Read Mark 12:28-31
“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (v. 31).
Suppose your father owned a beloved 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. He had purchased it at a discount after all his kids were grown, then painstakingly restored it to all its mid-century glory. The seats were recovered, the new coat of crimson paint was spotless, and the round headlights shone. If you were lucky, you got to join your mom and dad on a cruise around town on a summer night.
Now, if you wanted to borrow a vehicle of your dad’s to drive back through the pasture to the pond, would you choose that ’57 Chevy? Chances are that would not even be an option for you. Even if your father was away for the day, you would want to treat his special car with care because he prized it.
This illustrates, to a small degree, the reason that loving God is always tied with loving our fellow man. God has shown us His love for humanity; if we love Him, we will treat those He loves with respect. John puts it another way in 1 John 4:20 — how can we claim to love God whom we cannot see if we do not love people that we can see? (Ashlee Englund)

Love for others should be the focal point of all we do.

This week’s featured devotional is the Monday, June 16, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
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Read Isaiah 36:4-10
“And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?” (v. 4).
Weather forecasts can be very entertaining, especially in retrospect. In winter, the dire predictions of “at least seven to ten inches of snow” have people swarming to grocery stores for last minute stock-ups on food
essentials. Spring’s threats of severe storms and too much rain spur worries and cancel plans. Nature’s storms can be powerful, but how often do we over-react to the hype of a broadcaster who simply hopes to boost the ratings? The weather is difficult to predict, and meteorologists often get things wrong. So why do we keep listening to them?
This Rabshakeh knew what he was doing when he questioned the Israelites’ trust. If they trusted in something they could see (the Egyptian army), the Assyrians were certain they could win. If the Israelites trusted in the one they could not see (God), the Assyrians judged based on recent events that they would still have the victory. After all, if this God was so powerful, why did He allow the leader of His people to make so many sweeping changes to the methods of worship in His land?
The Assyrians did not know three important details. First, the changes Hezekiah was making were in line with God’s law. The people were returning to God’s way of doing things. Second, God was certainly capable of taking care of His people. Isaiah described in the very next chapter just how He did it. And finally, God loves His children. He will always take care of them! (Michelle Avery)

Life often challenges our faith. God is always ready to meet that challenge!

This week’s featured devotional is the Tuesday, June 10, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
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Read Exodus 25:10-22
“And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel” (v. 22).
There are many reasons why people choose us to be their friends. Some choose us because of a good deed we have done for them. Some choose those that have a great deal of this world’s goods and they think that by choosing them they may benefit by having the wealthy to be their friend.
I am so grateful for those who have chosen to let me be their friend and to have fellowship with them. They have not made that choice because I am wealthy so they can benefit financially. Neither have they chosen my friendship because of good deeds I might do for them, for I am limited in what I can do. They chose my friendship and fellowship because they love God and He has commanded us to love one another.
God told Moses that He would meet with him and commune with him from above the mercy seat. We should be grateful that we are not limited to meeting and communing with God in a certain church or in a particular place within the church, but He will meet and commune with us in the place of obedience. As God told Saul through Samuel, He expects obedience and not sacrifice in order to have fellowship with Him. (Larry DeOrnellis)
Jesus said He would never leave or forsake us, and He is available for fellowship with us wherever we come to Him.
This week’s featured devotional is the Thursday, June 5, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
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Read Acts 28:1-10
“And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him” (v. 8).
Being in a sanctuary and enjoying radiant beauty as the light streams through stained glass windows is calming. Soothing. Even healing. This is an excellent environment in which to open ourselves up to what God wants to say to us through His messenger. We are spiritually reinvigorated. But for what purpose?
While it is true that we personally need these times of worship and renewal, it is not only for our personal benefit, but it is also necessary to fit us for the work outside the walls of the church. We are called to go out allowing God to touch others through our lives. That is the essence of effective gospel outreach.
How is it with you? Is your pattern to drag into church on Sunday with the hope that your gospel “fix” will get you through another week of trials and tests? What you are really looking for is like getting another coat of “spiritual Teflon®” that will protect from the onslaughts of the world.
Here is a better way to look at this. Yes, come to church for the personal help you need, both from God and through the communion of believers, but go out into the world with the intention of staying focused on your real mission in life — to spread the good news. To comfort those hurting and oppressed. To help others encounter God. (Ken Farmer)

This week’s featured devotional is the Monday, May 19, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
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Read Psalm 107:23-30
“For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof” (v. 25).
Ever wonder how marine creatures ended up as fossils atop the highest mountains? I recently heard a creationist geologist explain his model of what happened during Noah’s flood. While his explanation is too complex for this devotional, evidence indicates that God used several cataclysmic processes to cover the continents with repeated surges of sea water that deposited the multi-layered graveyards of untold numbers of creatures.
Not even the most powerful tropical storms of today begin to duplicate the results of the flood, but they do display God’s mighty power. For example, consider Hurricane Sandy. With a wind field 1100 miles in diameter, Sandy’s storm surges and flooding rains inflicted an estimated $65 billion in damages in the United States alone. In the face of such power, how puny a human being seems!
How small we feel when the storms of life rage about us! That is when we need to remember that the God who controls the wind and waves of the sea, controls our lives. In answer to prayer, He will bring calm to our spirits — even in the midst of the tempest. (JLC)

If a storm is battering your little vessel, do not jump ship! The Master is on board and still speaks peace.
This week’s featured devotional is the Monday, May 12, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
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Read Daniel 3:26-30
“Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire” (v. 26).
What a wonderful testimony of the power of God! The deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego must have greatly encouraged the faithful Jews and brought conviction to those who were compromising their faith.
Life may be fairly safe and comfortable where you and I are living today, but in many parts of the world God’s people are paying a high price to maintain their testimony and their separation from the world. As we move toward the end of the age, the furnace of opposition will be heated hotter and hotter, and the pressure to conform will become stronger and stronger. It will take a great deal of grace, prayer, courage, and faith for the holy people of God to stand tall for holiness, while others are bowing the knee to the gods of this world.
Revelation 13 and 14 tell of a day when those who refuse to obey the godless leader will not even be allowed to buy and sell the basic necessities of life. May God help us to be faithful to the end and keep our trust in the God of deliverance. (Marshall Mosley)
Trust in God’s power to deliver you!
This week’s featured devotional is the Thursday, May 1, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
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Read Psalm 85:1-13
“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (v. 6).
The familiar hymn by William P. Mackay had three verses of praise to God before this plea from Psalm 85:6: “Revive us again.” This is a good way to begin seeking revival. Give thanks for all God has done. Then begin considering what we believers should do to promote revival.
Four potted plants may serve to illustrate the likeness between plants and the Christian walk. One was healthy and growing. One was very droopy. One was not the right shade of green. One was too small and spindly and had grass growing in the soil. The learners observed that water, sunlight, and plant food were all needed for healthy plants. Grass should be removed. When all that is done, healthy plants grow and become stronger.
Christians should be growing in grace and becoming stronger in faith. God increases our capacity to be like Him, and to influence others for good as we grow. In order to grow we need:
Prayer -- Constantly keep in touch with God and pray specifically for revival and the needs of the local church.
Bible study -- Feed on God’s Word.
Walking in the light -- Be totally obedient to the known will of God.
Getting rid of the weeds -- Receive God’s grace to remove addictions
and bad habits.
Thanksgiving and praise to God -- Appreciate Him! (SSC)
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (Jas. 4:8).
This week’s featured devotional is the Friday, April 25, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
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Read Acts 13:26-33
“But God raised him from the dead” (v. 30).
An interesting history surrounds the grave of Abraham Lincoln. In 1876 thieves exhumed the casket in an attempt to steal his body for ransom. The plot was foiled when the thieves were unable to manage the 500 pound, lead-lined cedar coffin. Later in 1901 it was exhumed again to be moved into the reconstructed Lincoln Tomb. Under the supervision of Robert Todd Lincoln, re-interment took place as twenty-three people observed. Those present were afraid the rumors of the theft of Lincoln’s body might be true. It was decided that the coffin should be opened to assure that he was still present. Fleetwood Lindley (1887-1963), a young boy of fourteen who was present, was interviewed shortly before his death. He confirmed that Lincoln was perfectly recognizable more than thirty years after his death.
There were rumors surrounding the death of Jesus Christ as well. These rumors were shattered as people witnessed that they had seen Jesus. Individual accounts could be discarded, but when groups of people, and even more than 500 on one occasion, stated that they had seen him, skeptics had to wrestle with the possibility of the resurrection of our Lord. Lincoln was still in his grave. He can no longer make a proclamation to free people from slavery. Our Lord, however, continues to free people from the slavery of sin every day, because He lives! (Gayle Woods)
Because He is alive, our Lord continues to free people from the slavery of sin every day!
This week’s featured devotional is the Monday, April 14, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
Photo credit: "Abraham Lincoln memorial" by Gage Skidmore used under CC BY 2.0 / Resized and cropped.