Max Lucado - One God, One Plan, One Life. A 365 Devotional

The devotional text was adapted from several of Max Lucados previous books. The One More Thought sections after the devos were written by James Lund specifically for our teen readers.

2013 Max Lucado

Karen Hill, Executive Editor for Max Lucado.

Adapted for teens by James Lund.

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Italics within quoted scriptures indicate the authors emphasis. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE: OLD TESTAMENT. 1962, 1964 by Zondervan (used by permission); and from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE: NEW TESTAMENT. 1958 by the Lockman Foundation (used by permission). Scripture quotations marked CEV are from THE CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION. 1991 by the American Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION. 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Scripture quotations marked GODS WORD are from GODS WORD, 1995 Gods Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group. Scripture quotations marked HCSB are from HOLMAN CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE. 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Broadman and Holman Publishers. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked MSG are from the The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are from NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NCV are from New Century Version. 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. Scripture quotations marked NLT are from Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked PHILLIPS are from Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked RSV are from REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible. 1946, 1952, 1971, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked TJB are from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE. 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and Doubleday & Company, Inc. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked TLB are from The Living Bible. 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Micah Kandros.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lucado, Max.

One God, one plan, one life : a 365 devotional / by Max Lucado ; adapted by James Lund.

pages cm

ISBN 978-1-4003-2263-3 (hardcover)

1. Devotional calendars. I. Title.

BV4811.L774 2014

242.2dc23

2013021929

Printed in China

13 14 15 16 17 DSC 6 5 4 3 2 1

With great appreciation, Denalyn and I dedicate this volume to a dear and wonderful family: Keith, Sarah, Josh, Jake, Ryan, Mathis, Hope, and Hannah Kennington.

Contents

December 31: Deliver Christ to the World

Special thanks to James Lund for his skillfully written adaptations, to Michelle Burke for her careful oversight of this project, and to teen editors Owen Di Giosia and Mari Arana for their helpful insights.

Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?

[ Isaiah 43:1819 ]

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.

[ Matthew 22:37 NCV ]

D ig deep enough in every heart and youll find it: a longing for meaning, a quest for purpose. As surely as a child breathes, he will someday wonder, What is the purpose of my life?

Some search for meaning in a career. My purpose is to be a dentist. Fine job, but hardly a reason for living. They choose to be human doings rather than human beings. Who they are is what they do; consequently they do a lot. They work many hours because if they dont work, they dont have an identity.

For others, who they are is what they have. They find meaning in a new car or a new laptop or new clothes. These people are great for the economy and rough on the budget because they are always seeking meaning in something they own. Some try sports, movies, drugs, friends, sex, you name it. All mirages in the desert of purpose.

Shouldnt we face the truth instead? Our purpose is to love God. Nothing else will satisfy.

ONE MORE THOUGHT

Your life is so confusing. Theres so much to figure out. What to study? What are you good at? Why are you here? There is One who has the answers you seek, who knows your future. One God. One plan. One life. Love him, and everything else will fall into place.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.

[ Ezekiel 36:26 NASB ]

D o we get grace? We talk as if we understand the term. The library gives us a grace period to pay a late fine. The no-good politician falls from grace. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, and premeal prayers. It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response.

But is this all there is to grace? Whats it really about?

Grace is everything Jesus. Grace lives because he does, works because he works, and matters because he matters. To be saved by grace is to be saved by him, not by an idea, rule, or church membership, but by Jesus himself, who will sweep into heaven anyone who so much as gives him the nod. Not, mind you, in response to a finger snap, religious chant, or secret handshake. Grace wont be stage-managed. Its like Jesus himself: uncontainable, untamable. Like a wild, whitewater kayak ride that is thrilling and scary and joyful. Grace isnt merely an app to be acquired. Its an adventure to be lived.

ONE MORE THOUGHT

Are you living the grace adventure? Have you been changed by it? Strengthened by it? Softened by it? If not, turn to Jesus and let it wash over you. His wild grace is just what you need.

We love Him because He first loved us.

[ 1 John 4:19 ]

G od loves you with an unfailing love.

What would drive a mother to do such a thing? What would lead God to do something greater? Love. And, oh, what a love this istoo wonderful to be measured (Ephesians 3:19 CEV). I urge you to trust it. You may be hungry for such love. Those who should have loved you didnt. Those who could have loved you wouldnt. You were left at the hospital. Left off the party list. Left with a broken heart. Left with your question, Does anybody love me?