Devotionals

Psalm 112 New Living Translation (NLT)

As believing parents and grandparents we have the privilege and responsibility to set our children up for spiritual success; to help them establish a right relationship with Almighty God. As our children and others watch our lives, they should be learning what it means to fear the Lord; to respect him as Creator and to worship him by obeying his commands of love. Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments”…“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength…and love your neighbor as yourself” (John 14:15; Luke 10:27).

In our reading from the psalter today, we are reminded again about the blessing of God that spills over into the lives of believers who practice the love of God and trust in his care. As we do so, evil loses its grip on us and we are generous in the work of God, as well as helping with the needs of others. Practice truth by living according to the Lord’s commands and the goodness of God will overtake you. Those around you will hunger for what you have with God, so give them the opportunity to meet Jesus, too.

Psalm 112
1
Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
2
Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3
They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4
Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5
Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6
Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7
They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
8
They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9
They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10
The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessings that pursue me each day. Holy Spirit, continue to help me live in the truth of your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Peter 3:8-12 New Life Version (NLV)

Pride hinders us from abiding or communing with God. In fact, Scripture teaches God detests a prideful or haughty spirit (Prov. 8:13). In his sermon on the Mount of Beatitudes, Jesus taught the “poor in spirit” or humble are blessed to inherit the Kingdom of God (Matt. 5:3). If we are poor in spirit, we understand our spiritual emptiness apart from the work of Grace, as well as our inability to save ourselves. Pride is a constricting spirit that seeks to hinder the exaltation of God who is Love. Pride tempts the human soul seeking to induce self-worship; rather than worship God from whom all things are provided. As well, the enemy uses pride to restrict sacrificial love in our relationships; pride brings division to the Body of Christ. So, we need to be mindful of how pride works against our relationship with God and others. Once we identify a wrong spirit of pride, we know the answer is agape.

Peter understood the destructive work of pride, because he suffered from it before Christ delivered him. In Christ, Peter learned the power of love. Agape—sacrificial love—overcomes pride. So, let the love of God take down any pride that tries to exalt itself in your life. Humble yourself, worship, and exalt God above all things.

1 Peter 3:8-12 Teaching for All Christians
8 Last of all, you must share the same thoughts and the same feelings. Love each other with a kind heart and with a mind that has no pride. 9 When someone does something bad to you, do not do the same thing to him. When someone talks about you, do not talk about him. Instead, pray that good will come to him. You were called to do this so you might receive good things from God. 10 For “If you want joy in your life and have happy days, keep your tongue from saying bad things and your lips from talking bad about others. 11 Turn away from what is sinful. Do what is good. Look for peace and go after it. 12 The Lord watches over those who are right with Him. He hears their prayers. But the Lord is against those who sin.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson on spiritual pride; a mindset that hinders fellowship with you and my connection with others. May I willingly humble myself under your mighty hand each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Luke 6:6-11 New Life Version (NLV)

In our passage today, the people who were to guide God’s spiritual family—to be leaders pointing others to the One True God—reveal they know very little about the salvation Yahweh promised to bring his people. They do not understand the eternal substance of the Sabbath or what a spiritual rest really means for the people. Biblical rest, as God designed it, involves dwelling in peace while walking in obedience to God; we step away from self-sufficiency. As God’s children take a posture of submissive rest, it is symbolic of how we are to live each day resting upon his strength and power to work salvation in our lives. The leaders in our lesson care more about their manmade laws defining work on the Sabbath and their power to control things than the misery and broken life of this man with the shriveled hand. Jesus demonstrates authentic Sabbath rest as he reveals God’s compassion and the power of grace to bring salvation and restoration to one of his children. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. True Sabbath rest; therefore, can only be found in Christ.

Luke 6:6-11 Jesus Heals on the Day of Rest

6 On another Day of Rest Jesus went into the Jewish place of worship and taught. A man with a dried-up hand was there. 7 The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers watched to see if He would heal on the Day of Rest. They wanted to have something to say against Him. 8 Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to the man with the dried-up hand, “Stand up and come here.” The man stood up and went to Jesus. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing. Does the Law say to do good on the Day of Rest or to do bad? To save life or to kill?” 10 Jesus looked around at them all and said to the man, “Put out your hand.” He put it out and his hand was healed. It was as good as his other hand. 11 The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers were filled with anger. They talked with each other about what they might do to Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for teaching me more about the rest I am to enter each day. Every day you call me to a posture of obedience as work is done in and through my life. I need to learn external and internal rest that is designed by you, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Revelation 3:7-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

Do you ever focus on your weaknesses? The enemy is really good at trying to steer our attention in that direction in order to halt our spiritual progress and faith. But, as believers, when we are weak in a given area of our lives, that is the perfect place to reveal God’s strength. The Lord told the Apostle Paul, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). But, we have to get to the point where we do not despise our weaknesses. Instead, we look at them as opportunities for God to reveal his power and be glorified. Christ has the authority and the power to operate in our lives, but we have to invite him into those places. He knows all about our weaknesses, anyway. The truest test for us is to endure our weaknesses while inviting the Lord to shine through us; there is no room for worldly pride in our lives.

In our passage today, the Church in Philadelphia is about to experience some amazing things despite their weakness or lack of power. They have been faithful to follow the Spirit of the Law. Christ is going to reward them by opening a door—giving access to God—honoring and protecting true believers from much of what the world will taste before his second coming. Keep your focus on his power; make him Lord of your weaknesses. Listen up!

Revelation 3:7-13 The Message to the Church in Philadelphia [western Asia Minor]

7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

This is the message from the one who is holy and true [resurrected Christ],

the one who has the key of David.

What he opens, no one can close;

and what he closes, no one can open [Jesus has access to God]:

8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. 9 Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

10 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God [close to the glory of God], and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

13 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking my weakness and for making me strong in the power of your might. I acknowledge my need for you; there is no room in my life for selfish or prideful actions. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hebrews 12:18-29 The Message (MSG)

In Christ, God welcomes us into the heavenly Jerusalem—Mount Zion—where we become citizens of the unshakable kingdom built on the Cornerstone of Truth. The writer of Hebrews lays out before those listening the reality of two relational covenants offered by God which promise eternal life. The first covenant, involves trying to live the Laws of God in our own strength; which we all fail to do (Mount Sinai). Therefore, that failure ends in spiritual death. The second covenant, involves repenting and welcoming Jesus the Savior to pay the penalty for our sin—failure to love God and others as commanded by the Law—and to receive the Holy Spirit who writes the Law on our hearts and speaks Truth for us to follow (Mount Zion). Jesus—the sinless Son of God—secures eternal life for us. Choosing between these two covenants should be easy, but human hearts can be hardened by sin.

Knowing Christ and being led by the Spirit, makes God’s sons and daughters unshakable because we are built upon Truth and held together in Love. The heavens and the earth may one day quake in fear at the Voice of Almighty God, but his children will experience the calming balm of his love and mercy when we recognize his Voice leading us to Truth. The refining fire of God comes to destroy sin, so it is a gift to have him work in our lives right now to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When Christ—the Living Word—returns we will be listening and prepared.

Hebrews 12:18-29 An Unshakable Kingdom

18-21 Unlike your ancestors, you didn’t come to Mount Sinai—all that volcanic blaze and earthshaking rumble—to hear God speak. The earsplitting words and soul-shaking message terrified them and they begged him to stop. When they heard the words—“If an animal touches the Mountain, it’s as good as dead”—they were afraid to move. Even Moses was terrified.

22-24 No, that’s not your experience at all. You’ve come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us just. You’ve come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the Mediator of this covenant. The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel’s—a homicide that cried out for vengeance—became a proclamation of grace.

25-27 So don’t turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn’t get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he’s told us this quite plainly—he’ll also rock the heavens: “One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern.” The phrase “one last shaking” means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.

28-29 Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for burning away anything in me that does not bring you glory and honor. Please continue to refine me as your daughter. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hebrews 12:7-11 The Message (MSG)

I love children and I have always thought being a mom was one of my biggest callings from the Lord; it certainly has been one of my greatest pleasures. I read an article yesterday that contrasted parenting styles of today vs. thirty years ago. I don’t think I was a harsh parent, but I certainly did not seek to reason nor negotiate every little issue with my children. In fact, some things were non-negotiable. I did not start every sentence with the question, “Would you like to…” Challenges to our wills can be great for disciplining our character; it gets our focus off self and onto a bigger purpose. In fact, God uses that Parenting style all the time. Never forget God is educating you in his ways of love.

Hebrews 12:-7-11 God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

Prayer: Father, after all these years you are still training me in the paths of righteousness. New challenges to my will simply open me up for better blessings. Thank you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hebrews 12:1-6 The Message (MSG)

For those of you who know me well, you are aware I spend as much time as I can each day with our sweet dog, Gracie. She is easy to be around; a great daily companion for me. So, most of the time where I go Gracie goes. She adds to my life and is never a burden or a drain. Unlike Gracie, there may be companions in our lives that go along with us each day—self-exalting sin—that actually make us spiritually sick, drain us of the joy of our salvation, and leave us ineffective for the work of the Kingdom.

Yesterday, we read about how sin is the failure to love God and others as we have been commanded by our Father. Sin feeds on selfishness and self-centeredness. In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews reminds us that sin is like a parasitic companion that goes with us everywhere we go. Many times, we are not even aware of the hidden sin that clings and drains our souls of the Father’s blessings. This analogy of sin as a parasite is great. It may not sound very spiritual, but just think about a parasite and how it stays alive. A parasite is an organism that lives on another specie who serves as a host; the parasite benefits by deriving nutrients at the host’s expense. Sin leaves us in spiritual draught and starvation. It actually drains us of the God-life and hinders our vibrant relationship with God. Sin is a thief; a parasite is a thief. So, God disciplines us to get rid of the parasitic sins that try to cling to our selfish inclinations. It is a blessing to live in the Hand of the Father; the Great Physician who is driven to keep us spiritually healthy.

Hebrews 12:1-6 Discipline in a Long-Distance Race

1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

4-6 In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,

but don’t be crushed by it either.

It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;

the child he embraces, he also corrects.

Prayer: Father, thank you for picking off the spiritual parasites that try to hide in my soul. Please keep me healthy and vibrant in your love; I welcome your loving discipline. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Luke 19:45-48 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Sin—failure to love God and others—has the ability to get a death grip on unredeemed or uninformed people. The spirit of anti-Christ maneuvers, intimidates, and even coerces in order to gain power. It is relentless in its search for a host and uses fear as fuel. Good News: Perfect love—Christ—casts out fear and keeps our hearts inclined to love and worship God (1 John 4:18). But, we must listen to the Truth and obey the Word or commands of God; we must acknowledge the sin that tries to hide and repent.

In our passage today, Jesus comes to the physical Temple to teach a spiritual lesson about sin that hinders worship. These religious leaders have been unfaithful to teach the Truth about God’s commands, because people are not aware of the sin hiding in their hearts nor their need for repentance. The Temple is for worship—for people who live humbly and obediently before a holy God. In our lesson, the Living Word—Jesus—speaks Truth about the heart of worship which immediately spiritually divides the people gathered. In fact, the Word demands a response from the religious leaders, as well as everyone else listening. They must acknowledge their sin against God or justify it; they face the Truth. There are two different responses to the Truth: the people who listen and obey the bearer of Truth and the religious leaders who reject and plan to kill the bearer of Truth.

Luke 19:45-48 Jesus in the Temple

45 When Jesus entered the temple, he started chasing out the people who were selling things. 46 He told them, “The Scriptures say, ‘My house should be a place of worship.’ But you have made it a place where robbers hide!”

47 Each day, Jesus kept on teaching in the temple. So the chief priests, the teachers of the Law of Moses, and some other important people tried to have him killed. 48 But they could not find a way to do it, because everyone else was eager to listen to him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for coming to love me and chase the sin out of my life; to turn over the symbolic tables in my temple where unholy things try to hide. Deliver me from evil for Thine is the Kingdom, power, and glory forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 7:44-51 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

The Truth is always going to be released in some way or another; the Lord who is Truth cannot be silenced. The Word of Truth will always demand a response. We can either take the Truth in or resist it. If we are full of ourselves and sow into a selfish perspective—narcissistic by sin—then we will hate the Truth if it disagrees with our inclinations or agendas. Human flesh fights to dominate the Spirit; always a power struggle. In our passage today, we will see the division the Truth can create when human flesh and the Spirit clash.

Originally, Stephen was chosen by the apostles to feed the needy. Yet, this prophet did so much more than that because he was full of the Spirit. Steven performed many miracles and signs of God among the people. By doing so, he made the narcissistic religious leaders extremely angry. Stephen had power they did not possess. The Counsel falsely accused Stephen of blaspheming against the will of Creator God and the Law of Moses—the Torah. Stephen presented his case, against these accusations, by recounting the Truth of God’s provision for the salvation of Israel through Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and all the way up to and including Jesus. Stephen explained that the Tabernacle was a temporary vessel to house the Spirit until Jesus was sent to make a way for the indwelling of the Spirit in human hearts. Obedient lives would be the outward sign of true inward worship of God; power and blessing would be released through these lives willing to live guided by the Hand of God. Yet, these religious leaders could not bear to hear the Truth; they preferred Temple worship and animal sacrifice over the sacrifice of their flesh. So, they stoned Stephen to silence him in order to preserve their power.

Acts 7:44-51

44 The tent where our ancestors worshiped God was with them in the desert. This was the same tent that God had commanded Moses to make. And it was made like the model that Moses had seen. 45 Later it was given to our ancestors, and they took it with them when they went with Joshua. They carried the tent along as they took over the land from those people that God had chased out for them. Our ancestors used this tent until the time of King David. 46 He pleased God and asked him if he could build a house of worship for the people of Israel. 47 And it was finally King Solomon who built a house for God.

48 But the Most High God doesn’t live in houses made by humans. It is just as the prophet said, when he spoke for the Lord,

49

“Heaven is my throne,

and the earth

is my footstool.

What kind of house

will you build for me?

In what place will I rest?

50

I have made everything.”

51 You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson today from the life of Stephen. I, too, must speak the Truth and be willing to accept the possibility that flesh-driven people may hate me for it. Nonetheless, salvation is about exalting Truth. So lead on Holy Spirit in my life and in the lives of all your children. Help us to use our faith when fear rises within us. May we take our places as sons and daughters to obey your Word and passionately speak your heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 32 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

God desires to bless you; to bless all of his children with his love. Blessings are God’s reward for living in honesty and integrity before him. When we live honestly, we recognize the truth about our hearts and actions. We do not resist God’s hand of guidance. We know when we have sinned against the Word and we do not try to hide our sin from the Lord. He loves us and wants to help us, but we must confess and turn from our sin in order to taste the joy of forgiveness. Truly, as we follow Christ, blessings abound!

Psalm 32 The Joy of Forgiveness

1

Our God, you bless everyone

whose sins you forgive

and wipe away.

2

You bless them by saying,

“You told me your sins,

without trying to hide them,

and now I forgive you.”

3

Before I confessed my sins,

my bones felt limp,

and I groaned all day long.

4

Night and day your hand

weighed heavily on me,

and my strength was gone

as in the summer heat.

5

So I confessed my sins

and told them all to you.

I said, “I’ll tell the Lord

each one of my sins.”

Then you forgave me

and took away my guilt.

6

We worship you, Lord,

and we should always pray

whenever we find out

that we have sinned.

Then we won’t be swept away

by a raging flood.

7

You are my hiding place!

You protect me from trouble,

and you put songs in my heart

because you have saved me.

8

You said to me,

“I will point out the road

that you should follow.

I will be your teacher

and watch over you.

9

Don’t be stupid

like horses and mules

that must be led with ropes

to make them obey.”

10

All kinds of troubles

will strike the wicked,

but your kindness shields those

who trust you, Lord.

11

And so your good people

should celebrate and shout.

Prayer: Father, I understand the heart of David in our reading today. When I am honest with you about my thought life and actions, you are right there to encourage me to rise in your power toward a greater level of maturity. All I have to do, is be honest and repent. I praise you for your goodness and mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.