Daily Devotion

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Hurry Not
April 19, 2018

Read: Isaiah 26:1–4 | Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 6–8; Luke 15:1–10



You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

“Ruthlessly eliminate hurry.” When two friends repeated that adage by the wise Dallas Willard to me, I knew I needed to consider it. Where was I spinning my wheels, wasting time and energy? More important, where was I rushing ahead and not looking to God for guidance and help? In the weeks and months that followed, I remembered those words and reoriented myself back to the Lord and His wisdom. I reminded myself to trust in Him, rather than leaning on my own ways.

After all, rushing around frantically seems to be the opposite of the “perfect peace” the prophet Isaiah speaks of. The Lord gives this gift to “those whose minds are steadfast,” because they trust in Him (v. 3). And He is worthy of being trusted today, tomorrow, and forever, for “the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal” (v. 4). Trusting God with our minds fixed on Him is the antidote to a hurried life.

Lord God, You give the peace that passes all understanding.
How about us? Do we sense that we’re hurried or even hasty? Maybe, in contrast, we often experience a sense of peace. Or perhaps we’re somewhere in between the two extremes.

Wherever we may be, I pray today that we’ll be able to put aside any hurry as we trust the Lord, who will never fail us and who gives us His peace.

Lord God, You give the peace that passes all understanding, which is a gift I don’t want to take for granted. Thank You.

God’s peace helps us not to hurry.

By Amy Boucher Pye | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
The word peace in Isaiah 26:3 is one of the prophet Isaiah’s favorite words; it’s used over twenty times in Isaiah. The word appears for the first time in Isaiah 9:6 where we find several titles for the promised Messiah, including “Prince of Peace.” Peace is a translation of the great Hebrew word shalom. While peace is certainly an acceptable rendering, more broadly shalom speaks of “welfare,” “prosperity,” “wholeness”—the comprehensive well-being of a person, people, or place. What isn’t immediately apparent in modern versions of verse 3 is that the word translated “perfect” is also the Hebrew word shalom. Thus a literal rendering of “perfect peace” is “shalom, shalom” or “peace, peace.” What’s in view is multiplied peace, true peace, exponential peace. Verse 3 helps us to see that peace awaits those who trust in the Lord as their eternal source of strength—their Rock (v. 4). Such peace allows one to exhale, to rest, to slow down.

Arthur Jackson

 

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“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, according to our likeness.’” - Genesis 1:26

THE FULL PICTURE OF GOD
April 19, 2018

One of the most mysterious and difficult doctrines to understand in the Bible is that we have a God who is three persons in one – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three completely separate persons with different ways of manifestation, yet the Bible also says that they are all one God!

So, here are a couple of ways people try and explain the inexplicable concept of the Trinity:

• Water has three states. It is liquid. It is gas. It is solid. We know that the liquid aspect as water. We know the gas is steam. We know the solid is ice. Yet, they are all the same compound H2O. It’s fascinating that the solid version of H2O will actually float in the liquid version of H2O water. People offer this up as an understanding of the trinity…but it is totally inadequate; because the trinity is about three persons not three chemical elements.
• I am the father of my three sons. They know me one way. I am the son of my parents. They have known me another way. I am the husband of my wife, Anne. She knows me another way. I am the same person, but three different roles. Some will use an analogy like that to help us understand the trinity of God in three persons, but it is totally inadequate, as well. How is it that God the Son could pray to God the Father in heaven? Really, the doctrine of the trinity, to the human finite mind, is inexplicable. The doctrine of the trinity is taught in Scripture from the very first verse in the Bible, and it is central in understanding the fullness of God, the greatness of God, and the uniqueness of God.

Right from the beginning, we realize that the God of Scripture is not Allah of the Quran. He is not the God you read about in the Book of Mormon. He is not one of the thousands of gods that you find in Hinduism, because, the God of Scripture is three persons in one. That is blasphemy in Islam. The One True God is blasphemy in Hinduism. The God that we see described in the trinity is completely contrary to the god you read about in cults like Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witness. This is not to be critical of other religions. It’s simply a statement of fact. Because we live in a culture today where often very highly educated people say, “Really all religions are about believing in one god, the same god. They just have different ways of getting to him.” But that is a statement of astounding ignorance because of what the Scriptures tell us about God. If you and I are to have the full picture of God, we must understand there is one God in three persons.

When God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Ourlikeness.’” The word for God is “Elohim,” which, in Hebrew, means ‘God in plurality.’ One God in three persons, in perfect harmony, completing and fulfilling the will of God.

I hope you believe in this one true God.

 

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The Secret of Peace
April 23, 2018

Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:16–18 | Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 16–18; Luke 17:20–37

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The Lord of peace himself give you peace. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Grace is a very special lady. One word comes to mind when I think of her: peace. The quiet and restful expression on her face has seldom changed in the six months I have known her, even though her husband was diagnosed with a rare disease and then hospitalized.

When I asked Grace the secret of her peace, she said, “It’s not a secret, it’s a person. It’s Jesus in me. There is no other way I can explain the quietness I feel in the midst of this storm.”

To trust in Jesus is peace.
The secret of peace is our relationship to Jesus Christ. He is our peace. When Jesus is our Savior and Lord, and as we become more like Him, peace becomes real. Things like sickness, financial difficulties, or danger may be present, but peace reassures us that God holds our lives in His hands (Daniel 5:23), and we can trust that things will work together for good.

Have we experienced this peace that goes beyond logic and understanding? Do we have the inner confidence that God is in control? My wish for all of us today echoes the words of the apostle Paul: “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace.” And may we feel this peace “at all times and in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Dear Lord, please give us Your peace at all times and in every situation.

To trust in Jesus is peace.

By Keila Ochoa | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Paul, Silas, and Timothy were the first to share the gospel in Thessalonica. The response to the gospel of free grace in Christ was remarkably positive (Acts 17:1–4), but—as is often the case—the positive response to the gospel was accompanied by opposition and persecution (Acts 17:5–6; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:2). Thus Paul was forced to leave the city of Thessalonica sooner than he had hoped (Acts 17:9–10). His concern for the new congregation there motivated him to write two inspired letters to that young church. As he completed his second letter, Paul stressed the peace that only Jesus Christ can offer (2 Thessalonians 3:16). The apostle was no stranger to trials, yet his confidence that everything would work out in God’s sovereignty gave him a deep, abiding peace that he wanted other believers to experience. The Prince of Peace is the source of the believer’s spiritual rest.

 

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"Then he went on along into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died." Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, "Get up and eat!" He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. There he came to a cave, where he spent the night." - 1 Kings 19:4-8

YOU CAN OVERCOME DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
April 24, 2018

Depression is a huge problem in our land. The CDC tells us that suicide is now the leading cause of death among teenagers. It is now far surpassed car accidents as their leading cause of death. Obviously, many are struggling with depression, anxiety and the fear of life. If you are one, or have family or friends who do, it’s reassuring to see that, despite his great faith, the greatest of all the prophets in the Bible, Elijah, became filled with fear and depression.

The entire story is fascinating, but long, so I will cut to the chase. Because Elijah humiliated the beloved false prophets, Jezebel, the wicked queen of Israel, was furious and called down a curse from her god upon herself if Elijah was not killed within 24 hours. Elijah knew she meant business and was overcome with fear. Here was a man, who had always shown amazing courage in his life, now running for his life. He became so depressed that he cries out for God to strike him dead. Think about that…Elijah was so in the depths of fear and depression that he wanted to die.

Then, Elijah laid down and went fast asleep and look how God ministered to him. Twice, the angel of the Lord awakened him and gave him food and water for nourishment. God knew that depression often causes physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion, so He allowed Him to sleep.

So, what can we take away from this part of Elijah’s story?

• What goes up has to come down. Sometimes the blues that set in after a spiritual mountaintop or an experience of great joy and victories in our life, are just normal results of the up and downs of emotions and physical strength in life. Exhaustion can cause us to be more vulnerable to anxiety. We shouldn’t be surprised by that – sadly, that’s just how life is. What goes up will come back down.

• Fear flooded in to Elijah’s life when he took his focus off God and placed it on Jezebel. When we refocus on the power of God, then those big problems and fears begin to look a whole lot smaller, because nothing is impossible with God.

• When we lose hope, we begin to hope for death. Those who are struggling with depression feel like it will never end. Hopelessness can easily engulf us. I know – twice when I was younger, I faced a time of prolonged depression that lasted over a year.

Let me offer you some recommendations of how to respond when you go through those kinds of times:

1. Confess it to God and be honest about all of your feelings. He knows what you’re thinking anyway, but He wants to hear from you!

1. Ask God’s forgiveness when you’ve gotten your focus out of whack and you’ve taken your eyes off of Him.

1. Ask for the ability to let go of all the anger and self-pity. You can’t get rid of it in your own strength.

1. Trust God day by day. God doesn’t promise to give us strength for tomorrow, today. He gives us strength for today, today!

1. Rest and eat right. It was important to God that Elijah rested and that he had nourishment, so obviously, we need that, too.

1. Don’t quit. No matter how afraid you are, no matter how anxious you are about tomorrow, no matter how depressed and hopeless you feel, don’t quit! I promise that God will never, ever give up on you. The lie of depression is that it will never end. DON’T BELIEVE IT. Depression may last a long time, but it is almost always temporal.

Most importantly, keep your eyes and your thoughts turned upward to God. Remember, just as with Elijah, God will never, ever leave you.

 

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"...and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one." - Mark 10:8

A CHRIST-CENTERED MARRIAGE
April 25, 2018

Jesus describes marriage as two people becoming one flesh. What does this mean? Now an obvious meaning is an expression of sexual intimacy. But it is more than that. There is also an emotional oneness. For instance, upon the death of a life-long mate, many people will declare, “I feel like a part of me has just been ripped away.” And that’s exactly right! God wants your marriage to be so close that your flesh almost literally does become one.

But that’s not all. Most importantly, there is also a spiritual oneness that occurs in a Christ-centered marriage. That is why Christians are called to marry Christians – we cannot possibly have this oneness with an unbeliever who has different spiritual priorities. Spiritual oneness can only be achieved by growing in Christ together.

God wants us to have the best of His creation. The best marriage is formed through sexual, spiritual, and emotional oneness.

 

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Longing for God
May 2, 2018

Read: 1 John 4:13–16 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 12–13; Luke 22:1–20



My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:2

One day my daughter was visiting with our one-year-old grandson. I was getting ready to leave the house on an errand, but as soon as I walked out of the room my grandson began to cry. It happened twice, and each time I went back and spent a moment with him. As I headed out the door the third time, his little lip began to quiver again. At that point my daughter said, “Dad, why don’t you just take him with you?”

Any grandparent could tell you what happened next. My grandson went along for the ride, just because I love him.

Loving Lord, thank You for Your compassion for me.
How good it is to know that the longings of our hearts for God are also met with love. The Bible assures us that we can “know and rely on the love God has for us” (1 John 4:16). God doesn’t love us because of anything we have or haven’t done. His love isn’t based on our worthiness at all, but on His goodness and faithfulness. When the world around us is unloving and unkind, we can rely on God’s unchanging love as our source of hope and peace.

Our heavenly Father’s heart has gone out to us through the gift of His Son and His Spirit. How comforting is the assurance that God loves us with love that never ends!

Loving Lord, thank You for Your compassion for me, proven at the cross. Please help me to obey and love You today.

God longs for us to long for Him.

By James Banks | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Do you have a hard time relating to the love of God? Many of us think more with our heads than our hearts. John, a disciple of Jesus, is remembered as the apostle of love and referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23).

John wrote more on love than any New Testament writer. But he wasn’t always so inclined. The gospel writer Luke remembers the day John and his brother James wanted to see Jesus call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village that had turned Jesus away (Luke 9:51–56). Jesus let the two brothers know that their lack of empathy didn’t reflect His heart. Yet Jesus probably wasn’t surprised. Early on, and maybe with a smile, He had affectionately called them “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17).

Yet John is the one who ends up being overwhelmed with the love of God and writes about the importance of loving others (1 John 3:16; 4:8, 16). What happened? Did he recognize the coldness of his own heart? Did he learn from Jesus that our ability to relate to the love of God may depend on our readiness to admit—and to be forgiven for—our lack of love? (John 3:16; Luke 7:37–50).

Mart DeHaan

 

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A Change in Perspective
May 3, 2018

Read: Psalm 73:12–28 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 14–15; Luke 22:21–46


It troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God. Psalm 73:16–17

My hometown had experienced its heaviest winter in thirty years. My muscles ached from hours of shoveling the unrelenting snow. When I stepped inside after what felt like a fruitless effort, weary as I kicked off my boots, I was greeted by the warmth of a fire and my children gathered around it. As I gazed out the window from the shelter of my home, my perspective of the weather shifted completely. Instead of seeing more work to do, I savored the beauty of frosted tree branches and the way the snow blanketed the colorless landscape of winter.

I see a similar, but much more poignant, shift in Asaph when I read his words in Psalm 73. In the beginning, he laments the way the world seems to work, how wrongs seem to be rewarded. He doubts the value of being different than the crowd and living for the good of others (v. 13). But when he enters the sanctuary of God, his outlook changes (vv. 16–17): he remembers that God will deal with the world and its troubles perfectly and, more importantly, that it is good to be with God (v. 28).

Lord, help me to see the way You do.
When we’re chilled by the seemingly ceaseless problems in our world, we can enter God’s sanctuary in prayer and be warmed through by the life-altering, perspective-changing truth that His judgment is better than ours. Though our circumstances may not change, our perspective can.

Lord, I admit I quickly become frustrated with the way things appear. Help me to see the way You do.

God gives us the right perspective.

By Kirsten Holmberg | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
In Psalm 37 David addresses the same perplexing issue Asaph writes about in Psalm 73—the wicked prosper while the godly suffer unjustly. David tells those who suffer unjustly not to fret or be envious, for God is just and will one day make all things right (Psalm 37:7–11, 35–38). Instead, those who fear the Lord are to rest fully in God and to continue to live holy lives (vv. 3–6). For the Lord “will not forsake his faithful ones” (v. 28).

Are you weighed down because of injustice? How can the hope expressed in these psalms encourage and strengthen you?

K. T. Sim

 

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Before the Beginning
May 4, 2018

Read: Matthew 3:13–17 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 16–18; Luke 22:47–71

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You loved me before the creation of the world. John 17:24

“But if God has no beginning and no end, and has always existed, what was He doing before He created us? How did He spend His time?” Some precocious Sunday school student always asks this question when we talk about God’s eternal nature. I used to respond that this was a bit of a mystery. But recently I learned that the Bible gives us an answer to this question.

When Jesus prays to His Father in John 17, He says “Father, . . . you loved me before the creation of the world” (v. 24). This is God as revealed to us by Jesus: Before the world was ever created, God was a trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)—all loving each other and being loved. When Jesus was baptized, God sent His Spirit in the form of a dove and said, “This is my Son, whom I love” (Matthew 3:17). The most foundational aspect of God’s identity is this outgoing, life-giving love.

God, thank You for Your overflowing, self-giving love.
What a lovely and encouraging truth this is about our God! The mutual, outgoing love expressed by each member of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is key to understanding the nature of God. What was God doing before the beginning of time? What He always does: He was loving because He is love (1 John 4:8).

God, thank You for Your overflowing, self-giving love.

We are created in the image of a God who is loving and relational.

By Amy Peterson | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Love has always defined God; it is at the core of everything He does, now and in eternity. But today’s text urges us to think about an aspect of God’s love we might not typically consider.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit spend eternity in a perfect relationship—giving and receiving love. It’s important to remember that genuine love not only gives love but also receives it. It wouldn’t be loving of the Father not to accept the love of the Son and the Spirit. It’s easy to say we love someone and to show it with what we do for them, but part of loving them is receiving their expressions of love too. That takes humility and trust.

Do you need to receive the love of someone else today? Or do you need to receive the love of God again and remember the reason we love Him is because He first loved us.

 

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The Fingerprint of God
May 7, 2018

Read: Ephesians 2:1–10 | Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 1–3; Luke 24:1–35


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For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Lygon Stevens loved to climb mountains with her brother Nick. They were experienced climbers and both had summitted Mt. McKinley (Denali), the highest point in North America. Then, in January 2008, they were swept off a Colorado mountain by an avalanche, injuring Nick and killing twenty-year-old Lygon. When Nick later discovered his sister’s journal in one of her satchels, he was deeply comforted by its contents. It was filled with reflections, prayers, and praise to God as seen in this entry: “I am a work of art, signed by God. But He’s not done; in fact, He has just begun. . . . I have on me the fingerprint of God. Never will there ever be another person like me. . . . I have a job to do in this life that no other can do.”

Although Lygon is no longer physically present on earth, through the legacy of her life and her journal she inspires and challenges those she left behind.

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Ephesians 2:10
Because we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26), each person is a “work of art, signed by God.” As the apostle Paul says, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Praise God that He uses each of us, in His own time and way, to help others.

How would You like to use me, Lord? I am open and willing.

Each person is a unique expression of God’s loving design.

By Dennis Fisher | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Genesis 1:26–27 says we were created in God’s image. Similarly, Genesis 5:1 and James 3:9 tell us we were made in His “likeness.” What does it mean to be made in God’s image? We were created with characteristics that set us apart from other creatures. We have the capacity to reason, to make moral choices, and to be in relationship with others. We also have the capacity to do good works, and Jesus set the precedent: He “went around doing good” (Acts 10:38). Ephesians 2:10 tells us we were not only created “to do good works” but “God prepared in advance” the good works we would do. Our task is to stay near to God (Hebrews 10:22), be alert for opportunities, and rely on the Spirit for strength and help.

Alyson Kieda

 

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Responding to God’s Leading
May 8, 2018

Read: Exodus 3:7–14 | Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 4–6; Luke 24:36–53



At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:20

In August 2015, when I was preparing to attend a university a couple of hours from home, I realized I probably wouldn’t move back home after graduation. My mind raced. How can I leave home? My family? My church? What if God later calls me to another state or country?

Like Moses, when God told him to go “to Pharaoh to bring [His] people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10), I was afraid. I didn’t want to leave my comfort zone. Yes, Moses obeyed and followed God, but not before questioning Him and requesting that someone else go instead (vv. 11–13; 4:13).

No matter how difficult it may be, following Jesus is worth it.
In Moses’s example, we can see what we shouldn’t do when we sense a clear calling. We can instead strive to be more like the disciples. When Jesus called them, they left everything and followed Him (Matthew 4:20–22; Luke 5:28). Fear is natural, but we can trust God’s plan.

Being so far from home is still difficult. But as I continually seek God, He opens doors for me that confirm I am where I’m supposed to be.

When we are led out of our comfort zone, we can either go reluctantly, like Moses, or willingly like the disciples—who followed Jesus wherever He led them. Sometimes this means leaving our comfortable life hundreds or even thousands of miles behind us. But no matter how difficult it may be, following Jesus is worth it.

Lord, help me to follow You wherever You lead.

We are not called to be comfortable.

By Julie Schwab | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Do events from our past make it hard to go forward? The first time Moses tried to stand up for his people, he ended up killing an Egyptian slave master and had to run for his life (Exodus 2:11–15). That moment may have prepared him for what he was about to experience. He’d seen how badly he had messed up on his own. Now he was about to see what God could do.

What about us? Have we tripped over ourselves enough, even in trying to help others, that we’re ready to see what God can do through us as we respond to His lead?

 

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Persevering with Peace
May 11, 2018

Read: Psalm 3 | Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 13–14; John 2

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. Psalm 3:5

As I continue trusting God through my struggles with chronic pain, even the simplest setback can feel like a fierce enemy attacker. Problem One jabs me from the right. Problem Two shoves me from behind. Problem Three punches me square in the nose. During these times, when my strength wanes and immediate relief evades me, running and hiding can seem like a good idea. But since I can’t escape my pain, change my circumstances, or ignore my emotions, I’m learning slowly to rely on God to carry me through.

When I need encouragement, comfort, and courage, I prayerfully read through the songs of the psalmists, who honestly bring their situations to God. In one of my favorite psalms, King David flees from Absalom, his son who wanted to kill him and take his kingdom. Though David lamented his painful situation (Psalm 3:1–2), he trusted God’s protection and expected Him to answer his prayers (vv. 3–4). The king didn’t lose sleep worrying or fearing what could happen, because he trusted God to sustain and save him (vv. 5–8).

God offers us peace as He holds us up and carries us through every trial.
Physical and emotional pain can often feel like aggressive adversaries. We may be tempted to give up or wish we could escape when we’re weary and can’t see the end of our current battle. But, like David, we can learn to trust that God will hold us up and help us rest in His constant and loving presence.

Lord, thanks for giving us rest in the peace of Your constant presence and assuring us of the victory You’ve already won.

God offers us peace as He holds us up and carries us through every trial.

By Xochitl Dixon | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
In addition to the Psalms, the New Testament has a lot to say about perseverance through trials. The book of Acts tells the account of the apostle Peter who was preparing to stand trial after being unjustly imprisoned by King Herod for eight days. Undoubtedly he would be executed. But Peter didn’t lose any sleep over his impending death. In fact “the night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep” (Acts 12:6 nlt). Peter experienced peace—peace that can come only through trusting God—because the church was earnestly praying for him (vv. 5, 12).

The apostle Paul wrote about tranquility in his letter to the Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).

When we can’t sleep because we’re troubled by the trials of life, instead of counting sheep we can talk to our Good Shepherd. Jesus promised, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27).

What worries keep you awake at night? Ask God to help you find the peace you need.

K. T. Sim

 

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"Immediately they left their nets and they followed Him."- Matthew 4:20

WE THINK WE WOULD – BUT WOULD WE REALLY?
May 14, 2018

The Bible tells the story of Andrew and Peter going from being fishermen to fishers of men. We are introduced to them with this verse: “Immediately they left their nets, and they followed Him.” Frankly, this verse has always disturbed me. Imagine a stranger walking up to you while you are working. You don’t know this man, but He says, “Follow Me.” It means giving up all that’s familiar in your life – your family, friends, and your occupation – to follow Him. Yes, He’s dynamic and charismatic. But dropping everything and blindly following him? I just can’t identify with that.

Fortunately, it didn’t happen that way. The fact is Andrew and Peter were introduced to Jesus and had spent a full day listening and talking to Him. (John 1:35-42) Then they heard Him preach. They even saw how Jesus knew a whole lot more about fishing than they did. (Luke 5:1-11) They had seen Him healing the sick in their home towns (Matthew 4:23). After all that, they realized He was not just a man, but the Messiah – the God-man and truly became convicted of their sins. Jesus approached them and said, “Follow Me, and I’ll make you fishers of men.” At that point, they were ready to drop everything and follow Jesus. (Matthew 4:18-20)

No, they didn’t blindly follow Jesus. They had seen and heard enough to believe He is the Man – the Messiah. If you get to know Jesus from the Bible, you’ll see His calling for you will be the same as it was for Andrew and Peter, “Follow me. I’ll make you fishers of men.”

 

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Free to Follow
May 16, 2018

Read: Matthew 11:25–30 | Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 24–25; John 5:1–24

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

My high school cross-country coach once advised me before a race, “Don’t try to be in the lead. The leaders almost always burn out too quickly.” Instead, he suggested I stay close behind the fastest runners. By letting them set the pace, I could conserve the mental and physical strength I’d need to finish the race well.

Leading can be exhausting; following can be freeing. Knowing this improved my running, but it took me a lot longer to realize how this applies to Christian discipleship. In my own life, I was prone to think being a believer in Jesus meant trying really hard. By pursuing my own exhausting expectations for what a Christian should be, I was inadvertently missing the joy and freedom found in simply following Him (John 8:32, 36).

Lord, I'm so thankful I don't have to be in charge of my own life. Help me rest in You.
But we weren’t meant to direct our own lives, and Jesus didn’t start a self-improvement program. Instead, He promised that in seeking Him we will find the rest we long for (Matthew 11:25–28). Unlike many other religious teachers’ emphasis on rigorous study of Scripture or an elaborate set of rules, Jesus taught that it’s simply through knowing Him that we know God (v. 27). In seeking Him, we find our heavy burdens lifted (vv. 28–30) and our lives transformed.

Because following Him, our gentle and humble Leader (v. 29), is never burdensome—it’s the way of hope and healing. Resting in His love, we are free.

Lord, I’m so thankful I don’t have to be in charge of my own life. Help me rest in You.

True freedom is found in following Christ.

By Monica Brands | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
“Following Jesus” may be the best way to describe the essence of the Christian life. Jesus is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 nkjv), which means He is both the starting point and the culmination of our rescue—a reality secured by the cross. His resurrection is part of this as well. Paul said, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). The term firstfruits reminds us that Jesus secured our restoration to the Father through His death and subsequent victory over death. This victory is at the heart of His call to us: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Peter added of the Savior’s sufferings, “You have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21 nasb).

What better response to His sacrifice could we ever give than to simply and wholeheartedly follow Him?

Bill Crowder

 

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A Prayer of Forgiveness
May 21, 2018

Read: Luke 6:27–36 | Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 13–15; John 7:1–27

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27–28

In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to integrate an all-white public elementary school in the American South. Every day for months, federal marshals escorted Ruby past a mob of angry parents shouting curses, threats, and insults at her. Safely inside, she sat in a classroom alone with Barbara Henry, the only teacher willing to instruct her while parents kept their children from attending school with Ruby.

Noted child psychologist Robert Coles met with Ruby for several months to help her cope with the fear and stress she experienced. He was amazed by the prayer Ruby said every day as she walked to school and back home. “Please, God, forgive them because they don’t know what they’re doing” (see Luke 23:34).

Father, You have so graciously forgiven us. Help us today to forgive others who have wronged us.
The words of Jesus spoken from the cross were stronger than the hatred and insults hurled at Him. In the most agonizing hours of His life, our Lord demonstrated the radical response He taught His followers: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you . . . . Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:27–28, 36).

This remarkable approach is possible only as we consider the powerful love Jesus has given us—love stronger than even the deepest hatred.

Ruby Bridges helped show us the way.

Father, You have so graciously forgiven us. Help us today to forgive others who have wronged us.

Bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you.



By David C. McCasland | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive [someone] who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). In that day, if you forgave a person three times, you were considered magnanimous. So Peter must have thought he was a super saint to forgive an offender seven times. Jesus corrected him, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (v. 22). Jesus is saying that when it comes to forgiving another, you can’t keep score. We never reach a limit when we can say we have forgiven enough. Although forgiveness doesn’t excuse an offense, we can choose to “be kind and compassionate to one another, [forgive] each other, just as in Christ God forgave [us]” (Ephesians 4:32).

Is there someone who needs your forgiveness today, yet again?

K. T. Sim

 

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“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” - Matthew 5:4

ULTIMATE JOY = MOURNING
May 22, 2018

As we continue to learn from what is called “the beatitudes,” the sermon that Jesus preached on the Mount of Beatitudes, “Blessed are they that mourn.” The logical question would be, “How can mourning lead to happiness?” Well, Jesus isn’t talking about the grief of a great loss. The loss of a loved one we care about, the loss of a job, or a sense of failure where we’re not able to achieve a goal that we have that we’ve been striving for. That’s not what this word for ‘mourning’ means. This is mourning over sin in this world. Mourning over bad news that results in evil. In Oklahoma, three bored teenagers decided they’d go kill somebody. So, they went out and shot a college baseball player who had come to the United States to pursue his dream in baseball. Just for fun – because they were bored. Not just one lost life, but four wasted lives. This is the type of mourning Jesus speaks of. Mourning over the evil in this world.

But it’s even more than that. It’s not just mourning evil in the world, it’s about mourning our own sin. It is the realization that we’ve let God down when we don’t follow His will. This kind of mourning is NOT remorse because you got caught! We live in a nation full of remorseful people when they get caught. Rather, it’s a mourning of deep grief and shame that we have let God down.

So, where’s the up side? Well, when we come to realize this about ourselves, then we understand that Christ died in our place, in your place and my place, to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross. In so doing, He offers us forgiveness and mercy, even though we deserve the judgment of God. When we realize this and cry out to God, He gives us comfort. It is a greater comfort than anyone else can give us.

Have you experienced that kind of mourning? It is a key to discovering happiness that lasts. Yes, Jesus’ teaching on happiness is radically counter-cultural to the world in which we live. But it is absolutely true. Don’t you want to be truly happy in the ultimate form of happiness – with Jesus? It begins with mourning.

 

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“For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

- James 3:7-8

IS YOUR SPEECH HURTFUL OR EDIFYING?
May 27, 2018

One of my heroes growing up was the big cat trainer extraordinaire, Gunter Gebel Williams. He was the leading performer for many years in the Ringling Brother’s Barnum & Bailey Circus. His command over the lions, tigers, and leopards made him the central attraction of the greatest show on earth. I was in awe of his ability to tame and command the most ferocious beasts on planet earth with poise and grace.

In our Scripture today, James tell us that every creature on earth can be tamed, but no one can tame the tongue. It is the untamable beast! The tongue is full of deadly poison and can lash out and strike at any moment. So, here is the question to consider in light of this description of our tongue: What do we do when we have lashed out at someone? How do we respond when the beast comes out and spews venom through painful words and reckless talk? Consider these thoughts when your words have run wild:

1. Acknowledge hurtful speech. As painful, harsh and reckless words can be, greater pain is often caused when we refuse to acknowledge what we did. It can be so healing to simply say, “I realize I was out of line” or “I know that what I said was hurtful.” Acknowledgement of the pain caused shows that we are aware of what we have said and are willing to move toward healing.
2. Apologize! I know this seems basic, but saying, “I’m sorry,” and really meaning it, is often very hard to say. An apology reveals we are taking ownership for what we said, instead of getting defensive or deflecting blame. Oh sure, we may try to rationalize it, or explain our tone, but an apology is essential to move toward reconciliation. Don’t minimize the destructive power of your words. My motto is: Apologize, don’t minimize!
3. Seek forgiveness. Offering an apology builds a bridge to seek forgiveness. There are few words that can be spoken with more power than “Please forgive me.” Asking to be forgiven reveals a heart of reconciliation and humility, and is the path to healing and renewal when our words have run wild.

Taming the tongue is impossible for sinful man, but we all can do what is right when our words have caused pain. Seeking forgiveness and reconciliation allows us to point people to the good news of Jesus Christ, “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:14

Do you need to ask forgiveness from someone? Ask God to give you the courage and the humility it will take to do it. And don’t wait! Do it today. Trust me when I tell you it will change your life!*

 

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Gazing at the Horizon
May 29, 2018

Read: Hebrews 11:8–16 | Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 7–9; John 11:1–29
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We are looking for the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14

Almost as soon as the ferryboat started to move, my little daughter said she felt ill. Seasickness had already begun to affect her. Soon I was feeling queasy myself. “Just stare at the horizon,” I reminded myself. Sailors say this helps to regain a sense of perspective.

The Maker of the horizon (Job 26:10) knows that sometimes in life we may become fearful and restless. We can regain perspective by focusing on the distant but steady point of our destiny.

Our present troubles are temporary. Focus on God and gain perspective.
The writer of Hebrews understood this. He sensed discouragement in his readers. Persecution had driven many of them from their homes. So he reminded them that other people of faith had endured extreme trials and had been left homeless. They endured it all because they anticipated something better.

As exiles, these readers could look forward to the city whose architect is God, the heavenly country, the city God prepared for them (Hebrews 11:10, 14, 16). So in his final exhortations, the writer asked his readers to focus on God’s promises. “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (13:14).

Our present troubles are temporary. We are “foreigners and strangers on earth” (11:13), but gazing at the horizon of God’s promises provides the point of reference we need.

Father, in the midst of troubles, help me to focus on Your promises.

Focus on God and regain perspective.

By Keila Ochoa | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Followers of Jesus wait for the day when we will be with Him—the fulfillment of what we’ve spent our lives pursuing. We rightfully yearn to be “home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). The troubles we have in this life make our desire that much sharper and earnest. Today’s passage isn’t about forgetting the world we live in and thinking only of heaven; it’s about seeing our present life from the perspective of the life to come. Paul reminded us that our current troubles are not worth comparing to what is to come (Romans 8:18).

 

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When Words Fail
May 30, 2018

Read: Romans 8:22–27 | Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 10–12; John 11:30–57

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May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22

Not long ago I sent my wife, Cari, a text message using only voice prompts. I was on my way out the door to give her a ride home from work and intended to send the words, “Where would you like me to pick you up, old gal?”

Cari doesn’t mind my calling her “old gal”—it’s one of the affectionate nicknames we use around the house. But my cell phone didn’t “understand” the phrase, and sent the words “old cow” instead.

We can come to Him with every need, assured that He understands and receives us with love.
Fortunately for me, Cari immediately understood what had happened and found it funny. She later posted my text message on social media and asked, “Should I be offended?” We were both able to laugh about it.

My wife’s loving response to my awkward words that day makes me think about God’s loving understanding of our prayers. We may not know what to say when we pray or even what to ask for, but when we belong to Christ, His Spirit within “intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26) and lovingly helps us articulate our deepest needs before Him.

Our heavenly Father doesn’t stand at a distance waiting for us to get our words right. We can come to Him with every need, assured that He understands and receives us with love.

Abba, Father, thank You that I can come to You without fear of having to get my words just right. Help me to keep company with You today.

God’s love is beyond words.

By James Banks | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Some of the New Testament’s most important teaching on the Holy Spirit is found in Romans 8. The Spirit is mentioned 21 times in the first 27 verses, with activities ranging from indwelling the lives of followers of Jesus (v. 9), giving us assurance of our relationship with the Father (v. 16), and helping us as we pray (as seen in today’s devotional; vv. 26–27). What a rich and wonderful gift we have received in the Holy Spirit! May we, as Paul says, “not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (v. 4).

Bill Crowder

 

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Interrupted Fellowship
May 31, 2018

Read: Matthew 27:32–50 | Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 13–14; John 12:1–26



My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46

The loud, sorrowful cry pierced the dark afternoon air. I imagine it drowning out the sound of mourning from friends and loved ones gathered at Jesus’s feet. It must have overwhelmed the moans of the dying criminals who flanked Jesus on both sides. And surely startled all who heard it.

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” Jesus cried out in agony and in utter despondency as He hung on that cross of shame on Golgotha (Matthew 27:45–46).

Jesus, we again stand in awe at Your sacrifice.Thank You for making it possible to have fellowship with the Fa
“My God,” He said, “my God, why have you forsaken me?”

I cannot think of more heart-wrenching words. Since eternity, Jesus had been in perfect fellowship with God the Father. Together they had created the universe, had fashioned mankind in their image, and planned salvation. Never in the eons past had they not been in total fellowship with each other.

And now, as the anguish of the cross continued to bring devastating pain on Jesus—He for the first time lost the awareness of God’s presence as He carried the burden of the sins of the world.

It was the only way. Only through this time of interrupted fellowship could our salvation be provided for. And it was only because Jesus was willing to experience this sense of being forsaken on the cross that we humans can gain fellowship with God.

Thank You, Jesus, for experiencing such pain so we could be forgiven.

Jesus, we again stand in awe at Your sacrifice. We kneel in Your presence and with gratitude acknowledge what You did for us on the cross. Thank You for making it possible to have fellowship with the Father forever.

The cross reveals God’s heart for the lost.

 

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Quieting the Critic
June 14, 2018

Read: Nehemiah 4:1–6 | Bible in a Year: Ezra 9–10; Acts 1

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Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Nehemiah 4:4

I work with a team to put on an annual community event. We spend eleven months plotting many details to ensure the event’s success. We choose the date and venue. We set ticket prices. We select everything from food vendors to sound technicians. As the event approaches, we answer public questions and provide directions. Afterward we collect feedback. Some good. Some that is hard to hear. Our team hears excitement from attendees and also fields complaints. The negative feedback can be discouraging and sometimes tempts us to give up.

Nehemiah had critics too as he led a team to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. They actually mocked Nehemiah and those working alongside him saying, “Even a fox climbing up on it would break down [your] wall of stones” (Nehemiah 4:3). His response to the critics helps me handle my own: Instead of feeling dejected or trying to refute their comments, he turned to God for help. Instead of responding directly, he asked God to hear the way His people were being treated and to defend them (v. 4). After entrusting those concerns to God, he and his co-laborers continued to work steadily on the wall “with all their heart” (v. 6).

We can learn from Nehemiah not to be distracted by criticism of our work. When we’re criticized or mocked, instead of responding to our critics out of hurt or anger, we can prayerfully ask God to defend us from discouragement so we can continue with a whole heart.

Help me to evaluate the good and bad in the criticism, to trust You, and to continue in my work wholeheartedly.

God is our best defense against criticism.

By Kirsten Holmberg | See Other Authors
INSIGHT
Have you noticed how criticism seems so justified when we give it—but so wrong when we receive it?

As Jewish families returned to their homeland after seventy years of exile in Babylon, they faced strong criticism. Current residents believed it was in their own interest to resist the returning exiles. They saw the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls as a threat to their own homes and families.

Just as understandably, Nehemiah and his friends felt they had a God-given right to regard as enemies those who opposed their effort to rebuild Jerusalem’s broken-down walls (Nehemiah 4:4).

Nehemiah’s courageous prayer of faith is a chapter in a bigger story that leads us to even higher ground. Many years later, by His own example, Jesus calls all people on both sides of conflict to find security in more than walls of self-interest. He taught all of us to pray for those who abuse us and to bless those who curse us (Matthew 5:9–12, 44). In His kingdom, it’s a heart of mercy that Christ desires.

Mart DeHaan