LITTLE BY LITTLE

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONS

LITTLE BY LITTLE

READ:  EXODUS 23:20-33

Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have

increased, and you inherit the land.  Exodus 23:30

When I was a little girl, my mother gave me her prized “reader” to help me learn, just as it had helped her years earlier.  I loved one particular story, never dreaming how much it would affect me years later.

It was about a little boy with a small shovel.  He was trying to clear a pathway through deep, new-fallen snow in front of his house.  A man paused to observe the child’s enormous task.  “Little boy,” he inquired, “how can someone as small as you expect to finish a task as big as this?”  The boy looked up and replied confidently, “Little by little, that’s how!”  And he continued shoveling.

God awakened in me the seed of that story at a time when I was recovering from a breakdown.  I remember how my “adult” self taunted the weak “child” within me:  “How can someone as inadequate as you expect to surmount so great a mountain as this?”  That little boy’s reply became my reply:  “Little by little, that’s how!”  And I did overcome-by depending on God.  But it was one small victory after another.

The obstacles facing Israel as they considered claiming the land God had promised them must have seemed insurmountable.  But He didn’t ask them to do it all at once.

“Little by little” is the strategy for victory.                  JY

He does not lead me year by year,

Nor even day by day;

But step by step my path unfolds-

My Lord directs my way. -Ryberg

Trust God to move your mountain, but keep on climbing.

HOPE AWAY

Hope Anyway

Read: Psalm 34:15–18
Bible in a Year: Psalms 31–32; Acts 23:16–35

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.—Psalm 119:50

Among the hundreds of articles I’ve written for Our Daily Bread since 1988, a few stick in my mind. One such article is from the mid-1990s when I told of a time our three girls were away at camp or on mission trips, so six-year-old Steve and I had some guy time.

As we were enjoying an excursion to the airport, Steve turned to me and said, “It’s not as much fun without Melissa,” his eight-year-old sister and sidekick. Neither of us knew then how poignant those words would turn out to be. Life indeed has not been “as much fun” for the years since Mell died in a car accident as a teenager. The passage of time may dull the ache, but nothing takes the pain away completely. Time cannot heal that wound. But here’s something that can help: listening to, meditating on, and savoring the solace promised by the God of all comfort.

Listen: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:22).
Meditate: “In the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling” (Psalm 27:5).
Savor: “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life” (119:50).

Life can never be the same again when someone we love is gone. But God’s promises bring hope and comfort. —Dave Branon

Thank You, God, that You are near. You’re always by my side. I’m grateful for Your comfort in my pain and for Your peace.

God’s Word is the true source of comfort.

INSIGHT: When God, who is Spirit (John 4:24), is portrayed in Scripture as having human features it’s called anthropomorphism (from anthropos, “man” and morphe, “form”). Literally speaking, God does not have eyes, ears, a face, or arms (Psalm 34:15-16; Isaiah 59:1-2). These descriptions, however, help us better grasp who God is because we can see parallels in our human experience. They help us understand that the Lord carefully attends to those who belong to Him.

When Jesus came to Earth, figures of speech gave way to reality. The eternal Word who was God (John 1:1) became flesh and dwelt among us (v. 14). Jesus looked on the multitudes with compassion (Matthew 9:36), He made Himself available to those whose bodies were diseased and broken (Mark 1:29-34); and His body was wounded so our sins would be forgiven (1 Peter 2:24). Through both figure of speech in the Old Testament and the real-time ministry of Jesus in the New Testament we understand that the God of heaven cares deeply. And we have hope!

Ponder the truth that in Jesus the world experienced “God with us” (see Matthew 1:23). Arthur Jackson

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WELL-KNOWN

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONS

Well-Known

Read:  Psalm 139:1-12

The Lord knows those who are His.  2 Timothy 2:19

Arctic sea birds called guillemots live on rocky coastal cliffs, where thousands of them come together in small areas.  Because of the crowded conditions, the females lay their eggs side by side in a long row.  It’s incredible that a mother bird can identify the eggs that belong to her.  Studies show that even when one is moved some distance away, she finds it and carries it back to its original location.

Our heavenly Father is far more intimately acquainted with each of His children.  He is aware of every thought, emotion, and decision we make.  From morning till night He gives personal attention to our daily affairs.  Overwhelmed by this glorious reality, the psalmist exclaimed in amazement, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it? (Psalm 139:6).

Not only does this evoke our praise, but it should also bring great comfort to our hearts.  Jesus told His disciples that the Father knows when a single sparrow falls to the ground.  Because people are of so much greater value than the birds, God’s children can be assured of His constant care.

How wonderful it is to be such a well-loved, “well-known” person!   MD

With God, you’re never lost in a crowd.

SHELTER FROM THE STORM

Shelter from the Storm

Read: James 1:12–18
Bible in a Year: Psalms 29–30; Acts 23:1–15

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter.—Psalm 73:28  nlt

When I lived in Oklahoma I had a friend who “chased” tornados. John tracked the storms carefully through radio contact with other chasers and local radar, trying to keep a safe distance while observing their destructive paths so he could report sudden changes to people in harm’s way.
One day a funnel cloud changed course so abruptly John found himself in grave danger. Fortunately, he found shelter and was spared.

John’s experience that afternoon makes me think of another destructive path: sin in our lives. The Bible tells us, “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14–15).

There’s a progression here. What may at first seem harmless can soon spin out of control and wreak havoc. But when temptation threatens, God offers us shelter from the gathering storm.

God’s Word tells us He would never tempt us, and we can blame our choices only on ourselves. But when we “are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that [we] can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). As we turn to Him and call on Him for help in the moment of temptation, Jesus gives us the strength we need to overcome.

Jesus is our shelter forever. —James Banks

Lord Jesus, You conquered sin and death forever through Your cross and empty tomb! Help me to live and thrive in the forgiveness only You can give.

Our Savior calms temptation’s storm.

INSIGHT: As this passage in James 1:12-18 clearly teaches, God does not tempt us. Yet in this life temptations are sure to come. In fact, God may permit temptation in order to strengthen our faith as well as our dependence on Him. It’s an immeasurable comfort to know that our heavenly Father will “provide a way out” of temptation, as promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13. But what do we do in those times when we’ve made a mess of things?

It’s always best to run to our Father the moment we’re faced with temptation. But we can turn to Him at any point, even—especially—if we are trying to run from Him. Our God is such a loving and gracious Father. We can always come to Him.

To keep from getting to a point of desperation, it might be wise to ask ourselves these questions: Where do my temptations typically come from? What things might I need to get rid of that cause me to be tempted? Do I have trusted accountability partners to help me in my faith journey? Tim Gustafson

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SING OF YOUR LOVE

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONS

SING OF YOUR LOVE

READ:  REVELATION 5:8-14

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever.  Psalm 89:1

I was driving to work and listening to a local Christian radio station.  Amid the usual morning banter came the song “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever.”

I have no idea what came over me.  As soon as this uplifting praise song began, I felt tears running down my face.  There I was almost at work, and I could hardly see to drive because of a song.  What was going on?

I sat in my car after I arrived at my destination, trying to figure it out.  Then it struck me.  The song reminded me that while another day of normal activity was beginning here on earth, my daughter Melissa was fulfilling the ultimate hope of that song in heaven.  I pictured her brightly singing of God’s love-getting a head start on the rest of us in that forever song.  It was a bittersweet moment of understanding Melissa’s joy while being reminded again of our sadness in not having her with us.

Much of life is like that.  Joys and sorrows intermingle-making reminders of God’s glory so vital.  We need those glimpses of a promising praise-filled future in our Savior’s presence.  In the sadnesses of life, we need the anticipation of joy-the joy that comes from singing of God’s love and enjoying His presence forever.  DB

The saints of all ages in heaven sing praise

With voices and harps to the Ancient of Days;

No music on earth with that sound can compare,

Yet in that vast chorus our voices will share. -DJD

Those who know Christ now will sing His praises forever.

HOME SWEET HOME

Home Sweet Home

Read: John 14:1–14
Bible in a Year: Psalms 26–28; Acts 22

I am going there to prepare a place for you.—John 14:2

“Why do we have to leave our home and move?” my son asked. It’s difficult to explain what a home is, especially to a five-year-old. We were leaving a house, but not our home, in the sense that home is where our loved ones are. It’s the place where we long to return after a long trip or after a full day’s work.

When Jesus was in the upper room just hours before He died, He told His disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). The disciples were uncertain of their future because Jesus had predicted His death. But Jesus reassured them of His presence and reminded them they would see Him again. He told them, “My Father’s house has many rooms . . . . I am going there to prepare a place for you” (v. 2). He could have used other words to describe heaven. However, He chose words that describe not an uncomfortable or unfamiliar place but a place where Jesus, our loved One, would be.

C. S. Lewis wrote, “Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.” We can thank God for the “pleasant inns” in life, but let’s remember that our real home is in heaven where we “will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). —Keila Ochoa

Dear Lord, I thank You for heaven, my eternal home.

Read more about the life to come at discoveryseries.org/q1205.

We look forward to being with the Lord forever.

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A REASON FOR OPTIMISM

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONS

A Reason for Optimism

Read:  John 16:16-33

A merry heart does good, like medicine.  Proverbs 17:22

The Bible isn’t a psychology textbook, but it gives us the wisest counsel for experiencing happiness here and now.  Proverbs 17:22, for example, assures us that “a merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

That simple statement was recently corroborated by the extensive research of Dr. Daniel Mark, a heart specialist at Duke University.  The New York Times article that reported his findings carried this headline:  “Optimism Can Mean Life for Heart Patients and Pessimism Death.”  The article begins with these words:  “A healthy outlook helps heal the heart.”

But Dr. Nancy Frasure-Smith, a heart specialist who has studied the effect of depression, anxiety, and anger, admitted, “We don’t know how to change negative emotions”

Faith in God, however, can produce that change. People who look beyond their present difficulty and put their trust in God’s goodness cannot help but be joyful.

It’s significant that our Savior said on several occasions, “Be of good cheer” (Matthew 9:2, 22;  14:27; Acts 23:11).  Knowing that life is filled with many crises, He encourages us with this word of reassurance:  “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). VCG

All your anxiety, all your care

Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus. -Joy

No matter what happens, you can find joy in the Lord.