Following Jesus means following His instructions regardless of how people respond. That is not an easy task, but God's Word adequately equips us for success in it.
Although people and the difficult situations they face may differ greatly, the hope they desperately want is always found in the same place--in Jesus Christ. Two desperate people from very different backgrounds illustrate this truth.
Jesus never encounters a hopeless case. Even a deranged, demon-possessed man can be delivered, saved, and used in God’s service. That is something we should remember with regard to both ourselves and every other seemingly hopeless person we meet.
The trials of life are tests. We will either wither under them or learn from them. The greatest thing we can learn from trials is that we can always trust Jesus to be sufficient.
To be Christ's loyal subjects today is to be part of a steadily developing kingdom that will one day be manifested fully in the Lord's visible, earthly, millennial reign. No earthly treasure is of greater value than being a citizen of His kingdom.
Our faithful service to the Lord will bring opposition and, sadly, the disappointment of seeing some people make false professions of faith. But we can be sure our service is not in vain, for Jesus promises to grow His kingdom according to His power and timing, not ours.
In this current age, as we await Christ's return, we are to be proclaiming God's glorious Word. As we do, we have the Lord's assurance that while many will reject the truth and some will falsely profess it for a time, others will certainly embrace it in faith and follow Christ.
If we find ourselves misunderstood and the truth we speak rejected, even when it is clear and obvious, we can take comfort in knowing this was our Lord’s experience as well. And like Jesus, we should use such occasions to warn and to teach those who resist the gospel.
Serving the Lord is not reserved for the most talented, brilliant, or capable among us. A few verses in the Gospel of Luke remind us that the Lord welcomes the worship and service of the unknown, the unexpected, and the unappealing--indeed, all who have experienced His grace.
Psalm 51 records David’s heartfelt confession after his sin with Bathsheba, and Stephen Davey explains it as a model of genuine repentance. He begins with David’s petition—a plea for mercy based on God’s steadfast love. Aware of the weight of his guilt, David asks God to blot out his transgressions, wash away his iniquity, and cleanse him from sin. The second step is admission: David accepts full responsibility, refusing to blame others and acknowledging his fallen nature. His sin, he admits, flows from the sinful heart of humanity inherited from Adam. Next comes restoration: David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” recognizing that only divine power can renew what sin has corrupted. Finally, his resolution is to teach others from his failure—to lead sinners back to God through honesty and repentance. Davey concludes that true confession involves humble honesty, complete dependence on God’s mercy, and a transformed resolve to live transparently before Him, proving that no sin is too great for God’s restoring grace.
In The Voice of Creation (Psalm 19:1–8a), Stephen Davey contrasts Carl Sagan’s hopeless view of a silent universe with David’s joyful proclamation that creation declares the glory of God. Davey explains that the heavens continually reveal God’s signature, wisdom, and grace—a universal testimony to His power and creativity. The beauty, complexity, and order of nature point unmistakably to a Designer, but this general revelation alone cannot save; it must be joined with the special revelation of God’s Word. David moves from calling God El (Creator) to Yahweh (personal Redeemer), showing that Scripture revives the soul, makes the simple wise, and causes the heart to rejoice. Davey concludes that while creation proves God’s existence, His Word reveals His character and plan of redemption. Believers, therefore, should worship the Creator revealed both in the world around us and in the inspired Word that leads us back to Him.
Psalms 42–44 open the second book of Psalms, where Stephen Davey explains that God invites believers to pour out their hearts to Him with complete honesty. The sons of Korah—descendants of a rebel who chose faithfulness—wrote of spiritual dryness and discouragement: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Davey notes that even when God seems silent, He is never absent. These psalms teach believers to trust and wait for the Lord, declaring, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” In Psalm 44, this personal trust expands to national suffering as Israel endures consequences for sin yet clings to God’s covenant faithfulness. Paul later cites this psalm to remind believers that suffering is not abandonment but evidence of spiritual maturity. Through these lessons, Davey encourages believers to be honest with God, steadfast in hope, and confident that even in dry seasons, God remains their salvation and strength.
This lesson from Deuteronomy 16–26 emphasizes God's righteousness as the standard for all of life. Moses reviews the importance of righteous leadership—judges, kings, priests, and prophets—who are called to uphold justice and truth. God's laws are revisited to guide Israel in holy living, covering areas like inheritance, morality, and societal order. These commands act like protective boundaries, showing how a righteous person should live. Finally, Israel’s worship is tied to gratitude and public acknowledgment of God's faithfulness. The lesson encourages believers to live righteously, not just privately but visibly, so the world sees God's wisdom and character through them.
In Psalm 56, Stephen Davey portrays David as “flying in the dark,” surrounded by danger and fear but learning to trust God’s Word as his instrument panel. Hiding in Gath—the hometown of Goliath—David faced overwhelming threats, yet confessed, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” Davey emphasizes that faith and fear often coexist; trusting God doesn’t remove fear but steadies the heart in it. He draws three principles from the psalm: God’s Word is always relevant and reliable in trouble, God Himself is fully aware of every step and sleepless night, and God is compassionate, collecting every tear in His bottle. Davey explains that just as ancient people kept tear bottles to express sorrow, God lovingly keeps record of every believer’s tears—proof that no pain is unnoticed. He concludes that one day, God will empty those bottles forever, wiping away every tear. Until then, believers can rest in His presence, knowing He sees, cares, and sustains them through every trial.
