March 25:  Following His Guidance.

HIS PATTERN.
So that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.--Luke 1:4

One of my relatives needed an orthopedic doctor urgently, and someone suggested a specialist who had made an impact on her because of his excellent skills and Christian witness.  The artwork on the walls of his office was all about grace and salvation by faith.  When the doctor was done with the examination, he handed us a little card and asked that we read the text aloud.  "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).  I was amazed at his passion to share Jesus!

This is God's pattern of sharing the gospel with the world: each person sharing Jesus and His grace in their place of employment, study, or in their social circles.  Luke is a case in point.  As far as we can tell, Luke was a physician (see Colossians 4:14), and at some point, he became enamored with salvation through Jesus.  He started traveling with Paul (see Acts 16:10) and became one of his closest companions (Philemon 24).  And this doctor, who had keen interest in the historical events in the life of Jesus and His followers, ended up writing the most words in the New Testament, including in his two books (the Gospel of Luke and Acts).  Luke had an amazing command of the Greek language and put it to good use in writing about Jesus.  Showcasing great cultural sensitivity, Luke wrote about the way and inclusivity of salvation, utilizing radical parables of grace, such as the prodigal son, and the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 15; 18), not found in any other Gospel.  His interest in investigating eyewitnesses' report about Jesus is evident from the start (see Luke 1:1-4).  "It seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught" (Luke 1:3, 4).  Let's ask God to guide us in using our skills and talents to share salvation by faith in Jesus, right now, wherever we are; becoming part of the "chain of witnesses" in the history of salvation!

My Response:____________________________________________________________

March 24:  Following His Guidance.

HIS TIMETABLE.
"For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today."--Acts 24:21

I was delighted to receive a call to ministry.  For the previous fifteen years I had been working in the business world and was now considering leaving it all behind in order to enter ministry.  But the call was to a part-time position, with only a possibility of a full-time position in the future.  Was I supposed to leave my career, my full salary, and my seniority for a part-time job with no guarantees?  Well, when we are certain that God is guiding us, we need to surrender to His timetable.  I took the position and waited....A few months later, I became a full-time minister.

When we read about Paul's powerful testimony in the book of Acts, we see an intrepid preacher, boldly proclaiming the gospel.  He did this over and over again, explaining the prophecies about Jesus, His death, and His resurrection.  In Caesarea, Paul witnessed in front of Governor Felix (Acts 24:10-21).  Felix did not find anything in Paul worthy of death, and "he gave orders to the centurion for him [Paul] to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom." (verse 22).  But as time passed by, every now and then Felix would call Paul, "and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus" (verse 24).  Can you imagine Paul's thoughts?  When will God let me get out of here?  I am testifying about Jesus!  I want to go to other cities!  Yet more time went by.  And Felix had some ulterior motives too: "At the same time too, he [Felix] was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him" (verse 26).  Well, that's great.  But for how long?  What was God's timetable for this gospel preacher?  Now, the startling part: "After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned" (verse 27).  Excuse me?  Two more years?  Why did God allow that?  Well, Paul would get the privilege of testifying about Jesus to Festus, to King Agrippa II, and his sister Bernice (Acts 25; 26), before heading to Rome.  God's schedule is definitely not ours.  We can trust that the One who died to save us, will also guide us to the places, and the timing, that best serves His salvific purposes.

My Response:____________________________________________________________

March 23:  Following His Guidance.

HIS PURSUIT
Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes.--John 19:39

C.S. Lewis describes his surrender to God's incessant pursuit: "You must picture me alone in that room at Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet.  That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me.  In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." *  Within two years he became a Christian.  God doesn't give up on us, or on our loved ones, even when there isn't any evidence that we are accepting His efforts to reach us.  Unrelenting in His pursuit, He guides our souls.

The name of Nicodemus is found in three accounts in the Bible, all in the Gospel of John.  First, Nicodemus sought to meet Jesus by night (John 3:1-21), and even though he didn't publicly acknowledge Him, the seed of the gospel had been placed in his heart.  The second is found in John 7:50, when Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, dissuaded the Pharisees from apprehending Jesus.  The third and last account is found in John 19:39, when Nicodemus brought spices for the burial of Jesus.  Three years had gone by, and the gospel seed finally showed its fruit.  This was the process: "Too proud openly to acknowledge himself in sympathy with the Galilean Teacher, he [Nicodemus] had sought a secret interview.  In this interview Jesus had unfolded to him the plan of salvation and His mission to the world, yet still Nicodemus had hesitated.  He hid the truth in his heart, and for three years there was little apparent fruit...he had in the Sanhedrin council repeatedly thwarted the schemes of the priests to destroy Him.  When at last Christ had been lifted up on the cross, Nicodemus remembered the words that He had spoken to him in the night interview on the Mount of Olives, 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up' (John 3:14); and he saw in Jesus the world's Redeemer." ** Praise God!  He does not give up on us!

My Response:_____________________________________________________
* C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy (New York: HarperCollins, 1955), 266.
** Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1911), 104.

March 22:  Following His Guidance.

HIS HELPER.
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever....I will not leave you as orphans."--John 14:16, 18


I am sure it was providential.  In my own morning devotionals this week, I kept bumping into the story of the spies who went to survey the Promised Land that God had clearly promised to them (Numbers 13; 14).  Their report highlighted the size of the giants; not the power of God.  Only Joshua and Caleb, who had a "different spirit" (Numbers 14:24), kept trying to bring the congregation to choose faith over fear.  But the people chose to focus on the giants instead.  I say this was providential because one of my relatives received a not-so-good report from their doctor.  And we have a choice: to focus on the giants or on the power of God to guide us through this.

When we face giants in our lives, it is imperative to remember who we are in Christ: we are children of the living God, bought with the blood of Jesus, heirs of an eternal inheritance with Him.  We are not orphans; we are not on our own, facing insurmountable obstacles.  We are His, and Jesus promised: "I will not leave you as orphans" (John 14:18).  The One who has purchased our eternal salvation, has also made Himself responsible for us.  He has provided unlimited resources for His beloved children on earth.  Wouldn't you do the same if your children needed help?  Jesus promised that the Father would send "the Spirit of truth" (verse 17).  This member of the Trinity comes to guide us to all truth, and the core Truth is Jesus, whom he comes to glorify and explain (see John 16:13, 14).  He is called, Helper (John 14:16).  The Greek word here is parakletos, which in English may be translated as Comforter, Encourager, Advocate, or One who comes alongside to help.  Jesus Himself is called parakletos as well (1 John 2:1).  God has sent divine Helpers: Jesus as the Savior and the Spirit as the Comforter.  We are not alone.  The giants of sin and death have already been conquered by Jesus on the cross.  And He has made every provision to empower and comfort His children on earth, no matter what they are facing.  Our God is much greater than the giants we face, therefore let's not focus on the size of the giants but on the power of our God.

My Response:__________________________________________________________

March 21:  Following His Guidance.

HIS ADEQUACY.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."--John 14:6

After a long day of travel, we arrived in Budapest to start a short river cruise vacation on the Danube river.  As we were boarding the ship, my husband had an accident; he fell on a metal sheet and cut his hand very badly.  It was obvious that he would need urgent care, but we didn't know where to go or what to do.  The ship's personnel called a doctor.  We waited until a young physician arrived.  After examining his hand, she said that he would need stitches.  Then she said: "Do not worry, I will do everything that is needed right here in your room."  And she did!  We were so thankful and relieved!

It is difficult when we don't understand what is going on, and when we don't know the way forward.  When Jesus was talking about going away to prepare a place for His followers and coming back for them, His disciples didn't really understand and one of them asked Him a question: "Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we don't know where You are going, how do we know the way?' " (John 14:5).  This is a question that reverberates through the hallways of human history.  Have you ever asked this important question: How do we know the way?  Whether we need guidance for eternal salvation or are searching for the next step in our spiritual life, the response of Jesus applies to all of us.  "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me' " (verse 6).  Jesus said that He is everything!  He is the way forward; He is the only path that leads to heaven.  He embodies the truth of the gospel, the self-revelation of God Himself; He is our life and He is more than adequate to meet all of our needs, for He not only shows us the way, but He is the Way!  He is all that we need.  We can trust in His sufficiency!  In the words of the Budapest doctor: Do not worry, I will supply everything that is needed!  Like Thomas, sometimes we feel completely lost and without answers.  Jesus calls us to follow Him, for He will take us safely to our heavenly home.  He not only knows the way, but He is the Way!  Trust the Way!

My Response:____________________________________________________________

March 20:  Following His Guidance.

HIS REVITALIZATION.
And when the doors were shut...for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."--John 20:19


I was astonished to see the high-water mark on the wall.  In June 2013, in the beautiful German city of Passau, the flood waters reached the highest level in more than five hundred years.  Due to the rising waters in the three rivers, the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz, this section of the old city, with its beautiful architecture and tourist attractions, was underwater up to the third floors of its buildings.  It was a tragedy!  Then I saw photos of the residents of the town coming together in order to rebuild their city.  It was amazing!  When I visited Passau in 2018, it was as beautiful as ever.  How does God guide us in rebuilding our lives after tragic events?

The crucifixion of Jesus was the darkest moment for His disciples.  From their perspective, the pounding of each nail and the eventual death of their beloved Master had totally crashed their dreams for the redemption of Israel.  Yet from heaven's perspective, the exact same events were the ones that secured eternal salvation for all!  Jesus had taken upon Himself the punishment of our sins, and He rose from the dead on the third day!  In the evening, the disciples were gathered with doors shut for fear of the Jews.  They didn't know how to begin to rebuild their shattered lives!  What could possibly revitalize their minds and hearts for them to go on?  That's when Jesus showed up and stood in their midst.  His first words to them were: "Peace be with you" (John 20:19).  After a tragic event, when God is rebuilding our lives, it is helpful to understand the way in which Jesus, after His death, revived the hearts of the disciples with His presence, His peace, His revelation, His joy, and His purpose (verses 19-21).  He personally came and stood among them to reveal Himself in a new way and to speak peace.  They rejoiced seeing Jesus in this new light, as He reminded them of His purpose for them: "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (verse 21).  When tragedy strikes, we won't always understand, but God will guide us with His presence, peace, joy, and purpose; and He will always reveal Himself to us in a new and deeper way.

My Response:________________________________________________________

March 19:  Following His Guidance.

HIS ILLUMINATION.
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.--John 1:9

As our tour bus was passing the opera house in Vienna, our guide told us the sad story of its two architects.  Sicardsburg and van der Null designed this world-acclaimed landmark building of Vienna.  However, their design fell under harsh criticism by both the press and the emperor.  It is believed that the unkind comments led van der Null to commit suicide.  Sicardsburg died about ten weeks later.  Neither of them was alive when the opera house opened.

When we base our identity and purpose in life on people's opinions about us, we are bound to lose our way.  There is only one true Light, Jesus Christ, who illuminates our way and reminds us who we are.  He is the source of life for all human beings: "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men" (John 1:4).  In Greek, as in English, both "life" and "Light" are preceded by a definite article: the life was the Light.  Not just a light but the only true Light.  Life is one of John's key themes, including the concepts of eternal life (John 3:16), and abundant life (John 10:10).  He uses the word thirty-six times in his Gospel, more than any other New Testament book.  In Christ was life; He is the Light that illuminates our path.  Jesus, as the Light, is available to the whole human race; "every man" (John 1:9) has the opportunity to accept the Light.  Unfortunately, not everyone will.  The world was made through Him, yet when He came, the world did not receive Him (verses 10, 11).  "But..."  Oh, how I thank God for this but!  "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God." (verse 12).  Yes!  That is who we are.  Children of God!  And our identity and life purpose are found only in Him.  When who we are is rooted in Christ, we are no longer guided by public opinion nor motivated by people-pleasing, or fear about the future.  Jesus is our Light, who guides our steps to eternal life.  He paid our price on the cross, and therefore, we can live with assurance and purpose, because in Him is life.  Let the true Light guide your mind and your heart and illuminate your path today!

My Response:___________________________________________________________

March 18:  Following His Guidance.

HIS WISDOM.
"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent."--Acts 17:30

The archeological sites of Athens are extraordinary.  The Areopagus Hill is of special significance to me because that's where Paul delivered his famous sermon, recorded in Acts 17:22-31.  At the place from where it is believed Paul addressed the men of Athens with the good news of Jesus, there is a bronze plaque with the Greek text of Paul's sermon inscribed on it.  More than two thousand years later, we continue to seek divine wisdom, as Paul did, to find a point of contact with diverse audiences throughout the world that do not know about Jesus Christ.

Athens was a cultural center, showcasing high levels of art, sculpture, literature, oratory, philosophy, et cetera that continue to influence our modern world.  Renowned philosophers, such as Socrates and Plato, had shared their thoughts and ideas there.  Yet this is not what caught Paul's attention when he got to Athens.  "Now while Paul was waiting for them [Silas and Timothy] at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols" (Acts 17:16).  It wasn't the masterpieces that stirred the soul of Paul.  It was the idols and temples.  He started proclaiming the gospel everywhere, to all who would listen: in the synagogue, at the marketplace, and dialoguing with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers (verses 17, 18).  Eventually they took him to the Areopagus, the center of religious and moral discussions, and Paul proclaimed the gospel there.  Yet notice that he did not start with pointing out everything they were doing wrong!  He started by calling them "very religious in all respects" (verse 22).  He went on to say that he noticed the objects of their worship and the altar "To an Unknown God" (verse 23).  The Greeks did not want to displease their gods by accidentally ignoring one they might not know about.  In this Paul received wisdom from God, finding a connection point to proclaim Jesus to them as the unknown God.  He even quoted their own poets!  Let's ask God for wisdom to find a point of contact to share the grace of Jesus with our friends and loved ones who do not know Him.

My Response:______________________________________________________

March 17:  Following His Guidance.

HIS PERMISSION.
After they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.--Acts 16:7

Years ago, I tried to start a group with the purpose of studying and sharing the gospel.  Many people got together to talk about the plan, location of the meetings, et cetera.  But things were not happening as expected.  It truly felt as if we were forcing something that God was not approving.  And it never took off.  It's confusing when we want to do something good, to advance God's kingdom, and God seems to prevent it.  It simply doesn't work out.  Over the years, I have realized that just because something is good doesn't necessarily mean that it is God's will for that time, place, or set of circumstances.

Sometimes the Spirit of God guided Paul away from his plans, even preventing him from preaching the gospel in a particular area.  In Acts 16, during his second missionary journey, Paul arrived at Derbe and Lystra.  After going through the churches that had already been established in that area, "They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia" (verse 6).  If you look at an ancient map, it looks reasonable that they would want to go west, towards Ephesus.  But God prevented them.  F.F. Bruce explains: "Paul's missionary journeys display an extraordinary combination of strategic planning and keen sensitiveness to the guidance of the Spirit of God, however that guidance was conveyed--by prophetic utterance, inward prompting, or the overruling of external circumstances." *  Then they tried to go north, into Bithynia, "and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them" (verse 7).  Eventually, Paul received a vision to cross over into Macedonia (verses 9, 10).  It is crucial to submit ourselves to God's guidance; and that even includes our good plans that seem so obvious to us.  It is essential to remember that He is our Creator, Savior, and Lord.  He knows where, when, and how the preaching of the gospel will be most effective.  We can trust Him, who gave His life for the whole world, to open the doors for Jesus to be lifted up, that He may draw all people to Himself!

My Response:______________________________________________________
* F.F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, NICNT (Grand Rapids, MI: Erdmans, 1988), 306.

March 16:  Following His Guidance.

HIS WILL.
When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod."--Acts 12:11

Visiting the Garden of Gethsemane was one of the most profound experiences of my life.  As I walked among the olive trees, I remembered the Savior's prayer: "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42).  Being there, in the very place where Jesus surrendered to His Father's will in order to save me...well, it was more than I can describe in words.  And God did answer Him, because He always does.  Yet it was not His will to remove the cup, because there was no other way to save us.

When Peter was imprisoned by Herod, the church kept praying fervently for him (Acts 12:5).  I would assume they had also prayed for James, but God, in His sovereign will, allowed James to become the first of the twelve disciples to taste martyrdom; yet He miraculously set Peter free.  When the angel brought him out of the jail, Peter thought he was seeing a vision (verse 9); yet soon he found himself on the street and realized what had happened.  He rushed to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered praying for him.  He wanted to let the believers know that their prayers had been answered positively!  When the servant-girl recognized Peter and ran in to announce that he was at the door, the skeptical response she received was: "You are out of your mind!" (verse 15).  They were so surprised that God had answered their prayer that they couldn't believe it!  You are crazy! they said.  Peter explained how the Lord had delivered him (verse 17) and asked them to report it to others.  Then Peter went away; we are not told where.  His last appearance in the book of Acts is in chapter 15.

God always answers prayer, yet not always as we expect.  Sometimes He says yes, no, no for now, yes for now, or wait.  Prayer is not for us to twist God's arm, but it is the way we submit to His sovereign will.  God will work all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).  Yes, all things, even the painful events in our lives, when His answer was not the one we were expecting.

My Response:__________________________________________________________