Recent Devotions
Matthew 22:29-33 NLT “Jesus replied, ‘Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven. But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. So he is the God of the living, not…
Acts 7:8 NLT “He replied, ‘The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.’ ” I struggle with having patience. I always open the microwave before it dings, I coax along the red traffic light, and I seriously hate…
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.” Exodus 14:15-16 We…
Readers Loved
“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus.” John 1:40 I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I am truly fascinated with the story of the disciples first encounter with Jesus. To read that Andrew merely heard what Jesus said and left everything and followed him, is truly remarkable. I think of our generation, with so many false teachers, and those claiming to be someone their not. How do you discern what is true and what is false? I believe these men had to be men of prayer…
“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5, New King James Version) Gentleness. It’s listed in Galatians 5:22-23 as one of the nine attributes of the fruit of the Spirit, but I confess it’s not one I’ve thought much about until recently. When I take note of recent events, I find a society filled with harshness rather than gentleness. I hear strident voices, rudeness, disrespect, and criticism. It seems we applaud those who are “tough,” “aren’t afraid to speak up,” and “tell it like it is” even if it hurts another. Gentleness is viewed…
I grew up in Missouri, USA, where our state motto is “Show Me.” Often when people tell us something, we Missourians will joke, “Show me!” In other words, we want proof that it’s true. I like proof; I like having an assurance that things are going to be fine. I’d love for God to give me clear evidence that things are going to be alright, wouldn’t you? It would be much more comfortable. He doesn’t often work that way, though. Even when Jesus lived and walked among us, He spoke to the multitudes in parables “so that ‘seeing they may…
Do you ever wonder what it was like to talk to Jesus one-on-one? John 4 gives details of His conversation with a Samaritan woman. He asked her for a drink, and her response put up the guard of the cultural barrier between them. “Jews have no dealings with me.” Most likely she said this while looking at the ground between them. Jesus acknowledged the entirety of her past, but He didn’t berate her for it. He saw the grief of a broken heart. He saw her wounded spirit. He saw self-esteem in shambles. He told her, “If you knew who…
