There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified G.o.d.

LUKE 13:11-13.

THE CULTURE OF JESUS' DAY was a man's world. Women, and especially sick women, were overlooked, if not ridiculed. In a synagogue on a Sabbath day, Jesus noticed a woman in need, and in a culturally incorrect move, He asked her to come to Him and then healed her.

The woman had been crippled for eighteen years. Had she prayed for deliverance? Certainly, but no answer came. Did she know the cause of the problem? Maybe-maybe not. Did she remain faithful to G.o.d during those many years of disappointment? Yes, she was still worshiping G.o.d that Sabbath. For all those years, her spine had been fused together. Her condition was probably painful, and certainly embarra.s.sing, but she continued to pursue G.o.d.

Sometimes, G.o.d chooses a particular moment to step into our pain and change everything. He doesn't do it often, but when He does, it's amazing! On that particular day, Jesus summoned the woman. She had tried to be as invisible as possible for all these years, but now the visiting rabbi had singled her out. She obeyed and moved toward Him. He reached out His hand and touched her back. Immediately, the bones loosened and she straightened up. She praised G.o.d!

Why does G.o.d choose to miraculously heal one person and not another? Why does He delay for decades in some cases but heal quickly in others? These are valid questions, but not ones we'll get answers to in this life. All we need to know is that if we remain faithful, sooner or later, in this life or the next, a miracle will happen.

How do you think the woman felt the day before this event, at the moment Jesus called her to come forward, and when He healed her?

Does this give you confidence that Jesus will one day perform a miracle in your life? Why or why not?

"If you truly want to measure the success of a man, you do not measure it by a position he has achieved, but by the obstacles he has overcome."-BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

SEPTEMBER 11.

G.o.d'S 9-1-1

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

PSALM 91:1.

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, every child, teenager, and adult is drilled to call 9-1-1 in times of trouble. Whether or not the problem is grave, or we don't know the person who is in trouble, we dial that number. In an emergency of any kind, day or night, 9-1-1 is the number we call because it's our connection to every emergency service in the city. In the same way, G.o.d has given us a 9-1-1 number to call no matter what our needs may be: We simply call on Him anytime, anywhere, for anything. He's available to help.

We have confidence in our community's fire department, police, and emergency personnel because we know they've been screened and trained, and we've heard about their exemplary service to other people. Similarly, we have confidence in G.o.d because He is G.o.d Most High, the Almighty King. "Most High" is the name for G.o.d that signifies His role as the sovereign ruler of the universe. Nothing escapes His notice, and nothing is beyond His wisdom to grasp. "Almighty" is the translation of the name El Shaddai, which means "all sufficient." G.o.d's power is beyond all other force in the universe. He reigns supreme.

G.o.d is awesome in His power, but He is tender in His love. He invites us into the "secret place" where we spend time with Him, and we live "under the shadow" of His gracious protection.

How quickly or slowly do you turn to G.o.d when you need help?

How do His names encourage you to turn to Him more quickly?

"Be a.s.sured, if you walk with Him and look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you."-GEORGE MLLER

SEPTEMBER 12.

PRAYING FOR LEADERS.

I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all G.o.dliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of G.o.d our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4.

IT'S EASY TO COMPLAIN about national politicians, corporate managers, bureaucrats at every level of government, and church leaders, but instead, Paul tells us to pray for them-and even to thank G.o.d for them! Certainly, G.o.d wants to work in these leaders' lives so they come to know and follow Him, but Paul has an even broader view in mind. Good governance provides peace and stability so that the gospel can be spread unhindered to people next door as well as to the remotest parts of the earth. When our attention and resources aren't absorbed by wars, bickering, and conflicts of all kinds, we can invest our energies in the things that really matter: Christ and His Kingdom.

Paul didn't suggest that we agree with all politicians. After all, the top leader in his world was a Roman emperor who had no sympathies for Christians. But that didn't matter to Paul. His eyes were fixed on an invisible Kingdom where G.o.d reigns and where grace and forgiveness are the highest virtues. The reality of life in this world is that we can get caught up completely in the things that are seen but neglect the things that are unseen. Political power (and any other kind of authority) can serve the Kingdom by providing peace and stability. Then we can focus on what matters most.

When you think of our political, corporate, and religious leaders, pray for them, for the peace they can provide, and for the gospel to spread under the umbrella of their authority.

How do you usually think and talk about your political, corporate, and religious leaders?

Take some time now to pray for them and for the cause of Christ to spread.

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without G.o.d and the Bible."-GEORGE WASHINGTON

SEPTEMBER 13.

MINISTRY THAT LASTS.

If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:12-14.

A DAY IS COMING, Paul tells us, when each believer will stand before Christ to get a report card of our actions on earth. This isn't the judgment of unbelievers at the great white throne. Instead, this one is designed to reward believers for every action we take to honor G.o.d. Christ is our firm foundation. The question is, What are we building on it?

All our att.i.tudes and actions, since the day each of us trusted in Christ, will pa.s.s through a fire to be tested. Some of our deeds are like gold, silver, and precious stones, which will pa.s.s through the fire unscathed. But some are like wood, hay, and straw, which are incinerated by the fire.

The startling insight is that what you and I do today will pa.s.s through Christ's fire on that day. We have the opportunity to make that a really good day or a really bad one. The choices we make now will make a difference then.

The promise of rewards (and threat of ashes in our hands) motivates us to take a long, hard look through the eyes of Christ at the choices we made yesterday. Did we take an extra minute to listen to someone? Did we speak an affirming word? Did we put the accurate number on the expense report? Did we avoid exaggerating when we gave the report? And did we do the right thing because we're convinced that G.o.d's "Well done!" is more important than any accolades and possessions we can ever achieve?

What choices will we make today?

If Christ gave you a report card today, how would He grade you up to this point in your journey of faith?

What are two or three things you need to change to get a better report card?

"Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you."-CORRIE TEN BOOM

SEPTEMBER 14.

BURNING BRIGHT WITHOUT BURNING OUT.

When [the disciples] found [Jesus], they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."

MARK 1:37-38.

JESUS NEVER LET POPULARITY go to His head, and He didn't let opposition get Him off track. Throughout His ministry, He kept His eyes fixed on the purpose the Father had given Him. Early in His ministry, He was immensely popular (see Mark 1:32-33). Crowds flocked to Him to listen and be healed of sicknesses. We can imagine the disciples' enthusiasm. "Man, they love this guy!" "He's got them right where He wants them!" "This is going better than we ever dreamed!"

In a stunning decision, Jesus told them, "Pack your bags, guys. We're outta here." Nothing, not even the greatest successes and popularity, could keep Jesus from doing what He came to do: tell everyone everywhere the Good News.

Both failure and success can drive us to exhaustion. Failure fills us with fear and shame, and we dedicate ourselves to avoid failure at all costs. But success can be intoxicating. The adrenaline rush propels us to do more, be more, and please people more, but before long, our emotional tank runs dry. The only way we can burn bright without burning out is to rivet our hearts on G.o.d's purpose and stay true to it through the ups of success and popularity and the downs of failure and despair. That's a decision we should make before these ups and downs occur, but more realistically, it's a course correction we make when we've gotten off course a time or two.

Either way, focus on G.o.d's purpose, and say no to anything that gets in the way.

How can fear of failure or the intoxication of success take our eyes off G.o.d's purpose for our lives?

Do you need to make a midcourse correction at this point? Explain your answer.

"In my mind there is no doubt that those who use their talents to serve the Lord will truly enter into the joy of the Lord now."-ZIG ZIGLAR

SEPTEMBER 15.

LOVE IS ALL THAT LASTS IN HEAVEN.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:13.

WHY DID PAUL SAY that the greatest of these three traits is love? Perhaps it's because in heaven, we won't need faith and hope. We'll live in the presence of G.o.d, and all our faith and hopes will be realized. Love, though, will remain in all its glory.

"Real love ain't syrupy," the gruff old believer related. "It's tough as nails." He's right. Many people have a romantic view of love. We sing silly love songs and daydream about the perfect evening with our spouse or a date. Genuine love is, in fact, incredibly idealistic, but not distant. It summons the very best motives and n.o.blest actions from the depths of our hearts, and it sometimes calls for the most heart-wrenching sacrifices we can imagine.

Love is the active pursuit of the best for another person. It involves our emotions, wills, and energy. It notices needs with clear-eyed perception and refuses to walk away. Paul's multifaceted description of love is often read at weddings, and appropriately so, because the stresses and conflicts inherent in two individuals' becoming one require objectivity, honesty, forgiveness, patience, and kindness-in other words, authentic love.

This kind of love, though, is also a necessity when a toddler asks the 396th question of the day, when a teenager turns her back on all she believed in, and when a friend disappoints us.

Genuine love can be praised in a beautiful song, but it comes to life in the cauldron of painful experiences. There, we find out what we're made of. There, we discover how selfish we really are, and we choose to trust G.o.d to transform us. And there, as we make even feeble attempts to love others, we experience G.o.d's love more deeply than ever before.

Whom do you know who exemplifies genuine love?

What is one thing you can do today to follow that person's example?

"I think that love is the only spiritual power that can overcome the self-centeredness that is inherent in being alive. Love is the thing that makes life possible or, indeed, tolerable."-ARNOLD TOYNBEE "One reason I love the Lord so much is explained in Luke 7:47: 'To whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.' In my case, much was forgiven, so I love much."-ZIG ZIGLAR

SEPTEMBER 16.

THE GOOD LIFE.