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Daily Inspirational Devotionals
A God for All Ages Are we not all children of the same Father? (Malachi 2:10) Why is the study of the Old Testament so important to our faith? Why is it so critical that we take the time to learn about the history of Israel and the way God dealt with the Jewish nation throughout the ages? How does it affect our daily life in the here and now? A better question might be, Why was it so important to God? The books of the Old Testament account for over two-thirds of the entire canon of Scripture, so God must have had a strong purpose for including them. And he certainly didn’t want them overlooked. If you’ve been working through this devotional from the beginning, you’ve no doubt noticed that we’ve spent a great deal of time elaborating on Old Testament passages, and that’s not an accident. I’m not only fascinated by these books but also a strong believer in their significance and merit. The Old Testament is so much more than the story of Israel; it is our story. It is the history of humanity’s redemption and the answer to every question we can fathom about the roots and nature of our faith. It is through this history that we get our bearings—our spiritual “true north.” Too often we speak of the “God of Abraham” and the “God of Moses”—as if the God they served was somehow different than the “God of grace” that we worship, but he is One and the same. “Are we not all children of the same Father?” says the prophet Malachi. “Are we not all created by the same God?” (Malachi 2:10). There are branches of theology today that try to draw a distinction between the God of old and the God we serve. They teach that Israel worshiped a God of judgment and wrath but that we worship a God of grace—the same God, of course, but with a renewed personality and standard. But they’ve missed the point. God has always been defined by love and mercy, and he has not changed. “I am the Lord, and I do not change,” God tells Israel (Malachi 3:6). Could he possibly say it more plainly? God chose Israel as the subset of all humanity. The seed of our faith traces back to Abraham—the seed of Israel. And his covenant with Abraham is not only fulfilled through us but remains in us. Ours is a story that spans the ages, from the beginning of time until now. And in order to fully grasp and embrace it, it’s crucial that we take time to study it.
Today’s Reading Malachi 2:10; 3:6-7 Reflection Are you content with your knowledge of the Old Testament? If not, what can you do to remedy the situation? Why not spend as much time reflecting on God’s older books as you do studying his newer ones?
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The best-selling Left Behind series has captured the attention of millions of readers, and it has changed lives. It has brought millions of believers the motivation to examine their hearts. Are you ready to embrace eternity? Live each moment as if it could be your last? Your future is more important than your past. Where you are going matters more than where you have been. What you do from this day forward means much more than what you have already done. You may be affected by your past, but you are not defined by it. Not in the eyes of God. What does it mean to embrace eternity? It means grasping each breath as if it could be your last, living life moment by precious moment with your feet planted firmly on earth but your heart aimed squarely at heaven. It means learning to embrace the role of dual citizenship—living in one world while belonging to another. It is a lifestyle of living like there’s no tomorrow and then dying so that your real life can finally begin! This 365-day devotional explores the themes introduced in the Left Behind series—themes of salvation, grace, obedience, and faith. New believers as well as mature believers will find a message of faith that will inspire and motivate daily.
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