Max Lucado - Next Door Savior: Near Enough to Touch, Strong Enough to Trust

NEXT

DOOR

SAVIOR

ALSO BY MAX LUCADO

INSPIRATIONAL

3:16

A Gentle Thunder

A Love Worth Giving

And the Angels Were Silent

Come Thirsty

Cure for the Common Life

God Came Near

Gods Story, Your Story

Grace

Great Day Every Day

Facing Your Giants

Fearless

He Chose the Nails

He Still Moves Stones

In the Eye of the Storm

In the Grip of Grace

Its Not About Me

Just Like Jesus

Max on Life

No Wonder They Call Him the Savior

On the Anvil

Outlive Your Life

Six Hours One Friday

The Applause of Heaven

The Great House of God

Traveling Light

When Christ Comes

When God Whispers Your Name

FICTION

Christmas Stories

BIBLES (GENERAL EDITOR)

Grace for the Moment Daily Bible

The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible

Childrens Daily Devotional Bible

CHILDRENS BOOKS

A Max Lucado Childrens Treasury

Do You Know I Love You, God?

Grace for the Moment:

365 Devotions for Kids

God Forgives Me, and I Forgive You

God Listens When I Pray

Hermie, a Common Caterpillar

Just in Case You Ever Wonder

One Hand, Two Hands

The Crippled Lamb

The Oak Inside the Acorn

The Tallest of Smalls

Thank You, God, for Blessing Me

Thank You, God, for Loving Me

You Are Mine

You Are Special

YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

3:16

Its Not About Me

Make Every Day Count

You Were Made to Make a Difference

Wild Grace

GIFT BOOKS

Fear Not Promise Book

For These Tough Times

God Thinks Youre Wonderful

Grace for the Moment

Grace for the Moment Morning and Evening

Grace Happens Here

His Name Is Jesus

Let the Journey Begin

Live Loved

Mocha with Max

One Incredible Moment

Safe in the Shepherds Arms

This Is Love

You Changed My Life

2003 Max Lucado

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Other Scripture references are from the following sources: Amplified Bible (AMP) Old Testament, 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. Amplified New Testament, 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Contemporary English Version (CEV), 1991 by the American Bible Society. Used by permission. The Good News Bible: The Bible in Todays English Version (TEV), 1976, 1992 by the American Bible Society. King James Version of the Bible (KJV). The Message (MSG), 1993. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. New Century Version (NCV), 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV (NIV), 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. New King James Version (NKJV), 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV), 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. J. B. Phillips: The New Testamentin Modern English, Revised Edition (PHILLIPS), J. B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972. Used by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. Revised Standard Version of the Bible (RSV), 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. The Living Bible (TLB), 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Ill. Used by permission.

ISBN 978-0-8499-4745-2 (Trade Paper Repack)

ISBN 978-0-8499-2149-0 (Special Edition)

ISBN 978-0-8499-1336-5 (tp)

The Library of Congress has cataloged the earlier edition as follows:

Lucado, Max.

Next door Savior / by Max Lucado.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-8499-1760-8 (hc)

1. Christian life. 2. Jesus ChristPerson and offices. I. Title.

BV4501.3.L85 2003

232dc21 2003008090

Printed in the United States of America

12 13 14 15 16 QG 5 4 3 2 1

Will God really live on earth among people?

SOLOMON

2 CHRONICLES 6 :18 NLT

For Billy Graham

My voice is among the chorus of grateful millions.

Thank you for your words. Thank you for your life.

CONTENTS

1. Our Next Door Savior

I m giving rambunctious standing ovations to:

Liz Heaney and Karen Hillfor clearing junk, tolerating the funks, and doing the work. I cant thank you enough.

Steve and Cheryl Greenfor long-term planning, gate guarding, and being the best friends imaginable.

Susan Perryfor bringing joyand foodinto our world.

The Oak Hills Church familyfor sending showers of encouragement and a flood of prayer.

Laura Kendall and Carol BartleyYour editing and insights are X-Acto-knife sharp.

Steve HallidayYour study guides always help people dig deeper.

Thomas Nelsonfor seeing so much more than I ever see. Youre the best!

The UpWords teamfor your tireless, behind-the-scenes work.

Bill HybelsThanks for sharing the secret of Matthew. Thanks even more for living it.

Charles Princefor jewels of knowledge and a treasure chest of kindness.

Todd PhillipsThanks for your timely insights and appreciated encouragement.

Larry King and teamThanks for the seed thoughts.

Michael W., 3D, and the CTAW groupWhat a ride! Thanks for listening to these messages.

My Jenna, Andrea, and SaraShould I ever doubt Gods goodness, I need only to look at you. Thanks for being the best daughters in the world.

My wife, DenalynIf love were a mountain, then my love for you would be the Alps. Ill love you forever.

You, the readerMay you find safe living in his neighborhood.

And you, dear JesusEternal thanks for moving in.

Now when Jesus came into the district of CaesareaPhilippi, He was asking His disciples, Who do peoplesay that the Son of Man is? And they said, Some sayJohn the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others,Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He said to them, Butwho do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered,You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

MATTHEW 16:1316

T he words hang in the air like a just-rung bell. Who do you say that I am? Silence settles on the horseshoe of followers. Nathanael clears his throat. Andrew ducks his eyes. John chews on a fingernail. Judas splits a blade of grass. He wont speak up. Never does. Peter will. Always does.