Daily Devotions

Friday, April 25

Saturday, April 26

The Meaning of Christ's Victory for Us

Isaiah 59:20 - "The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the Lord.

What comfort to know we will surely obtain the glory which Jesus won for us.  Clinging to that Victor we can exult in the world of strife.  If God is for us - and Calvary's cross shows he is - who can be against us?

But can our conscience exult, recalling our rebellion against him? The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin.  Our sins are completely removed.  Can the legions of hell overcome us?  The Redeemer came and he destroyed Satan's power forever. That's final!  Can our evil nature triumph over us?  The unbreakable Word shows us that, "if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1).  He has washed all our scarlet guilt white as snow, and made it spotless as fleecy wool.  Can affliction gain supremacy over us?  Paul challenges, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Romans 8:35).  

Because what seems losses to us come as proof of God's love, we can battle disaster and cry out, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).

• More than conquerors of sin.
• More than conquerors of evil thoughts.
• More than conquerors of the hostile world.
• More than conquerors of temptations.
• More than conquerors of doubt.
• More than conquerors of death.

We can challenge, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)  We have won with Christ.  He is the Savior of all.  He stands at our side.  He meets every need.  He has defeated every enemy of our soul once and for all.  

Let us build our hope on him.  As truly as he is the Son of God, victory is ours.  We will face enemies, of course.  Yet, with Jesus we will not fight alone.  He will help us overcome and obtain the victory.

Jesus, stand at my side every minute of every day to assure me of

redemption through your precious blood.  Then whatever comes on

life's battlefield, I will win with you.  Amen.

Sunday, April 27

Too Many Identities

Romans 8:29 - Those God for knew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.

Many young people find their identity in a pro athlete or team, while others idolize and emulate a rock star.  Adults are more subtle, but we, too, will identify ourselves by our careers, our family roles, our hobbies, or trends set by our favorite celebrities.  It is human nature to pick an appealing image - any image - and they try to live up to it.  We enthusiastically become like the people or ideals on which we set our affections.  When we want to, we conform easily.  Our desired image becomes a part of us.

When we became Chrisitians, we may have found that we continually struggle to become Christlike. Why?  If our affections are set on Him as they once were on the trends and icons of our culture, wouldn't a godly transformation be a natural process for us?  Perhaps that is jus the problem.  Perhaps our affections are not entirely Christ-ward.  We easily let our love grow stale, losing the excitement that newness and discovery naturally brought us at first.  Others images - cultural trends and newfound interests - become the object of our infatuation, while Jesus subtly and imperceptibly passes from our adoration to our obligation.

When this happens, we find godliness more of a struggle.  It is hard to let ourselves become conformed to the image of Jesus when we hold another image in higher esteem.  Other passions pull us in other directions, often making conflicting - or at least superfluous - demands on our character.  Godly character cannot thrive in such a context.  Our spirits will not fit into two molds simultaneously.

Is your growth toward godliness a difficult struggle?  Examine your desire.  How do you envision yourself? How would you like others to perceive you?  What image do you aim for?  If you find any image other than Jesus shaping your soul, abandon it.  It will hinder your growth.  Find your identity entirely in Him.

Monday, April 28

Jesus Listens

Supreme Savior,

Help me to give up the illusion that I deserve a problem-free life.  Part of me still hungers for the resolution of all my difficulties, but I realize this is a false hope.  Your Word states clearly that in this world I will have trouble.  I must link my hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of trouble-free life with You in heaven.  Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, I want to pour my energy into seeking You - the Perfect One.

You've shown me that it's possible to glorify You in the midst of adverse circumstances.  Your Light shines brightly through believers who trust You in the dark.  This is supernatural trust, produced by Your indwelling Spirit.

Lord, I invite You to transform me more and more into the one You designed me to be.  I want to yield to Your creative work in me, neither resisting it nor trying to speed it up.  I long to enjoy the tempo of a God-breathed life - with You setting the pace.  I'm grateful that You hold me by my right hand, You guide me with your counsel, and afterward You will take me into Glory.

In Your triumphant name, Jesus, Amen

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Psalm 73:23-24 - Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your  counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

Tuesday, April 29

The Frog's "Blackboard"

Psalm 119:37 - Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.

As a young boy, one of my favorite pastimes was hunting frogs along the banks of a pond near our home.  I was unaware of their unique visual powers that enabled them to elude me so easily.  Later I learned that the frog's optical field is like a blackboard wiped clean, and that the only images it receives are objects that directly concern him.  These little amphibians are never distracted by unimportant things, but are aware only of essentials and whatever may be dangerous to them.  

In the Christian life we frequently become preoccupied with the vain things of the world.  We allow our lives to become so cluttered with materialistic and insignificant concerns that we lose perspective of the things that endure.  In our text the psalmist asked God for help in fixing his attention on what is good and lasting (Psalm 119:37).

The words of the Lord should no depart from our eyes, but must be kept in our heart always (Proverbs 4:21).  Then our field of vision will be wiped clean of unnecessary things, and we will see clearly what God wants us to do.  Have you become distracted by sin so that you can no longer discern what is really important?  Then take a lesson from the frog's "blackboard" and center your gaze on Christ and His will for your life.

The more attracted we are to Christ,

the less we'll be distracted by the world.

Wednesday, April 30

God's Symphony

Psalm 145:15 - The eyes of all look to you.

Watch a symphony orchestra.  The musicians may be busy tuning up, talking to one another, or waiting quietly.  But when the conductor steps on the podium and raps for attention, everyone looks up.  Indeed the leader will no begin until he or she has the attention of all the players.  Good music requires attention.

"The eyes of all looks to you."  That's a beautiful description of how we are to live in our relationship wo God - eyes forward, intent on our conductor, our leader.  It's easy to get distracted, easy to let our attention wander to petty and unimportant things.  Too often Christians spend time with details and bicker over minor matters.

But if you would play in God's symphony, the order is simple and strict: Eyes to God; hands posed to follow his will. We are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.  And the result will be beautiful music.

Lord, keep my eyes from the things of

the world that distract me.  Amen.

Thursday, May 1

Meaningful Desire

Ecclesiastes 1:8 - "The eye never has enough of seeing, no the ear its fill of hearing."

Human nature is never satisfied.  Whenever gifts God has given us, we want more.  When we've gotten a taste of God's generosity, our appetites are whetted, not filled.  We are always waiting for the next good thing.

The good thing about our constant quest of more it that, when rightly directed, we can have it.  This may be surprising to those of us who have heard sermon after sermon on the virtues of contentment.  It's true that desire for the things of the world, as Solomon describes, is never fully satisfied.  But there is a godly craving that is rewarded with blessing upon blessing.  If our dissatisfaction moves us toward God and His Kingdom rather than toward temporal fulfillments, it is a holy dissatisfaction.  It will eventually be rewarded.  God never denies those who want more of Him.

Solomon says: "The eye never has enough of seeing, nor th ear its fill of hearing."  Is this bad, as he implies?  Or can it be good?  That depends.  It's bad if our eternal cravings are misdirected toward temporal things.  It's good if we're seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Are you dissatisfied with life?  Ask yourself why.  If you are filling your life with things that don't last, you will never be satisifed at all.  How can you be?  The things you seek are not inherently satisfying.

But God is.  If you are filling your life with Him (and letting Him fill your life with Himself), He will satisfy, and when you grow discontent again, He will give more.  You will find yourself fully content for a time, and then realize there is so much more of Him to discover.  Your holy craving will drive you deeper into His presence.  That's not a problem.  He is inexhaustible in His riches.  We can forever explore Him, and if we want more, there will be more to find.

Let temporal things serve your use, 

but the eternal be the object of your desire.

Friday, May 2

Could This Be The Christ?

John 4:29 - "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.  Could this be the Christ?"

Who am I to tell people of Christ?  Some of us feel that because of our past we are not qualified to witness.  We are sinners.  Who will listen to us?  The woman at Jacob's well did not hesitate.  Once she has heard the life-giving words of Jesus, she went to witness to others.  Jesus had said, "Woman believe me."  She believed and invited those who didn't think much of her.

The stream of living water cleansed her soul.  She remembered those who avoided her.  The people of the city had likely called her "that woman." But she left her water jar and invited them.  "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

This most comforting account of how Jesus saved a sinful soul should encourage us to go and tell what we know of Christ.  We have been washed and cleansed.  We have been saved for such service.  Nothing should keep us from going even to those who may despise us for our past misdeeds. Let us say to them, "Come see him who changed my life and made me his own.  This is truly the Christ."

Wash and cleanse me, Savior, and give me grace 

to go and tell what you have done for me.  Amen.

Saturday, May 3

Step by Step

Proverbs 9:6 - "Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding."

The longest journey begins with a single step.  The greatest change of behavior begins with deciding to trty something new.  One day at a time is the only way to introduce change.  The way soon becomes a comfortable and familiar routine.  Then not doing the new behavior feels awkward and foreign.

There is so much I would like to do, to change, and to accomplish in my life that I begin to feel overwhelmed, frozen in a state of inertia.  My goals seem obtainable.  But if I consider what I might do with this next hour, I have hope and new inspiration.  Then I can move forward in faith, one step at a time.

When I focus on all I want to learn and do, my ignorance seems to drown me.  But when I focus on what I have already learned or done, the unknown seems more manageable.  I can keep learning and doing, step by step.

Dear Lord, grant us faith to trust you for our inspiration.  Amen.

Sunday, May 4

Christ is Our Shepherd

John 10:15 - "The Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."

"I am the Good Shepherd," said Jesus.  Either this Christ is a silly fraud, even a dangerous one, as are scores of self-appointed "Christs" enticing the masses today, or He is truly the Son of God, for this is what He claims to be.  Moreover, His claims are stronger and more persuasive than when He first made them, for He now presents Himself as the resurrected, living Christ.

Jesus gives His reasons for declaring Himself the Good Shepherd.  He is the Owner of the flock. "I know My own and My own know Me." He is not hired to care for them; He is their Owner - they are His possession.  He came to possess His possessions, to redeem His sheep, to complete and secure His fold.

He is Caretaker of His flock.  "Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" said the psalmist.  He is never off-duty, but with watchful eye and cocked ear is ever attentive to the needs of His lambs.

He is Provider for the flock. "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters," sang the psalmist.  "Seek first His kingdom . . . and all these things shall be yours as well," Jesus promised His disciples (Matthew 6:33). Truly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

He is Defender of the flock.  "They shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand," promised Jesus (John 10:28).  The Lord is our Shepherd - and we are His.  This day and every day our lives and all that we are and have belong absolutely and unconditionally to Him, for the Lord is our Shepherd, and we are His forever.

I thank you, my Savior and Lord, for you made it possible

for me to know who I am and to whom I belong.  Amen.

Saturday, November 30

The Unchanging Christ: The Same Yesterday

The Unchanging Christ: The Same Yesterday

All of my life I have heard the plea for a relevant “new Christ for a new age.”

The truth is Jesus Christ is God’s final word to men in all ages. He is relevant for every age. He is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

The same Jesus sits today “on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). He is the same person as He was when here on the earth.

When we read the words, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday” we are carried back to the long ages before He became flesh. I can point to a date, time, and place when I was born. However, Jesus did not begin to live when He was born in the flesh of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem. He simply changed His robes.

The apostle Paul tells us Jesus was in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, divested Himself of His garments of glory that had been His from all eternity and clothed Himself in the garments of a common household slave in the flesh and was obedient unto death. He was God-man. He was fully God and fully human (Phil. 2:5-8).

The absolutely essential fact is He was the same in past eternity; He changes not.

I search for an absolute in an age of change; He changes not, and I therefore have security.

He came from the Father and He returned to the Father. He dwelt in the ageless past in the bosom of His eternal Father. The apostle John tells us, “in the beginning was the Word.” When everything else had a beginning He already existed and He had no beginning. His beginning had no beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (John 1:1-4).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday . . .” His eternal existence is declared in these words, “in the beginning was the Word.” He is no vacillating whim of the age. “The Word was with God,” a distinct personality of the true and perfect deity because “the Word was God.” His personal relationship with the Father is unchangeable. He “was in the beginning with God,” and because of His resurrection and ascension, He still is in the presence of the Father in a perfect relationship.

Moreover, His understanding of man never needs to change. No one knows me like the one who made me. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” “In Him is life.”

Where would you turn for a relevant Christ that is not found in the historic Christ? Would you, like the modern self-made cults, turn to your own making, or to some new age “enlightenment”?

God in Christ has already become one of us in order to demonstrate His love for us, and to show us what God is really like. God came and revealed Himself to sinful and disobedient rebellious men.

I don’t need a greater “light.” I only need to respond to the One true and all supreme Lord of all creation. Why should I turn to some lesser “light”? All other spiritual lights are only creepy shadows of the one who masquerades as “the angel of light,” Satan himself.

We don’t have to look afar to discover what evil lurks within the heart of man. God has fully revealed Himself (Heb. 1:1-3), and man in his stubborn rebellion cries for something greater and better like selfish, pampered, narcissistic children whining for something new.

God has spoken. He has not changed and He will not. He is the same as He was yesterday, and I find stability for my soul and eternal peace with God. Because He is the same I have eternal security of a right relationship with Him, not of my self-making, or choosing, but in His all-sufficient wisdom and grace.

Because He is the same yesterday, I know that what He has said will still remain true for you and me today. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

That great truth will not change, because our Savior changes not. His word and eternal promises remain the same throughout all eternity. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Thank God.