Whole Magazine

As the new year approaches we prepare to change or even begin a new Bible reading plan. There is no better way to start of the new year than in God's Word. To help you dig deeper in our Bible study time I compiled a list of Bible reading plans to choose from.

READ

And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. — Mark 2:2-4

REFLECT

Ever think of your friendships as a vital part of your relationship with God? Those hearts knitted together with you and God are gifts from on high. Such friends pull us up toward God, always encouraging us to seek him. We learn from one another’s experiences. We’re encouraged to break out of mediocrity and stretch into the persons we were created to be.

Some friends influence dreams. Some mentor us. Some connect us to other important relationships. And our dearest friends would tear off the roof to set us before Jesus!

Friends can also pull us away from God if we let them. Some friendships can send us in wrong directions. We need to discern these and set them aside.

Thank God for good friends. Keep them close. Pray for them, care for them, love them. They are God’s gift to you, for now and for eternity.

PRAY

READ

God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. —2 Corinthians 5:21

REFLECTION

As children we learn about trading: a peanut butter sandwich for a tuna, or a better spot in line at recess for a saved seat on the bus. This important skill helps us as we grow up and begin making purchases or considering career changes. The rule of thumb: always trade up. Let go of one thing for something of greater value to you. In a fair trade, each person is happy with the result.

When we trade guilt and shame of past mistakes for forgiveness, everyone wins. We feel cleansed, set free, joyful. At the same time, God delights in our willingness to give up the burden He wants to carry for us anyway. His son died to make it possible. He wants us to trade up!

While it may seem to us that we get the better end of this deal, the Lord is very pleased with the exchange. In the words of Evelyn Christenson, "The most important exchange of all takes place when God takes our guilt and replaces it with His forgiveness, His cleansing."

PRAY

READ

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? — Matthew 5:44-47

REFLECTION

Harsh words hit us like a fist. Our mouths fall open in disbelief when people take advantage of us, cheat us, make us feel like a punching bag. We can't imagine how such people can look at themselves in the mirror. But we can imagine how we'd like to get our own brand of justice.

What do we do with the hurt? The answer, as always, is to take it to Jesus. We turn over to Him what we cannot understand. We ask Him to give us the grace to pray for those who hurt us—our enemies—for it may be true that those who inflict such pain have experienced deep hurt themselves. Maybe our loving reaction will help soften a hardened heart.

Be first, pray, gritted teeth and all. God will give you the grace you need.

PRAY

READ

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said. “Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” — Genesis 32:24-30

REFLECTION

Talk is cheap. Experiences may make for nice stories, but true change comes from an encounter that touches our heart and erupts into freedom.

We can't have an encounter with God and walk away unscathed. This isn't goose bumps and gold dust. This is is going toe-to-toe with God and wrestling out our questions, discussing our hurt feelings, and dealing with our unforgiveness, pride, jealousy, addictions, or other besetting sins. Our heavenly Father loves us enough to confront us. He tells us the truth in love. We listen. We think. We challenge. We learn. We experience the only One who can change us from the inside out.

Such an encounter is more than just a good story to tell. Priscilla Shirer says it well, "After a person encounters God, she should be changed. It is not enough for us to talk about what we have experienced. We should be living it out flamboyantly." You are so loved, so live like it!

PRAY

READ

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. — John 16:33

REFLECT

God never promised to make life easy.

Julian of Norwich understood that God never said that his followers would be excused from the storms of life, or the travail of difficulties, or the sorrows of disease and discomfort. But God did say that we would not be overcome.

Many people want it to be different. They don't want to believe in a God who would allow storms and sorrows and suffering. Yet God is preparing a perfect place for His followers—it's called heaven. For now, however, we are in the world—called to trust no matter what, called to stand strong. We have the Word of the One who has overcome, the One who makes all things right, the One who has the power to bring good from evil.

Take your tempests and trials to the One who has overcome the world. He will take care of you.

PRAY

READ

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” — Psalm 91:1-2,15-16

REFLECT

Remember when you were little and fell and scraped your knee? You didn't need to be coaxed to seek out a parent. You ran to your mom or dad like a shot, desperately wanting him or her to make it all better. Back then you couldn't understand how much your parent hurt when you were hurting.

On a more infinite scale, our heavenly Parent hurts when we hurt. Edith Schaeffer said, "The only way in which Satan can persecute or afflict God is through attacking the people of God. The only way we can have personal victory in the midst of these flying arrows. . . to call upon the Lord for help."

This is the enemy's only ammunition against an indestructible God. He attacks God by attacking God's followers—us. But that ammunition proves ineffective if we call upon the Lord for help. Satan may persecute and afflict, he may send his arrows, but we are assured the victory. The Lord knows. He hurts with us. When our knees are scraped up by life, we can run to our Father. He promises to make it all better.

PRAY

READ

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. — John 17:13-17

REFLECT

Gracia Burnham penned these words, "I knew that I had a choice. I could give in to my resentment. . . or I could choose to believe what God's Word says to be true whether I felt it or not," she didn't mean them lightly. She had been held captive in a jungle by terrorists for over a year—on the brink of starvation, without modern conveniences, stripped of all freedom and privacy. She recognized that she was held doubly captive—physically and emotionally—if she allowed herself to become angry and to resent her captors. She chose to trust God, knowing that even this horrible circumstance was in his good and perfect plan for her life. She chose to let God work in her rather than putting up walls of bitterness.

What is it, beloved, that is causing you hurt, bitterness, resentment? You have a choice. You can give in to those feelings or, like, Gracia, you can choose to believe that what God's Word says is true, whether it feels like it or not.

One choice leads to captivity, the other to freedom.

PRAY

READ

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you blend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But clove your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. — Luke 6:27-36

REFLECT

In today's passages Jesus mentions seven facets of unconditional love.

1. Love your enemies. (v. 27) 2. Do good to those who hate you. (v. 27) 3. Bless those who curse you. (v. 28) 4. Pray for those that mistreat you. (v. 28) 5. Don't seek revenge. (v. 29a) 6. Give freely. (v. 29b-30) 7. Treat others the way you want to be treated. (v. 31)

These actions—in our own natural human nature—can't be done! It takes a supernatural enabling. It takes experiencing, for ourselves, a supernatural power of love and grace. No part of our own flesh would want to love our enemies, or love someone who has completely mistreated or even hates us. It is only through the power of Christ's love, grace, and mercy inside of us that we can do this. Let us remember that once, we too, were enemies of God. We too, hated Him while He loved us still. It isn't easy by no means, but when we seek God and ask him to enable our hearts to look like His and love like His, He will reveal to us that hurt people hurt people, and healed people heal people.

When we love our enemies, it is proof of the Holy Spirit indwelling within us. It is proof of Christ's love and true righteousness in our lives. It is His light shining through us.

PRAY

Dear Father God. Thank You for loving me, when I didn't love you. Help me to do the same for others, especially those who hurt, mistreat, and hate me. Make my heart look more like yours.