Devotionals
March 23, 2020
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Throughout the Old Testament, we see God as our caring, protective shepherd: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. (Psalm 23:1-2) He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11) As God’s sheep, we can take comfort in knowing that our Good Shepherd loves us enough to go after the one lost sheep (see Matthew 18:12-14). He shows His love for us through His vigilance, faithfulness, and commitment to pursue that one wandering sheep; and when He finds the sheep, He joyfully carries him all the way home. We may think that […]
March 16, 2020
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found'” (Luke 15:31-32). Read Luke 15:11-32. Too often we see men and women who are living like the older brother in this story, and we can’t even tell there’s a problem. These people are in church. Some of them may even teach Sunday school, volunteer to help run vacation Bible school, or host a small group. The older son is really not that different from his younger brother. Both sons wanted what their father could give them, but neither was truly invested in his relationship with him. The younger son chose the more direct approach. He essentially told the father to drop dead so he could have his inheritance ahead of schedule. The older brother was more patient. He chose […]
March 9, 2020
“For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet” (Psalm 47:2-3). Psalm 47:1 says: “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” Most people have no problem clapping and shouting for their favorite sports team, but when it comes to church, they become tongue-tied, merely mouthing the words. Some don’t even do that. They come to praise God, but they never do. They keep their mouths shut. Today, in every corner of the globe, God’s people are suffering at the hands of persecutors who falsely accuse them simply because they believe in Jesus. The police chase them like criminals. In every corner of the globe, Christians are being muzzled and intimidated, even in the West. Psalm 47 reminds us that the day is coming when we are going to reign and rule with Christ in the universe. The day is coming […]
March 2, 2020
“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted” (Psalm 47:8-9). The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the bridegroom and the bride is His church from every tribe, tongue, and nation. As the bride of Christ, our role is to prepare for the Lord’s return. How do we prepare? In Psalm 47, the psalmist looks forward to that day when God’s people from every tribe, from every nation, from every tongue, from every corner of the globe will worship the living God. At that time, people from every race, color, and background will lift up the name of the Lord. People—whether they be rich or poor, whether they are educated or not—will join together in the praise of His glory. The psalmist reminds Israel that God is not just […]
February 24, 2020
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Is fear standing in your way of accomplishing great things for God? Do you pray for opportunities to share Christ but find that, when the time comes, you are too timid to speak up? Everyone experiences fears and doubts. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we see that even this young apprentice of Paul fought his own personal insecurities. Paul encourages Timothy: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:7-8). During Paul’s time, Christians faced hardships and persecution. Today is no different. Around the world, people […]
February 17, 2020
“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Have you ever heard someone describe a terrible situation and say, “There was nothing left to do but pray”? Talking like that, prayer seems like a weapon of last resort. But prayer is far more powerful than that. Read 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5. As Paul peered into the future, he told the Thessalonians how the spirit of lawlessness will be unleashed globally (see 2:3-10). He foretold how the Antichrist will finally reveal himself after a period of deception. Then, he went on to instruct those of us who are living between the two comings of Christ about how we should live: We are to be men and women of prayer. Paul beseeched the Thessalonians, “[P]ray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just […]
February 3, 2020
“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). In spite of the hostility and persecution all around them, the Thessalonians welcomed the Good News with the joy of the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit gives power to our witness. He is at work in us as we witness, and He is at work in those we witness to. He gives power—dynamite—to our words, and He opens the eyes and ears of those who see and hear us. Some of those who hear our witness will receive it with joy, and others will not. Some will even be angry. Don’t be intimidated; don’t be fearful. Share your faith boldly in the power of the Holy Spirit. Don’t think you can be a witness for Christ in your own strength—let the Spirit of God speak through you. One thing is clear about these Thessalonian believers: They […]
December 30, 2019
“And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:11-12). Have you ever been ashamed of the Gospel? It’s not something Christians like to admit, but we all have experienced this feeling at some point. Sometimes it’s easier to hide our faith than to stand up to the pressure around us. We may keep quiet when non-believers criticize Christianity or the church. We may back down from our stand on sin when someone calls us narrow-minded or judgmental. We may feel embarrassed when our godly lifestyle sets us apart from our peers. Even Jesus’ disciple Peter succumbed to the temptation to publicly hide his faith in the face of antagonism. After […]
December 23, 2019
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Jesus’ words were not random when He prayed what we now know as the Lord’s Prayer. His prayers were logical and sequential petitions that ended with this last prayer: “Deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). As the chief angel in heaven, Lucifer thought he could take God’s rightful throne. It was pride that turned the chief angel into the chief devil. It was pride that took him out of the courts of heaven and put him into the pit of hell. And it is pride that he is always trying to replicate in us. This particular petition has to do with our wills. Satan’s original sin was the sin of pride, and pride attacks the will. We can memorize Scripture and read it for hours on end, but […]
December 16, 2019
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). To know Christ is to know true freedom. Jesus is the only way for us to be freed from the enslavement of sin. We owe our spiritual freedom to Jesus Christ, who paid for it on the cross. Jesus Himself said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). God’s sacrifice for us was not measured in financial expense or political cost. When Jesus came to earth, He sacrificed His untold glory and splendor in heaven to walk among us. He endured more physical and emotional pain in His final days than we can imagine. He experienced the spiritual pain of being separated from the Father while He hung on the cross. He paid for our sins with His own blood. God Himself—the almighty Creator of infinite value […]
December 9, 2019
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14). The Bible is a tale of two cities: the City of Man and the City of God. We can trace these two cities from the opening pages of Genesis to the closing paragraphs of the book of Revelation. The City of Man is symbolized by Babylon, Rome, and even today by Western civilization. In contrast, the City of God is symbolized by the elect of God from every nation, tribe, and generation. For believers currently living their earthly lives in the City of Man, it may appear to be the worst of times. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ promises that one day all believers will experience the best of times. Read Genesis 4:1-16. Here we see these two opposing cities begin to take shape in the lives of the children […]
December 2, 2019
“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light” (Revelation 22:5). Throughout the Bible, we see God leading and comforting His people with the presence of His holy light. In Exodus, the ninth plague upon the Egyptians was one of darkness so great that the people could not see one another. However, the children of Israel had light in their homes (see Exodus 10:21-23). Christ Jesus, the Light of the World, shines not only in the hearts and minds of those who follow Him, but also in their homes and dwelling places. Once Israel was released from Egyptian bondage, the Lord led them out: By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, . . . Neither the […]