Today Daily Devotional

“The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” — Isaiah 55:12 Isaiah 55 captures the deep, joyful relationship between God and the world he has made. This chapter overflows with delight in the connection between Creator and creation. What Isaiah describes is resonance— the voice of God and the voice of the world echoing back and forth in harmony.Isaiah points to the remarkable life cycle of the earth: the seasons for planting and harvesting, and the gifts of rain and snow that water the ground. We may not see the immediate effects of a rainfall; seeds planted in the soil respond to the moisture and begin to sprout. Those sprouts grow into crops, and the crops provide food. What begins quietly ends in abundance.This imagery carried deep meaning for God’s people. Even if they had a river or a spring for water, they knew they could not survive without the gift of rain or snow. In periods of drought, some of the people turned to worship the gods of other nations, as if maybe those gods could bring rain for their crops. But those ideas yielded only false hope. Through Isaiah, God called the people back to trust and celebrate the only One who truly rules the world and everything in it.Take some time today to reflect on the beauty of creation and hear the invitation to seek and trust in the one, true, faithful God, who provides for all our needs. Hallelujah! Lord, we honor you as the King of creation. Help us to see that you always provide for us, and may we deepen our trust in you alone. In Jesus, Amen.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. — Psalm 96:3 Have you ever experienced a genuine echo? Maybe you shouted “Hello!” into a wide empty space and then heard your own voice return: “Hello! Hello! Hello!” I remember being about seven years old and calling out across a misty lake—and then, with a sense of wonder, hearing my voice come drifting back to me.This month let’s explore something that is similar to an echo. Our theme this month is “Resonance,” and the concept of resonance is close to my heart and my work. The agency I serve is called Resonate Global Mission, and this organization focuses on living out and sharing the good news of Jesus so that it resonates, going out in every direction like an expanding, amplifying sound.Resonance is like an echo, yet deeper and more powerful. When we think about resonance in our spiritual lives, it can open us to the wonder of God’s voice speaking through his Word, his Spirit, and his world—reverberating within our lives and all around us.The ringing of a bell or a chime provides another way to experience resonance. As you engage in these devotions, I encourage you to find a small chime (or search “chime sound” on your phone) and play it after each day’s reflection.God is here with us! God speaks his good news and shares his love with us! May our voices echo back with joy and praise for all the great things God has done! Lord, thank you for your marvelous deeds and the way your love resonates around us. What a privilege to echo back our songs of praise! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“If you love me, keep my commands.” — John 14:15 As I’ve been reflecting on the Ten Commandments, an old gospel song keeps running through my mind: “Trust and Obey.” This simple hymn expresses the bedrock faith and action of seeking to live for the Lord. By trusting God and, through his strength, turning to him for support each day, we find joy in the new life we are promised forever in Christ.The Ten Commandments reveal to us and convict us of our sin, our deeply ingrained failure and inability to love God and our neighbors as we are called to do. But through the gracious cleansing and renewing of our hearts, the Holy Spirit sets us on a new path of obedience. And on this new path, God’s commands become a guide for gratefully living in obedience to God.Though we continue to struggle with sin in this life, God still calls us daily to trust him and obey him. The Ten Commandments and other helpful summaries of God’s law—Micah 6:8; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 2:8-10; and more—are faithful guides along the way.When we trust and obey the Lord, as the song puts it, we can expect to be “happy in Jesus.” Actually, a clearer description is that we can be joyful through the inner contentment and wonder grounded in God’s amazing grace and love for us in the Savior, Jesus Christ.In what ways can you share the joy of new life in Christ with others today? Help us, Lord God, to walk in the light of your Word, trusting and obeying you in all things, so that our lives overflow with your joy. Amen.

“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” — Matthew 22:40 As boys, my brothers and I often played a Bible trivia game at our grandmother’s house. The game cards helped to hone our knowledge of various facts in the Bible. “Name the twelve tribes of Israel.” “Name the twelve apostles.” “List the Ten Commandments in order.” Today, I’m not sure I could answer any of these questions without stumbling.I can, however, give a basic summary of the Ten Commandments. When tested by a teacher of the law, Jesus did that for us. He summarized God’s two main principles for living in a right relationship with the Lord and with others. Drawing on the foundation of the entire Old Testament, Jesus said, in effect, “You shall love God with your entire being, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (see Matthew 22:37-40).If we distill Jesus’ summary a step further, we also find the essential keyword: love.Tragically, since the fall into sin, our natural inclination is to hate God and others. Only when God has renewed our hearts can we truly love him. We can also begin truly loving others. And when we truly love others, we demonstrate that we truly love God.Though our love for God and others will never be perfect, the perfect love on which the Ten Commandments are based is perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. There’s nothing trivial about Christ’s perfect love. His perfect love should be our highest aim as we seek to follow him. Our Father in heaven, remold our hearts to love you truly and to love others as we love ourselves. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. — Philippians 4:8 Some people claim that we can establish a good habit in as little as 21 days. Others say it takes much longer—between 66 and 254 days—to form a good habit. By sheer effort and discipline, can we will ourselves into a habit of keeping the Ten Commandments?No. We can only begin on a new path of living for the Lord when we recognize that we need our sins forgiven through Christ and as the Holy Spirit breathes new, eternal life into us. Then, although initiating and achieving righteousness is not up to us, we are responsible to live as God calls us to do.In our reading for today the apostle Paul offers some helpful instructions for focusing our minds on practical Christian living. “In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” he says. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”Paul also urges that we focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Then, day by day, as we “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25), we can form holy habits that please God.When we concentrate on what’s pleasing to God while striving, in the Spirit, to obey him in gratitude, we become more loving toward him and others.  Holy Spirit, thank you for the gift of redeeming love. Renew our hearts and desires in Jesus to focus on pleasing you and loving others. Amen.

I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” — Romans 7:7 Most people agree that the commandments we have been discussing lately—about promoting justice, honesty, respect for others and their property, and more—offer clear, practical boundaries for living together in society. Guidelines like these are found in all kinds of societies around the world.We might even think, like many of God’s people in ancient Israel did, that keeping these commands is possible. But the law doesn’t satisfy God’s requirements for our hearts. The apostle Paul painfully realized this when he wrestled with the darkness in his own heart. Though he thought he had been able to keep these commandments through his actions, he was cut to the heart when he read, “You shall not covet.” God commands that we show love not only through our actions but also with our hearts. By this standard, we are all guilty of failing to love others.Thankfully, our heart problem can be solved. “While we were still sinners,” Paul writes in Romans 5:8, “Christ died for us.” Jesus is the only one who could ever satisfy the demands of God’s law for perfect obedience and love. And since we are forgiven through Jesus’ sacrifice for our sake, the Holy Spirit gives us new hearts directed toward loving God and our neighbors.Our new life in Christ moves us beyond mere outward obedience. By trusting Jesus, our restless hearts find true satisfaction in him alone, so that we can truly love others.  Jesus, thank you for rescuing us. By your Spirit, fill our hearts so that we can love others as you have loved us. Amen.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. — Philippians 4:11 If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, the right antidote can neutralize or block the venom that begins spreading into your body. The antidote can prevent death or even sickness.Spiritually speaking, the sin of coveting can also introduce a poison that can lead to committing other sins in our lives.The tenth commandment forbids us from coveting anything that belongs to our neighbor. When we covet what belongs to others, we develop a deep longing for what they have, and these other persons become little more than an obstacle to the fulfillment of our desires. Coveting becomes intertwined with envy, and these sins diminish us too, by making our spirits restless and filling our hearts with the toxins of bitterness and resentment.But the Bible offers a powerful spiritual antidote. Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison, where everything had been taken from him, including his freedom. And he offers his own straightforward prescription: learn to live in contentment with what God has already graciously provided. At the most basic level, contentment means trusting that God knows what’s best for us and will always provide what we need. Deep contentment also leads us to rejoice in what God has graciously given to others.Contentment is not a quickacting antidote. It comes gradually through the long, sometimes painful process of dying to ourselves and being made new in Christ, who died for us.  Lord, forgive our coveting. Help us to look to you for all good things and to rejoice in all you have given others. Amen.

Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. — Ephesians 4:15 Sometimes hard conversations are necessary. Perhaps you need to discuss a painfully difficult situation with a family member, a neighbor, or a colleague. Maybe you are dreading it, but you know you must do it. The hardest part of a difficult conversation is to strike the right balance between speaking honestly and speaking with compassion. Speaking without honesty and truth risks misunderstanding, and speaking without compassion risks destroying the relationship.When we need help with hard conversations, the apostle Paul provides some sound spiritual wisdom. After laying out the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ in the life of the church, Paul provides practical advice in Ephesians 4 for living together in maturity and unity. According to Paul, though Christ has given some members in the church gifts for teaching and leadership, he calls every member to grow in maturity and to strive for unity in the church. Then we will not be blown around “by every wind of teaching” and “deceitful scheming,” he says. Instead, we will grow mature as we speak the truth in love.With the Holy Spirit’s guidance and blessing, when we keep truth and love in balance, we can expect that growth and maturity will take place in the body of Christ. Truth and love should guide all of our conversations, whether they are easy or difficult.  Lord, you speak to us with truth and love wherever we are. Help us also to speak with others in all situations with truth and love. Amen.

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said. . . . — Genesis 3:4 Sometimes we might hear or even tell little lies in attempts to be polite or to spare someone’s feelings. Though not recommended, those kinds of lies are far different from lies that are told out of callous self-interest for personal gain or even malice to harm others. Of all the lies told in history, the most blatant, malicious lie of all took place when the devil tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).There Satan, appearing as a serpent, lied about the consequences of disobeying God’s command not to eat the fruit of one of the trees in the garden. In this way the devil aimed to thwart God’s design for his creation and to mar his human creatures forever. Satan lied about God’s own truthfulness. His false insinuation awakened a jealousy and desire in our first parents, and the results have reverberated across our world ever since that day, causing hostility, suffering, and death. Jesus came to save us from the certain destruction we would face, and he called Satan out as “the father of lies.”How do we overcome the deadly shadow of lies in our world? We do so by acknowledging that God never lies (Hebrews 6:18) and that he hates lying. And we turn to Jesus, the true light and living truth (John 14:6), asking him to help us recognize the truth and to share it with our neighbors everywhere. Doing so, we begin to participate in God’s redemption plan by sharing his truthfulness and love with all people.  Father of light, may our words embody your truth in genuine love and mercy always. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” — Exodus 20:16 Courtroom dramas can make for interesting and engaging stories. Why? Because often in a court of law, two of the most basic concerns for living together in society come into sharp focus: truth and justice. These two main concepts are the foundational principles behind the ninth commandment: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”In settling a dispute between two parties, the ancient people of Israel had neither a police force nor crime labs to produce evidence. They had to rely on the testimony of witnesses to resolve legal disputes. This was especially true in highstakes cases involving murder. Only on the testimony of at least two witnesses could the truth of a crime be discovered. Then justice could be served to protect the innocent and hold the guilty accountable. And if a witness was found to be a liar, that person received the harshest of penalties (Deuteronomy 19:19).Justice in society is impossible without truth-telling. When all that people ever hear is lies, their life together as citizens and neighbors is reduced to uncertainty and chaos. Sadly, because of rampant lying and disinformation in our societies today, it’s difficult to trust anything some people say. We need to see the utter importance of telling the truth.God never lies. Nor should we, as we seek to love him and our neighbors.  With the power of your words, Lord, you created the heavens and the earth. Help us to honor you and others with truthful words always. Amen.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands. . . . . — 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Have you noticed that most of the Ten Commandments begin with a negative order, saying, “You shall not . . .”? In commandments six through ten, the negative orders set clear, concrete boundaries for how we are to treat people. Without the command “You shall not steal,” for instance, it would be impossible to live together with our neighbors. Stealing and deceit destroy trust and create enemies.In his letter to the Christians at Thessalonica, Paul offers solid advice for respecting the property of others: “Work with your hands.” Does this mean the Bible only approves of livelihoods involving manual labor? No, we can glorify God and love others with all kinds of honorable work we can do. What Paul suggests in this passage is that work itself is good. Work is a gift and a resource, and it reflects our Maker, who works faithfully with all kinds of creativity. When we work diligently, using the gifts and talents that God gives us, we earn others’ respect and avoid being overly dependent.Theft has been with us since human beings fell into sin. But today it can seem as if taking advantage of others and their possessions is more rampant than ever. In contrast, by using what God gives us in gratitude and contentment, we can show others how to live in community as God has designed us to do. And this can help us share with others what God has given us.  Lord, all that we have is a gift from you. Help us to use our gifts and talents to share your love and your blessings to us with others. Amen.

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. — Ephesians 4:28 Can you guess what the most common crime is in any country?If you guess that stealing is the most common crime, that’s right—shoplifting, burglary, identity theft, credit card fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement, graft, car theft, plagiarism, and more. There are so many ways to steal from others that it can be tricky to list them all.In the eighth commandment —“You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15)—we can see that God loathes theft.Why does God condemn the taking of others’ property, possessions, and more?The root problem is that when we take what God has given to others, even in small amounts, we demean them. We do so by reducing others and their possessions to “resources” that we want to use or just keep for ourselves. Moreover, when we take from others, we rob them of the opportunity to be stewards of what God has given them to show gratitude to him and to bless others. Ultimately, theft isn’t just a shifting of property and possessions; it shows contempt for the fact that we are “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”The eighth commandment reminds us that in trusting God for our own needs, we also display our love for others. Lord, God, all that we have is a trust from you. Help us to faithfully take care of and use what you have given us and to protect what you have given to others. Amen.

“You shall not steal.” — Exodus 20:15 The story of Achan in Joshua 7 is very disturbing. During the battle for Jericho, Achan steals an ornate robe along with a hoard of silver and gold. Knowing he has committed a serious sin, Achan buries the stolen goods under his tent. Achan’s wrongdoing highlights the truth that the cost of breaking the eighth commandment —“You shall not steal”—can be enormous.Achan cheated God, who had commanded the Israelites to take no plunder for themselves at the battle of Jericho.But Achan wasn’t the first person to cheat God. That started when our first parents took fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). In stealing from God, Adam, Eve, and many others revealed their dishonesty and a lack of trust in God’s promises to provide for all their needs. God hates our dishonesty and our failure to trust in his assured provision. In Achan’s case, not only did he and his family suffer the most drastic consequences, but the whole nation of Israel suffered also. The consequences of Adam and Eve’s theft were even more dire, affecting all of their descendants, including each of us. Yet even in their sin, we see God’s goodness toward the guilty. Right at the scene of their crime, God promises a Savior to crush the devil who tempted them to sin (Genesis 3:15), and Jesus’ finished work provides forgiveness for all who believe in him. Lord, all that we have comes from you. Help us to trust in you to provide for all our needs and, above all, our need for your Son, Jesus. Amen.

This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church. — Ephesians 5:32 On weekday evenings, my wife, Vicki, and I can usually be found in our favorite seats in our living room, with Vicki knitting while I read. Occasionally I’ll glance at her from over my book, and often I am filled with a rush of gratitude and wonder—grateful for over 42 years of marriage and awed by how intimately our two lives are intertwined.In his discussion of household relationships in Ephesians 5, Paul addresses marriage. Noting the calls of husbands and wives from different angles, he points out that both spouses are to submit to each other “out of reverence for Christ.” According to Paul, the physical and spiritual union of husband and wife points to an even more profound mystery: the union between Christ and his bride, the church.Being married isn't necessary for being able to understand some of the mystery in Christ’s relationship with the church. Paul wasn’t married, and yet through his relationship with Jesus and his experience of the Holy Spirit’s work in his heart, he could attest to Jesus’ sacrificial love, his cherishing favor, his spiritual nourishment, and, above all, his unconditional acceptance and forgiveness.Jesus’ love for his bride, the church, embraces people of every language and nation under heaven.In what ways can the Lord’s love inspire us to care for and work with each other in his body, the church worldwide?  Jesus, how amazing is your love for us—and for your bride, your church! Help us to mirror your love to each other in marriage and in the church. Amen.

“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.” — Matthew 5:29 Many years ago, the Christian college I attended did not allow dancing. To skirt this rule, “foot functions” were sometimes held in dormitory basements. Today we may smile at such a quaint restriction, but behind it was concern about a serious challenge to Christian purity: lust.Recognizing the destructive power of lust, the Bible clearly warns against lustful thinking and behavior that degrades or harms others, as well as endangering the souls of the guilty. Jesus, for instance, in his Sermon on the Mount, declares that anyone who looks at another’s body with lustful desires would be better off gouging out their own eye. Likely using exaggeration here to highlight the danger, Jesus warns that sexually impure thinking is a violation of the commandment “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). Followers of Christ are therefore called to have pure hearts and pure minds.The permissive and pervasive sexual ethos of our age, jetfueled by easy, private access to pornography, presents a huge challenge for Christians today. How do we guard our hearts from this evil influence? We need to take the apostle Paul’s advice to his young friend Timothy: “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). And, if needed, reach out for professional help.  Jesus, help us by purity of heart and thought to honor our bodies and those of others as your holy temples. Amen.

A man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. — Genesis 2:24 If atoms are the so-called “building blocks” of matter, what are atoms made of? Scientists have identified protons, neutrons, and electrons as particles that make up atoms, and even more fundamental particles are quarks and leptons.In some ways similarly, if families are the so-called “building blocks” of society, what is the family made of? Well, there are parents, children, aunts, uncles, and grandparents—and marriage is the foundation of the family unit.Genesis 2 recounts the creation story, informing us that God made us human beings and that male and female are made for each other. In verse 24 we see also that God established marriage. While no marriage is perfect, marriage in general, and at its best, is a physical and spiritual relationship in which a husband and wife promise to love, honor, and cherish one another throughout their lives. For the family and for society, marriage is a precious, lasting gift from God.God promises to bless marriages, and he strictly warns against violating the sacred union between husband and wife. The seventh commandment states: “You shall not commit adultery”—and this refers to all things that would demean or disfigure the gift of marriage. Christians should do all they can to preserve and protect the beauty and holiness of marriage for the sake of families and societies.  Lord God, thank you for marriage. Help us to do all we can to preserve and protect this fragile gift from everything that seeks to destroy it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” — Genesis 4:9 Sometimes we recognize that two things are closely related or even the same, although they appear to be different— and we describe them by saying they are like two sides of the same coin.God’s command “You shall not murder” is an example of this. While he orders that we may not harm or kill anyone, God is also calling us to care for and protect our neighbor’s life. Although we might think these are two different things, they are very closely related.In Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, two Jewish religious leaders ignore a man who has been left beaten and half dead on a deserted road. Out of fear, indifference, or a sense that it’s not timely or convenient to help, they pass by the bleeding man. Then a Samaritan, someone despised by the Jews in that day, comes along, and he stops to help the man. He binds up the man’s wounds and takes him to an inn to be cared for.The flip side of the command “You shall not kill” involves loving our neighbor, just as the Samaritan in this parable did. The Bible is full of calls to and examples of loving and protecting life: feeding the hungry, housing the vulnerable, welcoming strangers, shielding the weak from the powerful, ensuring justice for all, and even loving our enemies.If we fail to love and care for the people around us, we are breaking the sixth commandment. Lord Jesus, just as you have shown love to all, even your enemies, help us to love and care for all the people around us. In your name, Amen.

“I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” — Matthew 5:22 As we learn from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5, the commandment “You shall not murder” addresses not only our physical actions but also our words and our thoughts.I have never physically murdered anyone, but I’m humbled— even horrified—to realize that I cannot begin to count the number of times I have violated the sixth commandment. Jesus explains that if we so much as become angry and hateful toward a person and we call them a name that demeans them, we are “subject to judgment.” This gets right to the heart of the matter.In moments of anger, hurt, resentment, or sometimes even out of mere frustration and annoyance, I have called others or thought of them as “stupid,” just as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did when they called a brother or sister a “fool.” According to Jesus, this kind of attitude violates the sixth commandment by showing contempt for others made in the image of God.As a confessional statement of the church puts it, “I am not to belittle, hate, insult, or kill my neighbor—not by my thoughts, my words, my look or gesture, and certainly not by actual deeds . . .” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 105).I am often guilty of diminishing other people. I need to continually ask God to forgive me and to create in my heart a deep, genuine love for others.What about you?  Lord Jesus, please forgive me for diminishing and hurting so many people you have made in your image. Help me to learn to love everyone as you do. Amen.

“What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” — Genesis 4:10 One of my guilty pleasures is to watch crime shows on Friday evenings while enjoying chocolate and apple slices. Though I like the puzzle effect, drama, and suspense of these TV shows, I sometimes feel uneasy that murder is usually at the heart of this entertainment. God doesn’t find murder amusing at all.Early in the Bible’s account of human history, we encounter a murder story. There’s nothing entertaining or mysterious about this calculated murder: Cain, out of sheer resentment, jealousy, and malice, brutally kills his innocent brother, Abel. And ever since then, the pages of human history have been soaked with the blood of countless murders.In the sixth commandment God declares his hatred of murder. Though the command itself does not include a reason, we learn in Genesis 9:6 that God hates murder because every person is made in the image of God. Killing others is an affront to God himself. Because only God can create life, only God may take it. After Abel’s murder, God swiftly brought Cain to justice.We should hate murder too. We should hate the senseless killing we see in our world and in our societies—not only murders recognized as crimes, but also those considered as “medical” necessities that represent a devaluing of human life. We should hate the taking of life as an offense to God and to his design for human society.  Jesus, you gave up your life for us so that we might live for you. Help us to honor, value, and protect others as you call us to do. Amen.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. — Romans 13:1 Throughout history, most cultures around the world have understood the family as the “building block” of human society. And many of these cultures operate with the foundational idea that where the family is strong, the society is strong.This general understanding of the importance of the family unit should come as no surprise, since this is how God has ordered human social life for flourishing. In the family, children learn to honor, respect, and obey their parents, whom God has given them. From lessons learned in the home, children mature into productive citizens in the societies where God, in his sovereign wisdom, has placed them. And just as God has called children to honor and obey their parents, all people are called to honor and obey the earthly authorities God has established.So the scope of the fifth commandment extends beyond the family to include the authority of teachers, elders, pastors, and governing authorities. In Romans 13 the apostle Paul lays out in detail the consequential meaning of submitting to those in authority over us. No earthly authority is absolute, of course. But in general God calls us to submit to governing authorities and to pray for wisdom as they make decisions for the common good. Authorities and governments can be changed, if necessary, but if they seek our good and that of our neighbors, they generally serve as God’s instruments for peace and well-being.  Almighty God, as we trust in your love and wisdom, help us to honor and obey those in authority over us. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. — Proverbs 23:22 Some years ago, as our nearly adult daughter was on the verge of “leaving the nest,” I mentioned something about the fifth commandment’s call for children to obey their parents. She looked me in the eye and asked, “Does the Bible really teach that adult children need to obey their parents?”That was a great question, and I’ve often thought about it since then. On the one hand, she was right: as children grow into adults, the dynamics of obedience to their parents will change. Yet the instruction for children to honor and respect their parents, regardless of their age, remains at the core of the commandment.In this section of Proverbs we find the helpful advice to “listen to your father”—and this points to the fact that through experience gained from years of life’s ups and downs, our parents may well have significant wisdom to offer us. We also find here a wise reminder not to dismiss or neglect our aging parents. In fact, for many of us today, caring for aging parents can be one of the most challenging seasons of our lives. Yet as God placed our early care into the hands of our parents, he also places the care of our elderly parents into our hands.May we strive to do our best to love and honor our parents throughout our entire lives, as God calls us to do.  Father, thank you for the gift of parents. Help us to obey them when we are young, and to honor and respect them throughout our lives. Amen.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. — Ephesians 6:1 Have you ever noticed that most of the Ten Commandments forbid certain behaviors while only some call for positive action? The fourth commandment, for example, is positive, calling us to keep the Sabbath. And the fifth calls for honoring our parents. What’s more, only the fifth commandment includes a promise.The people of Israel took this commandment very seriously. Children could be stoned to death for being stubborn and rebellious to their parents (Deuteronomy 21:21).In the New Testament, the apostle Paul takes this commandment seriously as well, but he frames it positively in the context of life in Christ. While discussing family relationships and how to submit to each other in love, Paul instructs children to obey their parents. He doesn’t call for merely obeying parents’ directions, though; he calls for the deeper duty of honoring and respecting parents as well. When we honor and obey our parents, we honor and obey God and celebrate his gift of this fundamental human relationship in our lives.Paul notes that parents too have a basic responsibility to their children. Parenting children is an awesome responsibility that includes nurturing love, wisdom, and patience. When children and parents submit to each other in love in the life God has given them, we can expect to see flourishing, peace, and wisdom.  Father in heaven, thank you for the blessings of family life. Help us as parents and children to mirror your love and care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Often Sunday nights are my least favorite time of the week. Though I enjoy my work, Monday morning means rising early to face a demanding new workweek. At times, however, those feelings of reluctance about the coming week remind me of the promise of the eternal Sabbath.In the context of our Bible reading for today, Jesus rebukes the Jewish religious leaders for taking a legalistic approach to daily living. They were critical of the way Jesus and his followers observed the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-14), and those leaders thought they had all the answers about following the law and getting right with God.But it’s impossible for any of us to get right with God by trying to follow the law perfectly, and Jesus knew that. So he invites all who are weary and burdened to come to him, because he alone will give us true rest.Couched in Jesus’ invitation is his declaration that he is the only Savior. Only he has the power to give his followers rest from sin and from fruitless striving to please God. In short, Jesus himself is our true Sabbath. He promises us peace with God—true, lasting peace —and this is available for us now, wherever we are.Though it may seem as if we are forever facing challenges, we can count on Jesus to be our forever Sabbath. We can look forward to resting in God’s presence with all of his children eternally. Freed from pain, sorrow, and fear of death, we can worship God and enjoy him forever in Christ.  Lord Jesus, Savior of all who come to you, help us to find our rest in you, now and always. Amen.

Early on the first day of the week… — John 20:1 While I was growing up, there were certain things our family did not do on Sundays. We did not eat at restaurants, go shopping, or work in the yard, among other things. Occasionally we would go swimming on a Sunday, but only after sunset. Over the years, that definition of “keeping the Lord’s Day” has changed for many of our friends and family.The understanding of keeping the fourth commandment has changed since the people of Israel received it as well. The Israelites strictly and carefully (and often legalistically) observed their Sabbath on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). But after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, the early Christians began to celebrate their Sabbath on the first day of the week (Sunday), calling it “the Lord’s Day” in celebration of Jesus’ rising from the grave.While observance of this day has varied in different times and places, a core element stands at the center of remembering and celebrating Jesus’ victory over sin and death: worship.Though we can and should worship God in everything we do, the New Testament emphasizes the importance of meeting weekly as Christ’s body to worship together— praising God, hearing his Word, sharing the sacraments, and fellowshiping with each other. Till Jesus returns, worship will remain at the heart of keeping the Lord’s Day.  Lord Jesus, your resurrection frees us from sin and death and unites us as one body throughout the earth to worship and praise you when we gather together. Amen.

God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. — Genesis 2:3 On Friday night, after a long, busy workweek, it’s not unusual for me to fall into bed with a sense of relief. I am so ready for a rest!After creating the heavens and the earth, God gave us the example of taking a rest, and he blessed the seventh day of the week as holy. Does that mean God was exhausted like we can be at the end of a week of work? No, God has infinite power and energy; he doesn’t need rest as we do. God paused because he was finished creating. We are limited and finite in our power and energy, however, so we all need to rest from our work. To help us, God built into the rhythm of our world the gift of a day of physical and spiritual rest.Does God’s gift of a day of rest mean that we can use this rest for whatever purpose we like? No, at the very heart of taking a day of rest is the deliberate pause to confess that God is our Creator, sustainer, and provider. The fourth commandment reminds us that we depend on God to provide rest for us. However, if we use that day of rest merely for our own delight, we act as if the day belongs to us because we have earned it. When we honor God’s gift of rest as the commandment directs us to, we acknowledge that only in God do we find the rest we truly need. Thank you, God, for the wonderful world you have made. Thank you also for the gift of weekly rest in our busy lives. Help us to trust in you as we honor your gift of rest. Amen.

Abraham said, “I swear it.” — Genesis 21:24 An oath is a solemn promise or declaration of the truth. In Jesus’ day, it was common for people to offer oaths to add weight to their promises or statements. For example, people would claim to solemnly swear by “heaven,” “earth,” or “Jerusalem.” But depending on how their oaths were worded, they might or might not be binding. For instance, swearing by Jerusalem wasn’t necessarily binding, but swearing toward Jerusalem was binding. Jesus strongly denounced this deceptive approach, saying, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37).Does this mean that if you take an oath, calling on God’s name, you would violate the commandment against misusing God’s name? The simple answer is both “yes” and “no.” If you rashly say something like “I swear to God” or “As God is my witness” to a promise or a statement just for the sake of emphasis, that may indeed be a misuse of God’s name—especially if what you are stating is questionable or not even sincere. It’s different, though, with oaths taken in a court of law or in some other weighty situation. In cases like that, an oath can “promote truth and trustworthiness for God’s glory and for our neighbor’s good” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 101).In general, we need to take care that we honor God in all that we say, and we especially do so when we speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).  Help us, Lord, to honor you by speaking the truth. And please forgive us when we fall short. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” — Exodus 3:14 In the third commandment, God teaches his people to revere his holy name, warning that they may not treat his name lightly. Over time, the Israelites took this command so seriously that they refrained from even saying God’s name aloud.As a result, whenever we read the name “LORD” in our English Bibles today, we are reading what the people of Israel said—Adonai, meaning “Lord” —in place of the name that God revealed to Moses: Yahweh, or “I AM WHO I AM.” The word “Lord” (Adonai) fittingly indicates “power,” “authority,” “influence,” and other important attributes of reverence for God’s name, showing respect for God’s ultimate place and authority over the whole universe.Today, many Christians boldly say aloud God’s name “Jehovah” (a rendition of Yahweh) because the opposite of taking God’s name lightly is to take it too seriously, as ancient Israel did. We need to acknowledge and confess God’s greatness and almighty power by properly expressing and honoring his name. Even better, we may respectfully and devotedly call God “Father,” as Jesus taught by his own example. Calling God “Father” not only acknowledges the Lord’s power and authority but also reveals God’s tender, loving care for us. We are God’s children, reconciled to him and adopted through the work of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  Father, thank you for making us your children through Jesus, your Son. Help us to live each day in devotion to you and with love for others. Amen.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. . . .” — Matthew 6:9 Many years ago I climbed a mountain in Colorado to watch the sun rise. As the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, someone in a nearby group of hikers used a vulgar, profane reference to God to describe the breathtaking beauty of that dawning morning. All of these years later, I still shudder when I recall that exclamation of blasphemy.We should never misuse God’s name. But what about times when we might use popular expressions that connect with God’s name? Some argue that, like Christmas trees and Easter eggs, those words have lost all connection to their original religious meaning. The point of the third commandment, however, is to treat God’s name as holy—at all times, in all places, and in all situations.With some humility and self-discipline, we might think it can be fairly easy to keep this commandment. But truly honoring God’s name means more than not saying something inappropriate.We truly honor God’s name by trusting in his promises and taking his Word seriously, and by representing God and his love faithfully in the ways we interact with others, wherever we are. If we don’t honor God with faithfulness every day in all we do, our attempts to keep the third commandment may be more like holding on to a superstition.When we seek to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, we will honor his name as well.  “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” May we keep your name holy by living faithfully for you, in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” — John 4:24 Years ago, while visiting in Kolkata, India, I passed through a narrow alley tightly packed with small workshops. These shops were a beehive of skilled artisans noisily hammering metals, carving wood, and pouring plaster casts to make idols. And after they were colorfully decorated, the figures were worshiped by millions of Hindus in the city.In the first commandment, God calls his people to worship him alone. In the next commandment, God forbids the making and worshiping of idols or of any representations of himself for worship. God abhors idols, and he warns that people who keep worshiping them will be punished. Seeing idols should fill us with sorrow and compassion for the people who worship them, and this should prompt us to share with them about the one true God and Savior of us all.Now, if we don’t worship idols crafted by artisans, does that mean we can lightly skip over the second commandment? No—this commandment also deals with how we worship the one true God.And how do we rightly worship God? Jesus explained that we “must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” This means we are called to worship God by acknowledging him as the Creator of heaven and earth and by following his Son, Jesus. We worship God by gathering to hear and obey his Word. We worship God by loving and serving people who are made in his image—that is, everyone.  Father, may all who worship idols turn to you in their spiritual longing. Teach us all to worship you “in the Spirit and in truth.” Amen.

“All the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.” — 1 Chronicles 16:26 Some years ago in Cairo, Egypt, I saw an image of Ra, the Egyptian sun god. Ra is portrayed as a colorful, striking figure with a falcon’s head and a sun disk perched above him. Ra was worshiped as the most important and powerful of the gods of ancient Egypt. But he wasn’t the only one; the Egyptians worshiped over 2,000 gods and goddesses.Gathered at Mount Sinai after more than 400 years of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites were familiar with Ra and other Egyptian gods. So it’s no surprise that in the first of the commandments God gave them, he said, “You shall have no other gods before me.”The God who had brought Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12- 14), who provided for their every need and made promises to them, also called his people to give him their sole allegiance. As the one true God, the Lord who made the heavens and the earth called Israel to worship him as their only God. He commanded them to worship him alone, trust only in him, look to him for every good thing, and humbly and patiently love him, fear him, and honor him with all of their heart, soul, and mind.I saw Ra, the old sun god of Egypt, in a museum display of dusty, ancient history. Ra was just a figment of the Egyptians’ imagination. But the one true God, who is still with us today, is as living and active as ever, and he commands us to love and serve only him, with our whole being, as Jesus did.  Father God, you made us to worship you alone. Keep our hearts focused on you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. — Romans 7:12 When I was a boy, the Ten Commandments were read almost every Sunday at church. The reading seemed long and dour. As I grew older, though, I learned that reading the law in worship is a fitting response of gratitude to God and a guide for spiritual growth.The Ten Commandments have more than one purpose. God’s law convicts us of our sin, and it points us to the grace and forgiveness we experience in trusting God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as our one and only Savior. When we trust in Jesus and we are no longer under the curse of sin, what happens to the law? In short, the Ten Commandments, which reveal God’s perfect will, become a guide, a standard for followers of Jesus.Do you want to know how God wants you to live your daily life in relation to him and with others? Look to the Ten Commandments, which reveal God’s holy, righteous, and good will for our everyday lives.We cannot keep God’s law perfectly in this life. Though we are forgiven in Christ, we still fail—again and again.But, trusting in God’s grace, we can ask forgiveness for our daily sins, and we can pray that by the Holy Spirit’s power we will continue to become like our Savior, Jesus Christ, who kept all of God’s commands perfectly.  Father God, thank you for your good and perfect will. Help us to strive every day to love and serve you and others. Amen.

Through the law we become conscious of our sin. — Romans 3:20 When I am sitting in an airplane and waiting for us to taxi out to a runway, I can’t always tell when the plane starts to move. But if I look outside and focus on a still object, I can see whether the plane is moving.In some ways the Ten Commandments are like that, acting as a landmark to show us how we are living in God’s world.Unfortunately the commandments do not reveal movement in a positive direction. They show us how easily we can stray away from God toward destruction. Though God has given us these instructions for living and prospering in his world, we fall short in loving and obeying him. Indeed, as Romans 3 says in our passage for today, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Since none of us can live up to God’s holy standards, we are all sinners who have broken God’s law. We deserve God’s just punishment for our sins.We can’t earn our salvation, and we can’t fix our rebellious relationship with God. That’s the bad news. But the good news is this: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Only faith in Jesus Christ, who obeyed God’s law perfectly and gave his life as a sacrifice for us, can wash away our sins and make us right with God.The Ten Commandments show us clearly that we are sinners. At the same time, they point us to the only way we can find salvation: through Jesus. Father God, your commandments show that we have sinned and cannot save ourselves. Move us to faith in your Son, Jesus, the only one who can ever save us. Amen.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” — Matthew 5:17 A stop sign on a nearby streetcorner is visible from our front yard. I often notice how people observe this traffic regulation. Some drivers come to a full stop before crossing the intersection. Many others merely slow down before rolling on through it. Some drivers don’t slow down at all.If we’re honest, most of us will admit that we don’t always agree with or even obey some laws. Some laws make perfect sense to us, and we readily obey them. But we might ignore other laws, like when we drive up to a stop sign that can seem unnecessary or inconvenient.But what about God’s laws? The Old Testament is filled with laws, rules, and regulations. Lots of dietary and ceremonial rules that applied to God’s people before Jesus came are obsolete today. Jesus fulfilled those when he died to pay for our sin once for all (Hebrews 9-10) and then rose from the grave to give us new life. But the Ten Commandments are not optional. Jesus summarized those when he taught about loving God and loving our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-40). The Ten Commandments tell us how we are to live in response to God and with the people around us.This month, as we reflect on the Ten Commandments, we will see how relevant they are for our everyday lives.  Father God, only in loving and obeying you, as we have learned through Jesus, can we find peace, joy, and new life. Help us to live for you and to share your love and good news with neighbors everywhere. Amen.

Now may the God of peace, who . . . brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus . . . work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ. . . . — Hebrews 13:20-21 It has been a blessing to be a beekeeper. My hope is that— in the process—plants, creatures, and other parts of God’s creation have benefited. In any healthy relationship, blessings flow both ways. Being a beekeeper, I know that I have received more than I have given. I have learned about and been inspired by the bees’ life in community, recognizing and honoring all members, working and serving together, communicating well, and much more. In addition, I’ve been able to enjoy and share the sweet honey made by bees, and to give thanks for the health benefits it brings.The blessing from Hebrews 13:20-21 reflects well the flow of God’s blessings to us and through us. “Peace” refers to the biblical teaching of shalom— physical and spiritual well-being in a flourishing, nurturing environment with God and his people. Shattered by our waywardness, we desperately need to be shepherded into shalom. Our great shepherd’s rescue, nurture, protection, and guidance are all necessary for our restored thriving and well-being.While honeybees may do reasonably well without a beekeeper, human beings do not do well without a shepherd. People wreck and ruin God’s creation and one another. Only Jesus fills the role of “great shepherd,” coming to rescue us and to “work in us what is pleasing to him.” What a beautiful blessing! Are you experiencing and sharing it? Lord of shalom, equip us and work in us through Jesus to bring blessing into your world and bring glory to you. Amen.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” — Luke 24:5-6 When winter has passed and I check on our bees in the early spring, I think of the question the angels asked the women at Jesus’ tomb: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Many beehives become “dead-outs” after a long winter. The best hope for a beekeeper is that the hive will be able to be revived by the surviving queen and worker bees.The lives of people, animals, insects, plants, and all creation are cyclical. The cycle—birth, life, and death--can be both delightful and vicious, and both bright and dreary. Then the next generation takes its turn. The revival of a honeybee hive can be hopeful, and yet there’s an end in sight. Many people settle for that, but we may also ask, “Is that all there is?”The men and women who had followed Jesus went to his tomb expecting to find the dead among the dead. So it was shocking to be confronted with the surprise that Jesus had risen from the dead! As Jesus’ followers have come to know, he is alive today, tomorrow, and forever.Jesus’ followers celebrate an everlasting spring. After his resurrection, Bible passages call him “the firstfruits” of those who have died. As his followers, we share in his victory over death. We follow Jesus from death into life, certain that in him we have resurrection life. We can trust the risen and living Savior forever! Creator God, thank you for giving us “new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Live in and through us, we pray, by your Holy Spirit. Amen.

You have made [human beings] a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. — Psalm 8:5 Thankfully, many organizations are tracking the health of honeybees today. Since the alarming announcement of CCD (see July 28), some corrective actions have been taken by beekeepers and governments. As a result, honeybee populations have mainly stabilized. However, a hidden disaster for pollinators is looming ever larger. Wild bee populations are dying off too. These other bees pollinate 80 percent of flowering plants and trees worldwide. The catastrophic cost of losing bees would be inestimable for farming, economies, wildlife, and the environment.Human greed and carelessness play an outsize role in the use of pesticides and the ongoing habitat loss that threaten bees. As a result, “Save the bees!” movements have sprouted up around the globe. These campaigns are similar to calls to “Save the planet” and other efforts in past years.In light of Psalm 8, humanity’s threat to bees and to our own environment is ironic. Human beings, made in God’s image, have the honor to care wisely for God’s creation and his creatures. But when we mismanage God’s good creation, we harm ourselves and all creation as well.The good news is that the perfect human has come in Jesus Christ to restore us to our role of truly caring for God’s creation. Let’s learn and do what we can to care for the world we live in. Lord, the earth and everything in it is yours. Empower us to restore your creation for your purposes and glory. Amen.

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” — Matthew 24:6 About 20 years ago, a massive threat to honeybees everywhere on our planet was fearfully announced. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) was named and blamed for about 10 percent of hives’ dying off in 2006-2007. “Would this be the beginning of the end for honeybees?” we wondered. The effects of CCD on crops were also forecast to be catastrophic for humans and for other life on the planet. While the threat of CCD has decreased a bit recently, the menace and mystery remain.Back in the days of Jesus’ teaching ministry, his followers worried about “the end of the age.” And Jesus’ response to their concerns about end-time catastrophes and his coming again is somewhat puzzling and mysterious. Wars, disasters, persecutions, and false teachers/messiahs are ongoing terrors that he calls “the beginning of birth pains.” Since those days and long before them, disasters and disorders have come and gone. CCD and the COVID-19 pandemic are just a couple of new arrivals in our era today.Jesus said, “Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” So we need to listen to his words: “Watch out that no one deceives you.” And we need to remain faithful in following him—showing mercy and bringing the good news of God’s coming kingdom.  Jesus, thank you for rescuing us from the devil’s deceptions and our wayward anxieties. Make us watchful and confident in proclaiming that you have the whole world in your hands. Amen.

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the . . . powers of this dark world and . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. — Ephesians 6:12 When we moved to our latest home near a cherry orchard, I imagined that the beautiful cherry blossoms would be a great source of pollen and nectar for our bees. So I was horrified one day to see a tractor rolling through the orchard and spraying insecticide on the cherry trees. I knew the unseen poison would likely harm the bees. The orchard owner offered to spray in the evening when the bees would be in their hives. Yet I knew the bees would be hurt.Honeybees struggle with a host of seen and unseen enemies, including insecticides, from which they need to be defended. First and following generations of bees may be harmed beyond repair, bringing about the demise and death of many bees and even entire hives.Toward the end of his letter to Christ-followers in Ephesus, Paul reminds his listeners that our main struggle is against invisible forces and powerful enemies directed by the devil. Legions of threatening forces can be seen all around and within, yet we must also be aware of the invisible and unseen foes. Throughout life we need to “be strong in the Lord.” And we must make use of every weapon God provides to defend and sustain us “in his mighty power.” May we serve God faithfully against the devil and his schemes.  Lord, empower us to use all the weapons you provide for our defense against spiritual enemies. Together with all Christfollowers, may we stand firm as we depend on you, in Jesus. Amen.

I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me. — Psalm 13:5 A question many people ask about honeybees is “How do they survive the cold months of winter?” The answer is that worker bees form a tight cluster around the queen, with their heads pointed toward her in the center. Then they vibrate (shiver) their muscles to generate heat for the queen and themselves. They also shift positions constantly from the warm, inner core to the outer layers of the cluster so that the bees on the outside don’t get too cold. And their stored food gives them the energy to keep going.The main question of Psalm 13 is “How long, LORD?” This question expresses deep dismay over having to endure the attacks and successes of an enemy. The psalmist seems to have wrestled with this enemy’s threats and advances for a long, dark time without relief.Sometimes our struggles and setbacks in life can make us feel that way too. I have also engaged in this kind of wondering if I am lost in troubles of my own making and/or in struggles with the relentless wickedness in our world. A common question is “How are we going to get through this?”A helpful response is in the psalmist’s closing lines. The writer recalls the Lord’s unfailing love and goodness and looks ahead with hope, expressing joy in the Lord’s salvation. May we recognize that the Lord faithfully sustains and preserves our lives each day! Lord, look on us and give light to our eyes amid the cold, dark days of our struggles. Guide us to trust in you and praise you faithfully. Amen.

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22-23 By the time snow began to fall in November last year, our honeybees had been preparing for months for the transition to winter weather. With fading daylight hours and falling temperatures where we live in Michigan, the bees had begun storing up honey and pollen in late summer and “bee bread” (a mix of nectar, honey, and enzymes) in early autumn. When the temperature outdoors dropped to about 55°F (12-13°C), hardier bees in the hive started taking over feeding and warming the queen to keep her alive during the cold, dark days of winter.The prophetic poetry of Lamentations is cold and darkening. God’s people at that time had been steadily approaching the brutal chill of being conquered and exiled. The armies of the cruel, cold-blooded Babylonian Empire were coming.For God’s people whose hearts had grown cold, no reprieve was predicted. The chilling consequences of disobedience and wickedness were approaching as certainly as a bitterly cold, dark winter.Today’s verses appear right in the midst of Jeremiah’s laments on the destruction, devastation, and mass deportation of God’s people during the invasion by Babylon. Like a ray of warm sunshine, these verses assure us that “the LORD’s great love,” compassions, and faithfulness are available to us each day. Let’s remember this in whatever cold and dark times we find ourselves in.  “Great is your faithfulness, O God [our] Father.” In all the seasons of life you have been here with and for us. Help us to trust in you. Amen.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” — Isaiah 43:19 When my son and I started beekeeping, we were especially keen on harvesting honey from our beehives. Minimizing our investment in equipment was also a goal. The solution was to use a primitive method of harvesting by scraping the honey-filled combs from our frames and draining the honey from the wax. Happy with the yield of honey, we wondered what to do with the pile of beeswax that resulted from this process.Beeswax itself is a treasure. Beekeepers and YouTubers supply loads of information about processing and using beeswax. The virtues of beeswax candles for home and worship are well known, for example. These all-natural candles are eco-friendly, smell like the fragrant outdoors, and are safe for air quality. Many fans also tout the benefits of beeswax as lip balm and for treating rashes and acne. Some people even claim that beeswax can help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and lower cholesterol levels.Some of these benefits might be debatable, but in God’s creation we often learn that nothing need be wasted or thrown away. Similarly, with God, anyone can be rescued, refined, and repurposed. People facing judgment amid catastrophe needed to hear this in Isaiah’s day, and we also need to hear this wisdom today. God loves us and is with us always. He will deliver us and do new things in, with, and through us.  Lord, thank you for telling us that we are chosen and loved by you. Guide us to face change and to embrace the new life you make possible for us through Jesus. Amen.

He said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. — Ezekiel 3:3 My morning ritual includes a cup of tea mixed with apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of honey. I believe this bittersweet drink is good for digestion and fighting allergies. It seems also that a spoonful of honey may be good medicine that keeps my head clear.In Ezekiel’s time as a prophet, he received messages from God to warn his people of the coming destruction from Babylon. The messages were bittersweet and meant to prepare God’s people for a great disaster, the loss of their homeland and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s words of prophecy were intended as medicine to purify and preserve God’s people.For too long these people had been mixing with other religions and eating at the tables of false gods. So they could not stomach the messages of this edible scroll, and they would not listen. Ezekiel was able to bring the messages because he had ingested, digested, and internalized the “sweet as honey” Word of God in his heart and mind. The Word of God sustained and energized him to speak the Lord’s message.God’s Spirit-breathed Word in the Bible, given and gathered over thousands of years, is true and bittersweet. What are you doing to ingest, digest, and internalize this Word? Is God’s Word purifying and energizing you so that his message can go out to others?  Lord, protect us from the sickening messages of the toxic world around us. Plant your Word in our hearts. Rescue, purify, and use us to speak your words of life. Amen.

If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit. — Proverbs 25:16 Late summer to early fall is usually the time when beekeepers “find” honey. At that time of year for bees, the days of gathering pollen and nectar are winding down. Wise beekeepers provide extra room in the hive, taking advantage of the bees’ hoarding instinct and “tricking” them into making more honey than they need. A healthy hive will often have two to three times as much honey as the bees will need for winter. The beekeepers then take the extra honey, making sure to leave enough for the bees to survive on.Finding honey is not so difficult with the hive boxes and removable frames we have today. In the wild, though, it can be a lot more challenging to find and gather this treasure. Through the centuries people have learned to search for honey in hollow trees, small caves, remote cliffs, and other protected spots that are near abundant varieties of flowering plants.While honey is sweet, our proverb for today tells us to “eat just enough” and not too much. It makes good sense not to overdose on honey—or on any of the sweet things in life. Wisdom calls us to a healthy balancing act.Sadly, the siren song of our world today is that “more is always better.” But finding honey reveals the wisdom of enjoying sweet things in life within wholesome limits.In what ways is the Spirit of God directing you to set wise limits in your life?  Thank you, Lord, for the sweet things in life. Guide us to follow you and to gain a heart of wisdom. In Jesus, Amen.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! — Psalm 119:103 Reading books to my children and grandchildren is one of my sweetest memories. And stories about Winnie the Pooh always make me chuckle:Isn’t it funny, How a bear likes honey? Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!Before we became beekeepers, my son and I took a class. At the outset, the instructor noted that most people get into beekeeping for the honey. This was a major goal for us as well. Honey’s reputation for sweetness is richly deserved. The flavor varies with the nectar and pollen gathered by the bees. People often say that eating local honey helps to combat allergies as well.Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, savors God’s Word in its many forms. The Word blossoms as God’s law, providing us with direction. It blooms in the shape of God’s judgments, which help us to learn right from wrong. God’s Word also flowers in his testimonies to inspire us to be faithful and true, like God.The most beautiful form of God’s Word was revealed when “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). This Word, Jesus Christ himself, is the whole package—all of God’s promises are fulfilled in him.May we all trust and love Jesus! Each day we can take in God’s Word like the sweetest honey.  “Beautiful Savior! King of creation,” in all the pages of the precious Word of God, help us to see you, Jesus, as the one who leads us into everlasting life. In your name, Amen.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. — 1 Corinthians 13:4 Over the years, so much has been written about beekeeping that it can be easy to be distracted by details and lose sight of the “big picture.” With bees, it’s primarily about maintaining the hive, a living superorganism. Rev. L. L. Langstroth, who invented the movable frame hive (1852), recommended listening to the “hum” of the hive for inspiration. A quick internet search shows that lots of beekeepers compare the hum of the hive to a symphony.What makes the hive a harmonious home for bees? We might like to think that bees survive and thrive by way of virtues, but they just follow the wonderful instincts God provided when he created them.In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we can see that the community life of Christ-followers is, sadly, not always loving and harmonious. In fact, sometimes the church is far from that ideal. A whole other dynamic is necessary for a community to become wholesome. Living by the virtues we find in 1 Corinthians 13 requires that we selflessly love one another.The inspired text of 1 Corinthians 13 reflects the self-giving love of God, in whose image Christ-followers are being recreated. In Christ, we can be part of a body in which all “have equal concern for each other” (12:25). The one body of Christ is the community in which each member lovingly works to build up and care for one another in the Lord, the one and only Savior. Lord, thank you for being the way to faith, hope, and love. Grow us to become mature in you as each part of your body does its work. Amen.

They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down. — Psalm 118:12 How does the image of swarming bees affect you? Disaster and horror movies that picture bees stinging people to death will make some viewers overly fearful of bees.Bees will sometimes try to nest in odd places. For example, I heard of a swarm of honeybees clustering on the fender of a yellow Corvette Stingray. Were they drawn to the car’s bright color?I encountered my first swarm of bees while trimming a hedge. At first, I heard some buzzing that grew louder and stronger. Looking around, I saw a swarm of bees on a nearby tree branch. I knew that honeybee swarms are harmless as long as they are not disturbed. They likely had left an overcrowded hive with their queen, and their scout bees were looking for a choice location to start a new hive.The writer of Psalm 118 seems to have been familiar with swarming bees. He said that being surrounded by enemies was like having a swarm of bees around him. Maybe you know what that’s like. Being in a seemingly impossible situation with frustrated or threatening people swirling around can arouse fear and anxiety.Psalm 118 indicates that the way into secure daily living and a bright future is to look to the Lord for relief and rescue. Our guarantee is that “his love endures forever.” When we are feeling overwhelmed, let’s look to the Lord! Lord, inspire us to trust in you and to cry out to you when we are feeling overwhelmed. Thank you for your steadfast love and abundant goodness. Amen.

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. . . .” — Matthew 28:19 Late August is the best time for us to pick our raspberries. That’s when the berries are turning ripe, red, and sweet. At the same time, honeybees, bumblebees, and other bees are buzzing all around and pollinating, doing their everyday work and living. The honeybees collect pollen and nectar to build their hive and produce food—honey to eat now and throughout the winter. As they go about their work, bees pollinate anything that has flowers. And for us their work produces fruit, vegetables, and foliage in abundance.Bees do not need to be told to go out, gather, and pollinate. It’s programed into their nature. It’s all about doing what God made them to do so that plants and trees will thrive and provide food for all creatures, especially us humans. What’s more, doing what they do helps their hive to survive and thrive.As followers of Jesus, we all are instructed to go and make disciples, inviting people to become followers of Jesus. Wherever we go about doing our work and living in God’s wide world, we can touch people with the message of Jesus’ love. This is the desire of Jesus’ heart. Like pollinating bees, we can touch the lives of lost people and pray that the love of Christ will produce the fruit of faith in them.Have you embraced this mission? In what ways are you engaged in it? Lord, keep sending your followers to bring your message of love and mercy everywhere. Use our deeds and words to draw people to you. Amen.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 In our garden one summer day, I was suddenly assaulted by a bee buzzing furiously around my head. Panicking (never a good idea), I flailed furiously with my hat, trying to swat it away. The bee zeroed in and sunk its stinger into my nose. When it circled and then flew in to sting me again, I knew it could not be one of my honeybees. They lose their stingers and die after one sting. Thankfully, I was able to escape with only one sting.Are you afraid of bees? Many people are. Bee stings are painful. And if you are allergic, bee stings can be dangerous and even deadly. Getting too many bee stings at once could overwhelm and cause death for anyone.Are you afraid of death? Paul’s words to Christ-followers in 1 Corinthians 15 are aimed at calming our fears of being stung to death. Paul explains that sin delivers the sting that leads to death. When people go their own way, their sin is like a deadly stinger that shoots venom into them, resulting in death. The only antidote to the poisonous venom of sin and death is in Jesus—his death for our sins and his resurrection victory over death.We can trust in Jesus and walk in his resurrection power each day, sharing with others the good news of salvation and new life in him. Dear Jesus, you came to die for our sin, taking on the sting of death for all who trust in you. Assure us that in your resurrection power we can be free of sin and death and rise to new life with you. In your name, Amen.

We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. — 2 Corinthians 2:15 People who have studied bee communication have observed a complex system in which bees use pheromones (scents). These “chemical messengers” that bees produce and receive are needed for a hive to thrive. For example, scents are central to the mating process. And if the hive is threatened, worker bees give off an alarm scent that rallies other bees to go out and sting potential intruders. Also, each hive is marked with its own queen’s scent so that the gatherer bees from that hive will find their way safely back to it.In communication among living things, so much is shared in subtle ways. For instance, we can communicate nonverbally through gestures, looks, posture, tone of voice, and so on. People who have studied human interactions assert that 80-90 percent of our communication is nonverbal, and this can either support or contrast with our words.As Christ-followers, we are encouraged to infuse our communication with the “pleasing aroma of Christ.” There is no way to fake this scent. It can come only through our union with Christ. Ephesians 5:2 recommends, for example, that we “walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Doing that, we can spread the pleasing scent of Christ to the people around us. Lord Jesus, may our actions and words be infused with your scent so that others may sense your presence in us and be drawn to you. Amen.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. — Galatians 5:25 Did you know that honeybees communicate by dancing? Beekeepers have identified three dances used by these bees.Scout bees use the “waggle dance” to describe the distance, direction, and quality of a food source to be gathered. The number of waggles and the length of the dance indicate how rich and how far away the food supply is.In contrast, the “round dance” communicates that a food source is nearby. Moving in small circles on the honeycomb, scouts recruit foragers to go and get this local food.In the “sickle dance,” the bees use a crescent-shaped pattern and make special sounds and vibrations when the colony needs to be defended from a threat. I’m sure this dance was used when I’ve been stung and chased away.Honeybees learn their dance moves by instinct and imitation. But this is not the case for Christ-followers. Our missteps in communication are often damaging and in need of correction. Going with the flow of the sinful nature brings pain and damage to the body of Christ.The dance that Christ-followers need to learn is to “keep in step with the Spirit.” It is essential that we learn to show “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” in all our interactions with one another. Which steps in this dance have you been learning and practicing lately? Spirit of God, fill us with your love and wisdom, that we may keep in step with you in all of our interactions. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.