Refreshing Daily

in God’s Word Emphasis on

Creatures of the Bible

Genesis 1:21 - And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.

Job 35:11 - Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

Matthew 6:26 - Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

The AntNovember 1

Bible Reading: Proverbs 6:6-15Key Verse: Verse 6 - “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:”Key Words: and be wise

The word ant occurs only twice in the Word of God: in our text Proverbs 6:6 and again in Proverbs 30:25. In both cases the ant is made an example of wisdom in providing in the summer for the needs of the winter.

There are several species of ants. As a matter of fact, there are over 12,000 species of ants known to man today. But in all of these species these common factors are the same: they have no guide, no one to direct them, no overseer, no one to supervise them, no ruler, no one to organize them. They instinctively know what to do and they do it. That’s the reason Solomon said, “Go to the ant...consider her ways, and be wise.”

But we, as humans, seem to be just the opposite of the ant. The ant is wise in its own work and ways, while we tend to have wisdom for everyone else and none for ourselves. This reminds me of something I read recently.

“’All of us might as well swap problems, because we all know exactly how to solve other people’s problems.’ I don’t know who said it, but it sure is true. Just tell someone you’re sick and they’ll start treating you like you’re the patient. Tell someone you’ve just spent ten hours underneath the hood of your car, and they’ll tell you how to fix it in less than five minutes. Talk about a child’s disciplinary problem, and they’ll give you the best-kept secret on raising kids – even if they don’t have children. Yes, indeed, we could solve all the world’s troubles if we just rearranged the ownership of our problems.”

We would all do well to heed the Word of God and consider the ant.

What to do:✞ Be wise.✞Work hard.✞Obey the Word.

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The AntelopeNovember 2

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 14:1-8Key Verse: Verse 5 – “The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.”Key Words: roebuck

While you do not find the name antelope in the Scripture, you find the animal. Rather than being called an antelope, it is referred to as the roebuck or gazelle. Its habitation is found in Upper Egypt, Arabia, and Syria. The antelope lives by its senses and feelings.

The antelope is an interesting animal. When captured they are placed in a wooden fenced-in area. The wooden fence is four feet high. That is all that stands between the antelope and freedom. When you consider that the antelope can leap to distances between ten to fifteen feet high and jump distances of some ten to fifteen yards, you would wonder why the antelope doesn’t simply jump over the fence. The antelope stands only two to three feet in height and cannot see over the wooden fence. The antelope also will not jump unless he can see where he is going to land. They, like many Christians I know, stay trapped all of their lives because they live by sight rather than by faith.

So today I challenge you not to be an “antelope” Christian, living by sight; but be a Christian who walks by faith.

What to do:✞ Live by faith and then you will not be bound spiritually all of your life.

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The BatNovember 3

Bible Reading: Isaiah 2:10-22Key Verse: Verse 20 – “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold,

which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;”Key Words: to the bats

The bat is an unclean creation (Leviticus 11:19); and in actuality, it is not a bird but a mammal. Its wings have no feathers; it lives in caverns, tombs, or places of ruin. While it does consume enormous amounts of insects, it also destroys fruit and vegetation. So for all the good it does in one area, the bat is a nuisance in another area. The bat is a picture of inconsistency.

The New England Journal of Medicine published a study on dieting conducted by Dr. Kelly D. Brownell at Yale University. This research was based on thirty-two years of follow-up study on 5,127 men and women. Dr. Brownell and his associates discovered it is more hazardous to yo-yo diet than to stay consistently overweight. The study found that the risk of dying from heart disease is about 70 percent higher in those with fluctuating weight than in those whose weight stays reasonably the same. Spiritual inconsistency is equally destructive. A consistent diet of worship, Bible study, evangelism, fellowship, and prayer is far healthier than an occasional revival feast.

I have found, though, it’s those who do not consistently worship, have their Bible study, prayer, consistently evangelize and fellowship that need revival.

So I challenge you – don’t be like the bat, but be consistent in the good you do for God’s glory.

What to do:✞ Be consistent in your faithful service for God.

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The BeeNovember 4

Bible Reading: Psalm 118Key Verse: Verse 12– “They compassed me

about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.”

Key Words: They compassed me about like bees

The writer of Psalm 118 describes his enemies as bees. In the Holy Land bees only occasionally make their hives in trees. Usually they are in the clefts of the rocks, almost inaccessible to man. (See Deuteronomy 32:13 and Psalm 81:16.)

Bees are primarily known for their diligence. Now, I do not claim to be an expert on bees; but I do know that there are four kinds of bees that make up each hive. There are house bees. They clean up the hives and build combs for the honey. Secondly, there are field bees which collect the pollen. Thirdly, there is the queen bee which produces other bees. Then there are the drone bees – they cart out all the lazy bees. But every bee has their job and does it with great diligence.

We, as believers, need to understand, like the bee, what our real role in life is.

A characteristic incident is told about Dr. Carey, the pioneer missionary in India, who, before he left this country, was a shoemaker, or rather, as he himself put it, a cobbler. He used to go about from village to village preaching, for his soul was filled with the love of God. One day a friend came to him and said, “Mr. Carey, I want to speak to you very seriously.” “Well,” said Carey, “what is it?” The friend replied, “By your going about preaching as you do, you are neglecting your business. If you only

attended to your business more you would be all right, and would soon get on and prosper; but as it is you are simply neglecting your business.” “Neglecting my business!” said Carey, looking at him steadily. “My business is to extend the Kingdom of God. I only cobble shoes to pay expenses.”

Isn’t that our business as well?

What to do:✞ Carry out God’s business – like the bees –

with great diligence.

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The CamelNovember 5

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:22-37Key Verse: Verse 26 – “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”Key Words: the washing of water by the

word

The camel is said to be one of the most useful of the domestic animals of the East.

The camel is often more than eight feet in height and possesses great strength and endurance. It has a broad foot which enables it to walk over sandy surfaces without sinking.

It has provision in its stomach for storing water which enables it to travel for days without drinking.

Now, I believe that there is a spiritual lesson here. The Word of God is referred to as water (Ephesians 5:26). While the water of the Word cleanses, it also satisfies thirst (John 4).

When we travel through the dry places of life, it would do us all well to be filled with the water of God’s Word.

Anatoli Shcharansky, a dissident Soviet Jew, kissed his wife goodbye as she left Russia for freedom in Israel. His parting words to her were, “I’ll see you soon in Jerusalem.” But Anatoli was detained and finally imprisoned. Their reunion in Jerusalem would not only be postponed, it might never occur. During long years in Russian prisons and work camps Anatoli was stripped of his personal belongings. His only possession was a miniature copy of the Psalms. Once during his imprisonment, his refusal to release the book to the authorities cost him 130 days in solitary confinement. Finally, twelve years after parting with his wife, he was offered freedom. In February 1986, as the world watched, Shcharansky was allowed to walk away from Russian guards toward those who would take him to Jerusalem. But in the final moments of captivity, the guards tried again to confiscate the Psalms book. Anatoli threw himself face down in the snow and refused to walk on to freedom without it. Those words had kept him alive during imprisonment. He would not go on to freedom without them.

The Word of God can keep you through the dry places of life.

What to do:✞ Let the Word of God flow in you, through

you, and out of you.

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The DogNovember 6

Bible Reading: Matthew 15:10-28Key Verse: Verse 26 – “But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.”Key Words: and to cast it to dogs

The dog in the Scriptures is usually referred to as an unclean animal.

The dog consumes other dead animals (Exodus 22:31).

The dog also consumes human flesh (I Kings 14:11).

Drinks human blood (I Kings 22:38). Consumes its own vomit (Proverbs

26:11). They are a nuisance (Psalm 59:6). They are creatures of filthy habits (II Pe-

ter 2:22). Jesus referred to Gentiles as dogs

(Matthew 15:26).As you can see during “Bible times,” dogs did

not have a sterling reputation. I guess you could say dogs were not man’s best friend, but were certainly one of their worst enemies.

I have noticed that as a believer the world is like the dog: consuming and very much the enemy of “Christianity;” but yet while we are not to love the world, we are to love those who are of this world even though they see me as the enemy.

Reminds me of a story I read by Mary Marty.“A holy man was engaged in his morning

meditation under a tree whose roots stretched out over the riverbank. During his meditation he noticed that the river was rising, and a scorpion caught in the roots was about to drown. He crawled out on the roots and reached down to free the scorpion, but every time he did so, the scorpion struck back at him. An observer came along and said to the holy man, ‘Don’t you know that’s a scorpion, and it’s in the

nature of a scorpion to want to sting?’ To which the holy man replied, ‘That may well be, but it is my nature to save, and must I change my nature because the scorpion does not change its nature?’”

While there are dogs in the world, we are not to be like them.

What to do:✞ Love everyone – witness to all – have a testi-

mony for God for all to see.

The CattleNovember 7

Bible Reading: Psalm 50Key Verse: Verse 10 – “For every beast of the

forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.”Key Words: and the cattle upon a thousand

hills

The word cattle in the Bible comes from one of two words: behemah meaning a beast, or mikneh meaning possession. The word mikneh not only means cattle but also signifies horses, donkeys, sheep, and goats. But cattle were symbolic of one’s wealth and possessions.

God not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills, as someone has well said, he owns the hills as well.

From the standpoint of material wealth, Americans have difficulty realizing how rich we are. Going through a little mental exercise suggested by Robert Heilbroner can help us to count our blessings, however. Imagine doing the following, and you will see how daily life is for as many as a billion people in the world.

1. Take out all the furniture in your home except for one table and a couple of chairs. Use blan-ket and pads for beds.

2. Take away all of your clothing except for your oldest dress or suit, shirt or blouse. Leave only one pair of shoes.

3. Empty the pantry and the refrigerator except for a small bag of flour, some sugar and salt, a few potatoes, some onions, and a dish of dried beans.

4. Dismantle the bathroom, shut off the running water, and remove all the electrical wiring in your house.

5. Take away the house itself and move the family into the tool shed.

6. Place your “house” in a shantytown.7. Cancel all subscriptions to newspapers, maga-

zines, and book clubs. This is no great loss be-cause now none of you can read anyway.

8. Leave only one radio for the whole shantytown.9. Move the nearest hospital or clinic ten miles

away and put a midwife in charge instead of a doctor.

10.Throw away your bankbooks, stock certificates, pension plans, and insurance policies. Leave the family a cash hoard of ten dollars.

11.Give the head of the family a few acres to culti-vate on which he can raise a few hundred dol-lars of cash crops, of which one-third will go to the landlord and one-tenth to the money lenders.

12.Lop off twenty-five or more years of life ex-pectancy.

By comparison how rich we are! And with our wealth comes responsibility to use it wisely, not to be wasteful, and to help others. Think on these things.

What to do: ✞ Remember, you should measure your wealth

not by what you have, but you should measure wealth by the things you have that money cannot buy.

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The CockNovember 8

Bible Reading: Luke 22:1-34Key Verse: Verse 34– “And he said, I tell thee,

Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”Key Words: the cock

In the Old Testament, domestic fowls are only mentioned in connection with the daily provision for Solomon’s table (I Kings 4:23).

In the New Testament, the cock is mentioned in regard to warning and rebuke. For example, the Lord told Peter, “... before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Matthew 26:34).

Rebukes are never easy to take and often difficult to give; but when needed, a rebuke, if handled with wisdom, can be very convicting as it was in Peter’s case.

I read where John Wesley and a preacher-friend of plain habits were once invited to dinner where the host’s daughter, noted for her beauty, had been profoundly impressed by Wesley’s preaching. During a pause in the meal, Wesley’s friend took the young woman’s hand and called attention to the sparkling rings she wore. “What do you think of this, sir, for a Methodist hand?”

The girl turned crimson. Wesley likewise was embarrassed, for his aversion to jewelry was only too well known. But with a benevolent smile, he simply said, “The hand is very beautiful.”

Wesley’s remark both cooled the too-hot water poured by his friend, and made the foot-washing gentle. The young woman appeared at the evening service without her jewels, and became a strong Christian.

A rebuke handled with wisdom and grace can be productive! So rebuke, when necessary, but not to get even or hurt, but to produce a good, Godly result.

What to do: ✞ Use wisdom and grace in all your rebukes.

The DoveNovembe 9

Bible Reading: Matthew 3Key Verse: Verse 16 – “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”Key Words: descending like a dove

The dove is said to be unresisting (Matthew 10:16) and gentle. The dove in Scripture is symbolic of the Holy Spirit because of its unresisting spirit, its gentleness, and the fact that it is a clean bird.

The Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is to us our...

Guide (Acts 13:2), and Teacher (John 14:26). We are sealed by the Holy Spirit

(Ephesians 4:30). We are to be filled with the Spirit

(Ephesians 5:18).Some said this about D. L. Moody in regard to

the Holy Spirit. “A group of pastors were discussing the

possibility of having D. L. Moody serve as an evangelist at a city-wide evangelistic campaign. One minister was reluctant to have Moody speak. ‘Why Moody?’ he asked. ‘Does he have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?’ The question was followed by a hushed silence. Finally another man spoke up and said, ‘No, Moody does not have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit does have a monopoly on D. L. Moody.’”

It was D. L. Moody that said, “You might as well try to hear without ears or breathe without lungs, as try to live a Christian life without the Spirit of God in your heart.”

Today, I trust that the Holy Spirit of God is your Guide and Teacher; and I pray that you are filled with the Holy Spirit.

What to do: ✞ Let the Spirit of God work in you – then you

need not fear what comes out of you.

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The EagleNovember 10

Bible Reading: Proverbs 23:1-12

Key Verse: Verse 5 - “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”Key Words: they fly away as an eagle toward heaven

In the Scriptures, the eagle is known for first of all, its swiftness (Deuteronomy 28:49). It is also known for its inaccessibility (Job 39:27-28). The eagle sights its prey from afar (Job 39:29). But the eagle also soars above the earth, far from the cares of this old world.

George Sweeting tells the following.“Several years ago our family visited Niagara

Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out and they would escape from the falls.

“I watched one gull which seemed to delay and wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the carcass of a fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss.”

So it is in the lives of those who cling to the world – it will carry you to destruction. Oh, the joy of breaking free from the cares of this world!

What to do: ✞ Remember to be careful what you attach

yourself to it may end up destroying you.

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The ElephantNovember 11

Bible Reading: I Kings 10:18-29Key Verse: Verse 22 – “For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.”Key Words: ivory

Elephants have through the years been used as bulldozers clearing out property for land-owners. The elephant has been used in war to carry heavy equipment. The elephant has also been used for entertainment in the circus; but in Bible times the elephant carried wealth. Ivory from its tusks was known to bring in large sums of money. The elephant in Scripture is symbolic of richness and wealth. But what good is wealth if I gain the whole world but lose my own soul (Matthew 16:26)?

John G. Wendel and his sisters were some of the most miserly people of all time. Although they had received a huge inheritance from their parents, they spent very little of it and did all they could to keep their wealth for themselves.

John was able to influence five of his six sisters to never marry, and they lived in the same house in New York City for fifty years. When the last sister died in 1931, her estate was valued at more than $100 million. Her only dress was one that she had made herself, and she had worn it for twenty-five years.

The Wendels had such a compulsion to hold on to their possessions that they lived like paupers. Even worse, they were like the kind of person Jesus referred to “who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

What to do: ✞ Make sure you’re rich in Christ. It is more

valuable than any richness the world has to offer.

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The FishNovember 12

Bible Reading: Mark 1:14-28Key Verse: Verse 17 – “And Jesus said unto

them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”

Key Words: I will make you to become fishers of men

Fish are mentioned frequently in the Scriptures. The fish which had scales were considered clean while the fish without scales were unclean.

In the Middle East, even more than here in America, fish is a primary food source.

Seven of the twelve apostles were fishermen by trade. Jesus even compared fishing to soul-winning. As you read God’s Word it becomes easy to see that soul-winning should be the very essence of the Christian life. Imagine if no one had ever told you about Jesus – what a tragedy!

George Sweeting, in his book The No-Guilt Guide for Witnessing, tells of a man by the name of John Currier who in 1949 was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Later he was transferred and paroled to work on a farm near Nashville, Tennessee.

In 1968, Currier’s sentence was terminated, and a letter bearing the good news was sent to him. But John never saw the letter, nor was he told anything about it. Life on that farm was hard and without promise for the future. Yet John kept doing what he was told even after the farmer for whom he worked had died.

Ten years went by. Then a state parole officer learned about Currier’s plight, found him, and told him that his sentence had been terminated. He was a free man.

Sweeting concluded that story by asking, “Would it matter to you if someone sent you an important message – the most important in your life – and year after year the urgent message was never delivered?”

We who have the good news and experienced freedom through Christ are responsible to proclaim it to others still enslaved by sin. Are we doing all we can to make sure that people get the message?

What to do: ✞ Today and everyday, tell others about what

Jesus has done for you.

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The FleaNovember 13

Bible Reading: I Samuel 24:1-15Key Verse: Verse 14 - “After whom is the king

of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.”

Key Words: after a flea

Fleas are annoying – they are a pest. In the Middle East they are a very common insect.

David in our text compares himself to a flea in order to discredit King Saul.

In the big scheme of life, fleas are not very important. In pursuing David, King Saul was showing his lack of proper priorities in life.

In recent years a head coach divorced his wife of twenty-six years when he left coaching a college team to become head coach in the National Football League. He said he needed a wife while coaching on the college level for social functions and to show families that he would be looking out for their sons. In pro football, however, she was an unnecessary accouterment and a distraction to winning. He said winning football was his number one priority and his two sons second. How tragic!

In contrast to this, Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas Cowboys said, “The thrill of knowing Jesus is the greatest thing that ever happened to me ... I think God has put me in a very special place, and He expects me to use it to His glory in everything I do ... whether coaching football or talking to the press, I’m always a Christian ... Christ is first, family second and football third.”

Now, that’s having your priorities in order. Are your priorities of life in order?

What to do: ✞ Make sure your priorities are in order.

The FlyNovember 14

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 10:1-20Key Verse: Verse 1 - “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”Key Words: Dead fliesThe immense number of flies in the Middle

East is one of its most striking characteristics. The most common of the flies is the house fly. Flies are pesky, dirty, and carry diseases. Flies are the dread of every picnic. I’ve never heard anyone say anything good about a fly, and rightfully so.

In our text dead flies are compared to a person of folly, who can ruin the best of things.

After the disastrous hurricane that struck Long Island in November 1950, one of the residents took a walk along the south shore. As this man was viewing the wrecked cottages and sympathizing with the owners, he came upon a scene that showed how a

victim’s sense of humor had triumphed over calamity. The white front door of an almost totally wrecked house was propped up by a broken chair. On the door, this message was printed in black crayon:

I am an insurance salesman.I sell storm insurance.I did not carry storm insurance on this

cottage.I am a dope.

-- Leslie B. Flynn

The surprising thing about young fools is how many survive to become old fools.

What to do: ✞ Apply wisdom or you’ll just end up being a

fool.

The FoxNovember 15

Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 2Key Verse: Verse 15 - “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”Key Words: the little foxes, that spoil the vines

The fox is mentioned nine times in the Word of God, but never is anything good said about the fox. The fox is compared to the false prophets in Ezekiel 13:4. The fox is compared to wickedness in Luke 13:32. The fox is also destructive. In our text it was the little foxes that were destroying the vineyard. The farmer would put a fence around the field, but the little foxes could work their way through the

small holes in the fence and wreak havoc on the vineyard.

So it is in our lives as well. It’s the little things that wreak havoc in our lives, like...

Not being prompt for work or meetings, Not finishing our task in a timely man-

ner and meeting deadlines, Not obeying those who are over us, Not taking time to say “thank you” or

give a hearty greeting, Not taking time to spend each morning

in prayer and Bible study, Not taking time to properly prepare for

the events of the day, And so the list goes on and on.

But beginning today, we need to take time to make sure the little foxes are taken care of.

What to do:

✞ Remember, the devil is in the details.

The Gecko (Lizard)November 16

Bible Reading: Leviticus 11:29-41 (Also Hebrews 12:15)Key Verse: Verse 30 - “And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.”Key Words: and the lizard

While many of our day have fallen in love with the gecko because of the insurance commercials, in the Scripture the creature is considered unclean, primarily because of the places it goes and the germs it picks up on its suckers (feet), and then transmits those germs wherever it may travel.

Sounds a lot like a person filled with bitterness to me for they, as well, carry the germs of bitterness and a sour disposition wherever they travel. Bitterness can and will kill everyone in its path.

London held its breath in June 1987. While working on a building site, a construction foreman thought his workers had hit a cast iron pipe while using a pile driver. After picking up and then dropping the huge object, they realized the pipe strangely resembled a bomb.

It was – a 2,200 pound World War II bomb, one of the largest the Germans dropped during the blitz which killed more than fifteen thousand Londoners. After evacuating the area, a ten-man bomb disposal unit worked eighteen hours before finally deactivating the seven-foot device.

Hatred is like an unexploded bomb. Unless it’s deactivated it can detonate and cause great damage.

I trust today that you will have victory over bitterness in your life.

What to do: ✞ Remember, if you want to be miserable, hate somebody.

The LeopardNovember 17

Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 4:8-16Key Verse: Verse 8 - “Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.”Key Words: mountains of the leopards

The leopard is a wily, active, and ferocious beast. Next to the bear, it is the largest existing animal carnivore in the region of the Holy Land. It has a beautiful spotted skin. It is its beauty which makes the beast so popular. It’s popular because its skin makes beautiful rugs and garments. You could easily say that the leopard’s beauty turns out to be our beast. So it is in our world – beauty is the beast.

Very early in life a child begins to learn the importance of physical beauty. The values of our society cannot be kept from their little ears. It is a dull child who fails to notice that the ugly do not win Miss America contests. The ugly are not your high school cheerleaders; they seldom star in movies; and usually the ugly have fewer friends than do the beautiful.

It is amazingly surprising just how effectively we teach our children to appreciate the beauty cult. Why it is even taught in our age-old children’s stories. Yes, you read it right, our age-old children’s stories focus on beauty. How about...

1. The Ugly Duckling is a familiar story about an unhappy duck that was re-jected by better-looking ducks, sym-bolizing the plight of every unattrac-tive child. Fortunately for him, how-ever, he had a beautiful swan inside which surfaced during adulthood. Oops, there it is, he was only accept-able after becoming beautiful.

2. Sleeping Beauty – why wasn’t the story entitled Sleeping Ugly? Be-cause ugly doesn’t sell unless, of course, in the end they become beau-tiful which makes them acceptable, like Cinderella, which is another story based on physical beauty.

3. Rudolph – you know him, don’t you? He wasn’t accepted because of his ugly, shiny nose until his shiny nose

could save Santa’s journey of deliver-ing toys to all the good little boys and girls.

4. And, of course, there is Dumbo, the Elephant, ridiculed for his floppy ears until he could use them to fly.

5. And what about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? You know, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest (not ugliest) of them all?”

Let’s face it, our children are taught daily the importance of physical beauty. It’s everywhere they go. When was the last time you saw an ugly woman on a reality TV series trying to be the one chosen to be the possible future bride of a “prince charming?”

What a distorted value system we propagate! What irreparable damage is done to those who do not meet up to our “beauty” standards! Parents, our children are learning and often we are the teacher of it, that outer beauty is far more important than inner beauty. Maybe the title of this article should be “Beauty is the Beast.”

What to do: ✞ Make sure your beauty is focused within –

from the heart. That is true beauty.

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The LocustNovember 18

Bible Reading: Exodus 10:12-19Key Verse: Verse 14 - “And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they;

before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.”Key Words: And the locusts went up over all

the land of Egypt

In Unger’s Bible Dictionary he describes the locust as “vast bodies of migrating creatures called by the Orientals as the armies of God. They lay waste all that comes before them. They observe regular orders and march as a mighty army. At evening they descend from their flight and form as it were camps. They rise in the morning and fly in the direction of the wind. They travel in immense numbers and occupy miles of space. They devour everything while it is green and leave no life behind them.”

Locust in the Scriptures is symbolic of destruction, despair, and darkness; but it’s during these times that we can know the presence of God.

During the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th

century, German pastor Paul Gerhardt and his family were forced to flee from their home. One night as they stayed in a small village inn, homeless and afraid, his wife broke down and cried openly in despair. To comfort her, Gerhardt reminded her of Scripture promises about God’s provision and keeping. Then, going out to the garden to be alone, he too broke down and wept. He felt he had come to his darkest hour. Soon afterward, Gerhardt felt the burden lifted and sensed anew the Lord’s presence. Taking his pen, he wrote a hymn that has brought comfort to many. “Give to the winds thy fears; hope, and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears; God shall lift up thy head. Through waves and clouds and storms He gently clears the way. Wait thou His time, so shall the night soon end in joyous day.”

It is often in our darkest times that God makes His presence known most clearly. He uses our sufferings and troubles to show us that He is our only

source of strength. And when we see this truth, like Pastor Gerhardt, we receive new hope. Are you facing a great trial? Take heart. Put yourself in God’s hands. Wait for His timing. He will give you a “song in the night.”

Today, if the locust of despair and darkness is consuming you, then I challenge you to be still and know the presence of God.

What to do: ✞ Know that God will never leave you nor

forsake you!!

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The MothNovember 19

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:16-34Key Verse: Verse 19 - “Lay not up for

yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:”

Key Words: where moth and rust doth corrupt

There are several species of moth families. These moths infect wooden goods and furs. It’s almost impossible to guard against them in the Middle East due to the climate. People wrap up their carpets and cloths with pepper grains and pride of India leaves to protect their possessions.

In our text the moth is said to corrupt even our treasures. The moth in the Bible is symbolic of the things of this earth which cause us not to invest in the Kingdom of God.

George W. Truett, long-time pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, was invited to dinner

in the home of a wealthy man in Texas. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.

Pointing to oil wells punctuating the landscape, he boasted, “Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it’s all mine.” Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, “That’s all mine.” Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, “They’re all mine.” Then, pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, “That too is all mine.” He paused, expecting Truett to compliment him on his great success.

Truett, however, placing a hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward simply said, “How much do you have in that direction?” The man hung his head and confessed, “I never thought of that.” Although that wealthy Texan had succeeded in making money, he had failed to prepare for eternity.

What about you? Have you failed to prepare for eternity?

What to do: ✞ Don’t let your earthly investments supersede

your eternal ones.

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The ScorpionNovember 20

Bible Reading: II Chronicles 10:1-11Key Verse: Verse 11 - “For whereas my father

put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will

chastise you with scorpions.”Key Words: I will chastise you with

scorpions

In the Middle East there are about a dozen species of scorpions. The poison is in the stinger located in the scorpion’s tail. The scorpion is an emblem of torture and wrath, not just outward torture but often it is inward torture: things we live with daily and we can tell no one how we hurt.

I read a story recently about a man who was such a golf addict that he was neglecting his job. Frequently he would call in sick as an excuse to play.

One morning, after making his usual call to the office, an angel up above spotted him on the way to the golf course and decided to teach him a lesson. “If you play golf today, you will be punished,” the angel whispered in his ear.

Thinking it was only his conscience, which he had successfully whipped in the past, the fellow just smiled, “No,” he said, “I’ve been doing this for years. No one will ever know. I won’t be punished.”

The angel said no more and the fellow stepped up to the first tee where he promptly whacked the ball 300 yards straight down the middle of the fairway. Since he had never driven the ball more than 200 yards, he couldn’t believe it. Yet, there it was. And his luck continued -- long drives on every hole, perfect putting. By the ninth hole he was six under par and was playing near-perfect golf. The fellow was walking on air. He wound up with an amazing 61, about 30 strokes under his usual game. Wait until he got back to the office and told them about this!! But, suddenly, his face fell. He couldn’t tell them. He could never tell anyone. The angel smiled.

What are you living with today that tortures you within?

What to do: ✞ You can always tell Jesus. So tell Him what

you can’t tell others.

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The SerpentNovember 21

Bible Reading: Revelation 12Key Verse: Verse 9 - “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”Key Words: that old serpent called the devil

There are numerous types of snakes mentioned in the Bible. There is the adder, the viper; but without a doubt, the serpent is understood as the most deceitful of creatures.

Nothing good is ever said in God’s Word in regard to the serpent. From our text you can see that Satan is referred to as a serpent. In the Scriptures, the serpent acts as a deceiver.

In a large city some very creative crooks broke into a department store. They entered the store unnoticed and stayed long enough to accomplish their mission. You may wonder what they stole, but that’s just the catch. They didn’t take anything. Instead, these thieves switched the price tags. The tag on a $395.00 camera was removed and placed on a box of stationery. The $5.95 sticker on a paperback book was attached to an outboard motor. Everything was shuffled. When the store opened the next morning, you would have expected total chaos. Surprisingly, though, the store operated normally at first. Some customers literally got some steals while others felt the merchandise was overpriced.

Incredibly, four hours slipped by before the hoax was discovered. In the department store of American Culture, Satan has deceptively switched the price tags. Far more than four hours have passed since he did it. Things are valued more than people, pleasure is priced higher than faithfulness, profits mean more than integrity, and God has been priced for clearance. The tags have been switched, and we need to sound the alarm.

What to do: ✞ Worship God, but worship Him in spirit (not

flesh) and in truth (not lies).

The SheepNovember 22

Bible Reading: Isaiah 53Key Verse: Verse 6 - “All we like sheep have

gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Key Words: All we like sheep have gone astray;

Sheep were and are raised in great numbers in the Holy Land.

We read of the tribute of 200,000 fleeces from the King of Moab to the King of Israel (II Kings 3:4). Rueben took 250,000 sheep from the children of Ishmael (I Chronicles 5:21).

From our text it’s easy to see that sheep without a shepherd will always go astray.

In Moody Anecdotes D. L. Moody says: “Dr. Andrew Bonar told me how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn’t get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they can’t jump back again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. They may be there for days, until they have eaten all the grass. The shepherd will wait until they are so faint they cannot stand, and then they will put a rope around him, and he will go over and pull that sheep up out of the jaws of death. ‘Why don’t they go down there when the sheep first get there?’ I asked. ‘Ah!’ he said, ‘they are so very foolish they would dash right over the precipice and be killed if they did!’ And that is the way with men; they won’t go back to God till they have no friends and have lost everything. If you are a wanderer I tell you that the good Shepherd will bring you back the moment you have given up trying to save yourself and are willing to let Him save you His own way.”

Today, quit trying to save yourself and turn yourself over to the Good Shepherd of your soul, Jesus Christ.

What to do: ✞ Realize without Christ as your Shepherd, you

are in danger, whether you realize it or not.

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The SparrowNovember 23

Bible Reading: Matthew 10:16-31

Key Verse: Verse 25 - “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Key Words: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on

the ground without your Father.

Sparrows were considered the weakest of all the fowls. They had very little value to them, yet God’s Word reveals that in spite of their lack of value, God still watches over them and cares for them.

Charles H. Spurgeon loved to tell stories about his grandfather, a minister, who was very poor. The one cow he owned had died, and his ten children were without milk. His wife asked, “What will we do now?” “I cannot tell,” he said, “but I know what God will do. We must have milk for the children and He will provide for us.”

The next morning a man brought Spurgeon’s grandfather a gift of twenty pounds from the ministers’ relief fund, even though help had not been requested. A few days before, the relief committee had divided the funds for distribution and an amount of five pounds was left over. One of the members said, “There is poor Mr. Spurgeon down in Essex. Suppose we send it to him.” “We’d better make it ten,” said the chairman, “and I’ll give another five.” That made it fifteen. Another man added five more pounds. Those men knew nothing about Spurgeon’s cow, but God knew.

I repeat: if God will take care of the sparrow, He will take care of you.

What to do:

✞ Thank God for His marvelous care and provision.

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The RavenNovember 24

Bible Reading: Genesis 8:1-12Key Verse: Verse 7 - “And he sent forth a

raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.”

Key Words: And he sent forth a raven

The raven is the first bird mentioned in the Scriptures. But probably the raven is best known for feeding Elijah as he hid by the brook Cherith. The raven is known as a “thief” as it steals food from other animals and even humans.

In Luke 12:24, the raven is used by the Lord as a reminder that we are not to worry.

Milton Berle, the comedian of years ago, said: “Life is very simple. The first thing to remember about life is – don’t worry about it. Really, there are only two things to worry about; either you’re successful or you’re not successful. If you’re successful, there’s nothing to worry about. If you’re not successful, there are only two things to worry about. Your health is good or you are sick. If your health is good, there’s nothing to worry about. If your health is bad, there are only two things to worry about: either you’re going to live or you’re not going to live. If you live, there’s nothing to worry about; and if you don’t live, you have only two things to worry about. Either you’re going to heaven or you’re not going to heaven. If you are going to heaven, there’s nothing to worry about; and if you go to the other place, you’ll be so busy shaking hands with all your friends, you won’t have time to worry.”

While Berle’s theology is certainly flawed, the point is clear. There really is no reason to worry. What problem do you have that’s too big for God?

What to do:✞ Remember, you don’t get ulcers from what

you eat; you get ulcers from what’s eating you.

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The WhaleNovember 25

Bible Reading: Jonah 1Key Verse: Verse 17 - “Now the LORD had

prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”Key Words: Now the Lord prepared a great fish

The great fish, according to Jesus in Matthew 12:40, was a whale. The whale in Jonah’s life was a product of running from the Lord. A real lack of faith was displayed in Jonah’s life. Jonah replaced faith with fear. What a shame! What a tragedy!

Have you ever read stories of what fear produced in the lives of people?

For some, fear produces cowardice. During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. “You were one of Stalin’s colleagues. Why didn’t you stop him?” “Who said that?” roared

Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, “Now you know why.”

In others, it produces paranoia. It is said that the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin, so feared for his safety that his residence in Moscow contained eight bedrooms. Each night Stalin chose a bedroom at random to ensure that no one knew exactly where he was sleeping.

For still others, it produces wisdom. During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, “Sir, I am not a brave man... The truth is I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hand.” Years later, when Patton’s autobiography was published, it contained this significant statement by the general: “I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears.”

But Jonah’s fear was different from all others. Jonah feared to do the will of God, and as a result, he faced another fear: “the chastisement from God.”

So today, let me encourage you – don’t run from God when you face fear, but run to God. That’s where your safety lies.

What to do: ✞ Avoid the whales of life: run to God, not from Him.

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The WolfNovember 26

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:1-20Key Verse: Verse 15- “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”Key Words: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

The wolf is the terror of the sheep, but usually flees from the shepherd. Wolves are very numerous in the Middle East.

Sheep are never more in danger than when they wander off from the shepherd.

Our Scripture today warns us of, not a visible foe but a deceitful one: false prophets, who pretend to be sheep. God tells us to evaluate those who say they are the man of God, not solely by his work, but by his fruit – what he produces in his life. We would all do well to heed the warnings of God.

A man who lived on Long Island was able one day to satisfy a lifelong ambition by purchasing for himself a very fine barometer. When the instrument arrived at his home, he was extremely disappointed to find that the indicating needle seemed to be stuck, pointing to the sector marked “Hurricane.” After shaking the barometer very vigorously several times, its new owner sat down and wrote a scorching letter to the store from which he had purchased the instrument. The following morning on the way to his office in New York, he mailed the letter. That evening he returned to Long Island to find not only the barometer missing, but his house also. The barometer’s needle had been right – there was a hurricane!

So it is with God’s Word, it is always right so go by it and live by it.

What to do: ✞ Know God’s Word and heed God’s warnings.

The StorkNovember 27

Bible Reading: Psalm 104Key Verse: Verse 17 - “Where the birds make

their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.”

Key Words: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house

The stork is an unusual bird in that when it sleeps, it stands on one leg with its head bent backwards.

The stork is said to be a very kind bird. The Bible name means goodness or affection. The stork takes great pains to secure its young ones.

Gentleness puts concern for others before itself.

The Greek word praus means power under control. A three-year-old girl called to her mother to come and see a doggie. Her mother thought it was another imaginary dog, but she went out anyway. To her surprise she saw the girl petting an injured Mexican wolf. The mother told the girl to back off from the dog slowly, and she did. The mother called a vet, who gave the animal a shot. The wolf recovered and stayed in the girl’s backyard. She

played with the wolf as a pet for twelve years. The wolf had power under control. That was “gentleness.”

Today and everyday, let me encourage you to be gentle with those you come in contact with.

What to do:✞ Be gentle, like the stork. It beats the

alternative.

The HorseNovember 28

Bible Reading: Job 39:1-25Key Verse: Verse 19 - “Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?.”Key Words: Hast thou given the horse

strength?

You can read about horses throughout the Word of God.

Horses were used in three major areas: for plowing, for transportation, but they were primarily used in war.

In Proverbs 21:31, we read, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.”

It’s interesting that the horse reminds us of war in a world searching for peace. Speaking of wars

and peace, I found the following article quite interesting.

“When General Dobey, British commander of Malta during World War I, was stationed in the Holy Land in 1916, an aide approached him and said, ‘Sir, this is a funny war we’re fighting. The Muslims won’t fight on Fridays, the Jews won’t fight on Saturdays, and the Christians won’t fight on Sundays.’

“With Solomon-like wisdom, Dobey replied, ‘Well, if you can find four other world religions that refuse to fight on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, because of their holy days, you have solved the problem of world peace.’”

Now, we know that there will always be wars and rumors of wars until the Lord returns on His white horse and sets up the Millennial Kingdom.

What to do: ✞ Share the God of all peace with a world in

conflict.

The MoleNovember 29

Bible Reading: Isaiah 2:5-22Key Verse: Verse 20 – “In that day a man shall

cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;”

Key Words: to the moles

The mole is only mentioned twice in the Scripture. One is in Leviticus where it is named

among the unclean animals, and the other is in our text.

Have you read about the first missionaries who went to the Sandwich Islands? And do you remember that although the people had always been worshippers of idols, they had cast them all away just before the missionaries came?

That was a very wonderful thing to happen; and it seems as though God was making these poor people ready to hear about the Savior, when the missionaries should come. Well, this verse in Isaiah declares that the same thing will happen by and by over the whole earth. You know that there are now millions and millions of poor heathen who worship nothing but images of gold, or brass, or stone; but the day is coming when not an idol shall be seen, and no being shall be worshipped but the true God.

The mole lives under ground, and the bat in gloomy, dark caves where nobody thinks of going; so when it is said that the idols shall be “Cast to the moles and to the bats,” it means that they shall be thrown away in dark and neglected places, just as we throw away old shoes, or anything that we care nothing about.

While the mole is symbolic in false worship, true worship focuses totally on God.

When Robert Kennedy visited the Amazon, he conversed with a Brazilian Indian, who had recently come to Christ but was not known to Kennedy, through a translator. “What do you most like to do?” Kennedy expected an answer like “hunting with bows and arrows” or “canoeing.” The Indian answered, “Being occupied with God.” Kennedy said, “Ask him again. Something may be lost in translation.” But the Indian gave the same answer. This was an excellent definition of worship.

So let me ask you, is your worship true, or is it false?

What to do:✞ Make sure your worship is “being occupied

with God.”

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The KiteNovember 30

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:1-10Key Verse: Verse 10 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”Key Words: be strong in the Lord

The kite is mentioned but once in the Word of God: in Leviticus 11:14.

The kite is very much a dreaded fowl by those who have ducks and chickens, because the kite preys on such animals.

The kite eats frogs and moles. It is said that more than twenty of the latter have been found in one kite nest.

It is a cowardly bird and does not attack any animal strong enough to defend itself.

There are not only animal kites; there are human kites as well: those whose joy comes from preying off those weaker than themselves.

In this day when Christianity is the brunt of many jokes, it takes courage to do right and stand right in the world.

A young Italian lad, who had gone far in the ways of sin, was converted. He turned right-about-face. A Chautauqua came to town. He purchased a ticket. A magician furnished the entertainment one evening. He needed a helper, and the lad volunteered. Presently the magician produced a deck of cards and asked the lad to cut the deck. He said,

“No, I will not touch them; never again.” “Oh,” said the magician, “they will not hurt you. I am not asking you to play cards, bet, or anything like that. Use your head. Don’t be a fool. I cannot do this trick if you do not cooperate.” There they stood before a large audience. The elite of the town was there. What would you have done under the circumstances? The lad said, “No, I will not touch those cards. They almost ruined my life.” The magician threw up his hands, and the audience burst out in prolonged applause. Do you have the courage to say no?

What to do:✞ Be strong “in the Lord.”

Protect your Christian faith. Put Bible principles into practice.

Notes

Notes

Notes

I deeply appreciate the help of

Mary Parsons

Glenda Myrick

And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these people to help, this

devotional would not have been possible.

Dr. Mike Rouse

is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain RoadBirmingham, AL. 35235

(205) 854-2741www.mountainviewbaptist.org