The Greatest Story Ever Told

God Still Speaks (Part 1)

READ: 1 KINGS 19:1-18 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20KINGS%2019%3A1-18&version=CSB] Fear gripped Elijah’s heart as he made his way toward the mouth of the cave. Forty days of traveling to the mountain of God. Forty days ago, he had prayed to God that he might die. Forty days ago, Elijah had fled to the wilderness because King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were hunting him down to end his life, just as they had done with the other prophets of God. Elijah was fleeing because of the events on Mount Carmel. On that mountain, Elijah and all the people had seen God’s power over Baal, the favored false god of the time. Only the One True God could prevail in sending fire from heaven and burning up the sacrifice—not to mention the stones, the dirt, and even the water that had drenched everything (1 Kings 18:17-46). But, after that victorious yet intense confrontation with the prophets of Baal, Elijah fell into despair, fleeing from the King and Queen’s certain wrath and begging for death. But even then, God was with Elijah, sending an angel to strengthen and refresh him. Now, Elijah rested in a cave on Mount Horeb, known as the mountain of God. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” the Lord asked (1 Kings 19:9). Elijah proceeded to pour out his heart as he curled up on the floor of the cave. God responded, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD’s presence” (verse 11). Suddenly, a mighty wind began to tear the mountain apart. But God was not in the wind. Then, an earthquake came. Then, fire—fierce and sudden. But God was not in these two either. Abrupt and intense as the fire had come, silence fell over the mountain. There was only a gentle whisper—light and musical as a bubbling brook. Elijah knew this was the Lord. His God had chosen a whisper to speak to His servant. • Savannah Coleman • Today’s story is how one author imagines 1 Kings 19. Instead of reprimanding Elijah, God met him right where he was in his fear, giving him rest. God meets His people in the same way. While we were still sinners, Jesus—God in flesh—died and rose again so that everyone who puts their trust in Him could rest in His finished work, knowing we are secure in His love and forgiveness. What questions do you have about 1 Kings 19? What can this passage reveal to us about what God is like and how He interacts with us, His people? (If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 11:28-30; John 3:16-17; Romans 5:6-10; 1 Peter 5:7; Hebrews 4:14-16) “Though the mountains move and the hills shake, my love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says your compassionate Lord. Isaiah 54:10 (CSB)

A Bronze Snake in the Wilderness

READ: NUMBERS 21:4-9; JOHN 3:13-18; ROMANS 3:25-28; EPHESIANS 2:4-8 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=NUMBERS%2021%3A4-9%3B%20JOHN%203%3A13-18%3B%20ROMANS%203%3A25-28%3B%20EPHESIANS%202%3A4-8&version=NLT] On the surface, the Old Testament passage about the bronze snake might seem like an odd story. While the Israelites were in the wilderness, they complained about the lack of bread and meat. They complained A LOT. They were grumbling against the Lord instead of bringing their concerns to Him. And they were forgetting how He rescued them from slavery in Egypt and how He was leading them to a Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. In response, the Lord sent dangerous snakes that killed many of the people. Then the people repented and asked Moses to intercede for them. And God is so rich in mercy and He loved them so much that He answered their prayer by providing a remedy. Under direction from the Lord, Moses made a bronze snake replica, mounted it on a pole, and held it up before the people. All who had been bitten and looked on it were healed! But why a bronze snake on a pole? Think about it. It’s not that the pole or the snake had magic powers. It was about an act of faith. The snake mounted on a pole likely resembled a cross. Looking forward to Jesus’s death at Calvary, God lovingly told His people to look at the cross-shaped image. All who looked up in faith were saved. And saved from what? From the harm of the serpents who bit the people. This hearkens back to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve were deceived by the deadly serpent, Satan—and where God promised to crush that serpent through Jesus, the Savior descended from Eve (Genesis 3:15). Whatever ills the serpent can inflict from the Garden of Eden until today, there is one who has overcome. The whole of the Old Testament points to the work of Jesus on the cross. When Jesus took our sin upon Himself and died the death we deserved, He made the way to forgive all our sins and rescue us from all the death and brokenness sin causes. It’s not some sort of magic made by humans like Moses. It’s the sacrificial work of God the Son to provide a remedy for our sin. Just as the Israelites were saved in the wilderness when they looked up in faith, so too will we be saved when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. • Mike Hurley • Can you think of a time God helped you, even after you complained against Him? • For more about what it means to put your trust in Jesus, see our "Know Jesus [https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/]" page. [Jesus said,] “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.” John 3:14 (NLT)

A Lifestyle of Worship

READ: 2 SAMUEL 12:19-20; PSALMS 51:4; 142:1-5; HEBREWS 13:8 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20SAMUEL%2012%3A19-20%3B%20PSALMS%2051%3A4%3B%20142%3A1-5%3B%20HEBREWS%2013%3A8&version=NIV] David’s identity changed a lot over his lifetime—from shepherd to outlaw to king. Through it all, we see his heart in the psalms he wrote. Even when he hid from King Saul in a cave, even when remorse overwhelmed him after murdering Uriah, even as he grieved the death of his son, he could focus his heart on worshiping God because of God’s unchanging identity. What’s significant about David’s lifestyle is that he didn’t reserve his worship for the good seasons. He didn’t worship only when playing his harp for Saul or when writing songs alone in the fields with the sheep. He worshiped even in life-threatening situations. When we look at David’s life, we see a very freeing truth—worshiping God is a lifestyle choice. There’s a story in 2 Samuel 23 when David craved water from a certain well. His strongest men broke through the Philistine camp, got the water, and brought it to David. Overwhelmed, David offered it to God by pouring it out on the ground (verses 13-17). His actions echo Lamentations 2:19: “Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.” There’s a difference between half-heartedly singing songs on a Sunday—and pouring out our hearts to God, choosing to remember His character even when we feel defeated. Worshiping through songs is a wonderful and important part of our walk with Jesus. But singing is only part of worship. Choosing a lifestyle of worship means focusing on God’s character even when others are against us, even when we’ve sinned against God and need to repent, even when our world is falling apart. It means coming to Jesus and pouring out our hearts—in good times and bad—relying on His steadfast love and forgiveness (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 5:7). As we do, we are buoyed with hope in our Savior. Worship as a lifestyle means our worship isn’t based on our feelings but on God’s character. This can encourage us: though our feelings will come and go, His character stays the same. He is always worthy of worship! • Sarah Rexford • When you hear the word worship, what comes to mind? How does it make you feel? • God wants us to come to Him just as we are, with all our messy thoughts and feelings, and to behold His great goodness, mercy, and love. He invites us to open our hearts to Him, and to praise and thank Him for who He is and what He’s done for us. How could you worship today? Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:3-4 (NIV)

Flames of Hope

READ: JOHN 8:12; EPHESIANS 2:12-13; COLOSSIANS 1:12-14 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%208%3A12%3B%20EPHESIANS%202%3A12-13%3B%20COLOSSIANS%201%3A12-14&version=NIV] I was stuck in the darkness Didn’t know there was light Yet a flame in the darkness Was burning so bright But I was blind to the fire Couldn’t see the bright flames Till a voice from the fire Called out my name I didn’t want to believe it Or raise up false hope But the voice drew me closer And it gave me a home Now I live in the light In a bright, hopeful home I thank God for His voice And for the flames of His hope • Gracie Brooke • We were born to the darkness, born to sin and despair. But God doesn’t want us to live in the darkness without any hope. His love reaches out to us, beckons us to come and live with Him, to be enfolded in His love, light, and hope. Jesus is the Light of the world, and He faced the deep darkness of the grave so that we could have a home with Him in His kingdom of light. For more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus [https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/]" page. • As we wait for Jesus to return and make all things new, darkness is still prevalent. Yet we can know that we belong to Jesus, the Light. We have His constant presence with us—guiding us, protecting us, blessing us, and empowering us to shine His light as we reach out to others in His love. What kind of darkness have you experienced lately? Consider taking some time to tell Jesus about this. You can be honest about how the darkness feels—and you can ask Him to help you see how He is bringing light, and how He might be inviting you to be part of His good work. • If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 139:11-12; Matthew 4:16; John 1:1-18; 3:16-21; 12:46; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; Ephesians 5:8-14; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:5–2:1; Revelation 21:1-5; 23-24; 22:5. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)

My Daily Habits for Dealing with Anxiety

READ: PSALM 73:23-26; 1 PETER 5:7 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM%2073%3A23-26%3B%201%20PETER%205%3A7&version=NIV] I struggle with anxiety every day. It’s not because I don’t know that God loves me and that He’ll take care of me—I do know this—but it’s simply something that I deal with. Maybe you struggle with anxiety too. There are some daily habits I’ve taken on that seem to help me live with a little more peace. These are not a cure, but they help me feel calmer and more easily able to trust God. I pray and read my Bible at the start of every day. This helps me get my focus where it should be, and it allows me time to cast my anxiety on God (Colossians 3:1-2; 1 Peter 5:7). I move my body in some way in the morning. Sometimes I follow videos that I find online to slowly stretch and breathe, and lately I’ve started playing worship music while doing heel raises and squats too. I try to go for a daily walk. This gives me a chance to move my body again, be in nature, and enjoy being alone with God. I usually feel the least anxious while walking. I know that not getting enough sleep affects my mind and how I feel, so I take time to rest when I can—especially if I’m feeling extra tired or extra anxious. God loves us, and He will take care of us. He has us in His hand. I’ve found it’s easiest for me to believe all that when I’m taking care of my body and getting the rest I need. May you find relief in the midst of your anxiety, maybe even by taking on some of the habits that I have. And may you experience the love of Jesus, who is always with you. • Emily Acker • Have you discovered any habits that help you feel peaceful? We live in a world that’s full of stressors and anxiety. Thankfully, Jesus understands how we feel, and He promises that anxiety will be gone forever when He returns. And in the meantime, He promises to always be with us. How could it be helpful to remember that, whenever we feel anxious, Jesus is right here with us? • God wants to help us in lots of ways, including prayer and Scripture—and the care and expertise of other people. When you find yourself feeling worried or anxious, who is a trusted adult you could talk to? If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). [Jesus said,] “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)