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Hey, you could use a good fish story today, right? Once upon a time there were these beautiful fish who lived five miles under the ocean. How do I know? They were the subject of a PBS television special. So this is a for real fish story. Now, because these fish are really striking - I mean they are incredibly colorful - some folks thought they might look good in someone's tropical fish aquarium. So they tried to bring these fish to the surface. They didn't make it. They blew up when they got near the surface! They were designed to live under that pressure at the bottom. Well, no happy ending, except they're going to leave the rest of them where they belong - five miles under the ocean because that's where they were created to be!

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Where You Were Born To Be."

You know, it really works this way in all of God's creation. There's an environment that things and people were created to be in, and things really work when they're in that place. They really don't work very well when they're not where they were designed to be. Well, thankfully, God makes very clear the environment you and I were created for. So we don't have to waste our lives searching for it, or just waste our lives. In fact, probably the single most important question you have to answer while we're on earth; you know what it is - Why am I here?

God answers that question in six simple, but life-changing words in His book, the Bible. Here's our word for today from the Word of God. It's from Colossians 1:16. Speaking about Jesus, it says, "All things were" and here are the six words, "created by Him and for Him." Look, try putting your name in that Biblical statement. Here's your name: "________ (right there, OK?) was created by Jesus and for Jesus."

Just like those fish were created to be in the pressure of that deep sea environment, just like the earth was created to be in an orbit around the sun, you were created for Jesus, you were created by Jesus for a relationship with Jesus, where you live for Jesus. When you have this personal relationship with Him, you're finally where you were born to be.

Problem: We don't live for the One who gave us our life. We live for ourselves. Again, in God's own words, "All of us have wandered away like sheep; each of us has turned to our own way" (Isaiah 53:6). The Bible has a word for this rebellion of ours - sin - middle letter: I. And it says that our sin separates us from the One we were made by and made for. If we die with that sin-wall there, it's going to be there forever.

When those deep-sea fish are outside the environment they were made to live in, they eventually die, and so do we. And some of that dying happens even now as we keep looking for love in places that don't deliver it, looking for some inner peace, some fulfillment in achievements and relationships and experiences that can't possibly give it to us. Because we're not where we were born to be - knowing Jesus, living for the One who gave us our life and who gave His life for us.

That's the only way we could ever have a chance to get into the orbit we were created for. All those sins of ours have hell as their penalty - a penalty you and I deserve to pay. A penalty that God's Son paid in our place when He died on the cross. Whether or not you ever experience why you're here, whether or not you ever see heaven depends totally on what you do with what Jesus did for you. His call to you is to put your total trust in Him to be the rescuer from your sin. The moment you do that, the relationship you were born for becomes yours forever.

If you want to experience the peace and the wholeness that only a relationship with Jesus can give you, I hope you'll tell Him right now that you want Him to come into your life. And then I hope you'll pay a visit to our web

Read: Colossians 4:5-6; 1 John 4:7-11

“I love being out in the snow,” said Addison, catching a snowflake on the tip of her tongue.

Dad smiled. “I know—you never want to come in! But Mom sent me out to tell you dinner is hot and ready.” So Addison and Dad went in and washed up for dinner.

“Did you have a good time playing with the new neighbor girl?” Mom asked as they sat down to eat.

“Not really,” said Addison. “She’s from another country, and she’s hard to understand. I don’t think I’m going to play with her again.”

“But you don’t even know her very well yet,” said Mom. “Give her a chance.”

Addison shrugged. “I don’t know. I think she’s just too different.” She glanced out the window. “Look! It’s snowing again—great big snowflakes! Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike? At school we learned that each one is made up of different patterns and designs.”

Dad nodded. “Did you know that even though no two snowflakes are alike, all of them have something in common? Each one has six points. That’s like people too.”

“How is that like people?” Addison asked.

“Well, we know that no two people are exactly the same or have the same experiences, but we often forget that we’re also alike in many ways,” Dad explained.

“You mean we all breathe and eat and sleep and grow hair?” Addison asked. “Stuff like that?”

“Well, yes, that too,” Dad replied. “But I was thinking about how people from different parts of the world have their own languages and customs, but deep down we all have the same feelings and desires. We all want to feel loved and accepted, and we feel sad and upset when others make quick judgments about us.”

Addison sighed. “You’re talking about the new neighbor girl, aren’t you?”

Dad nodded. “Another thing all people have in common is that we’re all created in God’s image, and He loves us all so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us. As His children, He wants us to share His love with others—even those who seem different—because we all have the same need for Him.”

–Janice M. Jones

How about you? How do you treat kids who are different from you? Do you avoid them—or include them? If they moved from somewhere else, do you do your best to help them? No two people are exactly the same—God created each of us to be unique. But we’re all created in His image, and Jesus died for each one of us. Share His love by reaching out to those who are different from you.

Today's Key Verse: If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: Show love to everyone

Most people believe they have a right to feel bitter until their situations improve. But our heavenly Father wants us to enjoy peace and joy, regardless of our circumstances. Dr. Stanley discusses how to manage your anger God's way after listing out the benefits, aspects, and causes of anger.

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During Sunday school, my patience with three-year-old Peter was wearing thin. He was unhappy, unkind to the other kids, and absolutely refused to be content, even when we offered him the most coveted toys. My pity turned to annoyance. If he stubbornly persisted in being difficult, then fine, I’d send him back to his parents and he would miss out on all the fun.

Too often I find my compassion has conditions. If someone ignores my advice or refuses my help, then they don’t deserve it anymore. Fortunately, God doesn’t act that way toward us. The prophet Jonah experienced His great mercy after a time of stubborn disobedience when God commanded him to travel and preach to Nineveh. Defiantly choosing the opposite direction, Jonah was caught in a terrible storm, set adrift at sea, and then swallowed by a great fish—a self-made disaster. When Jonah finally “prayed to the Lord his God” (Jonah 2:1), God was still listening to him, ready to forgive His reluctant prophet. Jonah was delivered from the fish and graciously given a second chance to go to Nineveh (3:1).

In little Peter’s case, a special trip to the playground consoled him—a brilliant and kind idea by a helper with more patience than I had shown. How beautiful is mercy that continually seeks us out, even in the middle of our own mess.

Read: Psalm 119:9-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17

“Your Bible’s getting a bit dusty,” Dad remarked one day when he came into George’s room.

George shrugged. “I haven’t moved it in a while.”

“No?” Dad asked.

“I’ve been busy.” George put the finishing piece on the castle he was building. He loved making all kinds of cool buildings with his blocks.

“That’s too bad.” Dad stepped over to examine his newest creation. “I know you love a good story.”

“Especially about bad guys and good guys and a good fight.” George grinned as he grabbed a toy soldier to defend his block tower.

His dad picked up another toy and played with him for a few minutes. Then he walked back over to the bookshelf. “You’re missing out.”

George glanced up at him. “What do you mean?”

“The Bible has many stories about bravery and strength,” Dad said.

George set down the toy soldier. “Like what?”

“There’s a story of a young boy killing a giant. Another story of a city falling to the ground after the good guys march around it.” Dad gently wiped the dust from the cover of the Bible. “The Bible is one big story of God’s love for us. Every story points to Jesus—our Savior. He’s the hero because He died and rose again to save us from sin and conquer evil and death.”

“Maybe I should read it more.” George had heard some of the Bible stories before, but now his dad made them sound more interesting.

“Maybe we can start reading it together,” Dad said. “I think it would be fun—and it will help us learn more about Jesus too.”

“Sure,” George said.

They sat together on the bed, and Dad read the story of Daniel, who was thrown into a den of starving lions because he trusted and obeyed God. It was an exciting story, and George was amazed to learn how God protected Daniel and saved him from the lions. When his dad had finished reading, George smiled and said, “I don’t want my Bible to get dusty again.”

–Bethany Acker

How about you? What kinds of stories interest you? Do you like action stories? Or ones about friendship? Or stories where the hero saves the day? The Bible has all kinds of stories in it, but they all point to one big story—the story of God’s love and how Jesus came to rescue us from sin and destroy evil forever. As you read or listen to the stories in the Bible, think about how each one points to Jesus and teaches us to trust and obey Him.

Today's Key Verse: These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 (CSB)

Today's Key Thought: The Bible is the story of God’s love

Have you ever noticed that the phrase “let us...” appears thirteen times in the book of Hebrews? Join us as we explore why this phrase was important to the author and how it invites us to walk with Jesus!

Receive 

Join together with other believers and walk with Jesus through a series of five “let us” invitations from the book of Hebrews: let us hold fast to our faith, let us approach God in prayer, let us grow spiritually mature, let us draw near to God, and let us run our race. 

Reflect 

Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? 

• Hebrews 4:14 
• How does this invite you to hold fast to your faith? 
• Hebrews 4:16  
• How does this invite you into prayer? 
• Hebrews 6:1  
• How does this invite you into spiritual maturity? 
• Hebrews 10:22-24  
• How does this invite you to draw near to God? 
• Hebrews 12:1 
• How does this invite you to run your appointed race with Jesus? 

Respond 

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 

“Jesus, thank you for the invitation throughout Scripture to live with You together with other believers. Help us hold fast to our faith, approach You in prayer, grow in spiritual maturity, stay near to You, and run our appointed race with You.”  

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Start Your Our Daily Bread Subscription   

Listen: 

• Spiritual Habits and Training | Week 1  
• Spiritual Habits and Training | Week 2  

Read: 

• Understanding the Bible: The Letter to the Hebrews   
• Healthy Habits for Spiritual Growth   

Watch: 

• New Life in Christ   
• Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life

The tall passenger seemed to unfold as he stood up in the aisle of the small regional jet. Then I noticed the title of his boldly displayed book: Be Like Jesus. A few minutes later, I saw that same man push others aside to grab his bag off the waiting trolley. Be like Jesus? I didn’t know if he was truly a “brother” who knew Christ, but I was dismayed by this display of selfishness that misrepresented Jesus.

As my feet hit the escalator, I saw the man again, book cover still visible. The words then elbowed my own heart. Be like Jesus, Elisa. Don’t judge. I wondered, was my presence emanating anything of Jesus?

Becoming like Jesus is a transformational process—a metamorphosis—of God growing His character in us as we yield to His ways. Paul wrote that believers in Jesus “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). John marvels at how hard this is for us to understand—much less achieve: “Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him [similar to Him in purity], for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2–3). 

As the escalator spilled us out, I glanced again at the book. Be like Jesus—the words took on new meaning for me and redirected my gaze to my own heart and life.

Rigo Dominguez is abandoned by his biological father and struggles through life without a positive role model. His friends tell him that selling drugs is the only way to escape his Chicago neighborhood, while his mother suggests a different choice. Learn what path he chooses on the next Unshackled!

With forty years in the TV business and from personal experience, David Murrow understands the negative effects from overuse of screens. He discusses positive and negative uses of various media and offers great practical advice for you as a parent as you guide your children and manage screens in your home. Then every life matters—and every child is a gift from God. When Mauricio and Christin Rosa learned their preborn son had a life-threatening diagnosis, they faced choices no parent ever wants to face. Yet, through fear and uncertainty, they chose to trust God and to choose life. Their story is one of courage, faith, and the unshakable belief that every life has purpose and value.

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