Meditation

The sea parted and the Israelites walked through. They saw the enemy defeated. They were delivered and set free. And they sang. They gave praise. It’s not read as much as Mary’s song or others, not as eloquent, not loved like the rest, but what is known as the Song of Moses is powerful in its own right and speaks to the greatness of God. The people had asked Moses, prayed to and questioned God over and over about leaving Egypt, begged and cajoled, made mistakes, become angry, and were finally delivered. To their credit, once they realized the promises of God, they paused and sang a song of gratitude. It is certainly a good principle to follow---when answered prayer is realized, don’t rush past giving thanks. The Israelites just didn’t give thanks with a heart of gratitude, they made declarations about God that are powerful and everlasting. They sang a rhetorical question with an obvious answer, there is no one like Yahweh. Then follow that question with the first declaration describing God and we should let it sink deep into our soul. Majestic in holiness. Awesome in glory. Working wonders. Then the power of the second. He will lead the redeemed with unfailing love. In His strength He will guide us to holiness. Nothing has changed. The desire of the Lord for our life is to relate to us in the same way. A moment of retrospection might help us see how he has been all of this to us. The assurance of the days ahead is that God is leading us with unfailing love and guiding us into a life of holiness as we seek him in all things.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pause to give you thanks for being holy, glorious, and working wonders in and through us. We thank you for walking us through the trials and tribulations of our enemies. Thank you for promising to lead your redeemed people with unfailing love and not harsh judgment. Lead us to holiness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Devotion taken from Exodus 14

Verse

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” . . . 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. - Exodus 14:13-14, 30-31

Meditation

It’s time for deliverance. The big moment has arrived. Moses is being obedient to the instructions from God and leads his people to the shore of the sea. Fear has gripped the people. We all have a mental picture of the Israelites walking through the Red Sea. For many of us our picture was influenced some sixty-eight years ago as people watched an iconic depiction for the first time of God parting the Red Sea. The technology wasn’t good and the acting was suspect, but every time I read this chapter my mind goes to that scene in The Ten Commandments. The lack of quality did not quench the power of the moment when first watched. In fact, it was excellent for 1956 and I suppose the faith community cheered at the scene or maybe wept in awe and wonder. The power of the moment remains in the text. Preceding and following their walk through the sea, the Israelites and us today are reminded to stand firm and see the mighty hand of the Lord at work. When we see the enemy upon us fear gains a grip. Anxiety overtakes us as we ponder the outcome. It’s hard. The enemy is stronger than we are. We don’t see a way out. We’re trapped. We are standing before a sea and there is no safe escape. God’s word then and now is to stand firm and let the mighty hand of the Lord act. The Lord instructed and Moses needed only to obey. When he raised his staff, the people saw deliverance. When the mighty hand of the Lord moved the people saw deliverance. Some days we must stand firm in the midst of the enemy and wait for the Lord’s mighty hand to move in perfect timing and deliver us from all evil.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we stand firm in the promise that no weapon or enemy will prevail against us and your mighty hand will move in our lives to deliver us. We stand firm on your word and not the whims of the world. Increase our faith to know when your power is displayed our enemies will be defeated. We stand firm without fear that you will move in our lives in your perfect time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Devotion taken from Exodus 13

Verse

40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come. - Exodus 12:40-42

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. - Exodus 13:17-18

Meditation

What a relief! Tax season is finally behind us. What a relief! Egypt is finally behind us. Everything was finally packed. The destination had been entered into the GPS. And off the Israelites went under Moses’ guidance. A quick reminder about the timing of their departure. Perfect. But soon they are off the course they planned. Instead of taking the shortest route to the Promised Land, they took the safest route because the person in charge of the GPS had a better plan. A perfect illustration of human behavior. The Israelites didn’t account for the war they would face if they followed the shortest route. Often with best intentions we chart a course and fail to recognize the danger ahead if we stay on course and then we don’t understand why the course changes. God understands us and He understood the need of the Israelites. In his goodness he gently takes us around the confusion and chaos along a safer path where He will guide us. When following God, it may not be the shortest route or the route most understood, but it is the route where guidance is given. Clouds and fire. We may not even understand the method of guidance, but it is given. I’m assuming the Israelites didn’t know they would be following a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, but they were and it got them where they were going. And it never left them. One of our greatest challenges as Christ followers is resting in the assurance that God’s guiding hand will never leave us. Now we may choose not to follow, go our own way, but the pillars never leave just as it is promised. The Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. God guides. God is always there. Two great promises to live into today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, walk before us today with profound glory as if you are leading us with your pillars. We are thankful to be walking with you and not stuck in the place we left. Do not let us take our own paths thinking they are better, but keep us focused on the path you lay out before us. May our obedience be strong and never swaying. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, April 15, 2024

Devotion taken from Exodus 12

Verse

31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” - Exodus 12:31-32

Meditation

Finally. Free. Leaving Egypt for the first time in 430 years to the day. Hint. God’s timing is perfect but that is a discussion for another day. Generations have come and gone, many days of hardship and slavery, much heartache, and it finally concludes with plagues and slaughter. It’s an interesting story to say the least and we may never answer all the questions. But this we know. The framework was established for the coming Lamb. The significance and symbolism found in chapters eleven and twelve are so important. Worth rereading if you have time at some point. Just a couple to mention. Obedience is an obvious theme. All the firstborn died in every home if they did not have the blood of the lamb painted around the door frame. The lamb slaughtered to be eaten and the blood used to paint the door frame could be taken from the sheep or the goats. Rich indeed. As we leave the first act of the Exodus story, I want to lift up this thought. Through all the plagues the Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Now two things are noticeable. Pharaoh shifts from referring to Yahweh as “your Lord” to “the Lord.” It is not stated, but in letting the Israelites go, we assume his heart became at a minimum receptive to the Lord. Not hard, maybe soft. As he ushered Moses and Aaron out, he says, “And also bless me.” I don’t know that Moses did that but it causes me to pause and think about blessings. Maybe Pharaoh had a moment of brokenness and knew the truth. It didn’t last long. Maybe Moses blessed him. Maybe we should ask God’s blessing to be on people as part of our spiritual DNA. It could be the few words that lead to life-change for someone.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we ask that you shower down your blessings on people seeking, people who have need, and people who have no clue. We ask you bless people according to your good will and if we can be the person to be the conduit of your blessing, may it be so. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, April 12, 2024

Devotion taken from Exodus 11

Verse

4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. - Exodus 11:4-7

Meditation

The last plague but the worst plague, the plague of the first born, both sons and cattle. What could be worse and more eye opening? There is so much rich symbolism found in the life of Moses which points to the life and death of Jesus, even down to this last plague. This will be what finally causes Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. It involves even his first-born son. After that fateful night, the Pharaoh will scream at Moses to take his people and leave. But let’s stay in the chapter before us. To do so I want to focus on the word distinction and apply it to our life. The thought of what was about to happen is hard to process, but it was necessary in order for our redemption story to progress. The plagues have not applied to the people of Israel for a while, but here God clearly states he wanted to make a distinction between the people of God and those rebelling against God. In our minds it was a harsh way to make his point, but obviously it was necessary. It should be a point we should never forget in this story. It took the first born to die and this marked the distinction. I believe the idea from yesterday that these plagues, and this final plague, were as much for the Israelites understanding of who God is as it was for the Pharaoh to see the power of God and finally let the people go. And we should learn and have greater understanding about the distinction we should model as followers of Christ. Redemption, freedom as it will be in this case, brings distinction and if we are going to live into the blessing and favor of God and be set free, we must live into the distinction that following Christ brings. As we move through Exodus, we will find the Israelites had a lot of trouble being a people set apart, holy, and distinct. We all know the struggle as well. God gave his first born for us to redeem us and set us free, let’s honor our loving Father by living a life of spiritual distinction which is seen as a noticeable difference in our life in every aspect of our life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, remove any fear and doubt about living a life of distinction, of holiness, of being set apart from the world. Help us navigate the difficulties which we face which tempt us to move away from the distinction and blend into the world in harmful ways. Let us embrace our history and follow you without reservation about being distinct. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Devotion taken from Exodus 10

Verse

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 23 No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. - Exodus 10:21-23

Meditation

Don’t lose sight of the fact that after the third plague the Israelites were not part of the plagues, just the Egyptians. This part of the story is sometimes hard to understand because in our minds the same end could have been accomplished with a lot fewer plagues. Throw in the idea that it appears God is hardening Pharaoh’s heart as if he wants to punish his own chosen people by having to wait and suffer. Imagine the impact that the power of God being manifested has on the Israelites. They are witnessing these horrible events confined to just one geographic area and one group of people. There is a subtle message of total surrender involved. God is not acting until Pharaoh totally releases the Israelites without condition. All the people and all the livestock and all the possessions must be allowed to go and Pharaoh keeps bargaining as if you can bargain with God and win. Maybe the ten plagues are more for the Israelites understanding of the character of God and for our benefit as well. When we actually grasp the reach of God’s power and the importance of obedience and surrender, we will live in a much more Christ-like way. Tomorrow the plagues end. It will be the worst one yet. But it paves the way for complete understanding of the meaning of redemption and deliverance. Stay tuned and keep reading.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we seek you with all our heart even though at times we harden our own hearts. Teach us lessons of your power and obedience. Forgive us when we want to place conditions on our relationship with you. Help us to be totally in. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Devotion taken from Exodus 9

Verse

16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. - Exodus 9:16

Meditation

Just read verse 16 alone and you might think Moses finally gets an answer as to why he and his people continue to be held captive in Egypt while God sends these plagues to the Egyptians and hardens Pharaoh’s heart. Not so fast. Read it in context and you’ll discover it is the word of the Lord for Pharaoh through Moses. Some translations render the verse “have raised you up and have spared you.” Imagine the Pharaoh of Egypt, the chief enemy of Israel, being used by God for the very purpose of showing God’s power and causing His name to be proclaimed in all the earth. That seems a little odd because we would expect this to be said about Moses or Aaron or some other leader of Israel. Even after the plagues which killed the Egyptian livestock, the boils which covered the men and animals, and the hail which destroyed all it fell on, the Pharaoh’s heart was still hardened. Even though he told Moses he was now convinced the Lord was right and he would let the Israelites go, Moses disagreed because he knew Pharaoh’s heart and he or his officials feared God (verses 27-30). And Moses was right. This illustrates how evil the Pharaoh was! What we say is one thing, what we believe and do is another. Yet God raised him up for a purpose. In our context we would expect verse 16 to be said about a pastor or an exemplary Christ-follower or the leader of a large ministry organization. Maybe it would be said about the person you think is least likely to be used by God for a grand purpose. Maybe it would be said about YOU. Don’t count yourself out. He uses all people to achieve his purpose and display his power. When we least expect it, we might find ourselves as the leader of His people for a particular moment or season of time. You never know how God might use the person who thinks they are the least likely person to be chosen. Maybe God has his eyes on you for this very purpose. Don’t ignore his voice and his wooing.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, increase our faith to receive your word into our heart and act on the word to accomplish your purpose and display your power. As a result, may your name be proclaimed in and across all the earth. Help us be sensitive to the fact we might be the very person you call on today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, April 8, 2024

Devotion Taken from Exodus 7

Verse

3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.” - Exodus 7:3-5

Meditation

Let the plagues begin! Doesn’t matter what God says or does, Pharaoh will not listen and his heart is going to be hardened and your people will still be oppressed. Imagine Moses and Aaron being willing to do as God commands and then being told the person responsible for freeing their people will become more bitter and less convinced and try to punish the people more severely. Pharaoh was deceived because his magicians could do the same thing that God instructed Moses to do and it made no difference. Note the word deceived. When we are deceived, we miss the truth. Moses and Aaron came speaking truth and deceit did not let the Pharaoh hear, only allowed him to bow his chest out to prove how strong and mighty he was. And in his arrogance his own people suffered because there was no water to drink. Moses and Aaron had to wonder when the Egyptians would know the truth and let the Israelites go. They were being obedient and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened as God had said. Moses had to listen carefully to God and if so, realized it would take more than one act of judgement before his people were set free. We will see how the symbolism of God stretching out his hand will come into play in the story. Listen. Trust. Obey. Do not be deceived. We will be set free from what keeps us in bondage. It may take an act of judgement or two, but freedom is coming.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, let us see within the storms of our life that your goodness reigns and you will set us free. We don’t always understand how you work because you might be teaching others through our story. Let us always hold onto our belief that you are sovereign and your will is perfect. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Devotion taken from Exodus 4

Verse

13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” 14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.” - Exodus 4:13-17

Meditation

A desperate request to send someone else after multiple excuses about why he was not the person Yahweh was looking for. This is where we join Moses in the story. This is not the moment where you want to be like Moses. We will have plenty of opportunities to embrace Moses but you do not want the anger of the Lord to burn against you. Moses was saved at birth, escaped a plot by the Egyptian Pharaoh to have him killed and settled down in Midian tending the flock of a priest. He was called by God to save his people, made multiple excuses, performed miraculous signs at the direction of God, and now a final request to turn down the call. What? Moses was doing everything possible to get out of fulfilling the calling on his life and God was patiently, with a dash of anger thrown in, doing everything to show him he was exactly who was needed for the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. In the midst of this lack of eloquent excuses, the Lord speaks a reminder of provision into his life. A reminder all of us need from time to time. When we sense we are not up to the basic calling of following Christ, be reminded of who provides all things and will provide exactly what you need to fight through the present battle raging in your heart. When exasperation hits because we are getting nowhere with a particular calling, be reminded of Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Who Will Provide. Some days are like going to Egypt to convince the Pharaoh to set a nation free and we need confidence from the One who gives speech to our mouth, hearing to our ears and sight to our eyes that He will go before us and make straight the paths. Think of the symbolism of God’s answer as you seek to apply it to your life. Don’t doubt God, trust him to provide all you need for the task before you today and that he will make the way perfect according to his plan. Moses saw problems and roadblocks, God saw answers and provision.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, when the task looks too big and the circumstances overwhelming, please come and provide for us as you have since the creation of the world. Do not let us doubt one moment but let us live by faith you will walk before us, order the moments, and guide every thought and word. We declare that over ourselves today. Forgive us for failing to believe you will do what you promise to do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Devotion Taken from Exodus 3

Verse

2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” - Exodus 3:2-4

Meditation

Only by the miraculous hand of God is Moses alive and able to be where he is as his story, and our story, takes a monumental leap forward. Don’t ever lose sight of where his story began. It was a miracle or two. And a bump or two. We will assume over time he learned the details of his early days. Mom knew because moms know everything and she likely told the story over and over again. Moses had many Instagram moments. What those moments taught him were spiritual perception and recognition. Moses is doing his thing, tending the sheep like any other day. But he perceives something unique is happening that just might be worth investigating. A bush is burning that is not burning. And he gets there and recognizes God’s voice. We’ve always heard that God works in mysterious ways. Well, here we have one of the most mysterious ways. With maturity comes a sense of unexplainable perception of the possibilities of when and where God might be. Linked to that is the awareness of His presence and the recognition of His voice. I don’t know this for sure but I’m thinking Moses believed Yahweh was up to something with this weird bush occurrence. His answer to his name being called indicates in some way a calm of familiarity. And when Moses heard who it was then he knew it was a holy moment in time. He took his shoes off. He turned his face in awe and wonder and worship. This led to the beginning of one of the greatest “calling” stories we have in the Bible. Don’t have such narrow tunnel vision that you miss the burning bushes around you. You might not hear an audible voice but you will recognize His presence and then see his power demonstrated if indeed you are encountering a holy moment with God. God calling people is not reserved for the likes of Moses and Paul, but is freely given to the likes of me and you. If we will listen. If we have discerning and wise ears. If we are ready for the possibilities. If we are ready to change directions from tending sheep to leading a nation. That’s a God-sized change that brings fear to our heart but pleases the heart of God when we are obedient to the calling.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we yearn for and ask for a fresh sense of spiritual perception and recognition of your presence. When the mystery of your presence shows up in our lives, we want to know it and respond. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see. We pray we will always be looking, ever searching, for your power and presence to manifest itself in glory. Thank you for showing up in mysterious ways. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Devotion Taken from Exodus 2

Verse

1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket[a] for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. - Exodus 2:1-4

Meditation

“Every newborn Hebrew male must die.” These are not the words a young Hebrew married couple want stuck in the back of their mind as they get married and start a family. But it was the words they knew because the Pharaoh ordered it done and they probably were witnesses to its truth. They chose to hide this fine child and the miraculous nature of our redemption story continues. If it were a book or a movie, I’d call it “The Miracle of Moses.” It has a great beginning, almost perfect. He was born from the tribe of priests and worshipers, born of a Levite father and mother. Things start to change. It’s a strange tale with a strange twist that would make for a good movie. Yeah, I know there are several movies portraying Moses’ life. They all begin the same miraculous way. Let’s recap the twists and turns of his miracle beginning. Born a male who was supposed to be killed at birth, hidden by his mother until he could be hidden no longer, put in a basket made to float and launched into the water, found by not just anybody but the Pharaoh’s daughter who asked his sister to go find a nursing mother who brings his mother who turns him over to the Egyptian Pharaoh when he is older. Moses grew up and killed an Egyptian and tried to hide it. Was exposed by two Israelites, had to flee Egypt, and was eventually sheltered by an Israelite priest and marries a daughter of a priest while most think he is an Egyptian. You can’t make that up and even if you did nobody would believe you. It was a miracle beginning, a redemption story, which set the stage for the redemption story of Exodus which sets the stage for the redemption story woven from Genesis to Revelation. Moses, born of the tribe of worshipers, his future pretty much in place, until a miracle took place, a bump in the road changed the course, and he found himself positioned to lead the redemption of a nation. Regardless of your story, you may be positioned to lead a story of redemption. Maybe your own, maybe the one person you never expected, maybe a small group. The Psalmist said let the redeemed tell their story. Most likely your story is full of miracle beginnings and is just the story that needs to be told.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us find the time, place and space to tell the story of redemption you have woven through our life. Let our story be the change someone needs to experience. Give us strength and boldness to water the flocks. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, April 1, 2024

Over the next 40 devotion days, I will be writing the devotions from the Book of Exodus, following along one chapter per day. Today comes from Exodus 1. Tomorrow Exodus 2, etc.

Devotion taken from Exodus 1

Verse

20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. 22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.” - Exodus 1:20-22

Meditation

Since the beginning of the Devotion Guides in 2018, I generally have chosen to follow Easter with either Acts, something related to the birth of the church, the birth of a nation or something new. Welcome to Exodus and a story of redemption. It begins with a miracle in the making. Genesis concludes with Joseph telling his brothers their actions were meant for evil but God meant them for good in order to save lives. There were many lives to save and Exodus begins with Israel growing in great numbers in Egypt and becoming a threat. The new Egyptian king thought oppression would stop them and yet the Israelites continued to grow and the oppression was made greater. Finally, the killing of every male child at birth was ordered. A king with evil plans creates the context for greater miracles to come, and in many ways, for the story of redemption to move forward full throttle. A story of redemption always begins with a need for restoration, a need to be brought back from oppression on some level. God can indeed use what was meant for evil to save lives. The king’s order to kill all the male children at birth was an atrocity, evil from every angle, a death sentence for a nation. This is where we begin this story. Oppression at its highest and evil all around. And yet a saving miracle awaits for this great story to unfold. If you are reading this and feel any sense of oppression weighing you down or evil surrounding you from every side, don’t give up. God may be planning a miracle to begin your story of redemption to a place of freedom. Hold on, this story, and your story, gets much better and ends well.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we place our lives, many times feeling oppressed and surrounded by evil, in your hands so redemption might come. Even if we don’t understand the path, even if it is bumpy along the way, we believe restoration will come and we will experience the freedom found in your Son, Jesus Christ. We have confidence that all your plans are meant for good and for saving lives, even ours. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Today’s Reading - Luke 23:1-25

Verse

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. - Luke 23:22-25

Meditation

Yesterday I wrote about the cup Jesus offered in the Garden of Gethsemane being an offering of surrender and sacrifice. Today we look at surrender from a different perspective. There is so much symbolism related to three or third involved in the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. At the same time, it is both exhilarating to see the scriptural story woven together this way and convicting to see the behavior of people. There is so much to this story I will only hit the high spots without many details. After being questioned by Pilate, sent off to Herod for questioning, and returned to Pilate for questioning again, Jesus remained innocent in the minds of both Pilate and Herod. In verse thirteen we learn Pilate called together the chief priests, Jewish spiritual leaders, the ruler, most likely political leaders, and then all the people of Jerusalem who wanted to participate in the discussion. Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, the collection of people Pilate called together insisted he die. Three times Pilate tried to convince all those gathered that there was no reason for Jesus to die. Three times they refused to listen, they shouted all the louder and demanded the release of a prisoner guilty of the worst crimes of their day. And Pilate surrendered to the will of the people and surrendered Jesus over to the people to die. Set aside what was going to happen and embrace the fact this whole scenario is part of the perfect will of God for our sake. But, be Pilate for a minute. Be part of the crowd for a minute. Pilate nor the crowd understood the perfect will of God. They acted out of a human understanding of the situation. Several things to take away. Don’t be Pilate and surrender to the will of people for the sake of popularity or to get people to leave you alone. Surrendering to the will of the people when contrary to your understanding of what is right is usually detrimental to your relationship with Christ. Stand firm in what you believe is scripturally true. Don’t be the people and try to eliminate out of your life what is spiritually or otherwise challenging. Jesus challenged everything about their life, spiritually, politically and practically. Don’t surrender to the will of people and push Jesus to the background. On the other side, remember Barabbas experienced the mercy and grace of a loving Father like no other. He not only didn’t get what he deserved, death, he was released from prison. That’s mercy and grace at its best. There is lots to learn from this part of Jesus’ story. Live in the power of the story.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to hold strong in our beliefs around scriptural truth. Convict us long before we become dangerously close to surrendering to the will of people and pushing aside your will. We don’t want to be a victim of three, we want to celebrate the goodness of three. We desire to embrace your will in every way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, March 25, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 22:39-71

Verse

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. - Luke 22:39-44

Meditation

Jesus’ “garden” prayer, given its context, will always be one of the most gut-wrenching prayers we will ever read. Jesus told the disciples to pray that they would not fall into temptation while he went away and did the same. This cup in Jesus’ prayer is often interpreted to symbolize his death, or the need for his death. I believe Jesus is making an offering to God, an offering of sacrifice, an offering of obedience, and asking his Father to receive his offering of death on behalf of all humanity. But, Jesus does not want to be outside of the will of his Father so he wants to be certain it is his Father’s will that is guiding his spirit of sacrifice and obedience. The prayer then becomes one of absolute surrender to his Father’s will that he would die for the sins of the people. Jesus knew his purpose for coming and this is possibly a prayer out of his humanity to release him from the crucifixion which is often how this is interpreted. Offerings historically were part of the great work of God for the sake of his people or in an individual’s life on behalf of the nation. It would have been natural for Jesus to pause and live into his heritage and present an offering, the cup, as a sign of surrender and sacrifice for the purpose he was about to fulfill. What Jesus taught about his own character and displayed during the last week of his life, humility and servanthood, would lead to a natural act of offering to God. See the cup as Jesus offering his life for the service of the kingdom and with humility offering it to his Father at a most difficult time. To follow Christ in a spirit of humility, let’s consider offerings of surrender and sacrifice of our life which would please our Father. When we do, and if needed, I’m confident God will send an angel to strengthen us to continue in our journey with him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we bow before you today with gratitude of your Son as we read this difficult moment and hearing Jesus offer his life as a sacrificial offering to you. We are humbled by this act and pray that you will use us to fulfill your will in our life. We humbly offer a cup of offering to you and pray you will strengthen us for service in the kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, March 22, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 21:20-38

Verse

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” - Luke 21:32-33

Meditation

The end times. Not a subject we love to talk about. Whether it is our current life or the life of humanity at the time of the second coming. But we have to deal with the reality of life and the journey we are all on. Life is difficult to navigate for each and every person. No one has “it easy” as some might want to portray. The difficulties become manageable if we will never question the last half of this verse. The words of Christ will never pass away which implies the truth and promises contained in them will always be with us. The context of this verse is Jesus speaking about the end of the age and basically says everything as it now exists will no longer exist because of the new heaven and the new earth. But, and it’s a big but, his word will never pass away. We each need to be rock solid in our understanding that His words, and the Word of God which contains them, are true and authoritative for life and practice. I believe there is a direct relationship between the value we place in the Word of God and our ability to deal with all life brings, both the highs and the lows. Live in the joy of knowing that the truth of Christ will never pass away.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to know the truth of your words and let our life reflect them with certain and unwavering belief. Give us the confidence to navigate all that is before us. Make us one with your truth and promises. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 20:27-47

Verse

45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” - Luke 20:45-47

Meditation

There is a saying in golf that you drive for show and putt for dough, meaning, the long and straight drive is impressive and gets great applause from the crowd but if you are a poor putter, you will not win. Jesus was accusing the teachers of the law of being great drivers and poor putters. What the teachers did to impress people was not a reflection of their true nature. They wanted onlookers to perceive them as godly men yet they lived ungodly lives. And worse, they reveled in all the attention they received. Quite the opposite of what Jesus taught during his ministry and this is one of texts in scripture where the severity of punishment is stated. The call upon our lives as followers of Christ is to live an authentic life. As I have stated often in the past, trying to cast an image to win the popularity contest in our culture leads to horrific consequences. It is energy expended which is clearly wasteful. There is no value in trying to create an image of godliness that does not reflect your heart. Greater impact is achieved for the kingdom of God when we don’t pretend to be who we aren’t and God accompanies us through the challenges of life. Be humble. Earn respect. Take a seat where nobody else wants to sit. Let honor come in natural ways. Enjoy the reward.

Prayer

Heavenly Father and Gracious God, turn us away from the temptation to gain the respect of people all the while breaking your heart. Forgive us for beating our chest and seeking attention. Show us the humble path of life. Let us live kingdom minded. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 20:1-25

Verse

21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. - Luke 20:21-26

Meditation

People devise great plans to try to persuade other people to believe something that is really not true or to present an image totally different from reality. The spies came to Jesus with that in mind thinking they could hide from him their true intent. They didn’t know who they were dealing with. They knew about him, but didn’t know him. Jesus saw right through their plan just like he sees through our plans of trying to hide things from him. Jesus called them out and their plans were thwarted to the point of silence. The awareness of being caught often leads to silence because any answer is inappropriate or just wrong. Hide and Seek was a great game we played as children. I can’t imagine how disturbing it was to the neighborhood I grew up in. We were not bashful. We would hide behind anybody’s bushes or trees. Our Confirmation Class played Hide and Seek last weekend. Rest assured when we try to play hide and seek with Jesus, he sees through our deceitfulness and we will be left silent. Being honest and transparent is a better approach to our relationship with Christ. He would rather journey with us through difficult moments than silence us. He would rather speak the truth in love than speak the truth which silences. The great misconception is that we can in some way deceive Jesus. Nope. He sees right through our plan. And silences us in astonishment. Humble. Honest. Transparent. A much better plan to approach Jesus. He can then speak the truth in love.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come to you today in raw confession of who we are and what we need to become. Even though we sometimes want to trap you and avoid the truth, we come today seeking your truth for our life. We lay before you our true self. Forgive us for any attempt to present ourselves as different that who we are. Speak truth into us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, March 18, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 19:28-48

Verse

47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. - Luke 19:47-48

Meditation

We know the story of the triumphal entry. We will celebrate this coming Sunday. We call it Palm Sunday. We know the parade and the celebration. We know about Jesus in the temple area. We know how distraught he was. We know the authorities wanted to kill him. We know. Maybe we don’t know. The authorities couldn’t find a way to kill Jesus because so many people were hanging on to every word that came out of his mouth. The conclusion being that they not only were clinging to every word but they were in total agreement. The crowds were jumping and shouting and proclaiming Jesus the King long before he made it to Jerusalem because they had seen all the miraculous things he had done. And there was most likely a positive difference in the people that was very noticeable. If not, the authorities could have killed him with the crowd’s blessing. There is value in hanging onto every word of Jesus. Most all of us are probably guilty at times of hanging onto some words, casually noticing others and ignoring a few. Let’s hang on. And if we hang on, our challenge is to live and speak and have conversation so that others begin to hang on. It’s in the hanging on that our life is changed and transformation into his likeness occurs. And maybe if enough Christ-followers will hang on more and more, then our culture will not try to kill Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, may the words of your mouth be held captive by our minds and hearts. May we live into every word we hear. Forgive us for picking and choosing. Give us a desire to hang on so that no one tries to kill You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday March 14, 2024

There will be no devotion tomorrow or Saturday. I will be leading our Confirmation Retreat.

Today’s Reading - Luke 18:1-17

Verse

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ - Luke 18:1-3

Meditation

Comparisons are an inexact science. Comparing an apple to an orange is an obvious effort in futility unless the only conclusion required is they are both fruits. Full agreement is reached when the comparison is, let’s say, apples to apples, until you compare a Honeycrisp apple to a Granny Smith apple and then agreement is difficult. One is sweet, the other is tart. Reading the parable that follows our text leads to a comparison of God and the judge. Or at least an association. Jesus gives us the teaching of the parable, pray and never give up. The point is not comparing the judge to God and coming to the conclusion that God’s character is the same as the judge. Note what it says. The judge did not fear God nor care for people. Just the opposite of God’s character. The point is to keep praying and not give up, not that God is so uncaring that we have to beg and plead for an answer. It’s an apple to orange comparison. The only conclusion we could make is that both had authority. If in fact it is God’s desire to be in relationship with his people which is a very clear biblical principle, then the relationship begins on the basis of his love for us and absolute care for our being. Don’t see it as begging, see it as clearly declaring the desire of your heart and never giving up on your commitment to let God do what only God can do and see God’s will manifested in your life. That’s praying and never giving up.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, create in us a sense of understanding of our relationship with you that we clearly know you love us and care for our lives. Help us to fear you at all times and seek to love you with our whole heart. Teach us to pray and give us perseverance to pray. Forgive us for being impatient and giving up. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday March 13, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 17:20-37

Verse

20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God does come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” - Luke 17:20-21

Meditation

The anticipation of something we really look forward to doing will often create excitement too great to keep contained. Whether it’s a destination vacation which takes you to a dream location, a concert on your bucket list, or your wedding day, there is great excitement. The opposite is true as well. The anticipation of something we are not sure about often causes great anxiety. I’m not sure which the Pharisees were experiencing when they asked Jesus the question about the kingdom of God. My hunch given their reaction to Jesus’ teaching and ministry over the years would lean toward anxiousness. If my hunch is correct, Jesus’ reply only heightened their anxiety, probably to the point of nausea. The kingdom Jesus described is not what the Pharisees wanted to hear. But, but, it is the answer every follower of Jesus should want to hear. The excitement we have to the very depths of our soul when we know the kingdom of God is in our heart right now should be the same, maybe far exceed, the excitement of anticipation when thinking about the eternity we will spend with our Father in the kingdom of God called heaven! Jesus made clear the kingdom of God has both a “now” and “then” dimension that we have the privilege of participating in as his disciples. The excitement and joy of walking in the grace of His kingdom now should not be contained, it should overflow into our daily life. I trust you will join me in counting it a great honor to hear the words, “the kingdom of God is within you.” I trust you will join me in living to the fullest of understanding of what it means and let your joy overflow. What a special gift the kingdom of God within us truly is!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the kingdom of God within my heart and soul. Let me live with joy knowing that truth. In the peaks and valleys of life let my life show forth your kingdom. Guide is into living with honor for all that you have given us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday March 12, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 17:1-19

Verse

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” - Luke 17:15-19

Meditation

When contemporary Christian music first began to become popular, Don Moen wrote a song titled, “Give Thanks.” The first two lines said, “Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One.” I’ll never forget it. Churches sang it often because it stated a simple yet powerful truth we often overlook. Jesus passed ten lepers while walking down a road and they all cried out for Jesus to have pity on them, for Jesus to heal them. He gave them some instructions and they did what Jesus asked and they were all healed. Only one comes back to Jesus to give thanks. The Samaritan among them. The foreigner among them. The least likely among them to give thanks to the Jewish leader. Jesus asks him some accusatory questions aimed at the other nine calling them into account for not joining the one to give thanks. Giving thanks is part of the process of God moving in our life when we come before him with need. In a sense it completes the spiritual principle being taught by Jesus. We ask for God’s favor and blessing and He answers and we should with grateful hearts, give thanks. What that does is allows Jesus to expand the moment and increase our faith. The nine left walked away thinking they were healed because of what they had done by asking. They will be looking for the next thing they can do to ask and receive a blessing. The one who returned to Jesus and gave thanks learned and realized it was faith that made him whole. What happened to him only Jesus could do. He then knew without a doubt that faith exercises God’s work in us. We can try all we want but it is faith that moves God’s heart and hand. I believe the Spirit will move in us more often if we live with a grateful heart and pause to give thanks when we have sought the Lord’s blessing in our life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we simply pause this day to give thanks for all the favor and every blessing you have manifested in our life. We give thanks with a grateful heart when you’ve done what only you can do when we had to bow humbly with great measures of faith to ask you to move in our life. Increase our faith as you answer our cries to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday March 11, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 16:1-31

Verse

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” - Luke 16:14-15

Meditation

The Monday morning big word of the day is omniscient which means God knows all things. We don’t even though some people think they do. Case in point. People relate to other people in many different ways because we know people for various reasons. Some people we will simply know their name and maybe a little about them and be able to recognize them on the street. Others we know more intimately and know their life story. We know our immediate family to a much deeper level. The deepest, most intimate level of relationship is how God knows each person He has created. God knows our hearts. Our heart is the seat of every emotion we have which means all the love, loyalty, honor, dislike, grudge, hurt, joy, and the list goes on and on, is birthed in our heart. Putting it simply and plainly, there is nothing about me and you that God doesn’t know. Like the Pharisees, we can do whatever we want to please others or justify our actions, but God knows our hearts. We can say whatever we choose in order to make our life appear to be whatever we want, but God knows our hearts. When someone is caught in an act of misbehavior, a statement often used involves being honest. The principle applies to each one of us in our relationship to God. Being honest with God in part means speaking and acting in a way consistent with what we truly believe in our heart. God knows our hearts. The positive side of being honest in our relationship with God is that He knows when we hurt, when we grieve, when we are broken or when we are stressed and we can lean into Him in those situations with full assurance believe He knows and understands. Because we join with Jesus in the fellowship of his suffering and the joy of his resurrection, God knows the full range of what is going on in our hearts. Don’t try to be somebody before God that you aren’t in your day-to-day activity or try to hide things from Him. Be open at all times. Be honest. He knew the heart of the Pharisees and he knows our heart as well.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before you today with an open heart desiring to be as honest as we can. Forgive us when we try to deceive you when trying to please people and then justify our behavior. Lead us away from the temptations of life which causes conflicts in our relationship with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday March 9, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 15:1-32, Matthew 27:45-46

Verse

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” - Luke 15:8-10

Meditation

Today we read three parables about being found. Three parables about people like me and you discovering Christ. I write about this often but it bears repeating again to remind all of us how special we are in the sight of God. I want you to pause and think about your “found” story. I want you to think about it because your story could be one of the parables of Luke 15. Pause. You may not think your story is significant enough to be included but let me assure you it is. When one discovers Christ there is rejoicing in heaven and the rejoicing is all the same. I think it is safe to say there is no rejoice meter among the angels depending on the nature of a person’s “found” story. There is just rejoicing. As we run to the Father, he is running to us and he runs with the same desire for each and every person. Remember, he loves you that much to leave the ninety-nine, to look under the couch, or to run to our filthiness. The truth for each of us is that when sin has been repented of, there is new life in Christ, there is significance in the story, and there is rejoicing among the angels in heaven. As you pause to consider your story, know how much you are loved and whether you realize it or not, God went to great lengths to find you and the promise of His word is that nothing can separate us from his love for us. We have reason to rejoice because no matter how we see ourselves, we are loved enough for the Father to run after us. Live knowing you were found because you are loved beyond what our heart and mind can comprehend.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise your holy name for finding us, for passing every obstacle we might have laid in your path and wrapping your loving arms of embrace around us. You found us and we rejoice and give thanks. Let us live fully our story so we might be used by you for others to realize your pursuit of them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday March 8, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 14:1-35

Verse

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’” - Luke 14:28-30

Meditation

Finishing well. This concept appears in many different conversations whether it’s used in reference to athletic competition, leadership, or our relationship with Christ to name a few. The entire chapter we read today is focused on the invitation to follow, excuses we make not to follow, and the cost of following if we choose to. The verses I’ve chosen today are part of the discussion about the cost. Jesus shares a parable about construction and counting the cost in order to finish the project. There is ridicule awaiting if the tower is not finished. We can identify. You’ve driven by construction projects that were started, stopped for some reason, and all you see are weeds growing up around what still stands. You might not call your reaction ridicule, but I’m sure you thought it didn’t end well. There could be a very legitimate reason or it might be the failure to count the cost. Jesus’ emphasis was on finishing, I added the word well just because that is my nature. If I start anything, I want to finish well. I’m confident I’m not the only one. We certainly want to stay strong in our relationship with Christ and not fall into complacency and indifference. We certainly want to finish, and I would say let’s finish well. Let’s include in the cost of discipleship the understanding we will finish this life in the greatest measure of intimacy with our Lord and Savior. Pausing often leads to weeds. Our challenge is to show progress in our relationship with Christ at all times so weeds don’t appear around our construction site. Finish well.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we seek your presence and power so that we have the strength to always seek a deeper place of intimacy with you and to finish on the mountaintop. Lead us away from the temptation to pause and pursue other interests. Lead us away from the excuse making and help us see the reasons to follow and go deep. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday March 7, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 13:18-35

Verse

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” - Luke 13:22-24

Meditation

Warning labels adorn almost every food or product you pick up. Commercials for food, medicine, and cars contain disclaimers or warnings. Purchase an extension cord and it has four or five. Those tags have been on mattresses for years warning us not to remove them. Very few of these labels do we pay close attention to unless we are particularly interested in maybe a food allergy or the like. Warning labels are generally ignored. Unfortunately, we treat scripture the same way. The Bible contains many warnings about a wide variety of subjects from sin to salvation. They are hard to take. We don’t want to pay attention. We skip over or we just tear them off and throw them away. Especially when it comes to salvation, we don’t want to recognize the warnings. Jesus is giving us a warning signal here and we need to pay attention. As the answer to a direct question about salvation his reply includes the concept of a narrow door and some not able to enter. The pathway to salvation is not difficult but it is narrow. Living out salvation in surrender and obedience is often very difficult but there is clarity about the availability of the narrow door. The door is available to every person who chooses to enter. We should first be very attentive to our own relationship with Christ and be very sure the door we entered was narrow and not wide and popular. Then we should be attentive to our role of disciples producing disciples who produce disciples. Our relationship with Christ should be lived out in obedience to his word and in an attractive manner always pointing people to the narrow door. This is one warning we should heed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray that we have clarity to see the narrow door and have walked through it with boldness and understanding. We pray we might live in obedience and surrender to your will. We pray for those choosing today between a narrow door of truth and a wide door of deception. Use us in their life and help them choose wisely. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday March 5, 2024

33 They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” 34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” - Luke 5:33-35

Meditation

Fasting and praying together as a spiritual discipline goes deep into the Old Testament. The Pharisees complained because it was being done differently within the followers of Jesus. His answer and the parable following perfectly illustrate Jesus carry forth a principle of the Law but in a new way. We are on day four of Lent, a popular season to include fasting during part or all of it. I often get questions asked about fasting and for years have encouraged fasting during Lent and included short explanations in the Devotion Guide. Today I want to simply share today what I printed in the Devotion Guide as a way of instruction and to encourage you to consider fasting as a part of your spiritual disciplines. You might ask, “Is it ok to start now?” Sure it is. Jesus opened the door for new ways and there are several lengths of fasting in the Bible, from 40 days to one day. For some, this will be a refresher course. For those of you that are brand new to the idea, consider it as a way to take you to a deeper place in your relationship with God. Whatever you choose to do as a result of prayer and discernment is the right choice. Few things in life will I guarantee but fasting and praying together will help you experience a difference in your depth of intimacy with God. This will make for a long devotion today, but it’s Saturday, I’m trusting you will pause and read this today or tomorrow.

Guide to Biblical Fasting

1. Fasting is denying the natural to focus on the Supernatural.

2. In the Bible, fasting always involved food, still the most common type of fast today. Why? Eating is the most natural thing we do and requires the most discipline to deny our bodies nutrition. It also requires supernatural intervention to keep in its proper perspective. Many other types of fasts have become popular including social media, TV, etc. Fast whichever requires more discipline.

3. First things first. Seek God’s guidance on whether you should fast. Get clarity there.

4. If God says yes, ask Him to guide you in a specific type and purpose or purposes for fasting. Not generic, not just to be specific, but to be more spiritual, like overcoming a habit. Write them down. Pray about those purposes every day. Some other examples of the purpose of fasting would include direction in decision making, healing of a prolonged illness, repair of a broken relationship, a desired outcome, or spiritual awakening.

5. Whenever you would be actively engaged in whatever you are fasting, spend that time with God. It does no good just to fast without focusing that time on spiritual matters. Example, fast a meal. Spend the meal time or equivalent at some point in study and prayer.

6. Fasting should not be easy. It wasn’t in the biblical days and shouldn’t be now. The point is focusing on the supernatural to help with natural desires. Fasting linked with prayer will often increase the power and effect of the fast.

7. The ultimate purpose of fasting is to become closer to God and deeper in faith.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, burden our heart about fasting if that is your desire for our life. Give us clarity of purpose so that your will is done in our life. Make us mindful of all the biblical teaching on fasting and prayer and give us a humble heart as we fast. Guide, strengthen and supernaturally attend our fasting and prayer in this season. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, February 16, 2024

Today’s Verse - Luke 5:1-16

Verse

3 He (Jesus) got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” - Luke 4:3-4

Meditation

Every single person of faith has their faith tested. Mine as well. There are times when we feel like the test is extremely hard and we begin to question. Simon, soon to be commonly known as Peter, had an extreme test of faith in his very first encounter with Jesus. It was part of his calling to become one of the apostles, the first twelve chose to follow Jesus. For Simon, this test of faith had to have been in the category of extremely hard. He was a fisherman by trade and had been at his craft all night. It was a bad night of fishing as his basket was empty, or as it would have been in my case growing up, his stringer had no fish on it. And Jesus comes along, gets in his boat, taught the crowd for a while, and then the bombshell directed at Simon when he told him to go right back out into the water where he came from, the deep, and let down his nets. Simon hesitated, a moment of questioning his faith, but then did what Jesus asked him to do. And you know the results. He caught so many fish he had to call his friends in the other boat to come help. At that he was called to follow Jesus. In our times of greatest testing, Jesus asks us to go out into the deep waters of faith and trust that Jesus will lead us correctly. We do not usually have the same clarity of direction that Simon did, but we must trust in the murkiness of the moment that all the promises of Jesus are true and the presence of the Holy Spirit will guide us through the test of faith we find ourselves in. I believe the deep waters for us means going out into the depth of our relationship with Jesus and going a little further, trusting a little greater, becoming more intimate with him. Simon hesitated, then obediently followed the command of Jesus which led to the ups and downs of his kingdom impact. Go deeper when you are being surrounded by temptation or circumstances stretching your faith to the breaking point. Trust that Jesus will not let you break.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we want to hear from you in whatever circumstance we are currently dealing with or whatever temptation lies before us. Lead us to the deep waters of relationship when we cast our nets. May our faith grow deeper and deeper every single day in our walk with you. We believe you will not let us drown in the waters of life. You are our rescuer and redeemer in all of life and we claim that over our life today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 4:30-44

Verse

31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words and message had authority. . . . 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. . . . 42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. - Luke 4:31-32, 36-37, 42

Meditation

I’ve provided a verse or two from several places in our reading today because they help capture several principles. Driving out evil spirits and healing many people demonstrate one piece of the many pieces of Jesus’ ministry. Those who witnessed these miracles in Capernaum used two words to describe what they had heard and seen. Authority and power. Luke used the term amazed to describe their reaction. When people are amazed because authority and power are demonstrated it is impactful to say the least. Then we read the people did not want Jesus to leave their city. When lives are changed people take notice! The reading today are stories told by a physician of Jesus doing something a physician couldn’t do. But one who speaks with authority and power can. Jesus operates in our lives today with the same power and authority. Our need might not be an evil spirit or a fever, but it is something that Jesus cares about just as much and has authority and power over it in the very same way. From those things we might think are insignificant to the most heart wrenching pain we have ever experienced, Jesus cares and can be the healer and deliverer. We have to invite and allow Jesus to do what only he can do. And when he does you will be like the people of Capernaum, amazed. And similarly, you will never want him to leave. The good news is he never leaves. Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, he never leaves. And if he never leaves and often we experience his authority and power, the news will spread throughout the area. Allow Jesus to exercise his authority and power at the very point of your greatest need today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we lay at your feet the things in our life that need the touch of your power and authority. Take hold of us and do what only you can do. From big to small, do what only you can do. We invite you and yield to your desire for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Today’s Reading - Luke 4:1-30

Verse

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. - Luke 4:28-30

Verse

Today is a rare occurrence of days. The first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, falling on Valentine’s Day. At first glance it seems like two themes which are polar opposite. But not really. On the same day many people will focus on their humanity, we are mere ashes which will return to the dust of the earth, we also focus on love on a variety of levels, mainly on love within our human relationships. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our need for God’s love in all the ways He manifests His love into our lives. We need his mercy, his grace, and his love. If we do not remain aware of our need, it becomes easy to lose sight from the realization of our need. Things can turn quickly. Ask Jesus. The context of our passage today is Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, and he is teaching in the temple. Maybe one minute of time had passed between the attitude of the people found in verse 22, “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that come from his lips,” to him being totally rejected in the passage above. Earlier Jesus had read from the scroll of Isaiah stating the Spirit of the Lord had anointed him to preach, proclaim freedom, heal, set the captives free and proclaim the year of the Lord. The hearers were ecstatic and overjoyed when they heard these words and their eyes were fastened on him. Jesus had their attention and they were amazed at what they were hearing. Then things turned quickly when he continued his prophetic words and said, “no prophet will be accepted in his hometown.” The people didn’t understand what just happened. They thought they had responded in the right way with the right words. Jesus prophesied the truth and the people turned away and rejected him in a matter of minutes. On the quirky day of calendaring, be reminded we are always in need of God’s love for us and remain steadfast in that knowledge lest things quickly change in your life. It can happen in the blink of an eye.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, keep us mindful as we think on the dust and ashes of our humanity and our need for the divine. Pause us on the business of the day to let it ring clear in our ears in the right spirit, “we are dust and to dust we will return.” Help us realize this helps us stay focused on our constant need for your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Today’s Reading - Mark 10

Verse

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. - Mark 10:51-52

Meditation

We conclude our reading in Mark, our practical look at participating in the kingdom of God, with chapter 10. The next chapter begins with Jesus’ last week. Tomorrow we will start our Lenten reading in Luke as we begin our journey of Lent making our way to Easter. We conclude with a question we should ask ourselves as we find ourselves on the doorstep of another Lenten season. Some reading this will wonder about the emphasis on Lent in so many churches but the question applies whether Lent has significant meaning or not. The red letters are always important and at times penetrating and breathtaking. What do you want me to do for you? To contextualize the question around the season of Lent, I’ll ask it this way. What do you want and need Jesus to do for you during these forty days of Lent? This is a time of natural focus on our humanity and our need for our life to intersect with a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. What do we want Jesus to do for us? Study and pray and meditate on the answer to this question. Jesus asked the question of a blind man and the answer was obvious but Jesus asked it anyway. By speaking the answer, the blind man exercised great faith and Jesus heard him and answered. By speaking the blind man believed. Do we have the faith enough to be honest enough and speak the answer to the deepest need in our life before our holy and loving Father? This story is a great lead into these days of preparation for the glorious finale of Easter so that we don’t experience the resurrection without its power. What we need might require great power, like healing a blind man. There would be nothing better than each of us being able to hear the words that Jesus spoke to the blind man, “Go, your faith has healed you.” The red letter question is for us just the same as it was in Jericho.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, hear our response to the red letter question you are asking us. May we have the faith to speak it so we hear your response and might be healed. Give us faith and courage this day to be humble and honest to you as we approach the journey of the season before us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, February 12, 2024

Today’s Reading - Mark 9

Verse

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. - Mark 9:38-41

Meditation

The disciples were in need of being taught a difficult and valuable lesson and Jesus did not hesitate to teach it. He didn’t hesitate in the same way he didn’t hesitate to deal with the disciple’s arrogance of thinking there was one among them who was the greatest. After answering the question about greatness by telling them they must be last and serve everyone, Jesus essentially told the disciples they do not own exclusive rights to do the work of the kingdom of God. As his chosen twelve, they apparently wanted to be an elite clique nobody else could join. Their description of this man outside their group being used by God to bring wholeness to people is frightening. “...he was not one of us.” It is almost as bad as “we’ve never done it that way.” We don’t need to create cliques in the kingdom of God in any shape, form or fashion and especially when lives are being made whole in the name of Jesus. The key to embracing this truth is understanding there are a variety of expressions of faith in each of us and how each of us lives out faith in Jesus’ name can be quite different. Our focus should be on honoring “in my name” and celebrating with others who are offering life in his name. False prophets, teachers and miracle workers will expose themselves in time. The kingdom of God desperately needs people who are living life boldly in the name of Jesus and offering hope and help in His name. It will be very clear who is for Christ and those that are against Him. Those against Him will focus the light on themselves and the light will expose their heart. You have the privilege of doing great work in the name of Jesus and helping people discover newness of life. Be a life giver. Be on Jesus’ side and do great work on His behalf. Embrace others who are doing the same great work. You’ll know who those people are. They may not be in your circle but they are in the kingdom circle. You have people in your circle of relationships who symbolically need a demon driven out. Be a life giver and in the name of Jesus drive that demon out because you are on the team with Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise your name for including us in your circle and giving us the privilege of being kingdom workers in your name. Humble us to always shine the light on you and give glory where glory is due. We want to be included among the last doing the greatest work and nobody knows. Forgive us when we take credit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, February 9, 2024

Today’s Reading - Mark 7

Verse

13 “Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” 14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” - Mark 7:13-16

Meditation

Guard your hearts. Guard your minds. A repeated warning in scripture. In the midst of Jesus being challenged by the Pharisees that his disciples were unclean while eating, he once again exposes their hypocrisy. Jesus used it as an opportunity to teach about the evil nature of our flesh, and the need for the spirit within us to continually overcome our nature. Jesus said all this in the context of whether the disciples were unclean by eating food before they had properly washed their hands and to illustrate the new covenant fulfilling the law and thus declaring all food clean. Jesus concluded his teaching with a long list of evil found within our human nature. We are born with a sinful nature. We at birth have a great need for salvation and continual growth in grace. When we allow the Holy Spirit to flourish in our life, the evil we are born with will be overcome by the work of the Spirit and this evil will not manifest itself in our life. Read the list again in verses 21-22. We can all agree we can absolutely do without any part of that list whether it is a behavior or an attitude. And I trust you want nothing to do with anything in that list. If we don’t guard our hearts and minds then we get trapped into adding to that list and there is plenty in the world which is detrimental to our spiritual well-being. Living in the Spirit moment by moment will eventually eliminate the evil in our hearts and will stymie anything detrimental being added. We are clean and we need to live that way.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we seek for the Holy Spirit to have full control of our hearts and minds and we ask you to honor our desire. Guard us in every way. Lead us away from temptation and deliver us from the evil all around us. Help us to walk in step with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Today’s Reading - Mark 6

Verse

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus left and went around teaching from village to village. - Mark 6:4-6

Meditation

From walking into the room and raising the dead to life to being scoffed and walking out of the city, his hometown. This describes in a nutshell the life Jesus is now living. Dishonor toward the one who came to save the world denied a city the best Jesus had to offer. And this short sentence will not leave my mind this morning.

He (Jesus) was amazed at their lack of faith.

It’s haunting, isn’t it? The people who took offense at what Jesus was doing in his hometown wanted him to be just ordinary Jesus. A son and a brother like all the rest of them in the city. They took offense at his wisdom to teach and his power to transform lives, both for the absolute betterment to the hearer of his teaching and the recipient of his power. And people were offended because they wanted the ordinary. I think for this morning, I’ll just leave that haunting sentence right there and let us all reflect on our own life because I don’t want Jesus to walk away from me amazed by my lack of faith. Don’t leave without being honest about your faith.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, forgive me if I have lived my life in any way, shape, form or fashion, which would give you a reason to be amazed at my lack of faith. Humble me to change what needs to be changed so that I might live with deep, abiding faith in you. May the power of the Holy Spirit within me be unleashed with great faith and belief in what you want to do in my life and the lives of others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Today’s Reading - Mark 5

Verse

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” - Mark 5:35-36

Meditation

It happens to all of us. It can be subtle or instant. Fear getting in the way of living out our beliefs. The words Jesus spoke to Jairus seem simple and easy to accomplish but in reality, those words are a mountain which can be too hard to climb. The difficulty in believing when the circumstances which warrant being afraid is so immense it makes the climb almost unsurmountable. This story is about a synagogue leader being told his daughter is dead. Our story looks like facing a serious illness, a relationship crisis, financial stress and strain, or job loss. These and many more can lead to being afraid. When Jesus spoke these words to Jairus, he wanted Jairus to believe his daughter would live. When Jesus speaks words of health and hope into us, He wants us to believe. It might take a walk home. There might be laughing and scorning at what Jesus can do as he walks up to your house about to enter the room of your heart. It took Jesus walking into the room and speaking life over Jairus’ daughter. And she got up. We have to believe when Jesus walks into the room everything changes. Our believing might be an invitation for Jesus to walk into the room. Not just knowing what Jesus can do, but inviting him into the room of your life. Jairus was told not to bother Jesus any more but he persisted and got closer and closer so that Jesus could hear the conversation. Notice in the story we don’t hear one word from Jairus. He just followed when Jesus summoned three disciples to go with him. We do know he was among those who were astonished when his daughter got up and walked around the room. Don’t let words get in your way of believing. Follow Jesus faithfully and believe when you invite him into the room. We will not necessarily understand the journey but we can believe in the work of Jesus to change things when He walks into the room.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, right now we invite Jesus into the room of our heart where we need him the most in this moment. We cry out or we say nothing but we want Jesus to raise us to new life and health and hope. Do not let our fear get in the way of Jesus walking into the room. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Today’s Reading - Mark 4

Verse

2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” - Mark 4:2-8

Meditation

Be a farmer. You might have thought your entire life that farming is the last thing you ever wanted to do. It doesn’t fall under any category of your skill set or you just don’t like getting dirty. Farming never crossed your radar screen. Some of you probably love it. You are invigorated by the idea of planting and harvesting. It might not be an occupation or lifestyle, but the concept played out in a small garden is time well spent. Whichever category you fall into, or somewhere in between, Jesus is telling us to be a farmer. As far as practical application, the majority of our time spent reading and studying this parable is spent focusing on the soil. That’s not a bad thing. Our heart and mind need to be good soil, receptive to the word when planted in us. But, for the sake of the kingdom, living in and growing a vibrant, healthy movement of God, we need farmers who will plant seeds. The number of farms and farmers in our country is on a declining path, almost 20% less over a forty-year span. Unfortunately, the same is true for the kingdom of God. I do not know what the exact percentage is, depends on the source, but there are dramatically fewer people professing to be followers of Christ than at any time in our history. Farms come in all sizes and shapes, from the small family farm to the large conglomerate farm. The kingdom of God needs farmers from small to large, sowing seeds in a variety of ways, places and situations. Every spiritual farmer doesn’t look the same but we can all be a farmer. The parable teachers there will be a wide range of results from our adventures into farming. The results we leave in the hands of God. We follow the Lord’s leading and plant and He gathers the harvest. Be a farmer!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show us the ground to plow, the seeds to sow, and fertilizer to apply as we seek to live fully into your movement among us. Make our own hearts good soil so that we can heartily sow for the kingdom. Prepare the soil you lead us to and give us vision to see the farms you put in our life. Forgive us for often being bad soil. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, February 5, 2024

Today’s Reading - Mark 3

Verse

7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8 When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. - Mark 3:7-9

Meditation

Movements draw attention because they make a difference and will quickly gain momentum. Look at a map or just imagine to get a mental picture of where all the people were coming from who wanted to be in the presence of Jesus so that he could make a difference in their life. Sense their urgency to be with Jesus. The mode of transportation was limited to walking with a small number having a donkey to ride. There was no mass communication, just word of mouth and the story of transformation was spreading rapidly. You get the feeling they dropped everything and rushed to the lake. Jesus very quickly had a movement with great momentum. It was unstructured and without a governing body, but it was changing lives, it was a story of redemption playing out in the hearts and lives of many, many people. If we want our redemption story to be an ongoing story of transformation into the likeness of Christ, we must eagerly desire to be with Jesus. So much so, we will lay aside some things to make our way to Him. Jesus is constantly with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. A biblical principle I’m not denying. But what I am referring to is our intentionality to move beyond knowing he is with us to the point of active engagement with him. There are many ways to actively engage Jesus, but not all ways have equal value. Sadly, many people have created equality of value in strange ways. Listening to your favorite Christian music in the car while driving is not equal to spending time with Jesus in your personal place of study and prayer. Feel free to think of your own illustration related to study, prayer and worshiping with the Body of Christ. The value is not the same in many instances. Substitutes created in our mind to replace eagerly desiring to be in the presence of Jesus always come up short. We can articulate elaborate excuses to substitute or neglect all together. Instead, run to be in his presence.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, create in us an overwhelming desire to be in your presence with an open heart and open mind to transform our life. Don’t let us be tempted to substitute presence for convenience. Convict us of our laziness to want to be sitting in your presence. Help us understand the cost of separation or the cost of dumbing down engaging Jesus. Give us the desire of the people of the Judean region to be with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Today’s Reading - Mark 2

Verse

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. - Mark 2:13-14

Meditation

The twelve disciples that Jesus specifically called, the first disciples, were an interesting mix of men. Most were fishermen and there is only an educated guess about several. Then there is Matthew. He was a tax collector for the hated Roman government. This grouped him among those called “sinners” as we will later learn as the Jewish leaders were questioning why Jesus was eating dinner with “sinners” and tax collectors. We can be fairly certain of one part of the answer because tax collectors were known to cheat people when they paid their taxes, always charging extra for personal gain. In the minds of the Jews if you cheat people, and you were disliked to begin with, you were a sinner. But there is the next part of the answer which is most important. Why would Jesus eat dinner with these people? We are not just fairly certain of the answer, we are 100% certain of the answer. Ready. All people are welcome at the table with Jesus! Saints and sinners alike. Pull up a seat. One of the seats is for me and you. From the very first moment of Jesus’ ministry, he practiced the principle of the good news he is bringing is for Jew and Gentile alike, including sinners. Jesus did not have to say a word at this point, he only practiced the basic principle that he came to save each and every person in the world in which he came to die for. The final part of the answer involves eating the meal. Jesus established a relationship with the people who needed to hear the good news before he taught about the good news. In the short five verses of this story, notice he ate, built relationships, and finally came the teaching that he came to call, save, the sinners, not the righteous. As we live in the midst of a fresh and vibrant movement of God, we need to heed the principle of eating with sinners. We build relationships then we will have the opportunity to share and explain the good news of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we follow you, open our eyes to follow your example as well and find ways to eat with those who need your grace. Move us away from the comfort of our comfortable circle of people to include those who are seeking and searching. Do not let us be afraid to eat with “sinners.” Give us the grace to eat before we speak. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, February 2, 2024

Today’s Reading - Mark 1

Verse

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” - Mark 1:9-11

Meditation

We turn the corner today and shift from reading the story of the early days of the kingdom movement, to now focus on practical ways to live in the movement. We will read and learn from the first gospel written with its uniqueness describing the three year ministry of Jesus, beginning in Galilee and concluding in Jerusalem. All three synoptic gospels record our verses today, verses ten and eleven almost verbatim, verse 11 in particular. John tells us he was present at the baptism. As I read today, it reminded me of something that has always intrigued me. It prompts a question. Did everyone in the crowd hear the voice from heaven, or just Jesus? John tells us he saw the dove remaining on Jesus but makes no mention of hearing the voice from heaven. As Jesus begins his ministry, the very first thing we read in the first gospel accounts about Jesus is his baptism and hearing from heaven to affirm who he is. The voice spoke to Jesus in particular about being the Son of God, being loved, and that his Father was well pleased. Not just pleased, but well pleased. This passage causes me to pause and be reminded of the importance of hearing the voice of God and desiring to hear the same words spoken over us. There are many instances we will encounter as we live in the kingdom where the voice from heaven is affirming, encouraging, helpful and needed. The voice from heaven spoke to our Father’s literal Son, a piece of who He is, a piece of the one in three. He will not speak to us in the same context, but he can speak to us in this way. A verse might read something like this as it applies to each of us. “And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my child, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” That would be a glorious day when we heard that voice and that message. We should desire to hear and yet receive it in humility. Our heart should be filled with anticipation to hear from God and to live a life pleasing to our heavenly Father.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we open our ears with anticipation of hearing your voice. We seek to hear it with humility and yet to live our life in a manner pleasing to you. We want to hear your voice with a spirit of surrender and obedience for it is in doing your will for our life that we will please you. Guide us in this journey with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 28

Verse

28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 29 After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves. 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! - Acts 28:28-31

Meditation

As we have calendared days and years, this movement that began in a room of people when the Holy Spirit came like wind and fire, is now approaching two thousand years of birthing and building. We conclude this book which best describes the beginning years of God’s work among his people. It has no conclusion. We come to the final verse of the final chapter and we find Paul continuing to proclaim, continuing to teach, continuing to build the kingdom of God, continuing to help people find the Savior and instruct them in the ways of a maturing relationship with him and living vibrantly in the kingdom, this movement of God. The process will never end until one day Jesus will appear to the kingdom. Acts concludes with the implication that you and I are responsible for the growth and vitality of the kingdom of God in the here and now. Paul and Peter have recognizable names and there is much documentation of their role in the movement. Our names are not as recognizable and our story not written, but we are no less important. In fact, the God of this kingdom movement is depending on us to be the mouthpiece of heaven. The story of rapid growth of the movement in Acts seemed to pause with Paul’s trials and tribulations. It concludes with Paul continuing what he does best with an eager audience. Our story in the kingdom will seem to pause as we face all sorts of diversions, but God will move us to continue what we can do best and that is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and help people find a way forward through the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ. I don’t know what chapter of Acts we are presently writing, but we are helping write one for sure. One day the book of Acts will be finished. Not today. Let’s keep writing.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we offer ourselves to you to be used in the kingdom movement to continue writing the story. Help us understand our pauses and look for the restart. Let us see the next sentence to write and chapter to finish. May the kingdom flourish as we all live mightily into the vibrancy of your kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 27

Verse

21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. - Acts 27:21-25

Meditation

Paul and the prisoners and crew have been in a storm, a literal weather-related storm. One of the statements being made about today, this last day of January, is that the 70 days (pick your number) of January are finally over. Obviously not true, but in many ways it feels like we have been in one storm or another forever. In the midst of Paul’s fourteen-day storm, the Lord spoke to him through an angel and told him to not be afraid because he and all the men on the ship would be saved. Every single one of them would make it to Rome where Paul would have a trial before Caesar. Not one person would die. Many days feel like we are walking through a physical, emotional, or spiritual storm. The storm lasts not just for days, but weeks, even months. We live through a season of stormy life. It might appear that life is on the brink of disaster. If you are facing a storm today of one degree or another, listen for the voice of God as you seek the presence of God to walk you through the storm. Join in singing and praying a line from a beloved hymn, “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me.” Paul might have sung this part and it might apply to you today. “When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me.” We will all at some point face a storm. When we do, let’s keep up our courage and believe God will not abandon us in the storm. Paul told the men on the boat to remain courageous because he believed every one of them would be saved just as the angel told him. God has promised us he will never leave us nor forsake us, even in the storm. I believe it will happen just as He has promised. So, keep up your courage. Trust in the Lord.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we walk through the storms of life, we need your presence and assurance that you will walk with us through the storm. We declare that no storm will shipwreck our life and defeat us. We declare that evil cannot win. We declare that we will give you glory through the storm. Give us peace in our life no matter what we are walking through today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 26

Verse

5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. - Acts 26:5-7

Meditation

Tenacity. Perseverance. Choose whatever word you want to pick but Paul had it. He just kept on keeping on testifying to the goodness of Jesus Christ. And now hope becomes the focus of his testimony. Hope drives our spirit and soul. Maybe you have previously been in a place of losing all hope. It is not a pleasant place to be and soon many side effects begin to manifest themselves. Worse than losing hope is having hope at our finger tips and not seizing it. The Jewish nation looked daily for the hope found in the coming Messiah and they were held closely to this hope by leaders of the likes of Moses and David and the prophets. And Hope comes and they refuse to believe and accept. Paul testified he was no different than all the people choosing not to believe as he played out the role of a strict Pharisee and persecuted and jailed the believers. But he found hope in transformation and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Hope had come. We’ve seen hope kindled through transformed lives many, many times, yet so many people still try to discover hope and contentment while Jesus patiently waits within easy grasp. Hope came for Paul when he fully embraced Christ and his way and the new life. Are we waiting on a Damascus Road experience to become fully devoted followers of Christ or can we just take a leap of faith and grasp hope without delay? Paul testified to immeasurable freedom in Christ yet he spent many days in jail. Christ is the hope we are looking for. There is no time like the present to start living in the glory of God’s hope in Christ Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we sing with the songwriter there is hope in the name of the Lord and we claim a position in Christ to receive hope beyond all hope. We pray for understanding to quit looking for hope in the temporary and seek hope in the eternal. Forgive us for not receiving the hope you have provided. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, January 29, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 25

Verse

6 After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them. 8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” - Acts 25:6-8

Meditation

The Sanhedrin – Felix – Festus – King Agrippa. These are the trials Paul faced. Each time he had no choice but to defend himself and his character. In the next chapter we will get a ruling from King Agrippa and off to Rome Paul will go. Reputation is everything. Honesty and truth can rarely be refuted. I know, today’s verses inspire you to a deeper walk with Christ. Well, not really. But it does teach us an important lesson. Paul was on trial, multiple trials in fact, and the Jews were trying their best to get him off the street, out of the spotlight with his preaching and teaching of the good news. And at every point his defense was he had done nothing wrong against their law or the temple. For many people they would have brushed that off as an opinion which carried no weight. They knew Paul who used to be Saul and whose reputation preceded him as one of the most brilliant leaders among the Pharisees in his day. If he knew anything, he knew the law and the temple requirements. He had established a reputation of being brilliant in regards to the law and that could not be argued against. Admittedly some parts of his reputation were bad and he fought against it every day, but in this case, it saved his life. Our reputation is established before Christ’s transformation of our life and after. We all know that more often than is comfortable or fair we are judged by the bad and the good is hidden. When Paul was honest and told the truth it could not be refuted. Carefully consider the reputation you are building. God does wonderful works of transformation in each of us and we are eternally grateful. However, the less, like Paul, that we have to fight against the more effective our witness will be. Guard your character and build a godly reputation. The kingdom movement and its witness to a desperate world needs people of high character and reputation.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, build and protect our reputation with your love, mercy, and grace. Help us to be conscious of the things we are doing that will affect us the rest of our life. Guard us against decision making detrimental to your will. Transform us into your likeness and let truth and honesty go before us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 24

Verse

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. 27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. - Acts 24:24-27

Meditation

Nobody knew what to do with Paul or could rightly have him put to death. The Sanhedrin’s hands were tied, they plotted to innocently murder him, and then the commander handed him over to the government in Caesarea before the Jews could carry out their plot. He finds himself being tried before a Roman governor, Felix. Paul’s defense was flawless before him. He had committed no crime other than threatening the power of the Jews. The Governor knew Paul was innocent to the point of trying to coax Paul into bribing him but it did not work. A bride compromises Paul’s character and gives Felix something legitimate to charge him with. Paul was given some amount of freedom but remained under prison guard through the final two years of Felix’s reign because Felix was living under the weight of returning favors. Three things to learn from this slice of Paul’s story. The truth of the good news brings people under conviction for sin. Felix became afraid, made Paul stop, and spent two years running from the convicting power of the Spirit. Next, be on guard for others attempts to lure you into compromising your character. This may happen for several reasons, none of which are good. It is usually to gain leverage against someone or to try to get similar behavior out of someone to justify wrong behavior. Finally, don’t live under the weight of conditional favors. There is nothing wrong with granting a favor or asking for a favor, if it does not take advantage of another person or is conditional in nature. Grant favors because you are in position to help someone be better or live better. Don’t do anything unethical or illegal and don’t expect anything in return. Felix would have freed Paul had he not felt the pressure to please the Jews. An unconditional favor is also called helping someone in time of need. No compromise. Favors with no strings attached. Both biblical principles.

Prayer

Father in heaven, give us a shield of protection against all attempts to compromise our character by falling prey to unbiblical actions. Give us a sense of awareness when the temptation is before us. Give us a spirit of help and not conditional favoritism. Let us love all people and help those we can help. Don’t let us be bound by greed. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, January 26, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 23

Verse

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Meditation

From a human standpoint, Paul had every reason to believe he was one of the unluckiest persons imaginable and he was probably running out of luck. Paul might have thought he was living through something like an unlucky Friday the 13^th as he was brought to trial again before people who wanted to go away permanently. He might have thought he needed a huge amount of luck to escape the situation. What he got was the Lord standing next to him and telling him to take courage with an exclamation point. Jesus told him this emphatically so there would be strength behind what he was saying. Paul knew the strength was not in himself but comes from the presence of the Lord in his life. When we are standing for Christ and seeking to live our life to glorify him, there will be times when we will be on trial before all sorts of enemies. Enemies who won’t necessarily agree among themselves but want to see us persecuted for our faith. And there will be times when all we have is an emphatic voice in our ear saying “Take courage!” It is powerful and reassuring when we find ourselves in a place of faith where we can hear and understand the depth of power in the Lord telling us to be courageous as we live for him. Serving in God’s kingdom movement will include facing trials. From Joshua to Paul, people before and after, we all have a need to hear these two words. Take courage! Listen for them as you live powerfully in the world today and all the days to come and then testify in the next place the Lord leads you to.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us great courage as we face the days when we, like Paul, are on trial for our faith. Do not let us waiver in tenacity for speaking the truth about Jesus and the benefits of believing and living for him. Strengthen us in every way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 21

Verse

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?” 39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.” 40 After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: 1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” - Acts 21:37-22:1

Meditation

It had been a long trip from Ephesus to Jerusalem. Paul was determined to get there but the Lord and his companions had urged him to wait along the way. After arriving and hearing of the situation, it was almost immediately that he stirred the emotions of the Jews and rioting followed to the point of causing chaos in the entire city. This is the place of greatest resistance to the kingdom God is building because it was the center of Jewish faith and people who wanted so desperately to hold on to the way of the Law. This led to Paul and others being captured, beaten and arrested. Just before being taken into the jail, Paul stands before them and asks to speak his defense of his actions and they fall silent. He tells his story. There is never a wrong time to tell your story. It is never too late to tell your story. God’s work in you is powerful and unique. Telling and living your story will quiet the crowd as they fall silent to listen. To hear the story of God’s life-changing transformation in someone broken by sin creates silence and draws attention. Your story is the very story someone needs to hear. You see, Paul’s story captured the attention of even the Jews until he mentioned Gentiles. They needed to hear, but were not ready to hear. We know his story was embraced by many. Yours will too. Don’t ever give up. Even as you stare in the face of great adversity. Share your story.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, let us be strong and courageous as we find ourselves in places to tell our story. Whether we are beginning the journey early in life or in the depths of many years of journeying, walk alongside of us as we tell the good news of Jesus Christ and witness to its transforming power in our life. Do not let us be afraid. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 20

Verse

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,” . . . 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. - Acts 20:22, 28

Meditation

Paul was leaving Ephesus not because he wanted to but he was being compelled by the Spirit to go. When the Spirit moves us, we have to go. He went knowing he might face hardships but he knew he had to go. As he was leaving, he left final instructions to the people in Ephesus, in particular the elders in the church. Even though he spoke to the overseers, we all have the responsibility to watch over the church and be shepherds. Our roles are different, but we all are overseers and shepherds on some level. In your Sunday School class or small group or choir or serve team, each person bears responsibility to care for those in the group. Why? Because the movement matters. Notice how Paul concluded his instruction. The movement of God matters because it was bought by the blood of Jesus. The kingdom movement being built in Acts and continues today matters to the Father and he poured his own blood into it. Regardless of the hardships we face, we go where the Spirit leads, and we shepherd the movement and the Spirit leads. We all share responsibility in nurturing the health and vitality of the kingdom because it is in the movement we are taught, worship, have fellowship, share a common meal and pray as the Body of Christ. This will not happen unless people are watched over and shepherded in order that we continue to gather and build relationships. When every nail used in the building of this kingdom movement is covered in the blood of Christ, it is important to God and we should do everything possible to do our part in moving the kingdom forward. With the right understanding, we are all made overseers and shepherds by the Holy Spirit and we should see the ways to carry out our responsibility.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, may we be compelled by your Spirit to move and go and find the ways in which we become shepherds within this movement you continue to build. Forgive us for sitting back and waiting, waiting on others to do all the shepherding. Give us joy in doing. Give us fruit for our labor. Direct us to the place and position we can best be used by you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, January 22, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 19

Verse

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. - Acts 19:17-20

Meditation

There is no shortage of current examples of people trying to ride the coattails of another person or business in order to make a profit without doing the work. They are trying to take advantage of someone else’s success whether it be legal but unethical, or just straight up illegal. Ephesus was a very diverse city with great economic vibrancy and various religious expressions. The people were protective of their economic potential and their religious expression. We first see Jews trying to drive out evil spirits in the name of Jesus when they didn’t believe in him as the Messiah and therefore didn’t possess the power. They did this because they saw Paul great miracles as a result of Paul’s ministry and the great following he was gathering. The Jews became jealous and felt threatened. They tried to ride the coattails of Paul but it led to the Jews being severely beaten and embarrassed by those who possessed the spirit. Other Jews who were believers realized what had happened and there was a time of open confession and repentance. Jesus was held in high honor and the word of the Lord spread across the city and great power was being manifested. Even in the diversity of Ephesus the word of the Lord spread widely because of openness, honesty, confession, repentance and a time of doing all things to honor Jesus and his name. They realized the futile nature of trying to duplicate something that was not authentic to their faith and they had to give up their scrolls related to sorcery which was a sacrifice of great financial and earning potential. In the last half of this chapter the fear of losing income rather than “laying down scrolls” heightened to a time of rioting in the city. Pause and consider your life and see if there are any scrolls you need to lay down or any part of your faith where you are trying to ride the coattails of someone else. The faith of a spouse or a parent will not move us into a more intimate relationship with Christ and mature our faith. Our faith must be our faith, authentic and true.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come openly and honestly before you with a humble spirit of confession and repentance and lay down any scroll in our life that might keep us from having truly authentic faith. It might seem like a great sacrifice, but we believe you will honor our desire to be righteous in all things and have an authentic witness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 18

Verse

7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. - Acts 18:7-11

Meditation

Paul was experiencing great success traveling from city to city preaching the good news and teaching its principles in depth. We see the synagogue ruler, who would have been steeped in Jewish faith and loyal to his people, believe in Christ and his entire family believed as well. The success was not without a price to pay. He, like most others early in the movement, were abused, threatened and jailed. Even with the great success, the Lord knew he needed encouragement and he whispered words of assurance into his heart through a vision. Not only did the Lord assure Paul that he was with him and would protect him through his power, but he reminded him of the people who will surround him and support the preaching and teaching. We are not alone in our efforts to create health and vibrancy in the movement of God’s people in our cities and around the world. We can get blinded to this assurance when times are difficult and opposition is great. It is in those times we need to hear again the words the Lord spoke to Paul in the midst of great success. Keep on, I, the Lord, am with you. Additionally, I want to encourage you to be a person of encouragement to those you are walking alongside of in faith who are doing important work in the kingdom movement. God will whisper when necessary, it is never a bad thing for each of us to be a Barnabas, a partner in the faith who will encourage. Even in the midst of great success.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for whispering in our heart words of encouragement when we need it the most, whether we cannot see success or in the midst of great success. We will keep on speaking and doing your work without fear because of the assurance you are with us. Show us the people who need encouragement and give us the strength to be supporters in this faith movement. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, January 19, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 17

Verse

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. - Acts 17:22-23

Meditation

A week ago, I was involved in two interviews in two different cities which took me north, then east and finally home. I felt like I circled the northern half of the state. Nothing compared to Paul though. Since emerging a few chapters back, he has traveled to a dozen cities or more and finds himself in Athens, the center of intellectual thought. What he encountered was a lot of people who were religious, but had no spiritual understanding or vitality. John Wesley, late in his life, speaking about Methodism made an often-quoted statement. “But I am afraid, lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power.” This is what Paul faced when he stood among the intellectually elite. Paul called them out very directly when he found the inscription on the altar. He essentially said they were going through the motions of worship, i.e. religion, but with no power. His accusation was harsh. Paul claimed they didn’t even know what they were worshiping or who they were worshiping. We do not want to be the object of such an accusation yet there are many people who claim to know Christ and follow Him who are doing exactly that. They are going through the motions of whatever they believe to be the religiously correct thing to do yet they do it without real knowledge of the fullness of God and his spirit. And some simply speak well of faith and belief yet they exhibit very little or no spiritual fruit in their life. The solution is to heed Paul’s passionate plea. Get to know God! Go deep in faith. Move from a form of religion to a vibrant spirituality which has meaning in the world to help transform lives and propel the kingdom movement forward.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we fervently pray for the strength to avoid the temptation of being religious for the sake of looking good and seek a vibrant, growing relationship with you. May of the Spirit of Christ dwell deeply within us and guide our hearts and minds. Help us to live seeking you at all times so we might know you and avoid accusations like Paul made to these people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 16

Verse

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. - Acts 16:29-34

Meditation

Paul and Barnabas separated over a dispute over the makeup of the team. Paul and Silas then added Timothy to the team which turns out to be a strategically wise decision and a valuable addition. Think about Timothy’s lineage. His mother was Jewish and his father Greek. He brings a unique voice to the movement being able to relate to all listeners. As a result of a vision Paul had after being stopped by the Spirit from going where they planned, they find themselves in Philippi and quickly find themselves in jail for casting an evil spirit out of a slave girl. You are probably familiar with the story. Another jail break! They themselves were praying and worshiping and an earthquake of the Spirit set them free. The jailer responsible for keeping the prisoners secure saw what happened and threatened to kill himself but was stopped by Paul with words of assurance they had not left. The first question the jailer asked was about receiving salvation, the message of the good news of the movement Paul was now leading. The jailer and his entire family were saved and baptized. The power of God to perform signs and wonders is certainly a main takeaway from the story which is not to be minimized. There is much more. Paul, Silas and the rest of the disciples find themselves in the worst of situations and the best of outcomes among all the possibilities unfolds before their very eyes, the miracle of salvation. We also see the guard taking a great risk yielding to the power of God in his life. This guard had probably listened to Paul and others speak while in Philippi before the arrest and then watched and listened to them worship in the jail. Something pricked his heart and he was willing to risk persecution and even death to receive what he had heard about and most likely witness great transformation in people’s lives. As a result of Paul not being where he wanted to go, being obedient to God whispering in his ear, arrested and placed in a horrible jail, salvation comes to an entire family and likely many more as well. God can use the worst circumstances to accomplish the greatest kingdom results. Stay faithful.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, even in the midst of circumstances we don’t plan and result from doing exactly what you ask us to do, use us to bring glory and honor to your kingdom. We might not understand an unexpected move or a painful loss, but help us use any situation to be the voice of good news. Let us lean into your signs and wonders to lead us through difficulty and let our unwavering faith speak volumes to those listening. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 15

Verse

Peter: 11 “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” . . . James: 19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” Acts 15:11, 19

Meditation

Because I wasn’t able to write the past two days, let me catch you up in the timeline of the story. Essentially the story immediately picks up with Paul and Barnabas and they are going city to city proclaiming the good news. Many new disciples were becoming followers, entire cities were gathering to hear the word of the Lord, and the followers were full of joy and the Holy Spirit. Now on to chapter 15. Imagine a group of people making it difficult for other people to join the group and then making lots of rules and regulations for them once they join. Yeah, imagine that! Sounds pretty familiar. Unfortunately, it was happening in the early days of a new movement which was being founded upon the principles of grace and unconditional love. It doesn’t make good sense. Unfortunately, it still happens today. It happens today in every facet of society, church or otherwise. The conflict was around unauthorized Jews trying to convince Gentiles that circumcision was required before they could be part of the movement. As a result, they gathered the leaders of the movement to discuss the conflict and Peter’s words are profound, “just as they are.” They are profound because Jesus embraces you just as you were. And me. I’m grateful and I imagine you are too. Jesus has plans to change us but the beginning point is just where we are. Jesus has no desire for us to continue in sin and claim to follow him. The kingdom of grace says Jesus offers salvation to people just as they are. It’s hard for us because we would rather people change and conform and then come belong to our group. But that is not a kingdom principle. That’s placing the burden of change on the person and not on God’s transforming power. The kingdom principle says let grace save people from sin and darkness and let the ongoing mercy and grace and power of God transform them into the likeness of Christ. A letter was sent to the Gentiles saying it wouldn’t be burdensome to follow Christ and they were pleased with the encouraging message. We don’t want to make it difficult for people to connect to Christ. Hopefully your story is not one of having difficulty experiencing God’s grace. Let’s don’t make it anybody else’s.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to be as accepting of people crying out for new life as you are accepting of us. Give us a “just as they are” attitude. Forgive us for imposing rules when none were needed. We want to be conduits of grace and let you do the transformation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 12

Verse

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. . . . 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. - Acts 12:5, 11-12

Meditation

We bring closure to Peter’s part of helping birth and build a new kingdom movement of people coming to faith in Jesus Christ with an eye-opening, important event. In the previous chapter, we find Peter explaining his interaction with Cornelius to Jewish converts because they did not yet understand the good news was for all people. Then we read of the good work of the scattered in Antioch where the name Christians was birthed and then we have transitional information about the ministry of Saul and Barnabas. Now back to Peter. Herod’s anxiety over the strength of the movement landed Peter in jail again. It might be easy to rush past verse five to get to Peter’s miraculous escape from prison, but we need to pause right there. The leader might have gone to jail with little hope of surviving and potentially putting out the fire of momentum, but the people kept praying. They kept praying because they already understood the power of God. In the infancy of the movement there was not time for lengthy teachings on faith and the power of the Holy Spirit but they had seen it enough to know and had witnessed the transformation of so many people that they knew. They kept on praying because they had come to a child-like understanding of the possibilities when God is involved. They kept on praying because it was the only thing they knew to do. They kept on praying because they knew it was their connection to His power. Then there is Peter’s response once he realized what had happened. He had another ‘aha’ moment. If Peter didn’t already know, he now knew there were some things only the power of God can accomplish. It is no coincidence Peter goes straight to his friend’s house which happens to be the house where people had been praying. I believe this clearly connects the event of Peter’s escape to the people praying and it gave the people who had been praying concrete evidence of the necessity and power of prayer. Just what was needed to add to the foundation of a vibrant kingdom movement. There are people you know whose situation looks like Peter in jail, possibly even your current situation. Keep on praying and invite others to pray alongside you. Prayer is the gateway to the heart of God who sends angels and unlocks prison doors.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, right now there are people in a season of imprisonment who need doors opened so they can walk free and we want to be counted among the people who will keep on praying for them and we place those needs before your throne. We call out our own needs to be set free. May the power of your Holy Spirit be manifested in the hearts and lives of people who need to have prison doors miraculously opened. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 10

Verse

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts people from every nation who fear him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” - Acts 10:34-36

Meditation

And just like that we are back into Peter’s story and it is a very important switch we have made. Peter had an “aha” moment. You’ve had those before and know how eye-opening they are. Apparently, Peter had not fully grasped the concept that the good news Jesus was offering was not just for the Jews, but for all people. Peter had listened to Jesus talk about the good news being for everyone and now, through this powerful experience with Cornelius, he knew without question the reality of those powerful words of Jesus. He may have considered it before, but now Peter knew Jesus was talking about every person, not just the Jews, who would believe in Him receives forgiveness through his name (vs. 43). Cornelius had no idea what his vision was about but he was faithfully obedient. Peter thought his vision was about food but learned it was about the good news–for everyone. I am writing this devotion and you are reading it because Jesus came as the Messiah for all people. He came that everyone might believe and be forgiven. Peter’s revelation was accompanied by an anointing of the Holy Spirit and a passion which became a benchmark moment in the story of the movement being formed. What an “aha” moment for Peter! Look around. The good news is for everyone. Look beyond your present circumstance as you read this and see people who need some good news. Life changing news. Jesus news. Let Peter’s moment be your moment and let God set a fire down in your soul for the everyones in your life. Peter’s moment changed the trajectory of Christianity. People today more than ever are searching for a change in the trajectory of their life. They are searching for hope they’ve never experienced before. Today we are in a crucial moment in history where we don’t need to miss the opportunity to share life and hope. People are looking for permanence and stability. Jesus the Messiah is in fact the only answer to hope. The revelation of the good news of Jesus that it is for all people has now been added to the story of His kingdom movement.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit to share good news with one of your precious children who desperately needs a life-changing relationship with your Son. May we see every person as a person you sent your Son to die for. Give us a passion to see people saved by your work through us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 9

Verse

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. . . . 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. . . . 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. . . . 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. - Acts 9:15, 22, 28, 31

Meditation

I have chosen four verses from the familiar story of Saul’s dramatic conversion to help us learn from the story. Most of us are familiar with his story. If we were reading Acts for the very first time, stopped at chapter eight, and asked which person encountered in these first chapters would be used in very significant ways by God, we probably would have said Peter, maybe Philip, but never Saul. Not the person with the authority to actively arrest, persecute, and kill believers and ultimately destroy what God was doing in the kingdom He was building. As we know, that is exactly who he chose! Through the eyes of humanity, Saul was at the bottom of the list. Those of us, like myself, who have a story with a definite call or choosing which directed our career path can identify with the position of being the last qualified to be chosen. We questioned like Moses. We ran like Jonah. But here I am. A great majority of believers have at one time or another struggled with a nudge from God to do something beyond our perceived capacity or way out of our comfort zone. You felt that call to start a ministry or participate in an existing one or tell your faith story to a group. It wouldn’t change your career, but that overwhelming feeling caused you to question and run. You took that leap of faith and here you are. Saul was God’s chosen instrument and obedience to being chosen will always produce kingdom impact. Ananias wanted to run from his calling but his obedience was honored. We learn that Saul grew more and more powerful and convincing as he spoke. He wasn’t instantly perfect, he grew into it. He grew to a place of boldness in his proclamation and through the work of the Holy Spirit, the movement grew in numbers and strength. When God chooses people to serve the kingdom, He chooses the exact people He needs. Each calling will be different and he will provide the resources to grow us into the fulfillment of our calling when we are obedient to hearing His voice. If Saul turns around and heads back to Jerusalem, he most likely remains blind the rest of his life and the story we read would have been much different. He was obedient on the road which led to fruitful days ahead. Obedience is the first step. When God whispers and chooses us, choose to obey.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open our ears to hear when you whisper. Do not let us question and run away from obedience to your will for our life. Help us to overcome our doubt so we find our place in your kingdom work, whether small or large. Fill us with your Spirit and wisdom as you have done for so many. Do that afresh in our life today. Help us see the path you are leading us on and give us joy as we walk the journey. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 8

Verse

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. - Acts 8:4-5

Meditation

The early church was planted with reckless abandon. They were scattered and they preached the word. Reckless abandon makes most of us nervous. We like order and a plan. Me! My closet is arranged in order. Shirts by style and color, etc. Philip was one of those scattered, chosen as one of the seven to help distribute food, and he encountered maybe the most interesting group recorded. Samaritans, a sorcerer, and an Ethiopian eunuch. Samaritans must have been eager to hear the word. They received and were joyous just like the story of the Samaritan woman in John. One Samaritan, Simon the sorcerer, is an interesting story. He believed, is baptized, then chastised, and we are left hanging. Philip convinces the eunuch, he is baptized, then Philip is taken away by the Spirit. Philip reappears in Azotus and continues his reckless abandon style of preaching. In every way we can imagine, Philip was up against all odds. Apparently, he was in the best place to make a huge impact on the kingdom of God. When you find yourself up against all odds you may be in the best place for God to use you. It may not be orderly but it will change people. We might be in our best place this very day. A life changing day for you, maybe for someone you love and treasure or a perfect stranger, definitely impactful for a movement of God. As the saying goes, just keep on keeping on. (Note: We met Saul at the end of chapter seven. Pay attention to him in the first few verses of this chapter.)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us a heart of reckless abandon. We will let you arrange the details and do the follow up, we just want to be obedient to your leading. Give us a fearless attitude as we speak of the good news of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, January 8, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 7

Verse

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” . . . 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. . . . 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. - Acts 7:54-56, 59-60, 8:1

Meditation

He never wavered. Stephen that is. One of the seven chosen to help distribute food but in addition to that responsibility immediately began proclaiming the good news and eventually was falsely accused and brought before the Jewish leaders. As we know, this led to being stoned to death in front of a large group of onlookers, including Saul. He never wavered, even unto death. That is a strong statement to be made about anyone. Stephen was living fully into every principle we have learned in these first chapters of Acts. He was chosen among the seven because he was full of the Spirit and possessed great wisdom, now at his death we are reminded again he was full of the Spirit. He stood strong. He stood strong and boldly proclaimed the good news even under the threat of death. Reread verses 51-53 to get a sense of his conviction and the boldness in which he was proclaiming the truth. In the chronology of the story of this new kingdom movement, we are given an illustration of a person who embraced and embodied to its fullest what it meant to be a disciple of Christ and to “walk the talk” as we say. Again, I doubt we will be persecuted to the extent of Stephen, but we can learn from his story and how the fullness of God’s Spirit guided his path. We do not know much about Stephen but he was clearly a man of great faith, well versed in God’s word, and lived it out in great measure. His last words before dying speak volumes about his character and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our life. Like Jesus, he cried out for the forgiveness of those who falsely accused him and were now stoning him to death. To understand forgiveness at his level only comes from an intimate relationship with our Father. Stephen’s story helps us see discipleship at its best.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, fill us with your Spirit. Simply spoken, fill us with your Spirit. May we be one who fully embraces the principles of discipleship as Stephen did. We confess that at times we have tried in our own strength and failed. Don’t let us be deceived into thinking we can serve the kingdom apart from your Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 6

Verse

2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” . . . 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. - Acts 6:2-4, 6-7

Meditation

In the previous chapter, Peter and John encountered opposition from those threatened by the good news resulting in jail time, a court date, and persecution. In this chapter, they encounter concerns or complaints arising from one group of new believers who felt they were being neglected in favor of another group of new believers, both groups converted Jews. I do not believe there was intent involved but a matter of oversight due to the needs arising from sudden and unexpected growth. There was a rapid increase in the number of believers which meant a rapid increase in needs among the new movement being handled by too few people. A legitimate concern that needed a solution. Peter and John gathered all the disciples and worked out a solution as we will learn in the chapters to come which sustained the movement apart from the Twelve. Our first impression of this story is that there was a need involving food distribution and a simple solution was agreed upon. Seven strong men with a particular task of making sure the food was being evenly distributed to all the widows. It was so much greater. They were seven men who were known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom who would be prayed over and anointed for work far greater than handing out boxes of food. They were being selected and set apart to be significant leaders in this kingdom movement being built. This is a foundational principle which remains true and necessary in the kingdom of God today, ordinary people living out their transformed life in ways the Spirit within them is known who are set apart for important work in the kingdom. Originally it might be handing out food or ushering during a worship service or building a ramp onto a house, but it is the stepping stone to the next thing God will lead you to do. Alongside the Spirit of God, ordinary people will be used for extraordinary kingdom work. Don’t determine in your mind that you are just ordinary and have no value to the kingdom. You might be the very person the kingdom needs to continue its growth. When ordinary people say yes to obedience, great things result. Like a great number of new believers and even priests became obedient to faith. The movement needs every believer to be known as a person full of the Spirit and wisdom. Make yourself known and available. Don’t hide.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, fill us up with your Spirit and let it flow from us in ways that cause others to naturally see the Spirit in us. Give us great wisdom to go along with the overflow of your Spirit. Use each one of us to your glory and honor. Show us the particular task you have whether it be the ministry of word or the distribution of food. Let that be the catalyst to great kingdom work we can be part of. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, January 5, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 5

Verse

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. - Acts 5:40-42

Meditation

Culture versus Christianity. This is not a new challenge for those who choose to follow Christ, it has been going on for more than two thousand years. The apostles left a period of persecution and a trial before the leaders with a choice to make. They were either going to obey those who represented the loudest voices, or follow their heart and continue proclaiming the good news. It is pretty clear from the text what they chose to do. Any movement which creates change, even if it is for the good of people, is going to meet opposition. Our challenge as participants in this kingdom movement is to wisely consider the circumstances and not deviate from the certainty of our calling and commission to make disciples. The apostle’s circumstance is quite different from ours. It is highly unlikely we will not be persecuted, tried, and flogged. It is hard for us to relate to being persecuted and flogged and depart rejoicing while in pain from the wounds. Consider their reasoning. They considered it an honor and privilege to be counted worthy of the persecution for preaching good news. Yes, when we stand boldly for the sake of the gospel there will be opposition and we have a decision to make. I’m praying that each of us will make the correct choice, seek the undergirding support of fellow believers, and keep on proclaiming the good news of salvation and hope we have experienced through Jesus the Messiah. To put it in modern vernacular, the kingdom movement being unfolded in Acts is dependent upon believers “keeping on keeping on.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us wisdom to make right choices in all things, consistent with your word, and especially when it involves proclamation of the good news. Give us strength and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to not only know the right choice, but to act on the right choice. Guard us when opposition comes. Give us boldness when opposition comes. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 4

Verse

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. - Acts 4:32-34

Meditation

It had been a rough two days. Many of you have said that recently as a result of having the flu or the intestinal virus. Rough days as a result of illness are difficult, but being questioned for giving a person new life, jailed overnight then to face the court of authorities the next morning is a difficulty none of us have faced. Peter and John faced the difficulty and they stood strong. There are times we have to stand. In those times we need people who have been alongside us who will stand with us. The people who stood with Peter and John were people of prayer and that was the first thing they did when they heard of their difficult days. They prayed for boldness and power. As a result, the Holy Spirit the place was shaken like the day of Pentecost and everyone was filled with the Spirit and note, everyone spoke the word of God boldly. In order to be part of a vibrant kingdom movement we need people alongside us who will pray. But that’s not all and it brings us to our text for today. The new believers had discovered a principle that brought them together and solidified their relationship. Not only did they pray together, but they set aside their own wants and needs to take care of others. The principle of kindness and generosity was embedded in the heart and soul of the movement early. We first read about it a couple of chapters earlier in a more familiar text just after Peter’s first sermon. We see it again. Gathering together with like-minded people, they studied, prayed, broke bread, became like-minded, and took care of everyone’s needs. A vibrant community of faith will take care of the needs of the community. It looks different today than it did then, but it is a vital part of what we do. We are bonded together through the commonality of Christ to study and pray and take care of the needs of one another. There will be difficult days and seasons of life which are too difficult for us to do alone. The people who walk alongside us in the kingdom will help us stand strong when we can’t stand. From boldly proclaiming the gospel to dealing with the difficulties of life, we need people who are standing with us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you today for the people who are kingdom people and are walking this journey of faith with us. We thank you for those particularly called to pray and to be sensitive to needs around them. We thank you for the encouragers and those who get things done. We thank you for the teachers and leaders who have impacted our life. We thank you for the community of faith and pray you will strengthen us and bring us to one heart and mind. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 3

Verse

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” . . . 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. - Acts 3:1-6, 16

Meditation

This story is loaded. Honestly, I almost instantly thought of four devotions I could have written from this one story and the first 16 verses. I’ll stick to one devotion and try to cover all my thoughts. Peter and John were going to the temple at the time of prayer to pray, not to encounter a man who needed a touch from the Lord. They knew the importance of prayer because they could not fulfill the mission of this new movement without the Lord leading every step. So they went to pray. It was important then and it is important now both personally and for the sake of the movement. It was on their way to do the necessary thing they were given the opportunity to offer life to this cripple man. It did not negate the necessity of prayer, it changed the timing of prayer. The man wanted money, Peter and John offered him life transformation because that’s what they had and that’s what the man needed. We have what Peter and John have to offer to those who might ask for money, but need the saving grace and power of Jesus in their life. Let’s offer what we have when given the opportunity. The healing power of Jesus entered the body of the beggar and he was able to stand and began to walk and jump and praise God. Look what happens next. Don’t miss it. When people in the temple saw this man, they instantly recognized him as the cripple beggar and they were filled with wonder and amazement. Others came running to Peter and John to hear the story. We read in the next chapter that hundreds, possibly thousands of people came to Christ because of this man’s encounter with the saving power of Jesus and the willingness of Peter and John to tell the story of Jesus. If we want to be part of a vibrant kingdom moment people need to see and experience what Jesus has done in transforming our life. What Jesus does for us is not something we should keep hidden in our heart. We are disciples who have a story to tell and a story worth telling. A story the world needs to hear and we need to bear witness of. Finally, don’t miss verse 16 and the importance and power of the name of Jesus. Be bold enough to speak the name of Jesus over every part of your life and everything you do. Speaking the name of Jesus over your life should become a natural part of how you live. Not that it should become routine and stale, but so that you are invoking the power in His name over all you say and do and desire. Live into the wealth of this story. You never know, we might see thousands come to faith as part of the kingdom movement God is directing.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have raised us up to walk and praise God and impact lives around us and we are thankful for what you have done. Help us to recognize the opportunities placed before us to witness to the life-changing power of Jesus in our life. Give us boldness and wisdom as we engage people with the good news. Help us to recognize when you are changing the timing of our schedule for the sake of the kingdom. May people see Jesus radiating from our life. It is in His name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 2

Verse

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. . . . 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit . . . 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. . . . 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. . . . 47 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. - Acts 2:1, 4, 38, 42-43, 47

Meditation

The twelve were together, having added Matthias to replace Judas, and they began to see the promises of God unfold. They were obedient and waited. The Holy Spirit came and they were all filled. The metaphors of wind and fire are used to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit. Wind fills every space while fire refines. Note that the wind and fire just didn’t appear, they came with power, the wind blowing violently and the fire separating. It had to have been evident to the apostles gathered in that room they were experiencing what Jesus promised. They wasted no time and off they went to be witnesses to all the world, especially Peter as he preached with conviction and obvious power. So much so that the listeners couldn’t wait to be told what to do next. Peter’s response was simple and included the very words told to him by Jesus. Receive and you will be empowered to be a witness as well. Yes, they were saved from their sins, but they joined the apostles as empowered witnesses in the world. This movement of God needed more than twelve and from the outset what was done in the hearts of the twelve was done in the hearts of the new believers. What was expected of the twelve was being passed on to all those who came to faith. It did not take long to see the fruit of the apostle’s obedience. The new believers gathered and we read there was a spirit of awe in the room as they considered what they had heard and seen and the power of this movement of the Spirit they were joining. So much power that Luke tells us that daily people’s lives were being transformed. Not on Sunday as a result of an invitation, but daily, as a result of the power of the testimonies new believers, sins were forgiven, the gift of the Spirit was received, and the movement was gaining momentum because what happened to the apostles was not kept to themselves but spread to all who would listen. The events and pattern established in these first two chapters have not changed. Obey. Receive. Unleashing power. Witness. We need to unbridle the power of the Spirit within us, become intentional witnesses of transformation, and we again will see people’s lives being transformed daily and this kingdom movement changing the world in which we live.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, use us as your obedient witnesses to unleash the power of your Spirit within us to be a powerful witness in the world. Not to just speak words, but to speak words of life and show evidence in our behavior of being transformed into your likeness. We ask for your Spirit to come upon us with fresh wind and refining fire to empower us to boldly be your witnesses. Do not let us miss one opportunity to fulfill the plan of the kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, January 1, 2024

Today’s Reading - Acts 1

Verse

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. . . . 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:4, 8

Meditation

Happy New Year! We have ushered in and celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. Now we shift and let’s usher in and celebrate the birth of the Church. For the sake of these devotions over the next six weeks and possibly forever, I want to refer to the Church as a movement, something that is not only birthed but is growing. Over the decades, church has become a static word to so many people. Cold and stuck. Jesus said He was the same yesterday, today and forever. The Church should not be that way. A healthy movement is fluid and vibrant and is ever-changing. I want to be part of something that is warm and inviting and this movement has that potential. I want to be part of this kingdom movement birthed by our Father. Spiritually speaking, a movement is something the Holy Spirit is part of, blowing like the wind. Two verses in chapter one, four and eight, are critically important to our understanding the birth and building of this movement. They shape everything that is to follow. We learn four things in these verses that we need to make sure frame our life and our role in continuing the movement. The first is obedience. The disciples were commanded to not leave Jerusalem, but wait. Obedience to that command set the stage. If they would have disobeyed, they would have missed it. The second is receiving the gift which was promised and Jesus spoke about. We know this gift is the Holy Spirit and without the Holy Spirit operating in and through our life and the life of this kingdom movement, it will grow stale and die. The third is receiving power. Without the power of the Holy Spirit this new movement would have failed miserably and would only be a story in history books. With the power of the Holy Spirit, it will be a life-giving movement changing lives and cultures. The fourth is becoming witnesses. The mouthpiece of disciples speaking about the transforming nature of salvation through Jesus Christ will fuel the movement which can change the world. This kingdom movement depends on obedience, the Holy Spirit and his power, and fulfilling our role as witnesses to his power to transform us and do great things through us. Join me as we seek a new sense of vibrancy in this movement of disciples of Christ in 2024. Welcome to the journey!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we want to follow your command to obey, to receive, to operate in power, and to be your witnesses to all the world. Set our hearts and minds on being a leader in the kingdom movement you birthed and built. We declare that in this year we will be part of your work which shows evidence of awakening and transformation like we have never experienced. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 2:36-38

Verse

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. - Luke 2:36-38

Meditation

It’s New Year’s Eve Eve. I don’t know if it has any significance other than you have two days to fulfill all your resolutions or two days to give money to your church if you want it to be counted in 2023. I do know we are winding down the birth story of Jesus as told by Luke and we are introduced to Anna. She was a prophetess, one who proclaims the revelation of truth concerning the will of God. Married only seven years before she became a widow, now spending her entire life at the temple worshiping, fasting and praying. She never left the temple! For just a moment try to fill in the blank between the heartache of becoming a widow and spending night and day at the temple. Everything we know about Anna is contained in three verses. She did not let the emotional pain and hardship of becoming a widow hinder her desire to seek God and his plan for her life. She chose to live into the hope grounded in her Jewish faith that a Messiah would one day come and redeem her nation. She became a worshiper and an intercessor who knew about this Child, our Savior, and what he would mean to the world. As a prophetess, God had spoken things into her heart and mind about him beyond common knowledge. I believe it would be safe to say part of her worship and her prayer and fasting at the temple would have been prayers concerning the coming of the Messiah. She knew her nation needed redemption and we tend to pray for the things we need and the things we love the most. Something happened after the tragedy in her life that set her on a course of honoring God with her life beyond what most of us can fathom. She was not alone looking forward to Jerusalem and the nation of Israel being redeemed. Others were with her that day as she gave thanks for the arrival at the temple of the Messiah, connecting this child to the One who they were all looking forward to seeing. Imagine how wonderful it was for her to take Jesus into her arms and cradle him against her chest. Maybe like she would have done for the child she never had. She spoke encouragement and hope to all those gathered around this powerful moment in the Christmas story. A prophet who had now experienced firsthand all that she had been told would come to pass. Like Simeon, righteous and devout. A prophet who allowed God to turn tragedy into a triumphant fulfillment of all she had hoped and prayed for. Most of all, Anna did not miss the opportunity to speak hope into the life of those who experienced this moment with her. A powerful story contained in just three verses of Luke’s account of our Savior being born.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to see beyond a moment in time and look to what you might do in our life to honor you and see kingdom hope fulfilled. Strengthen us to patiently wait on your will to come to fruition in our life. May we have a spirit of worship and fasting and prayer as we seek you in all things. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Friday, December 29, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 2:25-35

Verse

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. - Luke 2:25-26a

(If you have time, read through verse 35. I will refer to its content.)

Meditation

Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem to complete their time of purification and for the rite of circumcision. Arriving at the Temple, they are greeted by two people who would bless and speak about Jesus and his family. The two are Simeon and Anna. We are told Simeon was devout and righteous and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Without going any further, the description of Simeon is worth noting and we would all do well to be described in a similar fashion. I’m confident he did not just wake up one day and he was all of that. It takes desire, time and maturity to reach that place in our relationship with God. It was not just Simeon’s lucky day he was at the Temple when Jesus arrived, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to be there. Attentiveness to the Holy Spirit with purpose in mind is important. Simeon had been told he would see Jesus and I imagine he was attentive daily to the move of the Spirit to fulfill the promise. This moment had to be ordained of God as Mary and Joseph felt confident enough to hand the baby over to him. Simeon’s blessing and prophetic words upon the life of Jesus are powerful and they are found in verses twenty-nine to thirty-two. This is not one of our favorite parts of the Christmas story but it is very insightful. Simeon declares Jesus has come as light for the Gentiles and glory to the people of Israel. Eight days into the life of Jesus and this man Simeon articulates the purpose and mission of Jesus being born. He would be the Savior to all people. Then he speaks truth many people don’t want to hear. First, Jesus and his message would cause the rise and fall of people, in other words separation because of the message. Second, there will be opposition to the message that will cause difficulty among the followers of Jesus. When difficulty comes in your life because you are obedient to Christ, know it was spoken about on the eighth day of Jesus’ life. Third, the message will reveal the true hearts of people. This part of the Christmas story reveals so much about who Jesus is and what his purpose is. It was a fulfillment of a word the Holy Spirit spoke into Simeon’s heart. But it is profound in understanding the story. Great things happen in our life when we seek to be righteous, devout and full of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for allowing us to experience Simeon. May we learn from him and seek to be attentive and obedient. Walk with us as we live out the message we learn from this encounter with him. Help us to desire the character of Simeon. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 2:21-24

Verse

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” - Luke 2:21-24

Meditation

Mary and Joseph did all they knew to do, be obedient to the Law. They had no knowledge that Jesus came to fulfill the law and one day everybody would understand the concept of grace and be obedient in different ways. They did what they knew to do and that was to honor the Lord by presenting him for consecration and offer the required sacrifice. In their minds they could not consider anything different for fear of dishonoring Yahweh. Obedience such as displayed by Mary and Joseph would be considered a superpower today, along with initiative and common sense to name a couple. But they knew no other way and to them it was not a matter of legalism to be obedient, it was a matter of their life honoring God. I have often said in the last few years that when we honor God with our life, God will honor our life and pour out blessing and favor. Mary and Joseph understood that concept long ago. Three things I want to lift up out of this short snippet of scripture. Obedience is important if we desire to walk in the way of the Lord. Our way if opposed to God’s way is never a better way no matter how eloquently we can articulate our position. Obedience to scriptural thought and action is a necessary part of being a disciple of Christ. Obedience is important and it should never be viewed as a legalistic requirement. As with Mary and Joseph, our obedience should be born out of a desire to honor God with our life. There are so many scriptural metaphors to illustrate the truth that we are representing Christ with our life and we need to be mindful of this truth. Obedience is important, is not legalistic in nature, and finally, there will be times when we can only do what we know to do to be obedient. It might seem awkward or wrong, but we can only do what we know to do. By faith we believe God will repair any mistakes we make. Seek the Lord, do what you know to do, and honor God with a life of obedience.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before you today seeking a heart of obedience, not to follow a set of rules, but to honor you with our life. May every thought and action be pleasing to you. Forgive us when we try to follow you haphazardly and are not mindful of your holiness. Guide every step of this day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 2:15-20

Verse

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. - Luke 2:16-18

Meditation

As we approach the end of this year, only four more days, let’s go back into the story of Jesus’ birth and join the shepherds and look forward with anticipation of a fruitful year ahead. One of the dominant occurrences of the story is how God took the most unlikely people and the most unexpected situations and wove them into such an important role in the story. The shepherds are a prime example. Although it’s been said many times, many ways (you’ll be singing that the rest of the day), the shepherds would have been last in line to receive an invitation to go see Jesus. Just as astounding is the fact that people listened to what they were saying and were amazed by what they heard. The shepherd’s voices and message rang out with believability because they had experienced the living Christ. The miracle of the Christmas story is the Son of God being born of flesh and blood to save the world. The many miracles related to the story include the lowly shepherds becoming main characters. Their life and their story made a huge kingdom impact. We will see this occur again and again throughout the New Testament. No one believed a Samaritan woman could help transform an entire village but she did. As we look forward to the coming year, I invite you to live with the anticipation of being a main character in the kingdom story. Live with the anticipation you are going to profoundly encounter Jesus and in telling your story people will be amazed. When people are amazed by what Jesus has done, their lives are changed. When they are amazed at Jesus, not you, their life will be transformed into something beautiful in the kingdom of God. Expect the casting call. God just may be casting you as one of the main characters of His story in the coming year!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the call to shepherds and look forward to hearing our call. Use us to tell a story which will change lives and make a difference in the kingdom. Remove our hesitations and reservations and give us boldness to proclaim your amazing truth found in our story. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 1:39-56

Verse

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. - Luke 1:39-41

Meditation

There is a song “When You Walk into the Room” in which I’m going to borrow some random lyrics I thought of when I read our text. Imagine for a moment Jesus still in the womb, Mary walks into the room with Elizabeth, her baby leaps in the womb with joy and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. Let that sink in a minute. When Jesus walked into Elizabeth’s room. Everything changes. Darkness starts to tremble. Every heart starts burning. Nothing matters more than just to sit at Your feet and worship You. Sickness starts to vanish. Hopeless situations cease to exist. The dead begin to rise. We love you and we’ll never stop. Indeed, when Jesus walks into the room everything changes. As Jesus walks into your room today begin to let him change everything that is not healthy in some way. That does not necessarily mean remove it, it means change. And it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all bad. Some things will be removed and other things improved. Change can mean removed or improved. Yes, when Jesus walks into the room our hearts should leap with joy and our spirit filled with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus walks into the room of your life everything changes. When Jesus walked into the world’s room as Emmanuel everything changed. That moment has not changed. Everything changes when Jesus walks into the room.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, prepare our hearts and walk into our room. Let us open the door gladly and with open arms receive the change that comes when Jesus walks into our room. Remove and improve is our prayer. Do not let us resist your work. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 1:26-38

Verse

27 . . . The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. - Luke 1:27b-30

Meditation

Because of human nature we tend to default into thinking the worst in most situations especially when caught unaware. Mary was no different and was afraid. I’m sure she thought she was in trouble as this was a very unusual situation. Angels didn’t come and speak very often. But when they did, it was good news! We learn three important things in this angel encountering the virgin story. I’ll share them briefly lest you think it’s about to be a three point sermon and three pages long. One, Mary found favor with God. Two, the Lord was with her and would be with her throughout the impending journey. Therefore, three, there was no need to be afraid. As we close in on Christmas, you may encounter a God moment, an angel, somewhere along the way and most likely you are being nudged to be used by God in a very special way. Don’t be afraid. You’re being chosen because you are the right person in the right moment. You have been favored for the very moment you find yourself in. And the Lord will be with you and provide every word and every resource you need. He did for Mary. I can say that because I know the rest of the story. Keep your eyes open and your ears in tune for an angel calling your name and the Lord preparing to use you mightily to show forth Christ in all his glory!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show us favor so we might hear from an angel and be the hands and feet of Christ for somebody seeking to find a glimmer of light in their life. Or let us hear a word to affirm your presence in our life. May the Spirit speak mightily in our lives today for the sake of the kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 1:5-25

Verse

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” - Luke 1:23-25

Meditation

Many people have, but I would say most of us have never experienced public disgrace. Elizabeth had. We might not have experienced public disgrace but we have all experienced private disgrace, or disgrace among a few. Elizabeth’s disgrace was about as deep as any female could experience in her day and time. She was barren, she could not conceive and give birth to a child. She would never experience the joy of motherhood and always face the disdain of the general public because childbirth was the expectation of every female. Or at least she thought. She and Zechariah were old, way beyond child bearing age when God intervened and they became part of the Christmas story. Just when they thought all hope was lost of Elizabeth ever fulfilling one of the expectations of every woman, God shows up in their life and she becomes pregnant. It’s the story of a miracle of epic proportions in a couple’s life who had given up hope of ever turning around this disgrace. But it happened! And she gave birth to John who would play a prominent role in Jesus being ushered into the world and then announcing him and his ministry. Don’t give up on whatever you might be calling disgraceful in your life. You might be on the verge of God showing great favor in your life and taking it away. We will never understand God’s timing but we’ve experienced his favor. And you may soon be able to sing the same song as Elizabeth and testify to the goodness of God who has taken away your disgrace. Remember, Zechariah and Elizabeth were both upright before the Lord and obedient to his commands and beyond child-bearing age. A godly couple shown favor when it was least expected. Don’t give up on God’s favor.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we lay before your altar whatever in our life we might label as disgraceful and hindering us in our relationship with you. Show favor into our lives and fill our lives with grace which removes the disgrace. Whether public or private, show favor and restore us to experience the joy of our salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, December 18, 2023

Today’s Reading - Matthew 1:1-17

Verse

1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: . . . 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. - Matthew 1:1, 17

Meditation

When genealogy is recorded in scripture it is instantly registered in our mind that we will skip over it to make the reading go faster. The first seventeen verses of Matthew are the recorded genealogy of Jesus but I invite you to peruse through it and check out the people who appear in the family of Jesus the Messiah. You will find some interesting, important, and maybe surprising names. Abraham. Tamar. Boaz. Rahab. Ruth. David. Josiah. There are some mighty big names in the list but there are mostly people just like me and you. Very ordinary. There are probably a few we don’t want to be like. Some were leaders and kings while others we know very little about. Some we know more than we want to know. When David asked the question in Psalm 24 “Who is this King of glory?”, one answer is surely the king of all people. People with an assortment of history to their credit. Jesus came to be everyone’s king and it is portrayed in this simple list of names we often overlook. He comes to save the world, not just part of the world. He comes to save people from every race and creed. He comes to save the kings and the slaves. The free and the oppressed. The saints and the sinners. Arms open wide to welcome you and me because we will blend into his family just fine. Welcome to His family, the family of the Messiah.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we rejoice today to be included in the family of King Jesus. We rejoice because we are included even though our family tree may not look too good. We are thankful it’s good enough for your grace and mercy. We bow in humility at the honor of being part of the family of God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Friday, December 15, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 1:29-34

Verse

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! - John 1:29

Meditation

Many of you know the joy of a child running to meet a parent and jumping in outstretched arms after they haven’t seen each other for a long period of time. Others of you know the escalated joy when the separation is an extended period of time like military deployment. The words, “Look, there’s Mom” or “There’s Dad” are sometimes the best words a child can hear. Imagine the joy and sense of fulfillment within John’s audience when he proclaimed, “Look, the Lamb of God.” We know they didn’t fully understand, but they had waited a long time with the greatest of anticipation. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world resonated with every ear. To the Jew and Gentile alike there was a need for deliverance and restoration. It was the Messiah who had been promised. Now he was here. It was more real because Jesus was now an adult. There would be great joy in the land because it was a new day and a new way. Be a child again and live in the spiritual moment and hear the words again, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Don’t fast forward in the story and focus on all the questions and misconceptions. To truly experience Advent and Christmas you need to live in this moment like a child. See that baby in a manger as if you’ve never seen him before. With giddish anticipation and great expectation welcome him into your life. He comes today like he did the day John announced it to the crowd. He comes today like that morning in a manger. Let’s receive him as if it is the first time to hear the words, “A baby is born. The Lamb of God.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we run to the Messiah with open arms to welcome him. We desire to live our life forever with this fresh, new welcome. Every day. Do not let our relationship grow old and our faith grow weak. May we always run to him and receive restoration and the spirit of the living God within us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 1:19-28

Verse

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” - John 1:22-23

Meditation

In preparation for Jesus beginning his public ministry, John spent time explaining who he was not. We’ve done that before after being accused of doing something or being somebody we are not. John had to be clear that he was not Christ. He also made it very clear using the words of Isaiah that he was preparing the way for the Lord to come. He concluded by saying prepare the way for him to come. John described the preparation in a way that resonates with our spirit during this season of Christmas. He said make straight the way for the Lord. In other words, make it the shortest and easiest pathway for him to come which implies, remove the obstacles, get rid of all the hindrances. Now John is speaking to us. We must be honest about our pathway for Christ to daily come into our life, to come with newness of meaning in just a few days when we celebrate his birth. John’s call for making the path straight for Christ to come was thirty years after he was born but it applies to us right now if we want to truly claim the meaning of Christ’s birth. Anything of value takes time and effort. If we walk through this Christmas season with any intent of the message adding value to our life, we have to take time and make the effort. One thing we need to do is pause and consider how straight our pathway is for Christ to be born into our life in a new and exciting way. The other option is we let the season pass and it’s just the same ole same ole. What a shame that would be! Clear the path. Remove the obstacles. Make time in your schedule and make the effort to prepare your heart for Christ. Make it easy for Him to come in his fullness.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, search our hearts to its very depth. Cause us to pause our life for the sake of the coming of the newborn King. Reveal to us the obstacles or hindrances that will make it difficult for us to fully embrace Christ who came for us. May our paths be made straight in the desert places of our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 1:101-18

Verse

16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. - John 1:16-17

Meditation

Every time I read the word fullness in the context of describing the measure in which I can experience some part of God in my relationship with him, I get excited and pay close attention. Fullness. All of it. Whether it be the love of God, the mercy and forgiveness of God, just the fullness of God himself, or the fullness of his grace that comes through Jesus Christ, we need to be keenly aware of what is being said. There is nothing more fundamental to the understanding of our faith than grace, those gifts from God which are given out of the goodness of his heart. To know we are under the umbrella of the fullness of grace is almost impossible to comprehend. Wrapped up in the Christmas story is that grace was born in a manger and we experience the fullness of grace. Walking alongside grace is truth. It was born in the manger as well. It is truth which puts boundaries on our mind and heart to give guidance to our life. It is truth which prevents us from cheapening grace to the point we have no boundaries. We will experience the fullness of God, whether it be his forgiveness, his love, or his grace, to greater measure when we live within the boundaries of truth. A right understanding of grace and truth will open the floodgates of one blessing after another after another being poured into our life. Our tendency is to hold onto grace with all our strength and occasionally hold truth like walking on eggshells. Both were born that first Christmas morning and receiving the fullness of grace is directly related to living within the boundaries of truth. Don’t miss out on the fullness of grace, one blessing after another, because you don’t like the truth.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we rejoice that you loved us to the point of sending Jesus Christ to give great grace and show us the truth. Forgive us for embracing grace and ignoring truth. Let us live joyfully knowing that we are receiving one blessing after another because of the fullness of your grace and we give you thanks. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 1:1-9

Verse

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. - John 1:1-2

Meditation

We turn the corner from prophecy to gospel and we begin with John’s account of the birth narrative which in itself is prophetic in nature. John does not give us the details of the birth like other writers but chose a theological explanation. With verse one and two he began with a profound understanding of who Jesus is. A concept that would rock the religious world. Jesus is God. Not just now but from the beginning. It is one of the most discussed theological principles and one of the hardest to grasp. Central to our understanding of the power and presence of Jesus Christ is the Trinity. Father. Son. Holy Spirit. All one. What is incredibly unique about Jesus, the Son, is that he is both divine and human at the same time. Exhibiting both character traits together. He was fully human, without sin, and fully divine, bearing the character of the Most High. It’s incomprehensible to the human mind but part of the uniqueness that makes him who he is. It is the mystery that makes Jesus the Messiah. It is the miracle that God performed for each of us. Jesus is fully God with us, fully understands us, and can fully reconcile us to the King of Kings. He is bringing us to himself. Glory to the King!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we welcome Jesus the Messiah, holy one from above, come to us in the glory of your divinity and the simpleness of your humanity. Be with us, do a work in us, show forth your glory through us. May your kingdom come and your will be done. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus’ we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, December 11, 2023

Today’s Reading - Micah 5:1-5

Verse

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” . . . 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. - Micah 5:2, 4

Meditation

We have taken a brief tour of the prophecies about the birth of Jesus and we conclude with Micah who drives home some very important points. He spoke of the humble birth by framing the birthplace to be among the smallest of the clans of Judah. Then Micah speaks of the strength and greatness and majesty of the one to come and yet the humble role of a shepherd Jesus will embrace. If the people listening to Micah’s prophetic voice in real time paid close attention to the last words of verse four, they would have been stunned. The ends of the earth would have included people that had zero relationship with or connection to Abraham in their minds. It would include me and you for which we are grateful. Micah makes a very pointed statement about Jesus coming for all people and this would have taken the breath away from the hearer. It causes us to rejoice and be glad in it. Remember it took Peter until the events found in Acts 10 to truly understand that Jesus came for Jews and Gentiles alike. And for Jews and Gentiles alike Jesus came in the humblest of circumstances to rule with strength and majestic wonder and to be great among all people. Yet, he will do it like a shepherd tending his flock, as our caregiver, as a loving father, and as the giver of peace and love and joy. We are acquainted with the image of Jesus being the lion and the lamb and the opposite nature of those two animals. The same applies here. For Jesus to come in majesty with strength and greatness and rule like a shepherd is a role that can truly reach the ends of the earth. And include me and you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son who embraces an image of strength and humility at the same time. We need both. We need love and comfort and we need discipline. We need to be fed and we need to rest in peace. We need to be brought back to the flock on occasion. We rejoice in the Son you sent us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Today’s Reading - Isaiah 40:1-11

Verse

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. . . . 11 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 40:1, 11

Meditation

Of all the themes and metaphors that surface related to the birth of Jesus, one that we all certainly resonate with is that He came to be a shepherd. Then one day he announced he was the Good Shepherd. Out of that image comes the theme of comfort. No one is immune from needing comfort, whether on a daily basis because of a raw heartache or when an unexpected situation or crisis arises. There are many images that can be used to describe comfort, but maybe none better than that of a shepherd. This particular prophecy begins with a cry for comfort then speaks to the entire life of Jesus all the way to the cross and ends with this metaphor of a shepherd who provides all things for his sheep, including comfort. A powerful and effective expression of comfort is being held which we most identify with as a parent holds a child in their arms. Jesus came as the great comforter and it began when God called a shepherd out of the field to be king and then announced the King would come to comfort like a shepherd. Jesus announced at the end of his life that he would be with us forever by sending us a Comforter. Very few things could be as comforting as knowing Jesus holds us close to his heart and leads us through the perils of life. Of all the needs we have as children of God, comfort might be at the top of the list. Jesus is coming for many reasons, one being quite important, to comfort those who need comforting. Allow the Good Shepherd to hold you in his arms close to his heart when your heart aches and seems to be crushing your soul.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, yes indeed, we need you to hold us close to your heart and comfort us with the words and strength that only you have. When life spirals, you comfort and bring calm in the midst of chaos and crisis. Help us to feel and experience the embrace of your arms and comfort around our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Friday, December 8, 2023

Today’s Reading - Isaiah 11

Verse

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people . . . Isaiah 11:10-11

Meditation

One of the themes occasionally addressed during the Advent season is the second coming of Christ. The obvious theme is to dwell on his first coming and how Christ might be born into our present reality. But there are verses like this one and others that at the same time we are focusing on his first coming we must acknowledge the reality of his second coming. Honestly, most people would prefer not mentioning the second coming because of its finality and Christmas is all about the beginning. And honestly, I rarely do. But on this sixth day of Advent, let us spend a moment or two thinking forward, thinking on that day when Christ will come a second time and gather his remnant. Because in fact it will be a beginning as well, the beginning of the new heaven and the new earth. There are so many questions about it that cannot be answered and it leaves us wondering about the details. But here is one thing I know for certain. I want to be included among the remnant and if I do, I will prepare for that day with the same passion I prepare for his first coming, that day we call Christmas. Much effort is put forth by preachers and Sunday School teachers to encourage people not to miss Christmas and its message. I want to encourage you this day not to miss Christ’s second coming. May our hearts be found right with the Lord today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, grant us grace as we not only prepare for the celebration of your first coming but also as we seek to be ready for your second coming. Forgive us for not seeking you with our whole heart. Give us passion to seek and to live and to serve. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Today’s Reading - Isaiah 9:1-7

Verse

6 . . . And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

Meditation

You might be singing a song in your mind right now. This verse is so familiar and so much has been written and sung about this verse. Of all the prophecies about the birth of Jesus, we remember this one. These four descriptive terms speak volumes about the nature of who Jesus will be to his people. You know that in the Hebrew culture when a name is given to a baby it is more than just a name, it reflects who that child is and the character of the child. When God spoke through Isaiah these words and the names came forth, people listened because they knew who the Messiah would be. Take the names without the adjectives and they are powerful in themselves. Counselor. God. Father. Peace. Add the adjectives and you have an understanding of the Christ child, the Savior, the Messiah, which is elevated above all human comprehension. An understanding which should leave us in awe. Just consider the many times in one day alone where you needed God to relate to you as a counselor, or as a God with great might, or just your father, or the one who brings peace in the midst of chaos. Yep, your list is probably as inclusive as mine. All four intersect my life most every day. The beauty of the Child is found in many ways, including His name. Live today in the power and authority and assurance of his name. If it is prophesied, it is promised, and God faithfully fills every promise. Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we call on all of who Christ is as you prophesied through Isaiah to join with us today in the various directions our day will take. May we recognize your presence in our heart as we deal with what lies ahead. Forgive us for handling things on our own when you are right by our side. We celebrate the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Be all these in us today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Today’s Reading - Isaiah 7:1-17

Verse

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:10-14

Meditation

They needed a sign. We need signs. We get lost without signs. GPS on our phones is the new road signs. We need signs when making decisions. We need confirmation we are making the right decision. We need spiritual signs as well. Ahaz, the King of Judah, needed a sign on behalf of his people and the people of Israel. The two nations had joined forces and fought unsuccessfully to try and regain Jerusalem. Then Ahaz got word that there was a plan to destroy Judah. The Lord told him it wasn’t going to happen and to stand firm. The Lord told Ahaz to ask for a sign, Ahaz refused to ask, too fearful to test God, and yet God gave him a sign. A son. A child born to a virgin would be born and his name will be Immanuel. The very meaning of the name and the brief description of Immanuel choosing right and wrong describes a prophet sign Judah was not looking for. It was not the sign they wanted but it was the one they got. I doubt there is one person reading this that hasn’t cried out to God for a sign. When in a crisis we have cried out for a sign that things will get better. When we are making decisions when there is not a clear answer, we have cried out for help in choosing. When we have been faced with choosing between good and good, we have asked for a sign to lead us to the best decision. Steps of faith to deepen our relationship with Jesus often requires hard choices and we need a sign. As we celebrate the birth of Christ this year, let’s seek the deep meaning that Ahaz heard and was probably stunned when he heard it. Maybe as you seek the deep meaning you need a sign. Don’t see it as testing God, see it as invoking the heart of God to show you what he wants to show you that will lead to that deeper relationship. I believe God loves us so much he will joyfully point us to a sign that will give new direction to our life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we ask you not to test you but to seek your guidance this Christmas so that we might see the meaning of Christ’s birth new and afresh. Show us the way to a deeper relationship with you, a deeper walk of faith in all areas of our life, or maybe a sign to give assurance in a crisis. We ask for whatever we need. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Today’s Reading - Jeremiah 23:1-18

Verse

5 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.” - Jeremiah 23:5-6

Meditation

In a world with the inability to communicate other than verbally, Jeremiah and Isaiah must have talked, or word spread incredibly fast, or God spoke the same word about a Branch into each prophet’s heart because it is so important. I chose this prophecy first because it helped them and helps us understand the nature of the Messiah. The focus is on righteousness and not military might! The King who is coming will be righteous and it is by that name he will be called. The Hebrew for “The Lord Our Righteous Savior” is Yahweh Tsidkenu. The name includes the most holy of all the names, Yahweh, and then a word which means justified, holy, and straight. What that meant for Jesus, the King who is coming, is found right there in the text. He will be wise and relate to us as a just king doing what is right. We often want a prejudiced king or a fair king or a Santa Claus king. But Jesus is a king who ruled and reigned with wisdom, favoring justice and doing what was right regardless of other opinions. This is what we should really want because He would be too much like us if he showed favoritism or gave us everything we wanted. Jesus was not only that King but he wants us to be that follower. He imparts righteousness into us in order for us to be righteousness in the world. We are made righteous to be the fragrance of Christ in the world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as you are born anew into us today may we come face to face with the opportunity to be true righteousness in the world. May we follow in your footsteps of wisdom and justice and righteousness. Guide us in each of these moments. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, December 4, 2023

Today’s Reading - Psalm 24

Verse

7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory. - Psalm 24:7-10

Meditation

When David wrote this, he knew. His people didn’t, but he knew. David knew that the Messiah would come to conquer the greatest spiritual battle we will face. His people thought they knew the Messiah would come to restore Israel to its rightful place of glory. David knew, but it would take his people many years to fully understand, even after the Messiah came. We have begun the season of Advent. Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent, focusing on the hope and expectation found in the birth of Christ. What a wonderful time of the year in so many ways, especially as we capture the relevant meaning of Christ’s birth in our life right now. David is reminding us that in this season of Advent, we must make a way for Christ to come into our life, the King of Glory, who comes again, mighty and strong to fight for us. It is easy to get distracted and busy and not lift the gates of our heart and let Christ in. David deemed it important enough to emphasize how necessary it is as he repeated it in just a short few verses. We each come to this season of Advent and Christmas with a unique need for Christ to be born into our life. Most likely we have a sturdy gate surrounding that need which needs to be lifted in order to let Christ in. But we are hesitant to open the door to our heart because we don’t have time or we don’t know what might happen if we do. The King of Glory cannot be strong and mighty for you unless we let him and open the gate for him to walk through. The gates people would have thought of when reading this psalm were the gates which fortified a city. They were huge and took many men to open them. Your heart only needs one person to open it and let Christ in. It is a wonderful time of year to allow Christ to be strong and mighty on your behalf and your unique need for a Savior. Open the gate.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, in the midst of our resistance we open the heavy gate of our heart and let the Lord Almighty, the King of Glory, come in. We give you our battles we face and pray that through your might and strength those battles will be defeated. We declare no weapon formed against us will prosper because you are the King of Glory who came and comes again. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Friday, December 1, 2023

Today’s Reading - Psalm 107

Verse

8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

9 for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things. - Psalm 107:8-9

Meditation

As they say, short and sweet and to the point. There are several things in these two short verses to be thankful for. The Lord’s unfailing love, his wonderful deeds, and he satisfies and fills. I want to focus on his unfailing love as we close out this month of focus on giving thanks. Because we daily live in the reality of our humanity, we give people reasons not to love us. It is painful and often hard to reconcile. In our understanding of human nature, we are not perfect and sin creeps into our life. When that happens, we realize that sin breaks the heart of God and in our mind, gives Him reason not to love us. The good news this morning, without much ado, is we cannot break the heart of God to the point He does not love us. I lift up this passage from Psalm 107 where the Psalmist specifically calls on people to give thanks for God’s unfailing love, but this truth is found throughout scripture. The very basis for the concept of grace is his unfailing love. Regardless of what we think in our minds, God will always love us and extend his arms of compassion to us. I leave you with the powerful thought this morning. God’s love for each and every person never fails!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, all we can say is thank you for always loving us, even when it appears we have given you a perfect reason not to. Thank you that your love never fails when our love does. May we live this day and every day to come with the assurance that you love us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Today’s Reading - Hebrews 13

Verse

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. - Hebrews 13:15-16

Meditation

In this final chapter, the author randomly exhorts the readers on several subjects. As you read all the different exhortations these two might seem the least daunting of them all until we notice the word sacrifice is used in both. Remember, this book was written to a predominantly Jewish audience helping them remain faithful to following Christ. To the target audience, the use of the word sacrifice elevates the importance beyond a cursory thanks and doing good to the core of what it meant to faithfully worship Yahweh and being submissive and obedient. Offering thanks and praise, doing good and sharing with others now becomes a very serious spiritual matter, not something we do in passing or because it makes us feel better. For those who had an understanding that pleasing God meant obedience to the law and properly offering sacrifices, these verses struck at their heart and would never be taken lightly. The author also exhorts us to continually do these things. We say that often during this season that the idea of giving thanks should not be a day or season of the year, but an integral part of our character. So yes, let us continually give thanks and praise by openly professing the name of Jesus. Let us continually do good and share with others. And let’s do these things as a sacrificial act, as if we are offering something to God himself. Rewind back to the opening words of these verses. The exhortation is not to be a legalistic practice we are most likely to do poorly over time, it is to be an act of Jesus Christ leading and guiding and becoming the centerpiece of praise and good works. When we offer praise and do good through Christ, it will indeed be pleasing to God as he receives our sacrifice.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, receive our sacrifice of praise and lead us to the places where doing good and sharing with others is a natural outflow of our relationship with you. We seek Jesus to lead us as we offer our sacrifices. May you be pleased in every way and may people see the light of Christ in all we do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Today’s Reading - Philippians 4

Verse

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:4-7

Meditation

Consider the source. We use that phrase when we want to add value to information being shared or to question the accuracy of the information. We need to consider the source when tucked right in the middle of Paul’s admonition to rejoice always and not be anxious about anything, he says bring your requests to God with thanksgiving. The person who might have more jail time than any first century person is pairing thanksgiving with a seemingly difficult request. I don’t think he is being impractical or simply theoretical, I believe he is speaking out of his own experience of hardship to help us correctly frame our heart and mind. Thanksgiving is the key to the peace of heart and mind which he says will be the result of coming to God with a thankful heart. Our lives cannot be separated from the goodness of God and we should not lose sight of it regardless of the situation we are facing. Anytime we pause and give thanks it has a calming effect and gentleness becomes evident. It helps us realize the Lord is in fact always near. We tend to look at these four verses as four separate and distinct principles that Paul randomly strung together. I believe it is one principle connected with the concept of thanksgiving. Paul in his typical writing style didn’t put it in correct order for us to understand the connection of the verses, but thanksgiving allows all the other concepts to fit together. A thankful heart and mind allows so many other things to be manifested in our life like rejoicing, gentleness, calm and peace. Give it a try. Consider the source sitting in jail speaking these words.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, in the midst of whatever is going on in our life today, we pause to give your thanks for your goodness and for the assurance that you have an answer to every request we bring before you. We face our own emotional and situational jail time, but in spite of that we give you thanks for your goodness. We seek gentleness, calm and peace to come forth in our life today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Today’s Reading - Revelation 7

Verse

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen! Praise and glory

and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever.

Amen!” - Revelation 7:11-12

Meditation

Of all the words we could use to express our feelings toward God or our love for Him, the angels chose seven and John recorded them for us. Thanks was among the words chosen. Sometimes there are no words that are adequate. Sometimes you have to list several like we read today and hopefully the string of words capture the thoughts running through your mind and the emotions of your heart. We can be thankful for many things in a horizontal perspective, things of this world, but there are times when our only focus needs to be vertical, toward the heavens, toward the glory of God. And in those moments, there are not enough words or phrases which are truly adequate to express our thanks, but remember the angels, bowing before Him on the throne, considered it important enough to include thanks among the seven they chose. As the angels worshiped their heart was moved to include in their expression of worship that it was important to point toward a lifetime of worshipful expression. To say these words one time was not enough in their mind, they looked beyond the moment and offered these words to be unto God for ever and ever. It might be that the words of the angels are perfect for you and I invite you to pause during the day and just repeat verse twelve several times. You might think of words which express your heart of thanks and praise in more meaningful ways. Use them. Today, let’s give glory to God in a way which expresses the thoughts of our mind and the emotions of our heart. And include thanks.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we bow before you today in a posture of worship and join with the angels before your throne and simply say, Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. And Amen again. We worship you forever and ever with hearts of gratitude. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, November 27, 2023

Today’s Reading - Psalm 35

Verse

15 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you. - Psalm 35:15

Meditation

King David was a leader among leaders as we say. Some people naturally gain respect and have authority and they can determine the emotional atmosphere in almost any gathering of people. They are able to influence outcomes. I believe David was one of those people. A leader among leaders who is widely respected will leverage their influence for the good of all people. In spiritual terms, as followers of Christ, we want to leverage our influence for good and not evil. You might not consider yourself a leader among leaders, but you can leverage your influence for good and not evil and you might be quite surprised at how often you can determine the atmosphere or mood among a group of people. You have experienced what I am talking about. Let one negative person get into a conversation and the entire conversation turns south and has the possibility of gaining enough momentum so that all the conversations have a negative tone about them. David took advantage of his influence and gave thanks and praise during the assembly of people, among a great host of people. We have biblical accounts of David doing this at other times. The context of this psalm is David pleading to God for help in the midst of His seemingly absent presence against his enemies and to overcome his distress because of the situation. I’m sure the listeners joined with David in the plea. About half way through this psalm David changes the mode, redirects their thoughts and resets the atmosphere. He paused the thought process to give thanks to the Lord God. I imagine it took great courage in this situation to stop and give thanks and praise to his Lord and King. We can do the same. Have courage among the throngs you find yourself with to influence the direction of the gathering and give testimony to the goodness of God and give thanks. We will be tempted to join the lament of our present situation but we can always pause and give thanks. You will be surprised at the instantaneous difference it makes and you will have been a powerful witness for the sake of our good, good God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we make our way through life give us courage to speak of your goodness and give thanks in situations where the atmosphere needs to change. Give us a measure of influence we don’t realize we have. Give us a simple and clear word of thanks and praise which will penetrate the hearts of those who most need to hear. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, November 23, 2023, Thanksgiving Day

Today’s Reading - Psalm 100

Verse

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2 Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Meditation

The Hymn of Thanksgiving. That’s what I call it because in my mind it is the second most beloved psalm written and the one we read every time we think of giving thanks. Three verses strongly encourage, almost admonish, us to offer praise and thanksgiving to God, and in this case Yahweh, the most holy One. Two verses really hone in on why, verses three and five. Focus on those two verses and just let them speak to you. Consider the meaning behind the image of being one of his sheep in the pasture of the Great Shepherd. And then live this day, especially this day, and every day in the trust, hope and assurance God is good, his love endures forever and his faithfulness is eternal. It’s a day of praise and thanksgiving. Read the psalm as many times as necessary to allow it to permeate every fiber of your being. You have time. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, holy One, Yahweh, we enter into your courts, into the throne room of grace, simply to praise your name and give you thanks for being the Great Shepherd and counting us as sheep in your pasture. Even when sheep are being sheep, you are good, you love us in spite of us being sheep, and you will faithfully be graceful and merciful until eternity. For that we give you all our praise and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ holy and precious name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Today’s Reading - Ephesians 3

Verse

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. - Ephesians 1:15-17

Meditation

Sounds familiar I’m sure. Paul made a very similar statement about the believers in Philippi. There must have been a solid core, or maybe a large number, of believers in Ephesus who were joyfully and vibrantly living out their faith in Christ and their love for all of God’s people. He couldn’t stop giving thanks for them! Not only could he not stop giving thanks but he kept asking for more and more and more for the people. More wisdom and revelation so they might be the smartest people on the planet. Wrong. So they might know God, our glorious Father as Paul called him, better and better and better. Put yourself on the receiving side of Paul’s thanks. We should desire to be living our relationship with Christ, our faith, our love for all God’s people, in such a way that those who know us well will be giving thanks and praying that we might have great wisdom and new revelation so that we will know our Father better. I believe there are people in each of our lives that come to mind who are faithful and loving above and beyond the norm that they are worthy of offering a prayer of thanksgiving for them. Just because of their great faith. Just because of their great love. Just because they passionately seek to love Him more. And then we should give thanks for the measure of faith and love that we have, well beyond what we deserve, and pray for the same wisdom and revelation that we might know Him better. We should all desire to be included in the group of faithful and loving Ephesian people who Paul was excited to give thanks for and to continually pray for. Know I am praying prayers of thanksgiving for each one of you today. Obviously not by name, but out of a heart of thanksgiving for you that you would pause and read this devotion. By reading, I know you have deep love for God our Father.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing us with faith and love that allows us to love you and love others. I give thanks for all those who have great faith in Jesus and love for his people that have crossed my path and those I never will know. I pray that I might desire great wisdom and new revelation to know You better. I pray that all people might be filled with the Spirit today which draws them closer to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Today’s Reading - Philippians 1

Verse

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:3-6

Meditation

We are who we are because the I AM tells us who we are. We’ve met the Author of our story and he’s the great I AM. These two sentences are taken from a song I listen to often. When God authors our story, he puts people in our lives who are part of our story. Paul is giving thanks for the people of Philippi who are part of his story and who have partnered in the gospel with him from the very beginning. There are people in our life who are part of our story in a significant way who deserve thanks. They might have been part of a significant relationship forming, securing a job that has turned into a career, or maybe as quick as a kind word at a critical moment and you might not know their name. Let’s give thanks for all the people in our story, those whose names we know and those we don’t. Then there are people who were partnering in the gospel in some way and they are part of your spiritual story. A Sunday School teacher or small group leader, a pastor, a singer/songwriter you will never meet but penned lyrics to a song which has made a difference, or a person whose vibrant witness was so impactful it changed you. Give thanks for those people who helped write the part of your story which will have eternal impact on your life. And finally, give thanks to the Author of your story. He has promised to finish the work which He began in you the day He spoke the first words of the story you are living out. Paul says so much about the joy of giving thanks in these few verses we need to be mindful of. He was. He prayed for those people and gave thanks for them each and every day. It’s a good thing to do.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we do give you thanks today for each and every person in our life who has been a part of our story. Some for many years, others for just an instant. Some in practical ways, some in eternal ways. We give you thanks for all of them, names we know and names we don’t. Most of all, we give thanks to you for authoring our story and promising to see it to completion. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, November 20, 2023

Today’s Reading - Colossians 3

Verse

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:15-17

Meditation

Be at peace in Christ and be thankful. Let the word of Christ permeate your soul as you are an empowered witness in the world and be thankful. Do all things in the name of Christ and be thankful. In the midst of the stress and strain of life, peace is certainly an attribute we long for. When glimpses of peace or seasons of peace and contentment are realized, experienced and enjoyed we have every reason to be thankful. We long for the days when the complexity of life does not blind us to the peace we have in Christ. And for those days we are thankful. It is natural to be thankful when we realize the goodness of God being manifested in our life. Peace. It is slightly different to be thankful as we fulfill the kingdom purpose we all share together of witnessing to the goodness of God. Paul says as we teach and admonish each other do it with a heart of gratitude. That’s a little bit harder. But when we think about being blessed with the word of Christ in our heart and soul and the joy of sharing the word in a wide variety of contexts, we should, and can do that with a heart of gratitude. And we should give thanks for being part of the witnesses God has sent into the world to reach people with the Word. Christ in us. Paul concludes his thoughts by saying whatever we do, whether it is speaking and doing a good deed, do it in Jesus’ name and give thanks. It is as if he thought giving thanks is bigger than just when admonishing one another, I’ll just tell the people in everything they do, do it with a heart of gratitude. All things. Give thanks. It seems Paul wrote these verses with a spirit of calmness and encouragement and you feel good just reading them. Peace. Word. All things. Give thanks.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we do seek peace in our heart and life at all times and we give you thanks for all the peace we enjoy because Christ dwells in us. May all that we say and do be reflective of a heart of gratitude for being part of your kingdom and the work that is before us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Today’s Reading - Psalm 9

Verse

1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. - Psalm 9:1-2

Meditation

This might feel more like a Bible study assignment than a devotion but here goes. There is significant scholarship which says Psalm 9 and 10 may have originally been a single acrostic poem in which alternating lines began with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet similar to Psalm 119. This is how it is included in the Septuagint, the original Greek translation of the Old Testament. If you have time, read the two Psalms as one. In reading them both together, you will read a beautiful representation from Israel’s perspective (actually King David’s) of who God is and all that He does and some graphic detail of wicked humanity. It would take a little time but it’s Saturday so you might have some extra time today to read Psalms 9 and 10 and think in terms of your perspective today which means taking the specific details of David’s descriptions and thinking how the details apply in principle to your life. God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever, therefore, who God is and what God does in principle has not changed. Here are a few examples. God still reigns forever, he turns back our enemies, he will judge in righteousness and govern with justice, and he has never forsaken his people. The wickedness of humanity has not changed in principle. Because of this, we can pause today and take a few minutes to simply praise Him with all of our heart and rejoice and be glad that He has not changed. I need to give you a heads up. Attempting this exercise might lead you to an understanding of God that is not exactly like your current concept of God. Regardless of the outcome and the questions which might arise, live into the simplicity and beauty of the two verses above. They are our prayer today and feel free to expand it and express it in your own way.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Friday, November 17, 2023

Today’s Reading - Colossians 1

Verse

10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. - Colossians 1:10-12

Meditation

It is easy to get the impression that Paul really likes how the church in Colosse has turned out and the people have really grown in their relationship with Christ. The opening verses of the book are rich with affirmation and encouragement of their life and faith. Paul gives thanks for their faithfulness because of the eternal value of sharing in the inheritance of the kingdom. When he wrote to the church in Rome, he said to rejoice with those who rejoice. It seems he is doing this. Even though he was a recipient of the inheritance, his thanks in this instance was clearly directed to the people of the church and their faith. We need to be mindful of not only thanking God for what he is doing in our life, but give thanks for how God is working in others, our family, our friends, especially around the areas of their relationship with Jesus and their faithful walk. Our intentionality to give thanks for what God is doing which doesn’t directly involve us is a healthy way to turn our focus outward and not become self-centered in our thinking which then impacts our living. It’s not choosing to do one or the other, we should never neglect giving thanks for what God is doing in our life, but we should not forget to rejoice with those who rejoice, especially when it involves kingdom inheritance matters. We should shout hallelujah but giving thanks is a great place to start.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for all those in our circle who are qualified to share in the kingdom inheritance. We thank you for the gift of salvation in our own life and in others as well. We give thanks beyond ourselves as an act of surrender which allows us to look to others. We give thanks for the salvation of the many people we love and count as friends. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Today’s Reading - Revelation 4

Verse

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.” - Revelation 4:9-11

Meditation

There will be thanks-giving in heaven. Not a holiday, but an act of worship. It will be part of worship in the presence of the Almighty. Everybody will be participating in this glorious moment of awe because of who He is. We will join the masses, the living creatures, the elders who lay down their crowns, and give thanks. We are who we are because of who He is. Our Lord and God has engrafted in us his very being as he created us in his image. He is worthy to receive honor and glory and power and we will stand in his presence and worship him who will live for ever and ever with a heart of gratitude. Imagine that scene for a minute in the presence of a Holy God and participating in true worship of Him who sits on the throne. Forget the details, savor the moment in His presence. Just his presence. We should get a glimpse of that moment in our moments of worship now in our present life as we gather and worship in houses of worship, prayer closets and quiet spaces instead of heaven. So let’s practice today. Find a quiet place and let verse 11 guide your thoughts as we give thanks for His worthiness. Imagine yourself worshiping before the throne of God and in your own way give him glory, honor and thanks. In fact, make it a prayerful offering to Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” In Jesus’ name we pray and offer thanks. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Today’s Reading - 2 Corinthians 9

Verse

14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! - 2 Corinthians 9:14-15

Meditation

On the three most important days of the Christian year, Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, we read the story of Christ’s birth, his resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit because there is a biblical event related to the day. Thanksgiving is not a Christian holiday and there is no biblical event associated with the day, but we could make a solid argument there is nothing more important that we should be thankful for than our salvation we receive through grace by faith in the gift of Jesus Christ! I can always add it as an additional reading on Thanksgiving Day to go along with Psalm 100. As retail stores annually do, they usher in the gift giving season long before we have time to focus on giving thanks. Many people have already started thinking about the perfect gift for certain people in their life. For others, it is not as important. God had the perfect gift for humanity and Paul described it as indescribable. He is exactly right! There is really no way we can adequately describe the gift of Jesus Christ for the salvation of all who choose to believe in him. A gift we didn’t deserve, couldn’t earn, will never have to repay in any way, and was given unconditionally. It is truly a gift that is beyond description to capture the depth of meaning. No human terms or concepts are adequate because we really don’t have the capacity to relate to the nature of the gift. We know lots about the gift, but will never truly describe it. That being the case, let’s focus on what we can do and that is give thanks to the very best of our understanding from the deepest place in our heart. On this day, give thanks for the perfect gift, the gift of salvation.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we don’t really know how but we reach into the depths of our heart and soul and give you thanks for sending your one and only Son to offer us salvation and eternal life. We can’t describe the gift and we confess we don’t adequately know how to express thanks but we give thanks with all our being and understanding. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Today’s Reading - 2 Corinthians 2

Verse

14 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. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. - 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Meditation

Giving thanks comes to us most naturally when we receive something and we want to say thank you. Paul reminds us we should be thankful because of what we get to participate in as followers of Christ. He uses an interesting metaphor to describe our role. We are to be the aroma of Christ in the world. It’s a sensory metaphor which makes it all the more impactful. Smells can affect us in many different ways. From the best to the worst smell or somewhere in between. Bakery items, grilled meat, perfumes and candles seem to be the most common smells which people enjoy the most. I’ll not name the smells beyond rotten food which are under the category of worst smells. Paul goes on to say the aroma is both. To some the aroma is the smell of death and to others the smell of life. Remember he is talking in spiritual terms and he is correct in his description. Don’t read this literally. To those who are not following Christ, the aroma of Christ is unpleasant to say the least. For those following Christ, it is indeed a smell of life, new life, life more abundantly, eternal life. It becomes the best aroma which brings out the best of our sense of smell. There are several ways to consider the value of giving thanks for the privilege of being the aroma of Christ everywhere we are. First and foremost, we give thanks because Christ is in us and has saved us. Then we have the privilege of participating in the most important kingdom work of being the conduit of Christ to others. We have the opportunity to be used by God so that Christ can permeate the heart and soul of unbelievers and forever change their life so that the aroma of Christ is pleasing to them. Paul’s word to us is also a word of warning. Not everyone will think the aroma is the best aroma since a sliced piece of fresh bread. Some will demean and reject the aroma. Stay the course. Continue to be the fragrance of Christ regardless of its perceived goodness or lack thereof. Give thanks for Christ being in you and give thanks you represent Christ in the world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray that we will be an aroma which is pleasing to you and permeates the world with the aroma of Christ. Let us take advantage of every opportunity we have to be the aroma, known or unknown. Guide our thoughts and minds today to be the best likeness of Christ we can be. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, November 13, 2023

Today’s Reading - Romans 1

Verse

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. - Romans 1:21-23

Meditation

Focusing on the negative consequences of our behavior is rarely popular but can be helpful as an occasional word of warning. As Paul is describing the situation with the church in Rome, he first stated the believers knew better. We can all remember as children it was one thing to get in trouble, it was even worse when the words “you knew better” followed the accusation. We knew the punishment was going to be more severe than if we could plead that we had no clue our actions were wrong. What we learn is that the failure to give thanks was catastrophic to the people of the church. When we take our eyes of Jesus our thinking becomes stinking as some say. And the list of consequences comes one after another in the text until we reach the most convicting words Paul wrote, “God gave them over.” One thing caused another until God had given them over to sin and deceit and horrible living three different times. It all started with the people as a whole not glorifying God or giving him thanks. I can assure you we never want God to give us over to anything negative. We want God’s love, grace and mercy to receive power and favor and blessing. We want God to give us over to the greater things of his kingdom and it seems from the text that glorifying him in all things and not overlooking giving thanks is a key element in being part of those greater things. Don’t get trapped by a negative spirit and bypass giving thanks. The consequences of shameful behavior are real. We know better!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we have failed to do the simple things like giving thanks. Help us always be mindful to keep our eyes on the glory of the kingdom and your goodness and give you thanks and praise. Steer us away from a negative spirit which leads to trouble and heartache. Let us focus on Jesus and his righteousness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

On this Veteran's Day, be mindful to pray and give thanks for veterans who are no longer active, those presently serving our country, and in light of today's devotion, give thanks for those who will serve in the future who aren't currently serving.

Today’s Reading - Daniel 6

Verse

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. - Daniel 6:10-11

Meditation

Daniel found himself in another crisis situation. The king issued an edict threatening to throw anyone in the lion’s den if they prayed to any other god but his. Daniel did what he always did, prayed three times a day giving thanks to his God and was found asking God for help. His pattern of praying included giving thanks to his God as he sought the help of the Lord. As we look back on Daniel’s challenges, first the training plan, several dream interpretations, the fiery furnace, and now the lion’s den, we would expect his continual trust in God. When brought out of the den, not a wound was found on Daniel because of his obedience and innocence, both to Yahweh and the king. As we learn about the prayer patterns of the Israelites, and Daniel exemplifies this, they most often first gave thanks for all God had done in the past and then proceeded with the current need before them. It was a daily part of their prayer routine to give thanks and this would begin by expressing a heart of thankfulness for all God had done to that point. It is a pattern worth duplicating during this season we focus on giving thanks. When we seek the Lord’s activity in our life in any situation, let’s be mindful to give thanks for the ways we have seen God work in our life in similar situations and then give thanks for ways realized and unrealized beyond our present context. It is not necessary to recall every single incident, but be mindful of those God brings to your recollection and give thanks. This creates a trust in God that guides us to then give him thanks in advance for the help we are presently asking for, knowing that he has been faithful in the past and he will be faithful again. The evidence of our maturity in faith is when we are thankful in two directions, looking in the past and giving thanks for all God has done, and looking into the future and giving thanks for all he is going to do.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we have experienced your work in our life in so many different ways when we sought help and when you knew we needed help without asking. We know of your graciousness and love and mercy for us when we were faced with being thrown into a lion’s den and no way of winning the battle. We pause to give you thanks for all those times and give you thanks for future acts of supernatural intervention into our life. We humbly give thanks for who you are and what you do knowing our words of thanks are inadequate. Hear our prayer, O Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Today’s Reading - 1 Corinthians 15

Verse

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Meditation

We are born to win or succeed or accomplish something or be better than we once were. All of those character traits are embedded in our soul in some way or another. But life seems to dictate we don’t always experience those. We live in the ebb and flow of emotions and the roller coaster of gains and losses. Life experiences will often mirror the stock market and we get stuck in the down cycle and lose sight of the wins, the accomplishments, the victories. The same thing can happen in our spiritual life if we aren’t careful to continually focus on our relationship with Jesus Christ and what that ultimately means for us. Paul uses one of the most difficult situations to illustrate the victory we have in Jesus Christ. When death intersects our life, whether it be literal or figurative in some way, it is hard to consider those moments as winning or being better. Those moments hurt to the core. That’s why Paul uses death. Even in our most difficult moments we have victory in Jesus Christ and ultimately death is not victorious. For that we need to give thanks. In Jesus Christ, we will win, we will succeed, we will accomplish great things and we will be better than we once were. You can be assured the promise of this passage is always true. It’s hard to realize at times but we need to give thanks that in Jesus Christ we experience victory in this life and in the life to come. It is safe to say that each of us needs to experience victory in some way today. Give thanks that in Christ there is victory He gives. Open your eyes to experience the power and presence of Christ to lead you to places of victory. Thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we give you thanks that victory is ours through your Son. As we experience life today and it seems to be difficult to navigate, let us see victory in you and you alone. May the knowledge of ultimately overcoming death encourage us and strengthen us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Today’s Reading - Daniel 2

Verse

19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” - Daniel 2:19-23

Verse

The mystery was revealed. We love it when a problem is solved or something that doesn’t make sense finally does. Daniel especially did. He and his friends had just successfully finished their nourishment test for the king. Then Yahweh blessed them with great knowledge and understanding and the king recognized they were ten times smarter than all his men. The big test came when he was asked to name and interpret a dream which would in the end save all the wise men of Babylon who were to be executed for not being able to do what the king asked. Daniel pleaded to Yahweh for mercy and knowledge of the dream. And the mystery was solved. Daniel didn’t immediately run to the officials to interpret the dream for the king, he ran to the throne room of the King, praised His name and gave thanks for the wisdom and knowledge which allowed him to satisfy the king’s demands. We rarely stop long enough to thank God for the wisdom and knowledge we might have asked for because we are anxious to tell what we have learned. I’m pretty sure, just in the ordinary course of daily life, we rarely give thanks for wisdom and knowledge. I don’t. I will today because Daniel has taught me a lesson. And as I process that thought, maybe I should pause and give thanks for the wisdom and knowledge I was born with and have taken for granted my entire life. I’ve had plenty of opportunities and wasn’t wise enough to stop and give thanks and praise for knowledge and wisdom to make an A on a test or work through a difficult situation. I ran to the king instead of running to the throne room of the King. Today let’s give thanks for knowledge and wisdom that comes natural to us as well as that which we specifically ask for and receive as an answer to spending time in the throne room.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we join you in the throne room, we give thanks and praise for all the wisdom and knowledge you have poured into our heart and soul. Forgive us for not acknowledging that great gift you have given us in order to process life. We also give you thanks and praise for every time we have cried out for help in times of trouble and you have given us wisdom and knowledge. We give thanks for all the gifts related to what we know and how we apply it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Today’s Reading - Psalm 95

Verse

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

3 For the Lord is the great God,

the great King above all gods. - Psalm 95:1-3

Meditation

Most often when we consider giving thanks, we think in terms of specifics. For a few minutes let’s think in generalities, and let’s give thanks that our God is a great God, the King above all gods. That’s all. He is a great God. The Psalmist later writes an appropriate response to His greatness that we should bow down and worship, understanding that we are the people of his pasture, his flock. We could all articulate so many ways that God is great, but it is comforting and strengthening to know that as a basic understanding of who God is, He is great. The Psalmist declares great above all! There is also security knowing the Shepherd of the flock that I part of is worthy of being called great. A shepherd has enormous responsibility and as the people of His pasture we have the best. This is not the only time in scripture that God is referred to as being great. It is a clear biblical principle and we shouldn’t take the term ‘great’ lightly as we often do in conversation. So many things are great, but only our God, the creator or all things, is great among the gods. For that we should be thankful. For everything you can think or imagine under the category of God being great, He is all that and more. We can speak of no other god in those terms. For He is our most holy one, the great King above all gods. It’s a simple but important reminder this morning to embrace the greatness of God, not all the specific ways, just His greatness!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you that we begin our understanding of you as being great and we give thanks for that today. Thank you for being the Rock of our salvation and we confess it takes a great God to shepherd the sheep of humanity. In your greatness be kind and gracious to your sheep. We give thanks for a great God! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Today’s Reading - Ruth 3 and 4

Verse

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” - Ruth 4:13-15

Meditation

The story contained in the Book of Ruth is one of the best short stories ever written in any genre. There are so many life principles to be learned from this story. On the redemption history side of things, it has tremendous significance. Boaz not only redeemed Naomi and her family and undoubtedly became famous throughout all of Israel, but their son, Obed, might have become more famous. In fact, Obed became famous throughout every land and nation and in every nation until all eternity. Obed doesn’t sound like a very famous Old Testament character but this son of Boaz and Ruth was the father who was the father of, yes, David. In the line of David came the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. This story we have read is not only a story of the redemption of Naomi and her family, but a story of the redemption of the world. In theological speech we say the book of Ruth foreshadows the story of Jesus. When all seems to be lost, when hope is hard to see on the horizon, we have a kinsman-redeemer in Christ. Don’t miss the other important message. The newer translations of the Bible use the word guardian instead of kinsman which somewhat deviates from meaning found in the Law, but the word guardian does broaden the meaning which is helpful. You may not be related to someone, but you may be the instrument of redemption for someone. Not necessarily in terms of family and land and children, but a spiritual redemption for someone without hope whose life appears to be totally lost. We have a kinsman-redeemer in Christ, we can be a guardian-redeemer for the lost in our world. Praise the Lord on both accounts!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, first of all thank you for your Son who is our kinsman-redeemer for the redemption of all humanity. May we receive the beauty of this principle in our life. Place us in a position to recognize those in our life who may not know that we stand in their path with a blanket to cover them, but we are here. May love and compassion pour from us for the redemption of someone’s life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Friday, November 3, 2023

Today’s Reading - Ruth 2

Verse

19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!” Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said. 20 “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers.” - Ruth 2:19-20

Meditation

Hear me. God is always at work in our life, for our good and we don’t even know it. Ruth didn’t know it, Boaz didn’t know it, but Naomi instantly knew when Ruth told her whose field she had been working in. Ruth didn’t know, but Naomi knew exactly who a kinsman-redeemer was and that Boaz was a close relative. You can begin to put the pieces of the story together once all the facts are revealed, but Ruth and Boaz had no clue when this relationship was birthed. Naomi would have gone back to her family and been close to her kinfolk. But Ruth didn’t understand the family dynamic she was part of and certainly didn’t understand the concept of the kinsman-redeemer. But she would soon learn and realize the value and power behind the position of Boaz. And we learn. We learn that a kinsman-redeemer named Jesus would come as the Messiah to offer salvation to all who will believe. We learn when we have accepted the offer of salvation by grace and begin to put all the pieces of our life together that God was at work in our life long before we knew it. We’ve learned through life that God continues to be active in each of us even when we don’t understand how He is working and at times flat out question if He is even present in us. He is. We might not understand and we might question with great anger, but He is at work if we will acknowledge his presence working on our behalf. Ruth had taken a blind leap of faith to stay with Naomi and she was taking a blind leap of faith to foster this relationship with Boaz but she soon learned. The kinsman-redeemer had come. And He comes for us. Again and again and again. Allow Jesus to be your redeemer today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we want to fall in love with Jesus even more as he embraces us as our kinsman-redeemer, not to be one and done, but in an everlasting way. Let us see your work in our life as good and righteous and may we respond with a spirit of honor and thanksgiving. Forgive us for thinking you have forgotten us at times. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Today’s Reading - Ruth 1

Verse

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. - Ruth 1:16-18

Meditation

In the midst of terrible circumstances, a great story is discovered. That often happens in life, doesn’t it? Here is one to consider. There isn’t a worse circumstance imaginable for Israel. Judges were ruling and everybody was their own moral police and chaos was prevalent. It got worse when a famine arose. One Israelite and his family went to Moab and made it home for ten years for survival’s sake. Tragedy strikes and the husband and two sons die. Need I go on? Can it get any worse? Naomi, an Israelite, is left with two Moabite daughters in law in a foreign land. It was home but survival would have been tricky. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem when she heard the famine was over and she begs the two to stay in their homeland and return to their families to pursue a much better life than living as Moabite (an enemy of Israel) widows. It would have been allowable and right for them to stay in Moab but Ruth wasn’t having it. In her mind it was the right thing and a better thing to go with Naomi. It wasn’t just a flippant decision to go. Ruth was all in! She declared she would be an Israelite and Yahweh would be her God. It doesn’t get any more “all in” than that! On paper there was no hope for Ruth in this scenario, but she was going all in with Yahweh and the people of Israel to provide and show blessing and favor in their life. By Jewish law people were commanded to take care of the widows and children, but remember, everyone was doing what they thought was right. When that is the rule, people tend to become selfish and only take care of themselves. Two women were walking into Bethlehem and their only hope was that Yahweh would provide. They became giants of faith in an instant. Naomi knew Yahweh as Jehovah-Jireh and they were about to grab hold of every word of meaning in that name. When your circumstances appear spiraling out of control, go “all in” with Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide. Even when there is total chaos. God might be writing a great story.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for writing the story of Naomi and Ruth and allowing us to grow in our faith as a result of reading their story. May we all become giants of the faith and be all in with You. Help us to take steps of faith when we see no logical step to take. Help us to fully depend on you in all things. You have done it before, you can do it again. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Today’s Reading - Judges 21

Verse

24 At that time the Israelites left that place and went home to their tribes and clans, each to his own inheritance. 25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. - Judges 21:24-25

Meditation

Our last day of Renewal Leave on Monday before traveling home yesterday was about as good as it could get. It really reflected the entire month. The weather was great and everything we planned went just as expected. The last verse of Judges paints a completely different picture as we conclude the description of what we know about this period of rule under the authority of judges. It is a terrible way to end this season of history. The story picks up in 1 Samuel with the beginning of a process of restoration for Israel. The end is a textbook definition of chaos and confusion. When there is no king and everybody is their own king, then what ensues is the worst-case scenario. Think about it for a minute. Another way to interpret that last phrase is “everyone did what they thought was right.” When human beings are individually determining what is right is bad enough. When they are doing it without any guidance or leadership whatsoever, it will only result in absolute chaos to the point of evil prevailing at every turn. Israel had no king and indeed they needed a king. We know the story and clearly understand they didn’t know what type of king they needed, but they needed a king. We need a king and there is a King, his name is Jesus. We needed a king who would show us the way to living life abundantly and bring order out of chaotic mess. We needed a king who could transform lives. We needed a king who would die on a cross for our sake. We needed a king who would never leave us alone to do whatever we thought was right. We needed a king whose Father loved us so much to send the Holy Spirit to make his power and presence in us a reality for us. We have a King who will be with us until the last verse of our story is a perfect ending which will usher us into eternity with Him. That’s my King! That’s our King!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, convict us so we never think it is right to live doing only what we think is right in our eyes. Help us to live daily seeking your direction and guidance for our life. Direct us to live under the authority of King Jesus in each and every part of our life trying to hide nothing from you. May it be said of us that we are doing what you see fit for our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Today’s Reading - Judges 16

Verse

15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it. 17 So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” - Judges 16:15-17

Meditation

The story of Samson ends today with an encounter with the most recognizable name in his story, Delilah. You are familiar with the story. The Philistine leaders bride Delilah into luring Samson into telling her the secret of his strength and after the third time of “making a fool” out of her, he relents to her insistence and tells her the truth. Immediately she informs the officials and they attack while he is weak and gouge his eyes out. He was then imprisoned. Not a very good ending to a story vital to the redemption of Israel. Samson remained in prison until they wanted to make fun of him and brought him out into the temple area not realizing he had regained his strength. In one last show of strength, he destroyed the temple, all the people in and around it, and died himself. Not how we would have ended this story. I’m sure if we were scripting his life, he would have reigned exerting his great strength over the enemy until he was old and feeble. We have looked at several aspects of this story but let’s conclude with this one. Temptation to sin is persistent and will continue until we conquer that particular temptation and then will attack us at another point of weakness. Temptation to sin never lets up because the author of temptation is just as interested in controlling your heart and life as God our Father in heaven is. It’s hard to imagine I know but it is true. Evil will never let up trying to steal your heart. Be on guard at all times and don’t go to sleep on your salvation. You’ll wake up vulnerable like Samson if you do. Stay strong. Walk only with God. Let the blood of Jesus pour over you at all times. Trust me, no temptation is greater than the power found in the blood of Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, wash over us with the shed blood of your Son, Jesus Christ, so that we might resist every attempt of Satan to steal our heart. May the blood be the shield of our faith that cannot be penetrated. We are declaring today we are walking in stride with you and none other. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Today’s Reading - Judges 15

Verse

13 “Agreed,” they answered. “We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock. 14 As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. 15 Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. . . . 20 Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines. - Judges 15:13-15, 20

Meditation

Let’s admit it. The story of Samson is perplexing. It’s part of God’s plan of redemption for the nation of Israel, but it is perplexing. When acts of vengeance, whether on the part of the Philistines or Samson, are traced back through several previous actions on both sides, the story gets perplexing. The actions are even justified because of the behavior of the other side. Samson was given one job, to deliver Israel from the hands of Philistines, and he is quick to justify his actions along the way. This sounds all too familiar to our behavior when we are quick to justify our actions. Once again Samson is given great power when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He struck down a thousand Philistine men with a jawbone! And he was given the judgeship of Israel for twenty years. Samson was on safe ground justifying his actions because he was being directed by the Lord. The problem we face when justifying our actions is that often they are not directed by the Lord because they are contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the scriptures. The New Covenant concept as Paul told the Roman church is to allow God to take vengeance when He deems it the right time and place. Our response to hatred and injustice is to lean into the Lord for direction and model Christ in all things. This allows space to correctly respond in order to defend our character and our well-being. Generally speaking, revenge never works out well for us. It most often only digs the hole deeper. We must be clear about the guidance of the Lord in our response and not take on the role of the one evoking vengeance in response to the actions toward us. It’s hard. It’s perplexing. But so is this story.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guide us in the most difficult times of our life when revenge feels like the most satisfying response toward hurtful actions against us. We want to model the character of your Son as we respond when an attack has come our way. Let us be mindful of your hand of direction upon our life. Forgive us for the times we have wrongly responded. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Today’s Reading - Judges 14

Verse

5 Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. 6 The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. - Judges 14:5-6

Meditation

Samson’s most notable characteristic is his strength. It was necessary because his assignment was to begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines. We see it displayed in this chapter as he single-handedly tore apart and killed a lion and struck down thirty men. What we also learn in this chapter is that his physical strength, which came from obedience to this Nazarite vow, was not the only strength he needed. He fell victim to his wife, which the Lord had given him, who was pressing him for information about the answer to a riddle and he revealed it to her. She then shared the information with men trying to solve the riddle which led to Samson’s second display of strength from the Lord to overtake the thirty men, taking belongings and clothes to give to his thirty companions. Samson needed mental, maybe spiritual, strength and this would not have been necessary. The story of Samson is complicated. In the next chapter we are introduced to Delilah which is the most recognizable part of his story. Let’s live in this chapter. It is not unusual for each of us to face situations where we need the Spirit of the Lord to come upon us in power. Most often we don’t need physical strength, we need mental strength to gain knowledge and wisdom, emotional strength to deal with difficult circumstances, or spiritual strength to resist temptation. Samson was given his physical strength when needed because he was obedient to the vow he took as a Nazarite. We will receive the strength we need as we live out acts of obedience related to our being a follower of Christ. We’ve learned during this period of Israel being ruled by judges that disobedience led to the favor of God being withdrawn and obedience led to the favor of God being manifested in astounding ways. I believe the same is true today. Seek to be obedient to your first assignment of being a faithful follower of Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, provider of all strength that comes our way, we seek you first and your constant companionship to lead us to places of greater obedience. Give us physical strength to deal with the often-exhaustive nature of life. Give us spiritual strength to become aware of sin which tempts us. Give us the strength of wisdom and knowledge to make wise choices. May all of this be a function of our obedience to your commands. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, October 23, 2023

Today’s Reading - Judges 13

Verse

3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. 5 You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” . . . 24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, . . . - Judges 13:3-5, 24

Meditation

“Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” Unfortunately, we read this over and over again during this period of Israel being led by judges. Fortunately, the God Who Redeems has a plan of redemption. During this period, we have met great people of faith like Deborah and Gideon who were used mightily in the redemption of Israel. Now we meet Samson, born to the unnamed wife of Manoah, who becomes a significant person in the current story of Israel. As a result of Israel’s evil ways, they had been handed over this time to the Philistines. With Deborah and Gideon, it was the Canaanites and the Midianites, two of the most powerful nations along with the Philistines. Samson’s mother was barren until God did the miraculous and she conceived this son. She was told this would happen by an angel of the Lord and it came with conditions because Samson would live with conditions for his particular assignment. His particular assignment was to deliver his people from the Philistines, this instrumental in redeeming Israel. Manoah had to hear it for himself and the angel appeared to his wife again after they pleaded for help to raise this son. They witnessed a great sign and knew what they had been told was from the Lord. Manoah and his wife are left with a decision of obedience, following the plan laid out before them or doing it their way. Sounds familiar to me. Daily we are confronted with the same decision-making process. As followers of Christ, we must decide to live life God’s way or living life the way we want to. We know the answer but for many reasons we make the wrong choice. Samson’s parents made the right choice and Samson was born and we read he was blessed and the Spirit began to move in him. The same God who will redeem Israel through Samson is the same God today. Even when we make wrong life choices, unaware they are wrong or very intentionally, He has a plan of redemption. The same God sent his son to die for our redemption.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the story of obedience behind the story of Samson. May we learn to always seek to obey and follow your ways. May the good news of our redemption drive our decision-making process. We pray that you deliver us from the temptation of living life the way we think is best. Let us live life according to your best for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Today’s Reading - Judges 10

Verse

15 But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” 16 Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer. - Judges 10:15-16

Meditation

Imagine Yahweh’s exasperation. Over and over again He redeems the people of Israel after terrible offenses of worshiping other gods. Even under the leadership of Gideon the entire nation prostituted themselves and worshiped the ephod Gideon built. After the mess Abimelech made, the nation was led by two righteous men for 55 years. But immediately the nation did evil and it got so bad Yahweh seemed to have had enough and He says, “I will no longer save you.” And Yahweh didn’t. Until they confessed, repented and got rid of all their foreign gods. And. And. Served the Lord. In other words, they not only spoke it for relief, they lived it to restore relationship. When we left Gideon and got the sense that his sin of the ephod would punish the nation forever with no hope for being redeemed, we see the exasperation of Yahweh, and at the same time, we see the compassionate heart of a loving Father. “And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.” Many people find themselves thinking they have lived such an evil life that God has become exasperated to the point of no hope for redemption. I cannot say the pathway will be easy and the consequences of unrighteous living will instantly disappear, but when we get rid of our foreign gods, confess, repent and serve the Lord, He will indeed redeem us! When we cry out to God to rescue the unrighteous, we will be redeemed! God sacrificed his son so that we might have life. His blood was poured out so that we might be redeemed. We might get into a place where it appears we are beyond rescue, but the death and resurrection of Jesus assures us there is redemption for those who will lay down their sinful ways and ask our loving Father to “please rescue us now.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, most holy one, Yahweh, we lay bare our heart before you and ask that you cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We no longer desire to serve foreign gods, but only follow and serve you. Our life might not be miserable today, but we never want it to be so we yield ourselves to you and ask that we never get to the point of spiritual misery. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Friday, October 6, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 23

Verse

9 “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the Lord your God.” - Joshua 23:9-11

Meditation

It’s been a long difficult and tedious process to occupy the land and get everybody in the right place. There have been battles to fight and lots of details to get right. Joshua has accomplished the task and after many years of rest in the Lord for him and the people of Israel, he realizes his final days are near and begins to offer his final charge to the people. It wasn’t unfamiliar to his people nor is it to us. Joshua narrowed it down to what most of us default to when asked what is the most important aspect of being a follower of Christ. Love the Lord your God. He added strength to the phrase by adding the words, be very careful. Be mindful. Give extra attention to. Very straightforward, be very careful to love the Lord your God. Joshua reminds his people that among the many reasons they should love the Lord is that God fights our battles for us. God is for us at all times, he will always join in our life with us, we love him in response to his incredible love for us. I’ll leave it with that without further explanation and let Joshua’s words speak into your heart today. Be very careful to love the Lord your God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, center our mind on you today and let us simply love you. For a few moments, let us set all things aside and pour out our heart in love for you. Then let our life be an expression of a response of love to you for always being with us, and even fighting for us. We love you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 22

Verse

26 “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ 27 On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’ . . . 34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us—that the Lord is God. - Joshua 22:26-27, 34

Meditation

It is important that the generations which follow us know exactly where we stood in the Lord. Most people will know what our occupation was, our favorite leisure activity or maybe where we loved to go on vacation, and they should know about our relationship with the Lord. There should be no misunderstanding as happened with a few tribes who were being obedient and wanted to make sure no one misunderstood. These tribes had been given land by Moses on the other side of the Jordan, technically not in the Promised Land. After there was rest from the occupation, Joshua sent them back to live in the land they had been given. They erected an altar to declare their position with the Lord. Some perceived it to be replicating a Canaanite altar and sought to destroy it. When explained it was to be a witness to the generations, all was well. Building altars in our front yard is not very popular in our day, but building a spiritual altar in the front of your character declaring your alignment with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit would go a long way in witnessing to the generations that in your life, the Lord is God! A spiritual altar of alignment and relationship right at the edge of your character would make a powerful statement for generations to come. It would impact everything you said and did. The Reubenites, Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh feared that people would think they had nothing to do with the God of Israel. Don’t live in the fear that the future generations in your family, your friends and the people in your circle of influence will ever question the fact that you loved the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and spirit. Your life should shout loudly that you did!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, today I declare an altar of alignment stands at the very forefront of who I am and that I am yours. Let no one mistake that every thought and action that proceeds from my heart is framed by my love for you. Let my life shout to the mountaintops that you are my Lord and my God! Let there be no mistake of my witness for you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 21

Verse

43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. - Joshua 21:43-45

Meditation

It’s just a short word. Only three letters. It reveals a very important principle about the character of God. It causes us to be amazed by the scope of who He is and we are left in awe and wonder of who He is as well. ALL. That simple word, three letters, unveils the piece of God’s character that sends our mind into the arena of more than we can think or imagine. Before you read another word, know this. God’s character cannot change. What we learn of God’s character as He orchestrated Israel’s occupation of the Promised Land has not changed. As we read today, the land is now completely occupied. It took 21 chapters but it is done. Focus on God for a moment. He gave Israel all the land he swore he would give. He gave them rest, or peace, on every side by defeating all their enemies as he swore he would do. He fulfilled every promise he swore to. God had declared there would be a land for them, he declared all their enemies would be defeated, and he declared they would occupy and control the land. Those three declarations, and all the promises related to them, were fulfilled. All of them. It is important to be reminded today that what God promises, he fulfills. All of them. We don’t always immediately see them fulfilled or don’t understand the journey, but what God promises, God fulfills. I encourage you to never quit claiming the promises of God in situations you encounter or over your life in general. Many scholars count almost 9,000 promises of God in scripture and He is able to fulfill all of them with exactness. We will be well served to live with the assurance that if God promises something, He will fulfill the promise. Note the emphasis added with two more short words. Not one. It is made clear that all means not one. That’s our God. His character is impeccable. Embrace with confidence all the promises of God. He gives, He delivers, and He fulfills.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, what a great God you are. We pause to acknowledge what a great God you are. Thank you for always fulfilling what you promise. Give us eyes to see how you are working to fulfill the promises. May this teach us to live confidently in all the promises you made related to being a child of yours. We give you thanks and praise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 20

Verse

1 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. . . . 6 He is to stay in that city until he has stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then he may go back to his own home in the town from which he fled.” - Joshua 20: 1-3, 6

Meditation

We can learn from this chapter but a literal story for story application to our life is probably not what we should do. There are too many questions which arise from the text that I don’t have space to explain. However, there is an application. We all make mistakes. Every one of us. We make mistakes and often there is a painful and grievous redemption process. God assigned Israel cities of refuge as they occupied the Promised Land. He assigned Himself to us as our place of refuge. We learn in multiple places in scripture that God is our refuge and strength and He will never leave us nor forsake us. We don’t have cities because it would depend on humanity to deal with our sin and we would mess it up for sure. Israel could handle it because it was similar to a prescribed law and they were good at legalism. We don’t prosper at legalism and we need the help of the Spirit to lead us to a place of redemption when we make mistakes, especially mistakes as a result of our sinful nature. Yes, there are often practical steps in the process to restore relationships and redeem our life. But most often there are spiritual needs which need to be dealt with as well. God is a God of restoration and redemption regardless of the severity of the mistake, whether it be smallest of mistakes no one would notice or so large the entire town becomes aware and you would benefit from a place of refuge. God is our refuge and strength and our help in times of trouble, and mistakes. When we come to the realization of the mistake, don’t flee anywhere other than the presence of God and let Him lead you to redemption. It’s a safe and healthy place to go to be redeemed! Run to the Father and be made whole.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for being our city of refuge when we make mistakes, intentional or unintentional, sin or not. Receive us into your arms when we run to you for redemption in our life. Let us draw our strength from you when we have no strength to correct the problems we cause. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 16

Verse

1 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. - Joshua 16:1

Meditation

Hearing someone’s name instantly brings to mind something about that person, good, bad or indifferent. Joseph’s name brings to mind a story of intrigue and forgiveness and a coat of many colors. We love the story of Joseph and it has been taught in many different ways over the centuries to children, youth, and adults alike. It is a powerful story of God’s mercy, love and grace. Reading a chapter of the allotment of land is not very inspiring unless we stop and remember the stories associated with the names. Remembering the story behind a name can be powerful. As I read this morning it came to my mind that each of us is building the experiences and memories that when our name is spoken a word or a memory will come to mind. I don’t know about you, but I want the thought that comes to mind when someone hears my name to be a good one. It’s not always possible because none of us are perfect people and we have relationships that are tattered in some way. There are wrong perceptions in people’s minds about who we are and what we have done. That’s reality. We can, however, be mindful of this concept and strive to be more and more Christlike every day so that the thoughts and memories we are building in our relationships are good ones. We cannot control what other people think or do, but we can control what we think and do. We have an opportunity to plant goodness in the hearts and minds of people we have relationships with and those we influence in some way. Our desire is that the goodness of God will indwell in our hearts and we want His goodness to flow from us at all times. Build goodness into others as God has been good to you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, may people see your goodness in our life and lead us to create thoughts of your goodness we reflect on our life. May people see you in us. Help us to heal what needs to be healed in our relationships. Our story might not be perfect but it can reflect your goodness in some way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 15

Verse

17 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage. 18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him[a] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?” 19 She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. - Joshua 15:17-19

Meditation

Even when we have had a wonderful experience of the Lord, we still need blessing and favor. And we need water. We read today a detailed description of the land given to the tribe of Judah because of its importance. Caleb was given a portion of Judah and Caleb gave his daughter part of it after she married. But she needed a favor. The land had no access to water. Caleb honored her request and the land now had springs of water. Favor of the Lord and springs of living water play an important part in our relationship with the Lord. Aksah came to Joshua needing a favor and she needed a necessity to live. We need both when we walk with the Lord. Even though we might find ourselves in a great place of experiencing the Lord’s hand, there is much about life where we experience the continual grace of God and in terms of blessing. It’s needed and we don’t need to be timid about asking God for blessing and favor. God is more ready to bless us than we are to ask for blessing. Jesus made the necessity of living water very plain during his encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. The land Aksah inherited needed physical water, we need the spiritual water that only the Lord can provide. Maybe the favor you need to ask for today is that springs of living water will flow your life. You might have enough living water, but Aksah received upper and lower springs. Pray for an abundance of living water to occupy your soul. We cannot survive the trials and tribulations of this world without favor and we will run spiritually dry without living water. Ask for plenty of both.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, pour into us springs of living water so that we know the abundance of your Spirit guiding us in our walk with you. Grant us supernatural favor as we navigate this day. Do unexpected things for us. May we live today not surprised by what you do for us. You are a loving God and we give thanks for your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 14

Verse

6 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. . . . 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. - Joshua 14:6-8, 14

Meditation

There is great pressure in our world today put upon those choosing to do the right thing when the majority are choosing to do the popular thing to please people. Enter Joshua and Caleb. They go way back in the story more than forty years when spies were sent into the land. You remember. They gave the minority report, the ten other spies instilled fear into the hearts of the people because of the difficulty they perceived. Caleb joined Joshua by following the Lord wholeheartedly and now they receive the blessing and favor of their obedience. It was not easy. They had to go against the crowd forty-five years earlier and declare that no matter what the situation looked like, the Lord will provide and deliver His people into the Promised Land. And He did and now Caleb will receive the land Moses promised him because of his faithfulness. Pausing and reflecting on the meaning of following the Lord, following Jesus Christ, wholeheartedly can be as daunting today as it was when Joshua and Caleb walked out of the land and reported to Moses. We know the results of following, we need to embrace the process of following wholeheartedly. God never left his people, he did battle for his people, he restored his people, and he delivered them into the land. Wholeheartedly means all in. It means being led by God through every situation with unwavering faith. It means never doubting God. It means so much more and it is a fluid concept that grows as time marches forward. Following God with all our heart looks different from day to day. But it all leads back to an understanding of who we are that reflects the will and way of our heavenly Father and the truth of His word. Let’s be all in and He will favor us with His just reward.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we trust you to guide us in all righteousness so that our heart will be wholeheartedly committed to you. We want to follow you with all you created us to be and do. Do not let us waver when the majority tries to speak a lie into our life. We want to follow you regardless of what we see in front of us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, September 25, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 13

Verse

1 When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. . . . 6 “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites.” - Joshua 13:1, 6

Meditation

There are times when we all need help from the Lord and when we need help the most, the Lord is there for us. Joshua was there. He was growing old in age and I’m sure the wear and tear of all the battles and struggles to occupy the Promised Land had taken its toll on his mind and body. But there was still much work to be done. Joshua needed help the most and the Lord was there. Not only was the Lord there, He promised to battle for the Israelites. The task was too large. The army was weary. There was much still to be done. One of Phil Wickham’s popular songs is “Battle Belongs.” The song describes Israel’s situation. Here are a few of the lines. “When all I see is the battle, You see my victory. There's nothing to fear now for I am safe with You. So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees. With my hands lifted high, Oh God, the battle belongs to You.” There are times when we simply need to let the Lord battle for us. We can intercede for Him to take the battle we see and the Lord is so gracious He will battle for us without us even asking. I would venture to say we have all been the recipient of the Lord taking over our battles and we never know it because He is good like that. When all we can see is a battle too difficult for us to win or a mountain too tall for us to climb, it’s time to lay the battle at the feet of Jesus and let Him battle for us. It takes a large amount of humility to come to that place of surrender but I cannot think of a better time to exercise a humble spirit. Monday might be a battle for you. Give it to Jesus. The next season of life might be a battle for you. Give it to Jesus. Position yourself with Joshua, tired and weary of the fight, and let the Lord Almighty go to battle for you. Here’s the promise. God always wins, He is never defeated.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we place the battles of our life at the feet of your Son Jesus Christ. We have grown tired and weary of continuously fighting the battles you could have won long ago. Fight our battle for us. We assume our position on our knees and seek your help because we find ourselves needing help in a great way. Thank you for going before us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

September 22, 2023

Today’s Reading - Judges 11

Verse

5 All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel.6 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.” 7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, 8 and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. - Joshua 11:5-8

Meditation

Joshua was forced to take another deep breath of faith. The entire known world had joined forces to fight against and destroy Israel and they were camped together within eyesight of Israel. And God speaks to Joshua with a promise which had to astound him maybe as much as anything spoken to him previously. As we have read these stories of Joshua defeating these enemies we’ve learned of the tens of thousands of fighting men involved. And now you have all the kings of all the armies and their men joining together and God tells Joshua that in 24 hours they will all be handed over to him. I would have loved to have been standing close to Joshua when he received this promise from the Lord. It just made no sense. How do we react when we hear God speak into our life through the pages of scripture or his presence during prayer or a trusted friend? It didn’t take long for Joshua to process what God said. He obviously said go and Joshua went. There are times when we need to ask questions and process the movement of God in our life. There are times when we just need to go and do. We have all been faced with monumental spiritual challenges in our life and it is very difficult to understand when to pause and get clarity and when to go and do. Both are options from everything we read in scripture. We must stay in tune with God as he speaks and our spirit being guided by His Spirit will lead us to know which is the preferred method in the moment. We are surprised when God gives us instructions that are bigger than life. We are never ready but we can be ready if we come to a place in our faith where we truly trust God in all things. That’s the goal. Trust God in all things with unshakeable faith. Even when asked to defeat the entire known world in one day. Conquer your world today. You can do it!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we trust in you with all things even when we are being challenged spiritually like never before and it includes a mountain taller than we’ve ever faced before. Give us faith to climb and defeat the enemies no matter how strong they appear. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 10

Verse

12 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! - Joshua 10:12-14

Meditation

Israel had multiple enemies to conquer to fully occupy the land. They defeated some one on one, others they had to fight a group of enemies who joined together to destroy Israel. The Amorites with many groups and kings were one of them. Joshua knew it would be difficult and he did the only thing he knew to do. Call on the name of the Lord! He needed daylight so he asked the Lord to stop the sun. What a faithful ask of Yahweh. It had never been done before and didn’t happen again as a result of man asking. Yes, faithful. He believed it was possible or he wouldn’t have asked. Seems outlandish to me, honestly. Joshua had a plan and he needed God to join with him to execute the plan. Actually, he needed Yahweh to fight for them. We might need to stop a minute and take an honest inventory of the enemies we are fighting in our own life. We might need to ask God to join us in the fight and do something never done before and never done since. It might be hard for us to think of what we need God to do that has never been done before, but we need to have faith enough to ask if we could. If in fact the enemy still comes to steal, kill and destroy, we need to ask. We need to be bold enough to ask. Your enemy might come after you to invoke fear in your heart about doing something the Lord is leading you to do. The enemy at that point is stealing your courage and you are replacing it with fear. It could be courage to tell your story and tell the gospel story and the enemy wants to steal your courage you once had. Joshua began his leadership with the Lord telling him to be strong and courageous. Today we see great courage of faith as he asked the Lord to stop the sun and the moon.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for courage and strength to pray for the things we don’t have faith to pray. Help us to be bold in your name. Lead us to ask boldly because you want to do bold things. You want to do greater things which requires us to pray bold prayers. Take away any spirit of timidity. In Jesus’ name pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 9

Verse

1 Now when all the kings (enemies) west of the Jordan heard about these things . . . 2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel. 3 However, when the people of Gibeon (enemies) heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they resorted to a ruse: ... - Joshua 9:1-4

Meditation

The kings of the enemies came together to wage war because they heard what the Joshua led Israelite army had done to Jericho and Ai. But one of those kings, a Hivite, planned a deceitful plot to try and save their life. It worked in the sense their life was spared, but it backfired because they were cursed to being woodcutters and water carriers forever. Their life was saved but they became forever servants of Israel. As the people of God we still face the enemy resorting to a ruse to deceive us so that the enemy is not defeated. I said in my sermon this past Sunday that the enemy will not try the obvious to lure you away from God, it is always some form of subtle deception. We have to be wise and discerning as we live for Christ. As Paul wrote letters to all his churches, he included in the majority of them encouragement to grow in knowledge and wisdom and discernment. To the army of Israel when they first encountered the people of Gibeon, the offer looked like a good and proper thing but it was chocked full of deception. They didn’t live far away, they were neighbors. They had good wineskins but they used old ones to make their condition look really bad. What was seen on the surface of the situation was not the truth. The king of Gibeon probably had a second part of the ruse and that was to eventually wipe out the Israelites. The enemy became servants of the people of the Most High God. We are living toward the day when our enemy will be servants of God. Guard yourself against a ruse of the enemy.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to recognize evil and the enemy when they approach us with a plan that seems right and good. Help us to see through the ruse that is set before us. Give us the strength and courage to say no when no is the appropriate answer. Help us to resist evil at every turn. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 8

Verse

30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, 31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. 32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses. - Joshua 8:30-32

Meditation

Achan’s sin led to Israel’s embarrassing defeat at Ai. All the people consecrated themselves except for Achan and he lost his life because he tried to deceive Yahweh and his people. Joshua now sends his men back to Ai (not to be confused with the popular Ai artificial intelligence of today) and they ambush and destroy the city. Immediately following, Joshua leads his people through a time of covenant renewal, kind of starting all over. As commanded, he built an altar of uncut stones and in the presence of all the Israelites he presented offerings to the altar and he wrote the entire law of Moses on the stones of the altar. Then Joshua read every word of the Book of the Law, 625+ laws including blessings and curses, to all of Israel including the women and children. The importance and symbolism of this covenant renewal is overwhelming. The word of God was vitally important to every single person, from the smallest child to the oldest adult. The word of God is just as important to us today as it was to the Israelites thousands of years ago. Not just part of it, Joshua wrote every single word of the law on the stones, but every word of scripture is important to us. We use the phrase “teaching the whole counsel of God” to speak about the importance of all the scriptures. We teach from Genesis to Revelation to everyone because in its entirety we receive the whole counsel as instruction for living. The circumstances leading to the need to have this time on covenant renewal on Mt. Ebal was not good. Being disobedient has consequences. We should strive to pay attention to the law and follow its teaching to avoid our own need for covenant renewal. Live joyfully in the covenant and rejoice in your obedience. It’s important. Joshua wrote every single word. Every. On stones. Think about that.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, may your Holy Spirit emblazon us with fire in our soul to see the importance of every single word of yours. Lead us away from the temptation to ignore parts that make us uncomfortable or we deem unimportant. Convict us to follow every word you have provided for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, September 18, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 7

Verse

10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. 13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. - Joshua 7:10-13

Meditation

And just like that Israel did exactly what Yahweh told them not to do and the Lord’s anger burned against them. Achan was the perpetrator of the sin against Yahweh and the result is one of those stories we don’t like to read because of the outcome. Achan and all he had was destroyed. He was given a chance to confess, repent and consecrate himself but he refused and tried to hide from God what he thought would bring him great pleasure. We are not aware of the actions of God being as severe today as they were in this story, but the lesson is still the same. We cannot hide from God the sin of our life and expect our sovereign Lord to ignore our behavior and the intentions of our heart. We see the grace of God extended to all of Israel including Achan, but apparently he decided the word of the Lord did not apply to him and the consequences followed. The grace of God is all that we have to deal with our sin nature and we dare not ignore the offer of grace. No one can predict the consequences of continuing in sin when we know there is a solution, but I can only imagine they are never good. If there is anything we need to embrace, it is God’s offer of grace and his unconditional love. Thinking we can hide our sin from God is “stinking thinking” as some might say. Don’t be guilty of wrong thinking, humility and honesty is a better way forward rather than facing the Lord’s anger.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we confess that we act wrongly and refuse to accept your grace. Forgive us for thinking you will look past our wayward desires and our destructive behavior. Give us eyes to see when we have sinned against you. Give us a humble heart to confess and repent. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 6

Verse

15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.” 20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. - Joshua 6:15-20

Meditation

Our focus is on more verses than normal because I want you to read them carefully, particularly verse 18. These are important in the familiar story of Israel conquering Jericho. We know the part about the circling, the trumpets, the shouting and the walls falling down. But this verse gives us our first glimpse into why our beloved nation would eventually be reduced, for all practical purposes, to non-existent. The nation will go silent for 400 years. This chapter ends in glory with Joshua’s fame, and the nation, spreading throughout the land. In the process of overtaking their first obstacle, Jericho, a pagan city full of idols and false gods, there was the clear warning and command of verse 18. The command was related to the devoted things, those things which were ungodly and represented worship and would destroy their relationship with Yahweh. We will see it didn’t take long before the people fell into the temptation of taking these things. Here is the short, clear message today. Be very careful with who and what you associate with and you allow to influence your life. You have to be honest with yourself and humbly gain perspective of your spiritual strength to resist temptation when it comes. It has to be balanced with the biblical principle of being in the world but not of the world. We have to be in the world to be faithful witnesses but cannot fall prey to the temptations of the world which will come between us and God and harm our relationship with him. It can be a slippery slope. We must guard our heart and at the same time share our heart.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guard our hearts from the temptation of sin and give us a spirit of obedience to do what you clearly command of us. Help us to see the true nature of what comes our way. We confess we have let the lure of appearing pleasing divert us from discerning truth. We pray that your truth and direction will guide us in all things. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Friday, September 15, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 5

Verse

9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach (disgrace) of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. - Joshua 5:9

Meditation

The backstory of verse nine is that during a period of time while in Egypt, probably several periods of time, Israel had not followed the Lord and had neglected the laws around circumcision among many things they neglected. This had to be corrected before Israel could begin the process of occupying the land. And it makes sense that an obvious sign of disobedience needed to be confessed and forgiven before the blessing of the land could unfold. It is more than a graphic, historical account in scripture. These weren’t infants that were circumcised under sedation. These were adult men fully awake and aware. After they were healed the text says after their sin and years of disobedience was dealt with, they were blessed by eating from the fruit of the land, the natural foods of Canaan. Many of us find ourselves in a place of needing to be cleansed from days, months or years of not following the Lord before we can receive what God has promised us. It might be a huge elephant in the room type of disobedience or it might be as tiny as a mustard seed but it is prohibiting the blessing of God from coming into your life. We need the faith of a mustard seed to have our heart circumcised and the shame and disgrace and reproach removed so God can pour out his favor upon us. Don’t let time and distance discourage you from approaching God with your confession and repentance. Remember, Israel was in Egypt a really long time and had many seasons where the Lord was the furthest thing from their mind. God received them after many years of disobedience. He removed all that kept them from fully enjoying the fruit of the land, both physical and spiritual. Let’s examine our hearts and confess the disgrace of our hearts so we can participate in the blessing and favor God has waiting for us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we bow humbly before you today as we are reminded of our days of disobedience and the resulting disappointment and brokenness in your heart and we confess our sins. But we rejoice as we approach your outstretched arms to receive us and remove all the disgrace from our lives. Thank you for being a loving Father. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 4

Verse

24 “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

Meditation

The last piece of the story of Israel crossing the Jordan River to an encampment at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho was the culmination of a 430 year journey. Imagine your family receiving a promise of inheritance and 430 years later a family member 12-16 generations down the line finally receives it. It would be given up on. Never thought about again. Along that journey was slavery, broken hearts, failed dreams, unfaithfulness, yet there was waiting, an expectancy that was hidden in their hearts. They persevered and didn’t know why. Great leaders, and poor leaders, led them on. In the last chapter the nation gathered at the river. It took hearing from God, listening to his commands, and faithful obedience to reach this point. Today we rejoice with them as they cross the river. It took following the final instructions from the Lord and they obeyed exactly as they had been instructed. Now imagine the feeling they must have experienced when they finally reached the land of milk and honey, the land of great promise. It had to have been exhilarating to be part of the nation that God said he would bless. They would have been overcome with joy. The chapter concludes with an important reminder to the nation as well as to us. All that God does for his people is for his glory and honor and to draw us closer to him. Yes, we are recipients of great blessing and favor, but if he gets glory and honor it will draw us closer to him and bring others into relationship with him. The interest of the Lord is all the peoples of the earth. We are not finished occupying the Promised Land until all the people of the earth may know the Lord, his power and live to honor him with their life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, keep us mindful there is still work to do in your land. Many on this earth still need to experience your power to transform their life into what you intended them to be. Remind us often of the reason for your mighty acts. People need to know your power and live in awe of you. Let us be an example of the people of God knowing your power and might. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 3

Verse

5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. 7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.” - Joshua 3:5-7

Meditation

Two spies returned to Camp Israel and told Joshua great news. They witnessed the enemy melting in fear of the Lord and proclaimed to Joshua the whole land will be given to them as promised. Joshua makes plans and tells his people they will see the Lord do amazing things. He told the priests the Lord will do amazing things. Then, the Lord told Joshua he will be exalted by the Lord himself which will solidify him as their leader and he, along with the entire nation, will see amazing things. I want to be part of the amazing things of God and I am sure you do as well. There were many amazing things which followed including stopping the Jordan River dead in its tracks during flood stage so the people could cross through it on dry ground. We will read others in the days to come. We will see God do amazing things when we position ourselves in faith to allow Him to do these supernatural acts before our very eyes. The people had to first consecrate themselves, or purify themselves of all sins. The priests had to honor the presence of God by taking the ark ahead of the people. Joshua had to follow the instructions of the Lord. These types of stories teach us that the Lord responds to our faithfulness and our desire to experience His supernatural work even though we know He is very capable and powerful enough just to stop rivers in an instant. Knowing that He responds to our desire and faithfulness means we will see more amazing things and there will be no question how it all unfolded. Acts that amaze us are often categorized as coincidence, but when amazing things happen out of our obedience and seeking God, then they become a testimony of God’s goodness, his power, and his love for his children. Consecrate yourselves today and prepare for the Lord to do amazing things. For some, you will know exactly what you are seeking, for others, only He knows. Amazing things await.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, cleanse us of all unrighteousness, purify our hearts, for we cry out for you to do amazing things in our midst. Do not let us take one step ahead of your plans. We honor you with all that we are so that you will honor us with all that you are. Forgive us for living day after day and never wanting to see the amazing things you have for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 2

Verse

1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. - Joshua 2:1

Meditation

What follows verse one is an amazing story of obedience, covenant keeping and the least likely being used to accomplish the most likely. The Israelites were on the cusp of crossing into the land they had been promised when Joshua sent two spies into Jericho to get one last look at the situation they were facing. These men did not happen up on a prostitute not knowing who they were dealing with, they were sent to a prostitute named Rahab who protected them for the sake of the Israelites and their redemption story, and later we will discover for eternity’s sake and all our redemption. The story of Rahab tells the story of a beautiful and powerful transformation in her heart because of what God had done for the Israelites. The power of God had melted the hearts of the enemy and destroyed their courage. She had discovered what it really meant to fear the Lord and be in awe of his presence and power. Out of her obedience to the spies, the obedience of a prostitute, came an oath of protection which helped mold the story of history. When the oath was kept by Rahab tying the cord in her window and Joshua honoring her faithfulness, she and her family were spared. God choosing a person no one else would choose and the obedience of everyone involved positioned Rahab right in the middle of the lineage of Jesus. There is much to learn from this story and each of us can take something away. The commonality we all have with Rahab is the need for obedience, honoring our word, and following God even when we seem like the least likely.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, use us even when we don’t think we are usable and have messed up in our minds. Teach us the value of holding faithfully to our word and being obedient when you call. Give us grace in all things. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Monday, September 11, 2023

Today’s Reading - Joshua 1

Verse

9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

Meditation

Joshua was clearly a capable leader or he would not have been chosen to lead the people into the Promised Land. He had what it took to accomplish the task. God believed in him but He knew there would be times when Joshua doubted his own ability to lead the people, when the enemy looked too mighty or the terrain looked impassable. God didn’t just tell him once, he told him three times to be strong and courageous. God prefaced the first time He told Joshua to be strong and courageous with these words, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” He concluded the third time with similar words, “. . . for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God believes in you! Wherever you find yourself today, whatever you face today, the words to Joshua are for you today as well. You might see the enemy in front of you or you might see rough terrain. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances are, what matters is the encouragement and promise from the Lord your God. Be strong and courageous because He will be with you wherever you go and in the midst of whatever you face. Your walk with the Lord has purpose each and every moment. We might not know it ahead of time or understand it when we realize it. What we do know is that God gives us strength to be who we are and courage to become who we can be. Be strong and courageous today. You can do it.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for encouraging Joshua to be strong and courageous and we receive those words today. Thank you for the promise to Joshua you would be with him wherever he goes and we receive those words today. Speak into our hearts through your Holy Spirit words of strength when we feel weak courage when we feel afraid. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Friday, September 8, 2023

Today’s Verse - Acts 27

Verse

33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. - Acts 27:27-44

Meditation

Paul is on a ship having already been granted favor at a stop, survived a violent storm, been told by God no one would die, and is now faced with questionable boat handling skills. But he remains faithful to the word he had received and his fellow shipmates, even though they were enemies of sorts, wanted to live much more than they wanted to die and they listened. Out of fear they hadn’t eaten for fourteen days but out of a greater desire to live they listened and ate. Paul broke bread, gave thanks, and they ate and were all encouraged. The shipmates faced a physical dilemma related to nutrition. Die or live. Our dilemma when the pathway seems precarious is spiritual in nature. Starve ourselves of spiritual nourishment or eat the bread of life. We will find hope and be encouraged when we stay the course and stay in God’s plan and direction which as most know is very fluid at times. Stay with God and he will protect you and you will reach your destination. Paul’s path to Malta was precarious at best but filled with fulfillment as he listened to God along the way. Our journey is full of journeys which means the path is not always clear. Be sensitive to God at all times and he will lead you in a path of satisfaction and you will be encouraged when there seems no way.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to remain faithful even when it seems impossible and impractical to continue on a path. If you are leading we will arrive. Make clear your instruction and direction for each of us. Help us know your truth in the midst of the chaos which may surround our situations. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer today. And every day.

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Today’s Reading - Acts 26

Verse

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” - Acts 26:27-29

Meditation

Another trial. Paul had been through more trials than an accused criminal with a zealous attorney taking advantage of every possible appeal. Interestingly, he had asked for them not because he just wanted to be free. There was a greater reason. He was passionate to reach as many people as possible with the transforming power of Jesus Christ that had made him a completely different person. Literally. From a persecuting Pharisee to an eager evangelist speaking about the good news. We get a glimpse of what drove his passion when he declared before King Agrippa that what he and all the Jews had hoped for his entire life had come to be and he wanted everyone to experience this great hope. Even at the risk of a guilty verdict, he confronted the King with the question every person is faced with, “Do you believe?” Paul asked it a little differently because of the context before the King but it had the same impact as if we were to ask the same type of question to a person trying desperately to capture a glimpse of hope for their life today. Paul had found hope in the Messiah and he wanted everyone to experience the same. He did not let his trials diminish his passion for spreading the good news of hope and salvation. He hung on to the power of the message and his evangelistic passion even through the chaos and stress of trial after trial after trial. I want to encourage you if you feel like you are going through one trial after another in your life. Hang on to the hope you have found in Christ. The hope of transformation has not been negated by your trials. Know that God might use you to be the means of grace for someone else to realize hope for their life because they see you hanging on to the hope found in Christ through the trial. To our last breath we cling to Christ and believe someone might experience Christ as you continue to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, even though we face trials we hold on to the hope found in Jesus. We choose not to waiver in our faith. We choose to be strong until our last breath. Undergird us with strength to believe and proclaim at all times. Give us faith and passion. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Today’s Reading - Acts 19

Verse

20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. - Acts 19:20

Meditation

If given a choice we will choose to participate in activities deemed successful. A kingdom movement is no different. In terms of our work for the Lord, we want to be part of a movement that spreads widely and has great power. Sometimes it takes time. Paul is often thought of as the constant traveler, always on the go. There were a few cities where he stayed for extended periods of time in order to complete his work. Corinth and Ephesus are two examples. Paul is seen as a person of instant success, planting churches city to city and watching them grow. The real story is he met resistance in many places and would move onto the next place where he encountered receptive people. And in a few places it took time. Long periods of time. Two years in Ephesus this time we read in earlier verses. When we find ourselves right where we think the Lord would have us to be we tend to get impatient if we don’t see instant acceptance and results. Some situations take time. Some people take time. Relationships are the key to any successful endeavor. Relationships are built in an instant but must be nurtured and strengthened through time. Don’t confuse having a title with spending quality time. A company can name a new CEO and that person has title and authority, but until relationships are established over time no great success will be achieved. It took Paul teaching daily for two years for him to complete his work in Ephesus. The Lord may require of us long periods of time to complete the work he has called us to in a particular place or with a particular person. We would love for the Lord to send us into “drive-thru” ministry, but sometimes we must cook the meals, daily, for two years. Then a door will open and you will walk through into open arms and receptive ears. Then you will see the word of the Lord spread widely and grow in power.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us patience to live and breathe and do your work in the place where you have us and with the people you place in our lives. Give us wisdom to know when to move to the next place or situation or person. Give us clarity as we seek to do your will for the sake of the kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Today’s Reading - Acts 18

Verse

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” - Acts 18:9-10

Meditation

Stress manifests itself in so many ways physically, mentally and emotionally. We react to stress in different ways. Some people binge eat or eat a particular food like chocolate, some people exercise, some people can take a break, some people don’t deal with it at all and some just ignore it and hope the stress goes away. We all need to hear the five words Paul heard that night, “For I am with you.” Hand your stress off to the One who says He is with you. Most likely our context is not the same as Paul. His stress was caused by speaking about Christ and people attacking him in various ways in response. It does not matter the cause of the weight of stress or burden you feel today. What does matter is that not only for Paul, but for us as well, God promises to be with us. Hear Him speaking right now as he calls your name and declares he is with you. His word to you is to keep on and do not be afraid. Know that today you do not have to be afraid because God is with you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, your presence makes all the difference in the world. Your assurance gives us hope that no matter what we face you will be there with us. Remove fear from our minds as we face the stress of the day. We claim your promise to be with us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, August 28, 2023

Today’s Reading - Acts 17

Verse

Meditation

We live in a day and time when trust is hard to come by. In days gone by, there was trust in certain people because of the position they held. Their word was taken as truth because of the authority of the position. Not any more. Trust must be learned on every level. Paul knew that principle. When he went to a city to preach and teach about Jesus as the Messiah who came to save the world the first thing he did was establish a relationship and connection with the people. This started him on the road to earning trust among his listeners. We see this vividly as he stood in Athens at one of the most important places in the known world. He had something to proclaim and he wanted the hearers to really listen and respond. The message still needs to be proclaimed and followed and we are the Paul’s of the world now. In the verses which follow in this chapter he outlines a practical way of presenting a new concept which is still applicable today. If we can somehow embed this simple outline in our mind, when called upon in our life to make a case for Jesus, we will have something to fall back on. Without going into the details of each point, here is what Paul did in this moving speech to the Areopagus, the place of debate among the intellectually elite. He established a point of connection, he portrayed a presenting need, he showed they really had no choice in the matter, and gave them a point of action. The connection was their desire for and participation in worship. Their need was to know about their unknown god and the need to repent and turn to God in faith. They really had no choice because they are offspring of the chosen. And finally, their point of action was to believe. It’s a practical plan to follow when we are put in a position to give an explanation about Jesus and what He has done for us. We will be given those opportunities because we all have a story to tell about the goodness of God who is writing new pages to your story every day.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, when you place people in our path desperate for good news give us keen awareness of the moment and help us to seize the opportunity before us. Grant us boldness to stand before the people from all walks of life and share our story of transformation which will call people to believe. We cannot do it ourselves, only through your power, so we ask for your power in the moment. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Today’s Reading - Luke 24

Verse

Meditation

In discussions about favorite verses or chapters in the Bible, rarely will Luke 24 make the list. However, it has become one of my favorites. First, we read the story of the resurrection and that should always excite us and instill great joy in our heart when we read of Jesus being raised from the dead. I have come to love and appreciate this chapter because of the story of Jesus joining disciples who were walking toward Emmaus and talking about all the events of the previous week. They were downcast, their hope had been lost, yet they had heard that Jesus might be alive. And Jesus joins them, quietly, without great fanfare, and walked alongside them and let them share their dashed hopes but the possibility the story had not ended. Then Jesus did what only Jesus can do. He continued to walk alongside them and spoke into these two as their shepherd and he amazed them to the point they didn’t want to leave his presence. Jesus continued to be with them and agreed to come to their house and they shared a meal together. The significance of sharing a meal together is deep but most of all it signified a welcomed guest who was being honored. They broke bread and immediately their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus who was sitting at the table with them. That is just like Jesus to care for us as our shepherd, walk alongside us, and at the perfect moment he “breaks bread” and our eyes are opened to his presence and we experience his love and grace. When Jesus says he will never leave us he means it. When Jesus says he will guide us in all truth he means it. And we have all experienced it if we will stop and think about it. What a precious understanding of who Jesus is and how he interacts with our life. He walks alongside us and we have Emmaus Road experiences. If we will sit at his table and honor his presence, we will experience life-changing moments in the presence of the Almighty.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we ask that you join us on our Emmaus Road and walk with us through this day. Reveal yourself to us as you break bread in our presence and help us to recognize who you are. We desire to sit at your table and allow you to be our shepherd. Love and nurture us into people of deeper faith and living in your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, August 7, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 23

Verse

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: This Is the King of the Jews. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” - Luke 23:36-39

Meditation

They didn’t know what they were asking. They kept throwing around this word save. Only moments earlier Jesus said they didn’t know what they were doing and asked the Father to forgive them. With the intent to insult they dared Jesus to save them. First the soldiers and then a criminal on the cross with Jesus. Save yourself. Save us. They didn’t know what they were asking as they were only concerned about the last breath to be drawn. Yes, the King of the Jews could have done this but his reign as king had meaning much deeper than their present life. He was concerned about their place for eternity’s sake. Not to say he was uninterested in the present reign of the kingdom, but this king came to save our souls and write our names in the lambs book of life. For Jesus knew if he didn’t draw his last breath eternity was an impossibility because his last breath led to resurrection. This king, the King of the Jews came to save a people from eternal damnation, forever separated from the King. Yes, he was the king and he did save himself and save us. For eternity’s sake. So many today are like the soldiers and the criminal and are short sighted. His kingdom will reign forever and people need to see beyond this present age. We need to help them.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guide us to be your witnesses who have eternity in sight for those who are only wanting to be saved from physical death. Help us be people of faith who lead people to salvation from spiritual death. Let us live in such a way as to be examples of Christ followers who make a difference and become conduits to a relationship with your Son. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, August 4, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 22:1-38

Verse

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” - Luke 22:14-15

Meditation

They were all there, all reclining at the table. They were not being disrespectful, it was the customary position. Judas was there. Peter was there. They were all there. And Jesus looked at them all in the eyes and said he eagerly desired to be at the table with them. Note he just didn’t want to be there, he eagerly desired to be there. In other words, he came with great excitement and anticipation. Encounters with Jesus don’t always turn out the way we hope or expect. In the previous verses we read that Satan had entered Judas who then went to those who would arrest Jesus and planned it all out. Jesus would then tell those at the table that one of them would betray him. Judas was at the table and he did exactly what was planned and predicted. In the verses that follow we learn that Peter would deny even knowing who Jesus was to a woman in a courtyard most likely in front of a large crowd who heard the exchange. Peter was at the table and he did exactly what Jesus said he would do. We must speculate as to the outcome of Judas’ life before he died because we don’t know exactly. There would be good cause to believe he repented but we just don’t know. Peter is a different story. We know his story and his powerful transformation that led him to be the most prolific evangelist of the early church period. Regardless of the outcome, Jesus eagerly desired to be at the table with both of them and he desires to be at the table with us. It demonstrates how much he loves us even though he knows all things and it demonstrates the distance he will go to pursue us. Both are powerful statements Jesus makes at this most intimate moment with his disciples and a point of raw emotion as he is about to be taken away to his death. He eagerly desires to be present in our lives. Don’t miss the opportunity to sit at his table.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the invitation to sit at your table. Thank you for not judging us for what we have done or what you know we will do. Thank you for your forgiving, loving, pursuing spirit which supersedes our humanness. Help us to be faithful disciples who have been invited to sit at your table because you eagerly desire to sit with all of us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 21

Verse

3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has PUT IN MORE than all the others.” - Luke 21:3

Meditation

I’m asking for permission to deviate from the obvious context and meaning of this verse. Thank you for granting it. The woman was poor and did not have much to give. Her gifts were compared to the gifts of the wealthy. Yet, she put in more. In our participation in the kingdom of God, we can consider ourselves poor or wealthy as to what we have to offer. We consider ourselves one or the other based on the value we place on ourselves and our perception of our gifts we have to give. Yet Jesus valued hers greater. First of all we have to put in. So many people just want to take out and never contribute themselves to the kingdom. Participation is measured by how they are served. When we put in we approach the kingdom wanting to serve and not be served. Next is to never undervalue your gifts as insignificant to kingdom work. Jesus may be looking at your gift of service as more valuable than any other gift offered at the moment. Consider the many ways you can PUT IN to help the gospel be strengthened in your community and around the world. The common phrase about being better to give than receive applies to more than money. It applies to all that God has given you to use for the sake of his kingdom. Be a giver to the kingdom. PUT IN MORE.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, move in our spirit to a new place of putting more in that will be pleasing to you and greatly benefit your kingdom. Give us a giving spirit and remove the idea of only wanting to receive from the gifts of others. Move us to the place of full participation and do not let our assessment of value determine what we do. Let yours. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Today’s Reading - Luke 10

Verse

Meditation

There are times when we look around, pause, evaluate, and find ourselves needing so many things in order to be satisfied. Martha had invited a house guest and probably told her sister Mary that Jesus was on his way. Martha envisioned many things needing to be done like dusting the furniture, making sure the pillows were straight on the couch, washing the dishes, preparing a meal and cleaning the bathrooms. Mary envisioned one thing being needful. Sitting at the feet of Jesus. We would all welcome situations where only one thing was needed to navigate to the next situation, especially in the hectic nature of our lives. Mary found herself in that place and was not going to let anything get in her way of the one thing she needed. Not even her sister’s persistence that she should help prepare for this very special house guest would stop her from sitting and listening. That’s what she needed and most likely we all could benefit from learning from Mary and find time to simply sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him speak into our heart. Time when we can set aside all things that need to be done to do the one thing that needs to be done. Multitasking is a common buzzword these days. So is time management. Applying those two concepts spiritually will teach us to manage our time wisely in order to include time avoiding multitasking by sitting at the feet of Jesus alone. Sitting and listening should be our singular focus. While there, Jesus just might tell you exactly what you need to hear today.

Prayer

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 9

Verse

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. - Luke 9:23-24

Meditation

There are a few personality and character traits of Peter that none of us really want to embrace. His abrasiveness and arrogance are not things to brag about. One thing we all want to embody about Peter is his confession or proclamation of who Jesus is in answer to a very direct question from Jesus himself. We want to be able to answer in the exact same way! Immediately following Peter’s answer Jesus makes a statement about himself then carefully portrays the extreme sacrifice of actually answering the question the way Peter did and the way we want to. I must point out that answering the question is one thing, following Christ is another question and answer altogether. Knowing who is Christ is of no value, knowing who He is and following him is of eternal value. You know the principle of sacrifice and you’ve heard it taught and preached multiple times. Following Christ is about humbly denying ourselves and being kingdom minded for the sake of those who don’t know Him and are seeking answers to life’s tough questions. We deny ourselves in order to help answer the same question we have and proclaim that He is Christ, the Son of the living God. Interestingly, this chapter ends with opposition from the people of Samaria and Jesus giving three practical metaphors of the cost of following him which appear harsh and unrealistic. They illustrate the previous point of denying our life in order to save our life. Jesus never portrayed following Him to be easy but He was abundantly clear it is well worth the eternal value of following Him!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we need strength of faith and practice to follow you. We probably don’t know how to adequately pray for what we need to deny ourselves in the manner we need to. We simply ask not knowing what we are asking for knowing you went to the cross for us. Help us when we are weak and give us boldness to champion the kingdom and live as faithful followers. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 8

Verse

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” - Luke 8:45-46

Meditation

For many reasons you are not interested in, I am using a devotion I wrote last year which I believe has a timeless message. The red letters are important. The words right out of the mouth of Jesus. There are numerous principles in the parable of the sower. There are numerous principles in the story of Jesus calming the storm. There are numerous principles in the story I’ve pulled two verses from and most likely you can name it. Yes, it’s the story of a woman pushing through another large crowd of people who surrounded Jesus and all she wanted to do was touch his garment. I love all these stories and there are several others rich and deep in meaning Luke includes in this chapter. For a moment let’s focus on one. A woman on the outside looking in is a position we can identify with. She was on the outside because religion and culture both wanted nothing to do with her. It was not sin or obnoxious behavior, it was a disease she had no control over. She was on the outside looking in with no hope to change her position. We’ve been there. There was no hope until she became aware of the One who gives hope when all hope is lost. We can assume she had heard enough or seen enough of the work of Jesus she was willing to risk all manner of shame and ridicule and pushed through the crowd. She had come to the conclusion this person named Jesus was for real and the words he spoke were true. She made it! She touched Jesus! She was instantly healed and Jesus knew it! A few verses further it was words written in red that proclaimed her faith had healed her. She might not have known she had faith like that but Jesus spoke life over her and declared it was faith that manifested the power of Jesus to heal her body of a twelve year problem. She had hope again of living with purpose. We cannot physically touch Jesus but we can touch Jesus and we all need faith that moves us to often reach for Jesus just to touch him. Finding our way to a position where Jesus frequently knows power has left him on our behalf is not a bad position, it is the best position. Jesus wants us to exercise our faith much more than we want to exercise it. Risk shame and ridicule and let your faith push you through the crowd to allow Jesus to exercise his power on your behalf.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you love us so much that you want to release your power into our life in ways we cannot imagine. Let us understand your love and power more clearly so that our love for you, ourselves, and others grows in every way. When we have lost hope, give us faith to approach the hope giver. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 7

Verse

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. . . . 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. . . . 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” - Luke 7:9-10, 14-15, 48-50

Meditation

Last night during Vacation Bible School I was reminded of my college degrees in chemistry and math. However, reading, teaching and preaching the stories of scripture has been a large slice of my life for the last 39 years. An unlikely story given my background. Chemistry and math are exact sciences with very predictable outcomes. The scriptures are full of the unpredictable, the opposite of predictable outcomes. Three stories in Luke 7, given their background, a centurion’s servant healed, a widow’s son raised to life, and a woman forgiven of a life of sin in a Pharisee’s house, illustrate the unpredictable outcomes when Jesus is involved. The verses above are the outcomes of the three stories, the most unlikely outcomes imaginable given the circumstances. A centurion asking Jesus to heal his servant should not happen! A widow, destined to poverty and begging, seeing her son raised from dead should not happen! A woman whose lifestyle would have made her an outcast walking into a Pharisee’s house and receiving forgiveness should not happen! As unlikely as my story is related to my career path, my spiritual story, and yours, is just as unlikely. The power and presence of Christ in our life reverses the unlikely and unpredictable into a story that only Jesus can write. It is not very predictable that we receive what we don’t deserve and can’t earn and all the debt of our sin has been paid for. And that is just the beginning of our story. Before the last chapter is written, there will be many chapters written just as unlikely where we see the evidence of the hand of God writing our story. Let God write the story of the unlikely becoming reality. The centurion, the widow and the sinful women are certainly glad God is writing the story.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, continue to write our story with your hand of grace and mercy which writes a story we can’t see. We, like the centurion, are unworthy of being included in the story but you declare us worthy. Increase our faith to believe and receive the powerful story you have in mind for all your children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, July 17, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 6

Verse

43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. - Luke 6:43-45

Meditation

Children are excellent at saying whatever is on their mind. We don’t think much of it because it comes from the mouth of babes. Well, until they say it sitting at the front of the church during the children’s moment. It quickly turns from cute to embarrassing. It is different with youth and adults. What we say can be demoralizing or hurtful or just wrong. Or, it can build someone up and bring some joy and goodness to their life. The right words can be encouraging and helpful. We have a choice. Jesus reminds us to fill our hearts with good fruit which yields good things. He makes it rather easy to understand. We are only going to produce good fruit or bad fruit. Growth is necessary but at the end of the day, it’s either going to be good or bad. Practically thinking, if you have a fruit tree, among every 50 pieces of fruit there will be a few that are bad for some reason. What do you do? They are picked and thrown away. Throughout scripture either directly or indirectly, there is a principle we can all recite. People will know us by our fruit. Jesus tells us that from the fruit we bear the storehouse of our heart will be filled and out of that storehouse will come the words from our mouth. Let’s work on words that build up, words that are helpful, encouraging, bring joy to the souls of the hearer, and are simply good. Let’s work on bearing good fruit, pruning out the bad fruit and producing a bountiful yield for the sake of the kingdom.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, fertilize and water the soil of our life with your goodness so that we might produce the good fruit you desire in us. Weed out of our life that which destroys and ruins the crop. May our words be words of truth spoken with your goodness undergirding all we say. Thank you for being a good God who desires that goodness be evident in our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 5

Verse

3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” . . . 10 . . . Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” - Luke 5:3-4, 10

Meditation

Jesus knew how to love on people. He was by a lake teaching to a large crowd of people and he saw two boats and the fishermen washing their nets. He knew they needed loving on because they had fished all night and caught nothing. It was their means of income and they had nothing. He sat down in one of the boats and continued teaching and when finished, turned to one of them and said let’s go to the deep water and put down your nets and you will catch fish. Simon was exasperated, maybe offended, but obeyed. The catch of fish was too large for one boat. Jesus loved on these fishermen, then called them to follow, and they left everything and followed him. We’ve read this story or Matthew’s account and we are astonished at their obedience just as the fishermen were astonished at the amount of fish they caught that night. Obedience is clearly important as we follow Christ and live in the ways of God. Obedience requires listening and discerning the message that is being spoken into our heart. But there is more to this story. There is a lesson about the depth of faith needed to see the fruit of obedience. It is illustrated by the depth of water the nets were cast into. I don’t know if Jesus’ command to put down the nets into deep water simply meant leave the shore of shallow water and go to deeper water or they had not been to the deep water during the night or some other reason related to fishing in deep water. But what I do know is that being obedient to God requires faith that takes us to places we have not been, or we perceive to be dangerous, or we perceive to be beyond our capability or level of comfort. That’s ok. To go to those places means we must depend on God to accomplish what we discern he is asking us to do out of an act of obedience. There is also a lesson in this story about being a fisher of people, being a conduit in which people see the goodness of God and the light found in Christ. We must love on people before we invite people to follow Christ. I know this is not true in every instance, but in our culture of mistrust and skepticism, I believe it to be vitally important if we are going to be a part of the work of God’s kingdom. Obedience requires deep faith which gives us discernment about great love which produces kingdom growth.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as you daily call us to your work, give us a spirit of obedience and desire to be obedient to your will. Deepen our faith when needed to follow the call of obedience. Open our eyes of discernment to know the best pathway for the sake of your kingdom. May our obedient spirit, our deepening faith and our love for people always bear fruit for your sake, not ours. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, July 14, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 4

Verse

17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” - Luke 4:17-21

Meditation

The beginning of Jesus’ public ministry began in a desert of temptation and proceeded to the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth. It was a place he frequented often. It was on this day Jesus declared his functional purpose and the next three years would be the fulfillment of that purpose on his way to the final act of his story. As he proclaimed his purpose those gathered were fixated on him. Hearing again the words proclaimed that would set us free in many different ways is a helpful exercise. So today, do we need to hear the good news? Are we prisoners or oppressed? Are we in need of favor? Are our eyes fastened on Him or are we seeking answers in all the wrong places? Those hearing this incredible good news spoke well of him until he identified himself as the fulfillment of the prophecy. And almost instantly they turned and rejected the good news, the freedom, maybe even the favor. Before Jesus could clear his throat they were plotting to kill him. The good news is often not the news we want to hear. The freedom is not what we anticipate. The favor is pictured different in our mind and we reject the gift. I invite you to release fear and deny rejection and have arms wide open to the places of transformation in your life that you place before the holiness of God. Trust that the purposes of Jesus are the best purposes and in some mysterious way his purposes for you will be manifested in your life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we enter this day with an openness to experience a fresh wind of your Spirit. We confess that too often we resent and reject when we should receive. Forgive us for quickly wanting to turn a deaf ear to your word and go our own way. We declare fulfillment of your word and truth in our life during the days ahead. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 3

Verse

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” - Luke 3:21-22

Meditation

After the resurrection, Jesus told his chosen disciples that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and they would receive power. We are then told all people will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when we are redeemed by the blood of Christ through salvation. Luke’s first words about Jesus since age twelve tells us the Holy Spirit descended upon him as he prayed and in the context of being baptized. He prayed and the heavens were opened and the Spirit came. I believe the Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus as he began his public ministry and the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples and being promised to come upon every believer has a direct connection. The power of the Holy Spirit is the common denominator between the ministry of Jesus and our ministry now in the kingdom of God. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that God works in our life to bring salvation, healing, blessing and favor. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that God accomplishes great things for the sake of His kingdom through our life, work and ministry. We have limited capacity to honor God with our life apart from the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Two additional golden nuggets not to miss in these two short verses. The heavens were opened while Jesus was praying. The heavens are opened when we pray. Yes, we can pray with such power the heavens will be opened. You might not have ever thought of it in that way, but when the windows of heaven are opened through prayer our prayers are answered. And finally, remember your salvation story and at some point God spoke these words into your heart and mind, “You are my son, my daughter, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Nothing has changed. God loves you as a son or daughter. Now open up the windows of heaven and live today and all your days with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, fall afresh upon each of us today with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Give us fervency of prayer that indeed the heavens will open. May we see evidence of the Spirit working in our life and through our life for the kingdom. May we be renewed in that precious moment of salvation when the Holy Spirit came upon us like a dove descending from heaven. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 2

Verse

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him....28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him....36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher....37...She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Meditation

We’ve read or heard the first twenty verses of Luke 2 hundreds of times. The last fifty-two not so much. The first twenty verses have clear importance as they announce the birth of the Savior of the world who died for our sins so that we might have life and life more abundantly. The last verses have rich and important stories involving Jesus being presented at the Temple and twelve years later teaching at the Temple. We meet Simeon, a righteous and devout man, and Anna, a prophetess. Just eight days after the birth of Jesus these two spoke words of confirmation and affirmation into the anxious hearts of Joseph and Mary. Simeon and Anna were not just any two people who walked up to the Temple that day. They had credibility, Simeon being righteous and devout and Anna, get this, never, it says never, left the Temple and she worshiped day and night. She was righteous and devout. Clearly, the Holy Spirit was upon them. What they spoke was important to the hearers and to us, but they were invaluable words of truth to Joseph and Mary. Whenever you take a big step of faith, like giving birth to the Savior, words of confirmation that you heard from God correctly and words of affirmation that you are doing the right thing, are indeed more precious than silver, more costly than gold and more beautiful than diamonds. These words from two people full of the Spirit had to build confidence in the life of two people who were probably still wondering if all this was true and still feeling anxious moments. Joseph and Mary carried on with assurance. When walking by faith, when words of confirmation and affirmation come, they build confidence which gives assurance. God is good to do that for us. And, as a follower of Christ, you might have been the recipient of those words, Joseph and Mary, or be in a position to offer those words, Simeon and Anna, to someone else. Don’t miss the opportunity to receive or give.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the life of Simeon and Anna. Raise up more people like them who are so full of your Spirit that they can offer just the right words of assurance into people who are going way deep into the waters of faith. Give us ears to hear when they are being spoken to us. Give us the perfect words when we have an opportunity to speak into someone’s life. We yield our life to be on either side of the equation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 1:39-80

Verse

60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. - Luke 1:60-65

Meditation

When Zechariah was told by Gabriel his wife Elizabeth would give birth to a son, he asked a very human question because of his human condition. He asked Gabriel how in the world that could happen because of their advancement in age. In other words, he was saying we are long past the child bearing age. We would have asked the same question. And the strangest thing happened. Zechariah was silenced in voice from that point forward until the baby was born. Why? Because he didn’t believe Gabriel’s words. Well, neither would we. It appears harsh and beyond reason. Zechariah appears innocent not knowing all the miracles about to unfold. We are left asking why. When we walk with the Lord and listen and desire to be obedient, events will follow that make no sense and even seem to be punitive in nature and we will never understand the why. Maybe the why for Zechariah is seen when he wrote the name his child would be called, John. He made a declaration which went against all norms of the day because there was no lineage for this name. His declaration fulfilled Elizabeth’s prior statement about his name. His mouth was opened and he began praising God. All the neighbors stood in awe and the entire region as well. That might be the why. The impact of the miracle of John’s birth was exponentially increased because of something none of us understand fully. It was in effect a miracle on top of a miracle on top of a miracle. Elizabeth conceives. His name is a name it should never be. Zechariah speaks. And all the people knew it was the hand of God that moved in their life. And the witness echoed throughout the entire region and people stood in awe. When we don’t know, simply don’t know, God knows, even when we appear perfectly innocent. Be patient. Your witness will bear fruit.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, keep us walking in obedience even when we ask the wrong questions or the right question at the wrong time. We don’t know the answers but we do know You, who has all the answers and will lead us to the right places to impact the kingdom in the greatest way. We trust you with all our heart. We want to live in that trust. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, July 10, 2023

Today’s Reading - Luke 1:1-38

Verse

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” - Luke 1:34-35

Meditation

Luke begins with an explanation of why it is written, under what authority it is written, and announces the soon coming birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. Whether it’s writing this book of the four Gospels, or giving birth to John or Jesus, we join with Mary and ask the question, “How can this be?” In fact, most days we walk through life and think at one point or another, “How can this be?” And certainly, as we think of the enormity of tasks and navigating life ahead of us, the question comes to mind. As we begin a midsummer Monday morning, let us be reminded that no matter what lies ahead of us, the angel spoke these words into the heart and mind of Mary in response to her question, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Reading the birth narrative of Jesus in July might seem a little odd, but it is never odd to be reminded of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Doing life in general and for the sake of God’s kingdom gets busy for each of us because of a wide range of reasons. Doing life gets challenging for each of us because of a wide range of reasons. Most are good reasons and we embrace the busyness and the challenge. There are some reasons which simply cause us to think that what we can see in our sights is way beyond our ability and our perceived capacity to accomplish or handle. And then there are some reasons which are so difficult to navigate we cannot see even a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel and just want to stop and cry or give up. Wherever you fit into the scheme of busyness and challenge in life or doing work for the sake of the kingdom, I encourage you to remind yourself of the words the angel spoke into Mary. Because they are true. We know they are, we just need to be reminded occasionally about the abiding presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Lean into Him when there is nothing else to lean into.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, for whatever lies ahead of us today, we pray for a spirit of humility to allow the Holy Spirit to go before us and lead us through this day. We pray for a supernatural work of the Spirit in all that we encounter. May time and thoughts be arranged to glorify you and your kingdom. Do not let us walk in our own strength. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 26

Verse

20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. 21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts. - Proverbs 26:20-22

Meditation

Very few things incite and fuel deep anger and fury like finding out gossip is being told about us, our family, or a close friend. There is something very cruel about telling something that is not true which harms the character of another person. Most of us have experienced telling a true story with the right motives but getting the facts incorrect and then having to undo the harm that may have occurred. Most often we can avoid all these situations if we don’t tell the story until we are certain of the facts or determine if it’s absolutely necessary. Don’t gossip. Consider if a story is helpful in bringing resolution or health to a situation before you tell it. Be the one who does not add fuel to an already raging fire. Be the one who doesn’t offer tempting morsels to a palate. I believe Christ-like character is often silence in many situations where more harm than good can be done. As we often say “take the high road” and seek to be a reconciler and not an inciter. Somewhere in this conversation is where compassion and mercy and grace come in. And good common sense. Christ would be pleased if we exhibited all of these.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, silence us when we need to be silenced. Give us discernment to know when harm is being done. Forgive us for being the one who adds fuel to the fires of the heart. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, June 30, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 24

Verse

3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; 4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. 5 The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. 6 Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers. 7 Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths. 8 Whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer. - Proverbs 24:3-8

Meditation

A mistake is made if wisdom and knowledge or understanding are seen as the same principle. Wisdom and knowledge are two different principles. We read scripture and so very quickly in our minds the two are interchanged and we will miss the true meaning of many proverbs if we fall into that mindset. One way to understand the difference is to define knowledge as learning and knowing information and wisdom as learning and knowing information and having discernment in applying the information to many situations. It is not that clear cut because indeed wisdom involves knowledge and vice-versa. There are many knowledgeable people who lack wisdom but there are very few wise people who lack knowledge. Then, add the spiritual dimension to the equation and the plot thickens and wisdom takes on an even higher stature. As followers of Christ we are seeking godly wisdom which comes through the Spirit working in and through our heart, soul and mind. Our thoughts and actions then model the character of God. We desperately need people in our society with high moral character. Apply verse five to this line of thought beginning with the last phrase first. People operating within knowledge muster what, their own strength. The wise prevail through what, great power. Wisdom allows us to correctly navigate through the most difficult situations and seize the full extent of healthy situations. Godly wisdom is the power within us to operate beyond ourselves to the astonishment of the observer. I have learned a very clear understanding of this truth in recent months. There is a huge difference in a person being smart and clever and one being wise and discerning. Our society is enamored by people who are smart and clever but needs people who are wise and discerning. Throughout this wisdom literature there is clear demarcation between the wise and the fool. Godly wisdom comes to us when knowledge, discernment and the power of the Holy Spirit intersect.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, implant in us godly wisdom. Let us seek sound knowledge, discernment of application, and the power of the Holy Spirit working in harmony in our hearts and minds. We confess trying to be operational within our own strength and not relying on wisdom from the heavenly realms. Forgive us we pray. Give us a desire to live as wise people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 23

Verse

15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; 16 my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. 17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. 18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. - Proverbs 23:15-18

Meditation

Matters of the heart are always important, both physical and spiritual. We’ve learned that recently as we have studied the story of David. Most people do not intentionally neglect the matters of the physical heart. They will at least find out what the problem is and do one of two things. They will follow the advice of the physician with the expectation the issue will be resolved or ignore it to some degree and take their chances. We really don’t have a choice when it comes to the spiritual matters of the heart. We should both discover any issues with our heart and heed the instruction from the Great Physician. We are encouraged to seek a wise heart, not envy the heart of a sinner, and be zealous for the fear of the Lord. The prognosis is great and there will be a positive result. Hope is bound to the condition of our heart. In many different ways almost every day we are reminded to check our heart. Some of the reminders have spiritual context, some do not. It might be a good day to have a spiritual checkup of your heart. No appointment necessary. Just some alone time with God. Seek wisdom, experience joy. Avoid the heart of a sinner, instead, be passionate for God’s heart. King David teaches us the importance of staying focused on the heart of God. The results are good when the advice is followed. Gladness, rejoicing and a future hope awaits.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open our eyes to the inventory of our heart. May we be keenly aware of what occupies and controls our heart. May it be wise and life giving. May we have a heart that is in awe of you. Remove what harms and destroys us so only goodness resides in its depths. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 22

Verse

22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, 23 for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life. - Proverbs 22:22-23

Meditation

Impact operates by the ripple effect. Thoughts, words and actions impact many more than originally intended. Our intentions might be pure, but amazement comes when we discover how far the impact reached. This can be both positive and negative. Our text is clearly a negative example and issues a clear warning. Let’s dig deeper. I don’t believe a person sincerely following Christ is going to intentionally exploit the poor or crush the needy, in court or out of court. I do believe we unintentionally make decisions which are to our benefit but are detrimental to others and we don’t realize it. These situations arise because we don’t slow down and ask the question about the negative impact on people. I mentioned this briefly yesterday about making a right decision but creating injustice for someone else. Let’s be aware of the potential negative effect of people on decisions we make which appear on the surface as right and good. Not in our text but worth mentioning is the positive effect of the ripple effect. A simple illustration is a kind word spoken to someone in an unexpected context. It might make their day! And because you made their day it will inspire them to do it for someone else and we never know how far it might go. Another one is the idea of paying it forward. Being the recipient of the person in front of you in the fast food drive thru can be a blessing. Imagine the blessing if that act was paid forward to a person who was counting change to pay for their order or wondered if their debit card would be accepted. Most importantly, a word of hope that is only found in Christ to someone desperately seeking could change not one life but dozens. We never know. Be mindful of the ripple effect, both negatively and positively.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, may the Holy Spirit quicken our hearts and minds to make us keenly aware of the impact of every thought and deed which comes from our life. Do not let us harm others in decisions which benefit us. Let us act rightly and justly. Let us lean into the power of the gospel and its effect on many, many lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 21

Verse

3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. - Proverbs 21:3

Meditation

As I read scripture, I want more explanation more often than not. The Proverbs are a classic example, especially in chapters like 21 where each verse seems to jump from subject to subject to subject. I want the writer to have paused and helped me understand because I need some further explanation when I read that something, anything, is more acceptable than sacrifice. In my mind sacrifice takes us to a whole new level of faith. We can do what is right and just but when compared to sacrifice it seems the lesser act of obedience. God sacrificed his Son has great meaning to us and I think that frames our understanding of the depth of sacrifice. How can doing what is right and just be more acceptable? Instead of the writer pausing and explaining further to make it easier for me, truth comes when we pause and dig deeper to understand. Sacrifice was common practice for not only the Israelites, but for every religion as well. It was done for right reasons and many more wrong reasons. In the sight of God, much of the sacrifice common to that day was very unacceptable. The combination of doing right and just was not as common and it takes looking at the context of the law to make sense of this statement. Only by Godly direction could one do what is right and just. People could do one of the other, but they couldn’t do both without the hand of the Lord upon them. We have to be careful not to separate out our behavior apart from all the expectations of behavior. Doing what is right requires it to be just as well. Doing what is just requires it to be right as well. Kindness is not right if it is to the detriment of other people. We cannot help one person and that act causes harm to another person. It might be the right thing but it isn’t the just thing. Our behavior in Christ requires us to be mindful of all the directives of truth which guide our behavior.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray that doing what is right and just this day will include the obedience and sacrifice you seek from us. Let us not sacrifice to look more righteous than others, but let us do what is right and just and sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, June 26, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 20

Verse

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—the Lord has made them both. - Proverbs 20:12

Meditation

What is available and what we think is available are two different things all together. That holds true in many areas of life, especially in resources. From simple to complex. You might think you have enough food for a special occasion, but then realize before everyone is served there was a miscalculation along the way. We often think we have the ability or resources to complete a task but realize we overestimated time or talent or materials. We read scripture passages that reference “eyes to see and ears to hear” and for some reason we dismiss it as not applicable to our life. That becomes problematic when the phrase is associated with a stern warning, meaning we better have eyes to see and ears to hear or there will be grave consequences to follow. The other problem I believe this assumption creates is that if God has made them both, then we are recipients of both. We have at our disposal the resources to see and hear in the spiritual realm. Do not take that lightly. Don’t dismiss a resource you have because you find yourself in a difficult situation or the discernment opens the door for an unwanted outcome. Transformation into the likeness of Christ requires eyes to see and ears to hear in order that we clearly understand the truth of God and not set it aside as unimportant. The thoughts and ways of the Lord are greater than ours. We need help to see and hear. God has given us the ability. It can require lots of effort and great patience, but has great reward in the end. Let’s use what God has created.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open our eyes and ears to see and hear all the depth of meaning of everything you pour into our life. Don’t let us pass by one teaching moment. Help us see through the surface to get to the heart of what matters to you. We pray for transforming power to be manifested in our lives through open eyes and open ears. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

July 2 Fourth of July Worship

Sunday, July 2, is going to be a great day of patriotic singing and preaching as we celebrate our freedom in America and our freedom in Christ.

We will have one worship service at 10:00 am. You will experience Dr. John Stallsmith amplifying the patriotic hymns like none other. We will conclude the current sermon series on David as well.

Additionally, we are having a Church-wide Fellowship Brunch at Five Loaves at the conclusion of the service. A very short and easy walk to great food and fellowship. The cost is $10 per person or $20 per family.

Please respond to this email if you are joining us for the brunch. I only need to know how many. Or you can make your reservation during worship tomorrow. We have to have a minimum of 50 people to eat so please join us!

I hope you will join us for this great day of worship and fellowship.

Friday, June 23, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 18

Verse

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. - Proverbs 18:10

Meditation

There are literally dozens and dozens of proper names for God in the Bible and hundreds of descriptive references to God’s name as well. If you think of the Trinitarian names God, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, and then every proper name associated with them along with descriptive references, you begin to see the length and breadth of His name. You probably have a favorite. Savior. Shepherd. Healer. Take a moment and think about your favorite name or reference. It is probably your favorite because when you needed Him the most he manifested himself to you in that way. Biblical names were powerful and represented character. The Israelites often needed protection as they were attacked from not one but almost every other existing nation. We are reminded the Lord is, even in his name, is a source of protection for each of us. I don’t know about you but I will pray for a hedge of protection when I perceive my situation to be fertile ground for Satan to do everything possible to seek, kill and destroy. I want the Lord as my strong tower to be encamped around me. The word strong in this passage implies fortified. The Lord is not only strong in the sense of who he is, but in the mystery of what he does, he is a fortified tower that goes before us. It is that name we call on when we need protection and safety from what tries to tear us down. Run to the strong tower and know with confidence you are protected.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we run to you for protection from every side and from every scheme of the devil. Let evil be knocked aside at every attempt to attack us. Let us experience a safe place in you in whatever we face today. We want to find our place in the strong tower of your arms. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 16

Verse

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. 9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. -

Proverbs 16:3, 9

Meditation

We plan, we commit, and the Lord orders our steps. These are two similar proverbs so I have put them together because they make up a good way forward in life. The first of the two verses is a general principle. Simply put, have a life principle to commit everything to the Lord and he will guide your life. I believe the second is a result of the first and is a promise we can hold on to if we commit what we do to the Lord, he establishes steps as we plan. The process then looks like this. We yield our life to the Lord, we do our part and plan, and then we obey God’s plans and the details He lays before us. Following the Lord requires us to plan with wisdom then have an attitude of surrender and obedience. All of that has to work together. If we fail to be attentive to any of the three, we will surely take missteps. Most of us will do our part of planning and setting forth the course of action. The question is have we sought godly wisdom in the planning process. We can surrender without then being obedient and we render our surrender ineffective. We can obey without surrendering and we are left with some doubt as to who we are being obedient to. It is easy to make mistakes when it comes to obedience. Following our own thoughts seems much easier than what is often the harder way of the Lord. Following temptations from who knows where is often disastrous as well. We need to be mindful to commit our ways unto the Lord and then obedient to follow the instruction from Him. We need God to establish plans and steps.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us courage to surrender all our thoughts and plans into the heavenly realms. May they be pleasing to you. Give us courage to obey your ways even when the way seems hard and not how we envisioned the outcome. Give us clarity of planning, committing and obeying. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 15

Verse

16 Better is having a little with the fear of the Lord, than having great wealth with turmoil. 17 Better is a meal with vegetables where there is love, than a fatted calf with hatred. - Proverbs 15:16-17

Meditation

Less is more. We’ve heard that short phrase often but it is hard to reconcile in the minds of most of us who live in a country of plenty and a culture which screams often, more is more. We encounter the truth of these verses more often than we are willing to admit when experience bears out its truth. Great wealth and the best of the best is championed and when attained, there is a lack of the very things being sought after. This is not a recent development, it has been true since the beginning of time. The biblical account, especially the Old Testament, yields story after story of people seeking contentment or happiness in wealth or possessions only to find out life is more miserable than ever before. When monetary wealth and possessions blind us to fearing the Lord and loving as Christ loved, then we have missed the mark. Evil is not found in being financially wealthy or in obtaining possessions which bring great pleasure, but when either of these causes us to become weaker in our relationship with the Lord, not fearing Him, or failing to live out the commandment to love, then we find ourselves in a detrimental position. Do not compromise your position before the Lord in order to gain the possessions of the world. Less is more at that point.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to see what will distract us from being fully engaged with You on a spiritual level. If things get in our way, then help us to understand less is more, that doing with little will allow our relationship with you to flourish. We want to always stand in awe of you and love according to your word. Be our guide in all things. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, June 19, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 14

Verse

12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. - Proverbs 14:12

Meditation

This Spring the small groups I lead studied the book of Ruth which follows the book of Judges which ends with, “In those days Israel had no king and everyone did what was right in their eyes.” Israel’s history can best be described as utter chaos during this period when there was no king. During this period the nation was without an earthly king, but what resulted was behavior which made it obvious the people lost sight of their spiritual King! I was reminded of this period of history and the eye-opening verse describing it as I read chapter 14 this morning. We live in a period of time when so many things look right through the eyes of humanity, but are just wrong. There is no other way to describe it and it’s not hard to understand. Simply stated, human beings have an inadequate filter to determine right from wrong. In theological language, it’s referred to as the fallen nature of humanity. In order to distinguish right from wrong, we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit yet we are determined to make decisions on our own because they appear to be right, feel good, or it’s popular in the moment. Solomon is pretty clear, when we make decisions based on what appears to be right without filtering it through the Holy Spirit and the word of truth found in God’s Word, then we are on a pathway to spiritual death. The encouragement and influence of culture is to think and act through the lens of humanity and ignore the lens of God’s Spirit. It will appear to be right, and can feel right for a period of time, and actually be right to some extent, but be warned, it will eventually lead to death. If something is not in alignment with scriptural truth, there is a better way to follow which leads to life and not death.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, shut out eyes to the things which appear to be right which are truly wrong. Help us to see only through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working in our life. Steer us away from those things which lead to death and toward the life-giving ways of your word. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, June 17, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 13

Verse

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. -

Proverbs 13:12

Meditation

If you are following along in the Devotion Guide, today’s reading was Proverbs 613. I couldn’t find it so I’m going to defer to chapter 13. Yesterday, we focused mainly on the hope found in the promise of eternal life in the presence of God. Today I want to focus on hope found in the present as a Christ-follower. There would be many difficult days if our only hope lies in the eternal. Influencing someone to a better way of life through a relationship with Jesus Christ would be next to impossible if our only hope is found in the eternal. The beauty of our relationship with Christ is the assurance of his activity in our life now through the work and power of the Holy Spirit. The knowledge that Jesus Christ makes a difference in our life at this very moment is powerful and gives us present hope as it tracks alongside our understanding of hope in spending eternity in the presence of God. Knowing Christ is present and active in our life, transforming us into his likeness is life-giving. Knowing Christ gives strength when we experience life crashing down in front of us or heartbrokenness overwhelming us is life-giving. Comfort when we hurt or mourn, direction when we don’t know the way, and unexplainable peace and joy are a few more ways hope comes not as deferred, but fulfilled in the here and now. Experiencing the power and presence of Christ gives hope which sustains us when our tank draws close to empty. From the tree of life comes a measure of hope to keep us going. Spiritual hope is both a present reality and a future blessing.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, for every time we have felt hopeless and we’ve regained hope through your presence and power we give thanks and acknowledge your goodness. When we least expect it you are there to give hope. May we abide constantly in your hope as we look forward with hopeful anticipation of an eternity spent with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, June 16, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 12

Verse

28 In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality. - Proverbs 12:28

Meditation

After spending two days behind schedule because I forgot we read two chapters on Tuesday, I’ll catch up today. There are many proverbs in this chapter about truth telling and hard work as well as the use of words that sound very harsh, words that make us cringe a little if heard today. And the chapter ends with a proverb which sounds like it should be found in the New Testament. Eternal life is not foreign to the old covenant, but is much more prominent in the new. After giving us a dozen or more bits of wisdom about righteousness in the previous chapter, we get this summation statement to end this one. The way of righteousness is our way of life, not just now, but it leads to ultimate immortality. Not immortality of our present existence, but immortality in the sense of spending an eternity in the heavenly realms. Living in a right relationship with God is indeed what gives life and life more abundantly. The extension of abundant life now is eternal life with God. Let the hope of right living be an encouragement today. Let the hope of eternity be an encouragement today. Live righteously so as not to diminish that hope. Live in the journey, live along the path that is immortality.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of eternal life that is our sure foundation. Thank you for the pathway of righteousness which is blessing and favor and abundant living now and eternal life to come. May we live in the encouragement and joy of that blessing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 10

Verse

9 The man (person) of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. - Proverbs 10:9

Meditation

We begin reading a bulk of the wisdom of Solomon himself. He writes totally different than the other writer(s) of the first nine chapters. We would say at first glance that Solomon has attention and focus issues. Thirty-two verses in chapter ten and thirty-two subjects. Many are related and some are very similar, but all convey a different message. That’s Solomon! I trust God and His wisdom that he directed the writing and the inclusion in the canon of scripture to be exactly what was intended. And Solomon will hit home with every proverb. It will be hard to disagree with any of them. The issue of integrity being one of them because we desperately need men and women of integrity, I mean desperately need in our day and time, to step to the forefront and be the influencers in our communities. Integrity is having the quality of honesty and strong moral principles and it doesn’t change with your circumstances or the context you find yourself in. A person of integrity will be the same person at church on Sunday that is leading a company on Monday through Friday. A person who lacks integrity will try to impress people with their godliness on Sunday and treat people with godless character at the office on Monday through Friday. You get my point. People of integrity will be the same person with the same integrity wherever they are. It never changes. We probably all agree that dealing with people who lack integrity is very frustrating and our tendency is to want to fix the person. I’m learning to let the course of events unfold. The person who lacks integrity, who takes crooked paths, will eventually be found out. Don’t be that person. It’s not biblical. Integrity is biblical.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, raise up men and women, students, children, who are persons of integrity and will live that in every circumstance of their life. Change us all to be those people whose integrity is never questioned. Help us to be honest people of high and strong moral character. Forgive us for changing like the direction of the wind. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 9

Verse

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. - Proverbs 9:10-12

Meditation

Twice as much. Double the amount. There are twice as many verses in this chapter about the value of following the Lord verses chasing the ways of the world. It is a natural part of our makeup to want wisdom and knowledge. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize there is a direct connection between wisdom and knowledge becoming extremely beneficial in our life and being grounded in spiritual principles. Living in awe of God and having an intimate relationship with Him will get you on the correct path to wisdom and understanding. When these two are reduced to making straight A’s or having keen intuition apart from a relationship with the Lord, we find ourselves in a difficult position. What has happened is wisdom is reduced to something we can do on our own. Wisdom, and the understanding related to it, come only from God. There may be some appearance in one’s life of being wise and understanding situations or human behavior, but in reality if it is not grounded in the word of God it will eventually disappear or be proven wrong. Many people make what appear to be wise statements but close examination would reveal it to be just good ole common sense. Wisdom goes much deeper than that. Wisdom comes when we live in holy awe of a holy God and spending time learning more and more about Him and His ways. When we do that, wisdom will be imparted into our life and we might not even know it. Go all in with God and you will quietly be one of the wisest people on the planet. With wisdom comes humility. Only you and the Lord need to know how wise you are. Your thoughts and actions will speak volumes.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for insight into living in holy awe of you and a yearning to know more about you and your ways. Forgive us for believing we can attain all things through our human mind. Some things only come from you. Help us to be wise and to live wisely through your presence and power. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 8

Verse

4 “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. 5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. 6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. 7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. 8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.” - Proverbs 8:4-8

Meditation

From the first moment of creation God has sought after the heart of humanity. We are reminded of this expression of God’s grace today. He calls out, he meets us in the places we travel, he is more interested in calling out and seeking us than we ever are to listen and find him. Throughout this entire chapter we are given reason after reason to avail ourselves to hear the word from the Lord. Oh we can seek him, and should, but think of the beauty of knowing that God is not just waiting to hear from us, He is intentionally calling out and seeking to gain the affection of our heart. It is a mistake to get locked into thinking we will only experience the movement of God in our life as a result of our crying out to him or knocking on his door. God operates that way but is not the only way. For all the time we are asking, seeking and knocking, know that God is crying out to our ears infinitely more. That’s the grace of God at work when we don’t know it. We learn in this chapter today a long list of reasons to want and need to hear the voice of God calling out to us. Reread just the verses above. Put a circle in your mind around all the reasons we should listen when God calls. What He says is trustworthy, right, true, just, detest wickedness and are not crooked or perverse. The prophet Isaiah spoke no truer words when he said God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his ways greater than our ways. Spend some time today honestly and intentionally identifying the ways God is calling out to you. And listen.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pause in the hustle and bustle of our day to stop and wonder, to listen, to hear from you. Give us the pause we need today. Stop us when you are calling our name. May the affection of our heart toward you grow stronger as a result of listening and hearing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, June 12, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 7

Verse

1 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. 2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.” 5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words. - Proverbs 7:1-5

Meditation

It is critically important that each of us is rock solid, 100% certain about the principles that are guiding our life. Whatever those principles are we have to keep them, guard them, protect them and permanently secure them. As one who seeks to follow after the image of Christ, our principles are the principles of scripture, the commands and teachings of God’s Word. These first four verses are written to protect a young man against the temptation of adultery but they apply to any temptation of any sin we will face. Temptation of sin works pretty much universally regardless of the nature of a particular sin. It is seductive, persuasive and deceiving. Temptation will often come to a place of vulnerability in our life, pull at our deepest emotional strings with an airtight argument and promise us results which are simply not true. We can be hit square in the face and fall prey to sin before we even know what hit us. The language of the proverbs makes what is being taught very understandable. Everybody understands how fond of and protective of those things we call the apple of our eye. We don’t want to lose it at any cost. Keep the word of the Lord, guard the word of the Lord, protect the word of the Lord, put it in every place possible so that the word of the Lord guides you in every moment of your life. It will keep you from falling prey to the temptation of sin, which the writer says in the last verse of this chapter, is the highway to the grave and leads to the chambers of death. You don’t want that. And neither do I.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, tie up your word in our heart and give us the tools to guard and protect it and live by it. We need your help to keep us from sin, that which we recognize and that which we never saw coming. We walk in your word and your word alone as our guiding principles. Write them on the tablet of our heart. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, June 10, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 6

Verse

16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 ➀ haughty eyes, ➁ a lying tongue, ➂ hands that shed innocent blood, 18 ➃ a heart that devises wicked schemes, ➄ feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 ➅ a false witness who pours out lies and ➆ a person who stirs up conflict in the community. - Proverbs 6:16-19

Meditation

When the scripture says the Lord hates something and the meaning is clear, we have no option other than paying close attention. Go ahead and scratch these seven off the list of acceptable behavior. No questions asked. You cannot justify them with circumstances. You cannot excuse the behavior. Just go ahead and understand these seven things are wrong and are not looked upon favorably in the sight of God. In fact, the strongest language in scripture regarding how God looks upon something is used in these verses. This does not mean that in our human frailty we will not fall prey to this behavior, but if so then go ahead and admit your guilt, know that at a minimum you have hurt yourself and in some cases others are involved. Thank goodness the Lord loves some things, like mercy and grace. Thank goodness we don’t get what we deserve and in exchange God replaces this hurtful behavior with healthy behavior. The double whammy of mercy and grace is a beautiful thing. Notice the seven things listed are things that bring great pleasure in a corrupt culture or in the mind of a person more influenced by wrong than by right. Every person has at some point been part of the pleasure related to one of those listed. Transformation to the likeness of Christ will eliminate these seven things from your heart. It might be instantaneous for some, for others it might be a difficult process. But what the Lord loves always has greater power than what he hates and detests. Go back and read them again. You cannot play with fire without getting burned. Read verses 27 and 28 of this chapter. It’s time to scratch these seven off your behavioral list.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we declare over our life the elimination of behavior which you hate. Through your power may we be delivered from the destruction and consequences of our hurtful behavior. Help us to focus on the things which you love and live in the behavior which brings health and life to us and others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, June 9, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 5

Verse

21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths. 22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. 23 For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly. - Proverbs 5:21-23

Meditation

It is quite unnerving when we find out someone knows something about us or something we have done and we are thinking all along very few people, if anyone, knows. We wonder how they found out. We wonder what they think. So on and so forth. Be reminded this morning that the Lord sees very clearly all our ways and everything we do he examines. He just doesn’t see, he examines. We know this. Right? People admit it all the time yet we behave as if we can sneak something by God. This chapter is specifically talking about adultery in the sense of a husband and wife relationship. No one would argue the destructive nature of this behavior. For a moment let’s look beyond the specific nature of adultery and consider the general principle. You might want to think of behavior in general. Synonyms of adultery include unfaithfulness and disloyalty which expands the application of this chapter to those who may not identify with this chapter and then just write it off as something that does not apply. An argument can be made that in any relationship if there is unfaithfulness or disloyalty the consequences mentioned here may apply to us. Lack of discipline in the area of faithfulness leads to spiritual decay and destruction. Maybe death. Think of all the levels of faithfulness that apply to your life. This is the destructive nature of adultery in a general sense which covers many areas. As we read Proverbs, think beyond the specifics of the illustration to think in general terms of application. Today, faithfulness is the topic, not just when talking about adultery, but every aspect of life where faithfulness applies. Be faithful, or expect fracture to appear in the relationship.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, keep us faithful in our relationship with you, our loving Father, and in all the other relationships in our life. Make us aware when we are walking down an evil path which leads to destruction. Forgive us for our folly. May we be more disciplined in our faithfulness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 4

Verse

18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. - Proverbs 4:18-19

Meditation

A quick view these days of all roads leading to the beaches of Alabama and Florida will send a clear message it’s vacation season and the beaches are probably full. Most people love to admire the beauty of sunsets, and there are a few, me included, who really enjoy watching the sun rise from a balcony or beach view. The sun rising on a clear day has its own beauty and points to things being good and right if you know what I mean. The rising sun speaks of new beginnings and a sense of hopefulness. You get that feeling just seeing its beauty. It activates your sixth sense of intuition and discernment and sense the day is going to be perfect. The opposite effect happens when you awaken to clouds, darkness and rain. There is no biblical language around this next thought but I believe it to be a biblical principle. The Holy Spirit residing in us is our “spiritual sixth sense” and will help us activate a spirit-guided intuition to know if something is right and good or will lead us to darkness and wickedness. We have to pay attention when we get that feeling that something is not right or that something is incredibly beautiful and right. We need spirit-led intuition to discern between the Spirit’s leading and the deception of evil. The Holy Spirit is our hedge of protection against the deception and influence of evil in our thoughts and actions. When we seek the Spirit’s guidance, our sixth sense will lead us correctly and the path of righteousness will look like that rising sun from your favorite beach or mountain vista. Pick your spot. See the rising sun. See the path of righteousness.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we see you and sense your Spirit in the rising sun and seek the path of righteousness for our life. Guard us from darkness when it attacks us. Give us a keen awareness of our spiritual sixth sense which will lead and guide us. Be our hedge of protection at all times. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 3

Verse

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:3-6

Meditation

The most familiar proverbs are found in chapter three, our focus today, or in chapter 31, the proverbs related to a godly woman. In fact, you have probably memorized verses five and six at some point in your life. They are worth memorizing. The preceding two verses are valuable for practical living and we shouldn’t pass those by. There is great wisdom in letting love and forgiveness go before you in all things. We are given two metaphors to show how important these two spiritual fruits are and would have been clearly understood by the original readers. The first is to bind them around your neck which seems ridiculous until you think of the importance in their culture of being yoked, connected physically and spiritually, to someone like a priest. Being yoked was a sign of unbreakable connection. Oxen were yoked to the farmer through the harness of the plow. The other is writing them on the tablet of your heart, This would make it part of the essence of their being. It is highly significant. The result? Winning favor and having a good name in the sight of God and man. Pretty important I would say. There is so much to say about verses five and six but I want to focus on one word, acknowledge. The basic tenet of faith is to trust in the Lord and not our own minds. But there is more to faith and following Christ than just acknowledging God which can sidetrack us if we use the first definition of acknowledge that comes to mind. It can be dangerous as well. To acknowledge something means by definition you affirm its existence. Knowing God exists is of no value unless we choose to submit to him and be obedient to his ways. The root word for acknowledge is the same word which can be translated submit and that is actually a better translation. Don’t get sidetracked because you memorized this verse with acknowledge in verse six or that’s the way you have read it all your life. Do more than acknowledge. Submit to him and obey his ways. Submission and obedience lead to the benefit of this piece of wisdom, our paths being made straight. A familiar verse becomes powerful when rightly understood. And truth be told, spiritually speaking we all want to walk on straight paths.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, yoke us with your love and forgiveness and help us to gain favor in your eyes. Gaining favor and a good name in the eyes of man is a bonus, we want that first in your eyes. Help us to understand greater submission and obedience as it relates to our life. We want to be known without question as a follower of Christ and if we need to submit more to your ways let it be so. Forgive us for resisting at times the pathway to growing our faith. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 2

Verse

5 . . . then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. - Proverbs 2:5

Meditation

Most everyone is interested in the benefits of participation, whether it be an exercise, taking vitamins or attending a class. If a physician prescribes a pill or procedure, it is natural to ask about the benefits. Little time is wasted in helping us understand the benefits of wisdom of which this entire book was written. One of the first things that is made clear is that the benefits of wisdom are conditional. A misunderstanding about scripture is that all the promises and benefits are unconditional. Simply not true. God’s love is unconditional. Very few other things are. Wisdom comes because of the conditions outlined in the first few verses and then verse five sums up the collective benefit of wisdom. There are three conditions which all begin with the word “if.” If we do something, a benefit will follow. What must we do? Accept. Call. Determination. Accepting the word of the Lord is followed by obedience to apply them to our life. Calling or crying out indicated initiative on our part to seek wisdom from the heart of God. Looking and searching means we will have passion or determination to continually seek until we find. If you look at the teachings of Jesus he echoed all three of these conditions and necessary to follow him. The benefits are summed up in verse five. Two key words are given, understand and find, which point to two more key words, fear and knowledge. If we meet the conditions, then we will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. It is worth pointing out the two names used in reference to our Father in heaven. The first is Yahweh, the proper name for God, the most holy name the people of Israel feared because it represented a level of holiness no one understood. The second is Elohim, the most common name for God and represents all that God is, every characteristic of God wrapped up in one name. We need to understand the reverent awe of Yahweh and find all the character of Elohim. The benefit of these proverbs of wisdom is having our eyes and hearts opened to everything that God is, both spiritually and intellectually. We will best follow Christ with a clear understanding of both.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we bow humbly before you to accept your words, to cry out for your insights and to passionately seek out the treasure you have laid before us. Let us not falsely think that our understanding will come without conditions. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive all you have for us as your children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, June 5, 2023

Today’s Reading - Proverbs 1

Verse

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.- Proverbs 1:1-6

Meditation

We might as well start with the reasons why the Proverbs were written if we are going to spend a month reading them. Solomon was wise enough (no pun intended) to give us this information. Depending on how they are counted, there are eight reasons. A case could be made for several more but I think things are coupled together for a reason. I want to list them for ease of reading. As you read, think about the importance of the reason to a life of faith, then go back and read a few verses and see for yourself which one of the reasons apply. I will use verse seven as an example. Also, while reading the Proverbs you will read the word “fool” many times. Please understand it does not include the disrespectful undertones as it does today, but refers to a person who is morally bankrupt.

1. For gaining wisdom and instruction

2. For understanding words of insight

3. For receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair

4. Giving prudence to those who are simple

5. Knowledge and discretion to the young

6. Let the wise listen and add to their learning

7. Let the discerning get guidance

8. Understanding the proverbs, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

Verse seven teaches us how to attain wisdom and exposes those who despise wisdom and instruction. The parables will fall into one of these eight categories and be helpful for faithful living. First, fear or be in awe and respect of the Lord. It’s the key to all learning and growing to become more like Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open our hearts and minds to absorb all that is to be learned in the next days of reading the Proverbs. May we find something useful and instructional each and every day. We seek your wisdom to be imparted in us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Today’s Reading - 2 Timothy 4

Verse

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. - 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Meditation

King Charles III was crowned the King of the United Kingdom in a coronation ceremony on May 6, 2023, eight months after the passing of his mother, Elizabeth II. It was very ornate to say the least and I’m sure quite expensive. (pictured) His crown, although of great significance to many, will pale in comparison to the one those who have followed Christ and longed for his appearing will receive along with Paul. King Charles had waited almost 74 years to receive his crown and it was a huge ordeal, viewed around the world. Paul had ascended to one of the highest ranks among the Jewish pharisees, then, after his stunning conversion had poured out his life for the sake of the Gospel. He received a crown viewed by the entirety of the heavenly realm just like we will. YouTube will make much of the crowning of King Charles III. Our Father in heaven will make so much more of us when He places a crown of righteousness upon our head. There will be rejoicing and celebration as our Father welcomes us into the heavenly realm with a crown. We don’t really comprehend royal lineage and living that lifestyle. We can comprehend the reality of being a part of heaven’s royal family because it is promised and we should all be longing for the experience of that day whenever it comes each and every moment of our life. It will be a day like none other when we experience that moment when the King of all Kings places upon us a crown of righteousness as the reward of a life well done following Christ all the days of our life. We are royalty and will one day receive a crown!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we have a longing in our heart for the day we will receive our crown of righteousness when you receive us at your right hand. We thank you for preparing a crown for each of us even when we don’t deserve it or can not earn it. You think that much of us and for that we are grateful. Lead us into a humble life of royalty in these present days. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, June 2, 2023

Today’s Reading - 2 Timothy 3

Verse

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. - 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Meditation

There will be last days. Paul gives us some of the characteristics of people’s behavior in the last days. He calls them terrible. I have no way of knowing if we are in the last days. Nobody does. I do know that many of the things Paul describes are characteristic of the days we are living in now. He calls them terrible and in a very straightforward way says have nothing to do with these people exhibiting wrongful behavior. What he means by that is don’t emulate their behavior. Another side of last days which I consider terrible as well is knowing there are people who are not spiritually ready for the last days. That makes for the worst kind of last days. We don’t know the time this present age will come to a close so we really have no choice but to be ready now if we are concerned at all about eternal life. We should also have some sense of urgency for family and friends who are apart from God. Dealing with ungodly behavior is one thing, being separated from God eternally is quite another thing. I’m not taking any chances. I’m going to be as ready as possible if we are indeed embarking on or participating in the last days. I’m seeking God’s power to guide me in the truth of walking as a Christ-follower every moment of my life. I trust you are as well.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I declare Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and I ask you to empower me to walk in that truth. Forgive me for the things which break covenant with you. Lead me in the way of righteousness because I desire to live with you throughout eternity. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Today’s Reading - 2 Timothy 2

Verse

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. - 2 Timothy 2:15

Meditation

Just getting by is becoming a normative way of doing things. It is sad but necessary because of a wide variety of factors including legitimate ones like apparent worker shortages and supply chain issues. It becomes frustrating when you discover there is a simple lack of having pride in performance or just an unwillingness to work hard which reduces the quality of the product. Some things we can’t control, some things we can. We can control our spiritual journey and Paul’s word to young Timothy and to us is “Do your best.” It shouldn’t be shocking or anything new because for most of us our parents tried to instill that value in us. We are taught in scripture repeatedly the principle of spiritual maturity, holiness, excellence in faith, bearing the image of Christ, and serving the kingdom in all godliness. Spiritually speaking, the scriptures do not teach us a value of just getting by in our faith, but establishing the value of spiritual excellence in matters of faith and practice. And it makes sense. We should never want to experience shame or be accused of poor work and it couldn’t be more true than when considering our witness and our proclamation of truth. “Do your best” is not a call to works righteousness, it is a reminder that we honor God the best when we give our best. Your spiritual demeanor will attract more people to Christ when a foundational spiritual principle is excellence in all things. We do our best when we include bible study and prayer as a regular part of each and every day and worship is normative. Neglecting the basics is a willingness to just get by. Be excellent, do your best.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we confess that too many days we just want to get by and we neglect the very things you want most out of your children. Forgive us, we pray. Order our days and our time so there is never a desire to get by until the next day. Help us to understand that giving attention to our relationship with you and being excellent in all spiritual matters will be reflected in every part of our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Today’s Reading - 2 Timothy 1

Verse

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but gave us a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:5-7

Meditation

The roll call of names of the people who have poured into our spiritual life should be powerfully significant to each of us. You are where you are today in relationship to Jesus Christ because of people who spiritually invested in you. Those people should never be taken for granted. Think about your list. For Timothy, it was his grandmother and mother who poured into him and it resulted in sincere faith. Out of the faith which has been nurtured in us, we are able to begin fanning the flame of the Holy Spirit within us to experience the fullness of God which includes living in divine power, the extravagant love of the Father, and righteous thinking led by the Spirit. Hear me. With the gift of salvation comes the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) and with the gift of the Holy Spirit comes power, love and right-thinking, or self-discipline. We have that gift and we need to claim it and exercise it! We do not have to live in weakness, emotional indifference, or recklessness. Paul goes on to say in the next few verses that because of our faith undergirded by the gift of the Spirit, we can unashamedly testify to the goodness of God and live by the power of God through his grace to accomplish his purposes in his kingdom. We want to be that person of faith! Don’t be the person who lives a timid spiritual life. Be the person who lives boldly in the world with God-given, Spirit-infused, power, love and self-discipline.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we ask you to empower us as you fan into a roaring flame the gift of the Spirit you have given us. Do not let us settle for timid living, but let us live in all the power you have for us. Through your power let us love and think beyond our understanding. Help us to be your faithful followers unashamed to testify about your goodness and grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Today’s Reading - 1 Timothy 6

Verse

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. - 1 Timothy 6:11-12

Meditation

We can more easily identify with Timothy than Paul because he doesn’t have the extraordinary calling and story as Paul does. Just a believer seeking to do his part in the kingdom who gave considerable time to working with Paul. He receives this charge from his father in the faith as this letter closes. We might want to receive the same charge today. Flee. Pursue. Fight. Take hold. Those five words are memorable and give us a plan for the day. Flee that which is spiritually destructive. Pursue the things which build spiritual health. Fight through the temptations and circumstances which are difficult. Take hold of salvation in Jesus Christ and the hope found in that relationship. Every day will be different with new challenges and new victories to celebrate. We should live in the boundaries of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness while intentionally fleeing that which destroys. In pursuing these, we are able to successfully fight the good fight of faith and hold on. Some days holding on is all we can do. Other days we passionately pursue a greater depth of relationship with Jesus Christ and living righteously. Whatever your day holds, flee, pursue, fight, and take hold.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guide our path as we flee from thoughts and actions which erode and weaken our relationship with you. Help us pursue the things of holiness and righteousness. Guide our life so faith, love, gentleness and endurance are characteristic of our behavior. Lead us to a deeper love relationship with you today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Today’s Reading - 1 Timothy 4

Verse

9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. - 1 Timothy 4:9-11

Meditation

There are people in our life who are family but they are not actually family. You know what I am talking about and you probably have a person or two in mind. I believe Timothy was one of those persons in Paul’s life. He took him under his wing, counted him as family and laid out specific instructions with heightened importance in places. This is the fourth trustworthy saying he has instructed Timothy with. There is a high probability the message is worth paying attention to. Here it is. It’s trustworthy and deserves our full acceptance. Our hope is in the living God who is the Savior of all people. Earlier Paul had said some were abandoning their faith because they followed deceptive spirits, demons and hypocritical liars and their false teaching. In other words, they had abandoned their faith because they believed there was more than one living God and more than one Savior of all people. When Paul wrote this he followed the pattern of Jesus’ words from John’s Gospel when He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Using the word “the” makes it singular. If Jesus or Paul had replaced “the” with “a”, then it would simply mean one among many. Word usage is important. Jesus is the only way, the only truth, the only way of life and the only source of hope we have in this world where the temptations are plentiful to abandon our faith in Him to seek the greener pastures of false teaching. Paul’s word to his young friend Timothy was to command and teach this truth that our only source of hope is found in the living presence of Jesus Christ in our life. Do not let the voices of deception lead you away from the only hope we have, Jesus Christ. You would fight for your family member’s faith just like Paul did. Fight for your faith especially.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guard our hearts and minds from the deceptions of false teachings which tempt us to find satisfaction and hope in other places. May our understanding be very clear that hope in this tumultuous world we live in comes only from your Son who died on a cross on our behalf. He made a way for salvation and he is our only hope. In Jesus’ precious and hope-filled name we pray. Amen.

Friday, May 26, 2023

Today’s Reading - 1 Timothy 3

Verse

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, . . . 8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. - 1 Timothy 3:1-2a, 8-9

Meditation

It has been generally accepted throughout the history of the church that those called or appointed to leadership in the church are called to a live “above reproach” as Paul wrote. Various churches and church groups have interpreted the application of these verses in different ways to include a wide range of people from lay leaders in a local church to the highest ranking person in a denomination. As a person called to pastoral ministry, I believe it is true for me and I’ve tried to live “above reproach” as inherent to my calling. Have I gotten it right? Not at all. I have colleagues who will disagree with me in principle and I’m perfectly fine with that. I want to pose a question this morning. Is there really any difference in the expectation of every follower of Christ to live “above reproach” regardless of whether any leadership position is held or not held? I don’t really believe there is. We are all instructed to live a life of holiness, being set apart from the norm of societal living, to live in a way worthy of respect, holding on to the deep truths of faith. We love to invoke the exception clause because sometimes the accountability is tough. Is it necessary for leaders to be especially mindful of spiritually living to a higher standard? Absolutely. Without leaders a society crumbles in chaos. Leaders take us where we need to be. If we have no one to follow then we will go nowhere. Yes I believe wholeheartedly in the principle Paul is teaching today but I am aware that in practical reality we signed up to live holy lives, “above reproach”, when we accepted the grace of Christ unto salvation. Something to think about as you head into the weekend. Have a great weekend and honor the King in every way!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we ask that you lead us in the way of holiness and right living set apart from the godless standards of the world. May our lives be a clear example of living as you would have us live. Help us to take the call to holiness seriously and not think it doesn’t apply to our life. Forgive us for watering down holy living. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Today’s Reading - 1 Timothy 2

Verse

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Meditation

If are honest with ourselves we will admit there are some people who are harder to pray for than others. To pray for our family and friends and their situations comes very naturally to us. To pray for an annoying colleague, a competitor in the business world, a bitter sports rival, or for mayors, governors and presidents can be much more difficult. Those in authority in any capacity often pose a challenge. Paul instructs us to pray for all people without offering any conditions not to pray for them. He does give us a reason to pray for all people that shifts our focus somewhat. We could all list plenty of reasons why it’s hard to pray for people, some very real, but we are given two reasons why we should. We pray for all people because it helps us to live peacefully which promotes godliness and holiness in our life. We will mature in Christ with less conflict and more efficiently if we are living in peace with one another and our spirit is quiet. We also pray for all people because it is God’s desire that all people be saved and understand truth. Each of us has the responsibility to participate in sharing the good news of the kingdom of God and begins when we live in such a way that door are open and pathways are provided to have honest conversations with people. Praying for a difficult person is our responsibility, not that we know the outcome, but that somehow God uses our prayer to open eyes and hearts to the gospel of salvation. We will never know if our prayer opens the door for someone else to have influence in someone’s life who is struggling with issues of faith. For instance, we can pray for people in authority to know Christ and his truth and if they experience Christ then they will make decisions in alignment with the truth learned. Pray for all people, not for your benefit, but for the benefit of the Kingdom, that all people might come to know Christ and the power of his truth.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us a spirit of prayer and intercession for others so that we will overcome the barriers of praying for all people. We confess it is a difficult challenge to pray for some people but we want to pray with a kingdom mindset. Help us to pray correctly and according to your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Today’s Reading - 1 Timothy 1

Verse

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. - 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Meditation

It is doubtful that anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ would argue with Paul about his saying and the comment which followed being trustworthy and deserving full acceptance. In fact, with hearts filled with joy and immense gratitude we should fully embrace every word of it with not an ounce of doubt or regret. Yes, I am grateful Jesus came to save sinners of which I am one and yes, I needed to be shown a great amount and mercy so that I might believe in him and receive eternal life. Just typing those confessional words are therapeutic and they remind me of the fact we sing often, “I once was lost but now I am found.” So I am grateful beyond adequate words that I live on this side of the mercy and patience shown to me and that I have been rescued from the debt of my sin. It is a reason to rejoice on a Wednesday morning. Believe and receive is such a powerful concept of the Christian faith, especially when it applies to salvation and eternal life! Trustworthy and fully accepted are stamped on my heart. Those two verses are so, so good but I don’t want to lose sight of Paul’s benedictory declaration of verse seventeen. Let those four descriptions of the King resonate over your heart and soul this morning. Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God. Let their meaning of our great God sink into the depths of your soul. Live your redeemed life bringing honor and glory to the King for ever and ever. If you do, people will see a heart of gratitude because you believed and received salvation and eternal life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pause to give you thanks as Paul reminds us of the reason you sent your only son to become a man, to save sinners like each of us. Thank you for being loving and patient with your children. As we think of your goodness, our prayer is that our life might display honor and glory to you for ever and ever. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Today’s Reading - Colossians 4

Verse

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. - Colossians 4:5-6

Meditation

I have come to the conclusion that Paul was dealing with some difficult situations in Colosse and some people who would only hear what they wanted to hear. The result was that Paul had to get tough on some folks. Yesterday we talked about admonishing people and today the concept of saltiness in light of grace. It’s almost as if Paul has been pushed to his theological limit. Full of grace and seasoned with salt has always been an intriguing statement. When trying to speak the truth it becomes a challenge when truth is spoken in grace and at the same time it contains some saltiness. It’s a challenge because Paul’s teaching is about knowing what people need to hear versus what they want to hear. It is much easier to speak into someone’s life what they have predetermined is best for them and what will make them feel good. We are called to have conversations that give life and many times the salt does not feel good. We all have scratched ourselves while sweating and we know the pain of salt in a wound. The tension of balancing grace with salt is never easy. Paul says be wise and make the most of every opportunity. The tension of balancing wisdom and seizing the moment is never easy. Never leave out the truth in your conversations when it comes to sharing the good news. Find a way to include grace so that you can take advantage of the opportunity before you. Sometimes it will feel good and sometimes it will not, but truth is necessary when investing in a life changing conversation.

Prayer

Heavenly Father fill us with truth to share and the wisdom to share it undergirded with grace yet containing the necessary salt. Do not let us in any way compromise the truth which is clear in your word. Give us wisdom to know every opportunity you place before us. Put truth on our lips. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, May 22, 2023

Today’s Reading - Colossians 3

Verse

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:15-17

Meditation

As the people of God learning and growing together, we are to do both. Both those words that are bold and highlighted. In this chapter Paul is writing to help the readers be fruitful and thrive in their relationship with Christ. He uses the framework of taking off the old and putting on the new giving us a long list of emotions and behaviors to take off and another long list to put on. Then he encourages us to do this life of Christ together and help one another. Then there is verse 16 which we read and don’t pause at all because it is part of this section we want to embrace without question. But two words. They cause us to pause. Or should. While we are doing life together seeking to become mature in Christ we are all about confidently teaching one another but I’m doubtful admonishing one another ever makes the agenda of the group and rarely even a one on one conversation. I get it. Nobody wants to admonish. It’s not pleasant. I don’t want to do that and neither do you. Paul includes it as part of this great chapter on holy living and how to be fruitful in maturity as if it were a natural part of the process. We don’t want to do it but it is a necessary part of maturity. It must be done full of grace but the truth must be told. As one who stands before a group of people weekly to teach into their lives I’m very aware of the difficulty of admonishing people with grace. But we must because much of what is being taught about spirituality in our culture today would translate the first part of verse 16 something like this: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach the popular trends with one another with all wisdom through . . .” Teach and admonish means the word of Christ stands as truth and we don’t have permission to compromise the word in order to be popular. We all agree we are not perfect people. We all need correction in our life. To deal with the imperfection requires teaching and admonishing. The very principle of the Body of Christ means we are learning and growing together, teaching and admonishing. It sounds harsh and uncomfortable but when done in the correct spirit is necessary.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give each of us a spirit of grace and compassion as we deal with this difficult topic in our life. Regardless of which end of admonition we find ourselves, may it be done and received with grace. May our only desire be to encourage one another to live in the likeness of Christ more and more every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, May 20, 2023

I am the first to admit it is egotistical and arrogant to suggest something I write is important and worth reading, but this is. It will take about two minutes of your time.

Today’s Reading - Colossians 2

Verse

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental principles of this world rather than on Christ. - Colossians 2:6-8

Meditation

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck. This is 99.9% true for ducks, but is misapplied in so many instances and becomes a deceptive manipulation of truth leading to a bad outcome. It is never more true than when trying to make a spiritual application based on the values of humanity and worldly culture. And it is never more true in our cultural and societal thinking today. Paul gives a stern warning about letting what is hollow and deceptive guide your life. The reason is simple. Follow carefully the logical train of thought. That which depends on human tradition and elemental principles of this world is the definition of what is hollow and deceptive and anything that is deceptive is not of God. If something is deceptive in the spiritual realm, then it is not of God and is leading you away from God. If it is leading you away from God it is evil by nature. Remember, deception is the chief weapon of the enemy. The purpose of a hollow or deceptive philosophy is to please people and not God. If it pleases people, it can look like biblical truth, walk like biblical truth, sound like biblical truth, but it is of the world and not of God. The heart of the biblical truth is to live as a fragrant offering to God. Paul tells us how to do this in verse six. Continue to live in Christ, becoming mature in Christ, strengthening our faith in Christ, and overflow with thankfulness. Look like Christ, walk like Christ and speak like Christ, then you will be a reflection of Christ and his glory and you will please God and not fall prey to the deceptions of the world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear through the deceptions and hollow philosophies of this world that only lead us away from Christ and his blood shed on the cross. Break our hearts when we realize we are following the wrong things. Get us back on track so we become the image of Christ in the world and not an image of the world. Forgive us for trying to please people and not you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, May 19, 2023

Today’s Reading - Colossians 1

Verse

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. - Colossians 1:17-20

Meditation

Of all the words attempting to depict someone or something as being at a place where there is nothing higher, greater or better, supreme captures it the best. Paul strategically uses the word to convey a clear message. He declared Christ is supreme and then went on to say God was pleased. A group of twelve people might debate over a supreme pizza being the best, but God intended for there to be no debate over the role of Christ in the world. He showed his supremacy not by outdoing all rivals but by dying on a cross so we might be reconciled to God. The language Paul uses humbles me this morning. To read that God chose his son to be all he was, go back even further than verse sixteen and read all the description, to have supremacy over all things and the church and then shed his blood on the cross for my sins brings tears to my eyes. We can think and talk about the gift of God through his son in so many ways, but knowing the heart of God was pleased with who Christ was, what He represented and what He did on the cross just for me and you is a bit overwhelming to my soul. Those who are supreme accomplish what they were created to do. To borrow some of the language from the liturgy of Holy Communion, it is a right and good and joyful thing, always and everywhere, to give thanks to God. This morning or whenever you read this devotion join with me in giving thanks with great joy that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and will reign supreme over all the earth reconciling the world to Himself and his Father in heaven.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we joyfully give thanks that it pleased you to send your Son to have all the fullness of you dwell in him so that he might bring peace to our hearts. It is out of our joyful heart that we simply pray our life might reflect the gratitude we have for what you have done for us through your Son. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Today’s Reading - Philippians 4

Verse

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! . . . 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. . . . 13 I can do all things through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:4, 6, 13

Meditation

As we have read Philippians this week, I noticed once again how worn the pages of this book are in my Bible. One of the obvious reasons is this book contains a lot of preaching material. It also contains many of our favorite verses we cling to often. In this book are verses which apply to so many principles of faith. For many reasons we gravitate to maybe Paul’s most intimate letter. However, there are three verses found in the fourth chapter that although they are dearly beloved, and referred to often, make us think, “Really?” Rejoice always? Don’t be anxious about anything? I can do all things? I know them, I believe them, I know they are true, but I often shake my head. I hope there is at least one person reading this who is with me so I’m not deemed the faithless one of the bunch. Fortunately, as I was reading this morning, the Lord reminded me of something I know, but apparently needed to see and understand it clearly today. Three phrases. In the Lord. To God. Through him. These three phrases direct our focus to understand the possibility of these verses. Instead of focusing on the situations, the focus is on the Lord and we can indeed understand what it means to rejoice always, be free of anxiety, and do all things. It is hard to rejoice in times of death, but we rejoice in the Lord of the resurrection! We are not to rejoice in every situation, we are to rejoice in the God of the situation because of his help and goodness. We will be anxious but He will give us calm when we ask to walk through the difficult situations. We cannot do everything but He gives us strength in every situation. Paul is reminding us to focus on Him and not the situation and He will be the reason we rejoice, are calm, and have strength in every situation and in all things.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder to me this morning that you are the God of every situation we face and when our focus is on you we experience your help and strength. May our faith mature to the point where rejoicing, calm, and strength is part of our default behavior. Let us see beyond the moment to see your goodness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Today’s Reading - Philippians 3

Verse

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:12-14

Meditation

When shooting a bow and arrow or a gun or throwing a ball or competing in some type of an event, there is always a target. Or at least I hope so! Please, no random arrows or bullets. Or baseballs for that matter. Some targets are easier to hit than others because of so many variables. Pausing to think about the target of your spiritual life might be something you’ve never done or you might have perfect clarity. Regardless, the target or the goal is important and if we lose sight of it then we become like a stray bullet or a ball thrown to nowhere. There are many ways to describe the goal which is the subject of our reading today. One of the ways I like to describe the goal is the fullness of God. Paul uses that phrase more than once and for me it encapsulates all I want for my life. I like that phrase because it can be a never ending topic of discussion. I tend to drill down on specific words, maybe to a fault, but when Paul describes arriving at the goal, he framed the goal in terms of why Jesus took told of him using the word me. That’s very specific and I want to think it’s true for all of us. Therefore I want all that God has specifically for me, his fullness for me. In order to experience his fullness, I cannot operate in my own intellect and cleverness, my flesh, I must lean into spiritual wisdom and discernment, the Spirit operating within my spirit. The fruits of righteousness come from the Spirit not from us. When the Spirit of God leads us, we will experience the fullness of God, walk in the likeness of Christ and point our life heavenward. That’s a target worth shooting life’s arrow toward. When the Spirit is directing our arrow, one day the arrow will plant in the bullseye of the target.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we yield our life to the guidance of the Holy Spirit within us so we might receive your fullness and walk in your image. Give us wisdom and discernment to know we are being submissive and obedient to the Spirit’s leading. Guard us from anything that would deflect our path toward the prize. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Today’s Reading - Philippians 2

Verse

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. - Philippians 2:1-2

Meditation

There are many things that will bring joy to our heart. Pure joy came to Paul’s heart when he knew the people he was writing to were like-minded over alignment with Christ. Paul gives us plenty of options to join with others of faith and become like-minded. Paul wasn’t suggesting every clause had to apply, just one would do. Choose one from among many and obviously he didn’t list every benefit of being in alignment with Christ but he gave some pretty good ones. Let’s look at the list. He says if a person is encouraged at all from being one with Christ, if they have found any comfort from his love, if there is any commonality in the work of the Spirit, if they have felt any tenderness or compassion, then one should take a step forward and join others in the same love, spirit, and mind. It doesn’t have to be all of them, just one. If there is just one among those options or the dozens of others you can think of, then you can elevate joy in others by becoming like-minded, loving like Christ loved, being of one spirit, and having the same kingdom mind. Those don’t require total agreement in all things, but total desire to see the kingdom advance. When you know you are working in unison with others for the kingdom’s sake, you will have joy and create joy. Things on the fringes will seem to disappear. You will have discernment in more areas. Will there be some rough road? Absolutely. Ministry and messy situations and sin cause problems. But if we are like-minded and working for the kingdom, we will discover joy from every direction. Your relationship with Christ has made a difference in your life I’m sure. You qualify.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for pouring into our lives encouragement, love, your Spirit, and tenderness and compassion only you can give. Help up grasp those and join with others to be joyful and create joy in others. Like Paul, we want our joy to be made complete when those we care about the most are like-minded in the things that matter. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I will not send another daily devotion until Monday, May 1, 2023. I normally take a writing break for couple of weeks after Easter. This year Lori and I are taking a business/vacation trip as well so the time is extended.

Today’s Reading - John 21:1-25

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage.

Verse

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” - John 21:17

Meditation

Second chances. And third and fourth. We’ve all needed them. One of the stories of Easter is a story of second chances. Consider Peter and his first chance failure. Social media would have been abuzz. Major networks would have called it breaking news. Skepticism would have been rampant. Another major religious figure has fallen. Not once, but he sealed the deal three times. Shame on him and the church. But Jesus said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.” He said, “Follow me.” Jesus ignored social media and skeptic church folks and declared that Peter was His. There was no shame too great for Jesus to heal. There was no failure too bad for Jesus to offer a second chance. There was no death too great to keep Jesus in the grave. Jesus wanted Peter and he wants you. And me. That’s why he hung on a cross. His death defeated all shame and guilt and his resurrection makes all healing possible. The story of Peter, and our story, speaks very loudly, and clearly, about the goodness of God. I’ve been overcome the last couple of days with the sheer goodness of God. Jesus’ restoration of Peter gives hope to each of us in the face of our perceived depth of turning from him, our denial of sorts. The question that overrides our actions is the same question Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” The testimony is clear. No one can deny Peter’s role and impact on people and a movement of faith. No one can deny your role as you love Him and feed sheep regardless of what they think. Why? Because Jesus restores and makes alive again. It’s just what He does.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, have mercy on us, restore us, receive our love, and use us mightily in the kingdom. Guard us against the skepticism of religious people who seek to destroy. May your power flow through us to revive our spirit when shame gets hold of us. Use us to your glory. We are grateful for the work of the cross and power of the resurrection. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Good Friday, April 7, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 20:19-31

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage.

Verse

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” - John 20:21-23

Meditation

The sound of emptiness was reverberating in the minds of the disciples. They didn’t want it but they knew leaving the earth and returning in glory was part of Jesus’ purpose. Crucifixion and resurrection was how it would end. It was in their head and not necessarily in their heart. They knew everything Jesus had promised and they found themselves behind locked doors for fear of death. And Jesus appears. They were overjoyed. They probably misunderstood the moment but they were overjoyed. When Jesus shows up in our life, whether we fully understand or not, we are overjoyed. And rightly so. Jesus set the tone. Peace be with you. Receive the Holy Spirit. Forgive sins. Believe. He had to have one on one time with Thomas for him to understand and at times needs one on one time with us as well. None of us are perfect and in our imperfection we need to hear the tone Jesus set with the disciples as he set them in a forward motion. Not fully understood and probably unappreciated but a path forward. Peace. Receive. Forgive. Believe. Not a bad life plan for any of us. It’s not about understanding. It’s why it is called faith. On Good Friday we need faith. We need faith to fully celebrate the resurrection.

Prayer

Help us, O God, to see you, receive you, know you, in all places and at all times. Even in the midst of our lack of understanding, you come and offer peace and presence. Forgive us for doubting and thank you for believing in us even in our doubt. We receive your Holy Spirit today as we set forth to do your will through us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Maundy Thursday, April 6, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 20:10-18

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage.

Verse

14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” - John 20:14-16

Meditation

Mary Magdalene had the rug pulled out from under her. Worse, she had all hope and assurance of life unjustly crucified and stolen from the place of respect and honor. She was devastated and heartbroken. We can identify with building a relationship over three years and for some unknown reason, just like that, it is severed. That relationship has added great value to our life and given us hope for the future. Gone. That’s where Mary is on this first morning. At Mary’s worst moment, bathed in tears, Jesus chose her to make his first appearance. She did not know who he was and thought she was being tortured in a sense. She didn’t know who he was until he spoke her name. Then she knew and her countenance changed. She shouted and eventually ran to the disciples with shouts of exclamation. She didn’t recognize his voice until it was personalized with her name. Jesus desires intimacy with his disciples. He doesn’t want us to recognize him as just another person, a gardener, but the risen Savior who knows us by name and we know him. In what appeared to be the darkest hour for Mary, Jesus called her name and it became the brightest moment. A moment filled with light and wonder and hope was restored. We would do well to listen for our name being called. Just our name. Mary. Alan. Your name. Not to give us our list for the day but to simply know the assurance of his presence. It’s hard to listen and harder to hear in a crowd with lots of noise all around. We need intimate space and moments to become intimate with the Savior so we can hear our name. His voice. Our name. His assurance. Our joy. His presence. Our peace.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, accept our gratitude for the presence of the Savior who calls our name when we least expect it. Lead us to the spaces which foster intimacy with Him. Slow us down, make us mindful of his presence. Give us ears to hear his voice calling our name. Thank you for the assurance of his abiding presence in our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 20:1-10

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage.

Verse

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” - John 20:1-2

Meditation

In our culture we have coined Wednesday as Hump Day. We are getting over the hump headed to the weekend. During the last week of Jesus’ life as the Incarnated Son, it was a day of decision. The religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus and Judas agreed to help. Also, an important also, was the anointing of Jesus with the expensive perfume to prepare him for burial. It was somewhat of a quiet day. These events don’t usually become content for Holy Week sermons, but they do point us to the tomb and our reading today. The empty tomb. John’s description of the empty tomb includes discovery and appearances. No grand announcement as people approached the tomb. Just the realization of the empty tomb. It is hard for us to understand the disbelief of Mary, Peter and John because we are conditioned by years and years of celebrating the resurrection. Mary was puzzled and distraught. James wouldn’t even go in the tomb. Peter stormed the door (as usual). They came to grips with the reality of Jesus’ absence when they experienced the truth. He was not there. Try for a moment to separate the knowledge of the resurrection from your mind and put yourself in Mary’s place, or Peter’s place, or John’s. You’ve been there before. When you expected Jesus and he wasn’t there. When there was no answer. When there was no change. When the moment seemed totally empty and you, in fact, were puzzled, weighed down with disbelief, and distraught. Relive the agony when it appeared Jesus was not there. Stay there for a while. When you have remained in absence of Jesus for a while, then Sunday becomes more powerful. He is alive and remains in us even in the empty, silent moments.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to experience the depth of empty today. We’ll experience it again but help us live it today as well. It makes Jesus being alive more meaningful. Help us overcome our initial reaction and the sight we see. Let us live in the knowledge of the story’s purpose. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 19:17-42

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage.

Verse

38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. - John 19:38-39

Meditation

Risk is a recurring theme of the final days of Jesus. We see it again today as we visit the richness and irony of today’s reading. We read the final moments of Jesus’ life. Pay particular attention to the details as they are fascinating. Who was there. What they did. The final two men in the drama unfolding were two you may not have predicted, both from the hierarchy of Jewish leadership. Nicodemus who came at night to meet Jesus and Joseph who opposed his group’s decision to have Jesus crucified. They had become disciples and were moved to honor Jesus in the end, at a great risk. It may not have seemed like a great risk because it was the proper thing to do in any context. Because of their position and wealth, Joseph and Nicodemus risked that position and their reputation to afford Jesus a proper burial. Remember, Pilate had declared and emphasized repeatedly that Jesus was the King of the Jews including the sign above his head on the cross which he refused to change. Their action was acknowledging who Jesus was, the Messiah who had come. They were disciples. They believed in him and nothing was going to stop them from honoring him. Would it be that our life would reflect the same willingness to honor Christ Jesus our Lord. During this final week before we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, we have the opportunity to honor him as our Savior and Lord no matter what.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we need help, help to live our life as Joseph and Nicodemus, a life which honors Christ in everything we say and do, to the very end. May our eyes be fixed on Jesus and may our path lead to his glory and honor. Take away our excuses. We risk it all for the sake of Jesus. It is in his name we pray. Amen.

Monday, April 3, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 18:28-19:16

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” - John 19:4-6

Meditation

Three times. The exact same phrase. “I find no basis for a charge against him.” We have to give Pilate credit for wanting to do the right thing but he loses all credibility when he gives in to the cry of the people. The stakes were very high for Pilate. He could follow the will of his heart and risk losing his position and all his power or he could take the safe route and yield to the shouts from the street. My first thought is wondering how Pilate was able to sleep. Knowing what he wanted and should have done and doing quite the opposite seems to be something he could never have peace about. Don’t default to an explanation because you know the rest of the story. Remember, Pilate didn’t know the rest of the story, that is, the necessity of Jesus’ death. He made a human decision to protect his position and power. That hits close to home when we think about the times in our life when we don’t want to do what is right and proper because of the negative consequences we perceive might unfold. We either go against our better judgment or make no decision at all. Both of those in the end are hard to live with. Embedded in this final trial of Jesus before Pilate is a lingering question Pilate asked, “What is truth?” Pilate knew the truth but he couldn’t pull the trigger of truth. In real life for you and me, we are confronted with pulling the trigger of truth, knowing the right and proper thing to do and actually following through with what we know. The stakes won’t be so high as to sentence someone to be crucified if we choose to follow the cries from the street, but it could cause harm within our spirit and be a detriment to our relationship with God. Standing on the principles of biblical truth is difficult these days. No one, including me, could honestly say otherwise. The shouting from the streets of our culture are very counter to biblical truth. Don’t crucify your spirit by choosing the wrong thing when you know the right thing. There is a risk involved by standing on the side of truth (reread 18:37), but the risk honors the King and his kingdom.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us wisdom to know the truth and a clear understanding that standing on the side of truth is always the right thing to do. If it involves a risk, so be it. We want to be risk takers for the sake of the gospel. May we find strength and boldness in you to stand against the cries of culture coming from the streets of society. We need you more than ever. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 17:20-26

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” - John 17:24

Meditation

Heaven was planned with you in mind. When God designed eternity, your name was included in the plans. Let that sink in a minute. . . . Jesus concludes this moving prayer with a plea to his Father expressing his desire that we be with him to experience his glory. It’s a sad reality that many will miss seeing his glory. We should feel a sense of urgency knowing how Jesus prayed for us. An urgency to first of all live righteously and then an urgency realizing that we should desire those we have been given to experience his glory as well. We do not know all the reasons why people are placed in our lives. Some people intimately and others at a distance. These are the people you are given and heaven was planned with each of them in mind. Just like you. Jesus’ prayer was one of empowerment that the world might know him through us. It should strike you as an honor to be given the privilege of representing the saving power of Jesus Christ to the world. We are to live righteously not selfishly, but with an attitude that others might see Christ in us. Too often we live to make ourselves known at the expense of other people seeing Jesus in us. We must live with both a present perspective and an eternal perspective. Yes, living righteously is eternally important for our own relationship with Christ, but equally important for those we have been given, so the world might know Him and see his glory. Think of your “been given” people and be intentional about making Jesus known to them.

Prayer

Gracious God, thank you for loving us so much that you have a place in heaven planned just for us. Place an urgency in us for our own lives and the lives of those you have given us. Direct our path to be the witness you desire us to be. Give us boldness and courage to do our part in the kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 17:9-19

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. - John 17:11-12

Meditation

There are people whose name we associate with power because of the position they hold. Owners of companies have power. The head of professional sports leagues have power. Supreme Court justices have power. But there was only one person who had power in His name, Jesus. If we consider the work of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he often did things in his name. He declared authority in his name, he healed the sick in his name, he cast out demons in his name. There is power in his name. Specifically for his disciples, he prayed for their protection and unity in his name. The need was great that his disciples remain unified in their efforts as they would confront much objection and difficulty. The biblical record shows that when the need was greatest, the name of Jesus was proclaimed and declared over the need. If indeed Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we need to do the same. Maybe you need protection from a certain temptation that keeps cropping up. In the name of Jesus declare there be no temptation. Maybe you need freedom of some sort. In the name of Jesus declare yourself free. Repeat often. Illness? Declare healing in Jesus’ name. Repeat often. Jesus prayed that his disciples would be sanctified. In Jesus’ name pray you will be sanctified. There is power in his name in all things!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we declare the name of Jesus over every area of our life. Let the power of Jesus’ name invade every fiber of our being so we may be made whole and sanctified. Whatever we need protection from today we declare it in Jesus’ name. We give you thanks for the power in His name. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 17:1-8

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Verse

3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. - John 17:3-5

Meditation

We use the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 5 as the model prayer to learn and pray because Jesus said pray like this. Many of us have prayed it thousands of times and many churches include it in its worship liturgy each week. It’s powerful. It’s complete. Jesus just began praying in John 17. No introductory remarks. He wasn’t teaching. He was pouring out his heart for his people. It was a model prayer. These few verses where he prayed for himself show us the humility of his heart and at the same time instructs us on how to first pray for ourselves. Praying for ourselves is difficult and takes humility so that it doesn’t become selfish. Oh yes, we have needs and they shouldn’t be neglected, but we also have a need to glorify the Father and to do his work within his will for our life. The Father then gives glory to us contrary to our human nature to glorify ourselves. Doing his work within his will magnifies everyone’s chief aim of lifting up eternal life and the need to know Christ and his Father. When we pray this way, seeking his way and his will then we have freedom to bring our needs before the throne of grace. Let’s glorify him as He then glorifies us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray our lives will glorify you so you may in turn glorify us. May all we do point people to eternal life. May we be people of prayer always desiring to be in conversation with you to be living according to your way and in your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, March 27, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 16:16-33

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Verse

33 “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.”

Meditation

As a child growing up we all repeated, “I’m in trouble.” As an adult we realize we are all in trouble to some degree. Jesus said in a very matter of fact way there is trouble in the world. Today is no different than A.D. 33. There is no shortage of items we could add to the list of trouble we face each day. They widely vary from minor to tragic. They are single incidents and they are cultural trends. They are newsmakers and some are never heard. It doesn’t matter the nature of the troubles, Jesus assured us he has overcome them all! The disciples were broken hearted and the words from Jesus were to “take heart.” In other words, “there is hope.” Regardless of what our trouble looks like, the Savior of the world, the one who saves us from our trouble, tells us along with the brokenhearted disciples, yes, there is hope because he has overcome our trouble and even bigger than that, the world. As we start this week, let’s lean into the words of Jesus he used to reassure the scared and heartbroken disciples, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we lay our troubles at the feet of Jesus knowing he has overcome whatever we lay down. We receive his promise today as if he was speaking it to us right now. Thank you for sending the overcomer of the world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 15:26-16:15

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Verse

5 “Now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” - John 16:5-7

Meditation

The red letters are now hitting the disciples square in the nose or it’s a gut punch to them whichever analogy you want to pick. They’ve been told before but now it’s hitting them hard. But it is the most wonderful news he could hit them, and us, with. His permanent physical departure from their presence is opening the door for the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life. And ours. I picture in my mind the many times I’ve told someone something, good or bad, and I realize over time they still don’t understand. There comes a moment when I have to stop everything else, look them squarely in the eye, and tell them slowly one more time. Jesus did this and emphasized the best news ever. He will be with them forever, and us forever, through the presence and with power of the Holy Spirit. He goes on to describe the work of the Holy Spirit on their behalf. In this passage the NIV translates the Greek work Paraklētos as Counselor. You know it can be translated Comforter or Advocate. Google it for the full orb of definition. It is beyond great news that our Father is sending the Holy Spirit to be present in us and to abide with us in all things. I can’t say it enough. This middle section of John is all about the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our life. The realization hit the disciples hard but when they realized the goodness of God, it would ultimately transform and empower them in ways they could not fathom in the moment. May it be for us as well in fresh and new ways.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pause and allow you to speak directly into our heart a fresh, new transformative understanding and moment of realization of the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Just that. We want more of You and we just ask. Come, Holy Spirit, come. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, March 24, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 15:18-25

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Verse

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” - John 15:18-19

Meditation

No matter what you do or how you do it, if your actions intersect with other people, there will be some who disagree. If you stand on a street corner and give away $20 bills there are those who will contend you should have been giving away $100 bills. People will always find something wrong. The common phrase is “haters are going to hate” no matter what. Jesus in a moment of pure honesty was being very clear about the cost of following him. The language is tough but He makes his point. No matter how good or beneficial the message or the miracle is for people, opposition looms just around the corner. The cost or consequences of following Christ will come from many directions. As Jesus prepared his disciples, so he prepares us. We cannot allow those who oppose the truths of Christ to determine our way and our future. In this context and many others, “world” does not refer to the physical universe, but to a system of belief opposite of what Jesus taught. It represents the ungodly, the secular, our fallen nature. We are called out of that world into a relationship with Christ that transforms who we are and what we do. And there will be opposition. Be prepared. As we navigate the cultural and societal waters we find ourselves in, our alignment is being challenged. The cost of following Christ is becoming very real. While on this journey do not stray from your convictions that are aligned with the teachings of Christ. There will be people who disagree. Be prepared. Decisions are hard and often illogical. Follow Christ and stand in His love. When opposition comes, stand in his love. I cannot find anywhere in scripture where we are commanded to unconditionally love and serve and not come to the conclusion that there is great risk involved. Be wise. Follow Christ. Stand in His love.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we desire to walk in your way and your way only. Keep us from the temptation of following the way of the world just to attract attention from those we think will benefit us better. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Guard our hearts from those who oppose the truth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 15:1-17

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Verse

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. . . . 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. . . . 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. - John 15:5-6, 10, 12

Meditation

There is such a sharp contrast between remaining and not remaining. It’s the difference between bearing much fruit and doing nothing. The word remain leaps off the page in these verses. The image Jesus describes is really horrible. He is essentially saying the consequences of not remaining in him is destruction. Nobody wants nothing. Everybody wants something. In these seventeen verses the word remain is repeated eleven times and the command to love each other is repeated twice. There is an obvious connection between remaining, fruit, and love. You can have every appearance of bearing fruit and loving others but if you are not remaining in him then you are only doing what any good person can do. If you keep His commands then it becomes “much fruit” and the ability to love as Christ first loved us becomes a real possibility. As much as there is a contrast between remaining and not remaining, the same stark contrast exists when we try to be fruitful and at the same time loving apart from God. Remaining in Christ supernaturally elevates our actions into the correct understanding of fruit and love. If we do what we do without Christ then essentially it is nothing. Oh, you can do things but at the end of the day Jesus said it was nothing. Sounds harsh and narrow but no one ever said following Christ was easy and wide.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, whatever we do today let us do it while we remain in you and keep your commands. Let us love each other as you have loved us. Do not let us get to the place of destruction. We want to be a branch grafted into the vine of Christ. Always and forever more. Guide us with wisdom and understanding through your faithfulness and love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 13:21-38

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Verse

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. - John 14:8-11

Meditation

For some people no amount is ever enough. Favors are never enough, generosity is never enough, kindness extended is never enough. For all the things Philip had experienced, it wasn’t enough to convince him that Jesus was the Son of God. Being chosen, following, miracles, phenomenal teaching, compassion, all that was not enough. He wanted to see the Father to be convinced the last three years were legitimate. Don’t snarl your nose at Philip because we are more like Philip than most of us want to admit. We question, we doubt, we ask for more evidence when all around us we can point to the hand of God working in and through us. We want to see more, better and the astounding before we are satisfied. Until something happens, like a pandemic, and our life is reduced to our family, a few select friends, maybe our work environment, and our relationship with our Father in heaven. And yet, as Jesus said so well, we have seen Jesus therefore we have seen the Father because they are one. See the evidence Jesus tells us. Capture in your heart all Christ has done for you and let that be enough. Don’t live in need of more, more, more. Christ is enough as is. We often do not plan the situations we find ourselves in but it might be an opportunity to discover anew the richness of the love of Christ and all that He has done. Let that be enough. Just let the presence of God be enough.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, take away our desire for more and let us live fully in contentment that you are enough in every way. If we never see another manifestation of the miraculous we will still follow you. Your compassion never fails and your faithfulness endures. Let the measure of your grace always be enough. Let being in your presence be enough. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 13:21-38

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Verse

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” - John 13:36-38

Meditation

Bold statements sound great and make us feel good until they don’t. In typical Peter fashion, he made a very bold statement declaring he would lay down his life for Jesus. I’m sure he meant it but Jesus immediately questioned him and just like that Peter’s bold statement wasn’t so bold and probably made him feel terrible. We have one of the few times in scripture where Peter’s reaction wasn’t recorded. Or maybe for once Peter had no words. The sting of Jesus’ response is found in the word used to describe this moment Jesus was referring to, deny or disown. The phrase most often stated is “Peter denied Jesus three times.” The word is better translated “disown” and we see this play out in the event itself when on Peter’s third response he actually denied even knowing who Jesus was, or disowning him. Feel the sting in Peter’s heart. Because we know the rest of the story, we know Peter was, in fact, willing to lay down his life for Jesus. After being restored, Peter became the first and most prolific evangelist on behalf of the early church and was crucified upside down because of it. But feel the sting in this moment. Yesterday I wrote about humility and the absolute need to follow Christ and serve the kingdom with a humble spirit. There is nothing wrong for our life in Christ and our witness to be guided by an understanding we will lay down our life for the sake of Jesus and the kingdom of God. We need to live it more than we speak it. There will be times when declaring our commitment to Christ is valuable and necessary, but most often we will have the greatest impact in our circle of influence when we humbly live our desire to lay down, or lay aside, our life for Jesus. People are attracted to a humble spirit.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as hard as it is to pray, we pray you will sting our heart when we are declaring our desire in the wrong spirit. We thank you for what you have done in our life to transform us into your likeness and we want to live it with humility. Guide us to speak boldly, but in the right spirit. We need to be a Peter, and we acknowledge at times your words will hurt. Help us to grow through the hurt. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, March 20, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 13:1-20

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Verse

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. - John 13:14-17

Meditation

People naturally gravitate toward examples or illustrations. In the recent months, out of necessity I have become much more knowledgeable about spreadsheets. I’ve always been able to read them and let others create them but it became necessary that I work with them. It survived but when I actually watched someone doing what I needed to learn it became much easier. When Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, he set an example and illustrated the principle. We recognize, especially in the context of what he said, the principle is about being a servant. He was telling the disciples the kingdom of God would grow to the degree they served others, served with a humble heart, and ultimately served their Father who called and sent them through his Son. When reading this story of Jesus washing feet, it is easy to focus on serving others and skipping over the need for a humble heart which always acknowledges first and foremost the work of Christ and our heavenly Father who reigns over his kingdom. Many people, who have no relationship with Christ, can do good things serving others. Only when we serve others with a humble heart pointing heavenward are we serving for the sake of the kingdom. Beyond the context of the story, let’s be mindful Jesus set the example and illustrated which encompass all we are to become and all we are to do. Yes, we can look to Jesus for all matters pertaining to the heart, soul and mind. He set the example and the Gospels, in particular, beautifully share with us the illustrations. Jesus did not issue us an empty invitation to follow him. The invitation has all the details of who we are becoming and what we do. Become like Jesus and do what Jesus did.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, do not let us miss the message of Jesus. Every time we read and study, let us see all you want us to learn. Teach us to serve. Teach us humility. Teach us to do all things to your glory and for the sake of your kingdom. Let us be a true follower of Jesus and a humble servant in your kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 12:1-50

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Verse

25 “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” - John 12:25-26

Meditation

In our hearts and minds we are beginning to see Easter Sunday on the horizon and the empty tomb. Only three more weeks. In the heart and mind of Jesus, he sees the cross on the horizon. Less than a week. Yes, we’ve made it that far in our Lenten journey through John. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, he speaks to his death through the lens of losing our life for the sake of following and serving. This is not the first time dying in order to live had been on his mind. It’s on his mind now and it’s on ours. For the sake of the kingdom. The power found in this kingdom concept is captured in the word honor. Don’t miss the logical progression. When we follow Jesus, we align ourselves with what he taught, the promises he made, and the life he lived. When we follow him, we will serve him. When we serve him by following his teaching, his promises, and his way of life, then we honor the one we serve. When we honor the one we serve, our Father will honor us! There will be great favor and blessing manifested through our life when we honor God. When we receive favor and blessing, we will see the power of the Holy Spirit do through us what will absolutely astound us. We will not be able to comprehend all that God is doing in our life. Following Jesus does not mean interpreting what he taught, the promises he made and the way he lived through the lens of current cultural correctness in order to be comfortable and please all people. We are to have a biblical worldview not a cultural worldview. It’s often hard. We have to say no more than we want. We have to declare right and wrong. We will lose our life for his sake and the sake of the kingdom. But, we will be correctly aligned with Christ and he will honor our life. Honor Christ, and he will honor you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we honor you for who you are, your holiness, all of who you are. Lead us to the way of righteousness and holiness in order to lose our life for the sake of the kingdom. Give us confidence in your promises to know that losing is gaining, and in gaining we will be honored. Help us see you in all things we say and do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, March 17, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 11:1-45-57

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Verse

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.- John 11:49-53

Meditation

Did anybody else notice that Caiaphas the Jewish high priest prophesied about Jesus, his death, his death for all children, his death to make us all one? In the previous verses the worry among the Jews was about losing their temple and nation, and now the conversation is heightened to a plot to kill Jesus. It was the words of Caiaphas mentioning the equality of people related to the gospel that was the last straw. I find it interesting there was always unrest among the Jews because of what Jesus was doing and the eventual outcome, but it was when one of their own, the high priest no less, spoke about the purpose of Jesus that immediately they wanted to kill him. When the concept of being a chosen people getting special privilege was taken off the table, the people became unhinged. Long before Peter’s moment in Acts 10 about the good news of Jesus being for all people, there is a moment. Not by a follower of Jesus who was giving his life for the sake of the cause, but ushered to the forefront of everyone’s thinking by a high priest. It was not words that were well received at the time but are the best words that could be spoken. Because, we are glad Jesus was sent for all people. Our story probably contains bits and pieces that would have kept us excluded from hearing the good news if the prevailing thought of the Jews had won out. As an outsider, a gentile if you would, it is because of these moments of revelation that we are included in the gift of salvation. We are included in the news that transforms us from a life of darkness into a life living in the light. Jesus had performed a wonderful miracle for the family of Lazarus which prompted the interaction between the Jews, the Pharisees and eventually Caiaphas. A miracle of words happened in that moment. Live today in the miracle of that moment. We are blessed to be part of the story.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are grateful to be part of your good news. We are grateful you chose to make light available to all people. Help us be the bearers of good news in the culture of darkness we live in today. May our light shine brightly. May the good news of salvation flow from our heart not in arrogance but in humility. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 11:1-44

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Verse

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:25-26

Meditation

Resurrection and life. It means everything to us. It meant everything to the two sisters of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Jesus spoke it in the context which gave the family new life and great joy when there was no hope. Jesus speaks it to us in a way which gives us hope in the present and glorious hope, joy and anticipation about eternity. The promise that through Jesus we have the hope of resurrection and life in the here and now as well as a picture of perfection in eternity is an indescribable gift given to us. What a Savior, what a friend. Easter is still several weeks away, but we get a glimpse of the power of the resurrection in the story of Lazarus. Jesus asked a very important question at the conclusion of this powerful promise. The question is about believing which seems like there is an obvious answer for those who have chosen to follow him. But sometimes it’s not. When belief is only knowledge, it has no power. Sadly, this is where many followers of Christ find themselves. Too many people assume they believe just because they know they should. Belief has to move from the head to heart in order for it to become part of our behavior and our experiential response. Ask yourself if you really believe there is hope when there is no hope. I trust the answer is a resounding yes, both in present situations and as you look toward eternity. If so, your position of faith will direct your perspective on every part of your life. Live boldly in the promise of resurrection and life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we choose and declare this day to live in the power of the resurrection and life you offer. Help us to see hope when there seems to be no hope. If we need a Lazarus experience today, so be it. Comfort us in the hope found in your Son. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 10:1-42

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Verse

1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.” - John 10:1-2

Meditation

Gates and shepherds. Jesus used a common part of the culture to get the attention of the Pharisees who had asked him a question about spiritual blindness. It was common to see shepherds guarding their flock of sheep penned up, especially at night, when thieves and robbers would be on the prowl. Once he got their attention, he dropped a bomb. He proclaimed himself to be both the gate and shepherd. Verse seven, “I am the gate.” Verse eleven, “I am the good shepherd.” By proclaiming himself to be the gate through which salvation is attained, he struck at the heart of the Pharisees understanding of righteousness with the new covenant concept of salvation and it became a precursor to later when he would proclaim himself as the only way to attain salvation (chapter 14). Once he establishes the pathway to salvation, he then describes the new covenant concept of relationship with our Father, that of a relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. This struck at the heart of the Pharisees’ understanding of the relationship with Yahweh which was a distant relationship predicated by the involvement of a priest and obedience to the law. You now see why I describe it as dropping a bomb on the hearts and minds of the Pharisees as well as all the crowd gathered around. It was a bomb which shattered the world of the Pharisees, but it is good news to all those who hear and walk through the Gate unto salvation and allow the Shepherd to tend to their life. The shepherd is described as one in an intimate relationship with the sheep, knows them by name, will give their life for the sheep, will risk the ninety-nine for the one, cares for them on a daily basis and protects them at all costs. I’ve given you just a snippet of the biblical image of the Good Shepherd because there is much more. The image of the gate and the shepherd helps us capture the depth of love our Father in heaven has for his children. What a blessing. Oh, how He loves me and you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open wide your arms and be the shepherd of the sheep. May your gates be flooded with people seeking to enter in. Help us to be your instruments to help crowd the gate with seekers. Help us to live in such a way in order to fully embrace being one of your sheep. Don’t let us miss one minute of intimacy with you. Give us passion and desire to be more intimate as you shepherd our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 9:1-41

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Verse

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” - John 9:24-25

Meditation

In professional cycling races, mountains are categorized by the difficulty of climbing them during the race. The most difficult climbs are HC, short for a French term hors catégorie, which means beyond category. They are really hard. It was really hard for a man born blind to explain Jesus healing his eyes. The climb was hard trying to rebut the skeptic onlookers as well as the Pharisees. John 9 is devoted to one story. A man born blind and given his sight by Jesus. It is really hard to explain. As we read the story, from what we know for sure, the man never approached Jesus and asked to be healed as many people were doing during this time. Jesus didn’t know his story. Jesus saw him, answered a question from the disciples, and healed him! Never said another word to him after telling him to go rinse his eyes. And he could see! Everyone doubted from the onlookers to the religious elite. Even his parents had to verify he was born blind and he was truly their son. There are times in our life when God does things for us that we cannot explain. We don’t ask for it, we don’t deserve it, and we could never earn it. We call it grace at its finest. We will get all hung up and frustrated trying to explain and justify why it happened. It is a moment you will never understand. In these moments we have to live into faith in its purest form and state as the man did that he didn’t know anything more than he was once blind and now he could see. Nothing else. And he did just what the Pharisees asked him to do. He told the truth and he gave glory to God. He was shamed and harassed. It didn’t matter. He was willing to face the consequences and they were steep, he was thrown out to the streets. It’s ok. Tell the truth. Give God the glory. Even when you can’t explain what God has done. It will be hard. You might be thrown out. But you’ve been blessed and what we can do is tell the truth and give God the glory!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for everything you have done in our life. We thank you for the things we think we can explain and we thank you for the things where we don’t know where to begin to explain them. We receive what you want to do in our life regardless of our or anybody else’s understanding. Forgive us when we doubt your miraculous work. Give us tenacity to tell the truth and give you all the praise and glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, March 13, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 8:12-59

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Verse

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” . . . 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. - John 8:31-32, 36

Meditation

Failure to hold to the teachings of Jesus have been problematic for disciples and the church for a long time. In fact, the problem has its roots in the behavior of Israel from the beginning and you could make a case that the problem began in the Garden of Eden. Regardless, divergence from the teachings of Jesus and scripture, truth, will always result in ungodly living. Part of the discipline of being a disciple is being strong enough in faith to stay in alignment with scripture when it’s easy and when it’s the most difficult decision or it creates an uncomfortable situation. Yes, Jesus wants to set us free and will set us free. We cannot lose sight of what sets us free, the truth. We cannot lose sight of where the truth comes from, the Son. When we wander from the truth, we will not sense the freedom we have been given. We will slowly begin to experience the bondage we just left to be set free and if not realized, life will be bound up in chains of sin once again. I used the word wander purposefully. Very few people have ever instantaneously rejected the truth of Jesus’ teaching. It is more like a slow wandering away from the centerline of truth. We ride on the yellow line for a while, then we are riding partially on the shoulder, eventually we find ourselves half on the shoulder and half in a ditch, and finally we come to a screeching halt all bound up in the ditch. Hold on tight to the truth of Jesus and you will stay close to the centerline of being a disciple of His. Holding on in spite of difficulty it can bring will grow deep roots of faith and eventually build strength so that following Him becomes natural and creates a clearer understanding when we are tempted to wander away. Understanding leads to quicker correction. Oh that it would be that we never wander. One day we won’t. It’s called eternity.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, tighten our grip on your truth so we hold on to the teachings of Jesus with strength and endurance. Give us a large measure of faith when we are tempted to stray from the truth and wander into a ditch. Set in concrete in the depths of our heart and mind a non-negotiable understanding that it is your truth which sets us free. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday March 11, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 7:53-8:11

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” - John 8:10-11

Meditation

No one can escape the temptation to load up with stones. Jesus suggests we focus on the writing in the sand. Our role in the kingdom is to become masters of restoration and reconciliation and not condemnation. One is hard. One is easy. The narrow path we choose to follow Christ is the path full of hard and messy pavement but is the path to eternal life. The difficulty of our task as followers of Christ is found in the parting words of Jesus to the women. “Go now and leave your life of sin,” more often and recognizably spoken by Jesus in this way accompanying a miracle, “Go and sin no more.” You can relate to the ease of condemning and walking away. We have experience. You might not be able to relate to the difficulty of walking alongside an adulterer until they have left that lifestyle, but you can imagine how hard it really is. For many people the first step of discipleship is to leave a life of condemnation. The next step is to dip your toe into the ministry of restoration and reconciliation. The final step is to dive completely into the pool and walk alongside people who face a hard road ahead of them. But it is who we are as the people of God. This is not three consecutive steps we take without stopping. We take one step at a time. The longest pause might be freeing ourselves from the ease of condemnation. Then we ease into walking alongside people. And finally we take the step of getting “down and dirty” with people to help them find a place of total freedom from sin. Get ready. It’s hard. But it is who we are. Christ followers.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guide our steps one at a time. Free us from our own sin of condemnation as we focus on the writing in the sand and clearly see and understand the message of the writing. Then, order our steps into the vibrant ministry of helping people become free and restored in their faith and reconciled in their relationships. Give us joyful anticipation of seeing ourselves and others set free. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, March 10, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 7:1-52

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

6 Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because the right time for me has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. - John 7:6-9

Meditation

In recent months I’ve repeatedly heard the phrase, “doing the right thing at the right time in the right spirit.” I’ve even begun using it myself in many situations because it is so true. It’s also a difficult principle to abide by because it requires wisdom and discernment and we tend to act before we wisely discern a situation. Jesus spoke this truth two millennia ago and is needed in great measure today. Jesus was approached about going to the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles so disciples there could see what he was doing. It would put him right in the middle of an overwhelming majority of Jewish people including the religious leaders who were already trying to kill him performing signs and wonders. If Jesus were to do this, it would obviously be the right thing, but in his mind be done at the wrong time and for the wrong reason. It was the right time for the right reason in the right spirit for others to go to the festival. Jesus used wisdom and discernment to conclude the timing was not right nor would his spirit be understood. There are many right things to do in life that are right no matter when you do them. It’s always a right thing to be kind. But there are right things that in order for them to be fully understood as a right thing, need to be done at the right time and in the right spirit. Being right is not always the goal. Be wise when you do the right thing to make sure it is the right time and will be done in the right spirit which honors God and models the way of Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for a double portion of wisdom and discernment in all the things we seek to do on behalf of the kingdom. Give us clarity about whatever we do being the right thing done at the right time and done in the right spirit. We especially pray this as we seek to advance your kingdom. Forgive us for going ahead of you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 6:60-71

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” - John 6:67-69

Meditation

We encounter moments or even days when all we can grab hold of is the remembrance of answering the call to follow Jesus. We get to the point where we want to give up because life is hard and we remember, like the disciples, we are called by Jesus himself to be a follower and we have nowhere else to go. And we remember, like the disciples, no one else has words of eternal life. When there is nothing else to grab we remember Jesus is the Holy One of God and we continue to follow our calling. Nothing else is holding us other than the Holy One of God has words of eternal life and we are not surrendering that no matter how difficult the moment. The conviction in our spirit might be a hard word, the direction we are being led might be a difficult path, discipleship might be uncomfortable, but nothing is worth letting go of eternal life. If that is all that is keeping you from leaving and turning away from Jesus, hang on, there is great reward. If today is difficult or you encounter difficulty in the days ahead, don’t turn and walk away because what you are experiencing is “hard teaching.” Hang on, don’t walk away. Some things never change. Peter’s words are true. There is no one else to follow. There is no one else who has words of eternal life. Hang on to Jesus. He will see you through this moment or this day or this season of life. Eternal life is worth remembering your calling to follow Jesus. Hang on.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we do not want to leave. Wrap us securely in your arms so we can’t leave even if we wanted to. Help us to realize your love for us is much too deep for us to leave based on something we perceive to be hard. You endured hard and we choose to continue following you even if the teaching is hard. We choose to never let go of our relationship with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Today’s Reading - John 6:22-59

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” . . . 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. - John 6:28-29, 33-35

Meditation

The miracle of feeding all those people on the mountainside with two fish and five loaves of bread blew them away. It needed explanation. So much so, when the people realized Jesus didn’t come back in one of the boats that landed at the shoreline of the mountain, they chased after him! When they found him their questions focused on another miracle and the work required to be part of the next one. Jesus masterfully changed the direction of their minds and brought their focus to bear down on belief and faith and this bread is more than anything they had ever experienced before and that he, Jesus, standing before them, is the Messiah, the Savior they wanted. We can work ourselves to death trying to do enough and Jesus is standing right next to us inviting us to believe, have faith in him, trust that in him we will never be hungry or thirsty. Not only do we work ourselves to death and we are still hungry and thirsty, we work ourselves into deception believing we have accomplished all manner of holiness and righteousness when all we have done is grown tired and weary. Working ourselves to death and deception is done out of obligation and doing works as the result of belief and faith are borne out of a response of love for the love shown us in Christ Jesus. In our humanness, our flesh, we flip the script. We seek a relationship with Christ out of our capacity and Jesus is telling us that righteousness and holiness comes from the heart and hands of God which gives living bread and water which is eternal in nature. We become exasperated trying to do enough things to please God when what he is seeking is a surrendered heart. Eat the bread. Drink the water. And Christ will live vibrantly in and through your life and you will never hunger or thirst again.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, forgive us for working ourselves to death and deception. Help us understand belief and faith in a brand new way today. Pour into us living bread and water which feeds and guides us to eternity. Make us hungry and thirsty for more of you in our life. Bring us close to your heart. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 6:16-21

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” - John 6:20

Meditation

When we are in the presence of Jesus we are in a place to hear the comforting words Jesus spoke to the disciples in the boat. If we are honest we realize that circumstances often cause us to have difficulty believing those words and possibly even hearing those words. I know. I’ve been there. There are times when the circumstances are just right and we are still afraid in His presence. Fear and uncertainty well up inside us because we are uncomfortable with what we think we are about to hear from the heart and lips of Jesus. I know. I’ve been there. I believe we’ve all been there if we will stop long enough and think deep enough. We’ve been in a boat in the midst of a storm or we’ve been in our prayer room seeking direction and all of a sudden fear grips us. Then the voice of His presence reminds us not to be afraid. The principle of the calming presence of Jesus is a hard one to learn but one that grows us stronger in faith. David believed it long ago when he wrote that even though he walks through valleys close to death, he will not fear the evil trying to destroy him. Why? The Shepherd comforts him. He comforts us. He calms our storms. He takes us to safe places to calm our uncertainty. We must be sensitive to the presence and voice of God and remind ourselves of Jesus’ promise never to leave us nor forsake us. He will speak where he is present these powerful words, “It is I.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are ever-present in us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to abide in your presence and not be afraid. Let us hear your voice of assurance and comfort when we are most afraid. Give us clear vision in the midst of our most terrifying moments to see you. Comfort us when you are taking us places you want us to be. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, March 6, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 6:1-15

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. - John 6:12=-13

Meditation

Many people regularly pray the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread.” We know it as part of the Lord’s Prayer. We need daily bread, both physically and spiritually. The story of Jesus feeding at least five thousand people is a story about daily bread. As John records the story, he first focuses on the physical nature of bread, after this records another miracle and some travel time, then writes extensively Jesus’ explanation of daily bread. Our reading today is about the physical need for bread. Think beyond our need for food and think of all the things you need to just make it through the day. This is your daily bread. To list a few, you need strength, financial capacity, protection, knowledge, and the list goes on. Jesus blessed the loaves of bread and fish he was given, which was a prayer of thanksgiving and what I believe would have included multiplication, and distributed enough to gather twelve baskets full of leftovers. Let’s think about our need for daily bread on a Monday morning. Today. Not tomorrow or the next day because it changes every day and we need to focus on today’s needs. When we are disciplined to focus on what we need today, then we can specifically ask the Lord to “Give us this day our daily bread.” Focus prevents us from praying out of greed. We need to pray for provision but we do not need to pray with a spirit of greed. I do not know the exact content of Jesus’ prayer but I’m confident it was kingdom minded and it resulted in great blessings. Twelve baskets full. Jesus was not greedy, but there was a kingdom principle in mind which we will learn later. When we pray kingdom minded prayers for the common things we need on a day to day basis, you and I know we are often blessed with overflow. When the Lord provides strength for the day and there is strength to do more, that is overflow. When there is financial resources for the day and a balance left in the account, that is overflow. Jesus provides daily bread. Some days just enough. Some days there are blessings and basketfuls for the kingdom.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we lay before you our daily bread and we pray for provision. We lay aside greed and pray that as you provide, you will determine the if and when of further blessings and give guidance to benefit the kingdom. We give you thanks as we pray for daily bread. We receive with a grateful heart. We give with a grateful heart. We want you to be the king of our heart for all the right reasons. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 4:43-54

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. - John 4:49-50

Meditation

Earlier in today’s reading we learned Jesus went to Cana where he was welcomed. We often think of welcoming in terms of hospitality and then think a select group of people have the gift of hospitality. It might be Jesus went to a city where he was welcomed to teach us to be welcoming of him when he comes to us. It might also be possible that we have all been guilty of welcoming Jesus when it appeared comfortable and favorable and then been less than hospitable when we were uncomfortable with where Jesus’ visit might take us. The official was obviously welcoming because he had a critical need, his son was dying, and was inviting Jesus to meet the need. We get an indication he truly welcomed him into his life when the official took Jesus at his word and left without one shred of evidence that what Jesus said would happen. The official’s faith had grown exponentially. At that point, the official not only welcomed Jesus physically into his life, but welcomed him spiritually and believed that his son would live. Each and every one of us needs to have welcoming faith when Jesus visits us. When the Holy Spirit moves in our life to invite us to a new depth of faith, we need to welcome the move of the Spirit even if we are unsure where that might lead us. Remember, God will never take you to a place that will ultimately not be a better place. You might go through some rough road getting there, but you will also discover the purpose of the rough road which led to the place of faith you needed to be and the relationship God yearns for. Be unabashedly welcoming to the presence and work of God in your life. Take Jesus at his word and depart.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we welcome you into your heart anew today and pray for eagerness to walk by faith in the adventure before us. Do not let us be tempted to be hesitant to welcome you and then follow where you lead. We believe you will only lead us to better places. Forgive us for bringing in the welcome mat. We want an open door for the fresh movement of your Spirit in our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 4:1-42

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” - John 4:11-12

Meditation

I love this story. Even though John concluded his Gospel stating that all the world could not contain the books to write all the stories of Jesus’ three year tenure, he was consumed by one unlikely story. The counter-cultural encounter of Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well in the middle of the day. Jesus doesn’t explain himself, just launches straight into winning her heart. Her responses went something like this. First pure doubt, then doubt laced with insult, then asking for water but misunderstanding the water, next acknowledging Jesus was more than just another man, and finally associating his words with the coming Messiah. But Jesus won her heart. We don’t know all the details but Jesus won her heart! She left asking if this could be the Christ but her heart was changed. Before she was finished spreading the news in her towns, the evidence of her belief was clear. Many believed because of her testimony. Her question about Christ turned into belief in Christ and it was an infectious and contagious belief. There is so much to learn from this story that every devotion during Lent couldn’t contain it all. But for today, there is this. Jesus wants to win our heart to such a degree he will patiently lead us from pure doubt and insult to a life-changing experience of the Savior of the world! And along the way in our faith journey we will repeat the same pathway to a life-changing experience because the Savior of the world never ceases to want to win our heart, completely and without hindrance. We grow deep in faith when we know Jesus loves us so much he never gives up patiently leading us to incredible life change. Because, He knows winning hearts changes entire towns for the sake of His kingdom.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we join with so many crying out today, change my heart, O God. Lead us through our doubts and insults to a place of pure belief. Make clear in our hearts your love for us to lead us when doubt arises. Deepen our faith to lessen those moments of doubt to quicker moments of belief. Give us the belief of the Samaritan woman and may our town be changed to the glory of you and your kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 3:1-36

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done through God. - John 3:19-21

Meditation

Only God can change verdicts that eternally matter. Judges and courts can change verdicts which will change present circumstances, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, depending on the situation. Only God can change the verdict in our life that must happen for eternity’s sake. The previous few verses include the most beloved verse in all of scripture and tells us the purpose of Jesus dying on a cross. The verses we focus on today give us the reason why the work of Jesus was necessary. We have a verdict that needs changing and 3:16 tells us why God did it. Simply, because He loves us. We had a verdict which was predicated on the fact we have a tendency toward darkness and evil and rejecting the light of Christ. Our verdict is one which would lead us to eternal separation from the very one who loved us enough to sacrifice his only Son. Our verdict reversal is clearly for the better, not sometimes, always, for everyone. To accept the offer of salvation is to embrace the reversal of a verdict which is eternity changing. All because God loved us so much, unconditionally, that He provided a way to reverse our verdict. Live in that thought today. Let it soak in your soul as you consider all the implications of your verdict being reversed. Live in God’s love for you. Live in deliverance from darkness. Live in the light of the goodness of God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us so much that you did not let our spiritual verdict of darkness remain true, but you gave us a verdict of light through your Son’s death on the cross. May we in every way this day live in the beauty of light that shines upon us and may we be witnesses to your light. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, February 27, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 2:12-35

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. - John 2:27-23

Meditation

There are two primary responses by the disciples to Jesus ransacking the temple courts as recorded by John. Both of them involved remembering what Jesus had said which eventually became reality. The first is a peek into the heart of Jesus to hear him say what consumed him. Given the context, Jesus was consumed by the place of worship being a place of worship and he was consumed by the heart of the disciples being made new in Christ. When it came down to what was most important to Jesus we see he was consumed by winning our heart. Not sharing our heart, winning our heart. The second response was one of confusion and total misunderstanding. Jesus said he could raise the temple in three days which took them half a century to build. They didn’t get it. They thought in the natural, Jesus was projecting the supernatural. A world of difference. The Jews didn’t understand and Jesus didn’t take time to explain it. The disciples didn’t understand it and Jesus didn’t explain it to them either. But they did have the presence of mind to remember his words after the resurrection and we learn something very interesting. It was then they fully understood and more importantly, believed, the scriptures and all that Jesus spoke to them. This helps us understand the battle the disciples fought for three years walking alongside Jesus. We read time and time again, even getting close to Jesus’ final days, the disciples doubted and acted like they didn’t understand one thing Jesus had taught and lived for three years. When they remembered what Jesus had said was undeniably true, they believed. We have the advantage of living many years beyond the days of Jesus and clearly understanding everything Jesus said was undeniably true. I trust you have no doubt in your mind the scriptures and the words of Jesus are undeniably true and he has won your heart!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guide is in all truth so that we might live with our heart fully given over to you. Help us in moments of doubt. We give thanks that our heart consumed the will of our Father when you sent your Son. May we live in the joy of knowing how much you love us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 2:1-11

Pray - Seek the outpouring of God’s Spirit we have witnessed across college campuses in the last several weeks. Seek the outpouring in your own heart and in the life of your church as we gather tomorrow to worship.

Verse

11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. - John 2:1-11

Meditation

There are a dozen or more valid and very important principles to learn from Jesus’ first miracle, the miracle itself, turning water to wine at a wedding. A case could be made for the purpose of the miracle as being the most important principle. We are guilty of reading the last verse of the story as an afterthought, a benediction to move on to the next story. When we do, we miss the purpose of the miracle. Jesus used the miracle to reveal his glory and when the disciples saw his glory, they put their faith in him. I call this a kingdom principle. When we are able to see the message that reaches further than the message of the story itself, we are leaning into what has kingdom application and not just the personal application. Kingdom principles are important to take the focus off ourselves and begin focusing on expanding the kingdom of God. Both are important but if we don’t look beyond ourselves, we are neglecting one of the foundational principles of being a disciple which is to give God glory in all things so that people come to faith. This is becoming increasingly important as time marches forward. More and more people have less and less trust in people. We are becoming more skeptical of people in general because we have had trust broken so much. You might have the most eloquently spoken or lived reason for putting your trust and faith in Jesus, but when they see the glory of Jesus they will put their faith in him. Not because of us, but we pointed to Jesus, we gave him honor and glory, we testified to his goodness and not our ability, and then people will put their faith in him. It is easy to take credit for what happens in our life. It is right to give God credit for all his goodness He has blessed us with. When we do that, we give him glory and people see that what happens is not of our doing but is a supernatural act beyond our capacity and they are attracted to God and put their faith in Him. It is the right thing to humbly tell your story, testify to God’s grace, and even receive a compliment, but always point to Jesus who revealed his glory so we could reveal Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, create in us a humble spirit which will go before everything we do and say about Jesus. Let our life and the voice of our mouth be the avenue for doubters of faith to see the goodness and glory of Jesus. Use us to lead people to faith. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 1:35-51

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. - John 1:35-39

Meditation

We always think of the first disciples as being called. And you can say they all were. John describes the first two disciples as following because of the second announcement that Jesus was the Lamb of God without anything being said to them. Interesting. We follow Christ because that is the mandate of being a disciple. We’ve heard a specific call and we follow. We’ve only heard the words, “Look, the Lamb of God,” and we follow. We’ve heard subsequent, specific calls and we follow. We’ve had moments of awe and wonder and we follow. Twice in our reading today questions were asked and the response was the same, “Come and see.” They seem like odd questions. One about where Jesus was staying and the other about anything good coming from the hometown of Jesus. When we follow Jesus, regardless of the reason we follow, we will see. Later in our reading, Philip found Nathanael and he was one told to come and see. When Nathanael was confronted by Jesus he wondered how Jesus knew him. Jesus answered partly with the words, “You shall see greater things.” When we follow Jesus we will see the things of God manifested through Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit in and through us. Disciples see the wonders of Jesus unfold before our eyes. We see when we follow. Don’t mistake being a follower of Christ as doing a list of requirements, understand following Christ as participating in the wonder and awe of who Christ is and what He does. “Come, and you will see” is being whispered in the hearts and minds of disciples. When we truly hear, we will follow and see the power and majesty of Christ right before our very eyes.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open our ears to hear you call and move our hearts to follow even if we don’t hear you calling. May we be sensitive to the move of the Spirit in our life so we see all the things of God unfold. Plant passion and desire in our hearts so we want to be folded into the movement of your Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 1:19-34

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Meditation

It is always good to know where you are going. GPS on a smartphone has made it easy but if you don’t know where you are going, GPS is of no value. When John saw Jesus coming he clearly declared several things. John plainly stated who Jesus was, his purpose for coming, and where he was going. You might question the last one about where he was going, but consider the people who first heard John. They knew Jesus was going to a place of sacrifice because that was the only place that a lamb could take away the sins of the world. You are familiar with the statement about only having one chance to make a first impression. Imagine the impression this made on those first hearers. The weight of this first sentence out of John’s mouth about Jesus is tremendous. He could have just stated he was the Lamb of God. Most would have thought he was one of God’s sheep. But when John stated he would take away the sin of the world, the people gasped. Immediately they saw that place of sacrifice, that place of blood shed, that place of certain death. They immediately knew it was God’s best who would die. And yet, it was God’s flesh and blood child who would be sacrificed. Immediately they saw Abraham with a knife raised above the heart of Isaac, they looked for a thicket with a ram, but they saw none. They felt the weight of who Jesus was and why he came. Implicitly they knew where he was going and so do we. We can program into our spiritual GPS this Lenten journey is taking us once again to the cross where we will see the Son of God sacrificed for the sake of humanity. Let the weight of who Jesus is and the purpose for his coming be the framework for the trip you are embarking on. We will get to the tomb, but let’s be mindful of the cross. For the weight of the cross gives power to the tomb.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are in tears as we hear John proclaiming the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is coming. Our knees buckle at the weight of that statement. Help us to journey well to the cross in order to grasp the depth and fullness of meaning. Humble us by the weight of the cross. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading - John 1:1-18

Pray - Seek God’s blessing and favor related to this passage

Verse

12 In a loud voice they were singing:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” - Revelation 5:12

Meditation

I have no clue what the weather is like in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, today, but I know if Phil the groundhog lived in Alabama and if we could rely on the legend, we would start moving our short sleeve shirts and flip-flops to the front of our closet in anticipation of an early Spring. However, what we really know as the result of rain or shine in Pennsylvania today is that Spring will come. Sooner or later. What I know today is that one day we will stand before the throne of God and sing praise to the Lamb of God which declares all that He is worthy of. One day. Not a day I can predict according to the events of the world or from reading the smartest biblical scholars. I do know it will be one day and it is going to be a glorious day. Of greater value than moving our Spring and Summer clothes to the front of our closet in preparation of something that might or might not happen soon, is living our life in a manner worthy of standing before the throne of God and singing with the masses who have gathered alongside us. We don’t know when that day will be, but we do know it could be sooner or later. In fact, it will be right on time, God’s perfect timing. We don’t want to miss standing before the throne of God or waste one moment seeking to honor God while following Christ in the present. We want to live today in the fullness of all the blessings and favor of being a child of God with our name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and at the same time be encouraged by the promise of worshiping Him with all the saints at His throne. Our faith is a now and then faith. There are blessings in both. We don’t know when the throne room worship will commence any more than we know when Spring will come, but I will prepare my heart and mind with much greater fervor than I will preparing for warm weather. Live in the now and then and get ready to worship!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us live today with great anticipation of one day worshiping in the heavenly realms. May we instill a now and then understanding of our faith at the forefront of our minds. Lead us to a place of honoring you in every aspect of our life. Forgive us for being short sighted and not embracing the scene at the throne. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Verse

Verse

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14

Meditation

When Jesus came to be with us in human form, everything began to change including seeing the glory of God in His Son. Remember the Israelites were not allowed to see His glory, have access to His presence, etc. We can now see His glory, something very difficult to explain or define. The best I can do is to say something like this. It is all the awe and wonder of His spirit, His character. It is all of who God is and we will continually discover what that means over our lifetime. We will really never know the full scope and wonder of the character of God. It is the essence of God and it was manifested in His Son so we could get a glimpse of what it is. The glory of God is the context of heaven. Angels singing, elders worshiping, all of God being experienced. We’ve had moments when maybe we experienced the glory of God. Whether in worship or on a walk, it dawns on us that the glory of God was in our presence. When I saw the Rocky Mountains for the first time I sensed the glory of God. The truth we need to live in is when the glory is in the room or in our presence, nothing else really matters because all of who God declares to be is all that matters. Songs don’t matter. Sermons don’t matter. The glory of God matters. We are able to see it in Jesus Christ and given the honor and privilege of experiencing it at moments we don’t plan or expect. But that is who God is and we should live with anticipation that His glory will be in the room or any place at any moment. It is an experience we cannot thank Him enough for.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for opening the windows of heaven and pouring out your glory through your Son. With Moses, we pray, show me your glory. Without your glory and presence going with us throughout this day we will be lost. Go before us and be all around us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, January 23, 2023

Verse

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” - Acts 1:12-14, 23-25

Meditation

The eleven apostles returned to Jerusalem and without explanation they gathered others and for a period of time they prayed. And they prayed constantly. They were wise enough to know what was ahead of them was a monumental endeavor. A pressing need they recognized was to replace Judas. We are given an explanation of this need between verses fourteen and twenty-three. After Peter explained the reason behind the need, they prayed because they were wise enough to know this decision was critical. This is a good principle for all of us to learn and apply to our life. When what is in front of us seems gigantic and there arises needs which are immediately pressing, we need to pray. There are many reasons we might think we don’t have time to pray, but I want to suggest we can’t not pray in these situations. They are too important. Once we learn to bring the big, critical, important and urgent decisions to God in prayer, it will become natural and we will bring all of them to Him in prayer. Focused prayer is the best prayer, but seeking God in continual prayer as part of a multi-tasking moment is permissible. This is probably not a new concept for many of you and for that I rejoice. My hope is that it will become a principle for everyone. When life changing decisions come before us, don’t take one more step until you have prayed and sought guidance from God’s throne. It will clearly be the best guidance you will receive.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we bring all our decisions before you today and pray that you will unmistakably give clear guidance to us. We want to make great decisions and know that is only possible because of your involvement in the process. So we pause to pray and seek you in all things. Thank you for caring about the life of your children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, January 20, 2023

Verse

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. . . . 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. - Galatians 5:22-23, 25

Meditation

Fruit is a food group that seems to be pleasant, doesn’t cause great health issues, is included in the food pyramid, and is a part of most all healthy eating plans. It all seems good until it’s not. There is that one fruit you just can’t put in your mouth. It’s different for everybody. For some it might be pineapple or kiwi or peaches. We then come to the place where fruit is our friend if we can be selective. We might say something like, “I love fruit as long as I don’t have to eat blueberries.” I would not be surprised that if honesty was the prevailing guide of our thoughts, we might say something like, “I love the fruit of the Spirit as long as I don’t have to show any self-control.” “I love the fruit of the Spirit as long as I don’t have to be kind to certain people.” It is ok to think about fruit in that way, but it is definitely not ok to think about the fruit of the Spirit that way. The good news for us this morning is that they are not called the fruit of Alan, or the fruit of any person. They are the fruit of the Spirit. I included the short phrase from verse twenty-five to remind us of the plan for bearing all nine of the fruit in our life. Yes, that is the plan. We are to bear all nine in our life. We don’t get to choose. Gifts of the Spirit are unique to an individual, the fruit of the Spirit are universal to all people. There is no possible way to navigate the reality of fruitful living without being led by the Spirit. Paul wrote to the church in Rome that the righteous, the Christ followers, live by faith. It is no more true than when bearing all nine fruit of the Spirit in our walk with Him. Faithfully live by the Spirit’s guidance and you will begin to see all the fruit manifested. Make it a matter of conversation with God. Be mindful of your weak areas. Lift those to the top of the conversational agenda with God. Lean into the spiritual health of all the fruit of the Spirit and don’t be discouraged by the one you don’t like.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we yield ourselves to you and the Holy Spirit so that we might bear all of your fruit in our life. Prick our hearts in the places that need pricking. Prune us where we need pruning. Strengthen our faith so we are truly living by faith and not leaning on our own understanding of what that means. Thank you for leading us by your Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Verse

1 Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. . . . 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. . . . 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. - Psalm 46:1, 7, 10-11

Meditation

Be still. One of those things which is easier said than done. My coffee cup this morning says Be Still. Those words appear in scripture in a Psalm which is very familiar. Or at least the first part of verse ten. Be still and know that I am God, it says. Often said, often quoted. I picked a few verses to focus on also found in this psalm, which was written to the music director with the intent of it being sung. I can imagine it was a favorite to be sung or chanted at the temple. If you think of Psalm 46 you most likely will think of being still or reminded to do so. But there is this declaration about God being our refuge and strength, always there in time of trouble to help. Then repeated twice is the chorus which declares the Almighty God is with us and our fortress. Maybe the admonition to be still is directly related to our understanding of who God is. Maybe we will never fully grasp the fullness of God until we are still before Him and just seek to know Him. This third day of the new year will mean many people returning to work after a long weekend and maybe even a longer holiday. In the city where I live schools will reopen in a couple of days. We have potential severe storms moving through the South. People are busy trying to accomplish what they resolved to do. It will be as fast paced as usual by the end of the week. It might even be crazier than normal. You never know what the new year might bring but I do know we can be still and seek to know God. There could possibly be so many new things on our mind because it is a new year. Let the possibility arise to be still. It is in the being still that we discover the greatness of God. Refuge. Strength. Fortress. Exaltation. Companion. So. Much. More. When we are still. It is easy to get consumed by the excitement of the new and miss the everlasting God who is more than all the new we might see with our eyes and all we hope to experience in the new year. Be still and know that I am God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, still our hearts and minds so we only focus on you and the fullness and goodness you desire us to know about you. Calm the clutter of our life. Calm the anxiety that chases the new things. Calm the desire to want new greener grass. This new year we just want You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, January 2, 2023

Verse

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. - 1 Peter 1:3-4

Meditation

There are hundreds of references to the word new in the Bible or to something being news worthy. Peter tells us Jesus has given us new birth into a living hope. (I chose our Hope coffee cup this morning.) As we think of all things new related to the new year we have just begun, new birth is not one that comes to mind for most of us. But hope is something we all long for each day. The good news for a new year is that Jesus Christ offers us hope which is new and living. Hope can often become just a concept which is static and devoid of real meaning. Peter describes a character trait which is much more than this. If it is new then we have never seen it or experienced it in the past. If it comes from Christ, we can be assured it is for our good. If it is living, then it cannot become static, it must be organic and is always growing and changing. You could possibly be a little nervous that Jesus has given us something we have never experienced before and it is always changing. Both of those make people really nervous but they are key to our hope being placed in our relationship with Jesus. Placing our hope in things we’ve experienced or will never change is what leads to a hopeless life. Hope is instilled in us when we realize there is always a reason to breathe one more breath, live one more minute, take one more step. That realization only comes when we base our hope in Christ. When we base our hope in the things of this world, hope for greater wealth, hope for a better job, hope for a perfect spouse, or a whole host of other things, then we will be greatly disappointed and this leads to hopelessness. In this new year we really do want a new and living hope. It is offered to us if we will only receive it.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, birth in us a new and living hope today. We receive what we haven’t experienced and may change before the day ends. We receive it from you and know that you desire only goodness for us and things which benefit your kingdom. Spiritually birth in us new and living hope. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Sunday, January 1, 2023 New Year’s Day

Verse

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. - 1 Timothy 1:6-7

Meditation

The calendar has changed. The year has increased by a factor of one. There is the grand Times Square celebration and the many traditions or old wives tales which are followed related to New Year’s Day. In reality, it’s one more day to understand we are blessed to have another day to live and realize we are not getting any younger. It’s a day we love to focus on new beginnings and a better future. Gyms will be full, healthy foods will be emptied off the shelves and spirituality will be the center of attention. There is absolutely nothing wrong with desiring newness, wanting life to be better, and to live as the best you. However, none of that will become our reality unless we are intentional about the days ahead. Paul’s wise words to Timothy are worth our consideration on the first day of a new year. Paul rarely made suggestions. Either by context, implication, or directly stated, he declared necessary actions. Our hopes and desires for this new year will be better positioned to become reality in our life if we frame this year with something like this reminder of Paul. It requires intention. It requires action. Fanning into flame is the image of a spark or a small fire becoming a roaring, vibrant fire. The gift of the Holy Spirit in us need not be just a spark or a barely flickering fire. Be intentional this year about fanning the present flame of the Holy Spirit in your life into a roaring fire that consumes your soul and spirit. My coffee cup this morning says Trust. As you fan the flame, trust God that the roaring fire of the Holy Spirit will not take you anywhere that will not benefit you and his kingdom. Trust God in the uncomfortableness of the newness you will experience. Because it is in the newness that you will not manifest a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. When we are living in the power of God flowing through us, the love of God flowing through us, and the self-discipline instilled in us by God, we will indeed experience the new hopes and desires we yearn for. Yes, the new year needs to be new for many people because of the difficulty encountered last year. I am praying for each of you that this year will be free from difficult situations and circumstances beyond what is normal and expected. The new year needs to be new for every person on some level. Trust in God and fan into flame the gift of God which is in you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show us what it takes to fan into flame, into a roaring fire, the gift which is in each of us. We trust that you will manage the fire to your glory and to the benefit of your kingdom. Help our intentions to be steadfast day after day after day. Let us not grow tired and weary of doing good and fanning the flame. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Verse

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. - Luke 2:39-40

Meditation

The first Christmas story ends with Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to their hometown of Nazareth where they would expect a sense of normally would begin raising their newborn child. It was the end of the beginning, but the beginning of the story that would change the face of the world. Matthew tells us there was a short stay in Egypt before finally settling in Nazareth for good. We know very little about the childhood of Jesus except that each year he went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. We do know this. He grew and became strong, was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. Today is an end with a beginning just a few hours away. Today ends a year of our life designated as 2022, tomorrow we begin another year of our life and story, 2023. For some, the difficulty of this year means hope for a better year is the prayer of their heart. For others, the prayer is for continuation of a good year and hope for an even better year. For all of us, we should take the one sentence we know about the childhood of Jesus and make it our hope for the new year. Take it from a purely spiritual point of view if need be. This morning I intentionally grabbed a coffee cup with the word Faith on one side and part of a verse from 1 Peter on the other, “My faith and hope are in God.” I know that if there is any hope that I will be stronger in the Lord in 2023, that I will be filled with wisdom in 2023, and that the grace of God will be upon me in 2023, I have no choice but to begin 2023 with full faith in God to accomplish this and fully place all my hope on God and God alone. This description of Jesus as a child is worthy of applying it to our life as we begin a new year. Luke used almost the same language when speaking about Jesus after the trip to Jerusalem when he was twelve. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” In other words, he continued doing what we were told earlier, and it was pleasing to both God and the people he related to. May 2023 be a year when we all become strong in the ways we need to become strong. May it be a year we are filled with the wisdom of God. May it be a year when the grace of God is clearly upon us. May it be a year when there is evidence of all three. And in doing so, may it be a year to gain favor with God and the people we will relate to and be in relationship with. It is only possible if we put our faith and hope in God. I pray that 2023 will be a year of great blessing for you and your family.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for every person reading this today that what begins tomorrow as a new year will be a year of great blessing and favor. I pray it will be a year where their faith is made strong, their wisdom is increased greatly, and your grace is all over them. I pray for your favor to be upon them in such a way they see it manifested in the people around them. I pray that 2023 will be filled with hope and faith as we put our hope and faith in You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, December 30, 2022

Verse

Meditation

And then there was Anna, a prophet, one who proclaims the revelation of truth concerning the will of God. Married only seven years before she became a widow, now spending her entire life at the temple worshiping, fasting and praying. For just a moment try to fill in the blank between the heartache of becoming a widow and spending night and day at the temple. Everything we know about Anna is contained in three verses. We could write many different versions of her life if we desired to do so. Let’s focus on the version, short as it might be, which contains a few principles based on what we do know. She did not let the emotional pain and hardship of becoming a widow hinder her desire to seek God and his plan for her life. She chose to live into the hope grounded in her Jewish faith that a Messiah would one day come and redeem her nation. She became a worshiper and an intercessor. She gave thanks as she spoke about this Child, our Savior, and what he would mean to the world. As a prophet, God had spoken into her things into her heart and mind about him beyond common knowledge. I believe it would be safe to say part of her worship, her fasting and prayer at the temple would have included prayers concerning the coming of the Messiah. She knew her nation needed redemption and we tend to pray for the things we need and the things we love the most. Something happened after the tragedy in her life that set her on a course of honoring God with her life beyond what most of us can fathom. She was not alone looking forward to Jerusalem and the nation of Israel being redeemed. Others were with her that day as she gave thanks for the arrival at the temple of the Messiah and then connected this child to the One who they were all looking forward to seeing. Imagine how wonderful it was for her to take Jesus into her arms and cradle him against her chest. Maybe like she would have done for the child she never had. She spoke encouragement and hope to all those gathered around this powerful moment in the Christmas story. A prophet who had seen all that she had been told come to pass. Like Simeon, righteous and devout. A prophet who allowed God to turn tragedy into a triumphant fulfillment of all she had hoped and prayed for.

Prayer

Verse

Meditation

A social gathering shifts when the anticipated guest arrives or when a celebrity enters the room. The room might still be loud but there is a quiet in the room as well. There is anticipation about what might be said or announced. It’s unusual. It’s not quite the same. Jesus entered Elizabeth’s room and things were different. She was different. It is described as a baby leaping in the womb. It was more than the physical change because there was an incredible spiritual shift. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and experienced a sense of awe and wonder, declaring that favor was hers because the Lord was in the room. We are told John leaped for joy in his mother’s womb! In the heart and mind of Elizabeth there was no taking for granted anything when the baby to be born as Lord and Savior was in the room. She knew, and she knew it makes a difference and everything changes. Elizabeth blessed Mary with words of encouragement and testimony that what the Lord said would be accomplished because something changed when Jesus entered the room. The number of Christmas mornings you have experienced is not hard to calculate. During that time you have heard countless reminders of the birth of Christ. You’ve likely heard many sermons about the Christmas story having new meaning each year. We take it for granted. We know the story. One thing never changes. When Jesus abides in us things change. We experience the movement of the Holy Spirit. We are filled and joy should exude from our heart, from the very core of our being. Jesus daily enters our rooms, intersects with our life, engages the situations we face, and fills us with the Holy Spirit. Let us not take it for granted that Jesus will come again. Let our hearts leap for joy as if it was the very first time Jesus entered the room and we were filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Actually, that’s the way it is every time. We are filled to overflowing! Every time.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, enter our room with the power and presence of your Son Jesus Christ and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. May our hearts leap for joy. Help us to be mindful afresh in every moment of the present of the baby in the womb of our heart. We honor you in awe and wonder of your goodness and grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday, December 19, 2022

Verse

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” - Luke 1:35-37

Meditation

In our Children’s Ministry program this year, the line about nothing being impossible with God was used several times, emphasizing its meaning. It was part of the angel’s answer to Mary about the possibility of her conceiving the Son of God. This points back to the proclamation that the Holy Spirit will empower the conception. Mary might have understood the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to make all things possible when the angel first spoke those words, but when the angel mentioned Elizabeth was having a child, she absolutely understood. The Holy Spirit gives life to the impossible being made possible. As we begin the last week before we arrive at Christmas Day, the majority of us will find it quite natural to be joyful, rejoicing in some way each day along our journey to Bethlehem’s manger. But for many, it will be very difficult to find joy as easily as most people because of events, situations and circumstances, both past and present. When honesty about our emotions this week results in hurt and pain and finding joy becomes impossible, remember the words spoken to Mary who was face to face with impossibility. If you are face to face with impossibility or encounter it in the days to come, begin speaking the angel’s reply into your heart and mind. Pray boldly for the Holy Spirit to come upon and overshadow you. Pray boldly that your impossibility will become possible because of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life and you will be able to experience some measure of joy. Our joy comes not in our circumstances, but as a result of our relationship with God, the God of the impossible becoming possible.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come honestly before you today and if there is anything in our life that speaks of impossible, we pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit it will be made possible and we will experience joy and rejoicing on our journey to Bethlehem. We boldly declare this for our life today anticipating the experience of joy even in the midst of what the world sees as impossible. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Scripture Reading

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” - Luke 1:28-33

Meditation

The first Christmas story is full of unexpected visits by angels and stars and dreams. Most often the response was shock, fear or confusion. I understand. Unexpected visits can be exhilarating or shocking depending on the circumstances. Initially they invoke confusion on some level. We don’t know Mary’s backstory like we do Zechariah and Elizabeth’s other than from her response that she was the Lord’s servant, but we know she found favor with God. Either there is no logical explanation as to why she found favor, God just picked her, or we can assume she was living in such a way as to honor God with her life, maybe upright and blameless as was Zechariah, and God chose to honor her faithfulness. I want to be the recipient of God’s favor for whatever reason he chooses, whether it be unexplainable or because I was seeking to live righteously in the sight of God. And Mary found favor, in fact she found great favor. Giving birth to the King whose kingdom will reign forever. She sought no favor but was given the greatest honor anyone could ever receive. Because there is no need for another savior, there will never be another story quite like this one. That does not stop me from believing God is still showing favor into the lives of faithful people. Whether we pray for it like Zechariah or it comes very unexpectedly like Mary, we need to be expectant with open arms. The favor shown to Zechariah and Mary through the visit of an angel is eye opening huge. Favor comes in small ways as well. After I write this I will be traveling to Ohio. I’ve been praying for favor this morning. The favor of safety, the favor of strength to drive eight hours, the favor of minimal delays caused by traffic issues, the favor of clarity of thought, and the list goes on. While driving I’m going to be seeking favor in greater measure over guidance for future tasks and clarity of vision. We all benefit from the favor of God. Be honored when God chooses you. It might be a simple nudge from God or it might be eye opening, life changing favor. Live faithfully and open your arms wide to receive the favor of God!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we seek the favor of your heart and mind today. We might not know how or expect the visit to come but we want it to come. May the visit of your favor be real in our lives today and let us respond with humility and grace. Forgive us for not recognizing your favor and we give thanks for every time you have shown favor in our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday December 8, 2022

Scripture Reading

17 The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17

Meditation

There are days when the Lord leads me to passages which cause me to wonder what is going on. Today is one. This is not your typical Advent passage or one included in the prophecies related to the birth of Christ, but it speaks directly to the work of God in our life which is fully realized through the birth and life of Christ and his purpose for coming as Emmanuel. The beauty of this passage is it doesn’t take a great amount of explanation to expound the meaning and it is one you can read over and over again, just this one verse, read over and over again to allow the meaning to pour over your life. Think of the meaning for a minute in terms of the Christmas story. There are five phrases which directly relate to the birth of Christ. Emmanuel, God with us. Messiah, Savior. The Shepherd knows his sheep by name. He loves us unconditionally. Our Savior rejoices over his children. All of those phrases are embedded in the first Advent story. The story is about a personal Savior who loves his children and thinks there are none better than those called His children. He desires the best for the best. On this day, know that the Christ Child is with you and thoroughly enjoys being in your company. You are special to Him. Read that verse again and you will be reminded how special you are to the Savior of the world!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for capturing us in your heart and hands and rejoicing over our life. Thank you for embracing us as who we are and where we are and loving us to a transformed place in the kingdom. Thank you for saving us because we can’t save ourselves. May your delight in someone make a difference in their life today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday December 7, 2022

Scripture Reading

Meditation

Earlier this week Lori, my wife, wrote down our schedule for the next seven days and all that is involved in participating in everything listed. Nothing on the list was related to our employment. Time out! This time of year is like that and it requires more than normal strength to do the things you have to, need to, and want to do. The story of Advent is about a child who came in strength, with strength, to give strength. The Psalmist describes this strength in terms of the King of glory who is approaching a great city in ancient days. There would have to be huge, strong gates lifted in order to allow access to the city. It would take quite an effort from many men to lift the gates. The one approaching the city in this case is described as strong and mighty and Almighty. It only takes the strength of One, the Messiah, the Son of the King who came as the King himself, to empower us for all that we face in life. Our schedule at times will appear overwhelming, but life can be overwhelming more often than our schedule. Life can stretch us beyond imagination. Beyond our strength. We need strength from the Lord Almighty and the Advent story is about the innocence of a child being born who came with all the necessary strength to be called strong and mighty referring to himself as Almighty. Babies aren’t strong, maybe strong-willed, but this one was. He came with strength we don’t understand until He walks with us giving strength we one day realize is not of ourselves. And the light bulb turns on and burns brightly in our mind. And we know that was strength which comes from the power of the Christ-child who lives in us. Raise your heads, your gates, and let the King of glory come in this Christmas season. Strong and mighty. The Lord Almighty. He is coming as the King of glory!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we lift our gates to let you in. Some days we need your help just to lift the gates of our life. We lift our gates, open our hearts to empower you to work anew in our life today. We confess that all too often we never attempt to lift the gate of our life. Break us when we don’t. Forgive us for keeping our gate closed. Let us live in your great strength today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday December 6, 2022

Scripture Reading

Meditation

I have recently thought about and used in different conversations a line credited to Sgt. Joe Friday, the stern cop on Dragnet, “just the facts, ma’am.” In a similar way, Jeremiah is the Joe Friday of prophets, giving us just the facts about the coming Savior who Isaiah has written about with such eloquence. Jeremiah clearly understands the very first thing we need from a savior is to be restored into a right relationship with our heavenly Father. Sin has broken that relationship and our first and greatest need is for a Savior who will reign as a King and do what is right and just with the wisdom only He possesses. I believe there is great importance in Jesus being referred to as our Righteous Savior or our Righteousness. It clearly defines the need and bypasses the restoration of Judah and Israel in the way they had hoped for, military strength and power. If Jesus had come simply to restore, save, the Jewish nation, He would not have come for all of humanity. They were certainly included among those Jesus would come and die for, but it was much broader than what they had imagined in their minds. Jesus would be the Savior who would come to offer salvation to all who would call upon His name, a concept misunderstood for centuries after His death, but fully embraced as we live two thousand years later and understand the power behind the prophetic words, Our Righteous Savior. We are blessed to be part of the kingdom in which the King administers justice and righteousness with great wisdom, according to His love for all people. We are blessed to be part of the people who have access to a right and good relationship with Yahweh, our Father, the Creator of the world. It is first and foremost the very essence of who Jesus is, the One who is a relationship builder for all people to the One who calls us His children.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pause on this day to affirm and renew our right relationship with you. Forgive us of all that separates us from you in any way. We receive your justice and righteousness as you reign in the world and in our life. We bow in humble thankfulness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday December 5, 2022

Scripture Reading

3 . . . to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. - Isaiah 61:3

Meditation

Saturday we focused on the first few verses of this text and the first verse of “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” Today I want to use the latter part of verse three in Isaiah and the second verse of the hymn. “Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.” A thought came to mind recently when I heard and sung this great hymn. It is one thing to expect Jesus to come, but do we expect Jesus to do anything when He comes? His coming is of no value if we do not allow Him to work in our life when He comes. The hymn reminds us Jesus comes to reign in us and to build His kingdom which will lead us to the throne. Several thoughts for a rainy Monday morning. If we expect Jesus to do the work he was sent to do by his own Father, we must allow him to rule in reign in our hearts which implies we must set all things aside and let him truly be the lord of our life. It’s difficult for us to set aside ourselves in order to let this happen. But it is necessary. However, when we do, even though it is challenging to be obedient to God’s will first, we are recipients of the blessings of God in return. After we first deal with Jesus reigning in our hearts, then we become most productive in the building of his kingdom he so desires. We must all participate alongside the work God is doing in order for the gracious kingdom to flourish. Finally, this leads us to the throne. Scripture tells us approaching the throne is both a now and then concept. We approach the throne of grace in prayer and presence and we approach the eternal throne in the greater scheme of things. The expectation of Jesus coming is fully realized when we allow him to reign in our hearts, we participate in the kingdom and we rejoice in approaching the throne. What a great plan of God!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we journey toward the manger, turn our expectation of an appearance to an expectation of a great work. Do what you need to do in our lives today so we allow you to fully reign in us. We say that, we sing that, but now we want the long expected Jesus to come and reign and your kingdom to be fulfilled. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday December 3, 2022

Verse

1 Praise the Lord, O my soul;

and all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. - Psalm 103:1-5

Meditation

Much has been written about praising God at all times whether in the middle of a storm or in times of smooth sailing on a calm sea. The dual nature of praise is certainly biblically true and we should continually strive to a place of maturity so we can praise Him in both the storm and the calm. This psalm is focused on the benefits which seems at face value to be a psalm of praise during times of smooth sailing when we experience the move of God in our life. Dig under the surface and you find the benefits of God where most likely we will praise the loudest is when He meets us in the storms. Consider the few verses noted. He meets us and does amazing work in us when we sin, when we are sick, when our life is in the pit. He forgives, he heals, and he redeems when we would see our life as less than calm. But it goes beyond what we would consider enough. If forgiveness and healing and redemption is not enough and would most likely satisfy our soul, God goes beyond and crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies us with good things, and in the end we are renewed to a state of youthfulness. What a blessing! What a reason to praise God! And that’s just five verses. The psalm continues with more and more and more. Our God is worthy of our praise to the very depth of soul with all of who we are. Praise his holy name!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, for all your benefits, for all of your presence when we are sailing the calm seas or battling the storm, we praise your holy name. We join with David and receive your forgiveness, your healing, your redemption. We receive our crown of love and the renewal of mind and spirit. Impart a spirit of praise within each of us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thursday November 17, 2022

Verse

1 We give thanks to you, O God,

we give thanks, for your Name is near;

people tell of your wonderful deeds. - Psalm 75:1

Meditation

Seasons come and go. Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring. Well, except in Alabama where we seem to skip a season at times. We can go from Summer to Winter in the blink of an eye. Where did Fall go, we ask? Like this year. One day it is in the eighties. The next day in the forties. Our spiritual journey includes seasons as well. There will be times when on a scale of one to ten we would rate our journey at ten. At other times it may be a seven or a four. Then there are those times when we feel like we have skipped a season and God is only in the distance. A period of darkness or dryness when sensing God’s presence is very difficult and prayer, for instance, seems empty. Scripture is just words on a page. God seems very far away. Be assured of this, God is near. Always has been, always will be. The psalmist gave thanks because his Name was near. Name representing God’s presence and activity. When in a season of dryness, be assured God is near and is still active in your life. There are many reasons why God may seem to be at a distance, temptations or circumstances which create great difficulty to name a couple, but live in the knowledge He is near and continues to perform wonderful deeds on your behalf. The season will pass and your spiritual barometer will begin to rise back up toward a ten. Hold fast and give thanks because his Name, and his Presence, are near.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for you always being near to us even when we struggle in our soul to sense and experience your presence. Our prayer is that the understanding of your continual abiding presence will be a rock solid piece of our spiritual foundation. Never to be questioned, never doubted. May we live in the knowledge of your nearness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday November 16, 2022

Verse

¹Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
²Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
³Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
²⁶Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1-3, 2

Meditation

This Psalm makes one thing abundantly clear, His love endures forever. 26 verses and 26 times this same phrase is repeated. His love endures forever. I chosen a few of the verses but I hope you have time to read the entire Psalm. Be still for a moment and you can hear it being sung in the Temple with the children of Israel recalling the reasons for God’s enduring love and singing the refrain, His love endures forever. This is Israel’s song, their story. Our song would not reflect the same reasons but would certainly include 26 verses or more. Our song would not include parting the Red Sea but would include the waywardness of our soul and the difficult moments of our life. His love endures through our story just as it did for Israel. The Psalm begins and ends exhorting us to give thanks. The only appropriate response to His enduring love amidst our story is to give thanks. I’ve chosen just a few verses today. Let’s pray these verses of this song. Pray the entire Psalm if you have time. And as you pray, you may recall specific reasons to give thanks and you will understand very poignantly the depth of meaning in the refrain, His love endures forever. Give thanks.

Prayer

Amen.

Tuesday November 15, 2022

Verse

4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. - Psalm 30:4-5

Meditation

Most of us have a weekday routine that pretty much stays the same each and every day. It starts at a certain time, similar things happen during the day on schedule, and the day ends about the same time each night. It may or may not change on Saturday and hopefully it changes on Sunday to include worship. When our normal routine is altered for some reason we feel out of sync for most of the day. We feel behind, our steps are out of step. The ship is righted when dawn comes the next day. Similarly, we find ourselves in the same ebb and flow spiritually. Our spiritual routine stays on an even plane most of the time. But something happens and we sense God’s displeasure or circumstances lead to weeping in the night. Those moments should not permanently get us out of spiritual sync, for they are of that moment, but favor and rejoicing comes in the morning. Figuratively. Morning may not be measured for us in a time sequence on a clock, but it is measured in God’s time. And while we wait for dawn to arise in our soul, we praise the Lord as faithful people because of His faithfulness and we give honor to his holy name. We do well to remember what is only for the moment or the night and what lasts a lifetime. Favor. Rejoicing. Praise his holy name.

Pray

Heavenly Father, we pause in the midst of our normalcy or in the midst of our weeping to praise your holy name. We know that in you we have favor and blessing for a lifetime and you will cause rejoicing to come so we give you thanks for your goodness. Forgive us when we cause anger in your spirit and let us grasp the power of your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday November 14, 2022

Verse

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. - Psalm 7:17

Meditation

When the enemy is seen from every direction, when the attack is from all sides, helplessness sets in and there appears nothing but doom and gloom to follow. This describes David’s feelings as he penned this psalm. From every side, relentless, with the intent to destroy. But he realizes God is greater than and more powerful than his enemy and he calls on him to rescue the situation. In earlier verses David uses the terms refuge and shield to describe the Lord as he cries out. And concludes with thanks and praise because He is the one who brings righteousness to our heart and He is the one who rescues us when the enemy is attacking from all sides. Note that David has faith in God to do what only He can do and concludes, without seeing the outcome, with thanks and praise. He is willing to give thanks and praise because he knows who God is regardless of the outcome. There may be hardship ahead, but we can give thanks and praise simply for who God is. As you read this you may sense frustration because the enemy is attacking on every side of your life and all you see in the moment is defeat and despair. You will join many others who are reading along with you with the exact same feelings. If so, know that your God is a refuge and shield and brings righteousness to those who cling to Him. Give thanks and praise.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pause in this moment, whatever else is swirling around us, to give thanks for your righteousness, to praise your name, the Lord Most High, for being our refuge and our shield when the enemy surrounds us. Let us hold fast to the strength and power found in you as we navigate what is coming from every side. Let us have confidence in you to hold us in your arms. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, November 11, 2022

Verse

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. - Psalm 34:8-10

Meditation

On this Veteran’s Day, we certainly have reason to be thankful. Most of us have a personal connection to someone who served in the military on our behalf. All of us are connected to the men and women who served our country in the military. Let’s be thankful. Now on to the psalm which talks about God’s goodness which is indeed something to be thankful for. This psalm is one of my favorites because of the descriptive language about all that God does. And it’s not just what he does, but David speaks to issues very real to each of us and then tells how God responds. God is most real when we face the most real issues. I hope you have time to read the entirety of it. It is a song he wrote following an incident with Abimelech where he pretended to be insane so Abimelech would leave. And he did. And David wrote. The very first thing David did was declare that praise will always be on his lips. In the moment of freedom he could not think of anything else other than simply praising God continually. Then later we read the verses above. Probably too often we are blessed beyond explanation and we give cursory thanks and move on. We should probably slow down and give praise where praise is due for a season. David had a desire for all people to join with him, taste and see, in glorifying the Lord and exalting his name and knowing His goodness. When God is good we rejoice together thus emphasizing the principle that as the people of faith we should rejoice and give thanks when even just one in the body is rejoicing because of our experience of goodness. Scripture in many places talks about rejoicing with those who rejoice. When a few are praising and exalting, others will join in. But most of all, David is so thrilled at what God does that he wants all to join in the time of exalting the name of God above all names. Don’t fear. Rejoice. It’s a good plan.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we join with David today to praise your name for all you have done to carry us and bless us beyond measure and for your goodness in general. May praise to you ever be on our lips. May our life reflect the glory of the Lord and may we exalt your name together with the saints. May we create an atmosphere of praise in our life and in those who surround us. May we join with others in their time of rejoicing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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