February 15
“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into a furnace of fire; there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 13:41-42). Count the frail and fragrant blossoms spring has scattered through the trees; Count the endless crashing billows sparkling on the planet’s seas; Count the lightly flickering shadows in each autumn forest glade; Count the falling feathery snowflakes, icy gems by winter made; Count the myriad blades that glitter early in the morning dew; Count the...
Read MoreFebruary 14
“As having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Cor 6:10). Sometimes we excuse our evangelistic inactivity because of a shortage of funds. But the poverty of the early Christians was an asset, not a liability. As J.C. Ryle (1816–1900) points out: “A religion which turned the world upside down, while its first preachers were all poor men must needs have been from heaven. If the Apostles had possessed money to give their hearers, or been followed by armies to frighten them, an infidel might well deny that there was anything wonderful in their success. But the poverty of our Lord’s...
Read MoreFebruary 13
Anthony Cetola, a young shepherd living south of Rome, jumped at the chance to emigrate to the United States. He found a night-shift job in East Orange, New Jersey and a bed at the YMCA. He had heard the Protestants might try to brainwash him, so was reluctant to accept the tract offered him on the way to work one evening. But he had been taught to be polite so he took the leaflet, but then tore it up and shoved it in his pocket for disposal later. When his shift was done, he found himself standing outside a bakery, waiting for his bus. The aroma of the fresh bread that he couldn’t afford...
Read MoreFebruary 12
Buddhism, founded in India by Siddharta Gautama (the Buddha, or Enlightened One) in 520 bc, has 360 million adherents. Beliefs differ: Theravada Buddhism is atheistic; Mahayana is more polytheistic. Buddha taught nothing is permanent. Life’s purpose is to avoid suffering, gain enlightenment and release from the cycle of rebirth, or at least attain a better rebirth in the next life cycle by good living. Although few Westerners officially join Buddhism, adapting certain aspects of its beliefs has become popular. Tibetan Buddhism allows for atheistic religion. Zen meditation is offered as a...
Read MoreFebruary 11
Faith is often needed not only for spiritual efforts but for financial provision as well. In dark days, when funds were low for the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor received a letter from George Müller: “My chief object is to tell you that I love you in the Lord; that I feel deeply interested about the Lord’s work in China, and that I pray daily for you. I thought it might be a little encouragement to you in your difficulties, trials, hardships, and disappointments to hear of one more who feels for you and who remembers you before the Lord. But were it otherwise…you will always have the...
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