March 18, 2016 

READ: Habakkuk 1:1-4 

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save (v.2).

Not long ago I was certain that God was moving my husband and me in a specific direction. Two different sources, without consulting one another, encouraged us to pursue the same opportunity. So we did. Doors flew open as we kept moving forward. We were encouraged and excited, for what we never thought would happen was coming together right before our very eyes. As we bathed the whole process in prayer, God seemed to be honoring our requests. Until the eleventh hour, that is. That’s when the final door was slammed shut in our faces. We were shocked, and felt cheated and tricked by God. There was absolutely no way to make our dream a reality.

Why would you do this to us, God? Why lead us on? We felt like the prophet Habakkuk who complained to the Lord, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen!” (1:2). We were truly angry and deeply disappointed, though deep down we still believed that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).

Like Habakkuk’s two “complaints” found in chapters 1 and 2, it was good for us to be honest with God—bringing our questions and complaints to Him. God knew them, even though we were sometimes scared to articulate the words. Maybe we feared punishment or rejection—failing to remember that His perfect love expels fear (1 John 4:18).

As for Habakkuk, even though he was still full of questions and sadness, he stated, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord!” (Habakkuk 3:18). Acknowledging that God was still in control, he added, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength!” (v.19). Yes, He’s still good, even when circumstances are not.

—Marlena Graves

365-day-plan: Ruth 4:1-22

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March 17, 2016 

READ: Jonah 3:10–4:11 

I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love (4:2).

I have a confession to make (inhale deeply and hold breath):I’m not a dog person! But here’s another confession. My wife is training a black Labrador Retriever as a service dog for people with disabilities, and . . . well, Snickers is absolutely the sweetest, most gentle and loving creature in the world—even though she’s so very doggish. You might even venture to say I’ve grown to love her.

God also loves creatures. He put animals on this earth for many reasons, but surely one is that He cares for them. His creatures teach us about His nature.

The book of Jonah also reveals something about God’s nature. A great fish miraculously deposited Jonah on the beach, and the runaway prophet finally did what God commanded: He warned the violent city of Nineveh of their imminent destruction (3:3-4). The Ninevites repented and God relented. And Jonah vented. He was unhappy about the fact that God was “eager to turn back from destroying people” (4:2). After being rescued from certain death, Jonah now wanted to die because He was so upset.

Despite Jonah’s tantrum, God continued to teach him about His forgiving nature. He sent a plant to protect Jonah from the sun. Then He killed the plant. Jonah waxed suicidal (again!). So God asked, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” (v.9). Then God revealed His heart ofcompassion: “Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” (v.11).

It’s evident that God cares about His creation—people, animals—even stubborn prophets. He’ll always welcome us when we turn to Him. For to do so reflects His perfect, loving nature.

—Tim Gustafson

365-day-plan: Ruth 3:1-18

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March 16, 2016 

READ: Luke 2:47-52 

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people (v.52).

Every so often my wife and I will flip through family pictures and note how much our two boys have changed. I’m amazed at how small and childlike they were not so long ago. We’ve lived through these years with them and have witnessed their development. Yet their transformation has been so woven into the rhythm of our lives, we don’t notice the changes until we look back.

When I read Luke’s account of the early years of Jesus’ life, I’m drawn to the simple observation that He “grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52). In many respects, this was an ordinary thing—Jesus grew over long stretches of time in His understanding and in grasping His place in the world. God the Father, as well as Jesus’ family and neighbors, watched as His Son became the man He was meant to be.

The words in Luke 2:52 follow the author’s presentation of how shocked Jesus’ parents were to find Him in the temple, and how shocked the religious leaders were at the depth of Jesus’ understanding (v.47). Yet, immediately after this, Luke tells us that Jesus needed to continue to grow up. And after that remarkable temple moment, He apparently did something any child would do: He returned home with His parents (v.51). He did His chores, honed His craft, and matured as a man.

Over the next few decades, we know precious little of Jesus’ life, likely because His life was (from the outside view) nothing extraordinary. Although divine, He had to grow up like all of us. Jesus had to grow into His calling. For all of us, following God is an invitation to grow and become our true selves—becoming the person God has in mind for us to be (Philippians 1:6).

—Winn Collier

365-day-plan: Ruth 2:1-23

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March 15, 2016 

READ: Joshua 13:1-7 

This is the territory that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and the Geshurites, and the larger territory of the Canaanites (vv.2-3).

Chinese Christians inspire me. Their slogan is “Back to Jerusalem,” for the Christian faith spread mostly west from Jerusalem through Europe and northern Africa to the Americas—lands that sent missionaries to Asia. Now Chinese believers aim to spread the gospel through the Middle East until the church reaches Jerusalem, where it all began. The task will be dangerous, but they’re willing to risk everything for Jesus.

God’s people haven’t always had such a vision. God chose Israel to be “a light to the Gentiles,” to “bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). But when Israel entered the Promised Land, they stayed mostly in the hill country. They didn’t conquer the coastal plain where the Philistines had settled. So they couldn’t access the international trade route that went along the flat coast of the Mediterranean, and they didn’t reach their world as God intended.

The early church did better. The disciples obeyed Jesus’ command to be His witnesses, first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, Samaria, and finally “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Paul himself sailed throughout the Roman Empire and may have made it all the way to Spain. But the job isn’t finished.

To what unreached people can you help bring the gospel? It will likely be difficult, requiring much prayer and many resources. If it were easy, we would have done it already. The easily accessible groups have been reached. Who’s up for a challenge?

Think locally. What are the “trade routes” where you live? Where are the opportunities to mingle with others and reach them for Jesus? It can be scary to stand tall for Christ, but it’s the reason God has you where you are. Speak up for Him today by His power.

—Mike Wittmer

365-day-plan: Ruth 1:1-22

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