THE CROSS EXAM DEVOTIONAL ARCHIVES

April 2001

April 1, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Happiness is a way station between too much and too little. - Channing Pollock

The Twelve Voices Of Easter
The Thief - Voice of Faith

Matthew 27:27-44

I haven't much time left. Breath comes hard. Death is near, I hope. No one who knows me is surprised to see me end this way, on a Roman cross. I've been stealing, cheating and robbing all my life. Even when I was a boy, I'd run through the market, snatching fruit from the vendors. While other boys studied in the synagogue and learned a trade, I was becoming an accomplished thief. I could steal from anyone, anytime, anyplace.

I never knew my father. I wish I had never known my mother. I learned early to trust no one. No one cared for me. If I had not stolen, I would have had nothing. I have even stolen from the Roman soldiers. I could steal anything and get away with it. Too bad for the Romans. I always hated them. Too bad for everyone else too. I hated everybody. There was no one I could trust.

I believed I would never be caught. I mean, I've been caught before, but they could never prove anything. I believed they never would. I was wrong. Here I hang, condemned to die on this cross. A sign posted above my head announces my crime to all who pass: "Elirab or Jerusalem, thief."

Two others hang here with me. Matthan, a thief like me. I have encountered him professionally on a few occasions. I preferred to steal under the cover of darkness; but Matthan could swindle you in broad daylight.

The one in the middle I never knew. He is Jesus. Some have called Him Messiah. Others say He's a magician. He raises people from the dead. The priests seem to hate Him, all right. He caused some trouble in the temple. I was familiar with some of the money changers He chased out.

But what was His crime? The centurion posted a sign on His cross announcing, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." It must be a crime to be a king now.

I am dying. Some people die in bed, surrounded by those who love them, who soothe them in their pain and draw a cover over them for comfort. I figured out a long time ago there would be no one at my side when my time came, speaking words of comfort or easing my fears. The people at a crucifixion have no words of comfort. It's all mocking and abuse. Scolding, berating, insults. It's to make us an example. I realized I am afraid to die. Nobody comes down from a cross alive. Not that I have much of a life to come down for, but at least I know what it is. I do not know what will happen to me when I die.

Tomorrow is the Sabbath, so this afternoon they will break my legs and I will no longer be able to breathe. I thought, "I am going to die. I don't want to die. I am afraid." Then I thought that maybe Jesus was a prophet. Maybe He would work a miracle. Maybe He would say the word and we would be surrounded by the armies of God like Elijah of old. He would save us all. For a moment, I actually hoped. But Jesus didn't look like He was in any condition to save anyone. The soldiers had beaten us all, but Him. I'd never seen work like that before. The soldiers mocked Him. "Save yourself!" The chief priests reviled Him, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself."

I could see my brief hope was empty. I joined in, "If you are the Son of God, get down from the cross. Let God deliver you now!" Matthan taunted Him the same way. But I stopped. Why didn't He show any anger? Why didn't He curse those who cursed Him?

Then, as Matthan continued his scoffing, I rebuked him, "Don't you even fear God? Don't you see that we are being punished justly, but this man has done nothing wrong? How can you continue to ridicule Him?"

Then the darkness came. At midday it was like midnight. It was eerie. This Jesus must be more than a man. He must be the Messiah. Jesus was dying. He would go to God. He would go, and I would die alone. He would leave me, after all. I couldn't bear the thought.

With all the strength I could muster, I turned to Him and said, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." He was the King of the Jews. I was a thief, but a king can pardon a thief if he wants to. He said, "Today you will be with Me in paradise."

Some people die in bed, surrounded by those who love them, who soothe them in their pain and draw a cover over them for comfort. But no one ever died with Him at his side, speaking words of comfort like that, or easing his fears so completely.

He died a few minutes ago. The soldiers haven't noticed yet. Before long they will come and break my legs and I will die. But I believe what Jesus said. I am the voice of faith. And I believe He has gone ahead to paradise, and that I will be there with Him. Very soon now.

Written by Dr. Woodrow Kroll and Keith Ghormley
www.backtothebible.org

April 2, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it. - Edith Sitwell

The Twelve Voices Of Easter
The Centurion - Voice of Affirmation

Matthew 27:54

I'm a Roman centurion. I serve, not in my home country, but in this God-forsaken land of stones and scorpions. I have about 100 men in my command. But don't be impressed. I'm just a grunt in the Roman army. I do whatever I'm told. A soldier has his duty. Soldiering is never pretty work, but where would we be without armies? Ask yourself that. The Roman sword and spear are the only foundation for peace in this world. Maybe someday someone will run the world without armies. I'd like to see them try. I'm not saying that I enjoy everything I'm ordered to do. But you get used to it. You lose certain sensibilities over the years. I thought I was as hard as any other soldier. Until that day.

Actually, it began late the night before when my commander sent word to our barracks at the Antonio fortress. The Jews had come to the fortress full of their confused noise about some traitor they wanted to arrest. They wanted Roman soldiers to accompany them.

There was no guessing what they really were up to. You never know what kind of crazy fanatics you'll come up against in this cursed land. This was the time of their Feast of Deliverance, and it did not take too many brains to imagine some "deliverer" taking a swipe at Rome as part of the festivities.

So I took several hundred men with me. We went east out of the city across the Kidron Valley to an olive garden. A strange company we were; led by an informant named Judas, at his heels a group of angry priests and religious leaders, a mob with clubs and torches. They had their temple police with them. I had to wonder, "What kind of traitor needs to be arrested with both Roman soldiers and Jewish scribes, their clubs and torches alongside the iron of our spears and swords?"

We arrived at the olive grove and I got my first look at this traitor. We had come with a small army for this one man?

Judas kissed Him; that was the signal. Then for an instant a sudden wave of sheer panic swept over me. The whole troop convulsed in a moment of blind confusion and lurched backward; there were soldiers all over the ground. If there had been an opposing force in the garden that night, we would have been helpless before it.

I shouted for order and my troops recovered themselves. The Nazarene was arrested and taken to the house of the Jews' high priest. I left a small patrol nearby and led the others back to the fortress. But that was not the end of it.

It was nearly dawn when the Jews brought their prisoner to the governor's judgment hall, clamoring for Pilate. The Jews had finished their own trial and wanted the governor to approve an execution.

Pilate was not interested; it was a matter of their religion. Then they put it in political terms. Jesus claimed to be King of the Jews. They demanded that Pilate sentence Him to death for treason against Caesar.

It was easy to see that this man was no threat to Rome. The governor was not convinced that Jesus was guilty of any capital crime. But Pilate wanted to appease the Jews, so he told me to have the Nazarene flogged. I gave the nod.

My men scourged Him, opening His back to deep wounds, shredding the flesh until pieces--well, if you've ever seen a Roman flogging, you don't need my words.

But the scourging was not enough for the Jews. They screamed for His crucifixion. Pilate finally gave in. The men enjoyed the sport. First we took Him into the Praetorium and gathered the whole battalion. They mocked the prisoner because He had said He was King of the Jews. One of them pulled some thorns beside the wall and fashioned a crown.

I'd seen that kind of thing before. But for the first time in many years, I winced as they pushed it into His brow. They slapped Him, spat upon Him, ridiculed Him. I knew we were doing the right thing and I fought against the new feelings inside. You must rule with power and fear, or you cannot rule. At least, that is what we had always been taught.

I led the execution detail to the hill outside of town. Jesus had to carry His own cross, like any other convict. We crucified Him with two others who had been sentenced. Some of the chief priests were there; an unusual audience for a crucifixion.

They weren't finished mocking. They said, "If you're really who you claim to be, come down from that cross and save yourself." My men jeered too. "If you're the king of the Jews, save yourself."

I usually joined, too. But I couldn't. This man was no criminal. And He didn't whimper or plead like the others. I've never seen anyone who knew how to die. No cursing, no spite, no fear. I mean, everyone loses their nerve or struggles or whimpers. It's only natural. But not Him. I don't mean He didn't suffer. Everyone suffers. It's just the way He took it. They curse or they cry. They blaspheme their gods. I've seen the toughest criminals terrified. You find out what a man really believes at the cross. You see who he is. And this one was different.

The funny feeling I had at the scourging grew in me, stronger than ever. Even though I had been trained to believe that crucifixion was the only way to rule, that it was the final solution for all human crime--but watching Him on that cross--this was not Roman justice.

At midday, the darkness came. I don't mean the sun was shaded. I mean inky darkness. Many of the spectators lost their nerve and left. But, of course, an execution guard has to remain until the prisoners are dead. Obviously, we can't let a prisoner's friends get him down before the work is done.

We usually rotate watches because the strong ones can last two or three days. But as the hours passed, I could see that this man was really close. I stood close and watched. He looked upward and said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." And then He died. I mean, He chose the moment. Death didn't happen to Him, dragging Him away, catching Him off guard, struggling to get away. Just like a man chooses his next action, chooses a moment to sleep or sing or eat, He died. On purpose. Just like that. Nobody has that kind of power over death. It was a miracle. I heard myself say, "Certainly this was a righteous man."

I haven't been the same since. I will never be able to look at a cross the same way again. This God-forsaken land. Holy men and scorpions. I never expected that a man on a cross could change me so. It was the way He died. I'm not the hardened Roman soldier I once was. I have seen the death of a truly righteous man. Now I'll never rest until I find out who He was.

Written by Dr. Woodrow Kroll and Keith Ghormley
www.backtothebible.org

April 3, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
To err is human; to admit it, superhuman. - Doug Larson

The Twelve Voices Of Easter
Joseph of Arimathea - Voice of Courage

Matthew 27:57-60

Sometimes there is nothing you can do. At least that's the way I felt that night. My last night on the council. I had never seen the Sanhedrin driven by such a mad obsession. I wonder if anyone could have said or done anything to deny them their objective.

We had been summoned with great urgency to Caiaphas' house. Quite out of the ordinary for the Jewish high court. Inside were the judges and lawmakers of Israel. Out in the courtyard were the temple police and a mob. And there before us, stood a man I had to come to know and admire. Jesus of Nazareth. I had come to believe that He was the very Messiah of Israel, the one we had long awaited.

And more than that. I had watched Him heal the sick and feed the hungry. I heard Him teach in the temple. He was . . . well, the more I listened, the more I marveled, the more I loved Him. He said He had come to save those who were lost.

I was a respected member of the Sanhedrin. I held a high position of religious authority. Others on the council scoffed at His claims, "Let Him seek the lost and save them if He can, just as long as He leaves us alone! We have always followed the ways of God!" But that is not what Jesus meant. He spoke the very words of God. This man was God's appointed Savior for Israel.

But I am not a brave man. I have never shown much courage in the storm of debate. I followed Jesus secretly because I was afraid of the others on the Sanhedrin. They would despise my faith, ridicule me, and put me out of the council. What would happen to a man my age then? There would be nothing for me back in Arimathea after so many years. So even though I believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, the Savior of Israel, I never told anyone about it.

And then He stood before me and the others on the council. Angry voices derided Him and false accusers lied about Him. Still my voice was silent. Some of the council objected that this trial was illegal. I nodded agreement. The objections were thrust aside. Our leaders condemned Him and sent Him to Pilate the governor for a sentence of death.

Pilate passed sentence and sent Him to the place of the skull, where they crucified Him. I had been waiting for the kingdom of God just as many faithful Jews had been. I thought surely this Jesus would gather followers to His side, repel the Roman invaders and establish the kingdom of heaven. But now my hopes were nailed to a cross.

I had never paid much attention to the crucifixions before. Horrid business. But this one I watched. Jesus hung on the cross in agony, more terrible suffering than I had ever imagined. I stood in the shadows, afraid to approach. I didn't want anyone to see me. I saw Him with His arms outstretched as though to embrace the world. I watched Him suffer. I saw Him die.

I believe now that He could have come down from that cross and saved Himself from the agony and pain. But He accepted that pain as the will of God. Before He died, He raised His voice in forgiveness. Forgiveness. More powerful than the armies of Rome and the strategies of all our leaders. Forgiveness.

Something changed inside me. I decided that my seat on the council was nothing to cherish; it would never again bring any honor to me. I decided that it was past time for me to raise my voice. Perhaps my silent voice might become something better--a voice of courage.

The Roman soldiers determined that Jesus was dead. I left Golgotha and went straight to the Tower of Antonio. I requested an audience with Pilate. Because of my stature in the Jewish community, he received me. I plucked up my courage and asked Pilate to release the dead body of Jesus into my custody.

Pilate was surprised to learn that Jesus had already died. Sometimes, you know, the victims suffer for days. I was not sure what Pilate would do. I knew enough about Roman law to know that those condemned to death had no right to burial. Would Pilate enforce their law? I also knew that Pilate hated us Jews. He had nothing to gain by granting me a favor. But he signed a release. Maybe he saw in me an opportunity to get back at the Sanhedrin for forcing him into this business.

I didn't linger to chat with him about it. I sent word to my friend Nicodemus to meet me at my family tomb. I hurried back to the scene of the crucifixion with Pilate's release. I presented it to the centurion and asked him to take Jesus' body down from the cross. He gave me a funny look and then put his men to work. Some of Jesus' followers were standing nearby, watching us, so I asked a couple of them to help me carry the body. We took it to my family tomb, which was nearby.

Nicodemus was there. He had brought linen bandages, spices and aromatics, a mixture of myrrh and aloes. We did not embalm Jesus' body like an Egyptian would, but we bathed it, and cleaned it, rinsing the wounds, His head, His side, His back. And we wrapped it in layers of the bandages and aromatic mixture. It was late in the day and we had to hurry to finish before the Sabbath.

My family tomb is not a natural cave, but rather is hewn out of solid rock. After we laid the body of Jesus in the tomb, Nicodemus and the others helped me roll a great stone in front of the entrance. It was a heavy stone and would not be easily moved. Later Pilate even sealed the tomb and commanded Roman soldiers to guard it. Our leaders wanted no one to have access to the body of Jesus.

When I think back on these things, it surprises me that I had the courage to do what I did. I knew that my actions meant the end of my term on the Sanhedrin--the end of my good name in the community, the end of everything I had thought so important in my long life. The Sanhedrin knew, the entire world knew that I was a believer in Jesus the Messiah. But what they thought no longer mattered to me. In the face of deep sorrow, I was thrilled to find my voice. And what a happy surprise to find that it was a voice of courage.

Written by Dr. Woodrow Kroll and Keith Ghormley
www.backtothebible.org

April 4, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
I sometimes give myself admirable advice, but I am incapable of taking it. - Mary Wortley Montagu

The Twelve Voices Of Easter
Mary Magdalene - Voice of Adoration

Matthew 28:1-11

I am one of the twelve voices of Easter. Mine is the voice of adoration. Jesus changed my life. He loved me when no one else did. I have almost forgotten the days before. I will not speak of them. I will speak of Him.

I followed Him wherever He went. I was always in the crowd when He taught. I saw Him raise the dead and heal the sick. The blind saw, the lame walked, the deaf heard, the dumb spoke. Those bound by evil spirits were released by His command. v I was one of several women who followed Him. We were not as close to Him as the twelve--Peter, Andrew, James and John and the others--but we constantly felt the warmth of His smile and the gentleness of His voice. He loved us as much as we loved Him.

But then the leaders in Jerusalem arrested Him and killed Him. I stood at His cross and watched Him die. I wept to see Him suffer. The Roman soldiers were cruel. Our leaders were no better. The chief priests and scribes mocked Him in His agony; they hated Him. But Jesus had told us beforehand that this was the hour for which He came from the Father. He said He was laying down His life of His own accord, that no one was taking it from Him. We stayed there all day. From the morning when they drove the nails through His hands and feet into the cross, until it was over and the soldier drove a spear into His side.

Late in the afternoon, a strange thing happened. A member of the Sanhedrin approached the centurion in charge. Someone said he was Joseph, from Arimathea, a town just 20 miles away. He showed the centurion a document, and the soldiers took down the body for him. What was he going to do with it?

We followed him as they carried it to a tomb nearby. Another rich man met him and they worked together quickly, preparing the body; it was almost the Sabbath. They didn't have time to finish. They had time only for washing and wrapping. They laid His body in a new tomb; it must have belonged to a wealthy family. We watched, and remembered the place. We wanted to come back and anoint the body properly.

We spent a long, cheerless day together. As soon as the sun set, the bazaars opened. Mary the mother of James, Mary the wife of Cleopas, Joanna, Susanna and others of us hurried into Jerusalem and bought the spices we needed to anoint Jesus' body. We decided to go the next morning, early in the day, when we could go without notice.

We rose in the cold and dark, and set out. The sun was still behind the hills of Moab when we made our way down the dark path to Joseph's tomb. Someone asked how we would move the stone. That's right. We had watched Joseph and the others block the entrance to the tomb with a huge stone. How would we ever move it? And there was a report that Roman soldiers had been posted to guard the tomb. What would we do?

But when we arrived at the tomb, we were shocked: The stone was not there, nor were any soldiers to be seen. The stone had been rolled away--taken right out of its trough and tipped over.

As we stood and wondered at what had happened to the stone, two men dressed in dazzling white robes suddenly appeared. These garments were not the togas of Roman soldiers, nor were they the long white robes of the Pharisees. These were not men at all, but angels of God.

We were overcome and we fell to the ground. But the angels reassured us. They reminded us how Jesus had said that He would rise again. One of the angels bid us to look inside the tomb and see for ourselves. I ran as fast as I could to tell Peter and John. When we returned, the other women were gone. We looked in the tomb. Empty. I was convinced that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. The linen garments Joseph had wrapped Him in were lying there, neatly folded in their places. But the tomb was empty.

Peter and John ran from the garden, but I remained. I had nowhere to go. What had happened to the Master? Could it be that He actually did rise from the dead, or had the soldiers taken His body away? My heart was overcome again with sorrow. I just stood there, weeping.

Then I heard a voice behind me ask, "Woman, why are you weeping?" I assumed it was the gardener. "Sir, what have you done with Him?" I asked, wiping my face.

It was fully light, but tears blurred my eyes. I turned, but could not see clearly. Then He called me by my name. "Mariam." That was my Aramaic name, the name my parents and my friends called me. A gardener would not have spoken Aramaic to me. A Roman would not know my name. I knew that voice. I looked up. I saw Him. It was Jesus. I answered in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" I threw myself at His feet, weeping, laughing, not believing, believing. My Master, my Teacher, my Savior, my Lord. He was standing there alive.

Of course I became one of the twelve voices of Easter. A voice of astonishment and wonder. The first human voice of adoration. He told me to go tell the others, and I did. Marvelous news. A wonder beyond all wonders. God has accomplished great things in our midst. Jesus is risen from the dead!

Written by Dr. Woodrow Kroll and Keith Ghormley
www.backtothebible.org

April 5, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
If you cannot feed a hundred people, then feed just one. - Mother Teresa

The Twelve Voices Of Easter
Cleopas - Voice of Assurance

Luke 24:13-40

The road before us was hard and colorless. It was springtime, but we were deaf to the birds singing in the trees. We were blind to the flowers blooming in the field. The sun gave no warmth. The skies had no color. Jesus the Nazarene was dead.

We were full of questions and doubts. We had been in Jerusalem for the Passover. It was only a few miles from our village of Emmaus. But instead of celebrating the Feast of Deliverance with joy, we observed the crucifixion of our Deliverer with despair. We were at Golgotha. We saw Him die.

I had come to believe this Jesus was the Messiah. My friend and I were both His disciples. Not chosen to be among the twelve, but disciples no less. We followed Him. We listened to Him preach. We submitted to His instruction. We believed His words. We expected to see Him established as God's anointed king on earth, the hope of Israel, and light to all the nations. Instead, we saw Him crucified, falsely convicted by our leaders and executed by the Romans. He was gone. When He died, all our hopes died.

The crucifixion was Friday. We stayed in the city through the Sabbath. The weight of His death grew on us each hour until it seemed we would be crushed completely. On the morning of the first day, we prepared to return to Emmaus. There was nothing more to do in Jerusalem. There was some chance the authorities would arrest any disciples of Jesus they could find. Those who stayed in the city were keeping out of sight.

As we prepared to leave, we heard some rumor that His grave was empty. Someone had heard it whispered that the women had seen Him alive. Another snatch of news had it that Peter and John had been to the tomb and seen it empty. But who knew for sure? There was no way to know.

We took to the road. We walked some distance in sad conversation. Then we became aware of footsteps behind us; a man walking by Himself. We let Him join us. He asked what we were talking about. "Why do you look so glum?" He said. At first neither my friend nor I responded. Was He in sympathy or would He betray us?

Finally, I risked it. "Where have you been these last few days? Haven't you heard what has happened in Jerusalem? Are you a stranger here?" How could anyone within miles of the city not know what had happened? This had been no common execution. Three hours of thick darkness covered the land. Never had earthquakes accompanied a crucifixion. How could this stranger be ignorant of all this? But He seemed sincere. We told Him that the one we expected to redeem Israel had been crucified and placed in a grave. His death was the end of our hopes. There could be no deliverance now. We even told Him the rumors: that some of the women had gone to the tomb that morning and found it empty. Peter and John went too. But what could have happened to the body? Who would have any reason to move it? And what about the Roman guards? We admitted the stories were hard to believe.

The stranger shook His head at our confusion. He chided us for not believing the promises of the Scriptures regarding Messiah. Then He taught us. He quoted passage after passage from Moses and the prophets, and David, showing us how the promises must be fulfilled: how the Messiah must suffer first before He began His reign. How His death would atone for sin, and that God would not leave Him in the grave, but would raise Him to life again. Our hearts quickened to hear these words of promise and new hope.

By the time we arrived at our village, it was late in the afternoon. Traveling after dark was dangerous because of thieves on the road, so when we saw that the stranger intended to go on alone, we persuaded Him to stay. He accepted our invitation and came to dine with us. We reclined together at the table. The stranger took up the bread, blessed it, broke it and we began to eat.

That's when I noticed them--the marks on His hands. When He broke the bread, I caught my breath. I said, "Show me Your hands." He held them out and turned them over. Nail prints. I raised my head and looked Him full in the face. His eyes held my gaze. And I knew Him. My heart pounded in my chest. I was looking in the face of Israel's Redeemer, Jesus, the Messiah, our Teacher, alive from the tomb. The women were right. Peter and John were not talking nonsense. He was alive, in my house, reclining at my table. I looked across at my companion. He, too, had recognized the teacher.

When we looked back, Jesus was gone. I stood up quickly, "We have to go to Jerusalem. We must tell them what's happened."

My companion said, "Are you crazy? We've been on the road all day and now it's after sunset. It will be dangerous."

I picked up a heavy walking stick. We left everything and rushed back to Jerusalem. That seven-mile journey was the most exciting of my life. If there were bandits, we never saw them.

In the city, we found the place where the disciples were hiding. We burst in. Peter, James, John and the others--we told them. Then we told them again. They told us what they had seen. That small room could barely contain us.

Yes, I am one of the twelve voices of Easter. I am Cleopas, and mine is the voice of assurance. I tell you today what I know is true. Jesus is alive. I have seen Him. I have looked the resurrected Christ straight in the eye. I have heard Him teach. I have eaten bread broken by His nail-scarred hands. Now there are no more questions. No more doubt. Only this assurance: I have seen Him. He is alive.

Written by Dr. Woodrow Kroll and Keith Ghormley
www.backtothebible.org

April 6, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
We do not remember days; we remember moments. - Cesare Pavese

The Twelve Voices Of Easter
Thomas - Voice of Doubt

John 20:19-29

He was gone. My Master, gone. Departed. All of our plans ruined. All of our hopes shattered. He was nailed to a cross and died. And then they took Him down and put His body in a grave. It was all over.

I am Thomas, one of the twelve. I loved Him. I was devoted to Him. I believed Him. In fact, I was ready to die for Him. When news came that His friend Lazarus died, Jesus told us He was going to Bethany where the family lived. But that would be dangerous; His enemies would be at hand, and those who wanted Jesus dead might find their opportunity. So I would not let Him go alone. I got the others to agree, and we went with Him even though it could have meant death for us. It eventually meant death for Him.

Now, of course, I remember His teaching. I understand now that He was telling us this would happen. But none of us could see it at the time. He said He was going away to prepare a place for us. We didn't know what He meant. I asked, "Lord, we don't know where You're going, so how can we know the way?" I wasn't doubting; I just didn't understand. I always learn better when I get to see something to go with the words. At the end, I saw. Something to go with His words about leaving us. The horror of Golgotha.

After that, we fled. We feared for our lives. We thought the chief priests or the Roman soldiers might come after His disciples next. So we hid in homes around Jerusalem through the Sabbath.

The next morning Peter and John and some of the women went to the tomb. They came back saying the tomb was empty, claiming that Jesus had risen from the dead. That night they all met in secret, and later they told me that Jesus visited them and then disappeared.

But I just could not believe it. A dead man from a grave, alive? I remembered Lazarus coming out of the grave. But Lazarus did not mysteriously appear and disappear through locked doors. And Lazarus had a--well, he had a whole body. His back had not been stripped of flesh. His side had not been opened by a Roman spear. No, I said, unless I could put my hands in the print of the nails in His hand, unless I could see and touch that horrible gash in His side, unless I could see with my eyes and touch with my hands and have proof that He was alive, I could not believe.

The other disciples still insisted that they had seen Him alive. Two of them told that He had walked the road with them to Emmaus. Mary Magdalene told again how she met Him in the garden. They urged me with their personal experience. But I could not believe without seeing for myself. I had to see for myself. I didn't want to hear about Him; I wanted to see Him and touch Him, to know myself that He was alive. I was the voice of doubt.

A week later we all gathered in the same room where the others claimed to have seen Him before. Suddenly, He was there. Jesus appeared in our midst. I knew He didn't come through the door. The door was locked because we were afraid. He greeted us. Then He turned to me. My heart pounded. His eyes looked straight into mine. He reached out and took my hands in His. He spoke my name. "Thomas, put your finger here in My hands. Place your hand in this wound in My side and believe."

He knew how I had doubted. He knew exactly what I had said. I had said I would not believe unless I saw the print of the nails in His hands. He said, "See My hands." I told the disciples I could not believe unless I put my finger in those nail prints. He said, "Put your finger here." I said I would not believe unless I could put my hand in His side. "He said, "Put your hand here in My side."

And I touched the marks. Marks of the soldiers and the chief priests. Marks of men who rejected Him, despised Him, cruelly abused Him. They were marks of men who would not believe. Marks of unbelief. Scars of doubt. They were my marks. How was I any different? I was the man who would not believe. Mine were the nails. Mine was the spear. The scars were the marks of my disbelief. I fell to my knees and said, "My Lord and my God."

What about you? To any of you who doubt that Jesus is alive, to any who doubt that He is the risen, living Lord, to any of you who doubt that He is God, I say doubt no longer, but believe. He rebuked me gently as the others watched. He said I believed because I have seen, but He said even greater blessing would be upon those who have not seen as I have and yet believe. When you come face-to-face with the resurrected Christ, the voice of doubt is silenced. It gives way to the voice of faith and hope, because this Jesus, this Lord, this God is not in a Jerusalem grave. He is alive. Me? I doubt no more. And our hopes live again. Now the promises of God have come true. The Lord is risen indeed.

Written by Dr. Woodrow Kroll and Keith Ghormley
www.backtothebible.org

April 7, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Suffering is the vocation of those who follow Him. - John Piper

The Road To Calvary: His Triumphal Entry

And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna!" - Mark 11:8,9

Jesus took a difficult and challenging road to the Cross. All the events in His life led systematically to His death and Resurrection as celebrated on Easter. Today we begin the journey of Jesus' Road to Calvary.

By the time Jesus rides the little colt into town to the choruses of praise and hallelujahs, He has already shown His Deity many times over. He has healed the sick, raised the dead, delivered the demon-possessed and fed the hungry. The crowds are ecstatic as they line the roadway, shouting their praises to Him as the King, not knowing the kind of King He will prove to be, nor the kind of crown He will have to wear.

The crowd doesn't know, but Jesus knows. He knows the struggles that await Him during this dramatic week and the suffering He will have to endure on the Cross. He knows the betrayal He will experience at the hands of His closest friends. He knows because He is God. No mere human could stay the course in light of such a horrific outcome!

What motivated Jesus to take this path? Only one thing - His love for you, His beloved child. He paid dearly to buy you for His own, and He did it because in His eyes, you are worth the costly sacrifice.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 Recommended reading: Mark 11:1-11

By Dr. David Jeremiah
Copyright 2001 Turning Point for God
All rights reserved.
www.turningpointonline.org

April 8, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. No one was there. - Unknown

The Road To Calvary: Cleansing of the Temple

It is written, "My house is a house of prayer," but you have made it a "den of thieves." - Luke 19:46

When something is set apart for one use and we find it is being abused and put to work for another purpose, sometimes we are angered. Like the neighborhood park that became a haven for drug trade, or the local theater that suddenly catered to the seediest films, we know this is neither right nor good, and it certainly doesn't please God.

Near the end of His life, Jesus entered the temple and saw businessmen making money off the poor. They were devaluing the importance of the worship of God. These inappropriate practices were unacceptable to Jesus, and He took action quickly.

As you observe His suffering and death this season, be sure to clear out the inappropriate things in your life. Sweep them away with the force and power of Jesus Christ. What unconfessed sin do you have that you can eliminate with His help?

Just as the purpose of the temple was for the worship of God, your purpose is to live dedicated to the Righteous King. Don't let anything, no matter how precious it may seem, keep you from being right with Him! Confess it today, and let Jesus cleanse.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. - Psalm 51:2

Recommended reading:
Luke 19:45-48 and Isaiah 56:7

By Dr. David Jeremiah
Copyright 2001 Turning Point for God
All rights reserved.
www.turningpointonline.org

April 9, 2001

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
When Jesus prayed to the One who could save Him from death, He did not get that salvation; He got instead the salvation of the world. - Philip Yancey

The Road To Calvary: The Garden of Gethsemane

"Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will." - Mark 14:36

When we experience dread or avoidance, it may be because we anticipate discomfort. We avoid the unpleasant task because we don't want to expend the energy, emotional or physical, needed to get the job done. Jesus felt the same, magnified many times over in the Garden at Gethsemane.

Jesus was well aware of the suffering that was awaiting Him. He knew one of His closest followers was about to hand Him over to His enemies. He knew He would suffer extreme physical pain. Those realizations paled in light of the knowledge that He would take on the crushing load of the sins of every person who had ever lived or ever would live.

We cannot possibly understand the agony this must have caused our Lord, but we know that the Scriptures tell us: "He prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him" (Mark 14:35).

Praise God that Jesus did not stop there! He continued to the point of absolute acceptance of His Father's plan. This willingness to suffer brought your salvation. Thank Him for it today with the prayer, "Thy will be done!"

Recommended reading:
John 20:1-10

By Dr. David Jeremiah
Copyright 2001 Turning Point for God
All rights reserved.
www.turningpointonline.org

April 13, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion. The concept of resurrection lies at its heart. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed. - John R. Stott

The Road To Calvary And Beyond:
Breakfast on the Beach

"Simon, Son of Jonah, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, you know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep." - John 21:17

Exuberant Peter could scarcely contain his emotion when he realized that the figure standing on the beach directing the disciples' fishing expedition was Jesus! Grabbing his outer garment, he jumped out of the boat and bounded for shore. As he dragged the overloaded net up on the beach, Peter showed that he was eager to do anything possible to please the Lord. The stinging memory of his denials caused shame and embarrassment, and he was ready to be redeemed.

Jesus seemed to believe that Peter was ready to be restored as well. It is as if Jesus wanted to give the disciple three opportunities to declare his commitment to the Lord--one for each of the denials. Once Peter had declared his love and faithfulness to the Lord, Jesus wasted no time in redirecting the disciple into meaningful ministry. "Feed My lambs. Take care of My sheep."

Jesus wants each of us to be free from every encumbrance of sin so we can serve Him in the meaningful ministry He has for us. Serve Him enthusiastically today, just like Peter did so long ago.

Through love, serve one another - Galatians 5:13

By Dr. David Jeremiah
Copyright 2001 Turning Point for God
All rights reserved.
www.turningpointonline.org

April 14, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Doubt asks the sincere question; unbelief refuses to hear the answer. - Unknown

The Road To Calvary: The Upper Room

"With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." - Luke 22:15

The focal point of the Passover Feast was always the perfect lamb. It was raised from birth just for the purpose of being put to death for the atonement of sins. It began its life and lived every day for only one purpose--to be sacrificed for the Passover meal.

When Jesus gathered His disciples there in the upper room, they believed it was to be another Passover feast that they would observe, but He knew that He was to become their personal Passover Lamb. He was preparing His disciples to understand that He would be their final and ultimate atonement for sin. His brokenness would lead to their wholeness. His death would lead to their eternal life. The disciples had heard Jesus teaching on this truth throughout their time with Him, yet they still did not understand.

Every day of Jesus' life was lived to complete God's plan for our salvation and redemption. He is our perfect Passover Lamb. Costly though it was, Jesus bought your eternal life. Live today with the deep appreciation for all He has done for you through His obedient death on the Cross.

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12

By Dr. David Jeremiah
Copyright 2001 Turning Point for God
All rights reserved.
www.turningpointonline.org

April 15, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. - The Lord Jesus

The Road To Calvary And Beyond:
Christ's Ascension

"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49

"This it was written and thus it was necessary.' These words of Jesus ring through all time, resounding with the truth that our everlasting God had set the course for history,and was bringing it to the fulfillment as Jesus prepared to return to Heaven.

The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms all paved Jesus' rugged road to Calvary. Every word that God's spokespeople uttered about the coming Messiah had now come true. All was finished and fulfilled. Nothing more needed to happen for Jesus to return to His Father's side.

But like a loving parent leaving children on their own for the first time, Jesus had final instructions for His disciples. They centered on repentance and remission--repentance from and remission of sins. This Good News must now go around the world, to all nations, beginning right there at home in Jerusalem.

The same power that burst Jesus from the grave gives us the strength and motivation to spread the Gospel across our towns, cities and around the world. Let His resurrection power spur you to share the Good News with someone today!

Thank You, God for the power You give to help me spread Your Good News. Amen.

By Dr. David Jeremiah
Copyright 2001 Turning Point for God
All rights reserved.
www.turningpointonline.org

April 16, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't. - Erica Jong

Take It To The Lord In Prayer...And In Devotions

It's amazing isn't it, how many varied responses we get when we ask people about prayer? One person says, "Prayer? What a colossal waste of time." Yet someone else will jump to prayer's defense and say, "Prayer? Why, it's one of the most treasured experiences of my life!"

How could two people have such opposite views on the same subject? Don't you think it might have something to do with their view of God? If there is no God, and if everything we see around us evolved on its own, then prayer is indeed a waste of time. There would be absolutely no value in praying. After all, what purpose is there in asking an Almighty Creator for His favor if He doesn't exist? It would be ludicrous.

But aren't you glad to know the Bible says that there is a God and that He hears our prayers? Psalm 10:17 declares, "Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear." Evolution teaches that there is no Supreme Being to hear our pleas, but the Bible says God hears our voice and He will answer.

Now that we can agree that prayer is for real, let's take it to the next level...and put prayer to practical use in our devotional life. I'd like to suggest ten good reasons to engage in daily, prayer-centered, personal devotions in God's Word, and I trust you'll open your heart and let God speak to you through these verses.

1. Devotions provide communication with God (Psalm 25:4-5; 119:145-154).

2. Devotions quench our spiritual thirst (Psalm 42:1-2; 84:2; Philippians 3:10).

3. Devotions are the basis for personal spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18).

4. Devotions provide a safeguard against spiritual immaturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Psalm 119:9-11).

5. Devotions provide insight for daily living (Proverbs 10:4; 17:27-28).

6. Devotions prevent bipolar faith (1 John 4:1; Ephesians 4:11-15).

7. Devotions provide daily comfort and encouragement (Psalm 119:81; Romans 15:4).

8. Devotions prepare us to share our faith (1 Peter 3:15; Luke 24-27).

9. Devotions provide daily direction (Deuteronomy 5:27; Psalm 119:105).

10. Devotions show our respect for the Bible's Author (Psalm 19:9-10; 119:127-128).

Have I persuaded you that prayer and devotions go hand-in-glove? I hope so, because these elements of our faith are two of the greatest sources of spiritual power available to you and me in our Christian walk.

God bless you, my friend, as you and your family tap the power of prayer in your devotional life, and as you continue to be a Christian witness to those in your sphere of influence. Thank you for playing a key role in seeing lives changed for eternity, by the power and love of Jesus Christ.

Written By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright 2001, The Good News Broadcasting Association.
www.backtothebible.org

April 17, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up. - Unknown

Lessons On Living From David:
Looking on the Heart

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

Outward appearances can be deceiving. An airline captain who flew international routes also ran a small filling station near his home. Between trips abroad, he got a kick out of changing tires and pumping gas. One morning, dressed in his greasy overalls, he walked down to the local hardware store to pick up a new wrench. "What�s new?" the store owner asked. "Oh, I�m thinking of taking the Cairo run this month," the captain said. "I enjoy flying to London and Frankfurt, but I think the change of pace will do me good." He paid for the wrench and left. Another customer asked, "Who�s the world traveler?" Rolling his eyes, the store owner said, "Some nut who runs the gas station down the street. Thinks he�s an airline pilot!" Both men got a good laugh.

The prophet Samuel also learned that outward appearances don�t necessarily make the man. David�s brothers, who were first interviewed for the job of future king of Israel, were all kingly looking. God, however, knew their hearts were not right and rejected them. It was not until David was brought before Samuel that God found a man "after His own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14).

The most important responsibility Christians have is keeping their heart right with God. Physical exercise profits a little (1 Timothy 4:8), and there is certainly nothing wrong with looking clean and neat, but the real test in God�s sight is our heart. No matter how "together" we might appear, if our heart is not pure before the Lord, He can�t use us to accomplish His will.

Are you taking good care of your heart? If it has become spiritually out of shape, apply the 1 John 1:9 principle. Make sure that when God looks at your heart, He likes what He sees.

It�s the internal, not the external, that affects the eternal.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 18, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle. - Unknown

Lessons On Living From David:
Last But Not Least

And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." - 1 Samuel 16:11

A friend once told me that the moment he dreaded most in high school was when his classmates in PE chose sides for a team. Being the non-athletic type, he consistently was chosen last. The rest of the school day was usually clouded by the realization that in athletics, at least, he was viewed as the LVP (least valuable player).

Perhaps David felt the same way. While all his brothers were given responsibilities at home and their father�s attention, David was sent off to the lonely task of herding sheep on the Judean hillside. He probably was speaking from personal experience when he said, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me" (Psalm 27:10). Yet the one whom others saw as a person of last resort, God considered a person of first choice. Even though David�s father deemed him worthy only of leading sheep, God saw him as the future leader of Israel.

How the world sees us is of little importance; of utmost importance is how God sees us. Heaven will be filled with those whom others considered to be of little value but whom God knew to be of supreme importance. What is hidden now will someday be revealed�if not on earth, then certainly in heaven. Many who humbly stood in last place in life will find themselves in that day at the head of the line (Matthew 19:30).

Don�t be discouraged if those around you do not hold you in high esteem. Little can they know the plans God has for you. You may be last in their sight, but you are not least in God�s sight.

Those whom man puts last God often puts first.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 19, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil's reach as humility. - Jonathan Edwards

Lessons On Living From David:
A Filling, Not a Flash

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. - 1 Samuel 16:13

In the days of electric trolley cars, it was common for the small wheel to jump off the power-charged wire overhead. When that happened, the connection was broken and the power was gone. Sometimes in the motorman�s efforts to get the wheel back on the power cable, he would make a false contact. There would be a flash of fire, but still the car was motionless. When the proper contact with the power line was made, however, the flashing stopped and the trolley would move forward with its load of passengers.

God knew that David would need more than just a flash of power. If this young man was to be the leader he needed to be, he required a steady contact with God through the Holy Spirit. To symbolize that experience, Samuel anointed David with oil and the Spirit came upon him "from that day forward." All that David accomplished of an eternal nature could be traced to this ongoing guidance from God�s Spirit. It was not a momentary occurrence; it was a lifetime experience.

Christians have many "spiritual flashes." It may be the exhilarating experience of a weekend retreat. Perhaps God gives an overwhelming sense of His presence in the midst of a worship service. These are wonderful encounters, but they are not meant to replace continual, daily contact with God�s Spirit. Be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). His steady influence is what you need to move forward on your Christian journey.

Don�t be satisfied with an occasional flash of emotion. Let the Holy Spirit take control of your life and experience His power on a daily basis. Confess your sins and keep in contact with Him. A flash can never replace a filling.

Steady contact makes for steady progress.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 20, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is. - Phillips Brooks

Lessons On Living From David:
Are You Lacking?

Then one of the servants answered and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him." - 1 Samuel 16:18

Dr. John Broadus, a distinguished professor and gifted preacher, was asked by a student to write in his autograph book. The young man was known as an outstanding scholar, but Dr. Broadus knew he was not a Christian. So the professor wrote in his book three Greek words that meant, "One thing thou lackest." Years later Dr. Broadus received a letter from an eminent medical doctor in Texas. In the letter the physician said that he had never been able to forget those words in his book and that now he had the one thing he formerly lacked. He had Christ.

David was a very gifted man as well. He was a talented musician whose psalms are still set to music today. He was a valiant warrior. The women of Israel sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7). He was a wise counselor and a handsome person. But more important than all these was this fact: the Lord was with him. All David�s giftedness would have been for nothing had he lacked that one essential element - God�s presence.

People often look at others and admire them for their various abilities. They may wish they could play an instrument like their favorite musician, or that they could be as intellectually astute as their college professor. Rarely, however, do we ask ourselves, Does this person have God�s presence in his or her life? Would we really want to trade places with even the most talented person if he didn�t know the Lord?

If you feel left out in the giftedness department, remember that you can have the most important gift of all - Christ�s presence in your life. There are no auditions, no IQ tests, no talent contests required. All you need is an open heart to receive the Savior. Do it today.

If you have only one gift, let it be Christ�s presence.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 21, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low; but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment. - Bernard of Clairvaux

Lessons On Living From David:
Faithful in Small Things

David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father�s sheep at Bethlehem. - 1 Samuel 17:14-15

Little things can make a big difference. In the 1968 Winter Olympics, Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy made a sweep of the men�s Alpine events, but it was nip and tuck. He won the downhill by 8/100ths of a second, the slalom by 9/100ths. By comparison, the giant slalom was a rout, with Killy coming in more than two seconds ahead of Swiss silver medalist Willy Favre. Small as they seem, those seconds, even fractions of a second, made the difference between winning and losing.

David also knew the importance of small things. The war between the armies of Saul and the Philistines must have been very exciting for a young boy. The fortunes of David�s family and the whole nation of Israel hung in the balance. Yet in the midst of such monumental battles, David didn�t forget about his father�s sheep back in Bethlehem. He never failed to leave the allurement of the battlefield when necessary and tend to what others might consider insignificant responsibilities like feeding sheep. He knew these tasks were as needful as the more glamorous duties.

It�s easy for Christians to respond to the attraction of exciting ministries. Involvement in mass evangelistic rallies is thrilling. Being part of a stadium filled with people enthused about Jesus Christ is exhilarating. These things make the chore of teaching a class of three-year-olds or photocopying the Sunday worship folder seem so small and insignificant by comparison. Yet we need to remember that our faithfulness to these apparently small tasks is necessary as well.

If you struggle under the load of what appear to be insignificant responsibilities, realize that God doesn�t rate the size of the task, only the faithfulness of those He calls to complete it. Be faithful to the duty and don�t worry about the dimensions.

Being faithful in small things is no small thing.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 22, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
We often praise the evening clouds, And tints so gay and bold; But seldom think upon our God, Who tinged those clouds with gold. - Sir Walter Scott

Lessons On Living From David:
Standing Up for God

Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" - 1 Samuel 17:26

When my son, Tim, was about 14 years old, we were visiting my mother and father in western Pennsylvania. My father was outside on a ladder washing an upstairs window. Tim opened the window, stuck his head out and said, "Whatcha doin,' old man?" If there's one thing you never said to my father, you never called him "old man." He thought that was disrespectful. So what did he do? My father turned the hose on Tim! My son never forgot that lesson.

David felt the same way about the challenge issued by Goliath. The nine-foot-tall champion of the Philistines was not just making Saul's armies look cowardly for refusing to respond to his harassment; Goliath was showing disrespect toward the living God. When the Philistines taunted the armies of Israel, they were mocking the God of Israel as well. By throwing insults at Israel, they were implying that God was also weak and ineffectual. This was something David couldn't tolerate.

Our own honor is insignificant. When people do not show us the respect that perhaps they should, it matters little. God ultimately will make up for such oversights (Rom. 8:16-19). But when God's character is called into question, that's a different issue. When God is ridiculed or belittled, it is the duty of every Christian to object, whether we do so privately or publicly. We should never ignore those who dishonor God.

Do not be afraid to defend God's honor. God will sustain you if you are willing to take a stand for Him. Whether it is in the workplace, in the university classroom or in a social setting, let others know that God deserves their respect.

Honor God and He will honor you.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 23, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
I fear God, and next to God I chiefly fear him who fears Him not. - Saadi

Lessons On Living From David:
Be Yourself

So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. And David fastened his sword to his armor, and he tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off. - 1 Samuel 17:38-39

Students at Morningside High School knew Mr. Sullivan as a strict English teacher who would kick them out of class for talking. But on August 6, 1997, the Los Angeles County District Attorney�s office kicked Mr. Sullivan out of class. It was discovered that Mr. Sullivan was really Willie Clifton Wright, who was charged with numerous felonies for stealing the identity of a teacher at another Los Angeles-area school. The imposter was uncovered when the real Robert Sullivan retired. For the past ten years, Willie Wright had been posing as someone he really wasn�t.

With the best of intentions, Saul also tried to turn David into someone he really wasn�t. The young shepherd was clothed in a suit of Saul�s armor and given the king�s sword. But at this point in his life, this wasn�t who David was. He wasn�t a warrior; he was a shepherd. He wasn�t accustomed to heavy armor and swords; his battles were fought with a slingshot and stones. Wisely, David refused to pretend to be someone he wasn�t.

In the Christian faith, there are many outstanding examples of men and women who lived their lives gloriously for God. Hudson Taylor adopted the dress and culture of the Chinese among whom he ministered. D. L. Moody never closed a service without extending an invitation for salvation. Amy Carmichael rescued thousands of young girls from serving as temple prostitutes in India. But keep in mind, they are not you and you are not them.

Admire those whom God has used, but let Him show you how He wants to use the unique combination of gifts and talents He�s given you. Be yourself, and let Him make the best you that you can be.

The best person to be is yourself.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 24, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
With God, over the sea; without Him, not over the threshold. - Russian Proverb

Lessons On Living From David:
The Lord�s Battle

"Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord�s, and He will give you into our hands." - 1 Samuel 17:47

When King George VI gave his Christmas address to the British people in 1939, World War II had just begun. The German armies had conquered northern Europe and a long war lay ahead. In his speech the king quoted these words from a book by M. Louise Haskins: "And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, �Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.� And he replied, �Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.�"

As David faced the prospect of confronting a seasoned warrior nearly twice his size and vastly more experienced in battle, he also knew where to place his faith�not in the security of swords and spears but in the power of God. David knew that his skill would not save the day. Instead, the Lord would be the deciding factor. It was His battle.

Life is filled with giants that are bigger than we. Seemingly insurmountable obstacles can dog our every step. But when faced with overwhelming odds, it�s comforting to know that the outcome doesn�t depend on us. Of course, we must be obedient and do our part. Whatever skills or gifts that God has given us must be used. But having put forth our best efforts, we can be assured that God will be the One who ultimately determines the battle�s outcome.

Rest in the knowledge that the battle is the Lord�s. He is the One who gives the victory.

The Lord�s battle is our victory.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 25, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Some people treat God like they do a lawyer; they go to Him only when they are in trouble. - Anonymous

Lessons On Living From David:
A Covenant Friendship

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. - 1 Samuel 18:3

Merriam Webster�s Collegiate Dictionary defines a covenant as a "formal, solemn, and binding agreement" and an "agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action." A covenant turns something ordinary into something very special. It is not an act that should be taken lightly.

A covenant relationship existed between Jonathan and David because Jonathan "loved him as his own soul." The word translated "loved" in the original language means "to have an affection for." This was not a sexual relationship, as some misguided people erroneously claim. Instead, it was a friendship rooted in a deep admiration for each other and sealed with a solemn agreement. According to this covenant, no matter what happened David and Jonathan would remain friends. Their relationship was a loyal commitment to look out for each other�s welfare.

Today, friendship is approached with a very casual attitude. Friendships are made and broken as the need arises. They are no more substantial than the fizz from a can of pop. It�s no wonder that leading psychologists and therapists estimate that only 10 percent of men in the United States have any real friends. It�s a shame that we struggle with issues of loneliness while all along God�s Word sets forth examples of committed friends like David and Jonathan.

While it�s not possible to have a covenant relationship with every friend, ask God to show you a friend who could be more than a casual acquaintance. And remember, if you want to have a friend, you need to be a friend (Proverbs 18:24). Establish a covenant friendship in which you commit to look out for each other�s welfare.

No person is more alone than he who is without a friend.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 26, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Do good with what thou hast; or it will do thee no good. - William Penn

Lessons On Living From David:
True Humility

And Saul commanded his servants, "Communicate with David secretly, and say, �Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king�s son-in-law.�" So Saul�s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king�s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?" - 1 Samuel 18:22-23

Sammy Morris was a devoted Christian from Africa who came to America to go to college. Although his pathway to service for Christ was not easy, his difficulties never deterred him. Perhaps this was because he had learned genuine humility. When Sammy arrived at a Christian college in the United States, the school�s president asked him what room he wanted. The African believer replied, "If there is a room nobody wants, give it to me." How many other Christians would show such a humble spirit?

David felt this way about his relationship to King Saul. Saul had promised him his daughter Merab, but the king went back on his commitment and gave her to Adriel the Meholathite (1 Sam. 18:17-19). Yet instead of becoming angry, David professed his unworthiness to be the son-in-law of the king. Then he was promised Michal, another of Saul�s daughters, and the king�s servants urged him to accept this offer. But again, David did not manipulate circumstances for his own gain. He humbly questioned his suitability to join the king�s family. David refused to promote himself by marrying the king�s daughter. He was content to let God honor him, if He so chose.

Christians sometimes view their relationship with a person or an organization as an opportunity for their own advancement. They look for ways to turn their circumstances to their advantage. To them, people are stepping-stones to personal glory. This leads to pride, and pride leads to destruction (Proverbs 16:18).

Take care that you do not use others for your own advancement. Be willing to wait and let God provide success in His time and His way. You�ll be glad you did.

Pride drives us to advance ourselves; humility bids us to wait.

No person is more alone than he who is without a friend.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 27, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
How blind are men to Heaven's gifts! - Lucan

Lessons On Living From David:
Living on the Edge

Then David took an oath again, and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he says, �Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.� But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death." - 1 Samuel 20:3

Some people live on the edge because they choose to. They bungee jump, sky dive and engage in other extreme sports just for the thrill of it. Others live on the edge not by choice, but because circumstances have placed them in dangerous places.

David fell into this latter category. He had sought to serve Saul faithfully and defend his country and his king with passion. But his success in these efforts only managed to arouse the king�s jealousy. When women came out of the cities singing David�s praises (1 Samuel 18:6-8), Saul became enraged and began to plot to do away with the young man he now viewed as a threat to his throne. David soon found himself only one step ahead of a king who was trying to kill him. But in the midst of these circumstances, David knew that God was with him and would preserve him (Psalm 34:6).

Many Christians today also live on the edge. They live in countries where the penalty for being a Christian is death. They live in nations where famine is claiming the lives of thousands. They live in drug-infested neighborhoods where drive-by shootings and gang killings are commonplace. Yet they also can claim God�s presence and protection (Psalm 34:7).

Perhaps you live on the edge. Though your life is not in danger, you may be living on the edge in terms of your job, your family or your marriage. Perhaps you feel that at any moment one or more of these could fall apart and leave you helpless. Put your trust in the God of David. Let Him provide what you need to move away from the edge.

Christ can take the edge out of living.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 28, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
The final contribution of religious faith to freedom is the freedom to confess our sins; the freedom to admit that we sit under the ultimate judgement of God. - Ursula W. Niebuhr

Lessons On Living From David:
Company of the Unfit

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father�s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him. - 1 Samuel 22:1-2

When Gen. George Washington gathered his armies to fight against the redcoats, they came from every conceivable walk of life. Some were frontiersmen, while others were merchants, farmers and even slaves. But the overwhelming majority had one thing in common: they were not trained soldiers. Most of them had shot nothing bigger than wild game. Yet in spite of that glaring deficiency, they took on the disciplined regiments of British regulars, and after a seven-year struggle they won.

David�s army also was a ragtag band of misfits. Those who were in trouble, in debt or simply discontented were drawn to him. A more motley group of outcasts would be hard to find�hardly a fit army for a would-be king. Yet despite their many shortcomings, God used them ultimately to bring David to the throne.

God delights in accomplishing His will through those the world considers unfit. He always has been attracted to people who will make themselves available and let Him do the rest. He took a schemer like Jacob and made him the father of Israel. He took an escaped fugitive like Moses and made him a fearless liberator. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that He was able to take a group of unlikely malcontents and debtors and use them to establish a shepherd boy like David as king over Israel. Imagine what He can do with you and me.

Are you ill-equipped for the task that God has called you to? Then rejoice, because that means you have the primary qualification God is looking for. If you are willing to be used, God will do the rest.

God can make the unfit fit for His plans.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 29, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Go put your creed into your deed, Nor speak with double tongue. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lessons On Living From David:
Safe Refuge

And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord�s priests. So David said to Abiathar, "I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father�s house. Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe." - 1 Samuel 22:21-23

In 1939 the Nazis began their program of Jewish extermination in Poland. In the midst of the destruction, Oskar Schindler, a most unlikely hero, opened his Emalia factory in Krakow, which produced enamel goods and munitions to supply the German front. As the Nazis began in earnest the removal of Jews to death camps, Schindler was able to rescue 1,300 Jewish men and women to work in his factory. By designating their skills as "essential" and paying off the local authorities, Schindler provided a haven that kept these refugees alive through the Holocaust.

David provided this kind of refuge for Abiathar, son of the high priest Ahimelech. After Saul discovered that the priests of the city of Nob had given assistance to David, he killed not only them but also all the men, women, children and even the animals of the city. Abiathar himself would have been killed if Saul could have found him. In return for his father�s kindness, David offered Abiathar a place of refuge. With David and his army, Abiathar found safety.

Satan�s purpose for the human race includes the destruction of every living being, regardless of their age or gender. Only those who find a place of refuge can hope to survive. Like Schindler, like David, God provides such a place (Psalm 91:1-2). It�s in His Son, Jesus Christ. When we receive Him as our Savior, we are safe from the ravages of the evil one.

Are you safe in Christ? If so, give thanks to Him who provides such a refuge from the destruction brought by Satan. If not, trust Christ Jesus today and become secure in Him forever. In the midst of destruction, Jesus is a place of safety.

There is safety only in Jesus.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

April 30, 2001

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Abundance consists not so much in material possessions, but in an uncovetous spirit. - John Seldon

Lessons On Living From David:
The Lord�s Anointed

And he said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord�s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord." So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. - 1 Samuel 24:6-7

Many motorists have had at least one encounter with the people whom truckers call "smokies." Their official name is the highway patrol. And when the red and blue lights on top of their car begin to flash, you know you had better pull over. Whether you have any personal affection for the person behind the badge or not, you still have to respect his position. He has been given the authority to enforce the rules of the road, and your feelings have nothing to say about it.

David had the same attitude toward Saul. It must have been difficult to muster any feeling of devotion for a man who was trying to kill him. Furthermore, the king�s motives and actions were often irrational. Still, Saul had not been removed from his position as the king of Israel. As a result, David had to treat Saul with honor as God�s anointed leader even though he could not approve of his actions. The position deserved respect whether or not the man did.

As we interact with pastors and other Christian leaders, there will be some with whom we might disagree theologically. Others may have methods that we think are inappropriate. Yet because they are individuals called to serve the Lord in a special way, we must respect their position even when we disagree with them personally.

If you are struggling to respect your pastor or another Christian leader, remember their position. You don�t have to agree with them, but you do have to treat them with the consideration due their calling.

If you can�t respect the person, respect the position.

By Woodrow Kroll
Copyright �1996-2001
The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
www.backtothebible.org

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