“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

— Ephesians 4:29

Of all the contributing factors that make our homes happy, good communication must be high on the list.

As we relate to people, we communicate on many levels—everything from “Hi, how are you?” to divulging facts, expressing emotions, and ultimately sharing our true selves. To make a home run smoothly, we need communication on all levels, but especially on that most intimate level of revealing ourselves to our housemates and families.

But that kind of communication can feel threatening. Sharing at the deepest, most intimate level makes us vulnerable, and many people don’t want to risk rejection. But as these people stay on “safer” levels of communication, they never discover the real glory of intimacy.

People avoid intimate conversation not only because they fear rejection but also because they have built up resentment against people who have hurt them in the past. As they refuse to forgive and as they continue to keep records of wrongs, these people maintain barriers between themselves and others. While they may feel safer that way, these people miss the joy of reconciliation and better understanding. We must express tenderheartedness and forgiveness toward one another as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven us. If we don’t let go of our anger, we will clam up or blow up. “In your anger, do not sin,” and “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” These admonitions from Ephesians can help us forgive others and let go of pent-up resentment.

We also need to avoid faultfinding and blame. If we negatively evaluate someone, that person will not risk any deep communication, and we’ll experience isolation. Instead of focusing on the negative things, focus on the good in the people you care about. When we start focusing on the positive, the positive will increase, and we will “administer grace” to each other.

What are some ways you can foster deeper communication in your home today? Do you need to share yourself on a deeper level, to forgive someone, to refrain from harshly judging others? Take a risk today, and see how those you live with respond as you pursue intimate communication and relationships.

“Until I truly loved, I was alone.”
Caroline Norton

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son …”

— John 3:16

How big is your God? Is He bound by the limitations of what you can see, hear, and think? Or do you have a God who can do anything at any time? Today, let’s consider a great man who believed in a great God—William Carey, the father of modern missions. Carey lived by the motto “Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God.”

For centuries, worldwide missions had come to a virtual standstill. But William Carey, a cobbler who lived in England in the eighteenth century, explored God’s Word and became increasingly convinced that God was concerned about the whole world—“For God so loved the world.” This conviction began a burning in Carey’s heart. He envisioned millions of people perishing throughout the earth, people who needed to hear about Jesus Christ. Being a man of action, Carey convinced a group of ministers in 1792 to form the first foreign missionary society. But that was not enough. Carey himself felt led to the mission field, so he traveled to India. He mastered more than a dozen Indian languages then translated the entire Bible or portions thereof into those languages. Every day, he preached to the natives. The result? Not one single convert among the Indians for seven years. But Carey persevered, believing that God could and would do great things. Finally, in 1800, Krishna Pal was the first convert of the modern missionary movement. Soon hundreds, thousands, and millions followed.

In the thirty-five years after Carey went to India, missionary societies sprang up all over Britain, Europe, and America. The result was an outpouring of missionary activity, labor, and zeal, the likes of which had not happened since the first century. All of this came about through the hard work of a humble cobbler who believed in God’s greatness and obeyed God’s call. When ordinary people with ordinary talents yield fully to God, He uses them to accomplish extraordinary things.

What can you do for God today?

“When I am gone, speak less of Dr. Carey
and more of Dr. Carey’s Saviour.”
William Carey

“… unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

— John 3:3

Do you ever think about our nation and wonder whether God will renew a land that has sunk to the moral depths that ours has? Is there any hope for the society in which we live? Perhaps we can take a cue from another time, another society.

The period in which we live is not unlike that of the opening half of the eighteenth century, especially in England. At that time, adultery, fornication, gambling, drunkenness, and the breaking of the Sabbath were commonplace. Crime was rampant, and sin was the norm. Sounds rather contemporary, doesn’t it?

But then John Wesley and George Whitefield came on the scene, and revival began. It came as an electric shock and galvanized the people of England. As revival took place in England, the morality and religion of the country changed completely. (In fact, historians say that the Victorian period was in many ways a byproduct of the Wesley-Whitefield revivals.)

God used George Whitefield not only in England but also in America. Whitefield preached in various colonies and helped found the University of Pennsylvania. So great was the change Whitefield sparked that it became known as the Great Awakening.

Whitefield had made England and America his parish. Tens of thousands would come from miles around to hear him preach. What was his life-changing, culture-changing message? The same text that had pulled him into the kingdom of God: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Near the end of Whitefield’s life, one of his friends asked him, “Why is it that you preach so often from that text, ‘Ye must be born again’?” Whitefield answered, “Because ye must be born again.” With this simple message, Whitefield helped transform the core of two countries.

To save our great nation, we, too, must declare throughout the land, “You must be born again.” Perhaps today you can share this message with someone you know.

“Take care of your life, and God
will take care of your death.”
George Whitefield

“Be strong and of good courage …”

— Deuteronomy 31:6

I admire people who display great courage. One man in history known for his courage was Alexander the Great. One day, Alexander held court in Nebuchadnezzar’s great palace in Babylon. He sat upon the great golden throne, pronouncing sentences for the crimes charged to his soldiers. The sergeant-at-arms brought in one soldier after another and read their crimes. No one could deliver them from Alexander’s severe judgments.

Finally, the sergeant-at-arms brought in a young Macedonian soldier and read aloud his crime: fleeing in the face of the enemy. This cowardice Alexander could not tolerate. But as he looked on this young soldier, Alexander’s countenance changed from stern to soft. Smiling, he said to the lad, “Son, what is your name?” The boy said softly, “Alexander.” The smile left the king’s face. He said, “What did you say?” The young man snapped to attention. “Alexander, sir.” The king turned crimson and shouted, “WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” The boy began to stammer and said, “Al … Alex … Alexander, sir.” The king burst out of his chair, grabbed the young man by the tunic, stared him in the face, then threw him on the ground and said, “Soldier, change your conduct or change your name!”

All of us have a name from our royal lineage. What is that name? Christian! And we need to live our lives in a manner worthy of that name. Dear friend, I encourage you to be strong. Be courageous. Obey the Lord. Allow God to give you courage in Him—courage to do what God has told us to do, courage to avoid the things God has told us not to do, courage to stand up for Christ. Let us not cower under fire but stand firm in the Lord’s name, living up to our calling as Christians.

“Courage is the virtue that makes other virtues possible.”
Winston Churchill

“Where there is no vision, the people perish …”

— Proverbs 29:18, kjv

Do you have a great vision for your life? Do you have a purpose in mind, a purpose in heart that comes from a vision that inflames your heart with a blue-white flame? Or do you simply live your life because every morning you wake up again and there you are, having to endure just one more miserable day?

I believe we need to have vision for our lives, dreams to reach for, goals to accomplish. As we develop vision, we discover purpose for our lives. If we lack vision, says the Bible, we perish. Though we may not die physically, we become part of the walking dead who view life as having no meaning.

Vision gives significance, value, and meaning to our very existence. If we want our lives to have significance, then each of us needs to take hold of a vision and pursue it. And as Christians, we need to seek God’s vision for our lives. We are not free to choose our own; we have been bought with a price. We have a Master and Lord to serve. And our Lord has clearly described His vision for us: reaching the world for Christ. How does God envision fulfilling that goal through you?

If you lack vision for your life, pray that God would reveal to you His vision for you. Ask Him to show you how you fit into His overall purpose: to spread the Gospel to those who need to hear it. Then adopt His vision for you as your own.

“The poorest man is not he who is without
a cent, but he who is without a dream.”
Pennsylvania School Journal

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

— Psalm 91:1

What is your greatest fear, the one thing above all others that makes your eyes widen and your heart race? Some fear death the most. Others fear public speaking even more than death. And still others fear dental exams. Newspaper counselor Ann Landers reports receiving about ten thousand letters each month from people with all kinds of issues that can be reduced to one common problem: fear.

When our faith in Christ disappears, fear takes its place. The Bible says that in the Last Days people’s hearts shall fail them for fear. Shakespeare puts it this way: “Cowards die many times before their death; the valiant never taste of death but once.” The Bible exhorts us to courage, saying, “Fear not,” “Be not afraid,” “Be of good cheer,” “Be courageous and very strong.” This is not advice; it is a commandment.

If you find yourself feeling fearful, Psalm 91 can help you ward off your fear. This psalm was the invocation of the early Church during a time when the disciples suffered great trouble and persecution. Many a young person has gone off to war leaning heavily on its promises. Psalm 91 promises to protect those who “dwell” in God’s presence. Someone once said that there are two kinds of people: those who dwell in God and occasionally visit the world, and those who dwell in the world and occasionally visit God. When we dwell too long in the world, fear can overcome us. To experience God’s strength and peace, we must abide in Him.

The secret dwelling place of God is His Word. In His Word, God reveals the wonders of His grace and love. Dwelling with God means hiding His Word in our hearts by memorizing it and meditating on it. We also dwell with God when we commune with Him in prayer and seek His purpose in our lives.

Do you often live in fear? If so, begin now the practice of abiding in God’s presence. Read His Word, and spend time with Him in prayer. Draw near to Him, and He will grant you His courage.

“The emotion of fear is, in itself, no sin.
It is the act of cowardice that matters.”
C. S. Lewis

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

— Philippians 1:21

If someone asked you what you live for, how would you respond? Some people seem to live for their next vacation. Others live for their retirement. Still others live for the weekend. But Paul expresses the best way to live. He declares that to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Too often, people want to rewrite the verse, replacing “Christ” with “pleasure.” “For to me, to live is pleasure,” cry a whole host of voices today. But pleasures fade quickly, and this lifestyle leads to ceaseless striving for one more thrill, one more good feeling.

Others would replace “Christ” with “money.” “For to me, to live is money.” These people spend most of their waking hours, energy, and thoughts trying to make money. Some of them desire to be truly wealthy, while others want just a little bit more than they presently have. A reporter once interviewed a fantastically wealthy man and asked him, “How much do you want?” The wealthy man replied, “Just a little bit more.” Do you live to gain wealth? If so, may I say that at the end of your life, your wealth will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you’ll find that the great deceiver has deceived you.

Others would say, “For to me, to live is fame.” They give their whole lives to accomplishment. Perhaps they rise to the top of the ladder. But then where are they? Many people who “make it” find themselves saying, “Is this all there is?” Like many who have risen to the pinnacle of success, they find nothing but the same emptiness that hounded them from the very beginning.

“For to me, to live is Christ.” This is the secret of life. Furthermore, it is the secret of consecration, the secret of commitment. I do not believe that you could take the meaning of consecration and commitment and express them more succinctly than Paul has in those seven words. Today ask God to show you how to live so that you can say, “For to me, to live is Christ.” Then follow the way He shows you so that you may live a life consecrated and committed to Him.

“Our business is to do the will of God.
He will take care of the business.”
Anonymous

“… learn from Me …”

— Matthew 11:29

Would you like to know a great spiritual secret? You can find it in three of Jesus’ words: “Learn from Me.” When we learn from Him, He will change us from the inside out. Let’s consider the example of a great heroine of the faith who submitted to and learned from her Savior.

Mary Slessor, originally from Scotland, is considered one of the first female missionaries. According to her own testimony, she had lived as a “wild lassie” until, by God’s grace, she entered the kingdom and eventually traveled to faraway lands to spread the Gospel. Barely over five feet tall, Mary was nevertheless a giant among people, a woman of tremendous courage and faith.

In her passion to share the Good News with those who desperately needed to hear it, Mary set off to Calabar, the ghetto of Africa. Calabar comprised the worst of nature, both environmental and human. The people who dwelt there were bloody, savage, and cruel. They were fetish worshipers, headhunters, and cannibals. Nonetheless, Mary proclaimed to them the Gospel, and, astoundingly, God opened up their hearts. They became willing to hear. One after another they yielded their lives to Christ. And as they did so, they abolished the horrible customs that had plagued them for years.

Mary Slessor gave of herself to Africa for forty years. When she died, thousands of former fetish worshipers, headhunters, and cannibals mourned, saying, “The mother of us all is dead.” What was the secret of Mary’s life? She had learned from Christ. She had learned of His compassion and His concern for souls. She had learned of His courage. Mary Slessor prayed to and trusted God, saying that prayer was the greatest power God has given into our hands for service. She believed that by God’s power she could do all things.

I hope you, too, take this great secret to heart. As you learn from Christ, rely on Him, and seek to do His will, He’ll make His power available to you for whatever challenges you face.

“Jesus Christ is the center of all,
and the goal to which all tends.”
Blaise Pascal

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

— 1 John 5:13

Do you know for sure that when you die, you will go to Heaven? If you’ve given your life to Christ, you can know that you’ll have eternal life because the Bible promises that to you. His Word is true, and it has greatly comforted those at death’s door, the great and wise as well as the poor and humble.

When Sir Michael Faraday, the brilliant scientist who discovered magnetism, was on his deathbed someone asked him, “Sir Michael, what speculations do you have about life after death?” And he replied in astonishment, “Speculations! Why, I have no speculations! I’m resting on certainties! ‘I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.’”

An elderly Scottish lady lay at death’s door. Her pastor asked her, “Sadie, suppose that after all God has done for you, when you die He should still allow you to perish; what then?” She said, “Well, that’s up to Him. He will do what He will. But if He does allow me to perish, then He will lose more than I. For though I lose my soul, He will lose His honor. He has promised me in His Word, ‘He that trusteth in Me shall never perish.’”

An old fisherman who lived by the sea also came to the end of his days. A friend asked him, “John, do you believe you’re going to heaven?” John replied, “Look out the window. Are the seven great stones still there?” The friend said, “Yes.” “Is the old mountain crag there?” He said, “Yes.” “Are the Three Maidens [a set of mountains] still there?” He said, “Yes.” John leaned back and said, “The mountains shall disappear and the hills shall be cast down, but My Word shall last forever.”

Today praise the Lord that His Word is true, and thank Him for the assurance you have as you rely upon His Word—that you will live in Heaven for eternity.

“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!”
Fanny Crosby

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”

— Romans 3:31

Now that we’ve spent the past few days looking at the Ten Commandments, we need to clarify the relationship between the Law and the Gospel. Many people don’t understand this relationship, but unless we do, we will live our faith on false pretenses.

The Law reveals to us our need for the Gospel. It shows us our sinfulness; for no one, except the Savior, has kept the Law fully. The Law doesn’t save us; it condemns us. It shows us our need for salvation. We can gain that salvation only by believing the Gospel, the good news that God sent His only Son to die in our place.

This relationship between the Law and the Gospel distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. We could boil all those belief systems into a single two-letter word: “do.” This is the essence of every pagan religion’s message: “Do this; don’t do that.” Even distortions of Christianity base salvation on that one word.

But the basic message of Christianity is not “do,” but “done.” “It is finished” were the last words Christ spoke before He died. It is done. Finished. Christ paid the full penalty for our sins. And now, all who trust in Him may freely have eternal life.

We’re not saved by good works. We’re saved to them. When God’s grace touches our lives, we naturally desire to do good works. As you continue to meditate on the Ten Commandments, remember their rightful place; in obeying them you thank God for that which He has done through the Gospel.

“The world has many religions; it has but one Gospel.”
George Owen