Devotionals

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1).  When anxiety and uncertainty surround us, God is still in control. Read Isaiah 6:1-7.  The decline of true Christian faith in America is our most pressing trouble. This loss of faith has hollowed out our society from within. It’s just as the psalmist said, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). Many believers are asking the same question today. Even so, I have hope—hope that is based on the changeless and immovable promises of God. As I already mentioned, in times like these, it is imperative—not recommended, not suggested, not just preferable—it is imperative that we go to God’s Word and learn from His prophets. During Isaiah’s lifetime, the nation of Judah, too, went through a period of anxiety and uncertainty. Isaiah 6:1 tells us, […]

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking” (Ephesians 4:17).  Read Ephesians 4:17-32. Where should we go to find out what a true Christian is really like? Not to popular culture but to Scripture, of course! And Scripture reveals that it is our heavenly blessings, given to us by God, that make all the difference. But first, let’s consider how the apostle Paul describes a non-Christian. He says, “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18, emphasis added). Similar to how our hands can become calloused with repeated wear, people can become spiritually calloused toward God; they become indifferent toward Him, and eventually their hearts are hardened. Those who are spiritually dead need the power of Jesus to […]

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).  Read Ephesians 4:7-16. Every time a person is born again, every time a person repents of their sins and receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the Lord Christ gives them a spiritual birthday gift. A spiritual gift from the Lord is not just any old gift. It’s not some bargain-basement, last-minute, generic present. God gives His children gifts that are perfectly designed, perfectly suited, and perfectly fitted for each recipient. Each one is tailor-made. That is why it is such a tragedy when a gift goes unused. You see, Jesus is the conquering King—victorious over Satan at the cross. He came and set the captives free—you and me and all who come to believe in Him—and, drawing us into His victory parade, He has distributed to us the spoils: a […]

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, . . .” (Ephesians 3:16).  Read Ephesians 3:1-21. In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul reminds us of the heavenly blessings available to us and describes the conditions for grasping, understanding, and implementing the power of those spiritual blessings here and now. Sadly, many Christians have knowledge of these blessings, but fail to apply it to everyday life. We can read about these wonderful gifts in Scripture, but that’s like getting a note from the post office telling you there’s a package waiting for you—the next step is to go pick it up. In the same way, there are things we must do to take hold of God’s blessings and grow spiritually. First, we must be daily empowered by the Spirit of God (see v. 16). When you came to Christ, your spirit was made alive—but your spirit and your flesh still […]

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, . . .” (Ephesians 2:6).  Read Ephesians 2:1-22.  In Ephesians, Paul tells us God has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). There are at least ten benefits of our connection to Christ, ten blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. First, we have been resurrected from sin and death (see Ephesians 2:1). It sounds basic, but the number-one lie concerning the Christian faith is that if you’re a good person, then you go to heaven. The Truth is you and I were born spiritually dead—and dead people can’t do good works! The second benefit is that we have been lovingly transformed (see v. 3). Once we were objects of God’s wrath, but because Jesus paid for our sins, now we are objects of God’s mercy. The third benefit is the flip side of […]

Haggai 2:4). The greatest encouragement is God with us. Read Haggai 2:4-9. God has something to say to His people in trying times. He wants to give us a word of encouragement; He wants us to stay strong. This was the message He brought to His people through the prophet Haggai. The year was 520 BC, and many Jewish people had just returned to Judea from exile. The people were busy rebuilding their homes and the temple of God. And then, suddenly, their world changed. Opposition from outside the community threatened their progress, and the people became discouraged. The temple construction stopped. God’s people were filled with uncertainty and apprehension. It was then that God gave a message to the prophet Haggai: “‘But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord […]

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13). Are you ready to meet the Lord? Read Matthew 25:1-13. If you’re not sure you’re prepared for the Lord’s return, Jesus has something to say to you today. In Matthew 25, we find a parable about a wedding feast and ten virgins who fell asleep waiting for the bridegroom to arrive with his procession. Five of the virgins were wise, and five were foolish. Five had oil in their lamps, and five did not. In the same way, some Christians will be ready for the Lord’s return, and some who profess the name of Christ will not be. When we read this parable carefully, we ought to notice several things the wise and foolish virgins have in common. Both groups were invited. Both groups responded positively to the invitation. Both groups had affection toward the bridegroom. Both groups believed in His coming. Both groups fell […]

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27). Worry is incompatible with the Christian life. Read Matthew 6:25-34 At the root of all anxiety is the fear that we’ll lose something valuable. But no matter how many material possessions we collect or how much money we have in the bank, these things can never bring us peace or contentment. However, when we know that God gave us everything and that it’s all for His glory anyway, we will be at peace. You will be at peace. Why? Because just as God gave it to you, He will multiply it to you. He will multiply it to you so that you can keep on doing the work of God. God is looking for conduits—people through whom His gifts and blessings can flow to others. You see, fear and faith do not mix. If we’re paying attention to all that the Lord is doing […]

“[Y]our kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).   Read Matthew 6:9-13.   Though we walk in the hope of heaven as a future reality, heaven is within us here and now. Jesus Himself said, “The coming of the kingdom is not something that can be observed, . . . because the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20-21). In order to comprehend how the Kingdom of heaven can be our future home and yet also be within us, we need the Holy Spirit to give us an eternal vision. If we’re not spending time learning from and listening to our heavenly Father through His Word and His Spirit, our spiritual eyes will not see clearly (see Ephesians 1:18-19). Furthermore, we won’t be able to live a life of obedience because we won’t see clearly who Christ is and what He’s done for us.   You see, Paul says because […]

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Matthew 25:41).   Read Luke 16:19-31.   During His earthly ministry, Jesus talked more about hell than He did about heaven. Hell is serious business, and He wanted people to understand that apart from Him, that’s where they are headed. Out of love, He warned people about hell in the most caring, heartbroken, and compassionate way. Today, however, hell is not a popular subject. Many pastors avoid it altogether, not wanting to be labeled a “fire-and-brimstone preacher.” But if Jesus thought it was important to talk about hell, shouldn’t we?   Some people wonder, If God is so good, how could He send people to hell? But the Truth is the everlasting fire was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). While Satan and his demons have no choice about their […]