Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. . . . When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 3:1-5,10

Our Loving Lord Calls Us to Repentance

Daily Devotion – January 30, 2021

Devotion based on Jonah 3:1-5,10

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Nineveh was the New York City of its day. Capital of the powerful Assyrian Empire—the city was large and proud. One-hundred-foot high walls surrounded it. The citizens of Nineveh were well protected from physical danger by the walls that surrounded them.

But the Ninevites were in danger from a force much more powerful than any neighboring army. They were in grave spiritual danger. Sin was rampant, and God had had enough. He sent his prophet Jonah some six hundred miles to warn them to repent of their sin, or he would destroy them in forty days.

Like the people of Nineveh, God commands us to repent of our sins. God’s warnings about our sin are always urgent. Sin is serious; it separates us from God.

Against what sins are you struggling? Today God calls on you to repent. Turn away from those sins and trust God for his mercy. He is a forgiving God, just as he was for the people of Nineveh: “…he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.” God has had compassion on you, too. Instead of bringing on you the destruction your sins deserve, he brought that destruction on Jesus when he hung on the cross. Through Jesus, you have forgiveness for all your sins against God. May this comforting reality give you the strength you need today to leave your sin behind and live your life for him.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I confess that I have so often sinned against you. Forgive my sins for Jesus’ sake. Give me the strength and the will to live this day in true repentance that all my doings and life may please you. Amen.

The Ninevites believed God . . . When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 3:5

Remarkable Mercy

Daily Devotion – January 28, 2021

Devotion based on Jonah 3:5

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The prophet Jonah preached in Israel when many were living wicked lives and worshipping false gods. Jonah called the people to come back to the Lord, but they refused. He even warned that if they didn’t end their wicked ways, the Lord would send the Assyrian army to conquer them.

And then one day, the Lord told Jonah, “Go to Nineveh and preach to the people there.” Nineveh was the capital of Assyria! God wanted Jonah to preach to Israel’s enemy to call them to turn from their wickedness and serve the Lord.

Jonah didn’t want to do what God commanded. He was afraid that the Ninevites would believe him and turn from their sins and that God would have mercy on them. He didn’t want God to have mercy on Israel’s enemy. He wanted God to punish them for their sins and for being the enemy of his people. But it didn’t happen. Instead, just as Jonah feared, the Ninevites listened to his warning, turned from their sins, and were saved. God was merciful to them.

Like Jonah, it is easy for us to think that some people are not worthy of God’s mercy. The truth is—no one is worthy of God’s mercy. The fact that we are not worthy is precisely why God needs to be merciful. And, thankfully, he is. Through the soul-saving life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God promises us forgiveness and eternal life with him.

What remarkable mercy God showed the Ninevites. What remarkable mercy he has shown us!

Prayer:
God, I praise you for your boundless mercy. Amen.

[Elisha] took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
1 Kings 19:21

Letting Go to Go with God

Daily Devotion – January 26, 2021

Devotion based on 1 Kings 19:21

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In the book, Where the Red Fern Grows, a boy learns to build a raccoon trap by putting a shiny object down in a hole and driving nails in at an angle around that hole. The raccoon is attracted to the shiny object and reaches into the hole to grab it. With its fist clenched around the object, refusing to let go, the raccoon is unable to pull its paw out past the nails.

Do we sometimes get trapped by the shiny but empty things of this world—spending money to feel powerful, drinking to drown sorrows, sacrificing faith to gain friends?

In our Bible reading for today, we hear about a man named Elisha, who was willing to give up the things of this world in order to follow God. When the prophet Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha and called him to be trained as a prophet, Elisha showed his total commitment to the Lord by burning his plow and slaughtering his oxen. He was willing to let go of his home, job, and family to do the work that the Lord had called him to do.

Although God may not have called you to be a prophet, he does call on you to follow him. As your Creator and the only one who can provide forgiveness for your sins and eternal life in heaven, he deserves your full commitment. And because he is a faithful and loving God, you can be sure he is worth following.

So, like Elisha, do not let anything keep you from following him. Let go of everything and anything that would stop you. And follow him to the heaven his Son, Jesus, has won for you.

Prayer:
Lord, create in me a desire for you above all things. Amen.

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.
I Corinthians 7:29

Deadline

Daily Devotion – January 24, 2021

Devotion based on I Corinthians 7:29

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“The test is on Friday.” “There are eight seconds left, and we are down by two.” “Monday, I make my presentation before the board.” “My dinner guests will be here in 25 minutes.”

Deadlines are something we know all about. When “crunch time” hits, we know we need to get very focused on the task at hand. Everything needs to be in order before time runs out.

The Bible encourages us to live every part of our lives with such focus. The “deadline” is at hand in a very literal sense. The cares and tasks of this life can tempt us to forget, but death or Jesus’ return could come at any moment. God blesses us with many things in our lives—spouses, possessions, earthly peace, and happiness. But even these are misused if they become the end goal of our existence.

Thank God that he sent his Son, Jesus, who never once lost track of the task at hand. His steady steps toward a certain death were all made in your place. Know that this is why God accepts you. Fix your eyes on your Savior and focus on the heavenly home that Jesus bought for you. He was determined to be your substitute and pay the price of your sin by shedding his blood. So when God in his wisdom brings you to the last deadline of life, there’s nothing to be anxious about. God has made you ready by faith in Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, work in my heart to prepare it for your return. Amen.

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:15

Stand Firm in Your Faith

Daily Devotion – January 22, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Thessalonians 2:15

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I know quite a few people who used to be Christians but have lost their faith. Some of them stopped believing when they went off to college. Their professors said that Christianity was foolish and they didn’t want to be known as fools, so they denied Christ. Or classmates told them that the Bible is hateful towards LGBTQ people. They didn’t want to be hateful, so they gave up on Christianity. Others started watching YouTube videos that taught that science has disproven God. They didn’t want to be anti-scientific, so they abandoned Jesus.

Each person left Christianity for different reasons. But they all had this one thing in common. None of them were feeding their faith. None of them were actively going to church and speaking with their pastor and other Christians. Jesus predicted that these people would fall when he told the parable of “The Sower and the Seed.” In his story, Jesus compares our faith to a plant. If our faith is not “fed” and “watered,” it will dry up or get choked out by the weeds of life.

That’s why Paul told his congregation in Thessalonica to “stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” Paul knew that it is not enough to just hear the Word of God once. Followers of Jesus need to actively take hold of it, absorbing Biblical sermons, and meditating on what Paul and the other Biblical authors wrote down.

Wherever you might be in your relationship with the Lord, stand firm in the message of God’s love for you in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Lord God, lead me to stand firm and hold fast to your precious Word. Don’t let the devil or anything in this world snatch me from your hand. Amen.

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
John 1:45-49

Jesus Patiently Calls Skeptics to Believe

Daily Devotion – January 20, 2021

Devotion based on John 1:45-49

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One of Jesus’ first disciples was Andrew. Andrew was so excited to be following Jesus that he went and told his friend Nathaniel. But when Nathaniel heard that Jesus was from the small, no-name town of Nazareth, he sneered, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Andrew responded, “Come and see.”

When Nathaniel approached Jesus, Jesus didn’t rebuke Nathaniel for his unbelief. Jesus gently showed Nathaniel that Jesus knew all things. Nathaniel quickly changed his mind and believed that Jesus is the true Son of God.

Perhaps you are someone who doubts all of the claims about Jesus. You wonder about his being born of a virgin or healing people of their diseases. You wonder about the claim that his death paid for the sins of all people or the claim that he rose from the dead. He knows that sometimes you struggle to believe. But Jesus doesn’t reject you. He patiently calls you to the truth. He gives you clear evidence in the Bible of who he is and what he has done.

You need not live in your skepticism any longer. Hear Christ calling you through his Word. Respond to his Word with faith. And give him all the glory.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your patience with me. Lead me to believe even when I’m overwhelmed with unbelief. Amen.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:10

The Lord Calls Us in the Darkness

Daily Devotion – January 18, 2021

Devotion based on 1 Samuel 3:10

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The book of Judges is one of the darkest, bloodiest books of the Bible. It is the seventh book in the Old Testament. And it tells the story of what happened to the nation of Israel after they entered the Promised Land of Canaan. From about 1400 B.C. until about 1000 B.C., the Israelites fell into perverted idolatry and senseless violence. Although this book is hard to read, it isn’t much different than the corruption that we see in our society, and especially in our own hearts.

As the time of the Judges was coming to a close, we hear a remarkable story about the calling of Samuel. Samuel was a young boy who was an apprentice for the High Priest, Eli. Even though Samuel worked at the tabernacle, the Bible says, “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him” (1 Samuel 3:7).

Yet, the Lord, in his grace, called out to the boy, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel didn’t know who was calling him. So the priest, Eli, instructed Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening’” (1 Samuel 3:9). And that’s just what he did. The next time the Lord called, Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).

What can we learn about the Lord from this account?

• God is still calling his people to follow him, even in dark days.
• God calls us, even when we aren’t looking for him.
• God opens our heart so that we can listen and receive him.

When the world seems so dark and wicked, it might seem like God has abandoned us. But he is still here, still calling us to believe him, follow him, and serve him. May we, like Samuel, answer, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me through your words in the Bible. Help me always to listen to what you say. Amen.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
John 2: 1,2

The Perfect Substitute

Daily Devotion – January 16, 2021

Devotion based on John 2: 1,2

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When you host a party or event, what are your criteria for whom you invite? We don’t really know why Jesus was invited to the wedding chronicled in our story. But he was there. Perhaps the inviting couple knew of Jesus as a teacher with a growing reputation. But he had not yet performed any miracles. That all changed at this special wedding when Jesus changed water into wine.

When the wedding was over, did the couple and guests realize that Jesus had power over nature? Did they realize that Jesus was “telling them” that he was the promised Messiah? He was sent by God, his Father, because of the sins that our first parents—Adam and Eve—committed in the Garden of Eden. And every generation of man since then, including us, has continued to sin against our holy God. And our sins have separated us from God.

Enter Jesus. Here he was, God himself, living here on earth as a true man. Jesus had power over nature and the devil because he is God. As a man, he was subject to all the temptations that we are, but Jesus lived a perfect life on earth. And then he was brutally punished and killed, even though he was innocent. In his Father’s eyes, Jesus became the perfect substitute and took our punishment on himself. Now, in God’s eyes, all of Jesus’ followers are perfect because he took our place. They will be with him in heaven—a party unlike any other.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith as I dwell on your substitution for me. Hear my thanks now, and when I praise you and thank you eternally in heaven. Amen.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6

For Everyone

Daily Devotion – January 14, 2021

Devotion based on Isaiah 49:6

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Every year I enjoy watching the New Year celebrations beginning in Asia and then crossing the globe all the way to the west coast of North America. Those celebrations were a little different this year, but it was still the same principle. As the earth turns, the darkness of New Year’s Eve is lit up by artificial light at midnight, and then a few hours later comes the dawning of a new morning in a new year.

When Jesus was on earth as a human being, he celebrated his New Year in Israel. He was a Jewish man. There was a sign on his cross that said, “King of the Jews.” People could have understood his work to be simply for Jewish people since he was one of them.

But 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah quoted God the Father speaking to his Son, Jesus, and saying, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles.” Gentiles are any people who are not Jewish. Jesus is not just the glory of the Jewish people of Israel. He is a light for all of the Gentiles as well.

That means Jesus brings light to the lives of people no matter where they live in the world. The good news about forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus has gone to the ends of the earth. People’s eyes are opened, and their hearts are changed from darkness into light as they come into contact with that wonderful news.

Today that news of salvation can make it around the world through the internet even faster than the world can spin. It’s a blessing to see it happen, and it’s a privilege to be part of that effort.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the world, shine brightly and bring many more to faith in you. Amen.

Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Mark 1:10

No Doubt About It

Daily Devotion – January 12, 2021

Devotion based on Mark 1:10

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A man named John baptized Jesus. He claimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. But people had to wonder if everything John said about Jesus was true. Was this man named Jesus really connected to the only true God?

John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. As Jesus was coming up out of the water onto the riverbank, an amazing thing happened in the sky. Heaven was torn open! There was clearly something special going on! People who wondered if Jesus had any real connection to God didn’t have to wonder any longer.

At that moment, the Holy Spirit descended onto Jesus. What did it look like? It looked like a supernatural dove coming down and landing on Jesus. If there had been any doubt about it before, there was none now. The connection of Jesus to the true God was visibly confirmed by the Holy Spirit. It must have been amazing and striking.

Now the people had proof that everything Jesus said was from God. The Holy Spirit gave them that proof!

You have that same proof today. The Holy Spirit is the one who uses that proof to work faith in your heart. You can have the confidence—no doubt about it—that your sins are forgiven because Jesus says so. He is the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for your sin, and not only for yours but for the sins of everyone in the world.

You might wish that everyone baptized today would have the same amazing and striking thing happen to them, but the Holy Spirit chooses to arrive invisibly instead through the power of the Word. His visible descent onto Jesus was to help you understand that the promises Jesus makes about baptism in his Word—forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation—are entirely true, no doubt about it.

Prayer:
O Holy Spirit, keep my faith in Jesus strong all the way to eternal life. Amen.

“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6

Living in the Light

Daily Devotion – January 10, 2021

Devotion based on Isaiah 49:6

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I’ve killed innocent plants. I’ll admit it. Take for instance the first small palm plant I owned. Despite watering it regularly, my little green buddy soon shed his leaves and turned a morbid shade of brown. Only later did someone clue me in to my gardening gaffe: I had set the plant too far away from the window. It didn’t get enough light.

How about you and me? We need light to live as well! But not just physical light. We need the type of light that God says his Servant Jesus gives us in today’s reading from the prophet Isaiah.

You see, Jesus gives us the one thing we really need to live a full life. He gives us the light of salvation! So no matter what dark times we may face—whenever we hurt, whenever we’re lonely, whenever we sin, whenever we get sick, whenever we worry about the future, whenever we die, whenever! He promises to give us light. He assures us that our sins are forgiven, that he loves us dearly, and that he will work out all for our good. With this light of Jesus, we can live, thrive, and be energized for life!

So what will your life be like? With the light of Jesus, it’s certain! You have a bright future ahead! Why? Because you’re living in his light!

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for bringing light to this dark world. Amen.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Matthew 2:11

Can You Relate

Daily Devotion – January 8, 2021

Devotion based on Matthew 2:11

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The Bible story about the Wise Men’s visit to see Jesus introduces us to quite a cast of characters. The Magi—were highly educated men from the East. The teachers of the law—were supposed to be experts on all things related to the Bible. Herod—was an ambitious and renowned ruler.

Can you relate to any of these Epiphany people? Certainly not Herod! Isn’t he the one who, with evil intent, tried to locate the newborn King, and when his crafty plans failed, didn’t he order the killing of innocent babies? How could I possibly relate to such a monster? Maybe in this way: Herod used all his abilities to serve himself. That tendency isn’t foreign to us. We are guilty of using our God-given skills and smarts to advance and protect our self-interests, oftentimes stepping over others. Sadly, there’s a little “Herod” in all of us.

How about those teachers of the law? They had the words of everlasting life right there before them, but they failed to see how those words pointed to Jesus. We have God’s Word, the Bible, but how often it sits unopened on the shelf. The Magi traveled hundreds of miles to worship Jesus; sometimes, we struggle to drive the few blocks to church. God keep us from such indifference.

That leaves the Magi. Did they know the child who was born in a manger would one day hang on a cross? Did they know the child at whose feet they lay their gifts would one day take humanity’s sins upon his own shoulders?

We can’t be sure what the Magi knew or didn’t know, but they traveled many miles to see Jesus and to learn more about that child. While we can relate to all of these Epiphany people, the ones we’ll strive to emulate the most are the Magi. We want to see Jesus, worship him, and learn more about him.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve treated your words in the Bible with indifference. Keep my heart on fire for Jesus and move me to never tire of hearing and reading your Word. Amen

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the people, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
Isaiah 60:1,2

Life In the Light

Daily Devotion – January 6, 2021

Devotion based on Isaiah 60:1,2

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When the sun sets in Utqiagvik, Alaska, in late November, it doesn’t rise again for about 65 days. Can you imagine not seeing the sunlight for over two months? Or let’s go a step further, can you imagine life with no light whatsoever? No sunlight. No light fixtures in your home. No headlights on your car. No glow from your cell phone. No lanterns, candles, or matches. Total darkness would present some serious challenges for travel, work, and overall productivity.

When the prophet Isaiah speaks about the “thick darkness” covering the people, he’s not referring to an annual geographic anomaly or a hypothetical blackout; he’s talking about life without a God who loves, forgives, and saves.

Can you imagine that kind of darkness? Can you imagine life without a heavenly Father watching over you and sending his angels to protect you? Can you imagine a life without a baby being born in Bethlehem, without a crucifixion on Mount Calvary, without a resurrection on Easter morning? Can you imagine your ears never hearing these words, “Jesus loves you. Jesus forgives you. Jesus has opened heaven for you.”

You’ll never have to imagine such dark, depressing things because “your light has come.” The darkness described by Isaiah is very real. Our sins aren’t trivial. Our sins needed to be addressed. And that’s exactly what God did. He sent his Son, Jesus—the Light of the world—to rescue us from darkness. (John 8:12)

We may have some darkness in our past—words and deeds of which we are ashamed. Jesus wants us to know that he replaced those dark sins with his bright holy deeds. He wants us to know that with his death on the cross, he has scrubbed clean our record of the past and given us a fresh start.

So open your ears and hear it well: “Jesus loves you! Jesus forgives you! Jesus has opened heaven for you!”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you have forgiven all my sins and saved me from darkness. Now help me to live and speak like a child of your light. Amen.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Micah 5:2

Why Bethlehem

Daily Devotion – January 4, 2021

Devotion based on Micah 5:2

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West Baden, Indiana. Do you know much about it? Probably not. Unless you’re one of the 500 people who live there. The only notable thing about this little town might be the fact that NBA All-Star Larry Bird was born there. Otherwise, it’s not well known beyond the borders of Indiana. In fact, it’s hardly known by the people who live in the Hoosier state.

That was first-century Bethlehem. It had been a thousand years since anyone famous had come from this little town—and that was King David. So why was the Christ Child born in the lowly, tiny town of Bethlehem? One big reason: to fulfill the prophecy written by the prophet Micah 700 years earlier. God promised that his Son, the Messiah, would be born in Bethlehem. As God always does, he made good on his promise.

But why Bethlehem? Perhaps it fits God’s pattern of using the seemingly powerless and puny to showcase his gracious power. He chose David, the youngest son of Jesse and the least impressive of all his other sons, to become the greatest king of Israel. He chose an unknown girl from Galilee to be the mother of his eternal Son. He chose a feeding trough to cradle the mightiest, most glorious King of kings. He chose nails and a wooden cross to be the means by which he redeems the world. He chose an empty tomb to be a symbol of life and hope.

And so he chose not a booming trade town, but lowly, tiny Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. Let that serve as a reminder to you of how meaningful you are to God. No matter how little you may feel or how far you’ve fallen—you are not insignificant. Outside of your own circle of friends and family, others may not know your name and, they probably don’t care. God knows your name. God cares. He cares about you!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, remind me today of how precious I am in your sight. I don’t deserve your love and favor, yet you sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world—my Savior. Thank you! Amen.

When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son.
Galatians 4:4

Timing

Daily Devotion – January 2, 2021

Devotion based on Galatians 4:4

See series: Devotions

Picture a choir singing, “Silent Night.” Each choir member knows the words and melody. They even know when to sing loudly and softly. But imagine if each choir member sang the song at a different speed. And now further imagine if each choir member held each note for a different length of time. Instead of a thing of beauty, you’d have dissonant sounds of chaos. The entire song would fall apart.

In a Christmas carol like “Silent Night,” timing is everything.

It’s the same when it comes to God’s timing for Jesus’ birth.

“When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son,” the Bible tells us. Immediately after our first parents had fallen into sin, God promised to send a Savior. But he fulfilled that promise according to his own pace. Over thousands of years, he carefully guided history until the timing was just right. Then he sent his Son.

Once in a great while, you and I can recognize God’s timing in our own lives. More often than not, however, our human perspective is so small that we just don’t see it.

Make no mistake, however, God is guiding your life just as carefully. Time and again he has made it clear that the answer to life is not within you. Time and again he has brought you into contact with the only Savior from sin you’ve got. Or think about this: it is no accident that this devotion from God’s Word is entering your mind and heart at this very moment.

God’s timing for Jesus’ birth was perfect. Trust his timing in your life, too.

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for sending your Son into this world at just the right time. Move me to trust your timing in my life as well. Amen.