Devotionals

Matthew 23:9-14

Last Sunday, the Lord took me to teach on Luke 21:5-19 with an emphasis on the false teaching from false prophets Christ prophesied would precede his return. In our passage today, we find a parallel to the passage in Luke. Matthew actually shares in deeper detail the persecution of believers that will precede the Second Coming of Messiah. In our Tuesday morning prayer time this week, we had a visitor who came by the church and asked to be a part of the prayer time. She said her heart was burdened for persecuted Christians—our brothers and sisters. She felt compelled of the Spirit to gather our hearts and pray for believers worldwide. It was confirmation of what God had revealed to me last week.

You will probably not see this on the news, but did you know last year 245 million Christians in the world experienced high levels of persecution for making a choice to follow Jesus? Eleven Christians are killed everyday for their faith in third world countries due to Islamic, religious nationalist, or communist oppression. Actually, 1 out of 9 Christians worldwide experience some form of persecution for his or her faith. I pray for worldwide leaders to bow before Almighty God. I pray for our US leaders to wake up and see the need to protect our Christian heritage and people.

Matthew 23:9-14 Persecution of Believers
9 “You can expect to be persecuted, even killed; for you will be hated by all the nations because of your love for me. 10 Then many will stop following me and fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many lying prophets will arise, deceiving multitudes and leading them away from the path of truth. 12 There will be such an increase of sin and lawlessness that those whose hearts once burned with passion for God and others will grow cold. 13 But keep your hope to the end and you will experience life and deliverance.

14 “Yet through it all, this joyful assurance of the realm of heaven’s kingdom will be proclaimed all over the world, providing every nation with a demonstration of the reality of God. And after this the end of this age will arrive.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for my heart to be burdened for all my brothers and sisters who face persecution because of their choice to follow Jesus. May that burden lead me to pray and intercede for them each day. Please set your angels around your children. Protect us Lord. Bring a powerful demonstration of the reality of your sovereign presence to the world. May your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Disciples of Christ have been commissioned to reach out into the world and make more disciples. Many believers “understand” the call of Christ to proclaim the Good News and some passionately “share” with others the need to be born again. Fewer believers actively “participate” in coming along side other believers to help them mature as they live in God’s glory. Learning to walk in the love of God is challenging. In order to do so, we must break free of the worldly mindset of thinking only of ourselves. We must shake off the fear the enemy sends to halt the progress of righteousness. We must care as much for the spiritual formation of others as we care for ourselves. In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the early church in Corinth to use the freedom grace provides to help others grow up in Christ’s love.

1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 Living for God’s Glory
23 You say, “Under grace there are no rules and we’re free to do anything we please.” Not exactly. Because not everything promotes growth in others. Your slogan, “We’re allowed to do anything we choose,” may be true—but not everything causes the spiritual advancement of others. 24 So don’t always seek what is best for you at the expense of another. 25 Yes, you are free to eat anything without worrying about your conscience, 26 for the earth and all its abundance belongs to the Lord.

27 So if an unbeliever invites you to dinner, go ahead and eat whatever is served, without asking questions concerning where it came from. 28 But if he goes out of his way to inform you that the meat was actually an offering sacrificed to idols, then you should pass, not only for his sake but because of his conscience. 29 I’m talking about someone else’s conscience, not yours. What good is there in doing what you please if it’s condemned by someone else?

30 So if I voluntarily participate, why should I be judged for celebrating my freedom? 31 Whether you eat or drink, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God. 32 And make sure you’re not offending Jews or Greeks or any part of God’s assembly over your personal preferences. 33 Follow my example, for I try to please everyone in all things, rather than putting my liberty first. I sincerely attempt to do anything I can so that others may be saved.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be willing to voluntarily live in such a way that honors and glorifies you, as well as provides an example of love for other believers to follow. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ephesians 4:25-5:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

Believers are to be imitators of God; we look at the human life of the Savior—Jesus Christ—and we invite the divine Spirit to help us be conformed to his image. Therefore, we need victory over things like lying, stealing, using foul or abusive language, and spewing anger, because those things grieve the Holy Spirit. Anger alone opens the door to the enemy of love. Those kinds of behaviors are not found in the Savior, so they should not be a pattern of behavior for our lives.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the early church of its mission. We need to be examples of hard working children who know they essentially work for Father God. Honorable work is godly; God pleasing. We need to be examples of givers, because the Savior gave his life so he could be a Giver through the multitude of believers. We need to exalt Christ in our lives, because the Holy Spirit has marked us for eternal life. So let’s really bring our lives into agreement with God; he offers the strength and grace to make it happen we just need to imitate our Teacher.

Ephesians 4:25-5:2
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Living in the Light
5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Prayer: Lord, I want to live my life filled with your love. Holy Spirit, help me be an imitator of Christ, so my life is an encouragement to others, as well as a pleasing aroma before you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

Two people groups make up the human race: Believers and Unbelievers. Believers are those who believe God exists and is a Rewarder of those who seek him; God’s greatest reward is the Good News of Jesus Messiah—the Savior. Believers are covered by the blood of Jesus, receive pardon for sin, and are given the impartation of the Spirit who helps them live in right standing with God. Unbelievers are those who do not know God and deliberately reject the Good News of Jesus who brings forgiveness of sin. Therefore, Scriptures teaches unbelievers will face the judgment of God for their own sin.

In our lesson today, the Apostle Paul writes to the early church in Thessalonica in order to encourage believers to persevere through every hardship. He reminds them to remain faithful, because God is going to one day bring justice. If we are going to live worthy of Christ’s call on our lives, we will have to persevere in faith and trust God to bring good out of even the most challenging places.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 Encouragement during Persecution
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. 5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.

7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.

9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 10 When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.

11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing me strength when I need it most; I want to persevere for the Kingdom. May you be honored by how I live my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Romans 1:18-25 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Scripture teaches it is the purpose and work of evil and wickedness to smother the Truth about God. God created humanity in his image and within every human being is the seed of Truth about God that wickedness tries to smother. According to our Scripture today, no human being has an excuse for why he or she does not know the Truth about God, because from the beginning of creation God embedded this understanding in the human heart. So the real issue is not ignorance of God; rather, the problem is the power of wickedness that positions itself to manipulate and dominate human flesh with lies. Seek the Truth from the Word of God, pray to walk with the Spirit into all Truth, and speak the Truth to others.

Romans 1:18-25 God Reveals His Wrath
18 For God in heaven unveils his holy anger breaking forth against every form of sin, both toward ungodliness that lives in hearts and evil actions. For the wickedness of humanity deliberately smothers the truth and keeps people from acknowledging the truth about God. 19 In reality, the truth of God is known instinctively, for God has embedded this knowledge inside every human heart.

20 Opposition to truth cannot be excused on the basis of ignorance, because from the creation of the world, the invisible qualities of God’s nature have been made visible, such as his eternal power and transcendence. He has made his wonderful attributes easily perceived, for seeing the visible makes us understand the invisible. So then, this leaves everyone without excuse.

21 Throughout human history the fingerprints of God were upon them, yet they refused to honor him as God or even be thankful for his kindness. Instead, they entertained corrupt and foolish thoughts about what God was like. This left them with nothing but misguided hearts, steeped in moral darkness. 22 Although claiming to be super-intelligent, they were in fact shallow fools. 23 For only a fool would trade the unfading splendor of the immortal God to worship the fading image of other humans, idols made to look like people, animals, birds, and even creeping reptiles!

24 This is why God lifted off his restraining hand and let them have full expression of their sinful and shameful desires. They were given over to moral depravity, dishonoring their bodies by sexual perversion among themselves— 25 all because they traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and served the things God made rather than the God who made all things—glory and praises to him for eternity of eternities! Amen!

Prayer: Father, thank you for embedding in my heart the knowledge and glory of you. Thank you for Jesus—my Redeemer—who rolled back the stone covering my heart in order to liberate me and thank you for the Spirit who now helps me live in the Truth of who I was created to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 5:19-29 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

In our passage today, Jesus is telling those around him about his devotion to the Father; Almighty God directs his every step. This devotion to live the divine nature drives Christ into absolute unity with the Father. He does nothing on his own. Wouldn’t we be powerful if we would just stop trying to control and drive our own lives and instead allow the Father to lovingly guide them? Jesus has the power to bring us that kind of life—eternal life—if we will welcome it, listen carefully, and obey the Word. The radical obedience of Christ has positioned and raised him for authority; he is the Giver of Life and the Judge of humanity. Let the Word of God raise you up!

John 5:19-29 The Son’s Authority
19 Jesus told the people:
I tell you for certain that the Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing, and he does exactly what he sees the Father do. 20 The Father loves the Son and has shown him everything he does. The Father will show him even greater things, and you will be amazed. 21 Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants to.

22 The Father doesn’t judge anyone, but he has made his Son the judge of everyone. 23 The Father wants all people to honor the Son as much as they honor him. When anyone refuses to honor the Son, that is the same as refusing to honor the Father who sent him. 24 I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life.

25 I tell you for certain that the time will come, and it is already here, when all of the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen to it will live! 26 The Father has the power to give life, and he has given that same power to the Son. 27 And he has given his Son the right to judge everyone, because he is the Son of Man.

28 Don’t be surprised! The time will come when all of the dead will hear the voice of the Son of Man, 29 and they will come out of their graves. Everyone who has done good things will rise to life, but everyone who has done evil things will rise and be condemned.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for revealing the amazing way you lived in unity with the Father while on earth. Help me to welcome your Word, listen, and obey. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 123 The Passion Translation (TPT)

It is the limitless inspiration of the Spirit at work in God’s children Who guides each one to rise or ascend in spiritual understanding; to learn how to better use the measure of faith each has been given and to appropriate grace to reach the next level. Think about a stairway; a flight of stairs usually with landings to pass from one level to another. Scripture teaches God’s children move from one level of glory to another level of glory. As Jacob slept one night he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to the heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway (Gen. 28:12). In his second letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul writes, “We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (3:18).

In our passage today, the psalmist sings of the stairway; a way to ascend to God and discover more of his mercy and grace. Jesus is the Stairway who radiates the glory of the Father (Heb. 1:3). When life gets difficult, we want to ascend to receive help from God. However, every day whether the climb on the Stairway is challenging or effortless, we should desire to ascend for the passionate longing of God’s company. Remember, God desires to show you his mercy and grace found only in Christ. God will respond to your call for help when life leaves you feeling mistreated.

Psalm 123 A Prayer for Mercy
A song of the stairway
1 O God-Enthroned in heaven, I lift my eyes toward you in worship.
2 The way I love you
is like the way a servant wants to please his master,
the way a maid waits for the orders of her mistress.
We look to you, our God, with passionate longing
to please you and discover more of your mercy and grace.
3–4 For we’ve had more than our fill of this scoffing and scorn—
this mistreatment by the wealthy elite.
Lord, show us your mercy!
Lord, show us your grace!

Prayer: Lord, I worship you and wait for communion with you; truly, my heart longs to enjoy the pleasure of your company. Thank you for making yourself available to me. Thank you for the mercy and grace you lavishly pour over my life and the lives of my loved ones. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 Peter 1:16-21 The Voice (VOICE)

There is no substitute for experiential learning and spiritual revelation to build our faith. When God shows you something majestic about himself, it is like it becomes etched in your heart. For example, Peter was with Christ at the Mount of Transfiguration with James and John. They saw the glory of the Lord. They saw the realities of Moses and Elijah—thought long dead but certainly alive. Nothing would ever be able to take the experience from these disciples of Christ. They saw the glory of God touch the earth; they watched Christ become momentarily transformed and overshadowed by Almighty Father God. They heard the Voice of God affirm the Son. When that happened, they knew God loved them and wanted to affirm them, too.

What can we learn from their experience? God wants to bring each one of us the light of truth; a truth that lights up our hearts with faith. If you want to know the heart of God for you, get in his Word and learn how God revealed himself to men and women of faith in the past. Then, ask God to reveal his heart to you about your life and his plan for you. Ask him to affirm you with his love. Invite God to bring you some experiential learning opportunities in his grace that will prompt spiritual growth in you. Spiritual renewal brings revelation, growth, and power to overcome the enemy. Satan cannot rob the spiritually vibrant man or woman of faith.

2 Peter 1:16-21
16 For I want to remind you that when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, we were relying on what our eyes had seen of His glorious majesty, not on cleverly told fables. 17 You see, God the Father lavished honor and glory upon Jesus when the voice of the Majestic Glory echoed from heaven and said, “This is My beloved Son, and My favor rests on Him.”18 We witnessed this—we ourselves heard this voice from heaven—when we were with Jesus on that holy mountain. 19 We have a fuller confirmation of the message of the prophets. You would do well to pay close attention to this word; it is like a light that shines for you in the darkness of night until the day dawns when the morning star rises in your own hearts.

20 But notice first that no prophecy found in Scripture is a matter of the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 Prophecy has never been a product of human initiative, but it comes when men and women are moved to speak on behalf of God by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for providing your Word to guide my understanding of your heart. Your biblical witnesses and heroes of the faith inspire me to press in for more of you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Luke 20:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

Hypocrisy is a big thing with God. Let’s define hypocrisy as the pretense of having a virtuous character that one really does not possess. Scripture teaches our God knows the motives of the human heart; God knows my heart, your heart, all hearts. So, hypocrisy is seen very clearly by God when we enter into it even if we think we are successfully hiding behind a virtuous mask.

In our passage today, the religious leaders pretend to care about God’s reputation, but inside their motive is really to trap and accuse Jesus of blasphemy. They care more about saving face with people than being authentic and transparent with Almighty God. Note that Jesus is aware of their deceptive tactics—pleading ignorance—and he outshines them with his wisdom, insight, authority, and holy character. When you and I live from a loving heart—love for God and for our neighbor—God knows the truth and he causes us to shine with his integrity. Choose integrity over hypocrisy. By the way, the remedy for hypocrisy is to know God knows you; therefore, it is wiser to tell the truth.

Luke 20:1-8 The Authority of Jesus Challenged
20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. 2 They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

3 “Let me ask you a question first,” he replied. 4 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”

5 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. 6 But if we say it was merely human, the people will stone us because they are convinced John was a prophet.” 7 So they finally replied that they didn’t know.
8 And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for knowing my heart and helping me each day to identify any unholy tendency in me that would speak against the Truth. May the meditation of my heart and the words of my mouth please you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.