JOY 3 - Elijah Runs From Jezebel

Joy 1 - English files

Freude 3 - German files 

Devotional Thoughts about 1 Kings Chapter 19

Being a prophet surely wasn’t an envied vocation, for it was neither easy nor popular to call people back to God. The job description required handling rejection in all of its forms.

Isaiah was assured in advance that most would refuse his message. (See Isaiah 6:9-13.) Some prophets were killed for doing their job, as Jesus pointed out in Matthew 23:37.

Prophets had to have thick skin, and yet they weren’t mere robots who mecha­ni­cally rattled off their speeches. It concerned them deeply that many listeners ignored their warnings. Jeremiah, for example, is known as the weeping prophet

Although Elijah was such a bold, uncompromising prophet, James goes to pains to tell us that he had feelings just like we do (James 5:17), and in this passage we see his vulnerability unexpectedly come to the surface in the wake of a big victory.

God provided him with physical recovery through sleep, food and water and then showed him His greatness and gentleness before sending him back to work, which included the anointing of a new colleague.

Lord, please help me to come to You when I’m sad, worn-out or discouraged. Thank you that I can rest in Your care.

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JOY 2 - Joy in the Middle of Troubles

Joy 2 - English file

Freude 2 - German file

Devotional Thoughts about Acts 16:16-36

The story opens with an account of human trafficking. A demon-possessed slave girl was exploited by owners who pocketed the income from her fortune-telling. She followed Paul and Silas around in Philippi and unexpectedly yelled that they had come as servants of the Highest God to tell them the way of salvation.

Paul commanded the evil spirit by the power of Jesus Christ to leave her. When it did, shutting down the money-making gig, the affected parties retaliated with mob justice. Paul and Silas were beaten and put into a high-security unit in prison.

There, of all places, they prayed and sang praises to God. The other prisoners heard this, which no doubt left a big impression on them, especially in light of the subsequent earthquake. We know that the jailor’s life was changed through his contact with these men whose behavior was so uncharacteristic for their surroundings.

Lord, please let me recognize Your presence when I find myself in trouble, pain or aggravation, and help me to respond with prayer and praise instead of panic.

Downloading lesson files

If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the third in the topic Joy.

JOY 1 - God is thrilled when you become His child!

Joy 1 - English files

Freude 1 German files

Devotional Thoughts about Luke Chapter 15

The three stories in this chapter are linked by the common theme of God’s joy at a person’s salvation. This triptych among the parables captures in simple narratives a sinner’s self-imposed alienation and eventual repentance, God’s pursuit of him and His welcoming joy at the reunion. It even includes the jaundiced reaction of a third party who happens to be the prodigal's brother.

God has used several stories here to describe the multifaceted phenomenon of salvation from different angles. The first two end by citing the joy in heaven at a person’s conversion and the last portrays the father heart of God, showing that His ultimate cause for celebration is our reconciliation with Him.

Despite all the sin-induced tragedies and problems in the world around us, help me remember, Lord, that the overarching message of Your Word truly is Good News. Please help me convey it to the kids.

Downloading lesson files

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the second in the topic Joy.

FAIRNESS 5 - God is more than fair—He’s gracious.

 Fairness 5 - English file

Fairness 5 - German file 

Devotional Thoughts about Matthew 19:27-20:16

“What do we get?” Peter’s question at the end of Chapter 19 is understandable. He and the other apostles had left everything to follow Jesus, unlike the rich young ruler who had just left disappointed because he wasn’t willing to do that.

Jesus’ answer was over the top: They’d be just heaped with possessions, relationships and honors plus eternal life. But even Jesus’ followers surely weren’t prepared for some of the differences awaiting them. This parable conveys that God’s idea of reward doesn’t match our subjective perceptions.

We don’t appreciate nearly enough the fact that God’s justice is tempered by grace, for every single one of us needs it. If God gave us what we deserved, none of us would be left (see Psalm 130:3).

Lord, thank you that I can count on your grace. Please help me trust You to do what’s right in me and in the world. 

Downloading lesson files

If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the first in the topic Joy.