Ecclesiastes 12:1–8 As an editor, I love definitions. The field of lexicography can be complex, but when a report is finally solidified, there’s a comfort to be found. It becomes something stable. This is also why I love the book of Hebrews: the author is keen on definitions, clarifying terminology, and using analogies to prove his points. “Now faith is the realization of what is hoped for, the proof of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). In this succinct definition, I have a perspective on the essence of faith. There is no room for doubt or error. The hope referred to is Jesus. And the proof is in an assurance that even though we cannot see Him, we have confidence in His work both presently and in the future. The author goes on to say, “For by this [faith] the people of old were approved [by God]. By faith, we understand the worlds were created by the word of God so that what is seen did not come into existence from wha...

  Morning, January 29 Go To Evening Reading "The things which are not seen." —2 Corinthians 4:18 In our Christian pilgrimage, it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, joy, consolation, or inspiring our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith. Looking into the future, we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of the saints' inheritance in the light. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed, the gloomy stream forded, and the hills of light attained on which standeth the celestial city; he seeth himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than a conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with him, and made to sit together with him on his throne, even as he has overcome and has sat down with t...

  January 28: Carpe Diem Genesis 44; Hebrews 8–9; Ecclesiastes 11:1–4 Taking risks to make your life extraordinary is biblical if done according to God’s plan and principles. The Latin phrase Carpe Diem means “seize the day.” the idea behind this comes from Ecclesiastes: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Eccl 11:1). Bread acts as the symbol for substance in the ancient world; the author of Ecclesiastes suggests that we should follow God’s plan, even at the possible cost of our livelihood. He then means that what we give to God, He will return. This is opposite from a self-protection mentality. The “waters” in the proverb represent chaos, suggesting that in letting go of even the most chaotic circumstances, we learn about God’s ability to give what we need. This is further illustrated when the author says, “Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.… He who observes the wind will not sow,...

  January 27: Revenge Isn’t Sweet Genesis 42:29–43:34 , Hebrews 5:11–7:28, Ecclesiastes 10:10–20 The colloquialisms around the subject alone demonstrate our infatuation with justice. It’s easy to revel in vigilante justice, be joyful in the irony of someone getting “what’s coming to them,” or feel satisfied when “bad Karma comes back around” to others. Joseph is similarly impassioned; he schemes against his brothers who sold him into slavery. At the beginning of Gen 43, Joseph’s brothers must go back to Egypt to request food from him—their younger brother, whom they do not recognize. Joseph waits for the youngest, Benjamin, to join them. What Joseph intends to do when he does, we’re not told. When Benjamin and the other brothers arrive, Joseph is either moved with empathy or chooses to act upon his original plan of revealing himself in front of all his brothers (Gen 43:16, 29). Joseph even helps them financially, signaling that he somehow still cares for them (Gen 44). Yet it ...

  January 26: A Little Folly Genesis 41:38–42:28; Hebrews 3:1–5:10 ; Ecclesiastes 10:1–9 Like dead flies in perfumer’s oil, the writer of Ecclesiastes aptly proclaims that a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. Sometimes fools are elevated to positions of power, while those fit for the position are given no influence. The Preacher says, “I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves” (Eccl 10:7). It’s not challenging to nod our heads and say “Amen” when we come to this example of an “evil under the sun.” We probably all have a story to tell about a leader who wasn’t fit for a position and about the injustices we endured under their authority. When a fool is set up as an authority figure, everyone suffers. The Preacher gives a suggestion, though: “If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest” (Eccl 10:4). This doesn’t just tell us we should have a posture of humility and obed...

  January 23: Pride in Disguise Genesis 37; Matthew 26:57–27:31 ; Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 Sometimes recognizing our sin for what it is can throw us into deep shame. In Matthew, we find that two of Jesus’ disciples experience this moment of remorse—Judas after he betrays Jesus and Peter when he denies Jesus. From their responses, we learn what true repentance looks like. Judas is remorseful when he realizes the enormity of his betrayal. But he doesn’t move from remorse to repentance. He tries to absolve his guilt by returning the payment he received for betraying Jesus—an attempt to buy back his innocence. And when the “blood money” is refused and he cannot eliminate the guilt, Judas hangs himself (Matt 27:5). Peter, the disciple with an impulsive, childlike loyalty to Jesus, denies his Lord when questioned by a mere servant girl. When Peter remembers Jesus’ prediction, he leaves, “weeping bitterly.” However, the Gospel of John tells us that Peter glorified God in his death (John 21...

  January 17: Cheer Up, Preacher Genesis 28–29; Matthew 21:23–22:22; Ecclesiastes 7:1–5 Things are getting serious for the writer of Ecclesiastes (“the Preacher”) and sometimes confusing for us as we follow him through the labyrinth of his discourse on the meaning of life. What happened to his “eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil” statements from earlier (Eccl 5:18)? Death is better than birth, mourning is better than feasting, and sorrow is better than laughter? The Preacher might sound like he’s contradicting himself, but the twist in his argument is meant to show us precisely what folly we may be inadvertently embracing. It’s easy to brush over these verses while thinking about standard, run-of-the-mill stupidity, or apparent sins. But folly can even look like a daily routine: goals, successes, and our happy, fulfilling lives. It can take the form of anything that skims the surface of life but keeps us from confronting our greatest need and the reality of etern...

  January 14: Unexpected Rivalries Genesis 25; Matthew 18; Ecclesiastes 5:12–20 When in survival mode, you have to compete against anything that could hinder your survival. Strong competitors, like professional athletes, often can’t explain their almost inhuman acts under pressure; adrenaline takes over. The same thing that the ancients used to escape from wild animals makes us win. Yet, for all the good that comes from a competitive survival instinct, it can result in ostracizing others. Esau and Jacob, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, remind us of this. From the prophecy of Yahweh forward, we know that they will be rivals: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger” (Gen 25:23). Yahweh didn’t necessarily desire that the two would feud. A division doesn’t always mean a strained relationship, and the word “divided” in Hebrew doesn’t imply derision. Those of us w...

January 11: The Kingdom of Heaven is Like … Genesis 19:30–21:21; Matthew 13:44–14:36 ; Ecclesiastes 4:8–16 Few in the world have sold everything to pursue an idea. Yet Jesus claims those who discover the kingdom of heaven are willing to do so. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, that a man found and concealed, and in his joy he goes and sells everything that he has and buys that field” (Matt 13:44). It seems that hardly any of us are equally willing to give up everything for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The realization that Jesus has brought the kingdom of heaven to earth presents us with a choice. Will we decide that His kingdom is worth more than all things, or will we devalue it by equating it with worldly treasures? There are many types of currency, not just money: reputation, occupational status, and social media popularity are just a few. But the kingdom is much more than material or monetary ideas. It’s about giving our gifts, thoughts, and weal...

  January 10: What Kind of Hearer Are You? Genesis 18–19:29; Matthew 13:1–43 ; Ecclesiastes 4:1–7 While parables were often told to make truth tangible, in Matt 13, we find that this wasn’t always the case. When His disciples question why He speaks in parables, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah: “For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears, they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them” (Matt 13:15). This is the case in the parable of the Sower and the Seed. The seed hits the open path, the rocky ground, the thorns, and the good soil, and Jesus describes four hearers who receive the good news in different ways. We should examine this parable and ask ourselves, “What kind of hearer am I?” Do we seek to really understand the gospel? When we hear it told repeatedly, does it merely lie on the surface as commonplace? Whe...

  December 26: Community Jeremiah 50:1–46; Romans 12:9–13:7 ; Proverbs 27:1–27 She might be the one we tend to avoid—the member of a small group who always states the obvious or brings up topics unrelated to the discussion at hand. I’m always a bit impatient for her to finish speaking so that others can offer more insightful comments, but generally, her remarks are followed by only awkward pauses. Or, he’s the person we’re attempting to avoid after church and small group because he constantly repeats the story about his grandkids that we’ve heard more than just a few times. I hope someone else will be there for him. If I’m feeling extra congenial, I might chat with him—always good to earn some kindness points. I might approach community this way, but reading Romans 12:9–16 convicts me. The list of instructions on building up the community quickly reveals the selfish bent of my motives. Paul, who has just finished explaining that each member has specific spiritual gifts, shows wh...

  December 25: Laziness and Lions Jeremiah 49:1–39; Romans 11:25–12:8; Proverbs 26:12–28 When we consider ourselves wise, we’re in danger of losing perspective on the truth and making others feel small. The Proverbs often discuss this problem, remarking, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Prov 26:12). This foolishness doesn’t just appear when we elevate ourselves or fail to consider others; it also shows up when we fail to consider our own needs. When we’re lazy or do less than we can, we’re actually sinning—we’re ignoring what God meant us to be and thus holding back His plan, not just our own productivity. One of the Proverbs says, “A lazy person says, ‘A lion is in the road! A lion among the streets!’ … A lazy person buries his hands in the dish; he is too tired to return it to his mouth. A lazy person is wiser in his eyes than seven who answer discreetly” (Prov 26:13, 15–16). The Bible’s condemnation of laziness makes sense...

  December 21: Expenses Jeremiah 39:1–41:18 ; Romans 9:13–29; Proverbs 24:1–22 It’s important to pause occasionally to reflect on the cost of sin. If we don’t, we can find ourselves living in it without considering the ramifications. Few passages illustrate the price of sin more vividly than the fall of Jerusalem recorded in Jer 39. The fall of Jerusalem is brutal, depressing, and sadistic, but we can learn from Jeremiah’s account of the event. We could view Jeremiah’s depictions as merely historical or recognize the theological lessons they offer: Sin is expensive. Sin will destroy you. Sin will bring a nation to its knees. Sin will leave you begging for mercy. Sin is death. That’s what God’s people learned from this event: Disobeying Yahweh is a costly action. It’s not that God wants His people to endure this pain, but the pain is a natural consequence of their decisions. He cannot defend people who refuse to live as beacons of light—of goodness, beauty, and blessing—to the wo...

  December 23: The Rise to Power Jeremiah 44:1–46:28; Romans 11:1–10; Proverbs 25:1–28 If you’re driven, you’ve probably worked very hard to get to where you are. Being driven is a good thing, but being driven at a cost to others or by elevating yourself by your own accord is detrimental. Proverbs 25 offers this warning from the perspective of King Solomon: “Do not promote yourself before the king, and in the place of the great ones do not stand. For it is better that he say to you, ‘Ascend here,’ than he humbles you before a noble” (Prov 25:6–7). People tend to get nasty when power or money is involved. It’s uncomfortable to wait for that promotion, but God asks us to remain patient. At the end of the day, attaining leadership because you’re worthy is a much greater honor than obtaining it because you were louder than someone else or placed yourself in front of them. We should always take initiative and strive to succeed, but we need to remember that it’s not our place to deci...

  December 20: Looking to God and Others Jeremiah 37:1–38:28; Romans 9:1–12 ; Proverbs 23:19–35 We have a natural tendency to be concerned with our own condition. As redeemed people, God transforms us from being self-centered people—concerned with our own ambitions—to other-centered people who want to see God’s work done in and around us. Sometimes even our spiritual concerns point us inward. But God’s work in us shouldn’t be just about us. Paul sets a startling example in his concern for those who hadn’t come to know Christ: “I am telling the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears witness to me in the Holy Spirit—that my grief is great and there is constant distress in my heart. For I could wish myself to be accursed from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my fellow countrymen according to the flesh” (Rom 9:1–3). Although he was called mainly to be an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul was deeply concerned about the spiritual state of the Jewish people—his own people....