Daily Devotion

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March 17
Preparing a Place for Us
Bible in a Year:

• Deuteronomy 30–31
• Mark 15:1–25

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

John 14:3
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
John 14:1–4
Our family was planning to get a puppy, so my eleven-year-old daughter researched for months. She knew what the dog should eat and how to introduce it to our new home—among myriad other details.
Turns out puppies do best, she told me, if they’re introduced to one room at a time. So we carefully prepared a spare bedroom. I’m sure there will still be surprises as we raise our new puppy, but my daughter’s delight-infused preparation couldn’t have been more thorough.
The way my daughter channeled her eager anticipation for a puppy into loving preparation reminded me of Christ’s longing to share life with His people and His promise to prepare a home for them. Nearing the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus urged His disciples to trust Him, saying, “You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). Then He promised to “prepare a place for [them] . . . that [they] also may be where [He is]” (v. 3).
The disciples would soon face trouble. But Jesus wanted them to know that He was at work to bring them home to Him.
I can’t help but delight in the careful, deliberate intent with which my daughter had prepared for our new puppy. But I can only imagine how much more our Savior is delighting in His own detailed preparation for each of His people to share eternal life with Him (v. 2).
By: Adam R. Holz
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Reflect & Pray
How do you feel knowing that Jesus is preparing a place for you in His Father’s house? How might hanging on to that hope give you strength or courage in difficult seasons?
Jesus, thank You for going to prepare a place for me. Help me to put my hope in You fully and not to be troubled by the struggles in this life that might tempt me to take my eyes off You.

 

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LOVING GOD WITH OUR WILL
March 17, 2022
“Jesus answered, ‘The most important [commandment] is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your SOUL and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” – Mark 12:29-30
Continuing from yesterday’s devotional, we’re looking at the famous verses, Mark 12: 29-30.

First, we discussed what it means to love God with “all our heart.” Today, we continue by discussing our SOUL.

So, what is our soul, exactly?

Our soul is our personality and the seat of our will.

Confused? Think about it this way: when a man and woman fall in love, they get married. While passion may have drawn them together, it is a decision of the will that keeps them together in a committed relationship. The fact is, our sinful human nature often causes us to be tempted to treat our spouse unfairly or to be unfaithful. If we were led by our feelings alone, we would fall into temptation! It’s during those times that we have to completely ignore temporary feelings and decide, by an act of will, to put our feelings aside and stay faithful.

We express our love through this long-term faithfulness, loyalty, and devotion.

It’s the same with God. When we give our heart to God, we begin that relationship with Him. Along the way, however, we will be tempted to fall into sin. And if we simply follow our feelings, we will give in to that temptation. But if we’re really going to love and walk with God in faith, then we choose to be faithful to Him, no matter what we’re feeling in the moment.

So, how do we love God with all our soul? We do it with our will.


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR
March 20, 2022
“I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man.” – 1 Kings 2:2
King David was a legend even before becoming the king of Israel – defeating Goliath and leading the Israelites to a great victory over the Philistines, even as a youth. Solomon knew from the time he was a little boy the stories of how his father courageously endured suffering under King Saul and survived continuous threats against his life. He also knew all about his father’s military triumphs and his capture of Jerusalem. Solomon knew his father was a larger-than-life personality – talk about big shoes to fill.

As King David neared the end of his life, he summoned his son, Solomon, to his bedside. It was time to impart his final words of wisdom. Imagine all that Solomon was feeling at that moment. He knew that his father was about to die. You can imagine the feelings of grief mixed with a sense of anxiety, perhaps fear, and uncertainty at the responsibility young Solomon knew he must soon carry. How could HE possibly follow that act? How would he ever live up to his father’s expectations?

But King David understood this pressure. He knew firsthand that:

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to do the right thing in the face of fear.

So, what final words of encouragement and instruction did King David offer his son? “Be strong, and when you are strong, therefore, prove yourself to be a man.” What marvelous words to share on this occasion; what perfect words that any father can share with his son when he is beginning on his life’s journey.

Thankfully, we are not given this directive to live out in our own strength. Over and over in Scripture, we see God promise to strengthen us through HIS power. If you’re feeling less than courageous in light of current events and life pressures or responsibilities, then may these verses renew your hope:

• Isaiah 12:2: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”
• Psalm 145:18-19: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”
• Psalm 138:3: “When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.”
• Psalm 62:1-2 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
• Isaiah 43:1-3: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

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March 22
Keep It Simple
Bible in a Year:

• Joshua 10–12
• Luke 1:39–56

Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Acts 8:35
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Acts 8:26–35
The email was short but urgent. “Request salvation. I would like to know Jesus.” What an astonishing request. Unlike reluctant friends and family who hadn’t yet received Christ, this person didn’t need convincing. My task was to quiet my self-doubt about evangelizing and simply share key concepts, Scriptures, and trusted resources that addressed this man’s plea. From there, by faith, God would lead his journey.
Philip demonstrated such simple evangelism when on a desert road he met the treasurer of Ethiopia who was reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked (Acts 8:30). “How can I,” the man answered, “unless someone explains it to me” (v. 31). Invited to clarify, “Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus” (v. 35).
Starting where people are and keeping evangelism simple, as Philip showed, can be an effective way to share Christ. In fact, as the two traveled along, the man said, “Look, here is water” and asked to be baptized (v. 36). Philip complied, and the man “went on his way rejoicing” (v. 39). I rejoiced when the email writer replied that he had repented of sin, confessed Christ, found a church, and believed he was born again. What a beautiful start! Now, may God take him higher!
By: Patricia Raybon
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Reflect & Pray
How do you respond to opportunities to share your faith? What simple answers could you have on hand for someone who wants to know Jesus?
I’m not an expert at evangelizing, heavenly Father, so show me simple, effective ways to share the good news about Christ.
Learn more about leading others to Christ.

 

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March 24
And Seven Others
Bible in a Year:

• Joshua 16–18
• Luke 2:1–24

Believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

James 2:1
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
James 2:1–4
Tragedy struck near Los Angeles in January 2020 when nine people died in a helicopter crash. Most news stories began something like this, “NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna (“Gigi”), and seven others lost their lives in the accident.”
It’s natural and understandable to focus on the well-known people involved in a horrible situation like this—and the deaths of Kobe and his precious teenager Gigi are heartbreaking beyond description. But we must keep in mind that in life’s big picture there’s no dividing line that makes the “seven others” (Payton, Sarah, Christina, Alyssa, John, Keri, and Ara) any less significant.
Sometimes we need to be reminded that each human is important in God’s eyes. Society shines bright lights on the rich and famous. Yet fame doesn’t make a person any more important than your next-door neighbor, the noisy kids who play in your street, the down-on-his-luck guy at the city mission, or you.
Every person on earth is created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), whether rich or poor (Proverbs 22:2). No one is favored more than another in His eyes (Romans 2:11), and each is in need of a Savior (3:23).
We glorify our great God when we refuse to show favoritism—whether in the church (James 2:1–4) or in society at large.
By: Dave Branon
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Reflect & Pray
What can you do to show love for all mankind—rich or poor, famous or obscure? How did Jesus reveal this kind of love?
Heavenly Father, help me to show love and kindness to all, regardless of their station in life.

 

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March 25
Where’s God?
Bible in a Year:

• Joshua 19–21
• Luke 2:25–52

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Jeremiah 29:4–7, 10–14
In Martin Handford’s Where’s Waldo? books, a series of children’s puzzle books first created in 1987, the elusive character wears a red and white striped shirt and socks with a matching hat, blue jeans, brown boots, and glasses. Handford has cleverly hidden Waldo in plain sight within the busy illustrations filled with crowds of characters at various locations around the world. Waldo isn’t always easy to see, but the creator promises readers will always be able to find him. Though looking for God isn’t really like looking for Waldo in a puzzle book, our Creator promises we can find Him, too.
Through the prophet Jeremiah, God instructed His people on how to live as foreigners in exile (Jeremiah 29:4–9). He promised to protect them until He restored them according to His perfect plan (vv. 10–11). God assured the Israelites that the fulfillment of His promise would deepen their commitment to call on Him in prayer (v. 12).
Today, even though God has revealed Himself in the story and Spirit of Jesus, it can be easy to get distracted by the busyness of this world. We may even be tempted to ask, “Where’s God?” However, the Creator and Sustainer of all things declares that those who belong to Him will always find Him if they seek Him with all their hearts (vv. 13–14).
By: Xochitl Dixon
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Reflect & Pray
What distractions prevent you from spending time seeking God through Bible reading and prayer? How has God helped you focus on Him when busyness tugs you away from Him?
Loving Creator and Sustainer of all, please help me seek You daily with all my heart and trust You will keep the promises You’ve made.

 

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March 28
His Peace
Bible in a Year:

• Judges 4–6
• Luke 4:31–44

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

Isaiah 26:3
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Isaiah 26:3–7
For several months, I coped with intense workplace politics and intrigues. Worrying is second nature to me, so I was surprised to find myself at peace. Instead of feeling anxious, I was able to respond with a calm mind and heart. I knew that this peace could come only from God.
In contrast, there was another period in my life when everything was going well—and yet I felt a deep unrest in my heart. I knew it was because I was trusting in my own abilities instead of trusting God and His leading. Looking back, I’ve realized that true peace—God’s peace—isn’t defined by our circumstances, but by our trust in Him.
God’s peace comes to us when our minds are steadfast (Isaiah 26:3). In Hebrew, the word for steadfast means “to lean upon.” As we lean on Him, we’ll experience His calming presence. We can trust in God, remembering that He’ll humble the proud and wicked and smooth the paths of those who love Him (vv. 5–7).
When I experienced peace in a season of difficulty rather than ease, I discovered that God’s peace isn’t an absence of conflict, but a profound sense of security even in distress. It’s a peace that surpasses human understanding and guards our hearts and minds in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances (Philippians 4:6−7).
By: Karen Huang
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Reflect & Pray
What do you do to experience peace? In what areas of your life do you need to trust God and lean on Him?
Father, help me to trust You and have a steadfast mind. Thank You for the perfect peace that comes to me when I choose to trust You.

 

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THE ONE TRUE GOD
March 28, 2022
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, according to our likeness.’” – Genesis 1:26
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. How can this be explained?

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

• WATER: Water has three states: solid, liquid, gas. We know the liquid state as water, the gas as steam, and the solid as ice. While very different forms, they are all the same compound – H2O. It’s fascinating that the solid version of H2O will actually float in the liquid form of the same compound. People sometimes offer this concept as a way to understand the complexity of the trinity…but in reality, it’s totally inadequate. Why? Because the trinity is about three persons.
• ROLES: I am the father of my three sons. They know me one way. I’m also the son of my parents and they know me another way. At the same time, I am the husband of my wife, Anne, and she knows me another way. I am the same person but have three different roles. Some use this analogy to help us understand the trinity of God in three persons, but it, too, is totally inadequate.

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. However, the doctrine of the trinity is taught in Scripture from the very first verse in the Bible and is central in understanding the fullness, the greatness, and the uniqueness of God.

From the beginning, we realize that the God of Scripture:

• Is not Allah of the Quran.
• Is not the God you read about in the Book of Mormon.
• 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.
• 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, “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 Our likeness.’” 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.


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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March 30
God Cleans the Stains
Bible in a Year:

• Judges 9–10
• Luke 5:17–39

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Isaiah 1:10–18
What if our clothes were more functional, having the ability to clean themselves after we dropped ketchup or mustard or spilled a drink on them? Well, according to the BBC, engineers in China have developed a special “coating which causes cotton to clean itself of stains and odors when exposed to ultraviolet lights.” Can you imagine the implications of having self-cleaning clothes?
A self-cleaning coating might work for stained clothes, but only God can clean a stained soul. In ancient Judah, God was angry with His people because they had “turned their backs on” Him, given themselves to corruption and evil, and were worshiping false gods (Isaiah 1:2–4). But to make matters worse, they tried to clean themselves by offering sacrifices, burning incense, saying many prayers, and gathering together in solemn assemblies. Yet their hypocritical and sinful hearts remained (vv. 12–13). The remedy was for them to come to their senses and with a repentant heart bring the stains on their souls to a holy and loving God. His grace would cleanse them and make them spiritually “white as snow” (v. 18).
When we sin, there’s no self-cleaning solution. With a humble and repentant heart, we must acknowledge our sins and place them under the cleansing light of God’s holiness. We must turn from them and return to Him. And He, the only One who cleans the stains of the soul, will offer us complete forgiveness and renewed fellowship.
By: Marvin Williams
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Reflect & Pray
When the Holy Spirit reveals your sins to you, what’s your response? How does John describe the process of bringing your sin to God and repenting of it (see 1 John 1:9)?
Father, forgive me for ignoring or trying to get rid of my own sin. I know only You can clean the stains of my soul. I acknowledge and repent of my self-sufficiency and turn to You.

 

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March 31
God’s Embassy
Bible in a Year:

• Judges 11–12
• Luke 6:1–26

When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.

Luke 14:13–14
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Luke 14:7–14
Ludmilla, a widow aged eighty-two, has declared her home in the Czech Republic an “Embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven,” saying, “My home is an extension of Christ’s kingdom.” She welcomes strangers and friends who are hurting and in need with loving hospitality, sometimes providing food and a place to sleep—always with a compassionate and prayerful spirit. Relying on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to help her care for her visitors, she delights in the ways God answers their prayers.
Ludmilla serves Jesus through opening her home and heart, in contrast to the prominent religious leader at whose home Jesus ate one Sabbath. Jesus told this teacher of the law that he should welcome “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” to his home—and not those who could repay him (Luke 14:13). While Jesus’ remarks imply that the Pharisee hosted Jesus out of pride (v. 12), Ludmilla, so many years later, invites people to her home so she can be “an instrument of God’s love and His wisdom.”
Serving others with humility is one way we can be “representatives of the kingdom of heaven,” as Ludmilla says. Whether or not we can provide a bed for strangers, we can put the needs of others before our own in different and creative ways. How will we extend God’s kingdom in our part of the world today?
By: Amy Boucher Pye
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Reflect & Pray
How do you think the Pharisee reacted when Jesus told him to act differently? How do you like to make people feel welcome?
Jesus, thank You for looking out for those in need. Help me to be more like You, that I would care for others, showing them Your love.

 

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THE STORY OF PAUL PART 3 – FOLLOWING CHRIST
March 31, 2022
“At that time, I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.” “I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, ‘He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ And they were glorifying God because of me.” – Galatians 1:17, 22-24
Today, we look at Part 3 of Paul’s story, which is his life after meeting Christ.
Following his life-changing encounter with Jesus, Paul was struck blind for three days. As instructed by the Lord, he was led into Damascus where God sent a man by the name of Ananias to come and baptize him as a new follower of Jesus Christ. We also see that immediately, Paul began to testify of his life change. Now this had to be dumbfounding to the followers of Jesus in Damascus – they probably all knew him as a religious terrorist, so they weren’t sure how to take all this new “Paul.”
After a short time in Damascus, Paul was sent to Arabia. A desert. Wilderness. Not surprising, when you think about how many great men of the faith in Scripture were sent into the wilderness at the beginning of their callings: Moses, Elijah, even Jesus Christ. And now we see Paul spending up to three years in the wilderness returning to Damascus.
Interestingly enough, after he returned from the wilderness, Paul spent the majority of his first three years in his hometown of Tarsus just going about the work of ministry. Imagine the people in his hometown who witnessed the change in this man! Look at verse 22 again:
“I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, ‘He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ And they were glorifying God because of me.“ Can you imagine the joy Paul must have felt? To have gone from being someone hated and feared, to being someone who was sharing the joy of the Lord wherever he went?
If God’s grace can be extended to a religious terrorist like Paul, then what’s your excuse?
Do you think the grace of God cannot be extended to you for the things you’ve done in your life?
You bet, it can!
And another thing to realize – Paul’s greatest influence in the lives of his contemporaries and in all of the lives of those who came after him – didn’t happen overnight. It took 14 years of being a follower of Jesus Christ before Paul was seen as a leader in the church.
This is Paul’s story. Part 1 – his life before Christ. Part 2 – his encounter with Christ. Part 3 – his life after meeting Christ as his Savior and Lord.
We all have a Part 1 in our life story. What about your Part 2 and your Part 3? No life story is completely fulfilled without all three parts.
What’s in your life story?
Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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ARE WE JUST FOCUSED ON OURSELVES?
April 03, 2022
‘“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”’ – Luke 10:25-30
Why do we do the things we do?

Why do we help one and ignore another? Does the question ‘why’ really matter as long as we’re doing good things?

These are the questions Jesus addresses when approached by a very ‘good’ man about what he should do to reach heaven.

In response, Jesus told a story. A man is robbed and left for dead on the side of the road when three individuals pass by. The first is a priest and the second a Levite, or religious law expert. The priest and Levite don’t even pause to help. They are too busy, too important doing other ‘good deeds’ to help.

Wait, really?

How can two religious men who have devoted their lives to doing the right thing pass by someone in desperate need?

It’s simple.

Their good works were simply an attempt to justify themselves, a way to prove their importance and worth to God.

It’s the difference between mercy and sacrifice. Mercy is others-focused, doing for someone what they can’t do for themselves. Sacrifice is me focused, giving something up to prove my devotion. Jesus was all about mercy. He came for those who knew they needed mercy as the one who offered mercy.

To have a heart of mercy is to have a heart like Jesus, who sees the needs of others and does something about it.

The priest and Levite didn’t get it. So focused on themselves, they walked right past an opportunity to demonstrate God’s love lived out.

Good works can never earn us God’s love, but they certainly reveal it. At the root, it’s a heart issue – not what we do but why we do it.

So, why do you do the things you do? God certainly doesn’t need our good works – but our neighbor just might. The “why” behind our works is to reveal the love of God.

Adapted from a sermon by Senior Pastor George Wright, Shades Mountain Baptist Church

 

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GOD NEVER LEAVES US ALONE
April 04, 2022
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
Imagine – the greatest leader that you’ve ever known has just died.

This was the leader who was responsible for the liberation of your nation – a moment for the history books. He was also your spiritual and professional mentor, a man of influence, and great respect. Now that he’s gone, everyone is looking to you. Can you feel the weight of this new responsibility, the intense pressure weighing heavy on your shoulders?

After Moses died, all eyes turned toward Joshua.

Even though Joshua had been groomed for this very moment – this is an intimidating promotion. This is the moment when God spoke directly to the heart of Joshua’s insecurities:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Isn’t it amazing that when God nudges Joshua outside his comfort zone, He doesn’t send him alone? God knows that Joshua is feeling overwhelmed, doubting himself, and probably questioning if he’s the right guy for the job. So, God reminds him of a promise:

No matter where he goes, God is right there.

No matter what happens, God is right there.

We’ve all experienced fear, insecurity, and doubt. Think back to the first day of a new job. What about before the launch of a new product campaign? We’ve even overanalyzed, second-guessed, and picked apart a relationship a time or two because of our own self-doubts.

What does it look like in your life? Whenever these emotions tempt you to second guess where God is leading – silence them with the same promise God gave to Joshua.

You are not alone. God will never leave you. He will never give up on you. You can trust Him as you follow where He leads.

The same promise that God offered to Joshua is offered to every follower of Jesus. If you’ve never experienced the peace and confidence that comes from knowing you’re not alone, then you can today.

This promise is available to everyone – you need only to ask.


Adapted from a sermon by Senior Pastor George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shades Mountain Baptist Church

 

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THE FIRST UNIFORM
April 05, 2022
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
Friday night was a night of “firsts.”

• The First Game
• The First At-bat and Hit
• The First Run
• The First Sprint from First to Second to Third and Home

But perhaps the proudest moment of my son Graham’s first t-ball game was the moment his coach handed him his first uniform, a Kelly-green t-shirt with the name “WOOD” and the number “3” on the back. The front of the jersey read “MAIL MANAGERS”, the name of the team sponsor. Maybe if it read “Dodgers” or “Red Sox” it would have been more exciting to me. But the bold, block letters still identified the two-dollar t-shirt as a bonafide uniform and Graham couldn’t put it on fast enough.

He had dreamed of this moment for weeks, asking me daily, “When do I get my jersey?” You could hear in his voice that deep desire to belong to a team. Up until this point Graham could say he was on the team. But the uniform proved he belonged.

I told Graham two legacies of the #3 uniforms in baseball:

1. It was the number worn by Dale Murphy, the legendary Atlanta Braves outfielder from the 1980s and 1990s. A great baseball player and an even greater person.
2. The #3 was also worn by the Sultan of Swat himself, Babe Ruth, arguably the greatest player of all time. Graham’s uniform stood in line with some of the game’s legends.

His uniform would be worn with pride regardless of the number, but the legacy of #3 made it all the better.

But watching Graham’s joy in putting on his first uniform told me more about him as a person than it did as a player. Seeing my son’s excitement at donning that jersey showed me how much his little heart longed to belong to a team. I recognized it easily because it has always been in my own heart, too. I want to be on a team

Another way to say it is simply, “I don’t want to be left out and alone.”

It is a deeply rooted truth in all of us. We all long to belong to a group, a team, a family. It’s a part of being human. We all want that uniform that says “we belong.”

Just so you know, Graham played a great game on Friday night. But the pride I felt preceded his performance. Before he swung a bat or dropped a pop fly, I was proud just to see him out there.

And that’s the second lesson I learned about belonging. My joy doesn’t rise and fall with Graham’s ability to hit, run, catch, or throw.

My joy simply rests in the fact that he is my son.

It makes me think of Jesus, at his baptism, the day he put on the “uniform” of deity in a public manner for the first time. He had been born as “the Word made flesh,” but up until this moment, no one outside of Mary and John the Baptist understood it. There, at His baptism, Jesus let the world know just whose team he was really on – the three-fold team of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His obedience declared “I belong to God” and a voice came down from heaven saying, “This is my Son and in Him I am well-pleased.” That voice came before Jesus preached a single sermon or healed a single leper.

Before Jesus gave His life on the cross in final, full obedience…the Father said, “He belongs to me.”

Not because of what He did, but because of Who He was and Whose He was.

And so it is for us when we put on the uniform of faith.

Do you belong to God’s team?

Have you put on the uniform of faith?

Jesus is waiting – all you have to do is ask.


Written by Kevin Wood, Guest Contributor

 

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April 7
Real Hospitality
Bible in a Year:

• 1 Samuel 7–9
• Luke 9:18–36

Offer hospitality to one another . . . use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:9–10
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Genesis 24:12–20
“Kumain ka na ba?” (Have you eaten?)
This is what you’ll always hear as a visitor in many homes in the Philippines, where I’m from. It’s the Filipino way of expressing care and kindness for our guests. And regardless of your reply, your host will always prepare something for you to eat. Filipinos believe that true kindness isn’t just saying the standard greeting but also going beyond words to show real hospitality.
Rebekah too, knew all about being kind. Her daily chores included drawing water from the well outside town and carrying the heavy jar of water home. When Abraham’s servant, who was very thirsty from his journey, asked for a little water from her jar, she didn’t hesitate to give him a drink (Genesis 24:17–18).
But then Rebekah did even more. When she saw that the visitor’s camels were thirsty, she quickly offered to go back to draw more water for them (vv. 19–20). She didn’t hesitate to help, even if it meant making an extra trip (or more) to the well and back with a heavy jar.
Life is tough for many people, and often a small gesture of practical kindness can encourage them and lift their spirits. Being a channel of God’s love doesn’t always mean delivering a powerful sermon or planting a church. Sometimes, it can simply be giving someone a drink of water.
By: Karen Huang



Reflect & Pray
Who do you know who might need some encouragement? What act of practical kindness can you offer to encourage them?
Heavenly Father, open my eyes to the needs of people around me. Give me the wisdom to know how to show kindness and care to them.
Learn more about the stories in Genesis with Our Daily Bread University's online course.


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WHAT DO YOU THINK?
April 07, 2022
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
Cognitive theorists tell us that you and I generate 60,000 thoughts per day.

That amounts to an amazing one thought every 1.44 seconds!

Now, our thoughts may be true or false, gracious or offensive, pure or impure, admirable or shameful. Whatever our thoughts may be, many people believe that we’re not in control of what we think. After all, our thoughts just seem to randomly fly in and out.

But that is not true. We are in control of our thoughts and it’s vitally important that we do.

Why?

Because our thoughts shape us in ways we have only begun to imagine.

The Bible makes it clear that our thinking and our hearts are inseparably linked, and the condition of our hearts affects our thinking. This makes purposeful thinking very important.

Philippians 4:8 says, “…whatever is true…honorable…pure and admirable…think on these things.”

Ask yourself this question: “Would it bother me if anyone could read my mind?”

Well, guess what? God can read your mind. And He sees into your heart.

Thankfully, He can also help us control our thoughts.

What do you think?


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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April 11
Making Every Moment Count
Bible in a Year:

• 1 Samuel 17–18
• Luke 11:1–28

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Matthew 24:42
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Matthew 24:36–44
The halted hands of a pocket watch in a library’s archives at the University of North Carolina tell a harrowing tale. They mark the exact moment (8:19 and 56 seconds) the watch’s owner Elisha Mitchell slipped and fell to his death at a waterfall in the Appalachian Mountains on the morning of June 27, 1857.
Mitchell, a professor at the university, was gathering data to defend his (correct) claim that the peak he was on—which now bears his name, Mount Mitchell—was the highest one east of the Mississippi. His grave is located at the mountain’s summit, not far from where he fell.
As I ascended that mountain peak recently, I reflected on Mitchell’s story and my own mortality and how each of us has only so much time. And I pondered Jesus’ words about His return as He spoke to His disciples on the Mount of Olives: “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44).
Jesus clearly indicates that none of us knows either the moment He’ll return and establish His kingdom forever or when He may summon us to leave this world and come to Him. But He tells us to be prepared and “keep watch” (v. 42).
Tick . . . tick . . . The “clockwork” of our lives is still in motion—but for how long? May we live our moments in love with our merciful Savior, waiting and working for Him.
By: James Banks
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Reflect & Pray
How are you preparing to meet Jesus? What do you look forward to the most about being with Him?
Loving Savior, please help me to be ready to meet You at any time. Help me to serve You and prepare for Your return today.

 

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April 12
Like Us, for Us
Bible in a Year:

• 1 Samuel 19–21
• Luke 11:29–54

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way.

Hebrews 2:17
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Hebrews 2:10–18
Derek noticed his son didn’t want to take off his shirt to swim and realized it was because he was self-conscious about a birthmark that covers parts of his chest, belly, and left arm. Determined to help his son, Derek underwent a lengthy and painful tattooing process to create an identical mark on his own body.
Derek’s love for his son reflects God’s love for His sons and daughters. Because we, His children, “have flesh and blood” (Hebrews 2:14), Jesus became like us and took on a human form and “shared in [our] humanity” to free us from the power of death (v. 14). “He had to be made like [us], fully human in every way” (v. 17) to make things right with God for us.
Derek wanted to help his son overcome his self-consciousness and so made himself “like” him. Jesus helped us overcome our far greater problem—slavery to death. He overcame it for us by making Himself like us, bearing the consequence of our sin by dying in our place.
Jesus’ willingness to share in our humanity not only secured our right relationship with God but enables us to trust Him in our moments of struggle. When we face temptation and hardship, we can lean on Him for strength and support because “he is able to help” (v. 18). Like a loving father, He understands and cares.
By: Kirsten Holmberg
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Reflect & Pray
How might Jesus relate to the struggle you’re facing right now? What keeps you from leaning on Him in this moment?
Thank You, Jesus, for taking on a human form to relate to me in my struggles and pay for my wrongdoings. I want to trust You more.

 

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JESUS DIED FOR OUR SHAME
April 12, 2022
“Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” – John 20: 19b-20
Shame.

We’re all familiar with it. Perhaps you haven’t quite lived up to expectations and your colleagues, boss or even parents like to point out how you’ve missed the mark.

Maybe feelings of shame and regret from poor life choices tag along like an un-welcomed shadow.

For those struggling under shame’s weight, don’t miss this:

Jesus did not come to shame you, but to die for your shame.

That’s the message of the Gospel.

When Jesus died on the cross, His followers were devastated. Not only did they question everything they had ever believed about Him, but they feared they might be next. So they hid in hopes of saving their own skin.

Then, on the third day after His death, He appeared – alive and in the flesh. Can you imagine all of the emotions the disciples must have felt? Confusion, fear, excitement – and most certainly some shame – for going into hiding for fear of being identified with Jesus. And for having lost faith in Him.

By showing the disciples His pierced hands and side, Jesus communicated the impact of the cross. The purpose of the cross was to take on ALL of mankind’s sin, shame and guilt – including their own. Only through the cross can we experience the most incredible gift of forgiveness and love the world will ever know.

If you’re still struggling with guilt and shame in your life, surrender it to Jesus. Jesus already took care of it on the cross.

It’s time to exchange that shame for forgiveness and peace, once and for all.

My friend, that is the incredible beauty of the Gospel.


Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

 

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April 13
Carried by Love
Bible in a Year:

• 1 Samuel 22–24
• Luke 12:1–31

I have made you and I will carry you.

Isaiah 46:4
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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Isaiah 46:1–10
My four-year-old grandson sat on my lap and patted my bald head, studying it intently. “Papa,” he asked, “What happened to your hair?” “Oh,” I laughed, “I lost it over the years.” His face turned thoughtful: “That’s too bad,” he responded. “I’ll have to give you some of mine.”
I smiled at his compassion and pulled him close for a hug. Reflecting later on his love for me in that cherished moment also caused me to ponder God’s selfless, generous love.
G. K. Chesterton wrote: “We have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” By this he meant that the “Ancient of Days” (Daniel 7:9) is untainted by sin’s decay—God is ageless and loves us exuberantly with a love that never falters or fades. He’s fully willing and able to fulfill the promise He made to His people in Isaiah 46: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you” (v. 4).
Five verses later He explains, “I am God, and there is none like me” (v. 9). The great “I am” (Exodus 3:14) loves us so deeply that He went to the extreme of dying on the cross to bear the full weight of our sin, so that we might turn to Him and be free of our burden and gratefully worship Him forever!
By: James Banks
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Reflect & Pray
In what ways does God carry you through each day? How can you draw new strength from Him in this moment?
Beautiful Savior, I’m so thankful Your love for me never grows old! Help my love for You to grow ever deeper.