ODB Special Racing Edition

Special Racing Edition

BK040

RBC Ministries Headquarters ~ Grand Rapids, MI 49555-0001, USA RBC Ministries International Operations ~ MacPherson PO Box 146, Singapore 913405 RBC Ministries Africa-Asia ~ PO Box 19, Dehiwala 10350, Sri Lanka RBC Ministries Americas ~ Caixa Postal 4444, Curitiba/PR 82501-970, Brazil RBC Ministries Asia-Pacific ~ PO Box 86, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80057 Johor Bahru, Malaysia RBC Ministries Europe ~ PO Box 1, Carnforth, Lancashire LA5 9ES, United Kingdom

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I may finish my race with joy. — Acts 20:24

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WRITERS: Dale Beaver • Dave Branon • Dennis De Haan M. R. De Haan, M.D. • Richard De Haan • David Egner Vernon Grounds • Tim Gustafson • Haddon Robinson Bill Crowder (Insights)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Cover Design: Meril Disanayake Scripture taken from the New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Zondervan, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

MANAGING EDITOR: Tim Gustafson • SENIOR EDITOR: Clair Hess EDITORS: Anne Cetas, Alyson Kieda, David Sper EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Becky Knapp © 2008 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

All rights reserved. • Printed in Indonesia.

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Soul Hunger

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im Clark stands as one of the legends in Formula One racing, claiming victory in an astounding 25 of 72 Grand Prix starts. As impressive as that total is, it could have been much better. Clark’s Colin Chapman-designed cars were nothing short of amazing, but they had a dismayingly brittle quality to them.

Though he made it to the podium regularly, the Scotsman also took an early exit on many occasions.

For all the thrill and excitement of a Grand Prix event, much of the real work is less than glamorous. A tremendous amount of effort goes into fielding a winning team. It takes place behind the scenes, at the drawing boards, test tracks, and garages.

Picture the scene that awaits us at this inaugural nighttime Formula One Grand Prix! Crew, driver, and fans anxiously await the start. The vehicles roar away from the start line and scream around the course.

How each vehicle performs that night depends not only on the driver but on the team that has “fed” the finely tuned machine he will be guiding. All the ability, nerve, and willpower in the world cannot overcome a major mechanical failure.

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Several questions remain. Is the fuel pure? Will the driver have enough of it to finish the race? When should the team take on more fuel? Have the correct adjustments been made to get the driver to the podium at the race’s conclusion?

In many ways, racing pictures life. We too are in a race, heading toward a final destination. And we too are dependent on having the right fuel Consider the spiritual fuel to finish our race as efficiently as possible. in the following Just as a racecar needs fuel pages as your to run effectively, our daily tunehearts need fuel—spiritual fuel that we could call “food up. for the soul.” We think about food for our families and our own bodies. But we are wise not to ignore the needs of our hearts. Like finely tuned engines, our hearts are precision instruments that must be properly maintained to run smoothly.

We encourage you to consider the spiritual fuel in the following pages as your daily tune-up. Each weekday you will have an article designed to help you put the wisdom of the Bible to work as fuel for your life.

On the weekends, your mind will be challenged with some basic but vital spiritual truths.

Our desire is that your life will be strengthened, encouraged, and challenged. Enjoy the Grand Prix, and live to the fullest the race that is your life!

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he relationship between Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve and Frenchman Didier Pironi comprises a Formula One tragedy. In 1982, the HAT RICE two Ferrari teammates sat third and fourth at the start of the San Marino ICTORY Grand Prix. When mechanical troubles eliminated front-runners Alain READ: Prost and Rene Arnoux, Villeneuve Matthew 5:43-48 held a comfortable lead over Pironi.

No one else was close.

To conserve fuel, Ferrari ordered A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to the two drivers to slow down, with his glory to overlook the unspoken understanding that the an offense. win was Villeneuve’s. But Pironi — Proverbs 19:11 exploited the situation and passed the Canadian, who assumed it was mere show for the fans. Villeneuve recaptured the lead but naively left an unprotected opening for his teammate on the final turn.

Pironi charged through for the win.

On the podium after the race, the two did not exchange glances. Villeneuve wisely left quickly but vowed never to speak to Pironi again. He didn’t. Less than two weeks later, Villeneuve was killed qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, his understandable anger and bitterness forever unresolved.

We bristle with indignation at injustices. But Jesus showed us a radical new way to deal with them. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” He said, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

Such teaching flies in the face of conventional wisdom and human nature. But it is the supernatural way God shows us to triumph over wrong. — Tim Gustafson Week 1 Monday

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Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it dares to forgive an injury.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Matthew 5:43-48 43 You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?

Do not even pagans do that?

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

46

INSIGHT This portion of the Bible is part of Jesus’ most famous message, often called “The Sermon on the Mount.” In it, Christ dealt with issues of life in the here-and-now as well as with matters of eternity.

Earlier in this sermon, Jesus spoke of a related matter—how to deal with others when we come to understand that we have offended them. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus urged us to reconcile quickly with others, even if we are engaged in the very act of worship at the time. “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Everything in our lives, seen here even in our worship and giving, is affected when we have a broken relationship with another person.

We must repair that relationship as soon as possible before we can truly move forward in life. —BILL CROWDER

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ome of life’s hurts are so deep and painful that to forgive the people who caused them seems impossible.

Yet Jesus says that we can’t expeOW AN rience His forgiveness if we have an unforgiving spirit.

ORGIVE In World War II, Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie were arrested for READ: Matthew 18:21-35 concealing Jews and were sent to a German concentration camp. Betsie died a slow and terrible death as a result of the cruel treatment.

If you do not forgive men their sins, your Then, in 1947, Corrie spoke about Father will not forgive God’s forgiveness to a church in your sins.

Munich. Afterward, a man sought her — Matthew 6:15 out. She recognized him as one of the guards who had mistreated her and Betsie. He told her that he had become a follower of Jesus, and with extended hand he asked for her forgiveness. Corrie struggled with her feelings, but when she recalled the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:15, she knew she had to forgive. She silently prayed, “Jesus, help me!” and thrust her hand into the hand of her former tormentor.

Someone has said, “Forgiveness is not a case of ‘holy amnesia’ that wipes out the past. Instead, it is the experience of healing that drains the poison from the wound.” God asks us to do for others what He has done for us through Jesus Christ. He’ll give us strength to forgive. — Dennis De Haan THINKING IT OVER How do you react to those who have wronged you?

Read When Forgiveness Seems Impossible at www.discoveryseries.org/cb941 Week 1 Tuesday

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To err is human; to forgive, divine.

—Alexander Pope

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Today’s Bible Reading — Matthew 18:21-35 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.

25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to

choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’

34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

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e’ve all been around people who pretended to be loyal to us.

Perhaps they needed a favor. Maybe they just wanted your extra ticket.

RUE That’s not friendship.

A seasoned driver who never RIENDSHIP enjoyed much success on the course once offered some resources and READ: friendship to a no-name rookie. While John 15:9-17 the veteran never made it to the top, the young upstart became a champion.

But that rookie never forgot his Greater love has no one than this, that he older friend and the kindness he lay down his life for showed him. Eventually he returned his friends. the favor, enabling his friend to stay in —John 15:13 the sport substantially longer than he would have.

True friendship demands loyalty and humility at the same time. Jesus is that kind of friend. Although He enjoyed complete unity with God the Father, He gave it all up and became a man to show us that God wants to be our friend. He even sacrificed His life to bring us that privilege.

Jesus wants to call us His friends. “Greater love has no one than this,” He said, “that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command” (John 15:13-14).

Friendship with Jesus! Do we understand how much that means? Can you be called His friend? —Dale Beaver Lord Jesus, give us grace each day That we may follow in Your way, Especially when some unloved soul Needs our forgiving to be whole. — D. De Haan Week 1 Wednesday

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True friends won’t hesitate to sacrifice for each other.

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Today’s Bible Reading — John 15:9-17 9 As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.

Now remain in My love.

10 If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love. 11 I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

14 You are My friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.

Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. 17 This is My command: Love each other.

INSIGHT Jesus spoke these words at the Last Supper in the upper room with His disciples , knowing that the next day He would go to the cross.

This adds an important background to His call for our obedience.

Philippians 2:8 reads, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!” What a comfort it is to realize that, even as Jesus asks for our obedience, He knows exactly what that means. He knew that doing the will of His Father would result in His own sacrificial death on the cross. But He obeyed anyway.

—BILL CROWDER

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ow many stars are there?

Astronomers don’t know. They simply assure us that the cosmos contains more stars than can be numE NOWS bered. Billions for sure — probably trillions!

OUR AME Figures like that are hard for us to grasp. Even a million is mindREAD: boggling. If you were counting a milPsalm 147:1-9 lion $1 bills at the rate of 60 a minute for 8 hours a day 5 days a week, it would take you nearly 7 weeks to He heals the brokenhearted . . . . complete the task. At the same rate, it He determines the would take over 133 years to count a number of the stars billion dollars. and calls them each Scripture declares that God, the by name.

— Psalm 147:3-4 Maker of the sun and moon, “also made the stars” (Genesis 1:16). It likewise declares that the Creator “brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:26).

So if we ever wonder whether God is able to carry us with all our burdens, let us remember that He is the sovereign of the stars. Surely He who is the guide of the galaxies can deal with our situations.

If the skies are clear tonight, look heavenward and be thankful that the God who calls each star by name knows, loves, and cares for you. — Vernon Grounds I sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule by day; The moon shines full at His command, And all the stars obey. — Watts Week 1 Thursday

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The One who upholds the universe will never let you down.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Psalm 147:1-9 1

Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, How pleasant and fitting to praise Him! 2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel.

3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars And calls them each by name.

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

His understanding has no limit.

6 The LORD sustains the humble But casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Make music to our God on the harp.

8 He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies the earth with rain And makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He provides food for the cattle And for the young ravens when they call.

INSIGHT Psalm 147:1-9 contains several contrasts. It describes not only the vastness of God’s ability but also the intimacy of His care. The Lord not only is concerned about nations (v.2), but He also cares for brokenhearted individuals and their very personal wounds (v.3).

He covers the heavens with the clouds (v.8), yet He is concerned for the smallest elements of His creation (v.9). How encouraging to know that the Creator of the universe and the Ruler of all nations cares so much about us! —BILL CROWDER

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e’re all confronted with deadlines! Bills must be paid, licenses renewed, taxes paid—the list goes on and on.

IFE S One deadline we all face is of supreme importance, however. The INISH INE Bible says, “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” READ: (Hebrews 9:27).

Luke 12:16-21 Everyone is destined to die. And all people from the beginning of history will stand before God in judgment.

Prepare to meet your God. — Amos 4:12 How foolish to neglect the preparation necessary for this inevitable date with our destiny!

In Luke 12, Jesus told a parable of a rich man who planned to build bigger barns to store all his earthly goods so that he could live out his days in pleasure and ease. But God unexpectedly announced, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you” (Luke 12:20). His ultimate deadline had arrived.

Are you ready to meet God? If you’ve never asked God for the forgiveness of your sins, you may do so right now!

Receive Christ as your personal Savior. Believe that He shed His blood on the cross to forgive your sins, and that He conquered death by rising from the grave. Ask Him to save you.

Then you can face life’s finish line—our final deadline— with perfect confidence. — Richard De Haan Life is uncertain, Death is sure; Sin the cause, Christ the cure. — Anon.

Week 1 Friday

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Don’t wait till the last minute to repent — any moment may be your last.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Luke 12:16-21 And He told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of 16

good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

INSIGHT When Jesus taught, He often used parables (as here in Luke 12).

It has been said that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. In telling these stories, Jesus drew from situations that His listeners would easily identify with as part of life in their ancient agricultural world. These parables have a continuing significance today, even in our modern technological world, because the principles they convey are timeless. —BILL CROWDER

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Special Saturday/Sunday Feature

10 Reasons To Believe In The Existence Of God 1. The Inevitability Of Faith Everyone believes in something. Atheists cannot prove there is no God. Faith is unavoidable, even if we choose to believe only in ourselves.

2. The Limitations Of Science The scientific method is limited to that which is measurable and repeatable. By definition, it cannot speak to issues of ultimate origin, meaning, or morality. Science by itself offers no moral guidance or values to govern our lives. All science can do is show us how natural law works, while telling us nothing about its origins.

3. The Problems Of Evolution An evolutionary explanation of life would not make God unnecessary. Even if we assume that scientists will someday find enough “missing links” to confirm that life appeared and developed gradually over great periods of time, laws of probability would still show the need for a Creator. The universe in all of its immensity and complexity did not “just happen.” Many evolutionist scientists are compelled to acknowledge the possibility or even likelihood of an intelligent Designer.

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4. The Habits Of The Heart Mankind has been described as incurably religious. In unguarded moments of trouble or surprise, in prayer or in profanity, references to deity persist. Denying the existence of God does not eliminate the persistent longing for more than this life has to offer (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Even in our anger with a God who would permit injustice and pain, we draw upon a moral conscience to argue that life is not as it ought to be (Romans 2:14-15). We are drawn to something that is more rather than less than ourselves.

5. The Background Of Genesis The opening words of the Bible, “In the beginning God” (Genesis 1:1), assume the existence of God. Genesis was written at a point of time in history. Israel’s exodus from Egypt and the miraculous events that preceded it were witnessed by millions of Jews and Egyptians. From the Exodus to the coming of Messiah, the God of the Bible rests His case on events witnessed in real time and locations. Anyone who doubted the claims could visit real places and people to check out the evidence for themselves.

6. The Nation Of Israel Many find it difficult to believe in a God who would be partial to Israel, His “chosen people.” It is even harder to believe in a God who would not protect His “chosen nation” from the horrors of World War II. Yet from the beginning of Old Testament history, Israel’s future was prewritten. Together with other prophets, Moses predicted not only Israel’s possession of the land but also her unparalleled suffering and dispersion throughout the whole earth, her eventual repentance, and then finally

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her last days restoration (Deuteronomy 28–34; Isaiah 2:1-5; Ezekiel 37–38).

7. The Claims Of Christ Some say, “If God wanted us to believe in Him, He would appear to us.” According to the Bible, that is what God has done. God came in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

8. The Evidence Of Miracles If the Red Sea did not part as Moses said it did, the Old Testament loses its authority to speak on behalf of God. The miracles that Jesus performed, His death on the cross, and His resurrection 3 days later proved that Jesus is who He claimed to be: the Messiah.

9. The Details Of Nature There are people who reason that a God great enough to create the universe would be too big to be concerned about us. Jesus, however, showed that God is great enough to care about the smallest details of our lives. God not only knows every move we make but also the motives and thoughts of our heart. God knows the number of hairs on our head, the concerns of our heart, and even the condition of a fallen sparrow (Psalm 139; Matthew 10:29).

10. The Voice Of Experience The Bible says that God designs the circumstances of our lives in a way that will prompt us to look for Him (Acts 17:26-27). For those who reach out for Him, the Scriptures also say that He is close enough to be found (Acts 17:27-28).

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The Bible makes it just as clear, however, that we must reach out for God on His terms rather than our own. He promises to be found, not by just anyone but by those who admit their own need and are willing to trust Him rather than themselves.

You’re Not Alone You’re not alone if you are open to the existence of God but aren’t sure you can accept Jesus’ claim to be “God in the flesh.” The teacher from Nazareth promised to help those who want to know and please God. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own” (John 7:17).

If you do see the evidence for the God who revealed Himself to us through His Son, then keep in mind that the Bible says Christ died to pay the price for our sins, and that all who believe in Him will receive the gifts of forgiveness and everlasting life. The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for effort but a gift to all who in light of the evidence put their trust in Him (John 5:24; Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-10).

For Further Reading:

How Can I Know There Is A God? Read it online at www.discoveryseries.org/q0101 or request a printed copy by writing to the address on the last page of this booklet.

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ometimes love sure hurts!” The mother and father were expressing the difficulties and heartaches of guiding their children through their OVE URTS teen years. “Maybe if we didn’t love them quite so much it wouldn’t be so READ: hard,” the man added.

1 John 4:7-16 Even though love brings pain and sorrow, what would life be without it? In his book The Four Loves, My command is this: C. S. Lewis wrote: Love each other as I “To love at all is to be vulnerable. have loved you.

— John 15:12 Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. . . . The only place outside heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers . . . of love is hell.”

To love is to take risks, to expose our hearts. Sometimes it hurts! It hurt Jesus Christ, but He kept on loving—even at the cost of His life. And He asked us to “love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Truly loving that spouse, that teenager, that neighbor, that colleague is Christlike, and it’s better than locking your heart in the coffin of self-centeredness. — Dave Egner THINKING IT OVER How have you been hurt by those you’ve tried to love?

Have you been tempted to withhold your love from them as a result?

Week 2 Monday

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Nothing costs as much as loving — except not loving.

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Today’s Bible Reading — 1 John 4:7-16 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever

seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

13 We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

INSIGHT In verse 10, we see the phrase atoning sacrifice. Other translations render it propitiation. This is a key concept in theology to describe what Christ did for us on the cross. It means that He satisfied God’s justifiable anger at human sin. This tells us how deeply we are loved

by Jesus, that He would take all of God’s anger at our sin so that we can be free to experience His great and awesome love.

—BILL CROWDER

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hy do we love racing? Perhaps it’s the speed and power of the machines. Or maybe it’s the talent and required to be such an athlete.

N CCIDENTAL skillClearly, some of us secretly love racing because of the carnage from RIBUTE the collisions. Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush READ: that comes from a car flipping end John 11:11-36 over end, or hearing the crunch of sheet metal as cars careen out of conPrecious in the sight of trol—without injuries, of course! the LORD is the death All too often, however, the reality is of His saints. not exhilarating. Human beings get — Psalm 116:15 hurt in accidents. Sometimes they die.

A few years ago a driver was killed when he hit the wall on a practice lap.

Immediately following the news of the tragedy, friends and fellow competitors gathered for a time of shared grief. As they left the impromptu meeting, a rainbow arched over the exact spot of the accident. Awestruck, many fell to their knees in a spontaneous display of respect and reverence.

Even as that community of friends displayed their love for this man, many hoped that something bigger than themselves was showing its love for him.

Did that rainbow hint at a greater love than we can imagine? Is it possible that something or Someone exists that goes far beyond human love? — Dale Beaver THINKING IT OVER Why is there so much pain in the world? You may want to read Why Would A Good God Allow Suffering? at www.discoveryseries.org/q0106 Week 2 Tuesday

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God’s love does not keep us from trials but sees us through them.

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Today’s Bible Reading — John 11:11-15, 30-36 11 After He had said this, He went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but His disciples thought He meant natural sleep.

14 So then He told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” . . .

Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the 30

house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” He asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

INSIGHT Jesus’ words in verse 15 seem strange—He loved His friend Lazarus but was glad He was not there at his death—how can that be?

Because Jesus knew that He would restore Lazarus to life not only for the benefit of His deceased friend but also to build and strengthen His disciples’ faith. His great love for Lazarus was matched by His great concern for His followers. —BILL CROWDER

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ritics might allege that Satoru Nakajima’s Formula One career was unremarkable. On the contrary, made 74 Grand Prix ERFECT ATHER Nakajima-san starts and is one of the founding fathers of F1 racing in Japan. Though READ: he didn’t amass victories, he blazed a 1 John 2:29–3:11 trail for his countrymen.

One of those countrymen is his own son!

This year, Kazuki Nakajima How great is the love the Father has lavished enjoys a full-time seat driving for the Williams team. Young Nakajima is on us, that we should be called children of standing on the shoulders of his God! — 1 John 3:1 esteemed father. The same could be said for Brazil’s Nelson Piquet Jr., who follows in the impressive tire tracks of his famous father (coincidentally, the elder Nakajima’s teammate!).

And don’t forget Germany’s Nico Rosberg and his championship-winning father Keke.

Regardless of the stellar examples set by these famous drivers, they are not perfect fathers. No father is, but One. John the disciple spoke of our heavenly Father’s “lavish” love, “that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). But not everyone is truly a child of God. We must first be adopted into His family. The true child of God “cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God” (v.9).

Do you know what it means to be “born of God”? Have you ever asked Him to become His child? —Tim Gustafson HOW TO BECOME GOD’S CHILD Come to God in childlike faith. Tell Him that you believe Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins. Accept His forgiveness for your sins (Romans 6:23).

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God’s children can be recognized by a growing likeness to their heavenly Father.

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Today’s Bible Reading — 1 John 2:29–3:11 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him. Chapter 3 1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

3 Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin 29

has either seen Him or known Him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

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razil’s Aryton Senna had a reputation as a ruthless competitor on the track. But away from the circuit he was a generous benefactor to his HEN OD homeland’s street children. He embodied the paradox that, while selfAS ORRY less acts of love are out of place on the racecourse, we applaud them away READ: from competition.

Genesis 9:8-17 The Bible tells of a time when men and women were so selfish and cruel I have set My rainbow that God was sorry He had made them in the clouds, and it (Genesis 6:6). So He sent a massive will be the sign of the flood to destroy the earth. Only one covenant between Me man and his family were spared. and the earth.

Through Noah and his obedience to — Genesis 9:13 God, the human race survived.

It was from this catastrophe that God used the rainbow as a sign of His promise: “Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood” (Genesis 9:11).

But God warns of a coming cataclysm in which “the heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10). Yet we need not fear that judgment.

As in Noah’s day, God offers a way of escape. It is through His Son Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us.

Next time you see a rainbow, whether on the racetrack or after a storm, recall its original purpose. —Dale Beaver THINKING IT OVER How has God shown mercy to you?

Where have you shown mercy to others?

Have you ever asked God to forgive you?

Week 2 Thursday

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We won’t fear God’s judgment if we know His forgiving love.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Genesis 9:8-17 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you— every living creature on earth. 11 I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set My

rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between Me and all life on the earth.”

INSIGHT In the ancient world, a “covenant” was an agreement between two or more persons. That agreement was only as dependable as the character of the ones bound to it. The rainbow reminds us that God’s promises (covenants) are trustworthy and are backed by the strength of the Almighty God of heaven! —BILL CROWDER

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alk into the garage of elite racing professionals and you will glimpse something for which you not be prepared. You could eat URFACE LATE may off the floor. Everything is clean, brightly lit, and in perfect order.

RECISION In many garages, the focal point is a 15-foot by 9-foot slab, usually borREAD: dered by metal or epoxied fiberglass.

Hebrews 4:12-16 It’s called the surface plate. Laser precision has guaranteed this platform to be level. From its base, a All Scripture is Godbreathed and is useful technician can take true measurefor teaching, rebuking, ments of the position of a race car in correcting and training relation to the ground. in righteousness.

In a sport where time is measured — 2 Timothy 3:16 in fractions of a second, accurate measurements are essential. Improper alignments can cause a car to catch too much air, resulting in drag that slows it down. Or an inaccurate measurement could cause extreme stress on the tires, resulting in a blowout. At 200 mph, that’s potentially catastrophic.

The Bible serves as our surface plate for life. With confidence, we can build our lives on its content.

The Word of God is not just an authority, it is the authority. When you take the measurements of life based on the standard of God’s character, you have attained the truest level. —Dale Beaver The Bible will transform our lives And turn us from our sin, If we will read it and obey God’s principles within. — Sper Week 2 Friday

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The Bible will tell you what is wrong before you have done it. —Moody

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Today’s Bible Reading — Hebrews 4:12-16 12 For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

14 Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has gone through the

heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

INSIGHT In today’s reading, we are challenged with two great spiritual realities: the power of the Scriptures and the person of the Savior.

In verses 12-13, the writer describes the Bible and its unique ability to reveal the truth. Not only does the Bible communicate the truth of God to us, these verses also reveal the truth about us — our true hearts, minds, and motives. How could anyone stand under such scrutiny? Left to ourselves, we cannot. But because of the Savior, we have hope. He is not only Savior, Lord, and Creator, He is also the great High Priest (vv.14 -16) who understands our frailties and offers us help in the struggles and failures of life. Only the great compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for the deepest needs of the human heart. —BILL CROWDER

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Special Saturday/Sunday Feature

10 Reasons To Believe In The Bible 1. Its Honesty The Bible is painfully honest. It shows Jacob, the father of God’s “chosen people,” to be a deceiver. It portrays David, Israel’s most loved king and spiritual leader, as an adulterer, conspirator, and murderer. The Bible represents human nature as hostile to God. It predicts a future full of trouble.

It teaches that the road to heaven is narrow and the way to hell is wide. The Bible was not written for people who want simple answers or an easy religion.

2. Its Preservation In a cave by the Dead Sea, a 2,000-year-old copy of Isaiah’s writings was found that is essentially the same as the book of Isaiah that appears in our Bibles. God has preserved His Word from error.

3. Its Claims For Itself If the authors of Scripture had not claimed to speak for God, it would be presumptuous for us to make that claim for them. The Bible would then be a collection of unsolved mysteries, embodied in historical and ethical literature. But the Bible’s authors did claim to be inspired by God. Because millions have staked their present and eternal well-being on those claims, the Bible would not be a good book if its authors consistently lied about their source of information.

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4. Its Miracles If the Red Sea did not part as Moses said it did, the Old Testament loses its authority to speak on behalf of God. If Jesus did not rise bodily from the dead, the apostle Paul admits that the Christian faith would be built on a lie (1 Corinthians 15:14-17). The New Testament names its witnesses to the resurrection of Christ, and did so within a time frame that enabled those claims to be investigated (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Many of the witnesses ended up as martyrs for their claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. Many have died for what they believed to be the truth. But people do not die for what they know to be a lie. The resurrection is powerful evidence of the Bible’s authenticity.

5. Its Unity Forty different authors over a period of 1,600 years penned the 66 books of the Bible. Yet, the 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 of the New Testament tell one unfolding story of God’s plan of redemption. Together they give consistent answers to the most important questions we can ask: Why are we here? How can we know God? How can we make peace with our Maker?

6. Its Historical And Geographical Accuracy Many have doubted the historical and geographical accuracy of the Bible. Yet modern archaeologists have repeatedly unearthed evidence of the people, places, and cultures described in the Scriptures. Time after time, the descriptions in the biblical record have been shown to be more reliable than the speculations of scholars.

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7. Its Endorsement By Christ Christ endorsed the Bible not only by His words but by His life. He made it clear that He believed the Old Testament Scriptures (Matthew 4:1-11; 5:17-19). He believed the Bible was a book about Himself. He said, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me” (John 5:39-40).

8. Its Prophetic Accuracy From the days of Moses, the Bible predicted events no one wanted to believe. Before Israel went into the Promised Land, Moses predicted that Israel would be unfaithful, that she would lose the land God was giving her, and that she would be dispersed throughout all the world, regathered, and then reestablished (Deuteronomy 28 – 31). Those events happened as prophesied. Central to Old Testament prophecy was the promise of a Messiah who would save God’s people from their sins and eventually bring judgment and peace to the whole world.

9. Its Survival The Bible has been in existence for 2,000 years. During that long history, no other book has been as loved or as hated as the Bible. No other book has been so consistently bought, studied, and quoted as this book. The Bible is still the book by which all other books are measured.

10. Its Power To Change Lives History is marked by those who claim to believe in the Bible and have been changed and bettered by it. The Ten Commandments are a source of moral direction to countless

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numbers of people. The psalms of David have comforted many in times of trouble and loss. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount has given millions a pattern for right living. Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 has softened angry hearts.

You’re Not Alone You’re not alone if you have questions about the reliability of the Bible. The Scriptures, like the world around us, are marked by elements of mystery. Yet if the Bible is what it claims to be, you don’t have to try to sort out the evidence on your own. You can be sure that the Author will help you to find satisfying answers to your searching questions.

One important key to understanding the Bible is that it was never meant merely to bring us to itself. Every principle of Scripture shows us our need of the forgiveness that Christ secured on our behalf. It shows us why we need to let the Spirit of God live through us. It is for such a relationship that the Bible was given.

For Further Reading:

Can I Really Trust The Bible?

Read it online at www.discoveryseries.org/q0402 or request a printed copy by writing to the address on the last page of this booklet.

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ormula One drivers possess nerves of steel. These professionals put their lives on the line each day, seemingly without worry. It is said that EAL some drivers are so confident, their pulse actually slows before a race!

ONFIDENCE Show the world that kind of confidence, and they may accuse you of READ: complacency or a lack of ambition.

Mark 4:35-41 We live in a world that values stress.

The more stressful we look, the better our chances of getting advanced. We’d The disciples woke Him and said to Him, rather accelerate the pace and take “Teacher, don’t You botox injections. care if we drown?”

Jesus turned this notion on its head.

— Mark 4:38 In the middle of a severe storm, he fell asleep in a boat (Mark 4:38). The panicked words of His disciples show that even these seasoned fishermen were terrified. Yet Jesus rested.

As the Creator of all things, Jesus enjoyed full control of the situation. When we put our trust in Him, we too can rely on His resources. When we understand that He is in control, our stress will dissipate.

Don’t confuse confidence with complacency, or a flurry of activity with productivity. Looking busy all the time may score points with the boss, but it’s not the path of a Christfollower. The One who is poised in the midst of life’s storms is just the One you want in your boat. —Dale Beaver THINKING IT OVER The world’s prescription says to keep busy. God’s remedy is to trust Him and find real peace. Is there any reason why you shouldn’t ask Jesus to save you?

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Faith is not just believing that Jesus can save you, it’s also asking Him to do it.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Mark 4:35-41 35 That day when evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him,

“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!”

INSIGHT The event in today’s reading took place on the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. It is also referred to as the Lake of Gennesaret or the Lake of Tiberias. This body of water is probably better called a lake because it is relatively small (only 15 miles long and 6 to 9 miles across). That small size, however, can be deceptive. It is very deep and ringed by hills and ravines that make it vulnerable to sudden and violent storms. Several times in the Gospels, the disciples—many of whom were career fishermen—were overwhelmed with fear when storms erupted on the Galilee.

A small fishing boat on a stormy lake is a powerful place to have our confidence and complacency tested! —BILL CROWDER

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opular music often echoes the sad expression of a culture without hope. John Lennon sang: “Imagine there’s no heaven; it’s easy if you try.”

MAGINE Lennon was asking us to visualize life only in the here and now. Such a phiREAD: losophy tells us that this is all there is.

John 5:19-24 Life compels us to look for more.

The truth is, there isn’t a reason for living to be found in that approach to Whoever hears My life. It is hopeless, because what we word and believes have now is as good as it gets.

Him who sent Me has eternal life.

We live in a hopeless culture — John 5:24 because we live in a godless culture. A final authority is not accepted in the new millennium. When there is no final authority, then death becomes the most powerful force in the universe. Our wellspring of hope is poisoned. We pant from a thirst we need not endure.

If you will choose to believe a different view—that Jesus is the Son of God and that He rose from a cold death—then life becomes the most powerful force in the universe. This life He offers is for today, yet it extends beyond the scope of time. The problems we face are part of living in a fallen world, but we can approach them with the conviction and courage of our life-model—the Savior, Jesus.

Take heart! Reality offers hope. You don’t have to imagine. There is a heaven. — Dale Beaver Though I know not what awaits me, What the future has in store, Yet I know the Lord is faithful, For I’ve proved Him oft before. — Anon.

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In the truth of God’s Word we can drink deeply from the wellspring of hope.

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Today’s Bible Reading — John 5:19-24 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. Yes, to your amazement He will show Him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it.

Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent Him. 24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; He has crossed over from death to life.”

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INSIGHT Many people are confused about the nature of eternal life and of heaven. Images of angelic figures floating on clouds and playing harps are common in television advertising but are far from the biblical picture of eternity. Heaven will be a place of unparalleled excitement, joy, and celebration—highlighted by the presence of the Savior Himself. In heaven, those who know Christ will celebrate real life for all eternity. —BILL CROWDER

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hat if you were told this morning that today was to be your last day on earth? How would you spend its fleeting hours? Whom OUR would you insist on seeing? Would your behavior differ radically from AST AY what it usually is?

Someone has wisely said, “You READ: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 should treat every day as if it’s your last one, because one of these days you’re going to be right.”

There’s no getting around it.

Let us not be like others, who are asleep, Whether our earthly life ends by accibut let us be alert and dent, illness, the ravages of age, or our self-controlled.

— 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Lord’s return, one of these days will be our last. That’s why we should guard so carefully the things we do and the words we say.

We ought to be tying up the loose ends of long-neglected matters by expressing our love and gratitude to others, by seeking reconciliation with an alienated friend, or by sharing the gospel with a neighbor.

Perhaps you’ve even been putting off accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior until some more convenient day. But that day may never come. Since your last day on earth can be so unexpected, heed Paul’s inspired words: “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Are you living each day as if it were your last? —Vernon Grounds THINKING IT OVER What are the five most important things you would do if this were your last day on earth?

Would you seek out God? Week 3 Wednesday

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What would you change if this day were your last?

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Today’s Bible Reading — 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,

but let us be alert and selfcontrolled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

INSIGHT The apostle Paul uses the imagery of light versus darkness to describe spiritual living. This same imagery is found in John 1, where we read of Christ’s light penetrating the darkness of a lost world. The tragedy was that the darkness did not comprehend the light (John 1:5). Still today, people groping in the darkness struggle to comprehend the light of Christ. No wonder Paul wanted to remind his readers of these important issues. —BILL CROWDER

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hat happens to us when we die?

That mystery has intrigued people down through the ages.

Some researchers are cautiously YSTERY suggesting that they may be close to an answer. They are checking into OLVED reports from individuals who claim to have undergone near-death experiREAD: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 ences that took them beyond time and space. Some analysts think that further research will eventually solve the mystery of death.

If a man dies, will he live again?

Must we anxiously await their ver— Job 14:14 dict? By no means! God has already revealed in the Bible what happens after death.

If we have trusted God’s Son Jesus Christ as our Savior, we know we will be “at home with the Lord” when we die (2 Corinthians 5:8). Paul said that because Christ died for our sins and rose from the grave, “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). But those who reject Christ will have to face God’s fierce judgment and an eternity in hell (Revelation 20:11-15).

Anyone looking for clues about what happens to us when we die would be wise to research the Bible. It gives us God’s answer to the most pressing question of the ages.

Christ’s empty tomb assures us that it is a mystery already solved. — Vernon Grounds He lives, and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death; He lives, my future to prepare; He lives to bring me safely there. — Medley Week 3 Thursday

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Because Christ lives, death is not tragedy but triumph.

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Today’s Bible Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

INSIGHT Is there any subject that fills our hearts with fear and anxiety more than death? Much of that anxiety is due to our uncertainty, but Paul makes it clear in this passage that such feelings are unnecessary.

We can have absolute confidence because Jesus Christ has won the victory over death by His resurrection . He offers the results of that victory to us if we will trust Him by faith. —BILL CROWDER

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n the days after the French Revolution, a man tried to start a new religion that he believed was superior to But he was disappointed MPTY ROOF Christianity. at his lack of success. He revealed his frustration to a clergyman and asked READ: what he could do.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 The clergyman replied that it was no easy task to begin a new religion—so difficult that he had nothHe was raised on the third day according to ing to suggest. But after a moment’s reflection, he said, “There’s one plan the Scriptures.

—1 Corinthians 15:4 that you might want to consider. Why don’t you get yourself crucified and rise again the third day?”

The firm foundation of the Christian faith is an empty tomb. The New Testament declares that the death of Jesus paid the penalty for our sin.

But how can anyone know for sure that Christ’s crucifixion was acceptable to God? It doesn’t matter much what we think of the death of Jesus; what matters is what God thinks about it.

God’s approval of the sacrifice Jesus made for us is proven by the resurrection. It stands as God’s signed receipt that He is completely satisfied. Without the resurrection, Christianity has nothing much to offer the world. But the fact that Christ died and then rose from the grave “is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). — Haddon Robinson THINKING IT OVER Christianity is a relationship with Jesus Christ, not a religion. Do you have that relationship?

Week 3 Friday

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Because of Christ’s empty tomb, we can be full of hope.

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Today’s Bible Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.

Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was

buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

INSIGHT Paul wants us to understand that the resurrection is not a philosophical abstraction or theological theory — it is a real, historical event that was attested to by a variety of witnesses.

These witnesses numbered in the hundreds and included a disgraced disciple (Peter, also called Cephas), a doubting half-brother of Jesus (James), and a Christ-hater and persecutor of Christians (Paul himself). As a result of Jesus’ resurrection, their lives were forever changed. —BILL CROWDER

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Special Saturday/Sunday Feature

10 Reasons To Believe God Became A Man 1. A Virgin Conceived If Mary was telling the truth, her baby had no human father.

An angel told her she would conceive a son by God’s Spirit.

This child, to be named Jesus, would be the Son of God (Luke 1:26-35). If Mary was lying, the night of Jesus’ birth was not holy, and the only thing that was silent was the truth. If her son’s life was the same as any other life, her claim of a virgin birth would be the easiest of all stories to dismiss.

2. An Old Testament Prophet Predicted A God-Man Seven hundred years before, the prophet Isaiah made this prediction, “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government will be on His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah also prophesied, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Immanuel means “God with us.”

3. Angels Announced The Birth An angel announced the birth of Israel’s long-awaited Messiah to terrified Jewish shepherds (Luke 2:8-14). “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a

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sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (vv.10-12).

4. A Sign Appeared In The Sky A group of wise men from the East followed a star to Judea where they found the long-awaited Messiah. For hundreds of years Old Testament prophets had been speaking of “a star” and “a scepter” that would come out of Israel (Numbers 24:17), a ruler of Israel who would come out of Bethlehem, a ruler “whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).

5. The Time Was Right If the wise men who worshiped Jesus after His birth came from the region of Babylon, they could have had access to the prophecy of a Jewish prophet named Daniel. While in exile in Babylon 400 years earlier, Daniel had a vision (Daniel 7:13-14; 9:24-27) that allows for the calculation of the arrival of the Jewish Messiah.

6. Jesus Claimed To Be Equal With God Jesus repeatedly claimed to be one with God. Jesus has said, “Before Abraham was born, I AM” (John 8:58). (In Exodus 3:14, the name I AM was used by God to identify Himself to Moses.) “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). “If you really knew Me, you would know My Father as well” (John 14:7). Jesus said that to love or hate Him, or to receive or reject Him, was to love or hate, receive or reject His Father in heaven.

7. His Friends Worshiped Him When Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, saw the resurrected

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Christ, he declared, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

The apostle John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. . . . The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3,14).

8. Jesus’ Enemies Accused Him Of Blasphemy The religious leaders were outraged to think that the same man who accused them of being hypocritical and blind leaders, would also claim to forgive sins, speak of God as His Father, and even say that He was one with God. The religious leaders picked up stones to kill Jesus, saying, “We are not stoning You for any of these . . . but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33).

9. Jesus’ Miracles Supported His Claims Jesus’ miracles were signs and wonders to encourage men and women to believe in Him. He walked on water, healed the sick, and even raised the dead. The apostle John wrote, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

10. His Departure Was Greater Than His Arrival Many people have claimed to be gods. Yet only one man has been willing to die for the sins of others. Only one has

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risen from the dead to prove that He is the Son of God. After Jesus voluntarily gave His life on an executioner’s cross, He appeared to His closest disciples and more than 500 other followers for a period of 40 days (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). The eyewitnesses were so convinced of His resurrection that they were willing to suffer and die for their claims. Then on the Mount of Olives, He gave them His last words and ascended into the clouds. With a departure more spectacular than His arrival, Jesus left us with a better understanding of the announcement of the angel who said, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

You’re Not Alone You’re not alone if you have mixed feelings when you think about the evidence surrounding the life of Jesus. You may feel compelled to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but you’re not sure of your relationship to Him. If that’s the case, be assured of this: If you accept Him, He will accept you. If you will receive His offer of forgiveness, everlasting life, and adoption into the family of God, He will become your Savior, Teacher, and Lord. It’s the greatest gift of all— the gift bought by God Himself—for you.

For Further Reading:

Why Does It Make Sense To Believe In Christ?

Read it online at www.discoveryseries.org/q1104 or request a printed copy by writing to the address on the last page of this booklet.

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Y

ou can’t show a greater love for people than James Harrison demonstrated. And he did it for people he didn’t even know.

O REATER Harrison, a member of the Ouachita Baptist University choir, was returnOVE ing home from Europe with his fellow singers. As their plane was landing in READ: Little Rock, Arkansas, it was hit by Mark 12:28-34 heavy rains and high winds. The jet skidded off the runway and hit a bank of lights, ripping open the fuselage.

Greater love has no one than this, that he As chaos reigned and flames broke lay down his life for out in the mangled plane, Harrison his friends. began to help others. Over and over, — John 15:13 he pulled passengers to safety and ran back to the plane for more. On his last trip into the burning wreckage, he was overcome with smoke.

He didn’t make it out alive.

At his funeral, the choir director quoted John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” In this verse, Jesus was really speaking of His own death on our behalf, and the choir leader pointed out the value of this ultimate sacrifice.

We may never be called upon to make the kind of sacrifice Harrison made during that tragedy. Yet every day we have opportunities to set aside our comfort to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31). How much love do we show? —Dave Branon See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? — Watts Week 4 Monday

N G L

Jesus calls us to care for each other In a world that does not care.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Mark 12:28-34 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. 33 To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask Him any more questions.

INSIGHT The call to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is a call to love Him with all your being. Though defined in various ways, it could be said that these elements include all of our love (heart), our life (soul), our thoughts (mind), and our energy (strength). These four things really do encompass all that we are , and they give insight on how to fully and completely love God. —BILL CROWDER

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W

ho’s the greatest Formula One driver of all time? Michael Schumacher may top your list, but would say that Juan Manuel HO HOULD many Fangio is the best. Talk to today’s elite drivers and different names may fall OU MITATE from their lips.

Naimo Karthikeyan, the first Indian READ: Matthew 28:16-20 Formula One competitor and a current test driver, points to Spain’s Fernando Alonso as his role model. Karthikeyan Go and make disciples notes that Alonso didn’t score a point of all nations. as a rookie, yet he got the most out of — Matthew 28:19 his equipment and had a reputation for finishing races. That translated into championships in 2005 and 2006.

Karthikeyan aspires to be the same kind of competitor as Alonso.

One of the things Jesus emphasized to His followers before He left this earth was the importance of investing in the lives of others. In Matthew 28, He instructed them to go throughout the world and extend His work. Jesus wanted His followers to imitate Him by “teaching [others] to obey everything I have commanded you” (v.20). Jesus wants us to immerse others in His teaching so that they may know the peace that comes only from His companionship.

Are you an inspiration to others in a way that causes them to want to know God? Who are you imitating? —Dale Beaver THINKING IT OVER How do we “make disciples”?

Read How Can I Share My Faith Without An Argument? at www.discoveryseries.org/q0709 Week 4 Tuesday

W S Y I

?

People are more likely to follow your footsteps than your advice.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Matthew 28:16-20 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make

disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

INSIGHT The message of the resurrected Christ to His disciples in today’s reading is often called “The Great Commission.” It is Jesus’ command to His followers to take the message of forgiveness and eternal life to a world that desperately needs it. Jesus came into the world to offer forgiveness of sin. To accomplish that, He not only lived a perfect life and died in our place on the cross, He also rose from the grave and sent out messengers to tell the world the good news that our guilt can be taken away. Our fear can be removed and relationship with God can be restored. Still today, 2,000 years later, people across the globe are sharing the good news—Jesus is alive, and in Him we can have life! —BILL CROWDER

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D

o you like continued stories?

Let’s say you’re reading a magazine article or watching a television program for half an hour, and you O E come to the place where the hero plunges into the water to rescue his ONTINUED drowning sweetheart. Then you’re left hanging in the air with the words: “To READ: be continued.” How disappointing!

Hebrews 11:8-16 I have quite a different response to the inscription on the tombstone of a follower of Christ. It reads: “To Be Here we do not have an enduring city, but Continued Above.” we are looking for the Yes, this life is but the first chapcity that is to come. ter of the book of life. Whether that — Hebrews 13:14 chapter is long or short, it is not the end, but it is to be continued. For the believer, it will be continued in heaven with our Lord. There is no break between the chapters; you don’t have to wait till next month’s installment or tune in next week to hear the concluding episode. Chapter two follows chapter one without interruption. It is continued immediately, for Paul said that death is “to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

What will the next chapter be for you? It will be written sooner or later, either in heaven or in hell. Remember, when your time comes to die, that is not the end. Your story is “to be continued”—but where? — M. R. De Haan Life’s fleeting days will soon be o’er When death ends all that’s gone before; Yet life in Christ continues still, For all who lived to do His will. — D. De Haan Week 4 Wednesday

T B C

Death is the last chapter of time, but the first chapter of eternity.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Hebrews 11:8-16 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age— and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise.

12 And so from this one man, and he as good as

dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

INSIGHT Hebrews 11 is referred to as “The Hall of Faith” because it describes how ancient believers lived out their trust in God. Verses 8-12 highlight the lives of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham obeyed when the Lord led him to a strange new land, and his wife Sarah trusted God’s promise of a son in her old age. —BILL CROWDER

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V

ictory lane can be a crazy place.

Beverages get poured onto people instead of into them. Vision grows spotty as cameras flash and whir. It’s HERE S a party every team member wants to make.

HE ARTY But it’s so brief! Just a few moments of celebration before the READ: next workday rolls around, then it’s Romans 8:28-39 business as usual. The approaching week beckons and the preparation for the next Grand Prix moves ahead.

In all these things we are more than Life’s victories are short-lived. Pop conquerors through singer Alanis Morrisette bemoans this Him who loved us. truth in her song “Ironic,” where rain — Romans 8:37 falls on a wedding day and all the lights are green when you’re already late. It would be nice if the sensation of victory lasted a little longer.

Those who follow Jesus can rest in His victory over death.

Jesus suffered by being nailed to the cross, but He conquered death by rising on the third day. He paid a death sentence that we deserved to face. His perfect life was accepted in place of our imperfect lives. By placing our trust in Him, we can celebrate an eternal victory with Him. In Romans 8, we see the making of such a celebration. No matter what life throws your way, the ultimate adversary has been defeated. No longer is death the most powerful force in the universe. Eternal life is! — Dale Beaver THINKING IT OVER Have you tried the world’s prescription for the disease of sin to no avail? Only God’s remedy is effective. Is there any reason why you shouldn’t ask Jesus to save you?

Week 4 Thursday

W ’ T P ?

Heaven is the victory party that never ends.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Romans 8:28-39 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all— how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that

condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

INSIGHT The joy of salvation is knowing that God’s love for us lasts forever.

Once we accept that love, it can never be forfeited! —BILL CROWDER

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W

hen I donated blood some time ago, a nurse gave me a card to read while a pint of the vital red fluid flowing out of my vein. The card HERE HEN was showed the percentages of people OU EED T who have the different blood types.

Here are some of them: O Positive ................37.4% READ: A Positive................35.7% Hebrews 9:11-22 A Negative.................6.3% B Negative.................1.5% The rarest, AB Negative, is found The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us in only 1 in 167 people, or 0.6% of the from all sin. population. Then the card made this — 1 John 1:7 eye-catching statement: “The rarest blood type is the one that’s not there when you need it.”

That reminded me of a supply of blood that is one of a kind and always available to those who ask for it. First John 1:7 states, “The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

It was the death of Christ, the shedding of His blood, that satisfied the demand of a holy God as payment for our sins (Hebrews 9:12,22). So now, whenever a person cries out in faith to God, repenting of his sin and pleading for forgiveness, his prayer for salvation is answered.

I am deeply grateful that Jesus was willing to die on the cross, giving His blood for me, so that forgiveness was available when I needed it. Aren’t you? — Dave Egner THINKING IT OVER How can you be sure God will let you into heaven? Read Safe And Secure: The Permanence Of Salvation at www.discoveryseries.org/q0606 Week 4 Friday

T W Y N I

Jesus takes our sin and gives us His salvation.

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Today’s Bible Reading — Hebrews 9:11-22 11 When Christ came as High Priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made . . . .

12 He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God. 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed

under the first covenant.

16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

19 When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.

20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

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Special Saturday Feature

10 Reasons To Believe In The Christian Faith 1. The Credibility Of Its Founder Christ said He came from heaven to die for our sins, and to bring to His Father all who believe in Him. Logic says that He was either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord of heaven. His followers saw His miracles, heard His teachings, examined His blameless life, witnessed His terrible death, and saw Him alive again. They concluded, “We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God� (John 6:69).

2. The Reliability Of Its Book Written over a period of about 1,600 years by 40 different authors, the Bible tells one story that begins with creation and concludes on the threshold of eternity. The integrity of its historical and geographical record is supported by archaeology. The accuracy with which it has been copied and handed down to us has been confirmed by the Dead Sea Scrolls of Qumran.

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3. Its Explanations For Life All religious systems attempt to give meaning to our existence, to explain our thirst for significance, the problem of pain, and the inevitability of death. All religions attempt to apply the design of the cosmos to our individual lives. It is Christ who reveals a Father who takes note of every sparrow that falls, a Father who numbers even the hairs of our head (Matthew 10:29-31), a God who shows how much He cares for all that He has created. It is Christ who clothed Himself in our humanity to feel what we feel, and then to suffer and die in our place.

4. Its Continuity With The Past Those who trust Christ are accepting the same Creator and Lord worshiped by Adam, Abraham, Sarah, and Solomon.

The Christian faith is not new with Christ. From Genesis to Revelation it is one story. It is His story—and ours (Acts 2:22-39; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8).

“I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you . . . .

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time” (1 Corinthians 15:1-6).

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5. Its Foundational Claim The first Christians were witnesses who risked their lives to tell the world that they had seen an innocent man die and then miraculously resurrected 3 days later (Acts 5:17-42).

They testified that Jesus was crucified under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. His body was buried and sealed in a borrowed tomb. Guards were posted to prevent grave tampering. Yet after 3 days the tomb was empty and witnesses were risking their lives to declare that He was alive.

6. Its Power To Change Lives The first disciples were not the only ones who were dramatically changed. Paul, one of their worst enemies, was transformed from a Christian killer into one of their chief advocates (Galatians 1:11-24). Later Paul wrote about this power to change lives, “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15).

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7. Its Analysis Of Human Nature Many want to believe that our problems are rooted in such things as ignorance, diet, and government. But Jesus pointed to sin in the heart. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’ ” (Matthew 15:19-20).

8. Its View Of Human Achievement Generation after generation has hoped for the best. We fought wars that would end all wars. We developed educational theories that would produce enlightened, nonviolent children. We conceived technologies that would make life easier for ourselves. In spite of mankind’s high hopes and efforts, this world is approaching a terrible endtime predicted by the Bible (Matthew 24:5-31; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).

9. Its Impact On Society A carpenter from Nazareth changed the world. Calendars and dated documents bear silent witness to His birth. Basic Christian values have been foundational to social morality, work ethic, and social relief efforts.

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10. Its Offer Of Salvation The Christian faith offers forgiveness and adoption into God’s family by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior (Romans 10:9-13). The salvation that Jesus offers does not depend on what we have done for Him, but on our acceptance of what He has done for us. This salvation requires an admission of our sins and a confession of failure (Ephesians 2:8-10).

You’re Not Alone You’re not alone if you are still unconvinced about the reasonableness of faith in Christ. But keep in mind Jesus’ claim that we don’t have to resolve our doubts on our own.

He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own” (John 7:17).

If you do see the reasonableness of faith in Christ, the Bible offers to you this reassuring promise: “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for effort, but a gift to all who put their trust in Him. For Further Reading:

Why Did Christ Have To Die? Read it online at www.discoveryseries.org/q0202 or request a printed copy by writing to the office nearest you listed on the last page of this booklet.

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Special Sunday Feature

Making It Personal It is possible to be close to Christ, yet so far from the life He offers. This was true even among His original 12 disciples.

Even in that inner circle there was one, probably the most trusted member of the group (for he kept the money), who never really had the kind of personal connection with Christ that we are talking about.

Judas knew a lot about Jesus. He knew the Teacher’s habits well enough to lead Jesus’ enemies to a garden meeting place. He knew Christ well enough to betray Him with a kiss of greeting. But Judas didn’t know Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Trusted though he was, the “keeper of the money” never had the kind of personal, Christ-centered relationship with God that is available to us today.

“Knowing Christ died — that’s history.

Believing He died for me — that’s salvation.”

A personal relationship with God begins with an event Jesus called a new birth (John 3:3). When we are born spiritually into God’s family we become His children and members of His spiritual kingdom.

To begin this personal relationship, take these steps:

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Admit your need. We come into this world physically alive but spiritually dead — missing out on the quality of life for which God made us. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), “there is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10), and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Therefore, we need a Savior.

Realize what God has done for you. God loved us enough to send His own Son into this world to rescue us from the devastating effects of our sin (John 1:1-14; 3:16). Jesus died in our place, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice.

With one sacrifice, He paid for the least—and the worst— of our sins.

Personally believe and receive God’s gift. No one is saved by trying to be good. We are saved by trusting in Christ.

The Bible says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The actual words we say to God to receive this gift may vary. What is important is that we believe Him enough to be able to say something similar to the following: God, I know I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, and that He rose from the dead to prove it. Now I accept Your offer of full forgiveness and eternal life. I accept Jesus as Your gift for my salvation.

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If this is the honest expression of your heart, you have entered into a personal relationship with God! We encourage you to start attending a church and to let a pastor know of your decision.

The articles in this booklet are selections from Our Daily Bread.

If you find that these articles can help you read and understand the Bible, you may request that a copy of Our Daily Bread be sent to your home. All you have to do is to send to us the completed Request Form.

Adapted from the booklet What Is A Personal Relationship With God? Š 1988, 1997 RBC Ministries, www.discoveryseries.org/q0103