“Our view of time reveals our values. Most especially the value we place on people and tasks. It determines how we adapt and identify with others, how deep we are willing to go in relationships, and ultimately our depth of impact with the Gospel. The danger is grasping the work of 'finishing the task' with our own timing. The mission of God is just that: His mission. And He is the Lord of time.”

“Love compelled the Father to send His Son. And love compelled God's Son to send the Holy Spirit to be with us at all times and in all places. God desires disciples among all nations and has invited us to join Him on His mission to spread His love to the ends of the earth, to both individuals and groups.”

“How does love surpass knowledge? The answer lies within the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus tells of a shepherd who is motivated by love. He leaves the 99 to pursue the one. This kind of love may appear wreckless, as it goes against knowledge, yet such love -- God's love -- should be the motivating factor in our mission to go after the least, the last, and the lost.”

“An oak tree speaks of strength and integrity. It is often the tree of choice for hard wood floors, furniture, paneling and cabinets. Isaiah's prophecy compares our spiritual transformation to that of an oak tree. God transforms our lives into strength and integrity to reflect His glory.”

“The only way to know what you’re dealing with is by getting your hands dirty. By digging beneath the surface. Like soil, culture runs deep through the ways and daily practices of the people. How well you lay the groundwork depends on your level of engagement -- of identification -- with the people.”

“Small is significant in the Kingdom of God. Each star is called by name. Even the hairs of our head are numbered. Jesus used seeds and other gardening metaphors regularly in His teachings. Small is the normal size of a seed. So, don’t downplay the small.”

“The young boy Samuel had been awakened by hearing his name. He thought Eli the priest was calling him. After going to Eli twice, Samuel was advised by Eli the third time to consider that perhaps the Lord was calling his name. Think about that: Creator God calls your name!”

“Don't despise small beginnings as they can have a wide impact. Mercy to one relationship can shift an entire people group. It was true with the Samaritan woman, Ruth the Moabite, Rahab the Canaanite, and perhaps a relationship you have. Relationships are waiting to be impacted by Jesus in every tongue, tribe and nation!”

“What kind of things might angels be doing? Scripture says angels protect people who are being prepared to receive the Gospel. Angels also guarded the covenants with Israel. (Heb. 2:2) And they watch over those who will inherit salvation. If we believed what's written in the book of Hebrews, we might find more evidence of angelic encounters.”

“Jubilee is simply the way things were created to be: eyes were meant to see and ears to hear; legs and feet were meant to walk, and tongues to speak. It’s a time of freedom for the captives and hope for the poor. Not only those things, but we were created to live in favor with God and each other. Jubilee signifies a new start for all people. What simple and yet profound Good News!”

“God's Son was displaced from heaven in order for the Good News of the Kingdom to come to earth. Jesus' birth marked a new era, releasing the full presence of God to dwell among all nations. Often displacement activates great faith and divine breakthroughs.”

“We discovered the Akha knew very little about the Holy Spirit, even though the Gospel had been presented to them some 25 years before we arrived. I was soon confronted with this. A simple analogy began to help the Akha understand and come to know the Holy Spirit as their Guide and Helper.”

“Encounters with God at places like the Garden of Eden, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel have created boundary events for human history. The same is true with the Jewish Feast of Passover. Names mean something in Jewish culture. Oftentimes they are a descriptive reality of a God encounter. The Passover represented the breaking-in of God as our Judge and Savior.”

“Symbols are important in every culture. They can assist powerfully in communicating the Gospel and other spiritual truths. Pay attention to the symbols among your people and where you live. Consider the meaning of symbols and what God might be speaking through them.”

“Jesus Himself is our great escape from sin. When we repent, Jesus as our scapegoat takes our sin upon Himself, carries it away by His life, and releases us from all its effects. The scapegoat ritual highlights the power of forgiveness and the exchanged life for all followers of Jesus.”

“Sometimes the deepest truths are the simplest and most obvious. Family is God's idea, beginning in Genesis and continuing until the end of time. Family is the common denominator of all nations or peoples. Family is God's strategy to spread His glory to all the earth. It is the incarnational way of the Kingdom.”

“Spiritual discernment is key. Not just for identifying what is bad, but also for what is good. When we affirm that which is good and true among a people, we tap into the evidence of "Melchizedek" among them. The Melchizedek factor derives from the encounter Abram had with Melchizedek in Genesis 14:17-24. There was evidence that God was already there when Abram entered the land of promise.”

“The cleansing of the temple was a wake up call to the purpose and expression of the Kingdom of God. True spiritual authority shifted from the temple to the person of Jesus, where it will forever remain. This is the revelation of God's new temple, His body.”

“The idea of transformation is like that of metamorphosis, when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. The earthbound creature changes with striking beauty and the ability to fly. This story of Jesus and His disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration was the breaking of the cocoon -- the transition from the Old Testament (OT) to the New.”

“Sometimes words themselves are not enough. A familiar saying in English is "shine a little light upon the subject." In this devotion, we highlighted that rainbows are location-specific. This means rainbows are not seen everywhere at once. Similarly, analogies and metaphors within cultures can "shine a little light" and help bring revelation and understanding of the Gospel.”

“In Habakkuk's vision, he saw a time when the glory of God would fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. As we apply the whole of Scripture to our view of the end times, Habakkuk's vision informs our understanding that first the Gospel will be preached to all nations, and some percentage within every people group will receive Jesus.”

“God can speak His truth through unexpected and unlikely sources. Both dreams and the interpretation of dreams are gifts of God. But, not all dreams are from God, so discernment is key. We must actively seek and pray for discernment to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. This reality is important to consider in our lives and those around us.”

“A part-Jewish friend wanted to travel with me to the Akeu village to observe the Village Gate ritual. I explained to him why I thought it was a significant event for both the Akha and Akeu. My friend commented that what you are describing is like a "cultural cross." I sensed the Holy Spirit highlight that word to me, and I've used it since that time.”

“It's especially important how we view suffering. To the follower of Christ, suffering is a catalyst for spiritual formation. Many have treated the Christian journey like a passport or an entry visa. The end goal of the Christian life, however, is Christlikeness.”

“When we join God in what He’s already doing, it's important for us to understand we are not on a scavenger hunt, but rather a treasure hunt with Him. Traditionally, Jesus has been presented as the hidden treasure in the field. Songs have been written about this. But, taking a closer look, Matthew 13:44 becomes a prophetic parable of the mission of God.”

“Each people group will carry a unique expression of the glory of God and will bring honor to the Creator, both now and in the New Jerusalem. This will be an unmatched glorious day as time will stand still.”

“The Lord promises to go before us, to prepare the way for His coming (Eph. 3:4-6). In Devotional 4, we saw how God had prepared the Sawi of Papua New Guinea to receive Jesus through their ‘peace child ritual.’ Similarly, we witnessed how the ancient legend of the ‘buffalo skin’ had prepared the Akeu to better understand and receive the Gospel.”

“In the books of Revelation and Daniel, God is presented with white hair -- a clear reference to His overflowing wisdom deposited among all nations! His wisdom is a hidden mystery that awaits its time of unveiling.”

“From the Garden of Eden, the Great Flood and the Tower of Babel, to the plagues of Egypt and the crucifixion of Christ, God's intervention at significant times in human history have included both His judgment and blessing simultaneously. It's important we remember this when engaging other peoples and considering what God has done and is doing among them.”

“There is a way to keep from missing Jesus. It's through humility. Even if we do miss him, through humility our vision can be restored. When we humble ourselves, our eyes are opened to see from God's perspective.”