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Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
“For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (v. 9).
Here is hope for the discouraged Sunday school teacher, the pastor questioning his calling, the weary and disillusioned missionary. There is encouragement and, yes, strength for the believer struggling to faithfully share his faith and live a Spirit-controlled life in the home, on the job, and in the neighborhood.
It is a glorious privilege to labor together with God while He is at work both in us and through us. We are enabled to share His truth with those we could never reach in our own efforts; using ways we could not accomplish except for Him. To work with God we must lay aside the “I’ll do this my way” attitude. There is no room for self-exaltation, promotion, or a spirit of independence, nor for putting forth minimal effort or doing less than our best. Exhaustion and frustration come quickly when we work for God rather than with Him. Paul exemplified this delicate balance in his life and ministry. Paul gave all of himself to God’s work but did not minister in his own strength or wisdom, nor put undue emphasis on his unworthiness and thorn in the flesh. Paul allowed the sovereign God to orchestrate the timing, places, means, and results of his ministry. (LeeAnn Davison, Free-lance writer, Norwood, Ohio)
God uses man; we do not work alone!
This week's featured devotional is the Wednesday, April 9, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
Photo Credit: "Sunrise in Geneva" by Patrick Nouhailler used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped.

Read 1 Kings 8:22-30
“And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart” (v. 23).
The story is told of a traveler who came upon the great Mississippi River one winter evening. He saw that it was frozen over and wondered if it might be able to hold him. He crept carefully to the edge of the river and then proceeded cautiously on his hands and knees hoping he could slowly make his way to the other side. As he inched along, he was startled by the sound of a horse-drawn sleigh barreling across the ice with a load of coal. No doubt the man flushed with embarrassment as he realized his fear of breaking through was unfounded.
Sometimes we are guilty of looking at the promises of God like this man viewed the solid ice. We are reluctant to trust Him fully with our problems, cares, and uncertainties. When we look back at the history of the Christian faith, we clearly see that the heavy loads our forefathers endured have proven time and time again that our God is enough. (Daniel Edwards)
I’m so glad I learned to trust Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
— Louisa M. R. Stead

This week's featured devotional is the Wednesday, April 2, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
Photo Credit: "Frozen River Halladale, Melvich" by jack_spellingbacon used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped.

Read Matthew 19:13-15
“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (v. 14).
During my years as a faculty member in private, church-supported schools, I have had several pastors/headmasters, but there was one whose life had a very special feature, especially in a world like we know today. His wife was a master Sunday school teacher who often wrote Sunday school lessons for publication. His older daughter was a missionary, and his younger daughter was a young mother who was an expert church pianist. He was a great pastor and administrator. What was his special feature? He was saved at the age of four, later sanctified, and held on all the years of his ministry and life I know about.
The ideas of some people about children are astounding. Some believe young children are incapable of responding to God’s call to salvation. Note the illustration. Some even believe a young child should not be taken to church at all. Readers! They should be taken to church as soon as they are able to go, and given every opportunity to come to God. To fail in this is to disobey the Savior’s clear command! (Joel Miller)

Jesus loves the children, every one of them!
This week's featured devotional is the Monday, March 24, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
Photo Credit: This image of children in Ghana, West Africa, was taken during the 2012 missions trip by Church of God (Holiness) World Missions.