Category: Daily Devotions

“I appeal to you … to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship.” (Romans 12:1) Just imagine first-century Jewish Christians. Since the time of Moses, the worship life of God’s people has been centered around the temple in Jerusalem (the largest religious site…

” ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ ” (Matthew 4:19) When others don’t see your potential, Jesus does. In common fishermen, He saw the capacity to change the world. Here is something you may not have considered: There are two sides to following Jesus — you believe in…

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.” (2 Corinthians 5:16) Paul writes, “From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh … anyone … in Christ … is a new creation; old things…

“I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.” (Nehemiah 1:6b) When admitting our faults, there are safe contexts and less safe contexts. In some contexts, we have particular customs for acknowledging your failure. For example, in volleyball, it is (or was) customary to raise your hand when…

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.” (Romans 14:1) When someone upsets or disappoints you, God expects you to be gracious towards them instead of judgmental. The Bible says, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves,…

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:5) The Greek word used for gentleness means “strength under control”. It pictures a wild stallion that has been tamed. It doesn’t mean to be weak and wimpy. The only two people in the Bible who were called gentle — Moses and Jesus…

“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts as well as our hands to God in heaven.” (Lamentations 3:40-41) God’s people know that all things are under God’s rule, and whatever happens in our world (and our lives) happens because God permits it. This does…

“Therefore do not be partners with them.” (Ephesians 5:7) Letting go of a person doesn’t mean you no longer love them; it just means the relationship is not right for you. How should you handle it? When Jesus met the woman at the well, she had been through five failed marriages and was living with…

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3) Having the right relationships will help you to soar in life; they’re like the wind beneath your wings. But the wrong relationships will drag you down; they’re like a ball and chain around your feet. To know which relationships are good for…