Devotional Guide For the week of December 16, 2001

No Place for Jesus.

How affliction ushered in the gospel

To Read: Psalm 119

To Know:

"Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I keep thy word." (Ps.119:67)

The army makes going astray easy. "I'm not your mother" was our drill sergeant's welcome to basic training. His job was to make us into men. He hardened us. The training aimed to make us fearless in the face of any enemy. The tactic was to instill in us a feeling of invincibility. The sergeant's job was easy. Being still in our teens, we already imagined ourselves immortal. Except for defying him, our actions seemed to be free of awful consequences.

The tempter slithered into Eden in order to widen the highway to heaven. His Broadway had no forbidden tree in the way. The Evil One assured the newly formed man and woman that God was wrong. Personal affirmation, not affliction, would be theirs once they took and ate. Never was our race more completely deceived. Affliction followed in waves. Even so, it was that very that ushered in the gospel of the grace of God.

To Do:

The Bible is God's book to the afflicted. Those with their own man-made religious system cannot hear its message. Those who have their faith in Jesus Christ want to know every word that God has spoken. On Tuesday morning, January 1st, these devotional guides will be designed to help us read through the Bible in a year. The Psalmist said, "Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I keep thy word." (Ps.119: 67) We will thrive when we live by every word that has proceeded from the mouth of God. The first step is to read every word.

Saturday: Read James 3-5

Sunday: Read 1 Peter 1-5