Category: Daily Devotions

“A man with leprosy … begged him … , ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ … ‘I am willing,’ [Jesus] said.” Mark 1:40-41 In this episode of Jesus’ ministry, Mark is showing that Jesus’ priorities are not the same as ours. People are looking all over for him, hoping to be healed.…

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest … For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 You can meet Jesus. We read, in the Gospel stories about many people who met Jesus face-to-face during his teaching and healing ministry, before his death and…

“The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” Luke 10:1 The seventy-two met Jesus. There were twelve disciples who followed Jesus closely for most of his ministry. And in Luke 10 we read about seventy-two more people who…

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5 To have a balanced life you must live by these two Scriptures: “God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him” (1 Peter 5:7). “Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring…

“I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18 Simon Peter met Jesus. I know several friends and church members who say that besides Jesus, Simon Peter is their ­favorite person in the Bible because they can…

“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree…” Luke 19:3-4 Zacchaeus met Jesus. He was so eager to see Jesus that he climbed up into a tree in order to watch as Jesus passed by.…

“As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus … was sitting by the roadside begging.” Mark 10:46 Bartimaeus met Jesus. In the book of Mark, there are many stories about Jesus healing people, and Bartimaeus’ story is remarkable in several ways. Mark takes the trouble…

“You must be careful to do everything [the Pharisees] tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Matthew 23:3 The Pharisees met Jesus. The Pharisees were religious leaders who wanted people to keep the law of Moses. So they built up all kinds of rules around…

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6 When you talk about contentment, some people think you’re against progress. No, Paul is saying contentment never comes from externals! Every twelve minutes, radio and television advertisers try to convince us that contentment isn’t possible without their particular brand of product. Don’t go for it!…