Daily Devotion

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"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" - Psalm 14:1a

Accept or Reject – It’s Your Decision
January 21, 2015

The famous atheist/philosopher, Bertrand Russell, said in his book,Why I’m Not a Christian: “There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ’s moral character, and that is that He believed in hell. I do not, myself, feel that any person who is profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment.” And here is how the scholar C.S. Lewis responded: “How could God be loving if there was not hell?”

While that sounds like a bit of twisted logic, it is actually a brilliant observation. Let me explain. If someone has rejected God all of their life, the last place he wants to spend eternity is with the very one he rejected. God loves us enough to give us the freedom to decide about a relationship with Him. God did not make us robots programmed to do right. He made us human. And humans are made in the image of God. That means we can think, we can reason, we can make choices. God desires a loving relationship with us. And if we choose to reject God, then certainly He is going to give us the freedom to continue to be separated from Him. Love does not force certain behavior. Love gives the privilege of rejection. God allows all mankind the freedom to choose and to decide. How could God be a loving God if He didn’t?

 

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In the book Kisses from Katie, Katie Davis recounts the joy of moving to Uganda and adopting several Ugandan girls. One day, one of her daughters asked, “Mommy, if I let Jesus come into my heart, will I explode?” At first, Katie said no. When Jesus enters our heart, it is a spiritual event.

However, after she thought more about the question, Katie explained that when we decide to give our lives and hearts to Jesus “we will explode with love, with compassion, with hurt for those who are hurting, and with joy for those who rejoice.” In essence, knowing Christ results in a deep care for the people in our world.

The Bible challenges us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). We can consistently display this loving response because of the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts. When we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. The apostle Paul described it this way, “Having believed [in Christ,] you were sealed with the Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13).

Caring for others—with God’s supernatural assistance—shows the world that we are His followers (John 13:35). It also reminds us of His love for us. Jesus said, “As I have loved you, . . . you also love one another” (v.34).

Dear Jesus, help me to experience Your
love more deeply so that I can share it
with others. Empower me through Your
Holy Spirit so that I can glorify You.
Love given reflects love received.

 

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"...for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many."- Nehemiah 7:2

The Greatest Gift You Can Leave
January 22, 2015

As you think of the future, I have a question. What do you plan to leave to your heirs? Stocks and bonds? Property? Investment-quality art? As important as planning for the future is, there is one fact that so many fail to recognize. You’re creating a legacy that will live beyond your death. Your character will continue to speak for good or evil after your life on earth has ended.

“Unquestionable character” is one of the greatest gifts we can leave our heirs. So many, by concentrating on amassing financial wealth, fail to help build honesty, responsibility, compassion, or love for God and their fellow man into the lives of their kids.

Character begins with your example – your life. It’s more “caught” than “taught,” but teaching is important, too. You can’t leave your heirs a greater gift than this.

Wouldn’t you like to know that your life will be remembered for more than money? What a legacy we leave our kids when they reflect on our lives and can say, “My Mom and Dad kept God in the center of our family life and it showed. They are the finest people I’ve ever known.”

 

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"Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it." - Psalm 37:5

What Comes First?
January 23, 2015

Even more couples are choosing to live together before they get married, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 2006 and 2010, nearly half of heterosexual women (48 percent) ages 15 to 44 said they were not married to their spouse or partner when they first lived with them, the report says. That’s up from 43 percent in 2002, and 34 percent in 1995! These are troubling statistics that show a deep-seated fear of commitment and trust in marriage. But it is an understandable result of so many who were scarred by their own parents’ divorce, economic times, or a troubled home.

In addition, these findings are in line with a previous survey by the CDC that found that births to cohabiting couples make up nearly HALF of all births that occur outside of marriage. S0, why is this happening? What do couples want? Well, couples living together want sex, companionship, and love. They’ll get sex and companionship, but they’ll never experience real love without commitment. For without commitment, there is no real love. Living together, by definition, is always looking for a way out. No commitment. No trust. No real love.

God’s way is love and marriage commitment first, and then companionship, and sex. I guarantee you that sex and companionship will be far better because of your trust in Him and in your spouse.

 

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"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son." - 1 John 2:22

Don’t Be Led Astray
January 25, 2015

If someone were to ask you who you felt was the best communicator in the world, who would it be? Is it someone like Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Billy Graham, Ronald Reagan, President Obama, or someone else? The Bible talks about a great communicator, but it might not be the one you would immediately think of. This person will come at the end of time with a twisted message and a deceptive agenda. He’s called the Antichrist.

He will be a world leader and extraordinarily gifted, with charisma and a tremendous intellect. He will appear to be a good man bringing unity to the world, but all the while he is the embodiment of evil. He will prey on the desire for worldwide peace and economic prosperity. But, listen closely to avoid being led astray by someone as evil as the Antichrist. Don’t expect him to come with horns and a pitchfork. Judge what he says about Jesus. That will determine if he is truly the Antichrist.

 

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"...God sent forth His Son, born of a woman...that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts..." - Galatians 4:4-6

Three in One
January 28, 2015

I am often asked the question,”Is God really three in one…Father, Son and Holy Spirit?” Well, believe it or not, it’s not only true, but this belief is central to Christianity. Some argue that Christianity teaches belief in three Gods, or polytheism. Not true. Christianity, like Judaism and Islam, is rigidly monotheistic. Yet Judaism and Islam do not believe God is three in one. No other religion does.

I can try to explain by saying that I’m a father to my three sons–they know me one way. I’m a son of my parents – they know me another way. I’m the husband of my wife – she knows me another way. Three roles, but all the same person.

That may help, but it’s still completely inadequate. It’s just a way for our finite minds to attempt understanding something so infinite. For how do we explain God the Son, praying to God the Father, as Jesus did? It is inexplicable to the human mind, because we are not God. The Trinity will always be a mystery that reflects the unfathomable greatness of God. Yet, when you believe, you begin to know the fullness of God. And when we get to heaven, we’ll understand it all!

 

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Twenty-year-old Lygon Stevens, an experienced mountaineer, had reached the summits of Mt. McKinley, Mt. Rainier, four Andean peaks in Ecuador, and 39 of Colorado’s highest mountains. “I climb because I love the mountains,” she said, “and I meet God there.” In January 2008, Lygon died in an avalanche while climbing Little Bear Peak in southern Colorado with her brother Nicklis, who survived.

When her parents discovered her journals, they were deeply moved by the intimacy of her walk with Christ. “Always a shining light for Him,” her mother said, “Lygon experienced a depth and honesty in her relationship with the Lord, which even seasoned veterans of faith long to have.”

In Lygon’s final journal entry, written from her tent 3 days before the avalanche, she said: “God is good, and He has a plan for our lives that is greater and more blessed than the lives we pick out for ourselves, and I am so thankful about that. Thank You, Lord, for bringing me this far and to this place. I leave the rest—my future—in those same hands and say thank You.”

Lygon echoed these words from the psalmist: “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:2).

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Still be our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home. —Watts
We can trust our all-knowing God for the unknown future.
INSIGHT: Three times in this short chapter the Lord is referred to as our keeper (vv.3,4,5). This idea is of great comfort to the believer because it presents God as one who is not passive but active in our lives. To “keep” something is to actively guard and protect it. This idea is underscored by the fact that as our keeper, God does not sleep or slumber (vv.3-4) and watches over us day and night (v.6). How wonderful to know that the God who holds our lives is not disinterested but is constantly watching over us.

 

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Read: Mark 14:32-42 | Bible in a Year: Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20:1-16
When the snow flies in Michigan, I like to get my grandkids, grab our plastic sleds, and go slipping and sliding down our backyard. We zoom down the hill for about 10 seconds, and then climb back up for more.

When I travel to Alaska with a bunch of teenagers, we also go sledding. We are hauled by bus nearly to the top of a mountain. We jump on our sleds and, for the next 10 to 20 minutes (depending on levels of bravery), we slide at breakneck speeds down the mountain, holding on for dear life.

Ten seconds in my backyard or 10 minutes down an Alaskan mountain. They’re both called sledding, but there is clearly a difference.

I’ve been thinking about this in regard to prayer. Sometimes we do the “10 seconds in the backyard” kind of praying—a quick, spur-of-the-moment prayer or a short thanks before eating. At other times, we’re drawn to “down the mountain” praying—extended, intense times that require concentration and passion in our relationship with Him. Both have their place and are vital to our lives.

Jesus prayed often, and sometimes for a long time (Luke 6:12; Mark 14:32-42). Either way, let us bring the desires of our heart to the God of the backyards and the mountains of our lives.

Lord, please challenge us to pray constantly—both in
short sessions and long. As we face the valleys, hills,
and mountains of our lives, may we lift our hearts
and minds to You in constant communication.
The heart of prayer is prayer from the heart.
INSIGHT: Prayer was the essence of Jesus’ relationship with the Father. He often withdrew to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 9:18). Sometimes He spent long hours communicating with His Father (Luke 6:12; John 17) and other times He prayed short, quick prayers (Matt. 14:19; Luke 23:34,46; John 12:27).

 

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"...for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7b

What’s On the Inside?
January 31, 2015

Ever thought about how you measure the worth of another person? Maybe it’s by their wealth, their title, their fame, their looks, their education, or perhaps, their success? I don’t know how you would answer that question, but I can tell you how God measures the worth of a person. As the scripture says, “…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The heart speaks of a person’s character, their courage and spirit. Sadly, oftentimes when we measure the worth of a person, we just look at the outward appearance. But God looks at what’s on the inside. Knowing this, how would He measure you? If you had a heart exam today, what kind of heart would God find? The good news is that God has given us a way to have a new heart and it’s found through faith in Jesus Christ.

It’s an interesting insight into life that when we begin to have the right heart through Christ, we begin to measure the worth of others God’s way.

 

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"But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." - Genesis 2:17

A Lesson From Adam
February 2, 2015

Perhaps it was Adam’s added words to Eve that gave the serpent his opening. “You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die!” Wait, is that really what God said to Adam? That would be a big NO. When God set down the house rules for the garden, He told Adam that no one could eat from a certain tree or death would be the result. He said nothing about touching the fruit.

It appears that Adam, probably with good intentions in telling Eve of God’s command, added his own words, “or touch it.” Makes sense. If you can’t touch it, you can’t eat it. It seems like such a little thing, doesn’t it? Yet with those three added words, Adam gave the devil the ability to challenge Eve’s claim that just touching the fruit would cause death. (Now remember, God never said that.) You see, this kind of thing is one of the main reasons why the devil is so successful in messing with us. He finds little loopholes in the sins we commit and argues that surely God wouldn’t really be upset aboutthat little sin – ah, legalism at its finest. So we take our eyes off of God to argue with the devil! Where is the logic in that?

Adding to the words of God always leads to confusion. News flash: God is never the author of confusion. Let’s try to learn from Adam’s mistake and be effective Christians by sharing only the perfect Word of God as it is written – adding no words of our own.

 

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"...there shall no longer be any death...the first things have passed away." - Revelation 21:4

On Earth As It Is in Heaven
February 3, 2015

History, as we know it, will be culminated by the second coming of Jesus Christ. He will return and establish His kingdom on earth, overcome the Antichrist and the forces of evil, and bring justice and peace. That’s almost too much to fathom, isn’t it? The great enemy of God and man will be abolished. As is written in the Word of God, “Then comes the end…He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”

What a great day it will be for all of Jesus’ followers! No more death. No more tears. No more grief. And no more separation from God and those we loved. When you say the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” you’re actually praying for Jesus to come again and establish His kingdom. To experience God’s will on earth as it is in heaven means no more death.

Jesus is the first to conquer death.

Then His followers will do the same.

What a day that will be!

 

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" And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." - Hebrews 9:27-28

Will You Face the End with Fear or Faith?
February 4, 2015

The book of Revelation can be a bit unsettling, can’t it? It speaks of some pretty scary images before the return of Jesus Christ. The whole period conjures up scenes of plagues, giant horsemen with rather crude names, and souls trembling in fear. Jesus even promised that this time He would come as a lion, not a lamb.

For those who have not accepted Christ, there is a legitimate reason to be fearful of the return of Christ. There’s fear that you haven’t done enough, because the fact is you haven’t done enough. Unless you have been perfect, you have not done enough. And sure enough when that time comes, and Christ returns again, it will be a time of dread and fear. Because there will be the realization that you have missed out on the incredible gift of salvation that God offers in Jesus Christ.

So, why is it the Christian has no dread of the rapture? It is because we know that Christ has borne our sins. He has taken upon Himself the judgment that we deserve; because of His sacrifice we will be spared those horrid consequences. Instead of the dread of His return, there is actually a longing for it to happen.

When you think of Christ’s second coming, is it dread or joy? Fear or faith?

 

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"Fight the good fight of faith; - 1 Timothy 6:12

To Protect and Defend
February 7, 2015

William Tecumseh Sherman once said, “War is hell.” Yet, a pastor friend said to me, “War is not hell. Hell is a place where certain people deserve to be, but war is a place where innocent women and children are killed. And they don’t deserve that.”

No doubt war is horrible. We see more and more of it every day, and it’s something no sane person ever wants. Yet many people are asking, “Is war ever right?”

Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and to seek to be peacemakers. Certainly, every Christian should. God’s Word teaches that God has ordained government to administer justice, to defend and protect the citizens, and to punish evil. How do we reconcile what seems to be contradictory teaching in God’s Word? Jesus teaches us about the attitude of the individual and, later in God’s Word, we learn about the role of government.

So let us pray for our government leaders and military personnel, as well as for those of our allies, to protect and defend its citizens, to administer justice and to punish evil effectively.

 

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"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." - 1 Timothy 6:10

The Love of God or the Love of Money?
February 8, 2015

We’ve talked about how important it is not to add words to the Bible. However, with no bad intention, there are a lot of sayings that many really believe are in the Bible, but are not. “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Not there. “God helps those who help themselves.” Nope, not there, either. But the most misquoted non-scripture just has to be “Money is the root of all evil.” The Bible doesn’t say that at all! What the Bible does say is, “The LOVE of money is the root of all sorts of evil.” Money is neither good nor bad. But God does judge our attitude towards money. He is concerned with how you acquire money, how you spend it, and where wealth ranks in your list of priorities.

God says you must decide who you’re going to love most—God or money. When we choose to love money, it can lead to all sorts of compromised decisions and makes us much more vulnerable to temptation. God’s Word warns us that if we make money a priority over God, we’ll bring a lot of unnecessary grief into our lives.

In the early part of the 21st century, we saw this with some of the accountants and executives of very large corporations and mega-banks. They, along with their families, employees, shareholders, and suppliers, still deal with the grief that the love of money brings.

God allows us to be the caretakers of what He provides, including our money. Be careful not to let the LOVE of money take over your life. Let’s love God first and foremost and realize that everything already belongs to Him anyway. He wants us to love Him and manage His money.

 

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"In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, went away to a secluded place and was praying there." - Mark 1:35

If You Want to Hear God Speak – You Must Listen
February 9, 2015

One of the difficulties we all have is getting into the practice of having prayer and quiet time with the Lord on a regular basis. It’s often hard to do in this fast-paced world in which we live. But it’s not impossible.

Find a place that’s easy to get to and a place that you enjoy and feel comfortable each time you go. You may have a quiet spot in your home, or perhaps it would work better to get to the office early and close the door. For some, it’s a walk in the park, because you may have found that you can pray best when you’re enjoying outdoors. And, for those of you who travel a lot, you may have more trouble finding a routine place. But what could be more private than a hotel room? Each person has a different place that feels right, but the important thing is to find a place that works for you.

Then, decide on a plan for your quiet time. Maybe you can start with a devotional that helps get your spiritual juices flowing. After that, ponder on what it says and then look up the Scripture from which the devotion is taken and read from the Bible, think about the words, and think about God. And then, begin to pray. If you don’t know where to begin, look at Jesus’ model prayer, not to recite, but just to help you focus. And then, just listen for the voice and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. After a while, this will become like second nature to you and spending time with the Lord will not only fuel you for the day, but you’ll find that without it, your day just isn’t complete.

The main thing is to find what works for you and begin enjoying the blessing you will receive by being alone with God. I can promise you that there’s nothing like it. Not only will you enjoy communing with your Lord, but you will begin to hear God speak to you in ways you’ve never heard before. Know why? It’s because you’ve given Him the chance to speak because you’re still! “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

 

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The Word of God comes to us in many forms. Bible-centered preaching, Scripture reading, songs, study groups, and devotional articles bring to us the truths of God from Scripture. But we can’t overlook personal reading and studying either.

My heart has recently been touched by a careful, paragraph-by-paragraph study of Deuteronomy alongside the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5–7. Both passages contain codes of belief: The Ten Commandments (Deut. 5:6-21) and the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12). Deuteronomy shows us the old covenant—the law God wanted His people to follow. In Matthew, Jesus shows us how He has come to fulfill that law and establish the principles of the new covenant, which frees us from the burden of the law.

The Holy Spirit comes alongside the Word of God to teach, empower, instruct, convict, and purify us. The result is understanding, repentance, renewal, and growth in Jesus. Theologian Philip Jacob Spener wrote: “The more at home the Word of God is among us, the more we will bring about faith and its fruits.” Let’s pray with the psalmist: “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” so that we might live it out in our lives (Ps. 119:18).

“Heavenly Father, we bow in Your presence. Let Your
Word be our rule and guide, Your Spirit our teacher,
and Your greater glory be our supreme concern,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” —John R. W. Stott
When the Word of God is within us, it flows out from our life.
INSIGHT: Psalm 119 is a celebration of God’s law, broken down into 22 sections that follow the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. When we take a look at the individual sections, we see that the psalmist personally looks to God’s law as a source of life and guidance. In today’s passage, the psalmist celebrates God’s grace as he acknowledges that it is only through Him that he can keep His Word (v.17).

 

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“I don’t believe in God and I won’t go,” Mark said.

Amy struggled to swallow the lump in her throat. Her son had changed from a happy boy to a surly and uncooperative young man. Life was a battleground, and Sunday had become a day to dread, as Mark refused to go to church with the family. Finally his despairing parents consulted a counselor, who said: “Mark must make his own faith journey. You can’t force him into the kingdom. Give God space to work. Keep praying, and wait.”

Amy waited—and prayed. One morning the words of Jesus that she had read echoed through her mind. Jesus’ disciples had failed to help a demon-possessed boy, but Jesus had the answer: “Bring him to Me” (Mark 9:19). The sun shone through the window at Amy’s side, making a pool of light on the floor. If Jesus could heal in such an extreme situation, then surely He could also help her son. She pictured herself and Mark standing in that light with Jesus. Then she mentally stepped back, leaving her son alone with the One who loved him even more than she did.

Every day Amy silently handed Mark to God, clinging to the assurance that He knew Mark’s needs, and would in His time and in His way, work in his life.

Father, I lift my beloved to You, knowing that
You love him even more than I do and
You understand just what to do to meet
his need. I commit him to Your care.
Prayer is the voice of faith trusting that God knows and cares.

 

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"...he who spreads slander is a fool." - Proverbs 10:18

Just the Facts, Ma’am
February 15, 2015

Some of you may remember an old TV show called “Dragnet,” where Detective Joe Friday was known for saying, “Just the facts, ma’am.” He wanted to cut straight through to what was important, rather than wade through the muck of what might or might not matter. I don’t think even his character realized how relevant that statement was. In fact, more often than not, we don’t really care what the truth is, rather we want to know the gory details, which are usually of no consequence.

Case in point: A pastor went to visit a woman from his church before she was to have serious surgery. As he walked into her hospital room, he found her in the arms of a man who was not her husband. Stunned and embarrassed, he silently walked out. Later, he discovered that this woman’s brother had flown in from California to comfort her before her surgery.

After that, the pastor said, “I could have told others I saw that woman in the arms of a man who was not her husband and it would have been, in theory, a fact, but it would not have been the whole truth.”

The press often does this in reporting what people have done. They confuse the story surrounding the event with the whole truth. This results in half-truths that are really the worst forms of lies, because they are so believable. Gossip and slander are big on “facts” and short on truth. They unfairly destroy people’s character.

The next time you hear something bad about another person, be sure you have more than just the story. Be sure you have the whole truth, for it is easy to confuse the facts with the truth. And most of the time, it’s not your business to share, anyway!

Remember, there is only one perfect truth and that truth is embodied in the life of Jesus Christ.

 

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James Michener’s Centennial is a fictional account of the history and settlement of the American West. Through the eyes of a French-Canadian trader named Pasquinel, Michener converges the stories of the Arapaho of the Great Plains and the European-based community of St. Louis. As this rugged adventurer moves between the growing clutter of the city and the wide-open spaces of the plains, he becomes a bridge between two drastically different worlds.

Followers of Christ also have the opportunity to build bridges between two very different worlds—those who know and follow Jesus and those who do not know Him. Early Christians in Thessalonica had been building bridges to their idol-worshiping culture, so Paul said of them, “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place” (1 Thess. 1:8). The bridge they were building had two components: the “word of the Lord” and the example of their faith. It was clear to everyone that they had “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (v.9).

As God declares Himself to those around us by His Word and through our lives, we can become a bridge to those who do not yet know the love of Christ.

Father, help us live in such a way that others
will want to know about Your Son. May we not
merely try to do what’s “right” but instead
live as people forgiven and loved by You.
Live the gospel, and others will listen.
INSIGHT: In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul says that the greatest things are faith, hope, and love (v.13). In today’s passage, he commends the people of the church in Thessalonica for exhibiting these very traits. They work in faith and labor in love while hoping in Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 1:3).

 

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"Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." - John 6:37

The Only Sin That Can’t Be Forgiven
February 19, 2015

“Don’t cast me away from Thy presence, God!” David begged, fearful that his act was so heinous that he was beyond God’s redemption. This was after he had committed adultery and then had the woman’s husband murdered. Had he committed the unpardonable sin??? The answer is, “No.”

Now let’s stop here for a moment. If you’re truly worried that you have committed the unpardonable sin, my guess is that you haven’t. The very fact that you are bothered by your sinfulness shows that the Holy Spirit has not abandoned you!

Pay attention here – the only unpardonable sin is total rejection of Jesus Christ. God can’t forgive us when we reject His Son all our lives. How could He forgive us for rejecting the incredible thing His Son did for us? After all, He paid the penalty for our sins. He did this so we could have those sins washed away by having repentant faith in Him.

Christians have long debated what the unpardonable sin is. I hope you understand now that whatever evil you have done and however bad you feel you are, God offers His forgiveness in Christ. Period. End of sentence.