[Jesus said] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. . . . If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:5,7

Stay Connected

Daily Devotion – May 2, 2021

Devotion based on John 15:5,7

See series: Devotions

What do we mean when we say we have “connections?” We are implying that we have a relationship that gives us a special advantage. It gives us an advantage that we would not normally have.

Our Bible passage for today tells about a connection that we have—that we are connected to Jesus. That was not always the case. In fact, we had a disconnect. We were sinners. Because of sin, we were separated from God and earned his anger for breaking his commands. But God was not willing that we remain disconnected from him. He sent his Son, Jesus, who died in our place, taking the punishment we deserved as sinners. Then Jesus rose from the dead to assure us that his death counts for us.

The Easter message is clear—we are no longer cut-off from Jesus by our sin. He took it all on himself. By faith in the living Jesus, we are branches firmly attached to him and empowered to lead lives that give glory to God for our salvation!

Do we have a special connection? Jesus says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Stay connected to Jesus through his Word, and he will grant your wishes in ways that he knows are best for you. Jesus is our special advantage!

Prayer:
O dearest Jesus, as the true vine, you provide me with life and the ability to produce the fruits of faith. Keep me connected to you. Keep me growing in my love for you. Keep me close to you in this life and forever. Amen.

Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
Acts 20:28

Shepherds Take Care of Their Sheep

Daily Devotion – April 30, 2021

Devotion based on Acts 20:28

See series: Devotions

A friend invites you to worship with him on Sunday. He says, “Do you want to come to my church with me?” Two pastors get together for coffee, and each of them asks, “How are things going at your church?” Christians speak this way about the churches they attend because they have such a close connection to them. And this is a good thing.

But sometimes, this idea can go too far. People might say, “This is my church,” as they try to push their own personal agendas on the ministry of a congregation.

As a man named Paul spoke to the church leaders in the ancient city of Ephesus, he reminded them to whom the church belonged. He called the church “the church of God.” And then he explained why it belongs to God. God bought it with his own blood.

When you pay a lot for something, it is worth a lot to you. God paid a price for you and me too. He paid the price of his blood. Because Jesus was the innocent Son of God, his blood was infinitely precious—more valuable than all of the gold in the world. And Jesus paid the price with his blood, bleeding and dying to buy us out of our slavery to sin and death.

Now we belong to him. And the one who paid so much for us makes sure that we are taken care of. He chooses pastors and church leaders to care for the spiritual needs of Christians the way that shepherds take care of sheep. They have an important responsibility. But in the end, they are simply those chosen by God to care for his sheep.

Thank God for faithful pastors. Pray for them. Encourage them. And most of all, rejoice that, while pastors may come and go and churches rise and fall, the church of God remains as those forgiven, set free, and purchased with the precious blood of Christ.

Prayer:
Bought by your blood, Jesus, I belong to you. Amen.

[Jesus said] “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.”
John 10:17,18

Authority Over Life and Death

Daily Devotion – April 28, 2021

Devotion based on John 10:17,18

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If you’ve ever stood beside the bed of a loved one who is dying, you know how helpless that can feel—for them and you. The body grows weaker, the pain increases. Every treatment has been exhausted. There’s nothing more that can be done. All you can do is wait. You don’t get to decide when they die. God gives life and takes it away. It’s his timing, not ours.

Jesus was in the prime of life when he spoke the words of our Bible reading for today. Cancer wasn’t consuming him. His organs weren’t failing. But he knew he was going to die, and he knew when and how. Jesus was not just a human being. He was also the Son of God. As God, no one could take his life from him.

But he willingly laid down his life for you. The angry hatred of his enemies didn’t put him on the cross. His amazing love for you and me did. His enemies taunted him from the foot of the cross and told him to come down to prove that he was God. He could have done just that. But he stayed there and gave up his life to forgive those who fought against him and rescue those who ridiculed him.

And, just as he had the authority to lay down his life on his terms, Jesus had the authority to take his life back up again. He came back to life on Easter Sunday. His rising from the dead proves that he has taken care of your greatest need by overcoming sin and death for you. You can be at peace because Jesus has defeated death for you. And by his power, he will one day raise to eternal life with him all who trust in him as their Savior.

Prayer:
Jesus, when I face death, lead me to trust in you and know that you died and rose to give me life. Amen.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
John 10:14

The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep

Daily Devotion – April 26, 2021

Devotion based on John 10:14

See series: Devotions

Who knows you better than anyone else? That one person who knows you inside and out. They know where you’ve been in the past and where you want to be in the future. They know what brings a smile to your face or a tear to your eye. They know the things that make you angry and the things that you fear the most. They know how you think and how you make decisions. They know just what makes you…you.

But they don’t know you completely, do they? They only know what you let them see or know. Maybe no one knows you better than you. Well, almost no one.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep.” The sheep he is talking about aren’t literal sheep. The sheep are people—you and me.

Jesus knows you. This is not just knowing the facts about you. It’s a much more personal and intimate knowledge. It’s like how a parent knows his child or a husband knows his wife, but even deeper. Jesus knows your past, present, and future. He knows your joys and sorrows, your thoughts, and emotions. He knows you right down to the core of your soul.

That means he also knows all your sins—every selfish thought, every hurtful word, every loveless action. He knows how desperately you need a solution to your sin and rescue from the hell you deserve, even if you don’t fully grasp or acknowledge that desperate need.

He knows those sins because he paid for every one of them when he laid down his life for you. In undeserved, self-sacrificing love, he knew you were powerless to save yourself. And so he gave up his own life in your place. He took all your sins on himself and willingly gave up his innocent life in exchange for the guilt of your sins when he died on a cross.

Yes, Jesus, your Good Shepherd, knows you, and he loves you. His death proves it. What a blessing to know that the Shepherd who loves us that much knows us and our needs!

Prayer:
Jesus, my Good Shepherd, nothing in my life is hidden from you. Remind me of your undying love for me every day. Amen.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8,9

The Answer Is Jesus

Daily Devotion – April 24, 2021

Devotion based on 1 John 1:8,9

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A while back, there was a piece in a news magazine about a woman who appeared stable and well-adjusted in every way. She held a responsible job. She was nicely dressed. She was gracious and cordial in her demeanor. She held a terrible secret, however. The secret was that she was keeping hundreds of cats in her home. Video footage from the city health department was shocking. The interior was in ruins. Officials reported that the stench was indescribable.

Most shocking of all, though, was the woman’s sense of absolute denial. She had no grasp of the sickening thing she had produced within her home. In fact, during an interview, she even described herself as “a clean freak.”

That woman’s self-deception is a lot like our attitude towards sin. You and I don’t mind admitting that we’re sinful in a generic kind of way. (“Nobody’s perfect.” “We’ve all done things we’re not proud of,”—you know the routine.) When it comes to confronting the real-life failures in our lives, however, you and I often plug our noses and ignore the terrible stench of our own sin.

But the answer is not self-deception. The answer is Jesus. Confess your sins—thoughts, words, and actions that oppose God’s perfect will and make you unclean in his sight. Trust God’s faithful word that through faith in your Savior, Jesus, you are freely forgiven and completely clean before God.

And from now on, no more self-deception.

Prayer:
O Lord, my God, I called to you for help, and you answered me. I thank you for the love you have shown me in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Through him, you have rescued me from the guilt of my sin and given me the peace of forgiveness. Help me fight against temptation, correct whatever wrongs I can, and serve you and those around me with love and good works. Amen.

We are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2:15

Aroma

Daily Devotion – April 22, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 2:15

See series: Devotions

One person feels euphoria when she smells freshly fallen snow because it reminds her of snow days off from school when she was a little girl. Another person feels stress when he smells that same smell because it reminds him of a cold and terrible battle in a long-ago war. According to an article in Psychology Today, because we tend mainly to think about our sense of vision, we sometimes underestimate the power of smell. Studies, for instance, have shown that our olfactory nerve—the nerve that gives us our sense of smell—sits right next to the parts of our brain that handle things like emotion and memory. Aroma, therefore, makes a profound impact.

This is no new discovery, of course. People have known about the power of aroma for thousands of years. It’s one of the fascinating ways God has wired us. It should probably come as no surprise, then, that God’s Word pictures those who proclaim the message of Christ as “the aroma of Christ.” He pictures these proclaimers in this way, not because these proclaimers are powerful in and of themselves. Rather, the impact comes from the power of the message.

All of this serves to remind us how potent the message of Jesus truly is. When his proclamation of repentance and forgiveness of sins rings out, God the Holy Spirit is hard at work within that message. All those times when we have grown sleepy and apathetic in our relationship with the Lord, the message of Jesus might come to us as a harsh and abrasive smelling salt, waking us up. At those times when the guilty stench of our own sin is filling our nostrils and choking us in despair, the message of Jesus comes to us in the refreshing sweetness of the full forgiveness he purchased for us at Calvary’s cross.

This brings us to a question. Which aroma does your soul need right now—the smelling salt of repentance or the sweetness of forgiveness? The beauty is that the Lord brings just what you need through the power of his Word.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, fill the nostrils of my soul with the aroma of Christ. Do this through the power of your Word. Amen.

Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
Acts 12:13,14

Rhoda

Daily Devotion – April 20, 2021

Devotion based on Acts 12:13,14

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Her name is Rhoda. God’s Word has recorded Rhoda’s name and her delightful moment from the early days of the New Testament church.

Here’s the context. Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit has empowered Jesus’ apostles to proclaim the good news of what Jesus has done. They face persecution, however. For example, King Herod has decided to arrest the apostle Peter and to put him in prison to await trial. After Herod does this, many Christians gather in a house in Jerusalem to pray for Peter.

Then, a miracle. God sends an angel. Peter’s chains fall off, and he follows the angel. He walks right past the guards and straight out of the prison. Peter is free. And so Peter proceeds to walk to the very house where those Christians are praying on his behalf.

This is where Rhoda enters the picture. She hears a knock and goes to answer. It’s Peter! In an instant, joy washes over Rhoda so completely that she runs back and announces that Peter is at the door. In her excitement, however, she’s left Peter outside, still standing, still knocking, still asking if he can come in.

They let him in, of course. But think about this. Think of all the times Rhoda must have smiled, laughed, and told the story of how she forgot to let Peter into the house because her sheer joy had gotten the best of her.

It was quite a moment for Rhoda. You and I get moments like that too. Perhaps the circumstances are not as dramatic, but God does the same for us. Just when we need it, he gives us a moment of joy, a moment to laugh and smile, a moment to savor and share with others. And this should not surprise us. After all, he is the kind of God who was willing to sacrifice his own Son to save us from our sins. And, as we travel this broken world, he gives us what we need to see us through.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the moments of joy you give me. Please, keep them coming. Amen.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12

There Is No Other

Daily Devotion – April 18, 2021

Devotion based on Acts 4:12

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Have you been to an electronics store recently? Walk to the back of the store, and you will discover a wall of televisions. Literally, the entire wall will be covered with flat-screen TVs. The challenge is choosing which one to buy. There are different sizes, different features, and different prices. The choices seem endless.

When it comes to our relationship with God, the situation is very different. There are not many different paths to God. There is only one. His name is Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can save us from eternal separation from God because only Jesus did what we needed to have done. He lived a perfect life in our place. He died to make payment for our sins. And he rose from the grave to defeat death and guarantee us eternal life.

The worst that could happen if you walk out of an electronics store with the “wrong” TV is that you won’t get as clear a picture as you could have had. But, walk out of this life with anyone or anything other than Jesus, and you won’t have the eternal life you could have had. Don’t allow this to happen. Trust Jesus—the only name by which we must be saved.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for doing everything necessary to save me. Keep me close to you until I sing your name in the heaven that you are preparing for me. Amen.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:19,20

Christ Is Risen

Daily Devotion – April 16, 2021

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 15:19,20

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When was the last time you saw someone rise from the dead? Never. And you have to admit Jesus’ resurrection is one big, difficult pill to swallow. So why is it so important to believe that Christ is risen?

Because faith without fact is a lie, and hope without history is hopelessness. If Jesus’ bones are dust in a tomb, then Christians are the most pitiful people on the planet because they are wasting their lives. They trust in a man who is not the Savior he said he was, who did not rise again as he promised, and who cannot do a thing for their future because he is dead. Even the Bible admits that if Christ is still dead, Christians are dead wrong.

But do you know what else the Bible admits? “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” Indeed! There is no doubt. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is something that happened in history, unlike any other thing that has happened. But like every other event in history, the resurrection is an historic fact.

And Jesus won’t be the only one who rises from the dead. Our Bible reading for today says that when he rose, he was “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Firstfruits are the very first fruits that you harvest. Christ is the first to rise from the dead, but not the last. Jesus’ resurrection is God’s guarantee that there are more resurrections to come, including everyone who trusts in Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life. May that include you!

Prayer:
Risen Lord, give me confidence in your resurrection and joyful anticipation of my own resurrection. Amen.

Then Jesus told [Thomas], “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:29

Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen

Daily Devotion – April 14, 2021

Devotion based on John 20:29

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Thomas had a problem. He was not with the other disciples on the first Easter. When they told him that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to them, he doubted their report. It was simply too good and amazing to be true.

You weren’t in that room with the disciples on the first Easter either. You did not witness the resurrection. In fact, you have never even seen Jesus.

But don’t let it overcome you. Instead, watch how Jesus dealt with doubt. The second time Jesus appeared to the disciples, Thomas saw him and believed. Then Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus answered Thomas’s doubt by appearing to him. He answers your doubt by blessing you for believing in the Savior you have not seen.

Christianity involves believing in Jesus and believing, is putting your trust in something you do not see. That is the Bible’s definition of faith. The book of Hebrews says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

However, that does not mean that the Christian faith is blind faith. You did not see the risen Christ in that locked room, but the apostle John did. He is the eyewitness, and this passage from his gospel is his testimony.

You don’t need to see Jesus to know that he is real. You can trust that what he promised and what his disciples witnessed is true. He is your Savior who rescued you from your sins and who rose from the dead to assure you of eternal life. Believe it and be blessed!

Prayer:
Blessed Savior, thank you for blessing me, even though I have not seen you. Amen.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
John 20:19,20

God Has Shown Himself

Daily Devotion – April 12, 2021

Devotion based on John 20:19,20

See series: Devotions

Let me tell you a story. As two explorers slashed their way through the jungle, they reached a clearing that held a small garden. The garden’s beauty and order suggested that someone was taking care of it, but there were also many weeds. One explorer said, “A gardener must come and tend the garden.” But the other objected, “There’s no gardener here.”

To settle the question, they pitched a tent and watched, but no one came. The first explorer said, “There is a gardener, but maybe he is invisible.” So they set up an electric fence around the garden and patrolled it with bloodhounds, but still, they detected nothing.

Finally, the first explorer said, “There must be a gardener. But he is invisible, insensible to electric shock, has no scent, and comes in secret to take care of the garden.” The other explorer replied, “Okay, but how is that kind of a gardener different from an imaginary gardener or even from no gardener at all”? The end.

That story was developed by two atheists to show the absurdity of believing in a god. They said that claiming there is a god when you cannot see him is as absurd as claiming there is a gardener in that jungle. Why? Because there are too many qualifications, such as him being invisible and undetectable. The qualifications make the claim impossible to verify, so you cannot determine if it is true.

Some people think that is an effective critique of Christianity, but it is not. Christianity teaches that the invisible God took on human flesh and came to earth. In visible ways, he lived for you and died for you. On the evening of that first Easter, Jesus’ disciples saw God in the flesh, risen from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection is rock-solid evidence that God has entered our world!

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for showing yourself to the world in order to save the world, including me. Amen.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Corinthians 15:19

Christianity as Advice

Daily Devotion – April 10, 2021

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 15:19

See series: Devotions

If you listen for it, you’ll hear it. You’ll hear it during pleasant conversations at dinner parties. You’ll hear it during low-key banter between cubicles at the office. You’ll hear it during the lunch break on the factory floor, during holidays with relatives, or during block parties with neighbors. What you’ll hear is the well-intentioned comment that Christianity is great for those who find it useful to get through life. “Hey, if it helps you get through the tough times, good for you,” someone will say with a smile.

God disagrees. In fact, the Bible goes so far as to say that if that’s what you’re getting out of Christianity, people should pity you more than they pity anyone else.

You see, if the story of Jesus in the Bible is in the same category as Aesop’s fables—if it turns out that Christianity is just good advice delivered through a made-up story, then Christians are living a pitiful lie.

That’s why the resurrection of Jesus Christ means everything.

On your behalf, Jesus lived a perfect life. On your behalf, Jesus died for your every sin. And his resurrection was real, too. The living Word of the living God has made it a matter of public record.

And so Christianity is not about advice. Christianity is about Jesus. Christianity is about the Savior who lives to keep his promises to you. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for your death, your resurrection, and your living promises to me. Empower me by your gospel to remember that Christianity is not about following some advice; it’s about trusting you. Amen.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Mark 16:6

The Living Savior Prepares You for Death

Daily Devotion – April 8, 2021

Devotion based on Mark 16:6

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“You’re going to die; here’s how to deal with it.” That was the headline of an online news article that caught my attention recently. The article proceeded to offer all sorts of advice on ways for a person to ease their anxiety about death. Have open conversations about dying. Get your paperwork in order. Declutter and downsize now so that others won’t have to do it later. Don’t wait to achieve your goals. Don’t put off reconciling with people from whom you’re separated. All practical ideas, however, in some way missing the point.

If you want to know how to deal with the inevitability of death, look at Jesus’ empty tomb and see the place where they laid him.

The devil definitely doesn’t want you to see this! He wants you to see the yawning pit of your own grave. He will point his finger and cackle that your final bed has been made up for you. He wants you to think that the grave will be the end for you.

But the devil can’t change history. He can’t change Calvary. And he sure can’t stuff Jesus back in the tomb. See the place where they laid him? He’s not there. And that means that everyone who trusts in him for forgiveness and eternal life will have both.

We’re not so naïve as to think that dying is ever easy or that coping with the death of someone dear is a breeze. It’s not easy, but it is inevitable. How do you deal with it? It’s thoughtful to declutter now so that others won’t have to later. It’s smart to have your paperwork in order. But if you really want to be prepared to die, trust in Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, although death is real, your resurrection changes everything. Remind me each day of your empty tomb and draw me to yourself in faith that I may ever be prepared for this life to end and life eternal to begin. Amen.

They asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
Mark 16:3,4

The Living Savior Calms Your Heart

Daily Devotion – April 6, 2021

Devotion based on Mark 16:3,4

See series: Devotions

The women came to Jesus’ tomb that first Easter morning with a lot on their minds. Jesus had been the center of their lives. And now he was gone. How would they spend their days? Who would take care of them? Being such open followers of an outlaw like Jesus, was their own safety and wellbeing now in question? Those were big questions. But of course, the women had a more immediate question uppermost on their minds that morning: “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” You might bring a heart full of questions with you to this day. Will things ever get better? Will my job be something I can count on? Will my marriage survive? Will my family be happy and successful? Will I outlive my savings? Will my health take a turn for the worse?

Jesus doesn’t give us answers to every question that weighs on our hearts—he wants us to entrust our unknown to him, after all. But his empty tomb does give us the one answer that rolls away our fear and puts all of our other questions into proper perspective. When questions fill your heart, remember that you have a Savior who is alive!

When Jesus met the women that day, he told them, “Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 28:10) And so the living Jesus says the same thing to us today. Don’t be afraid of Satan’s condemnations because Jesus lives to plead your case in God’s courtroom. Don’t be afraid of the future because Jesus lives to direct and support you in the days ahead. Don’t be afraid even of death itself because Jesus lives to share his victory over the grave with you.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, my life is filled with unknowns, and my heart is filled with questions. But you are my living Savior, powerful and capable, and so I entrust my today and tomorrow into your capable hands. Calm my heart. Assure me that you are ever near. And give me the strength to face each day with you by my side. Amen.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.
John 20:19,20

Loved by God

Daily Devotion – April 4, 2021

Devotion based on John 20:19,20

See series: Devotions

How secure are you? Is your job safe, or is there a lay-off coming? How about your health? Or what if you had a serious car accident, or your home caught on fire, or what if …?

Important questions, but in reality, they are insignificant in comparison to, “What is my relationship to God?” Or this question, “When I die, where will I go?” Now THOSE questions simply HAVE to be answered, or there will be a nagging sense of worry, emptiness, insecurity.

Problem is, as we look into our hearts and minds, we’re not helped. Have we been perfectly patient with those around us? Have we always been an example of Christ-like love toward others? Or do we see in ourselves a rash of impatience, unkindness, and selfishness? That’s more insecurity!

Jesus’ disciples understood insecurity. They locked themselves in a room; they had no idea what was going to happen next, no idea where their life was going, just no idea. And then Jesus miraculously appeared and stood among them.

And what did he do? He showed them his hands and his side. Those pierced hands and side were proof that the disciples were forgiven. Jesus’ suffering on the cross and death was full payment for all their sins. The crucified and now risen Jesus was proof that the favor of God was upon them and heaven was open for them!”

“Look!” Jesus says also to you. “Look at my hands, look at my side! You’re forgiven! Loved by God! Heaven is your home! And you have my peace!”

Prayer:
Jesus, my risen Savior, often I’m nervous and afraid. Forgive me! Focus my attention on your pierced hands and side, that I might see clearly that my sins are forgiven, and you have opened heaven for me. Fill me with your peace. Amen.