Daily Devotional

The God of the Impossible

04/27/24 – 05/01/24

The Windows of Heaven Opened

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/01/24

Read 2 Kings 6:24-7:20.

The king of Syria was, quite literally, starving the people of Samaria to death by preventing them from accessing food in the fields and farms. But through the prophet Elisha, God announced that liberation was coming.

Elisha proclaimed, “This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria” (2 Kings 7:1). This was a very specific prophecy. God was telling His people that even though food is scarce today—and the price for any edible scrap is astronomical—relief is coming. Abundance will shortly return.

Whenever God speaks, there will be some who believe and some who laugh. The hardhearted and the arrogant always mock the good news. The general of Israel’s army couldn’t believe what Elisha was telling him (see v. 2). He was sure that even if food began to fall out of the windows of heaven, there was simply no way things would return to normal that quickly!

This general could see the vast armies of the Syrian king and his fellow Israelites begging and starving. He could see no reason to hope. On the other hand, Elisha had faith that nothing is impossible for God, so with spiritual eyes, he could see the supernatural liberation that would come by the power of the faithful God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Of course, God was as good as His word. He caused the Syrians to hear the sounds of a great army racing to attack them, and the aggressor became the hunted in a flash as the Syrians fled in fear. In fact, they were so terrified that they did not waste time packing up their tents and supplies. When the Samarians heard of the miraculous provision and victory, there was a stampede to the Syrian encampment, where people could finally find sustenance, and the general who had mocked the Lord and His prophet was trampled.

There is a day coming when those who have rejected the Word of the Lord, ignoring His invitation to eternal life, will be judged. No one will escape. But for those who believe God’s Word and trust in His supernatural power, our salvation will be at hand.

Prayer: Lord, I know that what You have said in Your Word will absolutely come to pass. Help me to have faith to trust in Your timing, love, and provision. May I develop thankfulness in all circumstances, for You are my Savior, my Fortress, my strong Deliverer. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Elisha replied, ‘Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria'” (2 Kings 7:1).

The God of the Impossible

04/27/24 – 05/01/24

Protected by Heaven’s Army

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/30/24

Read 2 Kings 6:8-23.

God created and redeemed us to live in the realm of the supernatural—where we have a hope that does not disappoint. God’s people are called to stand in faith, trusting that nothing is impossible for the one, true God.

Elisha lived during a time very similar to our own. But he stood against the culture of his day, and he lived and walked in the expectation that God could do anything.

When the king of Syria wanted to attack Israel, it was Elisha who saved the day. Elisha looked to the God who lives in unapproachable light, who in His grace chose His people Israel and spoke to Elisha for their protection. Every time the king of Syria plotted a move against Israel, Elisha knew exactly where he was going to strike. He told Israel’s king, and each attack was foiled.

This enraged the king of Syria, who assumed he had a traitor in his midst. But then one of his men told him about Elisha, Israel’s famous prophet. The Syrian king knew what he needed to do: capture Elisha. It was a silly plan, of course. If God can tell Elisha every move the king is going to make, surely He can keep His servant from being kidnapped! Still, the king sent horsemen and chariots to the city of Dothan, a well-equipped army just to bring back one man.

When Elisha’s servant saw the Syrian troops surrounding the city, he was frightened and fell apart. But not Elisha. You see, when we run to the Almighty, our fortress, we will be protected spiritually. When we carry the shield of faith, we will be victorious. Elisha knew that and had peace. He told his servant, “Don’t be afraid, . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). And it was true. Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see” (v. 17), and instantly his servant could see. There on the hilltops was an army from heaven arrayed for battle.

We all need to pray as Elisha did—for both ourselves and our families. Pray that God would open your spiritual eyes, your children’s spiritual eyes, your grandchildren’s spiritual eyes. And pray that He might open the eyes of the people you come across every day, especially those who are spiritually blind to the Truth of His Word.

Prayer: Lord, open my spiritual eyes to see Your hand at work on my behalf. I know You are with me—that You love and protect me. Help me to hold fast to Your Gospel and rest in the promise of Your tender care. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17).

The God of the Impossible

04/27/24 – 05/01/24

The Faith to Be Obedient

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/29/24

Read 2 Kings 5:1-27.

Expectations can be dangerous. On the one hand, we should expect God to live up to His character, to keep His promises, and to work all things for the good of those who love Him (see Romans 8:28). On the other hand, if we have expectations for precisely how God will work in every situation, we may end up disappointed—or, worse, we may end up missing out on the good thing God has for us.

Take, for example, the Syrian general Naaman. He had everything a man could want: money, power, fame, and prestige. But he lacked something that took the pleasure out of all the rest: health. Naaman suffered from leprosy. So when one of his wife’s slaves mentioned that a prophet in Samaria could heal him, Naaman took a trip south to the land of Israel.

While the trek to Samaria was a step of faith, Naaman brought with him some expectations about the miracle he needed. First, he assumed that somehow the political leverage that came with his position would gain him the healing he desired, so he first visited the king of Israel. But God doesn’t perform miracles for political favors, and He answers to no king.

Second, Naaman expected to pay for his healing, that he would find favor with God and His prophet by making a sizable contribution. Of course, the gifts of God do not cost money.

Finally, Naaman expected Elisha to come down from his house and lay hands on him. Instead, Elisha stayed inside and sent a message to Naaman through his servant: “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed” (v. 10).

Naaman had seen the Jordan River. Compared to the rivers he knew back home in Damascus, the Jordan was pathetic. This request was too much for Naaman, and he decided to head home. He almost missed out on his miracle because God’s ways didn’t line up with his expectations.

Thankfully for Naaman, his servants mustered the courage to talk some sense into him (see v. 13). He dipped seven times in the river and was completely physically healed. But Naaman’s greatest healing—his spiritual healing—came when he chose humble obedience.

Friends, God comes to us with a single and just expectation: that we will respond to His Word in obedient faith.

Prayer: God, help me to humble myself before You and expect great things from You not because I am deserving but because Your love and grace are so deep. I will trust and obey You, for You are worthy. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy” (2 Kings 5:14).

The God of the Impossible

04/27/24 – 05/01/24

Salvation from Poisonous Control

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/28/24

Read 2 Kings 4:38-41.

In the Promised Land, the people are dependent upon the rain, which means they’re dependent upon God. In 2 Kings 4, there hadn’t been rain for a very long time in the region of Gilgal, where the school of the prophets (an ancient Bible college or seminary) was located. So, the people of the region were suffering through a famine.

One day, when Elisha was meeting with the company of prophets, he instructed his servant to put on a big pot of stew. This stew was to be God’s provision—His supernatural relief during this time of trouble. God always, always refreshes His righteous ones in times of suffering. He may not remove the suffering, but He will refresh His children in the midst of it.

But then one of the students went out into the fields and found a strange vine. Without knowing what it was, he picked the gourds from it and added them to the stew. Little did he realize he was adding poison to the pot.

Brothers and sisters, God doesn’t need our help. It may have seemed like an innocent mistake, but in reality, this man’s desire to add his own ingredient to the stew has all the markings of a controlling spirit—and there’s no surer way to intrude on God’s miraculous provision.

A controlling spirit is the number-one enemy of faith. It ruins relationships, breeds loneliness, and ultimately squeezes God out. Any time we add to God’s provision, we poison the pot.

What God wants is for you and me to trust Him. God wants you to meet the conditions of His promises, and then He wants you to stand back and let Him do the rest.

Elisha cured the stew by having his servant add wheat flour to it. It wasn’t an accident that it was wheat flour, for wheat points to Jesus. In John 12, Jesus declared, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (v. 24). Jesus was that kernel of wheat. He bled and died and was buried and rose again to reproduce His life within us. He is the flour that removes the poison of sin and self-reliance from our hearts.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I try to force my way in a situation. Help me to trust You and Your purposes. May I relinquish control and seek Your will through Your Word so that I become more and more like Jesus. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Elisha said, ‘Get some flour.’ He put it into the pot and said, ‘Serve it to the people to eat.’ And there was nothing harmful in the pot” (2 Kings 4:41).

The God of the Impossible

04/27/24 – 05/01/24

A Drop of Oil in God’s Hands

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/27/24

Read 2 Kings 4:1-7.

When a situation seems impossible, we must remember that nothing is impossible for God. In trying times, we have an opportunity to flex our faith and lean into His supernatural power. God will provide. We just need to trust Him.

Second Kings 4 tells us about a widow who was all out of options. The woman’s deceased husband had left behind a debt, and his creditor was on his way to collect. She was facing shame and degradation and the loss of her sons—and then she remembered the promises of God.

The widow’s husband had been faithful to God, and as the head of his household, he had led his family to trust and obey the Lord. This poor woman knew God had promised to care for the righteous and provide for their needs. So, when she approached Elisha, seeking God’s help, she knew her situation mattered to God. She placed her faith not in her good works or in the faithfulness of her husband, but squarely in the God who keeps His promises.

She also displayed confidence in God’s provision. When Elisha asked her what she had in her house as a starting point, she replied, “Your servant has nothing here at all,” but then she thought for a moment more and remembered she did have something—”a small jar of olive oil” (2 Kings 4:2). The little bit of oil at the bottom of a tiny jar really was nothing in comparison to the size of her debt, yet she offered it to the Lord, knowing that in His hands it could be enough.

Finally, this widow maximized her capacity for blessing. Elisha told her to borrow jars and containers from her neighbors—and not just a few. So she asked for as many as her neighbors could spare, and God blessed her accordingly. The oil in that small jar of hers filled all the containers, stopping only when the last was topped off. She prepared for a large blessing, and that’s exactly what she received.

As the world around you grows dark, God is still faithful. Now is the time to expand your capacity to receive. Don’t be content with just a few jars—expect great things from the Lord. He is your loving Father who is supernaturally at work in your life for your good and for the blessing of those around you

Prayer: Lord, You are so faithful. Your blessings are overwhelming. You fill my cup to overflowing. Help me to see how You are at work in my life. May I have eyes to see Your goodness and confidence that You are able and willing to bless me as Your child. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few'” (2 Kings 4:3).

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Genuine Faith

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/26/24

Jewish-American social critic Dennis Prager says he is often asked what was the greatest revelation he derived from his research into ancient religions. He determined that the Bible has to have been the product of divine revelation. Its teachings are too counterintuitive, too opposed to human nature and to the surrounding cultures, to have sprung from the human imagination. The result of that divine inspiration was a collection of moral principles and precepts that enabled the creation of Western civilization.

Today, there are many movements within Western civilization that seek to undo five thousand years of moral and cultural progress. Even in the church, there are teachers and leaders who are trying to divorce the church from God’s Word.

Today, the church desperately needs parents, Bible teachers, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, and mentors who will tell the next generation that God deeply cares how we live our lives. Above all, we need to make sure that whenever we share the Gospel, especially with young people, we make it clear that accepting Jesus is more than simply giving intellectual assent to a creed. Salvation consists of receiving Jesus as not only Savior but Lord. All too often the evangelical church has preached a false gospel, a heretical gospel of easy believism, a gospel that says if you just pray a certain prayer at some point in your life, then you are free to live your life any way you please.

While it is true that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, it is equally true that we demonstrate the genuineness of our faith by living a life that is pleasing to God. If we say we have faith but our way of life does not demonstrate our faith, then is our faith genuine?

Prayer: Father, help me to be a godly example of genuine faith to the young people You have placed in my life. I pray that the church would repent of preaching a false gospel that cheats people out of the beauty and richness of a righteous life rooted in a relationship with You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want” (Galatians 5:16-17).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Actively Waiting

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/25/24

We often think of waiting as something we do passively, inactively. We wait in line at the DMV, we wait for a bus, we wait in the doctor’s office or the dentist’s office. But when the Bible speaks of waiting for the Lord’s return, it is not speaking of being inert and passive. Biblical waiting is active and productive. Those who wait for the Lord’s return are a blur of activity, and their actions are focused on serving God and others. Those who wait for the Lord are busy witnessing, serving the poor, caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and comforting the afflicted.

In Luke 19, Jesus tells the story of a nobleman who leaves his servants in charge while he goes on a trip to a far country to be appointed ruler of the kingdom. This nobleman, who represents Jesus, expected his servants to work hard and put his resources to profitable use. There was only one servant the nobleman punished when he returned—the servant who waited passively and achieved no profit. Waiting and serving go hand in hand. If you are truly waiting for your Lord to return, and you want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” then make sure that you are actively waiting, actively serving, actively doing God’s will as you wait.

Prayer: Father, I look forward to Your coming Kingdom with joyful anticipation. Motivated by the thought of eternity with You, may I wait actively. Use me to minister to the lost, faithfully using every opportunity You provide to share the Good News for the growth of Your Kingdom. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[S]o Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Should Christians Grieve?

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/24/24

Death is a frightening and mysterious subject. Ignorance only increases our confusion and fear. Knowledge brings blessing. So Paul wants the Thessalonians—and us—to have reliable knowledge about what happens to believers when they die.

The apostle makes it clear that there is nothing wrong with the emotion of grief. Nowhere does the Bible say that believers should not grieve. Nowhere does the Bible say that we should not shed tears over the loss of a loved one. Nowhere does the Bible say that we do not feel sorrow and a sense of emptiness when a loved one passes away.

But we do not grieve like those who have no hope.

When a nonbeliever dies, his or her loved ones have nothing left but memories. But when a believing loved one dies, we have hope for the future because we believe in the resurrection and in everlasting life. The grief and sorrow we feel is temporary. We are saying, “Goodbye—until we meet again.” We are not saying, “Goodbye forever.”

So we grieve because even a temporary separation is painful. We miss our children when they go off to college. We miss our parents when they retire and move to another state. It’s only natural that we should miss our believing loved ones when they are promoted to eternal life in heaven. We know we will see them again, but in the meantime, we grieve.

In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul shows sympathy and understanding for the bereavement we all feel over the loss of a loved one. He does not rebuke them for their sadness or shock. He does not minimize their loss and pain.

The time of loss is a time of looking back on the past, looking forward to the future reunion in heaven, and looking inward and reminding ourselves of our own mortality. When we stand at the graveside of someone who has died, our false sense of security, our false assumption that life will always go on and never stop, falls away. We are faced with the reality of death—and we should remember that there is a grave waiting for us as well.

But we need not be morbid about it. The grave is not the end of the story. We believe in the empty tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we have absolute confidence that our bodies will one day be raised like His.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for defeating death. I praise You for the hope of the resurrection. Help me to mourn with those who mourn and to share the hope of Christ with the hurting. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14a).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

His Illuminating Power

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/23/24

If you have ever tried to read a book by candlelight during a power blackout, you know that the dim and flickering flame provides poor illumination for reading. I would prefer a bright, steady 100-watt bulb any day. Bright light makes a book easier to read and easier to understand. In the same way, the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit makes the Bible plain and understandable. Trying to grasp God’s Word by reading by the dim and flickering candle flame of our human understanding is simply foolish, especially when the brilliant light of God is available for the asking.

The Holy Spirit wants to guide our steps and help us to make wise decisions—but if we quench the flame of the Spirit, we will wander in darkness and invite disaster. The Holy Spirit wants to give us the power to overcome temptation—but if we quench the flame of the Spirit, we leave ourselves wide open to Satan’s deception. The Holy Spirit wants to open the eyes of our spiritual understanding—but if we quench the flame of the Spirit, we remain willfully blind and ignorant of reality.

We quench the Spirit when we insist on clinging to our pride and our confidence in our own strength. We quench the Spirit when we cling to sin and unforgiveness. We quench the Spirit when we replace the wisdom of the Word of God with our human folly. And we should be aware that not only can individuals quench the Spirit, but entire churches can quench the Spirit. Many churches today exhibit great pride and self-confidence, tolerate sin and practice unforgiveness, and have replaced God’s Word with human ideas and programs.

When individual believers and entire congregations quench the Spirit, disaster will follow as surely as the night follows the day. So Paul’s counsel, “Do not quench the Spirit,” is as timely today as when he first wrote those simple-yet-profound words (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times when I have quenched the Holy Spirit in my life, leaning on my own fallible understanding. Help me to turn away from such pride and to trust and hope in You, obeying Your Word by Your Spirit. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Do You Have Idols?

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/22/24

The Thessalonians had been idol worshipers—but they had made a 180-degree turnabout. They had broken away from idols and now served the one true God. Not only did they serve God, but they patiently awaited the return of His Son, the risen Lord Jesus.

Here we see the three great evidences of faith: (1) You turn. (2) You serve. (3) You wait for Jesus’ return.

You might say, “But Michael, I don’t worship idols. I’ve never bowed down to an idol in my life. This passage doesn’t apply to me.”

Please understand, an idol is not merely a little god fashioned out of tin or stone. An idol is anything—or anyone—that occupies our attention, our finances, and our time. An idol is anything or anyone that controls us. An idol is anything that takes the place in our lives where God belongs. Our idols today might be selfish ambitions, the accumulation of wealth and power, an infatuation with another person, an addiction to a substance or a behavior, or an obsession with pleasure and fun.

Many of us who claim Jesus as Lord and Savior would have to admit that these are idols in our lives. By the grace of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we need to declare that we hereby turn away from these idols, and we turn to the living God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for setting up idols in Your place. Reveal them to me so that I may repent and turn away from them and to You. May I joyfully serve Your Kingdom as I await the return of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal? . . . Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:5a, 9).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Standing Firm in the Face of Criticism

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/21/24

Sometimes in his letters, Paul seems so strong and confident, so full of faith, that he appears to be a spiritual superhero. But Paul was as human as you and I. Cut him, and he bleeds. Slander him, and he feels the wound. Criticism and opposition always hurt. Yes, we can reach a stage of spiritual maturity where we are better able to manage our pain and forgive an injury, but only a person with ice water in his veins could say that criticism doesn’t hurt.

Paul looked to the example of Jesus. He was comforted in knowing that his Lord and Savior, his role model, was constantly criticized and attacked. The Lord’s enemies called Him a glutton, a drunkard, a lawbreaker, a blasphemer, a seditionist, and a demon-possessed madman. Evil always tries to portray good as evil and evil as good. Evil men always try to create confusion and divert attention from their wickedness.

One way evil people try to confuse the issue is by claiming that those who stand for Biblical morality, for God’s Truth, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are guilty of that most vile of all sins, the sin of intolerance! If a Christian supports God’s model for Christian marriage and the Christian family—one man and one woman raising children in the nurture of the Lord—that Christian will be labeled a bigot and be accused of intolerance. By supporting what is godly and good, a Christian will be demonized as a hater.

When Paul responds to criticism and opposition, he does not give in to anger or self-justification. His response is focused entirely on defending the Gospel itself. He reminds the Thessalonians of his love for them. He wants them to know that the Gospel he preached to them was delivered in love, not out of any selfish motive. If Paul’s motives had been tainted, the Gospel he preached might have been tainted as well. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that the Gospel they received from him was pure and trustworthy.

When you are criticized for your faith in God’s Word, for your trust in Jesus Christ, for your belief in the Gospel, look to Jesus. Remember His love and compassion and also His unwavering commitment to the will of the Father.

Prayer: God, help me to trust in You when I am criticized and maligned for my faith. May I remember the grace I have received and respond with compassion, standing firm. May I trust in Your perfect justice. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45a).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Exhibiting Christlike Love

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/20/24

We are all imperfect human beings, fallible and prone to sin—and that is why Christlike love is so important in the church. Because we are imperfect, we must learn to accept one another and tolerate one another in all our many imperfections. Because we are imperfect, we must learn to love one another with genuine agape love. Because we are imperfect, we must learn to forgive one another. And because we are imperfect, we must hold one another accountable.

The culture around us embraces a false notion of tolerance and love that says, “If you love somebody, you have to accept all their sins, their character flaws, and their godless lifestyle. You must never correct them, never rebuke them, never challenge them, never encourage them to repent and live righteously. Love means tolerating whatever anyone does, including their sinful and destructive behavior.”

That’s the world’s notion of love—and if you violate that notion, if you confront or rebuke someone for a lifestyle of sin, suddenly you will become the bad guy, the bigot, the hater, the reactionary, the extremist. According to the world, the out-and-proud sinners are good, and the godly are evil. Right is wrong, and wrong is right. We are living in Orwellian times.

But God’s Word teaches that admonishing one another in a spirit of humility is actually a demonstration of Christian love. As someone once said, “If you love, you level.” Paul calls this “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Paul is not telling us to go around and correct and confront our fellow Christians for every little thing they do wrong.

But if someone is straying from the Truth or wandering from the faith, if someone is engaging in a lifestyle of sin and self-destruction, we should love that person enough to sit down, reason, pray, and even weep with that person over the tragedy of sin. That’s what it truly means to love one another.

Prayer: Father, help me to internalize this precious concept of Christian love. May I seek to build up my brothers and sisters in Christ by pointing them to You and exhorting them to Christlikeness even as I receive the same counsel. May we all receive and give admonishment with humility and love, remembering the grace we have received. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Until Christ Returns: Living Confidently in Turbulent Times, Part 7: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Building on Solid Rock

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/19/24

How do you build your life on the solid rock of Jesus Christ? By holding on to something that is secure and immovable. That’s why Paul says, “[S]tand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Those teachings—the Truth of the Gospel, the foundation of the Christian faith as it was handed to us from Jesus—are your anchor in the storm. Those teachings are the rock-solid foundation of your faith. They consist of the historical evidence of:

• Christ’s life
• Christ’s teaching
• Christ’s miraculous work
• Christ’s identity as the Son of God
• Christ’s redeeming death on the cross
• Christ’s resurrection on the third day
• Christ’s ascension into heaven
• Christ’s promise to come back and judge the world

The stability of our faith is rooted in the rock-solid evidence of the Lord Jesus and the salvation He obtained for us upon the cross. Our security is based on God’s sovereign choice and unconditional love for us.

Paul concludes 2 Thessalonians 2 with a prayer that the God of power might comfort and strengthen the Thessalonian Christians—and Christians at all times, in all places. His prayer teaches us an all-important lesson: Our stability, our ability to stand firm on the Good News of Christ, rests on the foundation of God’s unchanging love.

Prayer: Lord, how firm a foundation is the Gospel! I praise You for the amazing gift of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world—for my sins! May I rest in my unchangeable identity as Your child and pursue righteousness with thanksgiving. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Stability for Every Storm

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/18/24

The nuclear aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower has four and a half acres of flight deck, a displacement of 95,000 tons, and can launch sixty aircraft. It has not one but two anchors, each weighing 60,000 pounds, and each with a chain that is 1,082 feet long. Each link of the anchor chain weighs 365 pounds. The Eisenhower is built for stability. It’s designed to give a smooth ride even in rough and stormy seas. A warship that must launch its aircraft at a moment’s notice cannot be tossed about by the elements. It must be a stable platform under any conditions—and the Eisenhower meets that daunting requirement.

Stability! We all want to live stable, predictable lives without having to deal with nasty surprises. Unfortunately, this fallen world does not afford much stability. Circumstances change. Obstacles arise. Opposition invades our lives. When trouble comes, when the seas of life turn rough and stormy, our stability as believers is tested. Will we be tossed about by the storms? Or will we remain stable, firm, and anchored in the Lord Jesus?

In a real sense, the Thessalonian church was like a ship being tossed on a raging ocean. These believers needed an anchor to keep from being tossed about by the turbulence of shifting opinions and the storms of life. They faced pounding waves of persecution. They faced storm billows of false teaching. So Paul told them he was praying for them—especially for their spiritual stability. He was praying that they would stand firm on the teachings he had delivered to them.

Paul’s prayer was not merely for one local congregation in one coastal city in northern Greece. His prayer extends to all believers in all places in all times who face the destabilizing forces of trials, persecutions, and false teachers. Above all, he prayed for those who would have to face the Antichrist, who would experience the end-times upheaval when all hell breaks loose. In that time of lawlessness, anarchy, terror, and unrestrained evil, believers will need supernatural strength and God-given stability in order to stand firm.

Paul reminds all believers of the anchor that holds as strong and secure as the 60,000-pound anchor of a nuclear aircraft carrier. He reminds us of the bedrock of Truth that keeps us firmly in place. He reminds us of the unshakable hope and encouragement we have in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Jesus, You are my rock and my salvation. I will trust in You as my sure anchor in the storm. Thank You for the Gospel on which I can stand firm forever. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

A FAITHFUL STEWARD

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/17/24

Have you ever wondered what good stewardship entails and why it matters? A faithful steward does not allow pride, greed, or the desire to be popular taint his motives. He will not be lured or tempted into disobedience. That’s why, Paul explained in 1 Thessalonians 2, his message was true to God’s instruction. His motives were pure toward God—and toward the Thessalonians. All of his actions and methods were open and aboveboard.

Why did Paul think it necessary to underscore the obligation he felt as a faithful steward of the Gospel? Because stewards are sometimes tempted to go into business for themselves. Many people today are exploiting the Gospel for personal gain. They live in big houses and fly in private jets, purchased by people who give sacrificially to their organizations. Paul could have profited from the Gospel as well, but he wanted the Thessalonians to know that his motives were pure and the Gospel he preached to them was untainted by greed or the ambition for fame.

You and I are stewards as well. Like Paul, we have been entrusted by God with the Good News of Jesus Christ, and we need to manage this precious asset with absolute integrity and purity. We need to share the Good News with everyone around us.

We are stewards of our finances, which God has entrusted to us. We are stewards of our time, which He has entrusted to us. We are stewards of the Gospel, which He has entrusted to us. We are stewards of all that we are and all that we have. We own nothing, not even ourselves. We have to give an account to the Master. And He is coming soon.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the high calling of stewardship You have given me. Help me to stay focused on You and to bring all aspects of my life into submission to You. May I steward the resources You have given me with integrity so that my witness is not tainted. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Transformed by Christ

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/16/24

Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians—and for all believers, including you and me—is that we would daily decrease so that Christ may daily increase in us. God is not satisfied with our partial sanctification. As Paul writes, God wishes us to be sanctified “through and through” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Christ, living in us, must completely take over every part of our lives. We must come to a point where we can honestly say, “Not an inch of my life is withheld from the Lord’s control. I am completely submitted to Him.”

That’s what Paul means when he says, “[W]e take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Sanctification cannot begin on the outside. It must begin within us, at the level of our thoughts, then radiate outward to our actions. Sanctification is an inside job. It starts deep within the soul and spirit, and then it moves to the body.

Your spirit is the most distinct and individual part of you. It’s the dimension of you that connects with the Holy Spirit when you come to Christ. When the Holy Spirit dwells in your spirit, then your body will respond in obedience.

The ancient Greeks thought that the body is evil but the soul is good. So they let their bodies be involved in all sorts of immorality. As long as they were thinking lofty thoughts, they could do whatever they wanted with their bodies. It’s a compartmentalized way of thinking—and it’s completely unbiblical.

The Scriptures present an integrated view of our humanity. Yes, there is a spirit dimension, a soul dimension, and a physical dimension to our being—but we don’t compartmentalize these different parts of ourselves, and we don’t dismiss one dimension as less important than any other. The Word of God teaches that our thoughts produce our actions and our body is no less important than our soul and spirit. In fact, the Scriptures tell us that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

How do we become sanctified through and through? Is it a matter of human effort, willpower, and trying harder to be good? No. Righteousness comes only from God. As Paul says, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Our job is to live in total dependence upon Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to decrease so that Christ may increase in me. Thank You for continuing to work in my life to sanctify me and set me apart for Your glory. Help me to submit entirely—soul, spirit, and body—to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Satan Is Real

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/15/24

God wants us to have a realistic and balanced view of Satan and his influence. The Bible clearly teaches that Satan and his demons are real, that this present world is a battlefield where unseen, immensely powerful forces wage war against our souls. But—

Satan is not omnipotent. Only God is.

Satan is not omnipresent. Only God is.

Satan is not omniscient. Only God is.

Job 1 teaches that Satan is a person; he actually comes before God and singles out Job, and he argues his case before God. Luke 4 also describes Satan as a person. There Satan finds Jesus in the wilderness, weak from hunger, and he proceeds to debate Jesus, hoping to tempt Jesus into sin.

The Bible also tells us that Satan is constantly scheming against believers. “Put on the full armor of God,” Paul warns in Ephesians 6:11, “so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” And elsewhere Paul adds that we should live upright lives, continually practicing Christlike forgiveness, “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11; see also 1 Thessalonians 3:5 and 2 Timothy 2:26). In Matthew 4:6, we see that Satan has a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures—and he twists the Scriptures to achieve his own evil ends.

If you have fallen under the spell of the spirit of this age, and you choose to believe that Satan is nothing but a metaphor or a symbol, then I must warn you that you are violating both the spirit and the letter of God’s Word. The Scriptures do not portray Satan as anything other than a real and literal spiritual adversary and destroyer. He is invisible yet powerful. He has intelligence, volition, and a will of his own—and his will is to use human beings to thwart the will of God (if that were possible). He is the source of all that is evil in the world.

Victory over Satan is not achieved through willpower. Victory is achieved through Truth-power—the power of the Word of God. It is the power and Truth of Scripture that exposes Satan and his deceitful schemes. The only solution to the lies of Satan is to expose them to the bright sunlight of God’s Truth.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word that gives me Truth-power to defeat the lies of Satan. May I trust it and know it well, remembering You are greater and that the victory is sure and secure in Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me” (John 14:30-31).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Overcoming Temptation During Trials

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/14/24

Paul was deeply concerned for the Thessalonians and so longed to see them that he sacrificed the valued presence of Timothy in order to check in on them, saying, “So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens” (1 Thessalonians 3:1).

Why was Paul worried for the Thessalonian church? He understood Satan’s schemes. He knew that Satan would tempt the believers in their time of suffering to fall away from the faith. And he had good cause to be worried because Satan has used this form of attack again and again down through history. I have witnessed this form of satanic attack with my own eyes. Believers, when going through a time of intense trial, are tempted by Satan to think—

“God doesn’t love me.”

“God has abandoned me.”

“God is not hearing my prayers.”

“God does not care about my sufferings.”

When our thoughts go in that direction, our relationship with God can become cold and distant. We don’t abandon the faith, but we just go through the motions of being Christians. We no longer see God as a loving Father. Instead, we see Him as distant and remote—perhaps even as an abusive parent. We won’t lose our salvation, but we will lose our joy and our confidence in the Lord. We’ll lose our trust in His promises. We’ll lose the peace of mind that only God can give. We’ll lose a sense of warm fellowship with God.

If you are going through a painful time of trial, I want you to know that God loves you. He hears your prayers, and He’s answering them, even though you may not see the answer right now with your physical eyes. Don’t let Satan have this victory over you. Keep trusting God with your eyes of faith.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust You. Grant me Your eternal vision, remembering my hope is in You. May Your Gospel—Your powerful love for me—protect me from the temptation to doubt Your care. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Why Not Me?

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/13/24

The believers in Thessalonica were poor, oppressed, and persecuted. They were slandered and hated by their neighbors. And still their faith in God continued to grow. And when Paul learned of the growing faith of these beleaguered believers, he felt compelled to give thanks to God.

Many Christians today would have a hard time identifying with the faith of the Thessalonians. When we experience even a little bit of hardship, our faith comes crashing to earth. “I’m late for my hair appointment, and I can’t find my car keys! Lord, why me?” The believers in Thessalonica saw their livelihoods destroyed, their children attacked and beaten, and their homes vandalized because of their witness for Christ. They faced threats of arrest, imprisonment, and death. They were lied about, and their reputations were destroyed. Through it all, their faith grew, and their love for one another intensified.

Instead of saying, “Why me?” they said, “Why not me? Why should I be treated any better than my Christian neighbors who are suffering?” Instead of saying, “Why are You doing this to me, Lord?” they said, “Thank You, Lord, for walking through this time of trial with me.”

As you read these words, Christians around the world are undergoing incredible suffering for the sake of Christ. In many Muslim-dominated countries, where terrorism is a daily fact of life, Christians are being tortured and beheaded, and their children are murdered before their eyes. The Lord loves those martyred believers as much as He loves you and me.

The day may come when we will have to undergo persecution. Will our faith grow as the faith of the Thessalonians grew? Will our love for one another intensify like the love of the Thessalonians? The time to start increasing our faith and deepening our Christlike character is now. We need to prepare ourselves now for the testing to come.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the persevering faith of the Thessalonians. May their example embolden and inspire me to pursue deeper faith as I take on the humble attitude of Christ. Prepare me by Your Spirit for the testing to come. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Secure in the Storm

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/12/24

When we go through tough situations, Satan takes the opportunity to throw his fiery darts. He tempts us to entertain our worst fears and anxieties so that, if we do not guard our hearts with God’s Word of Truth, we risk becoming unglued. Things were no different for the Thessalonian Christians. Satan was using false teachers to sow seeds of doubt and despair as they suffered persecution in order to undermine their faith in Christ.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17. Because the circumstances in Thessalonica in the first century were so dire for believers, when they received news from false teachers that Jesus had already returned, they believed the report and were devastated. They had rightly placed their hope in Jesus, knowing that He would one day set right everything that had gone wrong. But then, doubt began to grow in their hearts.

So in 2 Thessalonians, Paul exhorted these believers “not to become easily unsettled or alarmed” by the false teachings that had been attributed to him (2:2). He assured them as they suffered affliction for their faith that Jesus had not forgotten them. At the same time, he also warned them that before Jesus returns, things will get much worse. He wrote, “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction” (v. 3).

For the last two thousand years, Satan has been trying to thwart God’s salvific work in the world. He aims to frustrate God’s plans by unleashing his hatred toward the church to keep us from the joy of redemption in Christ—to keep us from worshiping God in the Spirit and in Truth. And his final, desperate push will be through “the man of lawlessness”—the Antichrist (v. 3).

You would think that Paul’s message to expect even more desperate circumstances at the end times would have caused the Thessalonians even greater despair. But Paul was in fact assuring them—and us—that all who belong to Jesus will be able to stand firm, even during that difficult hour. For, Christ promised us: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your amazing promises that carry me through every trial. Thank You that no one can snatch me from Your hand. May I find strength in You and bring glory to Your name. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Leave Vengeance to God

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/11/24

What do you do when you’ve been insulted, slandered, or injured? Is your first instinct to seek revenge? The thought of “sweet revenge” is tempting. But the Truth is there’s nothing sweet about human vengeance. What we long for is perfect justice, and this can only be carried out by the righteous Judge, King Jesus. So we must wait for His return, taking comfort in God’s promise: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (Deuteronomy 32:35).

Read 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12. The Christians living in Thessalonica knew what it was to be wronged. Paul was writing to the Thessalonians to encourage them during a season of suffering intensified by the despair of false teaching. There were plenty of reasons for the Thessalonian believers to seek retribution. And Paul never diminished their pain. Contrary to what you may have heard, the Bible never glosses over evil. It never pretends that evil does not exist. God’s Word calls evil “evil.” It calls suffering “suffering” and pain “pain.”

The Bible says that when believers suffer unjustly and experience crushing circumstances beyond their control, not only will God be with them—present in a very special way—He will also not overlook the injustice that has taken place (see 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:10; Matthew 12:36; 1 Corinthians 4:5).

When Jesus Christ returns in glory, He will set everything right. Those believers who have suffered in this life will be comforted, rewarded, and welcomed into God’s Kingdom. But those who have rejected Christ, mocked God, and brought pain to His people will be punished “with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

Instead of spending your life filled with anger, bitterness, and thoughts of revenge, comfort yourself and others with God’s promise of perfect justice and the wonder of His grace for you. Spend your life praying and encouraging others as you ready yourself for His return, having compassion for the lost that leads you to ask, “How can I turn all the bitter circumstances that I have been through into an opportunity to share Christ?” That is the best remedy for bitterness and a sure recipe for joy today.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in Your perfect justice and to forgive, remembering the grace I have received. Thank You for Your mercy and grace toward me—for the perfect sacrifice that has redeemed me from the pit as Jesus bore my punishment on the cross. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Nourish Your Faith

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/10/24

We tend to speak of faith as if it were a tangible commodity that can be measured and weighed and quantified. People sometimes say, “I wish I had your faith,” as if they were saying, “I wish I had your blue eyes,” or, “I wish I were as tall as you.” Some people talk of faith as if it is here today, gone tomorrow—”I used to believe, but I lost my faith.”

Faith is not something that can be weighed by the ounce. Faith is not something we inherit through our DNA. And faith is not something we can lose the way an absent-minded professor loses his glasses. Faith is a growing relationship of trust in the living God.

Relationships are dynamic, not static. Therefore, our trust relationship with God is equally dynamic. It’s like a tree whose roots grow deeper into the soil and whose branches grow higher into the sky—but which dies without water. It’s like the muscles of an athlete—muscles that grow strong with exercise but atrophy when inactive.

If your faith is weak and spindly, you need to water it with the Truth of God’s Word. If your faith is flabby and atrophied, you need to exercise it by living in utter dependence on God. The believers in Thessalonica were continually in the Word as they tested and trusted God’s promises. Won’t you grow your relationship of trust in the living God by seeking His face—His character—in His Word?

Prayer: Lord, I want to trust You more and more with my life. Help me to prioritize time spent with You in Your Word so that I can better live out each day in submission to Your will. Strengthen my faith with Your Gospel. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!'” (Luke 17:5)

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/01/24 – 04/09/24

The Tree

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/09/24

Why did God plant the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden? Why was that tree planted in that perfect place, where Satan might use it as an object of temptation?

The tree was there to remind Adam and Eve that they were not their own. It was there to remind them that they were God’s own possession. The tree was there to remind them that they were accountable to God and that they could not escape judgment for the moral choices they made.

The tree was not placed there by accident. God deliberately placed that tree in the Garden of Eden. And there in that garden, the first man, Adam, met temptation—and he was defeated by sin.

But thousands of years later, there was another garden—the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Garden of Eden, Adam fell, and we all fell with him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was victorious, and all who belong to Him are victorious as well. In the Garden of Eden, the disobedience of one man caused sin to infect all of humanity. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, the obedience of the Son of Man produced the antidote for sin.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam experienced death as a consequence of his rebellion. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, we all experience life—eternal life—by grace through faith. One tree in Eden defeated Adam, and another tree, the cross of Christ, defeated sin and Satan. One tree brought the knowledge of evil, but the other tree gave us power over evil, power over temptation, power over death, the power of salvation.

So the question is Which tree do you look to? The tree by which humanity was tempted and fell or the tree by which God gave us eternal life?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your incredible love for us. Thank You that You have made a way for us, though fallen, to be with You forever through the cross of Christ. May I always look to the precious gift of eternal life through Jesus so that I can live my life in submission to You with thanksgiving. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (Romans 5:17).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/01/24 – 04/09/24

God of Grace

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/08/24

Today we are going to consider the God of grace and see how He dealt with Adam and Eve’s sin and rebellion.

First, Adam and Eve did not immediately die when they sinned in the Garden of Eden. Justice said they must die. God’s grace came and said, “Yes, spiritually they will die, but physically I’m going to spare them.” That’s what the grace of God does. God said, “The day you eat from the tree, that day you will die.” That’s justice. If you break the law, you go to prison; that’s justice. But grace comes in and says, “I will give you time to repent. Let grace work one more time.”

Second, the God of grace promised Adam and Eve a Redeemer. Why? To undo Satan’s deception. Genesis 3:15 says, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Here is the first announcement of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thousands of years passed before the promise of Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled: The angel said to Joseph, “[Y]ou are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). But God always fulfills His promises, no matter how long it takes.

Third, the God of grace saved our first parents and demonstrated for us the cost of sin. Genesis 3:21 says, “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Notice the sequence here. After they believed in God, the Lord made garments of skin, and He clothed them with those garments. To do that, Adam and Eve had to witness the first slaying of an innocent animal, the first shedding of blood in the history of creation, which was a foreshadowing of the sacrificial system to come and the ultimate sacrifice that would be paid by the divine, spotless Lamb—our Redeemer.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being a God of grace. Thank You that the grace that You showed to Adam and Eve is the same grace that You show to us today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/01/24 – 04/09/24

Temptation Brings a Choice

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/07/24

Just as pollution despoils the environment today, sin devastated the Garden of Eden. Through man’s disobedience, sin gained a foothold in God’s garden and turned it into a spiritual garbage dump.

While Adam and Eve had always enjoyed complete protection in the garden, they fell for the serpent’s deception and exposed themselves to danger. In the middle of the garden, God had placed a special tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and He had instructed Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of this tree (see Genesis 2:16-17).

Temptation always brings a choice. It is an opportunity either to come under God’s authority and have victory or to go our own way and suffer defeat. Alone we are helpless victims, but with the Lord we are conquerors.

When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their disobedience infected all of humanity with the virus of sin. But Jesus’ perfect obedience led Him to the cross, making it possible for His followers to receive forgiveness of sin.

In the Garden of Eden, the first man rebelled against God. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus, the perfect God-man, obeyed the Father fully. Satan got the upper hand in the first garden. But in the second garden, Jesus submitted to His Father’s will, guaranteeing Satan’s defeat and giving us victory over sin.

If you are not walking in the power of the one who defeated sin, then sin is defeating you. But just as one tree of temptation held sway over Adam, through the tree of Calvary, Jesus defeated death and gave all who call on His name the hope of heaven.

Prayer: Father God, help me recognize and resist the enemy’s schemes. Give me strength to emerge victorious from times of temptation. Teach me to resist the devil so that he may flee from me (James 4:7). I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[T]he Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9).