Did God Create Evil?

Did God Create Evil?

By Tim Jackson

Did God create evil?

If we believe that God created a perfect world and He is sovereign, where did evil come from? There are some people who believe that His sovereign control includes the creation of evil, and they base their conclusion on the words of Isaiah 45:7. In that verse, God says, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil” (KJV).

In order to understand what God was saying through the prophet Isaiah, we need to look at the words used in the text of Isaiah 45:7 . Hebrew words often have a wide variety of meanings, depending on the immediate context in which the word is used. The job of the translator is to accurately select the best modern English word that is closest to the meaning of the word used in the original Hebrew manuscripts.

The fact that ra’ is contrasted to shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, helps to give parameters to the meaning of ra’. Shalom, again, is a rich word with broad meaning. Depending on the context, shalom can be translated “peace,” “well-being,” “welfare,” “prosperity,” “safe,” “health,” and “peaceable.” in Isaiah 45:7 makes it evident that different translators interpreted the context of Isaiah 45 in different ways. Five different English translations are compared below.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things (KJV).

I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things (NKJV).

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things (NIV).

The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these (NASB).

I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe, I am the Lord, who does all these things (RSV).

The Hebrew term ra’ has a broad spectrum of meanings. It can mean “wickedness,” “mischief,” “bad,” “trouble,” “hurt,” “sore,” “affliction,” “ill,” “adversity,” “harm,” “grievous,” and “sad.” Thus, as with the interpretation of any word, it is the immediate context that dictates the exact nuance of the word to be translated into English.

The fact that ra’ is contrasted to shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, helps to give parameters to the meaning of ra’. Shalom, again, is a rich word with broad meaning. Depending on the context, shalomcan be translated “peace,” “well-being,” “welfare,” “prosperity,” “safe,” “health,” and “peaceable.”

The context of Isaiah 45:7 is a profound declaration of God’s total sovereignty over the affairs of men. God’s stunning revelation that Cyrus, the totalitarian ruler of Persia, was being chosen by Him to be “His anointed” ( Isaiah 45:1 ), the deliverer of the nation of Israel, was shocking to Isaiah’s readers. This is especially true given God’s clear denunciation of idolatry in the immediately preceding context ( Isaiah 44:6-23 ). The irony of this passage is that God reveals how He intends to use a pagan, idol-worshiping dictator like Cyrus to return His people Israel to the land from which they had been deposed by the Babylonian despot, Nebuchadnezzar.

In summing up the gamut of His awesome character and unpredictable ways (see also Isaiah 55:8-9 ), God declares:

I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things (Isaiah 45:5-7 NIV).

This is the signature exclamation of the only sovereign potentate of the universe: “I did this!” From the beginning to the end, from light to darkness, from prosperity to disaster, all are the work of His hands. God uses even the most wicked and evil exploits of this world to bring about His glory and divine purposes. That is what is so awesome about God. Only He can take the most wicked, evil, and self-serving intentions and make good come out of them (see also Romans 8:28 ).

Does God create evil? Certainly not. If He was the author of evil, then He certainly would not be a good God that is worthy of worship and praise, much less trusted to have our well-being in mind. The idea of a good God creating His own enemy and the object of His wrath seems inconceivable. It would be inconsistent for a good God to mastermind the idea of evil, will it into existence, and still be considered a good God.

Rather, God created man in His image with the freedom to choose. With this freedom came the opportunity to rebel against Him. Man did rebel ( Genesis 3 ), and the rest is history. The annals of human history chronicle how God uses everything — even the chaos of this world — to bring about His glory and purposes. Those purposes include our growth in becoming more Christlike.

What’s the point of Isaiah 45:7? God reveals His almighty and awesome character to us so we can relax with the confidence that comes from knowing, even in the most dark, desperate, and discouraging times in our lives, God is up to something good for us all the time.

RIVER OF DISAPPOINTMENT

READ: Acts 4:5-12

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 112-114

Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820) is a Canadian hero. An early fur trader and explorer, he led a daring expedition across Canada to the Pacific Ocean. His incredible journey was completed in 1793, 11 years before Americans Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition to the West.

Mackenzie was determined to succeed, for an earlier attempt in 1789 had ended in failure. His crew of 12 explorers in three canoes had set out from Lake Athabasca in an effort to find a water route to the Pacific. The valiant group followed a mighty river (now named the Mackenzie) with high hopes, paddling furiously amid great danger. Unfortunately, it didn’t empty into the Pacific but into the Arctic Ocean. In his diary, Mackenzie called it the “River of Disappointment.”

Many people are following religions that lead to ultimate disappointment. Because these beliefs do not point to Christ, they are false and will not lead to heaven. Only Jesus can take us to the waters of eternal life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

We must not be fooled by those who teach another way to God. And we must help others to see that Jesus Christ is humanity’s only hope. By trusting Him as our Saviour, we will not end up on a “River of Disappointment.” – Dave Egner

Man gropes his way through life’s dark maze,

To gods unknown he often prays,

Until one day he meets God’s Son –

At last he’s found the Living One! – D. De Haan

Those who put their hope in Christ will never be disappointed.

July 2012

JOYFUL LIVING

READY TO GO?

READ: Luke 12:16-21

God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you.” – Luke 12:20

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 109-111

A man decided to make all the necessary arrangements for the day of his funeral. He picked out a burial plot and chose the inscription he wanted carved on his headstone. A minister, who knew him well, heard that he was busily preparing for the inevitable day. So he went to the man and said, “I understand that you’ve done everything you can possibly do to provide a resting place for your body. Have you given any thought to a resting place for your soul?”

The man was stunned by the question, for it was true that he hadn’t thought about getting ready for the life to come. After listening to the minister explains the gospel, he placed his trust in Christ for salvation and found assurance of eternal life and rest.

Wise is the person who makes that all-important preparation, because everybody will spend eternity somewhere. Those who believe on Christ will enter the kingdom prepared for all who love Him; those who reject Christ will go into the everlasting fire (Matt. 25:34, 41).

No one knows when death will come. But we can be ready. Romans 10:13 says, “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Nothing you do on earth is more important than making sure you’re ready to go. – Richard De Haan

O to be ready when death shall come!

O to be ready to hasten Home!

And sweetly, gently, to pass away

From earth’s dim twilight and into day. – Anon.

Only those who are ready to die are ready to live.

LASSA FEVER

REDIRECTED PATHS

READ: 2 Samuel 12:1-15

Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” – 2 Samuel 12:7

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 106-108

As part of a gospel outreach to the community, a group of Christians brought in a popular professional athlete to give his testimony. When he arrived, one of the organizers noticed he was acting arrogant. He pulled the guest aside and said, “We’ve been praying for this event for a long time. People out there need to see Jesus in you. You are being cocky, and that’s not going to do anyone any good.”

Standing up to a famous athlete is one thing, but can you imagine standing up to a king? That’s what Nathan the prophet did when he found out about David’s sin with Bathsheba. He stood before him and told a story about a rich man who had stolen from a poor man, then said to David, “You are the man!” (2 Sam. 12:7). Instead of being irate with Nathan, David confessed his sin and sought restoration.

It’s never easy to confront, and for some it’s extremely frightening. Yet bad behaviour that will hinder God’s work must be rebuked.

The athlete recognized his problem, had a fruitful ministry that day, and later thanked the man who confronted him. David was restored to God’s favour. Someone you know may be headed down the wrong path. Ask the Lord for the courage and wisdom to redirect him. – Dave Branon

Dear Lord, I would be bold and do my part

To turn a friend from self-destructive ways;

Grant me the grace to counsel heart to heart,

And help him follow You through all his days. – Hess

Overlooking sin allows it to grow.

TRUE CONFESSIONS

NO PAIN, NO GAIN

READ: Ephesians 6:1-4

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 103-105

Christian educator and author Howard Hendricks cautions parents not to bribe or threaten their children to get them to obey. What they need is firm, loving, and at times painful discipline.

Hendricks recalls being in a home where a bright-eyed grade-schooler sat across the table from him.

“Sally, eat your potatoes,” said her mother in a proper parental tone.

“Sally, if you don’t eat your potatoes, you won’t get any dessert!”

Sally winked at Hendricks. Sure enough, mother removed the potatoes and brought Sally some ice cream. He saw this as a case of parents obeying their children rather than “Children, obey your parents” (Eph. 6:1).

Many parents are afraid to do what they know is best for their youngsters. They’re afraid their children will turn against them and think they don’t love them. Hendricks says, “Your primary concern is not what they think of you now, but what they will think 20 years from now.”

Even our loving heavenly Father’s correction is painful, yet afterward (perhaps years later) “it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness in those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11). As loving parents, dare we have less long-term vision than our heavenly Father has? – Joanie Yoder

As parents we must have this goal:

To teach our children self-control;

For firm and loving discipline

Can keep them from the ways of sin. – D. De Haan

The surest way to make life hard for your children is to make it soft for them.

AMATEUR CHRISTIANS

TWO CALLS

READ: James 4:13-17

What is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. – James 4:14

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 100-102

Novelist Bret Lott received two life-changing calls on the same day. The first told him that one of his most promising writing students had died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. The second call came several hours later from a popular television talk show host telling Lott that she had chosen one of his novels for her monthly on-air book club. It would mean instant celebrity status and financial success. The first call was sobering, the second was exhilarating – and he had to try to balance the two.

Lott, a Christian, took a thick black marker and wrote his student’s name on a white index card and carried it for the next month. “I made a promise to myself,” he said. “I kept the index card in my pocket. It would remind me, ‘don’t let this [fame] go to your head.’”

The book of James compares our life to “a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (4:14). Instead of becoming enamoured by our success today and our plans for tomorrow, we should remember that our time is in God’s hands and each day is a gift from Him.

One day, God will call us to be with Him. Knowing this should give us humility and perspective on every call that comes our way. – David McCasland

Preparing for eternity,

Awaiting all things new,

Anticipating life with Christ

Should always be our view. – Sper

To make the most of today, keep eternity in mind.

GOD'S GREATER GOAL

SMALL THING, BIG IMPACT

READ: James 3:1-12

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification. – Ephesians 4:29

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 97-99

Are most people truth-tellers? Can what they say be taken at face value? Or are they like the ancient Cretans, whose reputation was that they were “always liars”? (Titus 1:12).

Lies, of course, are communicated by the tongue. That small part of the human body can make a powerful impact. It can ruin a reputation. It can destroy a friendship. It can cause lasting heartache.

On the other hand, the tongue can give comfort in time of bereavement. It can shine the light of saving truth into the mind of someone in spiritual darkness. It can praise and glorify God.

We shouldn’t be surprised, then, that Scripture repeatedly urges us to exercise great wisdom and care in how we use this small part of the body. Proverbs 18:21 is not exaggerating when it warns us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” David was not indulging in pointless poetry when he denounced “men … whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword” (Ps. 57:4). And the apostle James said that the tongue can be as destructive as a fire (James 3:1-12).

By the Holy Spirit’s power, may we use our tongues to bless our hearers, build up one another, and glorify our Creator in prayer and praise? – Vernon Grounds

Lord, set a watch upon my lips,

My tongue control today;

Help me evaluate each thought

And guard each word I say. – Hess

The tongue is a small organ that creates either discord or harmony.

ONE EXCEPTION

GO FOR THE GOLD!

READ: Revelation 3:14-22

I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich. – Revelation 3:18

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 94-96

Carl Lewis won four gold medals in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Despite his outstanding performance, he was accused of holding back in the long jump. Instead of going for the world record, he stopped competing after his first jump, confident that he would win the gold. Carl said that the Olympic trials had taken more out of him than he had expected, so he decided to save his strength for the other events. He explained that he was there to win gold medals – not to set records that would probably last only a short time.

This reminds me of what the Bible says about making the choice to use our time and energy for actions that have lasting value. The people in the church at Laodicea failed to do this (Rev. 3:14-22). Our Lord saw that their values were misplaced, for they took pride in their riches and self-sufficiency. So He told them they were lukewarm spiritually and were not relying on God (vv. 15-17). They had to decide – would they keep pursuing temporal things, or would they go for the eternal gold of God’s approval?

That’s the challenge we face today. Our task is not to please the people around us. Our purpose is to win the eternal approval of our Lord. – Mart De Haan

Do we spend ourselves on what will last

Or what will fade away?

Let’s not strive to win the world’s gold,

But Christ’s “well done” one day. – Sper

Our real wealth is what we invest for eternity.

ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

OUTSIDE OUR COMFORT ZONE

READ: Acts 10:1-22

God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came. – Acts 10:28-29

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 91-93

Longfellow wrote, “The vine still clings to the mouldering wall, but at every gust the dead leaves fall.” Like that vine, many churches today cling to the crumbling wall of traditional programs, losing members like dead leaves carried away by the biting winds of our times.

To put it another way: We refuse to leave our comfort zones. We like to stick to the familiar, the predictable, and the usual.

In some ways our attitude resembles the way Peter felt before the Lord prodded him into new territory. Peter knew that Christ’s strategy was Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and then the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). But Peter simply wasn’t comfortable with Gentiles. They were not “his kind of people.” Yet, God shook him loose to go to the house of Cornelius and give them the good news about Jesus (Acts 10).

The church, like Peter, is often locked behind the walls of its brick and shake-shingle fortress. We tend to stay where we feel unthreatened, among the people who make us feel accepted and loved. It takes a clear vision of God’s compassion for the lost to get us beyond our comfort zone to reach those for whom the Saviour gave His life.

Have we gotten too comfortable? – Haddon Robinson

Go to the lost, in the home, in the mart,

Delay no longer, today make a start;

Tell them of Jesus who bled for their sin –

From byways of darkness bring others to Him. – Houghton

The church is a training centre, not a country club.

FIRE MOUNTAIN

WHERE ARE WE GOING SO FAST?

READ: Psalm 90:1-12

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope. – Job 7:6

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 88-90

Scientific measurements indicate that we are moving even when we are standing still. The surface of the earth at the equator rotates at about 1,000 miles per hour. The earth is orbiting the sun at about 67,000 miles per hour. Our solar system whirls around the centre of our galaxy at 490,000 miles per hour, and it zooms along at 43,000 miles per hour in the direction of the star Vega in the constellation Lyra. But that’s not all. Our Milky Way galaxy is hurtling through space at 1.3 million miles per hour.

A man lying on his back in a quiet park on a cloudless summer day may feel as though all time and movement have stopped under the hot rays of a noonday sun. But the scientist and the godly person know otherwise. Just as we are hurtling through the heavens at unimaginable speeds, so too we are moving from here to eternity. Our days and opportunities to live for the Lord pass so rapidly that we cannot afford to waste any of them.

The psalmist prayed, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12). May that be our prayer today. Lord, help us to live without desperation or futility as we travel so quickly from our home here on earth to our heavenly home above. – Mart De Haan

Lord, help us to redeem the time

You give us every day –

To take each opportunity

To follow and obey. – Sper

To make your life count, number your days.

ALL OUT OF TEENAGERS

THE RIGHT PLACE

READ: Hebrews 10:19-25

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love …, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. – Hebrews 10:24-25

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 85-87

People stay away from church for many reasons. Maybe the weather is bad, or it’s a busy day, or they don’t like guest speakers.

It’s especially sad when people stay away from church because they are troubled or hurting. When their hearts ache, they need to be in fellowship with God’s people. If they’ve received devastating news about their health, finances, or a family member, what better place is there to be?

One Friday, a pastor’s wife went to a medical office for an ultrasound of her unborn baby. The technician suddenly became silent and then called for her doctor. He confirmed what was suspected – the baby was dead. The next day she underwent a procedure that removed the baby from her womb.

By Sunday morning she felt okay physically but wondered if she should stay home from church. She later wrote, “In the end, I decided to go…. Somewhere in the midst of the beloved hymns and familiar choruses, a feeling of peace washed over me. Yes, I was in the right place…. We celebrated communion, and I was fully enveloped in my Father’s presence, my soul anchored in the shelter of God’s sanctuary.”

Church – it’s the right place to be. – Dave Egner

Our week’s not complete till we make it our goal

To honour the Lord’s Day and nourish our soul;

The help that we need for the trials we face

Will come as we worship and draw on God’s grace. – DJD

We all need Christian fellowship to build us up and hold us up.

NO GRIPPING

SUNSHINE FOR YOUR SOUL

READ: Psalm 84

The LORD God is a sun and shield. – Psalm 84:11

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 82-84

Many people feel cheerful in fair weather, but they are depressed when skies are grey. The travel industry thrives on this fact by luring millions of people to brighter climates. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the sun and its many benefits. But if we rely on good weather to maintain our good cheer, the climate of our inner world will be as changeable as the weather.

This was my condition before I became a Christian while in my teens. Each morning I would check out the weather. If it was bright, I felt happy; if it was gloomy, so was I. One night I realized I needed Jesus. Kneeling by my bed, I accepted His forgiveness for my sins and invited Him into my life. The next morning I forgot to check the weather! It simply didn’t matter anymore. The “Sun of Righteousness” had risen in my heart (Mal. 4:2) and had replaced my fickle source of happiness with Himself.

Since then, my personal world has known some dark times, but the Lord has been my constant “sun and shield” (Ps. 84:11). I still prefer sunny days, but I’m no longer a “sun-worshiper.” Instead, I’m a worshiper of God’s Son who shines brightly within me – whatever the weather.

Which kind of worshiper are you? – Joanie Yoder

There is sunshine in my soul today,

More glorious and bright

Than glows in any earthly sky,

For Jesus is my light. – Hewitt

Lasting happiness doesn’t come from sunny days but from the Son of God.

BIRD SONG

“CAN YOU HEAR ME?”

READ: Luke 6:37-42

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. – Luke 6:37

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 79-81

A man was having some difficulty communicating with his wife, and he concluded that she was becoming hard of hearing. So he decided to conduct a test without her knowing about it.

One evening he sat in a chair on the far side of the room. Her back was to him and she could not see him. Very quietly he whispered, “Can you hear me?” There was no response.

Moving a little closer, he asked again, “Can you hear me now?” Still no reply.

Quietly he edged closer and whispered the same words, but still no answer.

Finally he moved right behind her and said, “Can you hear me now?”

To his surprise she responded with irritation in her voice, “For the fourth time, yes!”

What a warning to us about judging!

Most of us criticize others to cover up for the same faults in our own lives. We also tend to find fault with someone when in fact we are the ones in the wrong, not the other person.

Jesus knew human nature. That’s why He said, “Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged” (Luke 6:36-37). – Richard De Haan

Don’t be too hard on the person who sins,

For the yardstick you lay on another

May someday be used as a measure for you;

Oh, be gracious and judge not, my brother! – Bosch

If you are looking for faults to correct, try looking in a mirror.

GHOST TOWN

KNOWING THE CREATOR

READ: Psalm 8

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens! – Psalm 8:1

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 76-78

A tour bus along with several cars had stopped in front of the artist’s house. People wandered around pointing at the towering steel sculptures glinting in the sun, while their cameras zoomed in on silver turbines spinning in the morning breeze. One person paused long enough to read the plaque on the wrought iron fence surrounding the sculpture garden. It happens almost every day not far from where I live.

Every time I drive past and see all the tourists and cameras, I think, They’d appreciate it so much more if they knew the artist the way I did. The artist had been a friend of mine for many years before he died. I often watched him at work transforming rusty oil-field pipe and truck axles into graceful works of art. When I see all that he made, I can’t help but think of him.

As Christians, we are privileged to know the Creator of the universe. So when we study a tiny wildflower or marvel at the vastness of the Milky Way, we are reminded of the One who made all of it. In a deeply personal expression of praise, the psalmist wrote, “O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth” (Ps. 8:1).

How much more wonderful the marvels of this world appear when we know the One who made them all! – David McCasland

The wonder of creation speaks

To everyone in different ways,

But only those who know the Lord

Can for His handiwork give praise. – Sper

All creation points to the almighty Creator.

JUNETEENTH

WHO CARES?

READ: Philippians 2:12-24

I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. – Philippians 2:20

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 73-75

A political leader, summing up the brokenness of our time, talked about a “Humpty-Dumpty world.” The intriguing phrase takes us back to a childhood nursery rhyme:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall;

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

The entire king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.

The message of that rhyme is true to life. Man is broken and needs to be put together again. The Creator of the universe cares about our situation and has taken steps to restore us to wholeness. He came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ, and He fashioned the church as His body so that the members should “care for one another” (1 Cor. 12:25). Timothy demonstrated that kind of care for Paul, and for other believers (Phil. 2:18-22).

Caring is as basic as giving money to help destitute Christians or looking after aged parents; as simple as being patient and kind or visiting widows and orphans in distress; as obvious as paying a just wage to employees; or as unspectacular as giving a cup of cool water to someone who thirsts. That’s how our Saviour would have us care for broken people in our Humpty-Dumpty world.

Are we letting Jesus care through us? – Haddon Robinson

A gentle word, a kindly deed

To help the ones who have a need,

A smile that Christ’s great love imparts –

Such caring stands to win their hearts. – Brandt

If you really care, you’ll want to share.

AN INVITATION TO FRIENDSHIP

HAPPY FATHERS

READ: Proverbs 23:15-24

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. – Proverbs 23:24

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 70-72

Some people have attributed to Mark Twain the statement, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in 7 years.”

The attitude of children toward their parents changes as they grow older. Some young people show little respect for their fathers and mothers. But as they mature, many begin to recognize that Mom and Dad knew a lot more than they gave them credit for.

On the other hand, some young people come to realize with deep regret that if they had followed the counsel of their parents they could have avoided much heartache both for themselves and their family. The Bible says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honour your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth’” (Eph. 6:1-3). The book of Proverbs counsels, “Listen to your father who begot you …. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him” (23:22, 24).

Remember – wise children make happy fathers! – Richard De Haan

Above all else that you can do

To make your father proud of you,

Be diligent, be kind, be wise –

Such traits are priceless in his eyes. – Fasick

Your parents brought you up; don’t let them down.

CAPTAIN THUNDERBOLT

THE PAIN OF A FATHER’S LOVE

READ: Matthew 27:27-50

They crucified Him. – Matthew 27:35

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 67-69

In 1968, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Jr. took command of the American naval forces in Vietnam. In an effort to reduce US casualties, he ordered the waterways sprayed with the chemical defoliant Agent Orange. It was a move designed to push back the jungle and make it harder for North Vietnamese to ambush Navy river patrol boats at point-blank range.

One of those boats was commanded by his 21-year-old son, Lieutenant Elmo Zumwalt III, who died of cancer in 1988. The admiral believed that Agent Orange killed his son. What a heart-breaking story of a father who made a decision that resulted in great suffering for his own son!

How much greater was the heart-break of God the Father when He provided salvation for us! He made a decision that resulted in immeasurable agony for His only Son. Think of how God must have felt as He watched His Son suffer the mockery of the crowd, the lashes of the whip, the pain of the nails through His hands and feet, the inexpressible weight and humiliation of our sins, and the agony of isolation and abandonment.

Father, forgive us for adding to Your pain by our lack of gratitude. Please help us to live in a way that will honour Your Son, who defeated sin and death – for us. – Mart De Haan

The Father’s heart was deeply pained

When Jesus hung upon that tree,

Yet in His sacrifice He gained

Our pardon, peace, and victory. – D. De Haan

The truest measure of God’s love is that He loves without measure.

STRINGS, RINGS, TROUBLESOME THINGS

IT’S NOT AN EASY ROAD

READ: Psalm 112

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments. – Psalm 112:1

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 64-66

I have a friend who’s trying to find his way through the fog of doubt. While he still believes that God is good, much of what he’s experiencing seems to contradict that. He’s questioning the value of virtue because he sees another person’s vice go unpunished. Although he knows that he ought to enjoy his walk with God, right now it’s more duty than delight.

I also have an acquaintance that seems to be trying to hold on to God with one hand while clutching her sins in the other. I recently learned that her fourth marriage lasted less than a week. After paying thousands of dollars for a wedding, she’s going to have to spend thousands more to get out of the marriage.

To anyone questioning the value of walking with God, I would reply: Saying no to selfish choices and saying yes to God’s commands may not be easy, but it’s the only way to experience true and lasting joy. Psalm 112 declares that the person who respects God and wants to please Him will enjoy His favour (v. 1). That doesn’t guarantee a trouble-free life, of course, but it does assure us that we can have peace even in the tough times (vv. 6-8).

We can delight in knowing God’s blessing is on us, even when the road is not easy. – Julie Ackerman Link

Let the road be rough and dreary,

And its end far out of sight;

Foot it bravely, strong or weary,

Trust in God and do the right. – Macleod

The cost of obedience is nothing compared to the cost of disobedience.

A PERFECT FATHER

GETTING FIT

READ: Hebrews 10:19-25

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. – Hebrews 10:24

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 61-63

You wouldn’t think that Lou Joline needed any encouragement to keep running. By the age of 65, he had completed 61 marathons in 31 states and had been named one of the nation’s top five “fittest over 50.” But Joline couldn’t do it alone. He relied on the support of three running clubs he belonged to. His advice to people who want to get more exercise is to make it a social event. “Get in with a group,” he says. “If your friends are doing it, you’re going to do it.”

Although we may embrace that approach to physical fitness, many of us think we can make it on our own spiritually. Yet, if we’re going to be fit in our faith, we need each other. In Hebrews we read, “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (10:24-25).

Are you involved in a local church congregation? Do you attend a small group for Bible study? Do you have a friend with whom you can bare your soul and pray? Do you need to broaden your opportunities for fellowship?

If we’re going to be spiritually fit, we need all the encouragement and support we can get. – David McCasland

Christian fellowship provides us

With encouragement and love;

It will help us in our journey,

Till we reach our home above. – Sper

Spiritual fitness should be a team effort.