Devotionals

“What you have heard me teach publicly you should teach to others.  Share these teachings with people you can trust.  Then they will be able to teach others these same things.”   2 Timothy 2:2 ERV

Most people are familiar with the Great Commission–the last words that Jesus Christ spoke to mankind before His ascension.  He told his followers to make disciples, with the express purpose that they would teach others.  Continuing the process throughout time, the responsibility now lies with us.  

Why is it so hard to share the gospel?  What do we hesitate to tell others what God has done in our lives?  Why does the thought make us timid and embarrassed?  Is this any way a Christ-follower should be?  

Maybe it’s hard for us because we don’t have everything figured out as many unanswered questions roll around inside our heads.  Perhaps we’re reserved because our lives aren’t perfect and we have issues of our own, so why should we presume to talk with others as if we’re the experts?

I have good news about sharing the Good News!  Start small!  

My wife and I have the great pleasure of keeping our granddaughter frequently.  She’s not even a year-and-a-half old.  She’s soaking up knowledge like a sponge, and it’s so much fun to be able to help her.  If we can’t share Jesus with her, then there’s no hope for us reaching anyone else.  

With a baby one has to take baby steps, and that’s what we’re doing in teaching her about Jesus and the Bible.  She has a Noah’s Ark with Little People; we read the short picture books of Bible stories to her; she can identify the painting of Jesus hanging on our wall; she knows that Jesus loves her; and when we say grace before eating, she places her little hands together under her chin as we pray, and she says “amen” at the end.  

How do you teach others about the key Christian principles?  You start small.  I can think of no better influence than instructing one’s own children and grandchildren.  It can make a gigantic impact on the kind of person the child becomes.  It’s the launch pad for a lifetime commitment to Jesus Christ.  

Is there a little one in your life who you can reach?

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for children!  May we be diligent in leading them to a full Christian life.  Amen

“This is what the Lord says:  Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.”  Jeremiah 17:5

“In God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?”  Psalm 56:11

Today I spoke with a gentleman who I had met yesterday for the first time.  He reported that a simple truth had occurred to him, and he shared it with me as a possible devotional topic. 

A popular television show, Who Do You Trust, aired on ABC television from the mid-50s through the early 60s.  The primary host was Johnny Carson with Ed McMahon being the announcer, prior to them occupying the same positions on the Tonight Show.  Three couples–usually husbands and wives–competed in answering questions, and the trust portion related to whether the man or the woman would be trusted to do so.  Real life is a little like such a game show.  

No where does the Bible state that we are to trust our fellow man.  Instead, we’re supposed to trust God.  However, we invariably do exactly the opposite.  We trust people, and people frequently let us down.  How do we usually respond when things don’t work out as we had planned or hoped?  Oftentimes we blame God.  He is the solution and not the cause of our problems.   

Here’s another angle to consider.  Occasionally I put my trust in the man who looks back at me in the mirror.  As an independent sort of guy, in too many instances I have relied on my own intellect, finances, abilities, perseverance, connections, etc.  Disappointments have occurred when the man I trusted failed to deliver.  

Think about yourself.  When push comes to shove, who do you trust?

Prayer:  Dear God, help us to depend more on You.  Open our eyes to trust in You always.  Your ways are far better than our ways.  You will not misdirect our efforts.  May we keep our hearts focused on You.  Amen

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  Ephesians 6:12 NIV

A couple of days ago you considered the question, “Do you believe demons are real?”  How did you answer?

My suspicion is that most people these days would laugh at the idea, and they’d think I’m a little nuts for suggesting otherwise.  Jesus believed in demons, so that’s good enough for me to believe in them, too.

Think about the reports making todays news:  shooters killing kids in school; a country’s leader using chemical weapons against his own people; men and women with AIDS infecting as many people as possible through sexual contact; a driver deliberately crashing to kill their own family; doctors dismantling babies to murder them; etc.–the list doesn’t end!  The modern answer is that the people committing such atrocities suffer from mental illness or became the way they are as a result of society, ad nauseam.  Just perhaps they are inherently evil as a direct result of being controlled by demons.  There is something to “the devil made me do it.”

If you’re a believer, the Holy Spirit alerts you to the influence of evil.  I can’t even say a cuss word without feeling badly about doing so, and I follow-up by asking for forgiveness.  On the other hand, one controlled by a demon has no control over his own actions.

Open your mind to the possibility–I suggest reality–that a spiritual world co-exists with our physical world.  It’s biblical, and in light of everything that happens around us, it’s easy to accept and hard to deny.

Prayer:  Dear God, may we be attuned to the direction of the Holy Spirit in alerting us to the presence of evil.  Thank you for Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice for our failures when we do yield to sin, and for the redeeming grace that only He provides.  Amen.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”  Psalm 119:105 NIV

I can think of no discipline that will add greater momentum to your Christian development than reading the Bible.  Trust me on this point.

Over my lifetime until three years ago, I read the Bible numerous times, but in a random fashion.  I learned a lot, but also missed a lot.  Over the last three years I’ve followed a systematic plan that takes one year to make it all the way through, which means each day requires reading 3-4 chapters–10-20 minutes worth.  In a 24-hour period of time, it isn’t very much.  

Even though the material is familiar, I learn something new every single reading.  I don’t think this reflects a lack of concentration or memory on my part.  Let me suggest that it’s the influence of the Holy Spirit in opening my eyes.  

The process is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.  The New Testament only makes sense upon receiving the background of the Old Testament.  The connectivity between them starts to take shape to present the whole picture.  Right now in  my life I’ve assembled all the pieces on the outside of the puzzle and filled in some adjoining sections.  With more study the middle pieces will come together one-by-one.  Quite frankly, I don’t think there are enough years left in my life to complete the entire puzzle, but that’s okay because I don’t feel anyone has.  I think we’ll learn where the remaining pieces go in the next life. 

What is the best translation of the Bible for you to read and study?  It’s not that hard to make a determination on your own.  There are four basic types:                                                                                                                                                  Formal Equivalent–A literal word translation of the Hebrew and Greek into  English.  Example:  KJV.                            Dynamic Equivalent–A thought-for-thought translation.  Example:  NIV.                                                                                     Optimal Equivalent–A combination of literal and thought-for-thought.  Example:  HCSB.                                                      Paraphrase–None of the above; putting the Bible into one’s own words.  Example:  The Message   

If you’re in the market for a Bible, check out the many translations available at www.biblegateway.com.  This website contains 59 different English versions.  Last year I picked up a copy of the NIV at a discount store for only five bucks.  The print is large and the paper is thick.  It’s perfect for highlighting verses and making notes.  

What translation is best for you?  It’s the one you’ll read!   

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for your Holy Word.  May we use it to learn your perfect plan for our lives.  Amen.  

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:10 ESV

Christians around the world experience persecution.  Here in the United States we’re in something of a safe zone as compared to many other countries.  You’ve seen the news reports about the horrific treatment of Christians elsewhere who have been tortured and murdered for their faith.  However, we are certainly not immune.  Christians are the most persecuted religious group here in our own country.   

When you put yourself out in the public arena in support of Jesus Christ, expect criticism.  Here’s a small example.  On Easter Sunday I posted about what He did for us and included a photograph of The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem.  A total stranger replied with wild accusations–false statements about my motives.  He closed with profanity.   

I feel sorry for him.  Of course, we are to forgive those who hate us.  I harbor no ill will or dislike for him on a personal level.  He obviously has problems.  I checked out his Facebook page and learned that he is an atheist.  The name of Jesus or God offends him.  It’s interesting that he tripped across me.  I suspect belittling Christians may be his hobby, so he looks for posts like mine.  I hope he will wake up and find the truth.  

Have you ever saved anyone’s life?  Years ago I jumped fully clothed into the deep end of a swimming pool to rescue a toddler who had stepped in at the wrong place.  His parents were grateful, and I felt good about my role.  Just imagine how awesome it would be to lead someone to salvation and save their life eternally.   All of us have this opportunity!   

With experience we learn how to share our testimony about Jesus Christ with others.  It may be difficult and awkward at first, but with time it becomes easier and natural.  Tell others about Him.  You may be rejected or criticized, but it comes with the territory, and your testimony may make a difference eternally.   

Prayer:  Dear God, help us to love those who don’t love us.  Help us to reach others in Jesus’s name.  Amen 

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”  Romans 1:20 NIV

Did you know that there is no such thing as atheists?  Our language has a meaning for this word, but quite frankly, they really don’t exist.

There are people in my life who claim to be atheists.  I love them just the same, but view them as confused and misguided, and hope that with positive influences they will eventually see the light.

How smart are we compared to God Almighty?  Think about the bar graphs you made in high school math classes.  On the vertical axis start with zero at the bottom and infinity at the top.  On the horizontal axis make marks for a bacteria, dog, man, and God.  Then strike a vertical line to indicate the intelligence of the bacteria, dog, and man as compared to God.  You should have three dots for the creatures and a line to infinity for God.  My point is simple:  in the whole scheme of things, when compared to God our own intelligence is just a speck like any other creature.

I make this observation for a simple reason.  Every atheist I’ve met regards himself or herself as being an intellectual.  Most are highly educated,  They seek proof for God’s existence.  That’s both tragic and hilarious to me.  On my best day I couldn’t make the argument that God doesn’t exist!  The proof around us is so overwhelming that it’s ridiculous to even debate it.

George McDonald, a Quaker, wrote an 1892 article in the “Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood” this famous saying  (oftentimes attributed to C. S. Lewis):  “You don’t have a soul.  You are a soul.  You have a body.”  In a nutshell, this quotation explains why atheists don’t exist.  Once a person dies, the soul departs the body.  At this moment, one immediately comes to the realization that God is real.  It is impossible for both God and an atheist to co-exist.

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for making a way for us to live eternally with You.  We pray for others who haven’t made the important step of faith to believe in you.  May we be the light that shows them the way.  In Jesus’s name.  Amen

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?”  Jeremiah 32:27

A young man had been working on an important project costing hundreds of millions of dollars.  He had a critical deadline for completing a key task that absolutely could not be missed.  Unfortunately, he came down with the flu with all the classic symptoms.  He awoke one morning feeling worse than ever with nausea, muscle ache, congestion, headache, and a raging temperature that alternated between sweats and chills.  Since he worked in a private office and away from others, he decided to go in.  However, he knew that his illness would make productive work hugely challenging.  

He bid his wife good-bye for the day and climbed into their VW Beetle to drive to work.  As his normal custom, he prayed as he headed out to his office.  On this day, he took the unusual step of praying for his own healing.  God knew all the details.  As he drove up a highway to reach the interstate, he asked for complete healing when on the entrance ramp, and also to remain well thereafter.  

As the bug circled the ramp a modern-day miracle occurred.  Every flu symptom completely left him.  By the time the tires touched the interstate, he felt perfectly fine.  He went from flu to no flu in an instant.  

He reached his office about ten minutes later and had a great day–highly productive– and he met the mandatory deadline.  He remained well with no sickness.  He was healed.   

I know this story is true because I was the young man.  This miracle isn’t the only one in my life.  In fact, it’s a simple one just to show a baby step in what is possible.  I know and have witnessed several instances that have occurred with family and friends.  

Do you believe in miracles?  If not, open your mind to the possibility.  When it happens for you, it’ll deepen your faith in remarkable ways.  

Prayer:  God, thank you for being the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  We welcome your presence in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Help our faith to believe in the miraculous.  Amen

“You reward everyone according to what they have done.”  Psalm 62:12 NIV

Salvation comes from faith.  All the good works we can do in this lifetime do not merit entry into heaven.  It requires perfect righteousness, and we can’t earn it.  Only through our acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah are we made clean.

Does this fact about faith mean we are exempt from doing good works once we have salvation? Of course not.  By making Jesus the Lord of our lives we will want to serve Him by loving others.  A primary means of displaying our love for others is through good works.

I don’t believe Heaven is socialistic–that is, we won’t have equal status.  The Scriptures indicate that our reward will be directly proportional to what we have done during our years on earth.  It boils down to the three Ts:  Time, Talent, and Treasure.  All of us are given a portion of each one, but in different measure.  However, it’s how we use them that really counts.

Remember the story of the poor widow who gave two mites to the Temple while a rich person donated much more.  Jesus observed both people, and declared that the widow had made a real sacrifice.  She used the Treasure apportioned to her much more effectively, and as a result she received a greater heavenly reward.

The same types of comparison can be made for Time and Talent.  Our reward relates to how effectively we utilize these other two Ts to love others, advance the kingdom, and glorify God.

Think about what you can do with the three Ts that you have been given.  Make it count for an eternity.

Prayer:  Thank you God for loving us so much to sacrifice Your son, Jesus, on our behalf.  May we fully and completely use what you have so graciously given to us.  We ask for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to direct what You would have us to do.  For we make this request in the holy and precious name of Jesus, our savior.  Amen

“When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man.  He placed his right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid!  I am the first and the last.  I am the living one!  I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.  I have authority over death and the world of the dead.’ ”  Revelation 1:17-18 NIV

In your mind’s eye turn back the calendar by 2,000 years.  You’re in Jerusalem on the Monday following the first Easter.  Can you imagine the buzz in the city?  The news of Jesus coming back to life must have spread like wildfire. In one day following the resurrection I imagine everyone in the area had heard about it.

Think about the cast of players involved in the events of the proceeding few days.  What in the world do you suppose they thought?  Take a moment to reflect on what may have been going on in each person’s mind.  We have some indications from the Scriptures, but I think it’s worth speculating on each individual.

Pontus Pilate:  “I have a real problem now.  How did my officers botch a simple crucifixion?  I must figure out how to spin this fiasco.  Otherwise Rome may have my head over it.”

The Sanhedrin:  “We must find a way to discredit the story and restore confidence in Mosaic law.  Let’s publish some fake news and tell everyone that Jesus’s followers stole his body.  We better repair the ripped curtain in the temple pronto, too”

The Disciples:  “How did we miss what He clearly told us would happen?  He’s alive–just as He said.  Why did we desert Him?  Lord, forgive our unbelief and fear.”

Roman soldiers:  “This Jesus must be a god to come back to life.   After everything we did to him, will he seek revenge on us now?  We are powerless to stop a god.”

Mary, mother of Jesus:  “I saw my son die and placed in a tomb, but today He is alive!  My emotions are raw.  I’ve cried in sorrow and now I’m crying in happiness.  I can’t take any more.”

Barabbas:  “I better lay low and stay out-of-sight for a few days.  With all the chaos I don’t know what might happen to me.”

News in this era traveled by word-of-mouth.  You know that when stories are conveyed from one person to another, the information gets twisted.  Without question a tremendous number of rumors circulated freely.  All of Jerusalem must have been consumed by trying to determine what had happened and the implications of it.

The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest event in history.  Nothing else comes close to the impact it produced then and now.  It is proof positive that Jesus is the anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ.  Without it, we have no future, no eternal life, no belief system–just nothing.  The buzz in Jerusalem two millennia ago is still circulating, and it’s bigger today than ever before.  Praise Him!

Prayer:  Dear God, we are humbled and grateful for the perfect obedience of Jesus that provides a pathway for us to be redeemed and one day live with You.  May we never be ashamed, reserved or hesitant about sharing what He has done for us.  Amen

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.  Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.  Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:3-5 NIV

This verse is a prophecy about the Messiah written about 800 years before Jesus.  It describes the impact of Good Friday.

If you’ve read the historical record about Roman crucifixions–the kind that Jesus experienced–you know that the procedure is so brutal that it cannot be expressed adequately with words.  It was designed to inflict the greatest torture, pain, humiliation, shame, and punishment possible to execute a convicted criminal.  Crucifixion is far worse than anything you can imagine.

In spite of everything that happened to Jesus on Good Friday, He spoke only good words.  He petitioned God to forgive those who killed Him.  He assured the adjoining thief on the cross that he would see Him in Paradise.  He assigned John and Mary the son and mother relationship.  He quoted a prophetic Psalm about God deserting Him.  He spoke of His thirst–another prophecy.  He announced that His work was complete–something hugely significant for us.  Lastly, He committed His spirit to His Father.

What in the world is good about Good Friday?  Here are a few answers that apply to you and me:  amazing grace, perfect fulfillment of redemption, blood sacrifice for humanity.  However, what makes Good Friday good is that Sunday is coming! Everything that Jesus said in His promises to us were fulfilled with his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

That’s not just good news–that’s GREAT news!  Jesus did for us what is impossible for us to do for ourselves.  There is no hope for us without His resurrection.  Death had no power over Him.  Sin–the entire sin of all humanity over the ages–could not contain Him.  He is alive!

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for Jesus’s incredible obedience and His ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.  We are so grateful that we may have eternal life by accepting Him as the Christ and making him lord of our lives.  Amen