PAUL'S SECOND MISSIONARY TRIP

Paul and Silas set out on the second missionary trip to visit the churches 

that had started up.  But as they traveled through the province of Asia, the 

Holy Spirit kept them from preaching there. At one stage they tried to 

go into the area called Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus stopped them again. 

So they carried on traveling across the province of Mysia, to the coastal 

city of Troas. During the night, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia 

begging him to come and help them. After Paul had seen the vision, he got 

ready at once to leave for Macedonia and boarded a ship going to Philippi.

(Acts 16:6-15)

Should I wait for God to guide me before I do good?

Is it okay to tell others about Jesus and do good at any time, or should I wait for Him to tell me what to do?

God has made us in His image and given us the ability to reason—to think things through. The Holy Spirit will use the feeling that inspires us together with what we have learned and believe. The more we are willing to be used, the more opportunities God will make for us to serve Him.

As with Paul, God will sometimes speak to us by putting His thoughts in our minds. We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). When we are in tune with His Spirit and follow Bible principles, most of what we do should be exactly what God wants.

A ship that isn’t moving cannot be steered. Paul didn’t sit around waiting for God to point him in the right direction. It was as Paul went out to preach that the Spirit showed him where to go.
It is better to go out and do things that please God than do nothing while you wait for God to give you ‘special instructions’.

Verse for today
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. - Galatians 6:10

FROM RICHES TO RAGS

The city of Nineveh was so big that it would have taken three days to walk around it. Jonah started telling everyone the message God had given him: in forty days Nineveh would be destroyed.

The people of Nineveh believed the message from God and decided to put on rags and go without food to show how sorry they were.

When the king heard the message, even he stepped down from his throne, took off his royal robe, and put on scratchy cloth. The king even went to sit in a pile of ashes. He sent out an order that no one was to eat or drink anything, and that everyone was to pray to God and ask for forgiveness.

The king thought, “Maybe if we stop our evil ways, God will change His mind and not be angry with us anymore.”

(Jonah 3:1-10)

How can the heart of a wicked sinner be changed?
God had warned His own people the Israelites many times about their pride and their worship of heathen gods. But their hearts did not change towards Him. (Not even the prophet Jonah had a humble, obedient spirit). Yet God gave this heathen nation just one chance to change—and that was all they needed. They immediately humbled themselves and asked for forgiveness. After hearing Jonah’s warning, they stopped their evil deeds straight away.

If you push something hard enough, it will move. If you make something hot enough, it will melt. But how can you change the heart of a person? What can make a wicked person want to be good? Only the Spirit of God can change a person. “It is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord. No human force can change a person’s spiritual attitude. Only the Holy Spirit can change a person’s heart towards God.

Verse for today
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19

HOLIDAYS AND PARTIES

Amos the prophet said to the people of Israel, “God will be your helper

if you hate evil and love what is good.”

Amos also told them, “This is what the Lord says; ‘I hate your religious feasts. 

When you bring Me your sacrifices and offerings, I will not accept them. 

I cannot stand the noise of your songs and the sound of your harps. 

What I want from you is a flood of justice and streams of goodness.’ "

(Amos 5:14-15, 21-24)

What does God think about our religious celebrations?
Why would God tell the Israelites that He hated their religious celebrations when He had told them to have these feasts?

God does not tell us to do things without a reason. The reason for the celebrations was to get everyone to take a break from their busy lives and think about their faith. One of the feasts was to give thanks by bringing the first part of their harvest. Another was to sacrifice an animal for the forgiveness of their sins. Then there was a feast to remind them of how God had brought them out of Egypt.

But instead of remembering how good God had been to them, they used the celebration as an excuse to have a big party. And so, a festival that was meant to make people think about God and rejoice in His goodness turned into a noisy party where everyone forgot about real reason for the celebration.

Paul says that each person should decide which days have a special meaning, and which are just ordinary days. It is up to you to decide which occasions are important to you. If they are meant to remind you about the Lord, let them be meaningful by making the Lord welcome at the celebrations—and in your heart!

Verse for today
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.- Romans 14:5

STEALING FROM THE POOR

The kingdom of Israel had split: there was a Northern kingdom (still called Israel), and a Southern kingdom (now called Judah). God spoke through different prophets who preached to the people in Israel and in Judah. Amos was a prophet who preached to the people in the Northern Kingdom, where some had become very rich while others lived in poverty.

God told Amos to say this to the rich; “You sell honest men as slaves and poor men for a pair of sandals. You trample down the weak and helpless and push the poor aside. Of all the nations on earth, you are the ones I have cared for. This is why your sin is so terrible, and for that I will punish you.”

(Amos 2:6-7, 3:1-2)

What should I do when someone can’t pay me back?
Jesus told a story about a servant who owed his master a lot of money. When he couldn’t pay it back, the king ordered him to be sold as a slave to pay his debt. The servant begged the king to be patient with him. The king felt sorry for the servant and forgave him his debt. But later on, when this same servant met someone else who owed him money, he was not willing to forgive the other person his small debt (Matthew 18:23-35).

God was angry because the rich Israelites demanded their money back from the poor—even though they themselves had more than enough to live on. What made God even more angry was that they sold others into slavery, forgetting that they themselves had been rescued from slavery in Egypt.

If someone owes you something that they cannot give back, remember that things should never become more important than people. If you are kind to others, God will be kind to you!

Verse for today
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.-Luke 6:35

THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN

Now that the sailors knew that the storm at sea was Jonah’s fault, they asked him what they should do for the storm to stop.

“Throw me into the sea,” he said, “and it will be calm.”

At first, the sailors did not want to throw Jonah overboard, but when the storm grew worse, they picked him up and threw him into the sea.

At once, the sea became calm and the sailors offered a sacrifice to the Lord.

The Lord had planned for a huge fish to swallow Jonah—and from deep inside the fish, he prayed to God.

For three days and nights, Jonah was trapped inside the dark stomach of the fish. Then the Lord heard Jonah’s prayer and made the fish spit him out onto a beach.

Once again, the Lord told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to preach to the people; so Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh.

(Jonah 1:11-2:10)

Can we actually run away or hide from God?
What made Jonah decide to run away? As a prophet, he should have known better. So why did he not want go to Nineveh and preach there as God had told him to?

In Jonah’s mind, the people of Nineveh were enemies—they were heathens that did not deserve God’s forgiveness. Jonah thought that if he took a ship going in the opposite direction that nothing, and no one, could get him to Nineveh. Soon it would be ‘impossible’ for him to get to Nineveh, and he would be so far away that his conscience wouldn’t even bother him.

When Adam disobeyed God he also thought he could go and hide so that God wouldn’t find him. It is foolish to hide or run from God: He knows exactly where we are anyway. When we decide to run from God’s loving arms we are sure to run into BIG trouble!

Verse for today
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7

GO TELL THOSE PEOPLE

One day, the Lord spoke to the prophet Jonah and said, “Go to the city of Nineveh and tell the people that I know all about their wicked deeds.”

But Jonah didn’t want to listen. Instead of going to Nineveh, he went to a coastal town called Joppa and boarded a ship going to Spain. When the ship was far out at sea, the Lord sent a great storm. The ship was in danger of sinking and the sailors were terrified. They started throwing the cargo over the side and praying to their gods for help.

Earlier on, Jonah had gone to his cabin and fallen fast asleep. When the captain of the ship found him there, he said, “How can you be sleeping? Get up and pray to your God to save us!”

Meanwhile the sailors were drawing lots to find out who was responsible for the storm. When it became obvious that Jonah was the guilty one, the sailors asked, “Is all this your fault? What are you doing here? Where do you come from?”

Then Jonah told them that he worships the Lord of Heaven, the Creator of land and sea, and that he was running away from the Lord.

(Jonah 1:1-10)

Does God care about wicked people too?
God loves us because it is in His nature to love—not because we are good. God is love (1 John 4:16) so we do not need to do things to get Him to love us!

God loves every person on earth so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins so that anyone who believes on Him will not die in sin, but live forever with Him (John 3:16). Romans 5:8 tells us that God loves people even before they believe.

We don’t have to do good deeds for God to love and accept us; all we need to do is believe in Jesus and ask Him to make us clean.

God loves sinful people, but He does not love the bad things they do. That is why He sent people like Jonah to tell them about His Way.

Before Jesus went back to heaven, He told His followers to go all over and tell everyone about God and about the way to heaven (Matthew 28:19-20).

Verse for today
Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32

THE UNFORSEEN FORCE

The king of Syria was at war with Israel. Elisha was able to warn the Israelites about where the Syrians were making their camp. When the king of Syria found out that it was Elisha who was telling the Israelites about their movements, he sent his army with horses and chariots to surround the city where Elisha was staying.

Early the next morning, when Elisha’s servant got up and saw that the enemy had surrounded the city, he cried out, “My master, what shall we do now?”

“Don’t be afraid,“ the prophet replied. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed; “Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” Immediately, Elisha’s servant was able to see horses and chariots of fire all around them and covering the hillside.

(2 Kings 6:8-17)

Do Angels Really Protect us?
Have you heard people talk about a guardian angel? How would you like to have your own invisible bodyguard? The Bible says, “For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” Psalm 91:11. Doesn’t it make you feel special that angels have been given the responsibility of looking after you and keeping you from harm!

When you face danger or feel alone, you may not be aware of your helpers in the unseen world. Elisha’s servant was not aware of the army of angels protecting them. He only realized how safe they actually were when the Lord allowed him to see the spiritual forces around them. Can you think of someone else in the Bible who was looked after by an angel? (Clue: D…n…el 6:21-22).

Verse for today
"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”- Matthew 18:10

THE AXHEAD

One day, a group of prophets said to Elisha, “The place where we meet is too small for us. 

Let’s go to the Jordan River and cut logs for a new building.” Elisha was happy with the 

idea and went along with them.

As they were chopping down trees, one of the axheads came off the handle and fell into 

the water. “Oh sir,” the man cried, “it was borrowed!”

“Where did it fall?” Elisha asked. So the man showed him the place. Elisha cut a stick 

and threw it into the water. As he did, the axhead floated to the surface and the man 

was able to lift it out of the water.

(2 Kings 6:1-7)

Why do Things Go Wrong—even when we work for God?
Imagine being part of a team of workers building something for God’s Kingdom. Surely God wouldn’t allow anything to go wrong when you are doing your best for Him. Yet, even when a group of prophets were building a bigger place in which to meet, something happened to frustrate them and slow them down. What made matters worse was that the ax had been borrowed.

There are different reasons why things go wrong when we are serving God. The devil isn’t going to sit with his arms folded watching people get excited about serving God. Although his power is limited, he will try his best to disrupt the work.

God also has reasons for allowing things to go wrong, even when we are doing something for Him. When we do things for the Lord, we may be tempted to become proud of what we are doing. God lets things go wrong to remind us to rely on Him. He wants us to follow His plans and do things in His strength. And sometimes, He just wants to slow down our busyness and remind us about Himself.

So, when things go wrong you can be sure there is a reason, even though you may not be able to see the good that will come from the situation.

Verse for today
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28

THE DISHONEST SERVANT

Naaman was so grateful that he had been healed, he went back to Elisha and said, “Now I know that your God is the only God. Please take this gift as a sign of my gratitude.”

But Elisha replied, “I will not accept the gift.” And even though Naaman tried to persuade him to take it, Elisha refused. So Naaman went on his way. But Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, heard them speaking and decided to get something out of Naaman for himself. Naaman had not gone far when Gehazi caught up with him. “My master sent me to tell you that two prophets have just arrived, and that he could use the gifts you wanted to give him,” he said.

Naaman gladly gave Gehazi what he had asked for. When Gehazi got back, Elisha asked him where he had been. “I didn’t go anywhere!” Gehazi lied.

Elisha said to him, “Is this the time to take money and clothes for yourself? Because you have done this, you will get the skin disease that Naaman had.”

(2 Kings 5:15-27)

Does a Little Dishonesty Really Matter?
Gehazi may have thought to himself; “Seeing that Naaman really wants to show his gratitude and Elisha doesn’t want the gift, I will take the gift and everyone will be happy.” It seemed a sensible thing to do—and no one would know!

Dishonesty in ‘little’ things leads to dishonesty in ‘bigger’ things. When someone is dishonest, others lose their respect for that person and find it harder to trust them with other things. The testing ground for honesty is what you do when there’s no one around. Let your heart and mind stay pure so that your Heavenly Father (who sees everything) can trust you with bigger things.

Verse for today
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. - Luke 16:10

THE UNBELIEVING COMMANDER

Naaman went with his horses and chariots to the house where Elisha the prophet 

was staying.  When he arrived at the house, Elisha told his servant to give Naaman 

this message; “Go to the Jordan River and wash yourself in the water seven times 

and you will be cured.”

Naaman was upset because Elisha had not even come out to speak to him and 

cure him right there on the spot. Then Naaman added, “Besides, aren’t the rivers 

back home good enough? I could have washed in them and be cured.”

But Naaman’s servants said. “Sir, surely if the prophet had told you to do 

something difficult you would have done it. Why don’t you just go down into 

the river and do what the prophet told you.”

So Naaman went down to the Jordan River, and when he go

ne in and

dipped in it seven times, he was completely cured and his skin became 

like that of a young boy.

(2 Kings 5:9-14)

How Can I Overcome my Doubt?
From birth, children trust their parents completely, and as they get older, they slowly learn to trust others around them. But because we are human, we sometimes forget or cannot do what we have promised. As you have probably discovered, sooner or later, someone will let you down.

Because we think of God in a human way, we may wonder if He will also let us down—especially if He has not answered our prayers in the way we expected. But we should keep trusting God and know that He will never let us down; that He answers our prayers in the very best way. Naaman expected to be healed in a certain way but, when things worked out differently, he almost gave up. If he had gone home right then, he would have missed out on God’s answer.

One way in which you can grow in your faith and learn to trust God more is to read the Bible. By reading about His faithfulness over thousands of years we are encouraged to trust Him completely. Remember, God has not changed and He will never change. He is able to do far more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Verse for today

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.- Romans 10:17

THE FAITHFUL SLAVE GIRL

Naaman was a commander in the Syrian army and was respected by the 

king because he had won many battles. But Naaman had a problem: 

he had a terrible skin disease which causes a slow and horrible death.

In one of their raids against Israel, the Syrian army had captured and 

brought back Israelites slaves. Among them was a little girl who ended up 

as a servant of Naaman’s wife. One day she said to her mistress, “If only 

my master could go to the prophet in Israel he would be cured of his disease.”

When Naaman heard about the prophet in Israel, he went to the king and 

told him what the girl had said. The king of Aram immediately wrote a 

letter to the king of Israel and said to Naaman, “Go to Israel, and take 

this letter with you.”

(2 Kings 5:1-5)

Can my Faith be Strong even though I’m Young?
Would you have dared to be as brave as the young servant girl? Naaman was a commander of a big army, and he didn’t become commander by being nice! The girl probably didn’t even know the name of the prophet in Israel or whether he would heal someone from Syria. She simply trusted God.
The girl knew that it is easy for God to do those things that seem impossible to do—she had faith!

God gave her the confident assurance to tell her mistress about the prophet. Although she knew that she would be in big trouble if her master came back unhealed, she was obedient to God’s voice in her heart. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind that God could heal her master! Faith is simply trusting God.

Verse for today
Jesus replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, `Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.” Luke 17:6

THE KING CAN'T HELP

Naaman set out on a journey from Syria to Israel to find the prophet who could 

cure him of his skin disease. He took with some silver and gold, beautiful clothes 

and a letter that his king had written.

After a long journey, he arrived in the city of the king of Israel and handed him 

the letter which said: “This is my officer Naaman. I want you to cure him of 

his skin disease.” When the king read the letter, he was very upset and tore

 his clothes. “How can your king expect me to cure you? Does he think

 I am God? He just wants to pick a fight with me!”

When Elisha heard what had happened he sent a message to the 

king: “Why are you so upset? Send the man to me and I will show 

him that there is a prophet here who serves the living God.”

(2 Kings 5:5-8)

Should I go to a Doctor or Pray for Healing?
When you feel sick, your mom probably tucks you up in bed and gives you some horrible tasting stuff that makes you better. Some sicknesses are so bad that we need to see a doctor or even a specialist. God will not be upset when your mom takes you to the doctor even when you have prayed and asked Him to make you better.

Think of what you do when you have toothache. Do you ask God to fill your cavity or do you let a dentist fill it?

In most cases, God uses doctors and medicines to make us better. And when doctors don’t have a cure for an illness, God still has the same power to heal in miraculous ways! So even if you go to a doctor, you can still trust God to help you feel better and make you body strong again.

Verse for today
… People brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Luke 4:40

A MOTHER SEES GOD'S POWER

The widow and her son now had enough food for themselves and for Elijah. 

God was taking care of them in a special way. One day, the son of the widow 

became very ill. He got worse and worse, and finally died. The widow said to 

Elijah, “Did you come here to remind God of my sin and cause my son to die?”

“Give me the boy,” Elijah said. He took the boy upstairs and laid him on his bed. 

He asked the Lord why He had done this to the widow who had been so kind to 

him. Then he prayed, “Lord, bring this child back to life again.”

So the Lord answered Elijah’s prayer and the boy started breathing again! 

Then Elijah took the boy downstairs to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”

(1 Kings 17:17-24)

Where do Small Children Go When They Die?
It is especially sad when a baby or a young child dies. It seems as if he or she has missed out and didn’t get the chance to live life fully. Death is very sad for those left behind. We miss the joy of showing our love and care, and we miss the closeness of that special relationship. Happy relationships bring joy to our lives, and when someone is taken from us, it feels as though a chunk has been ripped from inside us.

Although life feels like a very long journey, we are actually on earth for just a short while compared to the time we’ll be together in Heaven. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” Matthew 19:14. All those who have a heart (an attitude) like a child will go to Heaven to be with their Heavenly Father, and Jesus will be there to welcome them and spend time with each one as He did on earth (Mark 10:16).
Verse for today
By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. - 1 Corinthians 6:14

NOT A DROP

After the death of King Solomon, his kingdom was divided and ruled by two 

kings. Jeroboam ruled the ten tribes of Israel in the North, while Rehoboam 

the son of Solomon, ruled Judah’s two tribes in the South.

After a number of kings had come and gone, Ahab became king of Israel. 

He sinned even more than the kings before him and married a wicked 

woman named Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel worshipped the heathen god Baal.

Elijah, a prophet of God, said to King Ahab, “In the name of the living God 

of Israel, I tell you that there will be no dew or rain for the next few years.”

Then the Lord told Elijah to go east and hide near the brook Kerith. 

“You can drink from this brook,” the Lord said, “and I have commanded 

ravens to bring you food.”

Elijah obeyed the Lord and went to the brook. There, the ravens 

brought Elijah bread and meat every morning and every evening.

Can one Leader Cause Everyone to Suffer?

We have many examples of how one person—a powerful leader—can cause much suffering and hardship in a country. Many of the great wars have been started by the decision of a single person, and thousands of people have been killed because of the stubbornness and greed of one person. King Ahab’s sin caused many to follow his bad example of idolatry and this brought on a drought and much suffering.

In some cases, the people themselves chose their leader—not knowing how he would turn out. We should remember to pray for our leaders so that they will let God lead them (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

Verse for today

Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this. -Jeremiah 14:22

MORE THAN BEFORE

After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, He said to Job’s friends; “I am 

angry with you because you did not speak the truth about Me.

 Now go make a sacrifice to Me! Job will pray for you and 

I will answer his prayer.”

The three friends did what the Lord told them to do 

and after  Job had prayed for them the Lord gave 

Job twice as much as he had before.

Job had children again; seven sons and three beautiful daughters. 

Once again he owned thousands of camels, sheep, donkeys 

and cattle. He lived to a very old age—long enough 

to see his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren.

(Job 42:10-17)

Will my Problems Ever Come to an End?
As surely as spring follows winter, and morning follows a dark and lonely night, so God will bring you through your time of trouble. David said this in one of his psalms: “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” Psalm 30:5.

God had not left Job, even though it seemed—for a while—as though he had been abandoned. Little by little, God started putting Job’s life together again. Job could not have done this by himself because he had absolutely nothing left.

God rewards faithfulness! God had kept a record of everything the devil had taken away. The devil had used his chance to turn Job’s heart against God, but Job had passed the test! God was so pleased with Job that it seemed as though He couldn’t wait to give Job back all that had been taken from him. In fact, the Lord gave Job a lot more than he had before!

Verse for today
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. - 2 Corinthians 4:17

GOD SPEAKS

After Job and his friends had had long discussions about the likely 

cause of his problems, the Lord Himself spoke to Job out of a storm.

God said to him, “Who are you to question what I do? Where were 

you when I made the world? Who waters the dry land, and who hung

 the planets in space? The Lord asked Job many such questions and

 then gave him a chance to speak.

But Job said, “I have said foolish things. What can I answer? I will not 

say anything else because I have already said more than I should.”

(Job 38:1-15, 40:3-4)

Can we Ever Really Know God?
If it were possible for you to talk to an ant, think of some questions you would ask the ant. “Do you know how to tie a shoelace? Are you able to take the dog for a walk? Do you know how to add and subtract?”

Maybe God smiled as He looked around at His creation and asked Job about things that are so obvious and easy for Him to do.

As humans, we sometimes think we are very clever and very powerful. We can work out how far the moon is from the earth, and we can make powerful bombs to destroy big cities. But who keeps the planets spinning at the right speed and in their right paths? And who keeps the sun shining with the heat of a million atom bombs?

We will never be able to know and understand God fully. Paul puts it like this: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33.

Verse for today
For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.-  1 Corinthians 2:16

NOT-SO-FRIENDLY ADVICE

When three of Job’s friends heard how he was suffering, they decided to 

go and comfort him. Job’s children had died, all his animals had been 

stolen, and now his body was covered with sores.

At first, Job’s friends didn’t even recognize him, but when they did, they 

tore their clothes to show how upset they were. They sat in silence with 

him for seven days. Then, one by one, each of them started telling Job 

why all this had happened to him. One said that Job had sinned agains

t God, while another said that he was being punished for something his 

children had done. However, Job could not think of any wrong 

he, or his children, had done.

(Job 2:11-13, 22:5-11)

How can I Encourage Someone Who is Feeling Down?
We all go through times when almost everything seems to go wrong. Perhaps you have noticed your mom or dad looking upset, or a friend who seems down in the dumps.

Have you been discouraged or worried lately? If you have, you can feel and understand what the other person is going through. That makes it easier to say the right thing to them because you can say what you would have like to hear when you were down. “The God of all comfort, comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” 2 Corinthians 1:4.

Rather than trying to point out possible reasons for what happened, like Job’s friends did, ask your friend to tell you how she feels. If your friend seems to become more upset as she talks to you, it is only because you are listening and allowing her to get rid of her frustration and anger.

Verse for today
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

ANOTHER TEST FOR JOB

Once again, when the angels came before God, the devil appeared there with them. 

The Lord asked him, “Have you noticed my servant Job? The last time you 

came, you persuaded Me to let you attack him for no reason—and yet he 

has stayed faithful.”

The devil replied, “The only reason Job hasn’t cursed You is because he is 

completely healthy.” And so the Lord allowed the devil to make Job sick. 

The devil made sores break out all over Job’s body. Yet, even though his 

body was terribly sore all over, Job did not sin or turn against God.

(Job 2:1-10)

Does Sickness Come from God?
People have different ideas about the reasons and causes of sickness. While it is not always clear why someone gets sick, there are a few things about sickness we can learn from the Bible:

• Before Adam sinned, creation was perfect in every way. Sin brought sorrow, pain and death into the   world; and we are a part of that imperfect world (Romans 8:22).
• At times, God has used sickness as a punishment for sin. Gehazi, a servant of Elisha got leprosy    
  because he sinned (2 Kings 5:26-27).
• God may use someone’s sickness to bring glory to Him—often by healing the person (John 9:3).
• Our body is like a flimsy tent (2 Corinthians 5:1-3). Sometimes we get sick because our bodies have   a weakness, and some people get sick because they don’t look after their bodies.
• Jesus died to bring healing. He is the One who heals our diseases (Psalm 103:3).
  We cannot understand God’s ways and His purpose. However, when you are sick, you can be sure  
  that Jesus cares for you—He feels a tender compassion for those who are sick (Matthew 14:14).
Verse for today
Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.” - John 11:4

A GOOD MAN

Long ago, there was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. 

He was a good man and worshipped God. Job had seven sons and 

three daughters. He also had thousands of camels and sheep, 

donkeys and many servants.

One day, while the angels were presenting themselves to God, the devil 

went with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? 

There is no one on earth as faithful as he is.”

Satan answered, “Job only worships You for what he gets out of it. You 

have always protected him and everything he owns. If You took everything 

away from him he would curse You to Your face.”

(Job 1:1-12)

How can I Convince Others of my Motives?
“You’re only helping mom so you can get something out of her!” Does that kind of talk sound familiar? Job was a good man just minding his own business. He was careful not to do anything that was wrong. The Lord had been watching Job, just as He watches everything we do. This is what the Lord said about Job, “There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he.”

On the other hand, the devil immediately found fault with Job, accusing him of being good only because he wanted the Lord to bless him. (The devil is called the accuser and he tries to make us look bad - Revelation 12:10b). One way in which God could prove that Job’s motive was pure was to allow the devil to take away everything he owned.

You don’t have to convince others of your motive for doing what is right. Your love and faithfulness will show that your intentions are pure, and the Lord who sees your heart knows all things… and that’s all that matters!

Verse for today
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.-1 Peter 2:12
*His name is pronounced Jobe

DISASTER STRIKES

Job was a good man and the Lord blessed him. The devil had been 

talking to the Lord about Job and was given permission to test Job’s 

faithfulness, but not to harm him in any way.

So the devil went off to start his attack against Job. One day, raiders 

came and stole all of Job’s oxen and donkeys. Then lightning struck 

and killed all the sheep and shepherds. Other raiders came and stole all 

Job’s camels and killed his servants. And, while his children were having 

a feast at the home of the eldest, a storm swept across the house and made 

it collapse, killing all his children. When Job heard what had happened

he got up and tore his clothes with grief, but he did not sin by blaming God.

(Job 1:12-22)

Will I Ever be Tested in a Way that I Can’t Handle?
Do you hate tests at school? Are you sometimes nervous as you wait for the test papers to be handed out, afraid that it will be too difficult or that you won’t remember everything? Tests are not much fun! However, once you have written the test and received your marks, you can see just how well you did.

Similarly, we can only know how strong our faith is if it is tested. Through trials, hardships and temptations, our faith is tested and strengthened. The devil doesn’t know whether we will pass or fail the test—but God does!

Jesus knew that his friend Peter was going to face the toughest test of his life. He knew that although Peter would fail this test by denying Him, he would not lose his faith completely. Jesus said to him, “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32a). Jesus does not keep us from facing problems, but He does make sure that we will never face anything bigger than we can handle.

Verse for today
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. -1 Corinthians 10:13b

SOLOMON TURNS AWAY FROM GOD

Solomon became unfaithful to God and sinned against the Lord by 

worshipping the heathen gods of his wives. He even built special

places to worship the gods.

The Lord appeared to Solomon twice and warned him not to worship 

the foreign gods, but he did not listen to the Lord. So the Lord said to 

Solomon, “Because you have deliberately disobeyed Me, I will take the 

kingdom away from you. However, for the sake of your father David, I will 

only take a part of it away and it will only happen after you have 

died.” Solomon ruled Israel for forty years, and after he 

died, his son Rehoboam became king.

(1 Kings 11:3-12, 41-43)

Why Would a Wise Man do Something Foolish?
At what age did you start walking? By now, you should be quite good at walking. Yet even as you grow up, you slip and fall or trip over things. It doesn’t matter how long you have been walking or how good you are at walking, when you take your eyes off the path, you are likely to stumble.

Solomon must have been pretty confident that he was wise enough to solve any problem. He knew just about everything there was to know about the world around him, and he owned more than he could use in a lifetime. What would have made the wisest person on earth do something as foolish as worship silly gods thought up heathen people?

There is a danger of knowing, but not doing; knowing what is right, but not doing it. Wisdom is only useful if it is put in to practice. Jesus said, “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand” Matthew 7:26.
Verse for today

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

A QUEEN COMES TO VISIT

As Solomon’s fame spread, the Queen of Sheba heard about his wisdom and traveled 

to Jerusalem to meet with him. The queen was amazed when she saw Solomon’s 

palace, all his servants and the loads of tasty food. “Praise the Lord your God, for 

He has shown just how pleased He is with you,“ she said.

The queen asked Solomon the most difficult questions she could think of—yet 

there was nothing too difficult for him to explain. Then she gave 

Solomon the gifts she had brought along, including heaps of gold 

and jewels. Solomon also gave the queen everything she wanted, 

as well as many other gifts.

(1 Kings 10:1-10)

Where Can I Go For Words of Wisdom?
It is good to seek wisdom! (Proverbs 3:13). Many wise words have been spoken since time began, and some wise sayings may be helpful in certain situations. However, wisdom from the Bible is more than good advice. God’s treasure of wisdom in the Bible leads to everlasting life. When you store the pearls of wisdom from God’s Word in your heart by learning verses from the Bible, you can use those truths over and over, whenever you need God’s wisdom to make a decision.

Reading the Bible increases your knowledge; doing what it says leads to godliness; applying the truths in the right way at the right time shows wisdom. We can only be truly wise when our relationship with the Lord is right. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding” Psalm 111:10. If you want to be wise, start by using the handbook that was written by the One who created you.

Verse for today
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13

THE TEMPLE IS BUILT

King Hiram had always been a friend of King David. When he heard that 

David had died and that Solomon was King, he sent some of his men to go 

meet with him. Then Solomon sent a message back with the men, 

saying; “God did not allow my father to build the Temple, but He did promise 

that his son would build it. So I have decided to build the Temple. 

I need the help of your men to bring me cedar wood from Lebanon.”

King Hiram was pleased to help. He got his men to chop down trees, 

which they floated down the coast. From there, the wood was carried to the building 

site. Solomon built the Temple with strong stone walls lined from top to bottom

 with cedar wood on the inside. And the Lord said, “If you obey all My laws 

and commands, I will do what I promised. I will live here among My people 

in this Temple and I will never abandon them.”

(1 Kings 5:1-7, 6:11-14)

What Has Happened to God’s Temple?
The Temple that Solomon built was not only beautiful; its walls were made of huge blocks of stone.It was built to last! Yet, we read in 2 Chronicles 36:19 that the Temple was completely destroyed by the Babylonians.

Although the Temple was rebuilt many years later, it was never as beautiful as the Temple Solomon built. Many who had seen the first Temple wept when they saw how much smaller the new Temple was going to be (Ezra 3:12). And even this Temple was destroyed (Luke 21:6).

Are you also sad that God doesn’t have a beautiful, big Temple to live in anymore? God doesn’t need a Temple built with stones. He lives in the most beautiful Temple of all—in the hearts of those who love Him (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Verse for today

"We heard him say, `I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’” Mark 14:58

SOLOMON PROSPERS

During the reign of King Solomon, there was peace throughout Judah

 and Israel.  Solomon had thousands and thousands of horses 

and many servants, and his twelve governors supplied him with the best food.

The Lord gave Solomon unusual wisdom and understanding. 

He knew so much that it was almost impossible to test the limits 

of his knowledge. He wrote three thousand proverbs and over a 

thousand songs. He knew all there was to know about plants and

trees, and about animals, birds, reptiles and fish.

Solomon ruled over a very large country, and the kings 

ruling in nearby countries had to pay taxes to him.

(1 Kings 4:20-34)

Will God Also Bless Me with Wealth if I Follow Him?

The Bible gives many examples of how God blessed those who honored Him. In Old

Testament times, God often blessed people with wealth. He also blessed people by giving

them many children and allowing them to live a long life. Can you think of some men in the

Old Testament who were very wealthy? Here is a clue: Their names start with A and J.

Jesus said that we should not only think about getting treasure (wealth) here on earth

where thieves can steal it, and where moths and rust will destroy it. We should rather

store up treasure in Heaven—where it is kept safe for us to enjoy when we get there.

God blesses us in so many ways—not only by giving us things on earth (that don’t last

anyway). He is going to give us a share of all His riches (Romans 8:16-17). And He not only

gives us long life on earth, but eternal life so that we can enjoy all those treasures for

ever and ever.

But for now, we have a sign of God’s promise: the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Spirit

gives us peace and joy so that we can be truly happy now, and for all eternity!

Verse for today

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

Proverbs 16:16

WHOSE BABY IS IT?

After King David died, his son Solomon became the new king of Israel

 and God gave him great wisdom.

One day, two women came to Solomon with a big problem. 

They were living together in a house and each one had a baby. That morning, 

when they woke up, one of the babies had died. Both women argued and said, 

“The living baby is my baby!”

Then Solomon said, “Bring the baby here so that I can cut it in half, then 

each of you can have half a baby.”

When the real mother heard that Solomon was going to kill her baby, she 

said, “No, please don’t kill my baby—rather give the baby to the other 

woman.” Then Solomon knew that she was the real mother—because 

she wanted the baby to live—and he gave the baby to her.

(1 Kings 3:16-28)

How Can a Sword Help me Find Out the Truth?
Imagine if you were a king trying to get someone to tell the truth. Perhaps you could use your sword to threaten the person. But what if the person insisted that he was telling the truth; would you be convinced? Without God’s wisdom, a sword is only a weapon—not a lie detector!

God has given us a different kind of Sword. It is so sharp that it can pierce right into the heart of a person (without making him bleed). The truth of God’s Word can show up a person’s lies and deceit. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword—it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” Hebrews 4:12.

By reading the Bible we, like Solomon, receive wisdom from God, and because God’s Word is Truth it helps us recognize the lies of the devil more easily.

Verse for today
Take the … sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

A MEAN SHEEP OWNER

One day, Nabal, a rich man who owned land and many sheep, prepared a 

feast for his family and his shepherds. David, who had protected Nabal’s 

shepherds from thieves and enemy raiders, sent some of his men to ask 

Nabal for a donation of food or whatever he had.

Nabal refused to give David’s men a single thing and sent them away 

saying, “Who is David? I don’t even know him.”

When David’s servants told him what Nabal had said, David was furious and 

commanded four hundred of his men; “Put on your swords and come with me.”

(1 Samuel 25:1-13)

How do Quarrels Start?
A quarrel starts when two or more people disagree about something. Each one believes that he or she is right and an exchange of angry words may eventually end in a fight.

Do you remember how the first quarrel between two people started? They were brothers. Cain was jealous of Abel because Abel’s sacrifice was pleasing to the Lord, and his was not. Instead of doing what was right, the jealousy that burned in Cain’s heart led him to kill his brother.

The sinful desires of selfishness, pride, revenge, and jealousy stir up angry emotions that keep us from thinking clearly. Because we are selfish, we don’t try to understand how the other person sees things, which brings about misunderstanding.

Do you think Nabal should have given David some food? Did he even know David, or had he asked David to keep his shepherds safe?

Do you think David had a right to ask for food? When he didn’t get it, did he have the right to threaten or kill Nabal?

To avoid quarrels we should try to see things the way the other person would, and not think we are always right.

Verse for today
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? - James 4:1

AN ARROW FOR DAVID

Saul had arranged a feast for one of the regular celebrations. David was expected 

to attend the feast, but instead he decided to hide in the fields for a few days. 

He said to Jonathan, “If your father asks where I am, tell him that I have gone 

home to Bethlehem.” Then they arranged that Jonathan would go to the field 

and give David a signal that would show whether it was safe for David to return to 

Saul, or whether he should run away.

When Saul, who had planned to kill David, found out that David was 

not at the feast he was furious. He shouted at Jonathan for being David’s 

friend and threw a spear at him. So Jonathan went out to where David was 

hiding and shot some arrows. Then he called to his servant, “Isn’t the arrow still 

further away? Hurry up!” These words were a sign to David that his life was in 

danger and that he should run for his life.

(1 Samuel 20:17-23, 33-40)

Why Did David Have to Wait so Long to Become King?
Samuel had anointed David as the new leader of God’s people. David had proved his courage by defeating Goliath and winning many battles. He was also a respected leader and commander in the army. What is more, Samuel told Saul that God had rejected him as king of Israel.

Time was passing, and nothing seemed to be happening. What was the hold up?
As humans, we cannot know or understand God’s complete plan. Often we only see the obvious, not what God is doing to prepare the hearts of people. To prepare a heart that is faithful takes time. It may take years for God to bring about the changes that will make us ready to do the task He has planned for us.

Verse for today
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6

A FEARLESS SHEPHERD

One day, while David was taking care of his father’s sheep, a lion carried off one of the

 lambs. When David struck the lion, it turned on him, so he grabbed it by the 

throat and beat it to death, saving the little lamb.

At another time a bear came to take one of the lambs. 

David went after the bear and attacked it, rescuing the helpless lamb.

1 Samuel 17:34-35

Why Would a Shepherd Risk His Life for a Silly Sheep?
If you were a sheep, would you feel safe having a shepherd like David? David did not only care about his sheep; he was brave and strong enough to protect them!

A shepherd’s job is to look after a flock of sheep. However, not all shepherds are the same: there is a good shepherd who will do anything to keep his sheep safe, and one who looks after sheep only because he needs money. Someone who is paid to look after sheep does not care when a wolf comes to snatch away one of the sheep. Even if the sheep scatter, he will not risk his life to bring them back.
Jesus said, "I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Because His sheep belong to Him and are precious to Him, Jesus not only risked His life, He gave His life!

Jesus is the only Shepherd who knows every one of His sheep by name (John 10:3-4). When He calls us, we recognize His voice because we have learned to trust Him.
Jesus is also the Gate (John 10:9). Every sheep that goes through the gate is kept safe because thieves cannot come and steal them. But there are other dangers too: the devil prowls around like a roaring lion. Yet, all those who have entered through Jesus the Gate are part of His flock and are perfectly safe!

Verse for today
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3

A GOOD SHEPHERD

After Samuel had anointed David, he left and went back to Ramah, 

while David went back to his father’s flock of sheep in the fields.

Day and night David stayed with his sheep to make sure they were 

well cared for. He let his sheep graze in fields of lush grass. 

He led them to quiet streams where the rushing water would not frighten them.

 He used his rod to scare off wild animals and his staff to gently lead the 

sheep away from places that were unsafe.

David wrote a psalm about God. He thought about the 

Lord as a Shepherd looking after him, just as he was looking

 after his father’s sheep.

Psalm 23:1-6

Why does Jesus Call us Sheep?
Have you been on a sheep farm or seen a flock of sheep grazing in a field? Perhaps you have seen a painting or photo of a shepherd leading his flock of sheep. Sheep don’t seem very bright, do they? If someone at school were to call you a sheep, you would probably feel rather upset. Why would Jesus call us sheep if He knew we’d be embarrassed to think of ourselves as sheep?

Like sheep, we need to follow a shepherd, otherwise we would end up following each other and get lost (Luke 15:4-6). Like sheep, we cannot defend ourselves (1 Peter 5:8). Like sheep, we don’t know where the dangers lie (Proverbs 3:26).

Don’t worry too much about being called a sheep—you have the best Shepherd looking after you. He loves you so much that He gave His life to save you. Besides, those who are not part of His flock are called goats (Matthew 25:32). Now that is something you don’t want to be called!

Verse for today
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way… (Isaiah 53:6)

A YOUNG SHEPHERD

Samuel was very sad that Saul had made such a mess of leading God’s people. 

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you be sad for Saul? I have rejected him 

as king of Israel. Get some olive oil and go to Jesse who lives in Bethlehem, for I 

have chosen one of his sons as king.”

When Samuel arrived at Jesse’s house and saw his eldest son Eliab, he thought; surely 

this is the one God has chosen. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at how tall 

and handsome he is. I do not judge people by what they look like—I look at the heart.”

One by one, each of Jesse’s seven sons came to show themselves to Samuel; but the 

Lord turned each one down. “Do you have any more sons?” Samuel asked Jesse. “I only 

have one more, but he is my youngest. He is a shepherd out in the field.” So Samuel

 told Jesse to send for him.

When David came in, the Lord said to Samuel, “This is the one—anoint him.” 

So Samuel took the olive oil and anointed David in front of all the others; and the 

Spirit of the Lord came on David and filled him.

(1 Samuel 16:1, 6-13)

What Does Anoint Mean?
Whenever God chose someone to do a special task, a servant of the Lord would anoint the person for the task God wanted him to do. All God’s prophets, priests, and kings were anointed before they started serving Him.
At a special ceremony, oil would be poured on the person’s head as a sign of God’s Spirit being poured on the new leader. From that time on, the Spirit would give that person the power and ability to do what God wanted him to do.

Verse for today
Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” Luke 4:18a