Devotionals

“‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see him, even those who pierced him’; and all people on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’ So shall it be! Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty'” (Revelation 1:7-8). The book of Revelation tells us about Jesus, the glorified, returning King. He will wear many crowns as the conqueror of sin and Satan and as the eternal King of kings. His diadems will testify that He has no rivals. While many try to ignore Jesus, when He returns in power and might, this will be impossible. Jesus’ first coming was in humility. His body was crucified on the cross to save all who would believe in Him. But in His second coming, He will return in His full glory. At the cross, He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. […]

“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). While many try to ignore Jesus, when He returns in power and might, it will no longer be possible to look the other way. Jesus’ first coming was in humility. His body was broken to save all who would believe in Him. But in His second coming, He will return in full splendor. At the cross, He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. At His return, King Jesus will lead the victorious parade of His faithful soldiers. In His first coming, He wore a crown of thorns. In His second coming, He will be crowned with many crowns. Our Savior is the King of kings who reigns and rules the entire universe. He is superior in His nature, infinite in His wisdom, mighty in His reign, and He is from everlasting to everlasting. Have you forgotten who […]

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Jesus described the end of the age as a time when “many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:10-13). Satan knows he cannot remove Jesus from the throne of heaven, but he will stop at nothing to see Jesus removed from the throne of our hearts. This is his agenda until Christ returns. How are we to respond to his schemes? The Bible clearly teaches that Satan and his minions are very real. This present world is a battlefield where unseen and powerful forces operate (see Ephesians 6:11-12). We see […]

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5). Truth is objective, not subjective. Truth is absolute and not a sliding scale. The Truth is not open to redefinition to make it more winsome for new believers. The Truth does not seek to be politically correct because it refuses to tell people that they are safe believing lies. Truth is not trendy. As a Christian, it is not your job to make the Truth easier or more attractive. It is your job to love people by remaining faithful to the Truth. We can trust the Holy Spirit to take care of the rest, drawing people into God’s Kingdom. The ultimate Truth that cannot be compromised is that Jesus is our eternal hope. There are not many paths to God. There is only one, and that […]

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). After Jonah allowed God to use him, we see the greatest miracle in the book of Jonah: the salvation of the Ninevites. These cruel pagan people experienced one of the greatest revivals in Biblical history. The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. . . . When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:5-6, 10) You may doubt your abilities or eloquence in sharing about Christ. You may […]

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We can trace the origins of our storms to three primary sources. Some storms are of our own making—the direct consequence of sin in our lives. Other storms are caused by the actions of other people, and some are simply intended to test us. Read Jonah 1:4-16. In Jonah’s case, his storm was a direct consequence of his disobedience. When storms result from our sin, we must first repent of that sin before even attempting to work through the consequences.  My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, . . . Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? . . . No discipline […]

“A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity” (Psalm 37:10-11). King Saul was on the hunt, but he wasn’t pursuing another army or some vile enemy of Israel. He was hoping to kill David, the man God had anointed to take his place on the throne. Along the way, Saul entered a cave. Unbeknownst to the murderous king, David crept up slowly behind him and cut off a corner of his robe. It wasn’t until Saul was back out in the wilderness that he heard David shouting from the mouth of the cave: “Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed'” (1 Samuel 24:10). Read Psalm 37. Have you ever wondered why some of the world’s most […]

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). When David was just a young man, he killed a giant named Goliath. People revel in victories like David’s. They like to know that it’s not always about who’s bigger, meaner, and better armed. That’s because we all face giants in our lives. Read Psalm 8. These giants are usually not of the nine-and-a-half-foot variety. The giants I’m talking about are the giants of fear, anxiety, worry, discouragement, and despondency. Sometimes they take the form of addiction, restlessness, envy, bitterness, or anger. But whatever they may be, these giants have one purpose in mind: to render the children of the living God ineffective. So, the question is: How do we defeat these giants? In our culture, we often try to understand ourselves and the problems we face without understanding God and His purpose for life. Many churches preach messages that encourage people […]

“As they make music they will sing, ‘All my fountains are in you'” (Psalm 87:7). Read Psalm 87. Psalm 87:7 is about those of us who have been reborn in Christ. Here is what the psalmist said: “As they make music, they will sing, . . .” Sing what? “‘All my fountains are in you.'” Where are your fountains? Are they in material things? Are they in physical fitness? Are they in people—even those who are dearest and nearest to you? Are they in your identity? Are they in your occupation? Are they in your title? Are they in your family name? Are they in your reputation? God’s surrendered sons and daughters know the joy of being able to proclaim, “In Him are all my fountains! They are in Christ alone.” The financial markets may go up and down. Family and friends, even Christian friends, may fail you, but the grace of God will never fail you. The peace of […]