Zondervan Inspire

A Place to Belong

From the Editor: Today’s photo reminds me of when I was back in college and attending a small group for college and career singles. That was an important part of my life then, just as being part of a community of believers is an important part of my life today.

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith 

We desire to be included in fellowship with God and with others. We long to belong. This desire is about community. We long to be a part of something larger than ourselves. It helps us feel that we are not alone and gives us a sense of well-being.

God includes us in fellowship with himself and with his Son Jesus through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:50). He also said, "Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20). Jesus tells us to include and welcome each other: "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me" (Mark 9:37). The apostle Paul tells us that we all have different talents and gifts but that we are part of the same body and that we belong to each other (Romans 12:5–6).

From The Seven Desires of Every Heart

by Mark & Debra Laaser

Counter-Intuitive Power

From the Editor: This is an awesome quote from Ann Spangler’s latest book. I selected today’s picture to illustrate how we are empowered and uplifted by our heavenly Father. When we are grounded in Him, we can soar above all that seeks to bring us down. Any other thoughts on this subject?

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith 

In so many ways, the strength that Christ has portrayed and that God promises is counter-intuitive, a contradiction to the world's idea of strength. It is the power to control our appetites rather than to let them control us. It is the ability to endure rather than to run away. It is the quick instinct to take refuge in God rather than to trust in our own abilities or resources. It is the humility to ask God daily for what we need rather than to work ourselves into a frenzy trying to construct the perfect safety net. It is the ability to keep gazing at God even when trouble and fear assails us. It is the patience to wait rather than to run on ahead. It is the faith to keep praying no matter what. It is the decision to put others first and ourselves last. It is the grace to believe that nothing is impossible because we belong to God. It is the strength to be more than we are because God is more than we imagine. It is the power to run and not grow weary, to walk and not be faint, to ground ourselves in God’s might and his power to help and to save.

From The Tender Words of God

by Ann Spangler

As the Opportunity Arises

From the Editor: Two excellent examples to follow. I pray we all learn to walk as Jesus did.

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith 

Jesus could only physically be with one person or group of persons as he walked this earth in his human body. How did he love? He simply loved people as the opportunity arose during the normal traffic patterns of his life. If he was in Jerusalem, he loved the people on the streets of Jerusalem. If he was traveling from Judea to Galilee, he loved the people he met along the way. When he was with his disciples, he showed love to them.

My wife, Chaundel, practices this command to love our neighbors better than anyone I know. She finds out that one of our neighbors is in the hospital, and she's immediately there to visit them. She drops what she's doing to go next door and help a neighbor with a practical need. She commits to facing difficult and frightening circumstances with someone on our block. She goes for a walk in the neighborhood and meets a new neighbor also out walking — and the new neighbor is at a Bible study in our home the next week.

From The Relationship Principles of Jesus

by Tom Holladay

Love Is at the Core

From the Editor: It sounds so simple, but it’s impossible to do without divine help. The good news: I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith

To please God, we do not have to spend years in theological training. Neither do we have to master some thick rule book that covers each and every situation. What we have to do is remember, every moment of every day, to treat others as we would like to be treated. As the apostle Paul put it, "Love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom. 13:10). Love is at the core of what a godly life requires.

If we Christians would, through the grace of God, conscientiously obey this one sentence, we would have covered the essence of God's desire for us. What a difference this would make! It would help us grasp that God's greater blessing for each of us is built on a foundation of selfless love. As Jesus said in his sermon, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:43–45).

From You Were Made for More: The Life You Have, the Life God Wants You to Have

by Jim Cymbala

Any comments or testimonies today?

The Greatest Example

From the Editor: No, this is not a picture of the garden of Gethsemane. I’m sure most of you have figured that out already. But it’s a beautiful garden with a path that shows the way. Kind of like how Jesus shows us the way.

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith 

One moment stands above all others in history as the greatest example of loving God with all one's soul. It took place on the night before Jesus died, as he talked to his Father in the garden of Gethsemane. Knowing that the next day he would face the physical, emotional, and spiritual torture of the cross, Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). Jesus set aside anything he may have desired and determined to do only what the Father directed.

How do you set your soul to make such a radical decision? Jesus shows the way. You set the direction of your soul by talking to God. The power to follow Jesus' example is found in being able to pray the prayer that Jesus prayed: "Not my will, Lord, but yours be done."

From The Relationship Principles of Jesus

by Tom Holladay

Wired for Touch

From the Editor: Not only do I need to increase my exercise quotient, I could stand to increase my “hug” quotient, too! It’s amazing how something so simple as loving human touch can have such a profound impact.

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith 

Have you ever watched a newborn baby? They cry and cry until they are picked up and held, and often just that skin-to-skin contact seems to comfort them. That desire to be touched stays with us throughout our lives. That's why a hug from a coworker is a great pick-me-up in the midst of a stressful day. It's why we hold hands at funerals. Our bodies are wired to desire this touch: a recent study by scientists at the University of North Carolina found that people who hug a lot have a lower risk of heart disease!

Once we were on a plane flying home from Korea. On the same plane was a proud set of parents who had just adopted a little girl. This cute little baby appeared to be several months old. We asked the father how old she was, and he said, "She's a year old." To our surprised reaction, the father said, "The orphanage where we adopted our daughter is a wonderful place, but they are short-staffed, and the babies spend lots of time in their cribs without being held." That is the power of touch and the problems the lack of it can create.

From The Seven Desires of Every Heart

by Mark & Debra Laaser

Holy for Good Reason

From the Editor: Living a holy life is often like walking a tightrope. On the one side you have legalism, and on the other—worldliness. Only the Holy Spirit can keep us from both extremes.

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith

"God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8). If the Holy Spirit remains the forgotten one in our spiritual walk, we will fail to become the pure and joyful person God planned for us to be. We simply won't succeed. There is no holy living outside of the Holy Spirit's control. That, in fact, is part of his name; he is called the Holy Spirit for good reason.

He works deep inside us to change our desires from pleasing ourselves to pleasing God. He also uses the Word of God to enable us to control our thought lives. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can subdue the strong urgings of the lower nature. He is the only one who can break habits that have been repeated countless times. He is the only one who can overcome Satan and all his subtle temptations.

From You Were Made for More: The Life You Have, the Life God Wants You to Have

by Jim Cymbala

Any comments or testimonies today?

Ruled by Generosity

From the Editor: My pastor delivered what might be the best sermon I've ever heard him preach last Sunday. In it he pointed out how blessed we are in this country, how our problems are "rich nation" problems. It was a good reminder to tangibly remember our brothers and sisters who don't have it as good as we do, and to season our days with the spice of gratitude no matter what.

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith 

We see the economic dimensions of the new exodus again and again in the early church. On the heels of the story of the languages and the three thousand being added to their number, we're told that they "were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need" (Acts 2:44-45).

Instead of building towers and forcing others to make storehouses out of bricks so that some are stockpiling while others are slaves, this new movement is ruled by generosity. And compassion. And sharing. The gospel for these first Christians is an economic reality. It's holistic and affects all areas of their lives. It's an alternative to the greed and coercion of empire. It's a whole new order of things. And what does Paul do everywhere he goes? He takes an offering for the poor (Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:19; Galatians 2:10). He never stops reminding people of their responsibility to use their wealth and power purely and properly, for the benefit of those who need it the most.

From Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile

by Rob Bell and Don Golden

Power to Change Starts with Faith

From the Editor: I have to admit I was taken aback by Tom’s initial comment. But he’s right. Knowledge alone puffs one up. Active faith is required for genuine change to occur. Any other thoughts on this subject?

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith 

Let me say something that might shock you: God's principles don't change our lives. What? How can I as a teacher of the Bible say that? I'll admit I'm playing with words to get your attention — because I don't want you to miss this: It is your faith in God's principles that changes your life! This statement is not meant to give any of us the credit, because it's God who gives us the power to have faith. Instead, it's a reminder that knowing more facts and ideas and principles — even if they're God's principles — does not have the power to change your relationships. The power to change starts with faith — with trusting God — and then acting on that faith.

From The Relationship Principles of Jesus

by Tom Holladay

Return to Putting Him First

From the Editor: This picture and this post remind me of how much I need to put God first and depend on him daily—like a small boy depends on his dad.

Wishing you blessings today,

Keith 

Like a husband's first love for his young bride, that's how God feels about you. Like a loving parent desires his children to trust his guidance, God longs to lead you into life. But when we put things that are worth less first in our lives, before God, we end up feeling worthless ourselves. We can never feel secure enough, we can never get enough, because we've abandoned the fountain of living water to dig wells for ourselves that are full of cracks and can never satisfy our deepest thirst. God pleads with people through the prophets to return to putting him first.

From Soul Revolution: How Imperfect People Become All God Intended

by John Burke