Beth Moore - Portraits of Devotion

Copyright 2014 by Beth Moore

All rights reserved

Printed in China

978-1-4336-8474-6

Printed by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 242.2

Subject Heading: DEVOTIONAL LITERATURE \ WOMEN \ BIBLESTUDY

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture passages are taken from the New International Version ( niv ), copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Other versions include the New King James Version ( nkjv ), copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson Publishers; The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright 1962, 1964 by Zondervan Publishing House, used by permission, the Holman Christian Standard Bible ( hcsb ), copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, and the King James Version ( kjv ).

All Scripture passages used in the opening of each devotion are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible ( hcsb ), copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers.

Unless otherwise stated, all Greek word definitions used throughout this book are taken from The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament by Spiros Zodhiates, et. al., eds. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1992). Definitions marked Strongs are taken from A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament by James Strong (New York: The Methodist Book Concern, 1890).

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Day 1

Genesis 1:262:3

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good (v. 31a).

Can you imagine the fellowship of the Trinity on the seventh day? As they rested and looked upon the very good work they had accomplished, one planet had been tended like no other to our knowledge. Perfectly placed in the universe with adequate distance from sun, moon, and stars to sustain human life, it was chosen for divine infiltration.

For God loved the world. Scripture doesnt tell us He loved the sun, the most impressive of the heavenly bodies we can see. Nor are we told that He loved the stars, even though He knows every one of them by name. John goes out of his way, however, to tell us that God loved the world.

In a universe so vast, so incomprehensible, why does God single out one little planet to love? Beloved, absorb this into the marrow of your bones: because we are on it. As despicable as humanity can be, God loves us. Inconceivably, we are His treasures, His prize creation. He cant help it. He just loves us. So much, in fact, that He did something I, with my comparatively pitiful love for my children, would not do for anyone. He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 hcsb ).

Dear one, let it fall afresh. I myself am overcome with emotion. Elohim is so huge; we are so small. Yet the vastness of His loveso high, so wide, so deep, so longenvelops us like the endless universe envelops a crude little planet God first called Earth.

My Amanda was one of the dreamiest, most tenderhearted toddlers you can imagine. I often stooped down to talk to her so I could look her right in those big blue-green eyes. Every time I squatted down to talk to her, she squatted down, too... and there wed be. The gesture was so precious I always had to fight the urge to laugh. I dared not, because she was often very serious about those contemplative moments between the two of us.

Of his God, the psalmist wrote, Your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great (Ps. 18:35). The Amplified Version says it this way: Your gentleness and condescension have made me great. I dont think the Scripture applies to us in the modern worlds terms of greatness. I think it says of us, You stoop down and make me significant. Yes, indeed. And when the God of all the universe stoops down and a single child recognizes the tender condescension and bends her knee to stoop as well, the heart of God surges with unbridled emotion. And there they are. Just the two of them.

Day 2

Genesis 17:111

This is My covenant, which you are to keep, between Me and you and your offspring after you: Every one of your males must be circumcised (v. 10).

Paul grew up in an orthodox Jewish home in a Gentile city. The Bible gives us only a few pieces of information about his upbringing, but based on these tidbits, we may draw a number of conclusions. The following narrative describes the events that most likely took place soon after his birth. The story line is fictional to help you picture the events, but the circumstances and practices are drawn from Scripture and the Jewish code of law.

I thank Thee, O living and eternal King, Who hast mercifully restored my soul within me; Thy faithfulness is great.

The words fell from his tongue while his eyes were still heavy from the nights rest. His morning prayers invited unexpected emotion this particular dawn as he soberly considered the honor that lay before him. Eight days had passed since the birth of his friends son. Today would be the childs Berit Milah, an infant boys first initiation into Judaism. He would stand beside the father at the infants circumcision in the role of sandek , the Jewish godfather, assuming solemn responsibilitysecond only to the parentsover the childs devout religious upbringing.

He had intended to arrive first so he could assist the father with preparations, but a few members of the Minyan, a quorum of ten Jewish men, had already gathered at the door. The small house was filled with people. The father, a Pharisee and Roman citizen, was an impressive man. He was one of a few men in the community who seemed to command a certain amount of respect from both Jew and Gentile. When all had finally gathered, the ceremony began. The sandek took his place in a chair next to the father, who remained standing. The infant was placed on the sandeks knees, and the father leaned over him with greatest care to oversee the circumcision of his beloved son. He then handed the knife to the mohel , the most upright and expert circumcisor available in Tarsus. The father watched anxiously for the interval between the cutting of the foreskin and its actual removal. He could not help but smile as he competed with his wailing son for the attention of the quorum as he spoke the benediction, Who hath sanctified us by His commandments and hath commanded us to bring him into the covenant of our father Abraham.

No one could deny the blessings of good health God had already bestowed on the infant boy. The sandek had to hold him securely between his calloused palms to keep the child from squirming completely off his lap. His tiny face was blood red, his volume at full scale. This may have been his first bout with anger, but it would not be his last. Had the ceremony not held such sober significance, the sandek might have snickered at the infants zeal. He dared not grin, but he did wonder if God was. The child lying on his lap was yet another piece of tangible evidence that God was faithful to do as He promised. Yes, God had been faithful to a thousand generations.

The circumcision was completed but not soon enough for the master of ceremonies. The sandek cradled the child with a moments comfort and then handed him to his father, whose voice resonated throughout the candlelit home, His name is Saul! A perfectly noble name for a Hebrew boy from the tribe of Benjamin, named for the first king of the chosen nation of Israel. A fine choice met with great approval. While a great feast ensued, the mother slipped the agitated infant from his fathers arms and excused herself to nurse the child.