Read Acts 1:14-22
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (v. 14).
Much can be learned from the practices of geese while in flight. For example, as each goose flaps its wings it creates a “lift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock achieves 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position. Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
If we Christians have the sense of a goose, we can also learn lessons from God’s creatures. Sharing a common purpose, we will gain encouragement from each other. Not trying to gain position at the detriment of others but working together, we will know a special camaraderie. Doing our fair share of the work, all will avoid the danger of burnout, and we will benefit from the combined resource of our gifts and talents. Standing by each other with our encouragement and assistance, we will all be able to accomplish more. It is no surprise that Paul saw this type of unity as a picture of a healthy body — the Church. (L Gayle Woods)

The children of God can learn from God’s great creation.

This devotional is the Wednesday, August 12, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

Read Psalm 78:52-55
“And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies” (v. 53).
I begged and begged for an orphan lamb. Thankfully, my mom liked animals, too, so one day Daddy and Mama went to a nearby sheep farmer and brought home a rejected twin lamb. Raggedy Ann promptly became my shadow. She followed me feeding calves, mowing the lawn, running with us as we played along the river, or just lying in the yard reading. She would even come bounding down the lane to greet me getting off the school bus.
Raggedy Ann had no idea how close to death she had come or how privileged she was to have a loving owner. She forgot she was a sheep, totally ignoring a flock of sheep pastured nearby, seeming to think she was a dog or even a human like her master.
God provides His children those same feelings, and the reality, of safety. One has to wonder how lost people, who do not know Jesus as their Savior and Shepherd, cope with all the dangers and fears that life brings. Safety is something this sinful world has little of. (Wanda Skeen)

In shady green pastures so rich and so sweet. . . .
Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet. . . .
Tho’ sorrows befall us and Satan oppose. . . .
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes.
God leads His dear children along. - George A. Young

No amount of money, possessions, or defense strategy can equal the knowledge of God’s loving care.

This week's featured devotional is the Tuesday, August 4, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

Read Romans 6:1-5
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (v. 4).
It is of deep concern that many professed Christians give little or no evidence of a new life in Christ. Water baptism is a beautiful thing when practiced according to Scripture. It is the outward testimony of an inward work.
In a recent baptismal service, a husband, wife, and teen-age son gave clear testimony of how salvation had come to their family, one member at a time. The newness of life that they could see in other members of the family gave them a desire to enjoy the same in their lives.

It should not be overlooked that there is a death involved in this baptism. It is a death to sin. In the context of our scripture, the question is asked: “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (v. 2). Paul’s clear answer is that Christians do not so live. Instead he exhorts us to walk “in newness of life.” Wycliffe Bible Commentary notes that “the translation to ‘walk in newness of life’ carries with it the day-by-day living in the ordinary routines of life.” (BAM)

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart! . . .
And my sins which were many are all washed away. — Rufus H. McDaniel

A born again experience still brings newness of life!

This devotional is the Thursday, July 30, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

Read John 17:15-19
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (v. 17).
Once while working at Mt. Zion Bible School, I was sitting at my desk in the office and thinking about something which was quite troubling to me. It seemed that a dark cloud came to overshadow the day. (more…)

Read Hebrews 10:22-24
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (v. 24).
Contrary to the opinion of many of my friends and relatives, I crave solitude. (more…)

Read Romans 8:14-15
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (v. 15).
The family is one of the beautiful analogies used in God’s Word to describe the new life in Christ. The image stirs up emotions of closeness, sharing, and belonging. These emotions are magnified when an orphan is adopted into a family unit, and for the first time in life he experiences those feelings.
Sadly, that picture of the family is, for some, only a distant dream. Fathers are obeyed out of fear rather than from love and respect. Mothers shout and condemn rather than encouraging and supporting. In that kind of a home, “the spirit of bondage” has scarred the biblical analogy.
Even sadder, however, is that some Christians view God more like the dysfunctional father than as “Abba, Father.” They live in fear of punishment for an inadvertent sin, and their fear makes it impossible to draw close to their God.
Today, take a moment to draw close to Him. His arms are outstretched; His face has a welcoming smile. There is no freedom like the warmth and joy of the presence of God. (Gordon Snider)

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray.
I woke; the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off; my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. — Charles Wesley

Slavish fear is banished by the presence of Abba, Father.

This devotional entry is the Monday, July 6, 2015 entry from Opening the Word.

Read Romans 6:20-23
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (v. 22).
Two kinds of freedom are noted in today’s passage. The apostle stated clearly that sinners are free from righteousness. As “servants of sin,” every one of us was once so captivated by sin that righteousness was not a part of our lives or characters. Paul would have disagreed strongly with the idea that people are basically good. His teaching indicates that apart from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, everyone is essentially evil.
Yet that does not make freedom from sin an impossibility. Paul continued by insisting that freedom — the word means liberty or liberation — from sins is possible in Christ. In fact, he said that we have been set free from sins by our relationship with the Savior. Whereas we once were free from righteousness and servants of sin, we are now free from sin and servants to God.
What a difference it makes when Jesus saves! Theologically and practically, we are changed when Jesus saves us and lives in our hearts and lives. Later, Paul talked about us being made new creations in Christ because old things pass away and everything keeps on becoming new. When we become servants of God, we are liberated, produce the fruit of holiness, and have the hope of everlasting life. (Mark Avery)

Salvation in Jesus Christ sets us free from sin’s bondage.

This is the Tuesday, June 23, 2015, devotional entry from Opening the Word.

 Read Romans 8:16-19
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (v. 17).
Often when we visit friends, we are shown items of interest that they inherited from a family member. Those are heirlooms, things that heirs would receive. Many of these things are priceless, in either actual or sentimental value.
While my family did not seem to hang on to things of the past, I enjoy the beautiful dishes, quilts, and furniture others have inherited, and I listen to the loving connections with family. We have already learned this week that we are adopted by the King of the heavens and are His children. In every sense, that makes us heirs of God, heirs of all the good things He has for His children and of a home in heaven, and heirs together with Christ!
With inheritance comes responsibility. By bearing His name, we show the world what the family is like. We are witnesses to what He has done for us by living holy lives and by reflecting His grace. The change in us will show others the possibilities of being joint-heirs with Christ! (Sue Colburn)

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth!
But I've been adopted; my name's written down.
I'm heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown!
— Harriet E. Buell

Think of all we inherit by being children of the King, then count your blessings!

This is the Tuesday, June 16, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

Read Romans 5:1-6
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 1).
In an effort to be a good Christian, as a teen-ager I turned a spiritual magnifying glass on myself, absorbed with every thought or deed that might be wrong. Throughout my day, I was constantly apologizing to God for the slightest infraction. Let us just say I was not a very joyful or a very peaceful follower of Christ.
Ironically, in my effort to do what was right as a Christian, I became very focused on myself rather than on Christ. Something was seriously backwards about the whole thing. My worries about “what if I have done something wrong” actually undermined the very faith I needed.
So here is my testimony of what Christ has done for me: He has delivered me from myself. At this and other times in my life, when I have been completely bound by doubts and trying to do or be, Jesus has swept in and brought release. He has also dealt with my pride, one of the unpleasant roots of it all.
When it comes right down to it, neither you nor I can ever be good enough. We are only justified by faith, and faith in God is the only route to true peace. (Ashlee Englund)

Jesus is the source of our salvation.

This devotional is the entry for Friday, June 12, 2015, of Opening the Word.

Photo credit: "Magnified Eye_5364c" by James Emery used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped.

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work” (v. 8).
A few days ago, my wife and I picked up my sister and took her out for lunch to celebrate her eighty-sixth birthday. Since we were not familiar with the eating establishments in her area, we asked where she would like to eat. She told us of a restaurant that she liked, and fried chicken was their specialty (that suited me wonderfully). As we sat and enjoyed our lunch together, I observed a young man keeping the buffet stocked. I could not believe how much fried chicken he carried out. They had an abundant supply of fried chicken.
Though it seemed that the chicken was abundant, there was only so much chicken available. When we talk about God’s grace being abundant, we know that it cannot be exhausted. In our text verse we read “all grace.” Paul said that this “all grace” abounds toward us. It is not something that we are entitled to, but God makes “all grace” abound toward us when we are His children, endeavoring to live in obedience to His commands and in accordance with His statutes. He understands our weaknesses and limitations but wants us to come to Him for help when we fail to live up to His expectations. (Larry DeOrnellis)

It is wonderful to know that God makes all grace abound to us, His children.

This devotional is the Friday, June 5, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

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