【双语灵修】福音引起世界的共鸣THE GOSPEL RESONATES WITH THE WORLD

诗篇 96

你们要向耶和华唱新歌，全地都要向耶和华歌唱！ 要向耶和华歌唱，称颂他的名，天天传扬他的救恩。 在列邦中述说他的荣耀，在万民中述说他的奇事。 因耶和华为大，当受极大的赞美，他在万神之上，当受敬畏。 外邦的神都属虚无，唯独耶和华创造诸天。 有尊荣和威严在他面前，有能力与华美在他圣所。 民中的万族啊，你们要将荣耀、能力归给耶和华，都归给耶和华！ 要将耶和华的名所当得的荣耀归给他，拿供物来进入他的院宇！ 当以圣洁的装饰敬拜耶和华，全地要在他面前战抖！人在列邦中要说：“耶和华做王！”世界就坚定，不得动摇，他要按公正审判众民。愿天欢喜，愿地快乐，愿海和其中所充满的澎湃，愿田和其中所有的都欢乐！那时林中的树木都要在耶和华面前欢呼，因为他来了，他来要审判全地。他要按公义审判世界，按他的信实审判万民。

回响

Kevin DeRaaf

作为跟随基督的人，我们是比自身生命更为重大的故事中的一部分，这个故事甚至大过我们的家人和教会群体的生命。我们是普世教会信徒的一部份，蒙召去确认圣灵在世上的工作，活出神向万民分享耶稣的好消息这个使命。

这个月，在我们反思活出、并与人分享耶稣的好消息时，让我们集中思考“回响”这个主题，好叫这个好消息能发出回响，像一个不断增强和扩大的声音，向四方八面扩散出去。神的爱在这个世界产生深远影响，这爱在我们的生命中回荡，让我们看见神在这破碎的世代中的奇妙作为。在我们求活像耶稣，靠着祂的圣灵在我们心中作工时，愿我们能帮助别人也受到感动，好让他们在他们生命中—并且在整个世界中—看到神的慈爱和信实的看顾！

Kevin DeRaaf牧师是回响普世宣教机构（Resonate Global Mission）的主任，该机构是北美基督教改革宗教会的宣教机构，在全世界超过40个国家事奉。Kevin的事工中心包括普世宣教、本地宣教和植堂事工，他热衷于看到有人蒙神呼召，参与神的宣教事工。他和妻子Jacquie，共有3名子女和5名孙儿女，他们住在安大略省的柏林顿市。

9月30日

福音引起世界的共鸣

“愿天欢喜，愿地欢喜，愿海和其中所充满的澎湃。” - 诗 96:11

诗篇96篇邀请我们去聆听神的大能，在每个地方和每一个人心中产生共鸣。我们以这篇诗开始这个月的灵修，现在再把焦点放在这篇诗篇上，来结束我们有关“回响”的反省，是很合宜的。

在这个月，我们每一个人都被邀请去回应神向我们发出的声音。我们的祷告是祈求耶稣的福音能够在我们心中引起深远的共鸣，而我们又会以信心和信靠来回应。我们也看过福音怎样在教会—耶稣跟随者的群体中，引起共鸣。我们不是孤单一人走天路的。我们往往是在与人团契生活时，清楚听到神的声音和遇见基督的。

还有，我们被邀请去留意神的大能，如何在整个宇宙中回响。我们的神统管万有！在神的世界中，我们到处都见到整个创造的本身，都在宣扬创造者的荣耀与威严——天在欢喜快乐，海在澎湃，全地也发出赞美。

我所祷求的，是诗篇96篇的话能够在今天引起你的共鸣。你既实实在在地在耶稣里，经历过神的爱和赦免，愿你的生命能发出欢乐的共鸣。又愿你的声音与受造物的响亮歌声，一起宣扬主是伟大，祂是“当受极大的赞美”的。

祷告

伟大和荣耀的神，今天我们与所有的受造物一起赞美你。愿你的爱、信实和良善，在全地引起共鸣。阿们。

Psalm 96

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

THE GOSPEL RESONATES WITH THE WORLD

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. —Psalm 96:11

Psalm 96 invites us to hear the greatness of God resounding everywhere and in everyone. We began our devotions this month with this psalm, and it seems fitting to close our reflections on “Resonance” by focusing on this psalm again.

Throughout this month we have been personally invited to respond to God’s voice ringing out to us. Our prayer has been that the good news of Jesus will resonate deeply in our hearts and that we will respond in faith and trust.

We have also seen how the good news resounds within the church, the community of Jesus’ followers. None of us walks this journey alone. It is often in fellowship with others that we most clearly encounter the voice of God and the living presence of Christ.

In addition, we have been invited to notice God’s greatness reverberating through all creation. Our God reigns! All around us in God’s world we can witness creation itself declaring the glory and majesty of its Maker—the heavens rejoicing, the seas roaring, the fields exulting in praise.

My prayer is that the words of Psalm 96 ring true for you today. May your life ring out joyfully because you have genuinely encountered the love and forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ. And may your voice join with the resounding song of creation, proclaiming that the Lord is great and “most worthy of praise.”

Great and glorious God, we join with all creation to praise you today. May your love, faithfulness, and goodness resonate throughout the whole world. Amen.

October 2026

“Beautiful Savior”

Lora Copley

Names are important in the Bible. In ancient times, a name was not just a label; it was often intended to describe a person’s essence or character. To know someone’s name could even mean that you had a special kind of access or connection to that person.

How amazing it is that God wants us to have access and connection to him! God wants us to know him—especially through the person of his Son, Jesus. God gives us many names for the Savior. Each name shows something of who he is and what he does.

Many, many names and descriptions are given for Jesus in the Bible. Each one is like a facet of a diamond, shining the light of who Jesus is in a unique and brilliant way. Some names and descriptions show his humility. Others show his glory. Still others show his relationship with his church. Yet even with all these names and descriptions we can never say all there is to say about Jesus. Blessed be his name!

Lora Copley serves as editor of The Banner, the magazine of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. She also ministers at Areopagus, a campus ministry of Iowa State University. She and her husband, Joel, have four children, and they worship at Trinity CRC in Ames, Iowa.

Philippians 2:5-11

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

JESUS, NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES

God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. . . . —Philippians 2:9-10

There are a lot of big names out there: Zuckerberg, Apple, Xi, Trump, Oprah, AI. Does our world rise or fall with these names?

Or how about some names closer to home: Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, ALS, Down Syndrome? Or what about labels that society might apply to us: divorced, disabled, addicted, infertile, fired, foreclosed, forgotten, paroled? Do any of these have the power to make or break us?

No. Our reading today proclaims that no name, whether it carries princely power or brings us problems or roadblocks, is greater than Jesus— not even light years close.

None of those names went down low, “taking the very nature of a servant” and “becoming obedient to death” to raise us up. None of those died on a cross to give us new life.

Jesus is the only One whom God gave the name greater than any other name. He is the only One we should bow to. We can take him more seriously than any other name or label, for he himself is God, and he rules over all things.

This month, let’s reflect on the various names of Jesus and what they show us about him. Each one reveals something marvelous and matchless about Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom every knee and power and threat will bow, “to the glory of God the Father.” We are in his hands, and he puts all things in their place.

Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done to give us new life and faith in the power of your name. May we honor your name above every name. Amen.

John 1:1-9

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” —John 8:12

With a tour group I went into a deep cave in New Mexico, and our guide turned off all the lights. The darkness was paralyzing; I immediately felt vulnerable.

Darkness in a cave is one thing. Darkness in life is worse. We may face shadows of a dark past: abuse, ugly words, abandonment. A deep cavern of guilt from our sins and mistakes may fill us with doubt, disappointment, and long nights of anxiety.

Darkness is real—and scary. But there’s at least one thing darkness is not. It is not a winner. If we go into a deep cave and turn off the lights, it will be so dark that you can’t see your hand in front of your face. But if we strike a match or switch on a light, all that darkness— football fields of it!—cannot overpower that one light. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Jesus calls himself “the light of the world.” In his death on the cross, he took on darkness and descended into caverns of guilt, forsakenness, abuse, and the worst that sin could offer— for us. He took on sin’s pain and its cost for us so that we won’t have to. And with his rising, we receive what Isaiah foretold: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).

Why stay in the dark? The light is here. Let’s walk in him today!

Lord, thank you for being our light. Only you can overpower the darkness in this world and in our lives. Shine, Jesus, shine! Amen.

Isaiah 9:2-7; John 16:33

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

PRINCE OF PEACE

He will be called . . . Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6

Here Jesus is named “Prince of Peace.” What is peace?

Two artists, the story goes, are asked to paint pictures depicting peace.

One artist paints a tranquil scene—a calm lake surrounded by rolling green hills and with towering trees mirrored in the water. The blue sky is still— and, well, peaceful.

The other painter brushes onto the canvas a rocky ravine, with dark, ominous, jutting-out rocks. Over the top of the rockface rushes a powerful waterfall, splashing and roaring. Spray and mist everywhere!

Yet on one of the crags, near the bottom of the gorge, stands a slender young tree. And there, on a tenuous branch overhanging the water, glistening with the spray from the waterfall, rests a bird’s nest. And in that nest a small bird is sleeping.

This second illustration is a picture of Christ’s peace!

Jesus makes clear that peace in this world is not the absence of trouble. It is not mainly about tranquil, relaxing scenes. Jesus’ peace means that even while the waters foam and surge about us, even amid storms of anxiety and struggle, we have a rock! A firm place to nest.

In this world we will have trouble, Jesus said. But take courage, and be at rest. Jesus has overcome the world!

Thank you, Jesus, for giving us your peace, which is not like the world’s. In you we can find rest and refuge even amid the dangers, storms, and troubles of life. Amen.

John 11:17-27, 38-43

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live. . . .” —John 11:25

I don’t know about you, but I tend to think of resurrection as an abstract or distant thing—as if it is only about Easter Sunday or a date on the end-times calendar.

But, no—and more profoundly— Resurrection is a name for Jesus! “I am the resurrection . . .” he said. Resurrection is a “right now” reality in the unique person of Jesus Christ.

It’s the same with life. Life is not mainly about having a beating heart and brain waves. Nor is it something we get or make or buy or achieve. Life is a name for Jesus. “I am . . . the life . . .” he said. And in a prayer to his Father, Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

When we reject a relationship with the Life himself and say “No thanks” to Jesus, then, essentially we are like dead people walking (see Ephesians 2:1-5). Rejecting Jesus is like staying in a tomb.

Sin is a tomb. Self is a tomb. Unforgiveness is a tomb. Pornography is a tomb. Fear, perfectionism, pride, envy . . .— tombs are everywhere!

Hear the voice of the One whose name is the Resurrection and the Life: “Come out!” That tomb is no place for you. Why look for life among the dead? (See Luke 24:5.)

Anyone who looks to Jesus will live. Eternity starts today!

Lord Jesus, who is like you? Thank you for being “the resurrection and the life” to all who believe in you. Amen.

Luke 3:21-22; 4:14-21

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5

MESSIAH (CHRIST)

. . . Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham. . . . —Matthew 1:1

Ever since humanity fell into sin, God promised that someone would come and put it right.

God promised Eve a snake-crusher (Genesis 3:15). He promised Abraham a line of descendants who would bless the nations (Genesis 12:3). God promised his people a prophet who would come from among them, and to whom they should listen (Deuteronomy 18:15-18). He promised David a descendant whose throne would “be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:12-16). God also declared that this person would be “a priest forever” (Psalm 110:4), mediating for the people.

That ultimate promised one also had a unique anointing. The people’s prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil, but the promised one would be anointed with the Holy Spirit, and God himself would do the anointing. This Spirit-drenched person would be the “Anointed One” (mashiach in Hebrew, christos in Greek).

Luke describes Jesus’ having the Holy Spirit descend on him at his baptism and then serving “in the power of the Spirit” wherever he went. And in his sermon at Nazareth, his hometown, Jesus preached from Isaiah 61: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me. . . .” Jesus is crystal clear, and he says, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

He is the Messiah! Amen!

Jesus, Messiah, all God’s promises point to you. Our waiting and searching end in you. Amen.

Hebrews 2:14-15

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6

DELIVERER

“The deliverer will come. . . .” —Romans 11:26 He . . . shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death . . . —Hebrews 2:14

My son David, at age 3, found a picture that captivated him. He’d bend over it on the floor and look, and look. The picture was of a wood carving from an old altar in Europe. The carving showed Jesus kicking down the gate of death.

One night during a storm, the power went out. The boys had been in bed for a while, but now there was no nightlight. It was dark. Scary dark. I checked on them, listening outside the door. I heard David singing. He apparently knew only two phrases and kept singing them over and over: “I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. . . .”

I listened a bit and then opened the door to go in. But before I got far, David sat upright in his bed and said, “Show me the picture, Mommy— the kickin’-down- the-door picture.” He had obviously been thinking about the Jesus carving as he lay in that dark place. And I think that image of Jesus—the deliverer kicking down the door of death and mightier than any of our fears—prompted David to sing his song in the night.

David preached a sermon to my heart. When we are in a dark and scary place, we can still sing songs if we remember Jesus—who he is and what powers he has overcome in his saving love for us.

Jesus, thank you for delivering us from sin and death—and from every dark fear. Be our song in the night. Amen. John 6:26-35, 47-51

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7

BREAD OF LIFE

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. . . .” —John 6:35

In a book titled The American Paradox: Spiritual Hunger in an Age of Plenty, David Meyers wrote: “We buy more, but enjoy it less. We have more food and less nutrition; fancier houses, but broken homes. We have added years to life, not life to years.”

Enter Jesus, the one who was born in Bethlehem (“house of bread”) and was laid in a manger (a food trough for animals). (See Luke 2:4-7.) Jesus’ life gave this message: “You are hungry. I am bread. I can satisfy you with myself.”

Are we feeding on Jesus? He is the bread of life for gnawing, hungry souls.

In 1860, two explorers—Robert Burke and William Wills— set out to cross Australia. They died on their way back, however, after using up all their supplies and trying to survive on nardoo, a clover-like plant.

They thought nardoo could save them. But apparently they failed to prepare it properly, and an enzyme in it gave them a vitamin deficiency. They ate bowlfuls of nardoo each day, but they grew weaker and thinner and died.

Let’s look at the menu of our lives. Our jobs, resumes, social calendars, entertainment options, phones, and even ministries can seem to fill a hunger, but without Jesus it all ends in emptiness. Isaiah 55:2 asks, “Why spend your money on what is not bread?” Only Jesus, the bread of life, can satisfy the hunger of our souls.

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us yourself as the bread of life we need every day. Fill us, we pray, and help us to trust you for all our needs. In your name, Amen. Revelation 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

LAMB OF GOD

I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne. . . . —Revelation 5:6

A large painting in my living room takes up half a wall. It portrays a lion and a lamb lying down together. My mom painted it in 1973, back when she had two baby boys and would soon have a pair of girls too.

I often notice the posture of those two animals my mom painted. The lion looks submissive to the lamb, and the lamb’s little leg rests atop the lion’s mighty forepaw. The lion looks squarely at the lamb, while the lamb looks straight at the viewer.

I think this painting captures something of how Scripture portrays Jesus. Jesus is called both a lion and a lamb in our Bible passage for today. But one image is clearly dominant. Jesus is called “Lion” only once. But there are several references to Jesus as “the Lamb” (and more in other Bible passages). The picture of “the Lamb” is the one we most need to see about Jesus.

For God’s Old Testament people, the sacrifice of a lamb signaled redemption for their sin and guilt. The innocent substitute died in the place of the guilty. When John the Baptist pointed out Jesus to others, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

On the cross, our salvation was not accomplished by muscle or teeth or claws. It was accomplished through the shed blood of a perfect and gentle sacrifice.

O Lamb of God, we love you. Wash us in your precious blood, Lord Jesus. Thank you for your sacrifice once for all to pay the debt of our sin. In your name, Amen. Luke 22:24-27

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9

THE ONE WHO SERVES

“I am among you as one who serves.” —Luke 22:27

When I began attending a university, I was amazed at a group of seniors (one of them my future sister-in-law) who invited the university president to come to a dorm apartment for a meal they had prepared. I was even more amazed that, important as he was, the president said yes. But the thing I’ll never forget is that when the meal was over, the president insisted he be the one to wash the dishes.

This was an “old school” president whom I had never seen apart from his dress suit and tie, but he set aside his suitcoat, rolled up his crisp white dress sleeves, borrowed an apron, and scraped lasagna bits into the garbage. He scrubbed every dish in that sudsy water and gave us all a picture of how a servant-leader acts.

God himself, greater than any university president, chief executive, or other leader, became “one who serves.” In Jesus, God-in-flesh got down on his knees, took the posture of a slave, and held in his hands the feet of his followers, who would betray, reject, and abandon him. He served them, washing their feet (John 13).

Jesus also served us by going to the cross and laying down his own life to save ours. By his shed blood we are freed from the debt and the curse of sin.

In Jesus’ teaching to his disciples, we can hear his call to us, in effect: “Do you understand what I have done for you? . . . Now go in my name and serve others.”

Humble King, we worship you. You have shown us what real leadership is. Make us servants like you, we pray. Amen. Isaiah 53:3-5

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

MAN OF SORROWS

A man of suffering, and familiar with pain . . . he took up our pain and bore our suffering. . . . —Isaiah 53:3-4

What gives hope when our hearts break?

Five years ago, my sister-in-law, only 47 years old, died of a brain-stem tumor. I helped to care for her and her young family during six years of decline, dementia, hospice, and devastating pain. At times like that, many of us may wonder, “Where is Jesus? Does he even care? We can do nothing. He could do something—and yet it seems like he stays away.”

The Lord gave me a gift in an unexpected place—a passage in a C. S. Lewis children’s book. A boy’s mother is dying. The boy seeks help from the Christ figure, Aslan. Aslan doesn’t heal in that encounter, but he shows the boy his heart, even great tears, showing that he hurts as much as the boy himself. I needed that insight.

Perhaps you know how lonely and terrible grief is. Perhaps you have wondered if God cares.

In Jesus, we see the tears and the heart of God. Jesus’ heart went out to a grieving widow whose son had died (Luke 7:13). He wept with Mary at her brother’s tomb (John 11:35). Jesus is gentle with the hurting: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (Matthew 12:20). Jesus suffered, for our sake, all of the pain and sorrow caused by everyone’s sin. And he promises to remove all mourning and crying and pain when he comes again (Revelation 21:4).

Lord of bruised, smoldering hearts, thank you for your tears. Thank you also for the promise that our tears won’t last forever. Amen. 1 Peter 2:4-7

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11

THE STONE REJECTED

“Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected. . . .’” —Acts 4:11

Rejection. We see it when grandparents are cut off from grandkids over politics. Or when siblings haven’t spoken in years. In the church, a difference in conviction can be met with a cold shoulder, and a cutting off of friendship.

Rejection hurts. I remember a group question: “What is the worst pain that people have known?” Some participants said, “a torn ACL,” “childbirth,” “kidney stones.” But one woman replied, “Relational pain is the worst, because bodies heal faster than hearts.”

The God of the universe knows relational pain. Scripture says that Jesus “came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11). His family members thought he was crazy; his hometown ran him out (Mark 3:21; 6:4). The Son of God lamented all of this, saying, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Luke 13:34). Jesus told parables about feasts that people would not come to and about a father rejected by both of his sons (Luke 14:16-24; 15:11-32).

Rejecting Jesus continues today. We reject Jesus when we are ashamed to stand up for him or his words. Or when we fail to pray or take time with him.

Let us return to Jesus—who bore rejection for us so that we can have forgiveness and new life. And may we be peacemakers and forgivers too.

Lord Jesus, forgive us when we snub you or act ashamed of you. May we honor you in all we do and say—whether in public or in private. Amen. Hebrews 2:10-18

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12

IMMANUEL

“They will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). —Matthew 1:23

After the First World War, British soldiers returned from the front lines devastated. Many were shell-shocked, disfigured, wounded, and scarred.

Among the pastors who ministered to those hurting veterans was Edward Shillito. He wrote a poem, in 1919, in which he speaks as a soldier, seeking God. The poem expresses dismay and doubt: “The heavens frighten us; they are too calm. . . . Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?”

Yet it shows that in seeing the scars of Jesus, Immanuel, hope and faith can be restored: “To our wounds only God’s wounds can speak, And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.”

For any of us who is suffering, we need to see Jesus, the one true God who came to be “with us” and who offered his life as the ultimate sacrifice for our sake. “By his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Scripture proclaims this holy mystery: God is not distant from us, sealed off, light years away. He is “with us.” Wounded, abused, with his flesh ripped open, “like one from whom people hide their faces” (53:3)—that’s Immanuel.

What a holy mystery it is that the risen Jesus bears eternal scars on his eternal flesh (John 20:19-29). “He had to be made . . . fully human in every way . . . [to] make atonement for the sins of” us all.

See the scars. Scars of pain. Scars of victory. Scars of Immanuel. “Oh, love, how deep, how broad, how high”! Thank you, Jesus, for becoming “God with us.” Amen. Romans 5:12-19

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13

THE SECOND ADAM

The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. —1 Corinthians 15:47

Have you ever played the game “Grab the Bacon?” Two teams face each other in an open field, and a sock or towel (the “bacon”) is placed on the ground between them. A runner from each team races out to grab the “bacon,” and the one who brings it back gains a point for the whole team. The team’s success depends on one representative.

Romans 5 teaches that our original “representative” was Adam (Genesis 2-3). And when Adam sinned, we all lost, taking on the curse of sin and death. But God sent a second Adam, Jesus. And for all who trust in him, Jesus puts right what Adam put wrong.

The first Adam bore God’s image but marred it, seeking self-exaltation. The second Adam, Jesus, is the true image of God, “the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3), and Jesus puts his Father first.

The first Adam gave in to temptation and lies. The second Adam, Jesus, defeated temptation by declaring the truth (Matthew 4:1-11). The first Adam brought misery. The second Adam brought mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation, and life everlasting.

Jesus is the representative head we need.

Have you heard him calling? He says, “Follow me!” (Matthew 4:19; John 21:19).

Dear Jesus, thank you for showing us how to live. Thank you for the victory you have won for us. Guide us to follow you as our head. We owe everything to you. Amen. John 10:1-5,11-15

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

“He calls his own sheep by name and leads them. . . . I am the good shepherd. . . .” —John 10:3,14

Our family lived for ten years in a border town of the Navajo Nation. We learned a little about herding sheep and tending cattle from our Navajo friends. We learned that different animals are led differently.

Cattle are driven. Dogs or horses are used to spook them from behind so that they trot where you want them to go. We saw something similar with goats when we visited Israel. The goat herder constantly threw small stones just beyond and to the side of the goats, in order to startle them and drive them in the direction he wanted them to go.

With sheep, it is often different. Sheep generally follow behind. Sheep learn the shepherd’s voice. And they follow the shepherd because they trust the shepherd.

Jesus says he is the good shepherd. He does not use fear or tricks to drive his sheep. “He calls his own sheep by name . . . and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

Do we know our Shepherd’s voice? How do we learn it? We learn Jesus’ voice by going to where he speaks, in the Bible, and spending time listening to him each day. There we grow familiar with his cadence and tones. There we learn his ways and grow to trust him.

Then, when he leads us in and through dark valleys, we will not fear, even when we can’t see him. For we know he is with us.

Good Shepherd, no one is as good as you. We follow you, and we trust you—even when it is dark. Guide us to trust you always. Amen. Colossians 1:15-20

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15

HEAD OF THE BODY

He is the head of the body, the church. . . . —Colossians 1:18

My daughter plays percussion for the Des Moines (Iowa) Youth Symphony. As we take our seats for a concert, the warmup sounds like cacophony and chaos. Every musician is doing their own thing as they tune up and warm up.

Then . . . tap-tap-tap. The conductor calls everyone to attention, and everything changes! The mess becomes music. The chaos turns coherent. Every instrument finds its place in the unity of the written score. And beauty results.

The church too has many parts, many “instruments.” Left to ourselves, we naturally do our own thing. We can also be competitive and chaotic, often resembling “a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal,” without love (1 Corinthians 13:1).

But because we have Jesus as our Head, our Lord and Savior, we can “live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16). He directs us with his song.

The picture of Jesus as a conductor doesn’t go far enough, though. A symphony can survive without a conductor. But a body can’t survive, even for a moment, without a head. The head sends the signals that animate and orchestrate every part and every function of the body.

In the same way Jesus, our Head, gives his life to his church. By his Spirit, he transmits to his body forgiveness, righteousness, selflessness, and love. What he gives is more than direction; he gives himself.

Lord Jesus, our Head, make us, as your body, a beautiful symphony for you. May we tune our lives to be in harmony with you always. Amen. John 15:1-8

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16

THE VINE

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. . . .” —John 15:5

Before I married, I did not own a car. I did not know how to fix vehicles or install plumbing. (Still don’t.) But with a vow, suddenly I had access to all those riches through my husband.

Being united to Jesus works in a way like that—only better. Jesus describes himself as a vine, and he says we are like branches—deeply connected to him and blessed with all the benefits of life in him.

John Calvin wrote that through Christ all heavenly gifts flow to us. From him we get life, righteousness, holiness, and every true blessing. Imagine! Jesus’ joy, peace, strength, and reward. An old hymn proclaims: “How vast the benefits divine that we in Christ possess!”

At the beginning of our reading for today, Jesus calls himself “the true vine.” There really is no other with whom we can have this flourishing relationship. Apart from him, we cannot bear fruit, so we need to remain in Jesus.

What does “remaining” look like? I saw a short video called “If we treated our Bibles like our phones. . . .” As soon he woke in the morning, a man opened his Bible; he read it as he brushed his teeth, cooked his eggs, and ran on a treadmill. He even kept checking his Bible throughout the day.

We know what it means to “remain” with our phones. Perhaps remaining in Christ looks something like that? We need to stay close with him, all day long.

Lord Jesus, how blessed we are to be united in you! Help us to remain in you always, in all we do, that we may bear your fruit. Amen. Exodus 28:1-5, 29; Hebrews 7:23-27

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

PERFECT HIGH PRIEST

Since we have a great high priest who ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. —Hebrews 4:14

Sometimes clothes tell a story. A letterman jacket. An apron. Baby shoes, never worn. Medals on a veteran’s uniform.

The clothing of the Old Testament high priest told a story. The ephod was a vest made of gold, woven with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn—the same colors used inside the tabernacle (the special tent of God’s presence). On each shoulder of the ephod was an onyx stone, engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. The ephod told the people that the priest was their mediator when he went into the presence of God.

The high priest also wore a breastpiece over the ephod. It bore 12 gemstones, each engraved with a tribe’s name. In addition, a gold plate that read “HOLY TO THE LORD” was attached to the front of the high priest’s turban (see Exodus 28:6-30).

The story these clothes told was that through the service of the high priest, God showed his love by promising forgiveness and a new start for his people. Today we know that Jesus Christ is the true and ultimate High Priest, mediating for us always. He is God’s presence in our midst (John 1:14). As High Priest, Jesus carries us before God, bearing our names and our guilt so that we can be forgiven and receive new life in him. What’s more, our great High Priest gave his own life as the final, perfect sacrifice. What amazing love!

Lord Jesus, how glorious you are! Thank you for being our perfect High Priest and for giving yourself as the perfect sacrifice for us, once for all. Hallelujah! Amen. Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 8:6-9:15

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18

MEDIATOR, INTERCESSOR

Christ Jesus . . . is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. —Romans 8:34

What is Jesus doing now, since he has ascended to heaven? Hebrews 7:25 (like Romans 8:34) says that he is always interceding for us. Jesus prays for us constantly!

What a gift this is. We cannot enter God’s presence on the basis of our own goodness. We need the one, perfect Mediator/ High Priest to speak for us. As an old hymn puts it:

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea,

a great High Priest whose name is Love,

who ever lives and pleads for me.

Jesus’ intercession is spoken and visible. Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf, and his scars bear the testimony of his sacrifice for us. As the prophet Isaiah said, “By his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

So, through Jesus’ work for us, we are reconciled with God. And he mediates a new covenant for us with God so that God’s law is in our minds and in our hearts always. By living within us through his Spirit, Jesus impresses on our minds and hearts how to live for God each day. This is the new life Jesus makes possible for us, guiding us, through his Spirit, to live faithfully, as he did. And because of Jesus, we can have the confidence to draw near to God our Father always, anytime (Hebrews 10:19-23).

Without Jesus, God would be a distant power. In Jesus, we have a Father. And nothing can separate us from his love!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, our faithful mediator and intercessor, for giving us new life in the Father’s love forever. Amen. Galatians 3:13-16, 19

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

SEED OF ABRAHAM

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed . . . meaning . . . Christ. —Galatians 3:16

Disappointment can shrivel hope. A grandmother can pray for years, and yet her grand children may leave the faith. A man can work decades in a job and be let go. People can struggle for years in pain or mental distress, with no relief in sight. We may ask, “Where is the joy? Have God’s promises failed?”

Sarah knew that kind of heartache. God had promised her husband, Abraham, a child, but over 24 years had gone by, and there was no baby in her womb. Her laugh grew hollow, hardened into cynicism (see Genesis 12:4; 17:17-18:15).

But God did give them a son, Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7). And God didn’t just fulfill a promise or set redemption in motion (which he did!); he also healed Sarah’s laugh.

In addition, Isaac, whose name means “laughter,” became a pointer to Jesus. Isaac brought joy to one family, and Jesus brings joy for all the nations.

When Jesus was born, angels rejoiced, shepherds rejoiced, old Simeon and Anna rejoiced, and wise men from the East came to worship him (Matthew 2; Luke 2). Earlier, another baby, John, leapt in his mother’s womb, and Jesus’ mother, Mary, sang: “My spirit rejoices in God. . . . He has . . . remember[ ed] to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever” (Luke 1:41, 47, 54-55).

Jesus, the ultimate promised Son, took all of our disappointments and hollow laughs onto himself. He died and rose to heal our dried-up hopes. And we can laugh again.

Lord, may we always see you keeping your promises in Jesus. Heal our hearts, we pray, and bring us joy in him. Amen. John 1:35-39; 13:12-16

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20

RABBI, TEACHER

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” —John 1:38

We learn from a variety of people in our lives—parents, friends, relatives, teachers, mentors, and more. Writers, entertainers, and leaders of all kinds can influence us too. My favorite teachers or mentors have often been my hardest ones.

Without question, Jesus is the greatest teacher of all. As Colossians 2:3 puts it, “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in him. Jesus’ teaching amazed crowds, and his teachings in the Bible continue to amaze and challenge us today. In addition, Jesus’ teaching isn’t easy—it demands our all.

Jesus’ disciples called him “Rabbi,” the traditional title in their culture for a person who was so respected as a teacher of God’s law that people would follow him and try to learn how to be like him. Following a rabbi involved imitation, learning how to think and act like that person. Jesus said, “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40). And in 1 John 2:6 we read, “Whoever claims to live in [Jesus] must live as Jesus did.”

How do we live as Jesus did? How can we follow him without being crushed by the weight of the expectations involved?

The answer, in part, is in the many names of Jesus we have been reflecting on. He is the true vine, our head, our mediator, our good shepherd, the one who serves, and so much more—and through his Spirit he give us the strength and ability to live as he calls us to. Rabbi Jesus, teach us, by your Spirit, how to be like you, living as you did. In your name, Amen. Ephesians 5:25-32

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21

BRIDEGROOM

“The bride belongs to the bridegroom.” —John 3:29

An old Algonquin folktale (a sort of Cinderella story) goes something like this:

Once there were three sisters. The two oldest were beautiful, proud, and mean. Their youngest sister was weak and often ill. Her sisters were cruel and scarred her face with hot coals. She became known as the “rough-faced girl.”

A powerful and unseen being, known as the Invisible One, said he would marry the girl who could truly see him. So the older sisters put on fine feathers and beads and went to his camp by the Big Water. But he didn’t reveal himself.

The rough-faced girl wanted to visit the Invisible One too. She had no beads to wear—only a birch-bark dress and old moccasins. Her sisters and the villagers laughed at her. But she went to meet the Invisible One, and she could see him— or, rather, he saw her. He loved her, and she was changed. She washed in the Big Water, her rough scars disappeared, and she became as beautiful on the outside as the love she had received.

In some ways this story reminds me of Jesus’ love for his bride, the church. Ephesians 5 shows that Jesus’ love changes us, cleansing and healing us. His love is all that is needed to transform the “rough-faced” church. His love is what makes her beautiful.

Let’s not give up on the “rough-faced” church. Jesus, our perfect Bridegroom, won’t.

Lord Jesus, we are in awe of you. Thank you for your washing, beautifying, faithful love for your church. Amen. John 8:48-59

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22

I AM

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” —John 8:58

We can often see how weighty a statement is by how listeners react. Some words prompt a smile; others a scowl; others a glance at the watch. But what about words that make people reach for stones to throw?

When Jesus said, “I am,” in our passage for today, his listeners were shocked. Then they tried to kill him. Why? Because he was taking on the name of God to identify himself.

God had revealed this name when he called Moses to lead his people out of slavery: “I AM WHO I AM. . . . Say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” . . . This is my name forever” (Exodus 3:14-15).

The name “I AM” is heavy with meaning. It means God is complete in himself, eternal, and worthy of all worship. When Jesus called himself “I am,” he was saying he is the God who spoke to Moses. His audience understood, and that’s why they were ready to stone him.

When we hear Jesus’ claim that he is God, what is our response? C. S. Lewis noted that either Jesus is lying and knows it, which would make him evil. Or Jesus just thinks he is God but is mistaken, which would make him delusional. Or Jesus is telling the truth, meaning he really is the eternal God of the universe.

If Jesus is a liar or deluded, we should reject him. But if he is God, we should trust him completely and worship him. What is your response?

Lord Jesus, you are God. Forgive us for treating you as anything less. Help us to live faithfully for you as the Lord of our lives and, indeed, the Lord over all. Amen. Mark 14:53-65

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23

SON OF MAN

“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. . . .” —Mark 14:62

Jesus often used the name “Son of Man” to refer to himself.

What does this name mean?

On the surface, “Son of Man” seems simple enough to understand. This name shows that Jesus is a human being. But for Jesus this name had a meaning that pointed to something deeper and bigger.

In the Old Testament the prophet Daniel describes a vision in which he saw a “son of man” who came “with the clouds of heaven.” That person went into God’s presence and received “authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is . . . everlasting . . . and his kingdom . . . will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

And when Jesus stood on trial before the religious rulers of his day, and the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus applied Daniel’s vision to himself, saying: “I am. . . . And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).

Wow! The name “Son of Man” shows us that Jesus shares our humanity—with our scraped knees, fingerprints, and belly buttons—and that he is also the One with all power and authority (see Matthew 28:18).

Jesus, the Son of Man, is fully human and fully God—Savior and Lord of all!

Who is like you, Lord Jesus? We lift up our hearts to you. May we honor and worship you faithfully. In your name, Amen. John 1:1-5, 9-14

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

THE WORD

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. —John 1:1-2

Daily I’m surrounded by words, reading lots of them in my work as an editor. Words can be influential and powerful; they give shape to thoughts and express inner ideas. It has often been said that “the pen is mightier than the sword,” and I think that’s because words can help to change minds, while swords and other weapons will mainly threaten and harm.

Though human words may be powerful at times, they are like nothing compared to God’s words. God spoke, and his words created our universe (Genesis 1). God’s word can be like fire, or like a hammer that breaks rocks (Jeremiah 23:29). God’s word goes out and accomplishes his purposes (Isaiah 55:10-11). “The word of God is alive and active. . . . It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). God’s words are not idle; “they are your life” (Deuteronomy 32:47).

John 1 tells us even more: the living and active Word of God is one with God. The Word is a person, and “through him all things were made.” The Word even took on human flesh and moved into our world to come and live with us, walking our streets and breathing our air. And his name is Jesus.

As the living Word of God, Jesus gives all who believe in him “the right to become children of God.” Are you a part of God’s family through this Word, his Son, our Savior?

Word of God, fill us with your life and your love. By your Spirit, guide us to receive you and believe in your name. Amen. Ephesians 1:3-10; 1 John 4:7-19

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

BELOVED: THE ONE HE LOVES

He chose us . . . for adoption . . . through Jesus Christ . . . the One he loves. —Ephesians 1:4-6

My daughters and I enjoy romantic comedies. We view these love stories with our popcorn and our sappy smiles, waiting for that satisfying moment when the main characters declare their love for one another. We are drawn to these stories because we are made for love. But stories like these are just shadows—wispy imitations of the real and eternal thing.

The Bible tells us that God is love. From the depths of eternity the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—has been and is love, delighting in and glorifying one another. God is one, and yet, mysteriously, God is also three persons in a perfect, loving relationship.

So when John declares that “God is love,” he means that the triune God did not need to create anyone or anything in order to love. God has always been abounding in love. This begins within the Godhead and extends to everything God does.

At Jesus’ baptism, and again at his transfiguration, the Father’s voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5). And what is so amazing is that, in Jesus, God has extended his love to us! Even more, the Beloved, our Lord Jesus, did far more than getting down on one knee to declare his love. He laid down his life for us, becoming the “atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

And when we receive him, relying on the love God has for us, God lives in us, and we live in him. Amazing!

Triune God, thank you for loving us and giving us new life in Jesus, the One you love. Fill us with your life and love, and help us to share your love everywhere. Amen. Revelation 19:11-16

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26

FAITHFUL AND TRUE

Before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. —Revelation 19:11

The first people to receive the book of Revelation were facing great pressure and persecution to give up on Jesus. Christians were losing their property and livelihoods, and some faced public execution.

In Revelation 2-3, where we find the risen, exalted Jesus speaking to a number of his churches, we often hear the call to stand fast and to “overcome” even when their faith in him would bring suffering. To hear then, toward the close of this book, that Jesus is named “Faithful and True” must have been encouraging to Christians who were facing great uncertainty and fearful times.

Because Jesus is faithful, he will never abandon his suffering church. Because he is faithful, endurance is never wasted.

Because Jesus is true, he keeps his word. Because he is true, he does not compromise with evil. His judgments are good, and his victory is certain.

The name Faithful and True means that Jesus is who he says he is and that he will do what he says he’ll do. Notice the blood on Jesus’ robe. That points to his sacrifice for us. Faithful and true to his mission to save us, he purchased salvation for us with his blood (Revelation 5:9). Jesus gave his life to keep his promises.

Revelation 19 shows, at the end of all things, that Jesus is Faithful and True. He will take care of us—even in our most fearful times. “The one who calls [us] is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Lord, thank you for always being Faithful and True. Fill us with your life and love, that we may be faithful to you. Amen. Revelation 19:11-16

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27

KING OF KINGS

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. —Revelation 19:16

Have you ever seen a sight so big that you couldn’t fully take it in? I experienced that at the Grand Canyon—a mile deep, 18 miles (29 km) across, and 275 miles (443 km) long—the sheer size of it is dizzying. The greatness and beauty of this natural wonder can draw us in, but it can be dangerous if we approach it carelessly.

The truths of Revelation 19 are in some ways like that. Jesus appears with a series of striking names: Faithful and True, Word of God, King of kings, Lord of lords—even a name that no one else knows.

As the rest of Revelation 19 shows with vivid, symbolic imagery, the Lord Jesus stops the powers of evil and its lying, cheating work against the kingdom of God and his people (see also Revelation 13). Evil and its powerful forces are no match for the King of kings and Lord of lords. He has “many crowns” and all authority. His Word is sharper than any sword. No tyrant or demonic power gets the last word. Jesus does.

We cannot fully take him in, and when we recognize that Jesus’ greatness is beyond our imagining, we respond with awe and worship—or with paralyzing fear. Why? Because Jesus is both Judge and Savior. He has the power to save all who believe in his name, and he has the power to defeat all who oppose his goodness, love, and mercy.

Have you encountered the Lord of lords? He wants you to enjoy life with him forever!

King Jesus, rule us, filling us with your life and love. Help us to tell others of your greatness and your power to save. Amen. Matthew 16:13-17; Hebrews 1:1-3, 8-12

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28

GOD

“What about you?” [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say I am?” —Matthew 16:15

Some people argue that the Bible never clearly teaches that Jesus is God. Some suggest that Jesus was only a great teacher and that Christians who were greedy for power turned him into something more.

Baloney. Scripture is clear about who Jesus is.

Jesus says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). He spoke of having glory with the Father before creation (John 17:5). He also showed he had the authority to forgive sins—something that only God can do (Luke 5:21-24).

Jesus’ listeners understood. His enemies said he was “making himself equal with God” (John 5:18). His disciples worshiped him (Matthew 14:33), and Jesus did not object.

The apostle Paul declared, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9), and Paul described him as “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). John identified Jesus as “the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20). And as our reading today shows, Peter said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Our Hebrews text adds that Jesus is the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” And God the Father says of the Son, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.”

These are just a few examples, and we can believe that what the Bible says is true. Jesus is God. Who do you say he is?

Lord Jesus, by the power of your Spirit, help us to see who you really are. May we praise and worship you always, our Savior and our God. Amen. Acts 4:5-12

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29

JESUS, SAVIOR

“You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” —Matthew 1:21

The name Jesus means “the Lord saves.” That’s the whole purpose of his birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and reign. He came to “save his people.” From what? Scripture is clear: “from their sins.”

Notice what this does not say. It does not say Jesus came to save us from trouble, pain, or ignorance. It does not say he came to save us from bad governments, health problems, or family breakdowns. As real and hard as these things are (and Jesus cares about them), they do not represent our deepest or most pressing need.

Our greatest problem is sin. Sin is killing us. Sin is the root of brokenness. Unaddressed, sin separates us from God— forever.

But—praise God!—there is a Savior: Jesus! And he is the only one. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Jesus took the punishment for our sin; his rescue brings us back to God. Even “while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10).

So, when we say Jesus’ name, in faith, we confess our need for him and why he came. More than just a helper, a good example, or a guide, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him” (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus, you are the only Savior from sin. We need you. Help us to recognize our sin and that you are the only One who saves. In your saving name we pray. Amen. Hebrews 12:1-3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30

PIONEER AND PERFECTER OF FAITH

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. —Hebrews 12:1-2

Our reading today invites us to reflect on the life of faith as a race marked out for us.

And who has gone before us to mark it out? Jesus, the pioneer (or trailblazer) of faith.

He did it all, providing this great gift for us. He paved the way when we were so lost in our sin that we were like dead people walking in darkness (Isaiah 9:2; Ephesians 2:1-5). He made us alive to faith. He justified us, he sanctified us, and he sustains us through every trial. Jesus lights the way for us, and he will bring us safely through to where he is. As the apostle Paul describes it in Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”

Some Bible translations describe Jesus’ role here as the “author and finisher” of faith, and that reminds me of some treasured gifts that grace our family’s home. My mother-inlaw and late sister-in-law gifted us with beautiful, handmade quilts. They “authored” these treasures, designing them on graph paper, choosing colors, cutting pieces of fabric, and quilting them together. They also “finished” these artworks beautifully, down to the last binding stitch. I benefit from these gifts of grace, resting under someone else’s finished work.

In our life of faith, we depend on Jesus’ accomplished work. From start to finish, we can fix our eyes on him, following his lead and relying on his guidance and finished work every step of the way.

Pioneer and Perfecter of faith, where would we be without you? Lead and guide us, Lord, and may we rest in you. Amen. Revelation 22:12-21

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

ALPHA AND OMEGA

“Look, I am coming soon! . . . I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” —Revelation 22:12-13

We have explored many names for Jesus this month. There are also many names we haven’t reflected on: Lord, Rock, Redeemer, Cornerstone, Morning Star, and more.

The name Alpha and Omega can help us think of the great span of Jesus’ qualities, works, and abilities (many of which are described in his names)— and much more. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last. And, as our text for today suggests, this name helps us to think of Jesus as “the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” In other words, Jesus is the A and the Z, the starting block and the finish line, the source of creation and the goal to which all things head. He gives meaning to each point and experience along the way, and we’ll never exhaust all there is to say about Jesus.

At the close of these devotions, we also encounter, as we have found at other times, an invitation and a warning.

First, the warning. Because Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, it is impossible to be neutral. He is the ultimate dividing line. We can either come to him and enter his life of peace, reward, and rest, or we can say “no thanks” and be separated from him.

But with the gift of his invitation, we can come to Jesus, be forgiven and reconciled with God, and enter a new, full life with him forever. Real life begins and ends with, and hinges on, Jesus Christ!

Lord Jesus, you invite us to “Come! . . . and . . . take the free gift of the water of life.” Draw us to yourself, we pray. Amen.